Special Olympics 2018 State Summer Games at CMU – an album
Historical Society plans annual potluck
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Who: Everyone is invited
What: the 3rd Annual Potluck with the Clinton County Historical Society
Bring a dish to pass and your own table service. Drinks will be furnished.
When: Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 6 – 8:30 pm
Where: at AgroLiquid, 1130 S DeWitt Rd, St. Johns.
Why: Celebrate Clinton County postal history
The museum is still accepting photos, letters, documents or other artifacts relating to person’s service to our country, especially WWI. We will also would like to continue gathering photos and information relating to the postal history of Clinton County. You may also contact us or submit information to ccgensoc@yahoo.com.
There will be photo scanning available at the potluck. Originals will be returned to you. All Clinton County related photos are appreciated.
SJHS alums premier new animated series June 18
Tune into The Disney Channel to see St. Johns High School graduates Shane Houghton and Chris Houghton’s new animated series, “Big City Greens.” Many of the characters and images are connected to their time growing up in St. Johns.
The series premieres on The Disney Channel on Monday, June 18.
Read more about the connections to St. Johns by clicking on the article on the Collider website below.
http://collider.com/big-city-greens-images/
Bennie and Jessie’s Pet Info – Can Dogs Have Dog Best Friends?
courtesy of Dr. Wailani Sung
When we brought our puppy home several years ago, I worried that my adult dog would not like the puppy, and that my puppy would not bond with my older dog. Thankfully both dogs got along beautifully. Poe followed his big brother, Revan, around and mimicked the older dog’s behavior.
When we brought Poe to puppy class, it was interesting to see how he interacted with other dogs. Initially, the puppies were social butterflies. They greeted and played with whichever puppy was around them. As Poe matured, it was very obvious that there were some puppy friends he preferred to play with and other dogs that he no longer showed interest in. Every play group Poe attended, he would pick one dog that he would solely play with.
The preferred playmate was definitely not his older brother. My older dog also appeared to play with other dogs. If we attended the same play group, training class or daycare, Poe and Revan always sought to play with certain dogs.
You can tell that Poe was excited to see his puppy friends based on his body language. His ears were forward, and he had soft eyes with a relaxed facial expression, stance and tail. Another dog also reacted with similar body language. The two dog best friends would play for hours, chasing each other and wrestling. They would even drink water together and lie down side by side.
This was a huge development because when Poe initially started puppy class, he would growl when other puppies approached the water bowl. It was a big deal that he did not mind sharing his water bowl with his dog best friend.
Are Dog Best Friends Common?
It is not an uncommon finding to see pups extend dog companionship to preferred playmates and also have other dog friends hang out with, very similar to human behavior. Based on studies of animals living in natural conditions, we know that social animals can develop bonds with other pack or herd members other than their mates.
How Dogs Benefit From Having Dog Best Friends
The presence of BFFs, or preferred associates, can reduce stress and can provide some degree of comfort and safety to an animal living in a group. Animals with preferred associates tend to exhibit less aggressive behavior towards their companion. They do tend to be more tolerant of their companion’s presence compared to other animals in the group or unfamiliar animals.
Some dogs have a preferred play style, and no matter where they are—at a dog park, daycare or your friend’s house—they gravitate more towards other dogs that play similarly.
Does Your Dog Have a Best Friend?
How do you know when your dog has a BFF? Dogs with dog best friends prefer to stay in closer proximity with the other animal. They ignore the other dogs and tend to play more or spend more time in general with their dog best friend. They may be more willing to share their toys, bed, water bowl and general space. Sometimes they may be willing to share their favorite dog treats or dog food, but that is not always the case. Some dogs can have BFFs, but can still be reluctant to share a highly valued resource such as their favorite dog toys, treat, bed or owner.
Keep in mind that BFFs do not always have to be other dogs. I have seen dogs develop deep attachments to the cat in the household. They can even become attached to the neighbor’s cat or your rabbit or guinea pig. In fact, you could be your dog’s best friend.
Letters – Voice for Clinton County’s Children says thanks
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is so appreciative to all who supported our Office Garden Day on June 6th. Through financial support and a volunteer work day, we were able to beautify our outside space to be even more welcoming to children and families.
We invite you to see and experience our services to children who have been abused through a Tour of Hope which can be scheduled by contacting Kelly at 989-640-5681 or KellySchaferED@gmail.com.
Again, we are so thankful to our amazing community who continues to support us in making our office welcoming to the children and families we are entrusted to serve.
Thank You,
Kelly Schafer, Executive Director
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – The Complete Cat Hairball Guide
courtesy of Carol McCarthy
As a cat parent, you probably dread that sound. You know the one: the ack, aaaccckkk, retching sound your beloved kitty makes when she is about to heave up a hairball.
While hairballs are a fairly common occupational hazard of being a cat parent, you might be surprised to learn that they are not a normal part of a healthy cat’s life. In the last five years or so veterinarians have been paying more attention to the underlying causes of hairballs, according to Dr. Cathy Lund, of City Kitty, a feline-only veterinary practice in Providence, R.I., and Dr. Neil Marrinan of Old Lyme Veterinary Hospital in Old Lyme, Conn.
“We used to think hairballs were pretty innocuous, but we have learned that cats who experience difficulty with hairballs may be cats who have intestinal issues,” Lund says.
Because while that hacking sound may make pet parents think their cat has allergies or asthma, hairballs don’t originate in the lungs. Hairballs originate in the stomach. “When you see a hairball, you know your cat is vomiting,” Marrinan says.
What Do Cat Hairballs Look Like?
You probably know one when you see one, but to be clear, hairballs are thick mats of hair that are usually tubular in form—not shaped like a ball, despite the name—and are covered in a slippery or slimy substance (mucus). The more-oval shape comes from passing through the esophagus. Hairballs can be as small as an inch or up to a few inches or more in size.
How Do Cat Hairballs Form?
Cats ingest hair as they lick themselves repeatedly while grooming their coats. Because a cat’s tongue has backwards-facing barbs on it, the tongue moves hair into the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach.
Even longtime pet parents of the most fastidious felines might be surprised to learn that a cat spends 30 percent of her waking hours grooming herself, Lund says. “Hairballs are a side effect of cats being obsessive-compulsive groomers.”
Any cat can develop hairballs, from long-haired breeds to domestic shorthairs, the doctors note.
What Causes Cat Hairballs?
Under normal circumstances, the grooming obsession that causes cats to ingest hair should not be a problem. The hair should move through the digestive system along with food and be eliminated in feces. Hairballs become a problem when the cat’s digestive system fails to move the hair efficiently through the stomach and intestines and out of the body as waste.
“It’s basically a mechanical problem, whether it (the hair) makes it past the stomach is a question of motility (how quickly matter moves through the digestive system),” Lund says.
A number of treatable health issues can cause motility problems. Some illnesses that can slow down digestion include hyperthyroidism and inflammatory bowel disease, Marrinan says. Other underlying gastrointestinal issues that can make your cat prone to hairballs include gastroenteritis, intestinal cancers and valve problems.
Cat Hairballs: How to Handle Them
An occasional hairball may not be anything serious—cats can vomit up hair and food if they eat too fast or develop a sensitivity to their regular food, Marrinan says.
“Occasional vomiting also may be due to eating plants outside, but if you notice it, and certainly if it is more than once a month, it is likely a problem,” he says.
Due to the seriousness of some of the potential causes of hairballs, however, Marrinan and Lund suggest pet parents take their cat to the vet if she starts producing hairballs. The only way to determine if a simple change in diet is enough to resolve the issue or a more serious health problem is present, is to have your regular vet examine your cat, both doctors stress.
Diagnosing Hairballs in Cats
To get to the bottom of the hairball issue, your vet will likely want to conduct some diagnostic tests, which can include bloodwork, X-rays and an ultrasound of your cat’s stomach and intestines, or an endoscopy—using a tiny scope to look inside your cat’s stomach while she is anesthetized and taking tissue samples to biopsy (examine under a microscope).
Treating and Preventing Hairballs in Cats
Treatment requires identifying and addressing the underlying cause, whether it is an inflammatory bowel disease, cancer or dietary issue. Some breeds, such as Maine Coon and Rag Doll, are susceptible to intestinal valve problems, which can contribute to the development of hairballs, Lund says.
The occasional hairball can be prevented by feeding your cat a flavored petroleum-jelly-based remedy that will help move hair through the digestive system. “Think brown sugar flavored Vaseline,” Marrinan says of the over-the counter remedies.
In addition, some vets may recommend changing your cat’s diet.
The Bottom Line on Cat Hairballs
The most important thing to keep in mind is that vomiting up hairballs is not normal or healthy in cats, both doctors stress.
If your cat is throwing up hairballs, don’t try to treat the symptoms without knowing what is causing her to vomit. Take her to the vet for an accurate diagnosis and precise treatment.