Greetings,
Welcome to this month's issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Please pass this along to your friends!

Table of Contents:

1. Content from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
2. Pets and Catastrophic Storms
3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

Obesity & Arthritis in Dogs Just as extra weight can hasten the progress of arthritis in humans, a little pudge on your dog or cat could increase their chances for arthritis or make it worse. Arthritis in Dogs and Glucosamine Sulfate An article by guest Doctor of Veterinariany Medicine T.J. Dunn on the treatment of arthritis in dogs and the usage of glucosamine. How Glucosamine Eases Arthritis Pain in Dogs Information on how glucosamine actually works for easing arthritis pain in dogs, the science backing glucosamine, and how to select the best glucosamine product for dogs.

Advertisement

	Liquid glucosamine formula Syn-flex® effectively eases arthritis and hip dysplasia pain in dogs and cats, assists in the rehabilitation of damaged cartilage, and slows the progression of the disease. Plus FREE shipping. Learn more about Syn-flex now!

Pets and Catastrophic Storms

Most of the time, I am writing about pets that have arthritis. This time, I would like to talk about pets and major storms. I am doing this because it happens that I live in Punta Gorda, Florida which was Ground Zero for Hurricane Charlie.

In addition to the enormous impact this storm had on human beings, I witnessed another tragedy unfolding. Namely, that many pet owners had not made any plans for their pets in the event of a major storm and the consequences were terrible.

Who is taking care of Fido or Fluffy?
Hurricanes and living in Florida are not the only issues here. There are many kinds of major storms and other weather-related events that can displace pets. The problem is that most of us are not prepared in advance and when that is the case, everyone pays the price.

What I witnessed were individuals who were caught in an immediate problem and they had no answers. Most shelters will deny access to those who bring their pets along with them and there were some who refused to evacuate because they feared for the welfare of their pets. What you have there is a situation where someone may lose their life or that of their pet simply because they were caught unprepared.

After this storm, I saw pets wandering the streets and they were confused, frightened and hungry. They had wandered from what had been their homes and did not know what to do. It was a very sad situation and it became even worse for home owners who returned after the storm to find their pets missing.

Self-help measures
Depending on where you live and the kinds of storm activity that may be common to your area, the first line of defense is to have a safe place to put your pet where they might fend for themselves for a few days. I am talking about some kind of a secure shelter where you could put your pet in case you experience a major weather event. Of course, a pet may make it for quite some time without food but water is another issue. If you do nothing else with these kinds of temporary quarters, make sure that there is ample water.

If you can put a temporary "quarters" together that would work on a moment's notice, it can become a lifesaver. Of course, it takes some commitment to doing something in anticipation of catastrophic weather that can strike quickly. It may not be perfect but it would give you some peace of mind and at the same time, provide a quick solution in the event that you need to use it.

Hotels and Motels
If you live in an area that is prone to major weather conditions, make sure you know which hotels in your immediate or surrounding area accept pets. If you have a list and do have to evacuate your home, this is another option. Just having that list prepared gives you a jump on any situation that may develop. It sure beats trying to locate these places when you under a lot of pressure. In some situations, it is a good idea to have a statewide list.

Medications
Of course, if your pet requires medications you should have an ample supply on hand for any contingency. If you have a home-built shelter, make sure you leave them there so if you have to rely on someone else to check on your pet they will have them handy.

Finding a lost pet after a storm
Of course, there is no way to guarantee that a pet will not become lost when catastrophic weather strikes. It happens and there is no way around it. Fortunately, there are some resources available that may assist you. It goes without saying that your pet should always have some kind of an identification tag. That is particularly so for situations like catastrophic storms.

Of course, when pets go missing after a storm "ads" begin appearing in the local newspaper. That is one approach but hardly the best. It is at least one step that you can take. Also, there is a website that may be able to assist you if you live in the Continental United States. (http://www.missingpets.com) This is a terrific non-profit site that lists resources in all states to try to locate a pet that may go missing.

I apologize for departing from our normal routine about talking about your pet's arthritis. I just felt that this was a subject that we all tend to ignore until it is too late. Having just been through this tragedy, I thought it might get some of you to consider these things before you get caught up in something like this.

In addition, if you are a Florida resident there is a website that has a list of pet-friendly shelters available in the state. http://www.floridapets.net.

See you next time.

For information on arthritis in pets visit our site at http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com

For information on glucosamine and the leading products read A Guide to Glucosamine Products. Or you can learn more about glucosamine formula Syn-flex®, our recommended glucosamine product.

A feature to our Pet Arthritis Resource Center is the Pet Arthritis Message Board. You can post messages, ask questions, learn more, and meet friends. You can post messages in any of the following sections.

Dogs

• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Arthritis in Dogs
• Glucosamine for Dogs

Cats

• Feline Hip Dysplasia
• Glucosamine for Cats
• Arthritis in Cats

Other Animals

• Arthritis in Other Animals

Here's a few sample posts from the Forum...

Rosie
Posted on 13 Sep 2004

Just came across this forum. My 3 year old Chesapeake Bay Retreiver had cruciate ligament surgery in her right leg in April 2004, was recovering extremely well and then in July blew out her ligament in left knee. The vet wanted to wait as long as was possble for the right leg to heal before having surgery on her other leg. She seems to be recovering ok but it has only been 4 days.

I was lucky to be able to be home with my dog for a full 2 weeks on both occasions, until the stitches are out so I would not have to use the collar. After 4 days she has begun to use her leg and gets up the bed and has snuck by me and gone down 2 flights of stairs. My vet stated that as soon as they feel they can use their leg, the better it is for them to begin to build up the leg. Apparently it is not the material that keeps the knee together but the scar tissue after the healing process.

As my dog is so young there was no question about the surgery. My biggest concern now is if the first leg has healed enough to bear the weight after the second surgery and what to do about possible arthritis.

Post your own message on The Pet Arthritis Message Board now!

Advertisement

	Syn-flex® contains pharmaceutical quality Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Bromelain, Boswellin, Yucca, Omega 3 and Omega 6, Manganese, and Vitamins A, C, and E in a high quality formula designed for helping Arthritic type pain for your dog or cat. Learn more about Syn-flex here!

This concludes the September Issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on October 15th, 2004!

Please forward to any friends that have pets with arthritis and who would be interested.

You have received The Pet Arthritis Chronicle because you have subscribed to it (or it was forwarded to you by a friend). At any time, you may subscribe or unsubscribe here.

For comments and questions relating to The Pet Arthritis Chronicle you may email

This newsletter may be republished article by article or in whole as long as credit is given to author and link is provided to http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com

Have a great September from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center and The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. See you next month!