Dioji Tribone - November 2008

ISSUE #13 NOVEMBER 2008

Kirby's Korner

I NEED A BATH!

Your furry pals barked and we listened! Dioji is proud to announce a few upgrades to keep our club members happy and clean! First and foremost, we are proud to announce 50% OFF ALL BATHS with a full day of daycare or boarding stay. This means baths now start at just $15 (your parents are smiling already!). While we will no longer be offering any haircuts, to accommodate more waggin tails, we have expanded our daily bathing capacity making it easier to book a bath at your convenience. (For those who know and love our groomer Ian - never fear - he is still a part of our fantastic team and has personally trained all of the bathers to ensure exquisite Dioji quality). Finally - the small dog area is now completely covered in artificial turf grass to keep our members squeaky clean after a bath. Life for us four-legged kids just keeps getting better at Dioji!!

Kirby Wendel

VP of Quality Control
Owners Jeannie & Bryce's yellow lab

November Birthdays


Alfie	Angel	Annie

Bailey	Bebe	Bella

Bella	Bianca	Bodie

Bruce	Bubba	Button

Callie	Casper	Champ

Chico	Clementine	Coconut

Diablo	Emma	Foster

Gaia	Gordo	Griffon

Hoover	Italia	J. Stubbs

Jake	Jake	Jaxon

Jessie	Kona	Kota

Kylie	Lacey	Lucy

Lucy	Mattie	Maya

Maya	Merlyn	Miko

Moe	Mollie	Mucks

Niki	Nisha	Ollie

Petey	Qi	Reese

Riley	Roby	Rocco

Roxy	Roxy	Rufus

Sadie	Sadie	Sammie

Sasha	Sweetie	Theo

Tink	Tserring	Weezy

Zephyr	Audrey	Bella

Bubbles	Chance	Cricket

George	Ginger	Jack

Jackson	Rocket	Romeo

Sammy	Toby

While you’re filling your bellies on Thanksgiving Day,

Let your pup join our party for a full day of play!

We’ll be running and swimming and jumping galore,

Followed up by a feast and so much more!

OPEN 7AM - 7PM THANKSGIVING DAY!

Ask the Expert

These Fleas are Driving Me Crazy!

By Jean Greek, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology

In much of the country right now, people are enjoying crisp fall weather and pets are enjoying a hiatus from fleas. We, on the other hand, are wearing flip-flops and having drinks on the patio and our pets are wondering what the heck we plan to do about their flea problem.

The good news is that our current options for flea control are hugely improved in regards to both safety and efficacy from the much more toxic products of the past. Advantage, Frontline, Comfortis and several of the latest offerings all work on a part of the flea which is not present in mammals. This has made these products exponentially less toxic to us and to our companions. The bad news is that there is not a single be-all, end-all product for every pet. The best source of advice for individualized parasite control is your veterinarian, but I will attempt to give some generalized guidelines.

Which parasites are you concerned about? Dogs that go hiking or live in the foothills may need tick protection not necessary to their urban friends. Products vary and may have efficacy for fleas, ticks, heartworm, and certain intestinal parasites in a variety of combinations.
Is your pet flea allergic or is this more for preventative? Some dogs can be loaded with fleas and minimally bothered. Other dogs seem to prophalactically gnaw their hindquarters based on the rumor that there is a flea somewhere in the county. Flea allergic dogs can have up to ten days of residual itching from a single flea bite! It can be very difficult to find fleas on these pets as they rapidly eat the flea but keep on chewing, usually around their tail base.
How much time does he spend in the pool? Although many of the spot on products will stand up to some swimming or bathing, dogs that live in the ocean or Dioji’s pool may see less efficacy from those types of products. Comfortis™ (Eli Lily) is a new oral option with a rapid onset, a high margin of safety and lasts a month.

A final note, I absolutely believe that most the new flea products are very safe. Still, it is very important that directions especially with regards to the size and the species of the pet for which the product is intended. Most the toxicities seen in our emergency room are from misapplied products. Ask your veterinarian.

If your pet is diagnosed with allergies or has recurrent skin, ear, or flea problems, consult your primary care veterinarian and ask if a referral to Santa Barbara's Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist. Dr. Jean Greek and her two highly trained technicians are available at C.A.R.E. three days per week and welcome consultations and/or referrals from your veterinarian. Referral appointments are made by calling (805) 899-CARE (2273). You may also log on to the C.A.R.E. web site for further information at www.carehospital.org

Inside the Club

Dioji Halloween Costume Contest

The results are in!

Prettiest: Ivory Salgado
Most Handsome: Max Austin
Scariest: Jake Belch
Funniest: Louie Street
Most Creative: Marley Chavez
Best Owner/Dog Pair: Nicoya Akiskalian
Best Owner/Dog Look Alike: Agave Witham

Outside the Club

December 6th 10:00am - 4:00pm
Santa Paws Dogfest

Celebrate the holidays! Bring your pup and take a photo with Santa Clause. A festival full of demonstrations, fun contests & silent auction. More information at www.santapawsdogfest.com

Tip of the Month

WARNING: XYLITOL SWEETENER CAN POISON YOUR DOG

- Courtesy of the Santa Barbara Pet Hospital

This sweetener has been around since the late 1800’s, but has gained favor recently due to the fact it is as sweet as sucrose but carries 2/3 less calories. Safe for humans, it causes hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in dogs and can also cause acute liver necrosis.

A popular sweetener in Europe and Japan, it is gaining popularity in the United States. Food items frequently containing xylitol are sugar-free gum, nicotine gum, human oral-care products, chewable vitamins, and baking sweeteners.

For dogs, a dose of more than 0.1 g/kg can develop hypoglycemia. Its effect in cats and ferrets is unknown, but it does have adverse effects in rabbits, cows and goats.

Clinical signs can be vomiting, lethargy, weakness, collapse, and seizure. Some dogs do not have hypoglycemia, but do suffer liver failure. The chemical’s effect causing the liver failure is under investigation.

Barkimonial

My name is Ivory Gritts and before Dioji some say that I was a bit standoffish and ball obsessed. But I am a changed doggy. I love coming to Dioji and I greet everyone when I stroll in the play yard in the morning. I play with the fun toys that Dioji has for us to play with but I also play with my friends. Did I mention the pool? Dioji taught me how to swim and now I never want to leave the pool area. Mom and Dad love Dioji because they never have to worry about me, they know that I’m well taken care of. And whenever Mom or Dad want to see me, they can view me swimming in the bone shaped pool via the internet. All of us doggies are definitely lucky to have such a great place taking care of us and making sure we are having a blast.

- Michelle Salgado