Lake Country This Month

Page 4 • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY AUGUST 2015 At Pewaukee Veterinary Service, we are committed to providing the most comprehensive care to our patients, focusing on their individual needs. — OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK — M–F 7:30am-8pm, Sat. 8am-5pm & Sun. 12-4pm Convenient Extended and URGENT CARE Hours Boarding, Dentistry, Diagnostic Imaging, Drive-Through Pharmacy, Dog Day Care, Grooming, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Preventative/Wellness, Rehabilitation including Hydro & Laser-therapy, Senior/Geriatric Health, Surgery, Vaccinations 245666001 PewaukeeVeterinaryService.com 262-347-0787 Bring in this coupon for $15 OFF your next visit. No cash value • Limit one per family Genesee Pet Resort Present this ad for 10% discount Expires 11/15/2015 ALL INCLUSIVE DOG BOARDING Enjoy the final weeks of summer while your dog is boarded, exercised and expertly cared for in our air conditioned facility. We are the only boarding facility in the Waukesha area that has one low fee for all your dog's boarding requirements including late drop-offs and pick-ups until 9:00 PM each day. In addition your small animal or bird can also be cared for while your dog is being boarded. Grooming and daycare are available Mon.-Sat. We can also accommodate emergency service since we reside on the property of our boarding facility at S40 W28170 State Rd 59. Call 262-521-2693 for an appointment at Genesee Pet Resort Located on State road 59 just 5 blocks west of Rose Glen School. 245638001 Authorized Dealer for: • Nutrena Feeds & Buckeye Feeds • Wild Bird Seed, Feeders, Poles, Suets, Books, Bird Feeding Supplies • Horse Feed, Tack, Grooming Supplies, Pine Shavings, Stall Supplies • Dog & Cat Foods, Pet Beds, Treats, Rawhides, Leads, Collars, Toys • Small Animal Feeds & Supplies, Domestic Bird Supplies, Gifts, Cards 15 % off one regular priced item! $ 5 00 off any purchase of $35 or more Not valid with other offers or coupons. Limit 1-time use per person. Please present coupon. 15% off all Dog or Cat Toys! Not valid with other offers or coupons. Limit 1-time use per person. Please present coupon. Genesee Depot • 262-968-3333 W309 S4837 Commercial Dr. off Hwy. 59, just west of Hwy. 83 Oconomowoc • 262-567-2699 W359 N5920 Brown St. FRIENDS OF NATURE Expiration Date 9/30/15 Freeman FRIENDS OF NATURE Expiration Date 9/30/15 Freeman FRIENDS OF NATURE Expiration Date 9/30/15 Freeman And It's Priced Right! Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-8pm • Sat. 8am-5pm • Sun. 9am-3pm Visit us on-line at www.fonfeed.com for maps, info & special offers! Not valid with other offers, coupons or on any bag or can food items for dogs, cats, wild birds & horses. Limit 1-time use per person. Please present coupon. Not valid on any Carousel Saddlery items. "Feed & Pet Supply Stores" If Animals Use It… We Carry It… And It's Priced Right! 245540001 Pets From Page 1 Schmick said to place your bare hand flat to the pave- ment before going for a walk. If it's uncomfortable for you, it's uncomfortable for your dog. You should also apply the same maxims to traveling with pets in winter as in summer. Vehicles quickly become frigid once the heat is off, and the insulation of pets only goes so far. There are several general steps Schmick advises taking to ensure your pet's safety on a daily basis. "Every owner should have ID tags on their dogs, and it's a good idea to have them microchipped," Schmick said. "If the tags fall off, (the chip) can be read by a read- er." Schmick also advises get- ting your pets spayed and neutered at an age-appropri- ate point in the animal's life, and adhering to a schedule of check-ups and vaccinations. Be sure examinations include dental health checks. "Think about us humans," Schmick said. "If you don't brush and floss your teeth, that plaque and tartar grows. It can affect other areas of the body. It's the same with dogs." Schmick also said to make sure your dog is trained and well-socialized. Work on developing solid recall so the dog will return if it gets off- leash. Schmick said you also want to train a dog to leave alone anything it finds on the ground. "Make sure your dog is OK with other dogs and with other people," Schmick said. "Most dogs lack good social- ization. That starts when they're young. There's a win- dow of opportunity for pup- pies to get well-socialized. Once that window closes, it becomes harder to get our dogs socialized." Schmick also said for pet owners to discuss with their veterinarian simple first aid procedures, such as the Heimlich maneuver. Awareness of pet safety will forever be an unintended consequence of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in the late summer of 2005. Many people did not evacuate because of uncer- tainty regarding the fate of their pets. "They're concerned and aware of their situation, but their actions are dependent on whether they've made plans for taking their pets with them, or finding anoth- er way to keep their pets safe," Kathy Schwei said. Schwei is a program analyst in the Waukesha County Emergency Management Office. Emergency preparedness and disaster planning per- sonnel are now aware people are reluctant to evacuate without being able to take their pets. "If you evacuate, it would be best to take your pet with you, since you don't know how long you might be gone," Schwei said. "If you take your pet with you, it is impor- tant to have those really basic support items." Schwei said a good starting point is food and a leash. The leash helps one control a pet, and keeps the pet and others safe. You will also want a sup- ply of any medicine needed by your pet. The Waukesha County Office of Emergency Man- agement offers several resources for disaster plan- ning with pets on its website. The office's website is accessed through https://www.waukeshacoun- ty.gov. By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman HARTLAND — We would cook for our pets as we cook for ourselves in a perfect world. We would buy food suited for our pets and prepare it in a tasty way that is both healthy and nutritious. Fido or Whiskers would feast, and the banquet would serve both their tummies and their souls. That "perfect world" exists somewhere between Atlantis, Candyland and Nar- nia. "It's a fact that we live busy lives, and we need shelf-sta- ble, convenient, safe food for our animals," said veterinar- ian Dr. Chris Bessent. "If we were the most dedicated pet owners, we would cook them real meals, like we do for our- selves. "How many people can do that? Most people don't even do it for themselves." Bessent owns Herbsmith, 455 E. Industrial Drive in Hartland. Herbsmith — http://www.herbsmithinc.co m — produces herbal supple- ments for dogs, cats and hors- es. Bessent also maintains her veterinary practice in Oconomowoc, and special- izes in dogs, cats, horses and cows. An investment like no other Bessent advocates a high- end diet specifically tailored to the pet, regardless of cost. Your pet's diet should take into account the pet's age, activity level and current health profile. Bessent views the feeding of a pet as an investment in the animal's health and livelihood. "You'll pay now or you'll pay later," Bessent said. "After 28 years in veterinary practice, that's what I see going on. Dogs and cats that get fed better live longer, healthier lives and don't need as much veterinary care." Where does one start when considering how to feed their pet? The amount of informa- tion available is as dizzying as the collision of color one sees on a trip through the pet aisle. "It's challenging for the pet owners," Heather Gehrke said. Gehrke is the executive director of the Elmbrook Humane Society, 20950 Enter- prise Avenue in Brookfield. Elmbrook serves the Lake Country communities of Chenequa, Nashotah and the Town of Delafield. "There are so many options, espe- cially for new pet owners. When you walk into whatev- er store that sells pet food, that section in the store is overwhelming." Start with good informa- tion. Discuss your pet's health and physical condi- tion with your veterinarian. "To me," Bessent said, "the question is, 'What type of dog do I have and what do I do with my dog? What's the lifestyle of that dog?'" Bessent said a Labrador that hikes and swims with its owners will need a different diet than a pug that sleeps during the day and cuddles during the evening. "Those dogs are going to be fed very differently, even at the same age," Bessent said. Shop at a local, indepen- dently owned pet store after consulting with your veteri- narian. "Go to a high-quality pet store," Bessent said. "In my opinion, the best pet stores are usually independently owned, and they're very holistically minded." Bessent said staff mem- bers at independent pet stores are usually capable of taking the advice of your vet- erinarian and finding a food that best suits your pet. Finding the right fuel Consider the first five ingredients when purchas- ing pet food. Bessent said those ingredients comprise the majority of the food. Look for meat and quality carbohydrates, such as peas or potatoes. Avoid corn and soy. "A lot of foods have great marketing and beautiful packaging," Bessent said. "You'll pay a lot for them, and they're not good foods." Less active animals do not need as many calories. Look for food with less fat, protein and carbohydrates. Carbohy- drates in pet food are getting a lot of attention. Bessent said dogs are scav- enger carnivores. Cats are hunter-killers. Carbohy- drates are not a staple of either animal's diet. "Cats are true carnivores and should have minimal carbs," Bessent said. "Those really fat cats are carb junkies. They're that way because of what we feed them." If Fido or Whiskers get pudgy you must consider the quality and quantity of the diet. Pics on the Internet of fat pets might bring a chuck- le, but Bessent said such an animal is in significant dis- tress and its quality of life is diminished. You should also stress vari- ety in your pet's diet. Strive for what Bessent calls "guts of steel." "In the real world, a cat or a dog isn't going to say, 'I only eat rabbits. I'm not going to eat that fish,'" Bessent said. "They're going to eat whatev- er comes their way. That's how it should be in their feed- ing as well. Change up their protein sources and what they're eating all the time." By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman HARTLAND — The phrase "pet insurance" might bring to mind images of the mono- cled gentleman from the game "Monopoly," Mr. Monopoly, sitting about his mansion, drinking tea with an extended pinky and chortling over another wind- fall earned on Standard Oil stock. Pet insurance sounds like a luxury reserved for only the very well-off among us, but it is becoming a more main- stream part of American life. Chipotle started offering pet insurance as an employee benefit in 2002. MGM Resorts International, the largest employer in Las Vegas, start- ed offering pet insurance in 2006, and the number of employers offering pet insur- ance has continued to rise over the last 10 years. "If it allows pet owners to get better preventative and emergency care in a timely fashion, it's something we support, but it has to be an independent decision," said Kimberly Brown Pokorny, executive director of the Madison-based Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Associa- tion. "Because pet insurance is still fairly new, really, as a pet owner, compare apples to apples. Doing your homework is very important. All the plans vary quite a bit." Is it worth it? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates recurring annual medical costs of $235 for a medium-sized dog and $160 for a cat. Recurring med- ical costs are described as exams, vaccinations, heart- worm prevention and topical flea and tick prevention. The ASPCA estimates health insurance costs of $225 per year for small, medium and large dogs and $175 per year for cats. Insurance costs can vary depending on the policy. Some policies cover spaying and neutering, vaccinations and heartworm medicine. The annual deductible can also vary, depending on the policy. The financial publishing house Bankrate reports that the cost of pet surgery can easily run into the thousands of dollars. It is easy to see where the concept of pet insurance is appealing. Whether it's necessary is another question. "On the veterinary side, since all expenditures are paid out of disposable income, it's not the expecta- tion that the pet will have insurance," Dr. Tom Gilligan said. Gilligan is the owner of North Lake Veterinary Clinic in Hartland and a past presi- dent of the WVMA. "Veteri- nary medicine is, I think, very reasonably priced com- pared to human medicine. "There are cases that abso- lutely the insurance has bene- fited the pet owner. Some companies are easier to work with than others, and you need to watch what they con- sider a pre-existing condi- tion." But there's a caveat Pet insurance comes with caveats. Most carriers do not cover pre-existing conditions. For pet insurance to be effec- tive, the policy must be in place from the time one starts caring for the animal or prior to a major health event. Brown Pokorny and Gilli- gan also said most pet insur- ance works through reim- bursement. An owner must first pay any bills and then file a reimbursement claim with the insurance company. There are genetic condi- tions insurance will not cover. According to Consumer Affairs, a consumer advocacy group based in Lake Tahoe, Nev., this is most common with dogs. Brown Pokorny said hip dysplasia in large dogs is a common genetic con- dition that some policies don't cover. It also costs more to insure some dog breeds. Rottweilers, Great Danes and Burmese mountain dogs are among the most expensive to insure because of genetic disposi- tion to maladies such as can- cer and, again, hip dysplasia. What that means is the pet owner will pay more if the policy covers hip dysplasia in large dogs. Factors such as your pet's age at enrollment, gender, where the pet lives and whether it's been spayed or neutered might also be con- sidered. The American Veterinary Medical Association recom- mends that, regardless of the insurance provider, your pet be cared for as part of a vet- erinarian-client-patient rela- tionship According to the AVMA, a such a relationship exists when your veterinarian knows your pet well enough to be able to diagnose and treat any medical conditions your animal develops. A con- versation with your veteri- narian is the best course of action when deciding to obtain pet insurance. Finding food for furry friends Do homework before settling on pet food Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Frank, an Australian cattle dog, runs outside following a puppy class at Best Paw Forward Dog Training in the City of Pewaukee. Pet insurance gaining traction Policy can help keep lid on medical bills Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Lilly, a mixed breed puppy, pulls at the leash as she hears her owner, Kristy Lowell, call her during a puppy class at Best Paw Forward Dog Training in the City of Pewaukee.

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