Veterinary Acronyms...Translating Your Pet's Records

Do you ever wonder just what those acronyms peppered by vets in your pet’s charts really mean? I took my dog to the vet the other day for some advice. “Fido is a bit off, but I can’t put my finger on it,” I explained. “He’s bright, alert and responsive, as well as eating and drinking normally. But he did fall off the balcony the other day and is a bit stiff.”

In vet-speak the notes in Fido’s chart might read something like this:

JAR (just ain’t right); BAR (bright, alert, responsive); E/D+ (eating and drinking normally); HRS (high rise syndrome - animal fell off balcony or window sill) or LTF (learning to fly – animal fell of balcony or similar); NSAID bid (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory twice daily)

Of course the above tale is fiction, but one thing I make a habit of is asking for and keeping a record of my dogs’ visits to the vet. Vet records often look as if they were written in a foreign language, but with a little help you can decipher the acronyms your vet may use and be a pro at translating those records!

# - fracture
A- - inappetant
A/B - antibiotic
AB - antibiotic
abax - abaxial
abc - antibiotics
abd or abdo - abdomen or abdominal
abd n - abdomen palpated and no abnormality detected
abs or ABs - antibiotics
abx - antibiotics
AC - anterior chamber (of the eye)
ADR - ain't doing right
adv - advise or advice
AG - anal glands
AIHA - auto-immune hemolytic anemia
AON - all others normal
AWE acute wet eczema
ax - axial
B - booster
BAR - bright and responsive, or bright, alert, responsive
BARH - bright, alert, responsive, hydrated
bid - twice daily
BifN - back if necessary
BIOP - been in owner's possession
BIW - before if worried (as in revisit in 1 week or BIW)
bs or BS - blood sample
BT - blood test
C - cervical (vertebra - usually followed by a number to denote which one)
C - cough
C+ - moderate cough
C++ - severe cough
C- - no cough
CAH - Chronic Active Hepatitis
caud - caudal
CBA - cat bite abscess
CBC - complete blood count (= routine hematology)
Cc - coccygeal (vertebra - usually followed by a number to denote which one)
CCHF - chronic congestive heart failure
cd - caudal
C7d - recheck in 7 days
CDRM - chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy
CDS - cat and dog shelter
ce - clinical examination
cep - Ceporex
CHF - congestive heart failure
CHF - chronic heart failure
Co - coughv COP - cyclophosphamide/oncovin/prednisolone (chemotherapy protocol)
cr - cranial
CRF - chronic renal failure
CRI - chronic renal insufficiency
CRI - constant rate infusion
CRT - capillary refill time
CS - clinical signs
CS - corticosteroids
C/S or C&S - culture and sensitivity
CSK - Chronic Superficial Keratitis (otherwise known as Pannus)
c-v or cv - cardio-vascular
CVA - cardiovascular accident
Cx - coccygeal (vertebra - usually followed by a number to denote which one)
d - days
D- - diarrhea absent or diminished
D+ - diarrhea
D++ - drinking increased
D++ - marked diarrhea
D+++ - severe diarrhea
DBA – dog bite abscess
DCM - dilated cardiomyopathy
DD, DDx or DDxx - differential diagnosis
D&D - destroy and disposal
DHLPPi - distemper, hepatitis, Leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza: dog vaccine covering these diseases
DI - diabetes insipidus
DIC - disseminated intravascular coagulation
DJD - Degenerative Joint Disease
DM - diabetes mellitus
do - days old (following a number)
D/O - drain out (removal of surgical drain)
D/O - dropped off (for treatment or examination)
DOA - dead on arrival
dors - dorsal
Dx - diagnosis
E&A - euthanasia and aftercare
EAG - empty (or express) anal glands
E/D+ - eating and drinking normally
EDUD - eating, drinking, urinating and defecating
EOD - every other day
EPI - exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
est - estimate
e/t - endo-tracheal
EUA - examine under anesthetic
euth - euthanize
ex or ext - external
e(x)d - every (x) days
ex lap - exploratory laparotomy
e(x)wks - every (x) weeks
F - female (see also Fe and Fn)
F1/4 - forequarters
FAD - flea allergic dermatitis
fat++ - obese
FB - foreign body
Fe - female (entire)
FeLV - feline leukaemia virus
FIA - feline infectious anaemia (Haemobartonellosis)
Fin - finish this treatment
FIP - feline infectious peritonitis
FIV - feline immunosuppressive virus
f/l or FL - front legs
FLUTD - feline lower urinary tract disease
FMD - feline miliary dermatitis
Fn - female (neutered)
FNA - fine needle aspirate
FNAB - fine needle aspirate biopsy
FQ - fore quarters
FUO - fever of unknown origin
FUS - feline urological syndrome
ga or GA - general anaesthetic
GDV - gastric dilitation and volvulus
GORK - God only really knows
H1/4 - hindquarters
H+ - history
HAC - hyperadrenocorticism
HBB - hit by bullet
HBC - hit by car
HBT - hit by truck
HBTr - hit by train
HCM - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
HCT - hematocrit
HD - hip dysplasia
HGE - hemorrhagic gastro-enteritis
h/l or HL - hind legs
HQ - hind quarters
HR - heart rate
hrs - hours
HRS - high rise syndrome (animal fell off balcony/windowsill)
H's - Horner's syndrome
HX or Hx - history
HyperT4 - hyperthyroidism
HypoT4 - hypothyroidism
I - incisor (tooth - followed by a number to indicate which one)
ID - identification or Identichip
i/d - inter-digital
iid - once a day
im or i/m - intramuscular
IMHA - immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
impr - improved: followed by a variable number of +'s to indicate degree of improvement
IMTP - immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
inj - inject or injection
int - internal
IOL - Intra Ocular Lens
IOP - intra-ocular pressure
ip or i/p - intra-peritoneal
iv or i/v - intravenous
JAR - "just ain't right"
jt - joint
KC - kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis)
KCS - Kerato Conjunctivitis Sicca (otherwise known as Dry Eye)
L - lumbar (vertebra - usually followed by a number to denote which one)
L - left
LA - left atrium
LA - local anesthetic
LAE - left atrial enlargement
lat - lateral
BD/LD - big dog/little dog (re fight injuries)
LF - left fore
LH - left hind
LI - large intestine
LIU - Lens Induced Uveitis
LL - left lower (eg. eyelid, lip)
ln - lymph node/s
LTF - learning to fly (animal fell off balcony or similar)
LU - left upper (eg. eyelid, lip)
LV - left ventricle
LVE - left ventricular enlargement
M - molar (tooth - followed by a number to indicate which one)
M - male (see also Me and Mn)
manip - manipulation
m/c - metacarpal
MD - myocardial disease
Me - male (entire)
med - medial
min - minutes
mm or Mmb - mucous membranes
Mn - male (neutered)
mo - months old (following a number)
MT - mammary tumor
m/t - metatarsal
MVA - motor vehicle accident
N - normal
NAD - no abnormality detected (or detectable)
NAF - no abnormal findings
nbg - treatment not working
n def - nerve deficit
NNTSA - no need to see again
NOAD - no other abnormality diagnosed
NOAF - no other abnormal findings
no C/S/V/D - no coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhoea
NOS - no other symptoms
NPO - Nothing per os/nil per os
N/S - next step
NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSF - no significant finding
nyd - not yet diagnosed
O - owner
OA - osteoarthritis
OCD - osteochondritis dissecans
OCNE - off color, not eating
O/F - off food
OOH - out of hours
op - operate or operation
P - pulse
palp - palpate or palpation
PAN - peri-arteritis nodosa
pcv - packed cell volume (hematocrit)
PDA - patent ductus arteriosis
PE - physical examination
PPi - parvovirus and parainfluenza: dog vaccine covering these diseases
PPP - pretty poor prognosis
PM - pre-molar (tooth - followed by a number to indicate which one)
PM - post mortem
PTS - put to sleep (euthanize)
PD - polydipsia
pop - popliteal (lymph node)
pred - prednisone
prn - as needed (pro re nata - Latin)
prob - probably or problem
PU/PD - polyuria/polydipsia
PUO - pyrexia of unknown origin
Px - physical examination or physical examination findings
Px - prognosis
q200 - owner has been given an estimate of $200 for this procedure (q for quoted)
qid - four times daily
QOL - quality of life
R - right
RA - right atrium
RAE - right atrial enlargement
rbc - red blood cell
RC 1w - recheck in 1 week
RCM - restrictive cardiomyopathy
RDVM - referring Dr Veterinary Medicine
Rex - re-examine
RF - right fore
RH - right hind
RI - re-examine/re-inspect
RI 7d - return in 7 days
RL - right lower (eg. eyelid, lip)
rMRCVS - Referring MRCVS
R/O - rule out
rost - rostral
rpt - repeat
rrm - restricted range of movement, eg in a joint
rrr - resting respiration rate
RS - remove sutures
RTA – road traffic accident
RU - right upper (eg. eyelid, lip)
rv - recheck
RV - right ventricle
RVE - right ventricular enlargement
Rx - prescription or dispense
Rx - re-examine
sc or s/c - subcutaneous/subcuticular
SBI - something bad inside, diagnosis of exclusion for ADR
SI - small intestine
SI - self inflicted
SIBO - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
sid - once daily
sig - signalment
SIT - self-inflicted trauma
s/m - submandibular
Sn - sneezing
S/O - stitches (or staples) out
S&P - scale and polish (of teeth)
sq - subcutaneous
S/R - suture removal
SS - skin scrape
STO - speak to owner
SWB - salt water bathing
Sx - surgery
T - thoracic (vertebra - usually followed by a number to denote which one)
TGO - to go home
tid - three times daily
T-L - thoraco-lumbar
TLI - trypsin-like immunoreactivity
TMJ - temporo-mandibular joint
Tn or TN - temperature normal
TNT - toenail trim
TPN - total parenteral nutrition
TPR - temperature, pulse and respiration
TPRn - temperature, pulse and respiration all normal
TTO - talked to owner
TWBC - total white blood cells
twds - towards
Tx - treatment
U/A or UA - urinalysis
UGA - under general anesthetic
ULA - under local anesthetic
URT - upper respiratory tract
URTI - upper respiratory tract infection
US - urine sample
US or us - ultrasound
UTI - urinary tract infection
V- - vomiting absent or diminished
V+ - vomiting
V++ - moderate vomiting
V+++ - severe vomiting
vacc - vaccinate or vaccine
V&D or V/D+ - vomiting and diarrhea
V/D - : no vomiting, no diarrhea
VMB - very much better
vmi - very much improved
wbc - white blood cell
wmd - white meat diet
WNL - within normal limits
wo - weeks old (following a number)
wt - weight
wt!! - overweight
x/60 - x minutes
x/24 - x hours
x/7 - x days
x/52 - x weeks
x/12 - x months
xr or XR - x-ray
yo - years old

Six Household Products That Are Not Dog Safe

Are the products you use to clean your home safe for your pets? A check under the sink may surprise you to find many households cleaning products containing toxic ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers, or formaldehyde that can put young children and pets particularly at risk for things such as cancer, anemia, liver and kidney damage. Studies have shown it is not enough to simply close a container containing these ingredients and put it away, toxic vapors remain behind that continue to harm both us and our pets.


Some Toxic Ingredients and Their Effects On People and Pets

Ammonia - Used in many de-greasers for ovens, glass and stainless steel, ammonia has a very high VOC, burns mucous membranes and contributes to asthma. If it is mixed with bleach, it creates a poisonous gas which can be deadly to small pets.

Chlorine - Used in disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaners and automatic dish detergent to name a few, chlorine is also used to bleach coffee filters. It can cause everything from dizziness to vomiting to laryngeal edema. Avoid this ingredient and be careful about letting your pet swim in the pool.

Glycol Ethers - Glycol ethers are found in many cleaning products that are not pet safe including glass cleaners, carpet cleaners and spot removers. It has been linked to anemia, lung damage and kidney damage in people and pets.

Formaldehyde - The thought of a funeral home comes to mind when formaldehyde is mentioned and everyone can recognize the strong, nauseating smell. But it's also used in products such as soaps and even some pet shampoos. It can contribute to asthma and is carcinogenic.


Some Cleaning Products That are Not Dog Safe

There are many, many cleaning products that are not safe for dogs on the market. Here are a few popular cleaners that contain some of the ingredients mentioned above as well as others:

Floor Cleaners - These include Pine Sol and Mr. Clean. Even if you manage to get all of the residue off the floor, the vapors linger and are dangerous to your pet. Try a non-toxic, pet safe cleaner instead.

Bathroom Cleaners - These include Clorox Bathroom Cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Try a product such as Ecover Bathroom Cleaner instead. Never use a continuous toilet bowl cleaner such as Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It is very dangerous and the temptation to drink out of the toilet is a quirk in many of our pups.

All Purpose Cleaners - For use in the kitchen and around the house, the most common toxic all-purpose cleaners that scream "Danger!" are Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Spray and Formula 409.

Drain Openers - You may think that since this product is poured down the drain, it can't be harmful to your pet. But the toxic drain openers give off dangerous fumes long after you've emptied them. For a non-toxic, pet safe option, try a product such as Earth Friendly Enzymes Drain Opener.


Instead of using toxic cleaning products around the house, try one of the non-toxic and pet safe lines of cleaners. If you do decide to keep toxic cleaners, make absolutely sure they are put away. Put child safety locks on cabinet doors and put cleaners up as high as possible. Never use them when your pet is in the same room and air out the house after cleaning with them. Never leave any residue behind. But the warning signs are clear and you and your dog will be healthier and safer if you use cleaning products that are pet safe.

Hi My name is Tonka

My name is Tonka and I am new to rescue. My mom surrendered me because she loved me. She opened a new daycare and the little kids were sticking their fingers in my eyes. I growled to tell them to stop. I was a bit stressed with all those kids. I was put in the laundry room with my friend the pug.
I am good with kids that treat me well. My mom had grandkids that came over and I liked them alot. I am good with other dogs. I wasn't around kitties. I am in foster care and Midwest Mastiff Rescue will get to know me before I'm up for adoption. I am 4 years old. I could stand to lose a few pounds but couldn't we all? So far I like everyone that I meet. I would love to have a forever family.

IN032110-1

JUGGERNAUT

Juggernaut's story is not unusual but worth telling. He was purchased and not trained and eventually banished to the backyard to live a lonely life. He was removed from the owners due to neglect. He was taken in by Happy Tails Animal Shelter in Sterling IL and they worked very hard with him and gave him hope. The Shelter turned him over to Midwest Mastiff Rescue. Lucky for him he was fostered by a nice couple who continued working with him getting him out of his shell. He had given up and had shut down. They took him to training and watched him respond and become interested. He came back to life with alot of love and patience. He went to his forever home in Ohio on the 13th of February and is doing great.

"Just wanted to say thank you so much for rescuing Juggernaut from the horrible life that he had and letting us adopt him. We have had two Mastiffs in the past and we lost our last one this past November. Home was not the same without one. We decided to rescue and we are so glad that we did. Juggernaut is a blessing. He is such a joy and so full of love. Our home is complete and the ache from our loss has stopped. We will always miss our babies. Mike and Terri were his foster family and now they are part of our family. They did a terrific job with Juggernaut and the adoption process. I think Juggernaut knows that we are his forever home. He loves to play with his toys and to be by our side.
Thanks so much

Don & Vicky

MURRAY

Murray was left at a shelter in Indiana. He got his second chance with a great family in IL. Murray now has 2 brothers to play with.
"He is such a part of the family. A hug can't occur without his getting into the mix. He just wants to be with us all of the time. That is what we love about him. We are loving Murray and can't imagine what it was like without him.
Bill, Laura, Joshua, Sean and Murray

Little Girl

I was someone's pet. I had a name and I had a family. I am approximately 2 years old. I was found on the road and was picked up by the shelter. A kind volunteer contacted Midwest Mastiff Rescue and I am getting a chance for a new future with a family.

I love kid, people and dogs. I will need training since I am so happy and I jump for joy when I meet people.

I am heartworm positive. That means that without treatment I will die early. Treatment is expensive and I will be in foster care for a long time.

Remember to keep your dogs on heartworm preventative.
Save a life and adopt your next pet from a shelter or a rescue.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER JERSEY

Foster mom Terri got the call about Jersey on July 31st. "Jersey's family was being evicted that day and no one would take her. The shelters were full. A friend and I were on the road in a matter of minutes. Jersey was in terrible shape. She was emaciated with open sores over her backside. She was bald and could not sit still from her discomfort. A visit to the vet confirmed sarcoptic mange, whipworms and a fungal infection. She spent time separated from the other dogs. We had to change our clothes and scrub down when handling Jersey in the early days. There were lots of medicated baths. As the itching stopped, Jersey started to gain weight. Her quality of life started to improve. We decided that after watching her blossom we could not let this sweet girl go.
She now spends her days lounging on the couch or relaxing in the yard with 2 other Mastiffs. She makes us laugh everyday and has been a precious addition to our family.

Here are pictures of Jersey today in her new home. Her future has
changed since her former family
gave her up and her new family knew the rewards of adopting.

    

DUKE

Duke came from a shelter. There was no explanation why he was left there. He resides in northern Indiana and is doing well. He loves his family! Mom says that he's up to 114# at last visit. He is accustom to being part of the family. His favorite things are curling up at the end of the couch or in bed with anyone in the family. He thinks of himself as a lap dog. He will sing for treats or ear rubs. They feel like their lives are richer since bringing him home. He is fun, loving and always happy to see them come home.

"Thank you to Midwest Mastiff Rescue. We can't thank you enough for bringing him into our lives"

HERE'S HOLLY!

It has been a great day. I had a bath and I don't smell anymore. I smell like lavender since foster dad put oils on me. I like to play with the other dogs here. I ran in the snow today. I am the one on the right in the video. Yes I am small. I am respectful of the old ladies Georgia and Mildred. I don't care about the parrot. I am working on the counter surfing. A little kindness and patience and I will make a great family member. I feel so relaxed and I am loving that fireplace.

I played with Ted and Flower. I think that I would like to have a pal in my new home. I can get along with just about anyone. I love not being tied out. I haven't had any accidents and I am crate trained. Sometimes I get nervous and I have to be coaxed out of the crate. I will cry but someone comes in and tells me it's ok. I would like a fenced yard because as you can see, I love to run.

KADA BEAR

Kada was left behind in a rental property. The owner of the property and the neighborhood was kind enough to contact rescue. In the meantime the neighborhood made sure that she had plenty of food and water at all times.



Kada resides in Gurnee, IL with her family who think she's a special girl. She now gets to go camping during the summer and is good with the other 2 Mastiffs in the family. She is living the good life.

New Year - New Beginnings AMELIA

We often are asked... "Whatever happened to .." We are hoping to update the stories of our families and the adoptions.

Amelia came into rescue after being thrown out of a car. She was taken to the local shelter. Foster mom Jean noticed that she was a very sick girl. It was questionable at first that she would survive the upper respiratory infection. With daily breathing
treatments and IV drips she came around after a few days.

Amelia is alive and well and living in Chicago. She lives with mom Clemencia, dad Michael and furry sister Bailey.

Meet Indiana Holly

Holly came into a high kill shelter. An animal lover contacted rescue for help.

She is a small girl who will probably not get bigger. It takes her a little while to warm up to new people. It appears that she has spent most of her time at the end of a chain. She will start class soon with her foster family. She would be nice with a family that likes to hang out at home with the dogs. She is shy but is so very sweet. Updates will follow!

Newest Addition

Here is the newest addition to Midwest Mastiff Rescue. He is approximately 2 1/2 years old and is a sweet boy. He was rescued December 21, 2009 and there will be more information and pictures to follow along with information on a new girl rescued today. If you would like to make a donation or foster any of your rescues please contact us at the links listed here on our blog. Happy Holidays!

Halloween Tips from ASPCA

Halloween can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for your pets. The ASPCA would like to offer some common-sense tips to help you protect them:
Don't leave your pets out in the yard on Halloween: there are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, even killed pets on this night.
Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets: chocolate is poisonous to a lot of animals, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.
Be careful of pets around a lit pumpkin: pets may knock it over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned.
Don't dress the dog in costume unless you know he loves it. Otherwise, it puts a lot of stress on the animal.
If you do dress up your dog, make sure the costume isn't constricting, annoying or unsafe.
Be careful not to obstruct his or her vision; even the sweetest dogs can get snappy when they can't see what's going on around them.
All but the most social dogs should be kept in a separate room during trick-or-treat visiting hours; too many strangers in strange garb can be scary for a dog.
Be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart out through an open door.
While this can be a fun time for people and pets alike, remember that your pets are depending on you to keep them safe from the more dangerous goblins and ghouls that this holiday brings.

Little Debbie is Looking for a Long Term Foster to Adopt

This is Little Debbie she is approximately 3 years old. She was found roaming a wooded area where she was dumped and she seemed to be living off of vegetation and bugs.

She is underweight and is gained a little weight since coming into rescue. She had a cyst removed from her front shoulder area,was spayed and both are healing nicely.

Debbie is a very sweet girl who wants to be loved. She is very affectionate and is so happy to finally have attention. It seems that she has never been on a leash and tends to pull a little when walking. She is a little timid when she first meets you but warms up quickly. She is need of a long term foster home to adopt. This will allow her to feel secure and completely heal physically and mentally. She is a very lovable, sweet natured mastiff looking for a wonderful loving family.

If you are interested in Little Debbie please contact tate5122@msn.com and visit our website at www.midwestmastiffrescue.org to complete an application.

Amelia is Looking for A FUREVER Home

Amelia is a female English Mastiff about three years old. She is very loving with women and she is a little shy towards men but does warm up nicely. She is a very sweet girl and gets along other dogs. Amelia is very playful and loves to be with her family. Amelia likes to go on walks and walks well on a leash and seems to have had some sort of training. She is in Indiana with her foster family.

Amelia is looking for a family with older children and a family who is very patient and just wants a great dog to love. Also, she will do very well with a companion to play with and learn from. If you are interested in Amelia please visit our website and complete an application or contact tate5122@msn.com. Please help us find Amelia a wonderful home.

Hi, My Name is Kada

Hi my name is Kada. I was left behind by my family possibly because of a divorce. My owners left me in the backyard and I had no food or water for a few days. My nice neighbors saw me in the backyard and they fed me, gave me water, and brought me inside. They called Midwest Mastiff Rescue to come get me. The neighbors said the owner was going to drive me to the country and drop me off. I can't imagine why since I have been with them since I was a baby. There must have been a mistake.

A volunteer with Midwest Mastiff Rescue picked me up and took me to his house. I got a much needed bath and I feel wonderful! My ears are infected but they are being worked on. They feel better now that the gunk is being cleaned out of them. I'm a very happy beautiful girl. I don't ask for much from anyone. I like to have my belly rubbed if at all possible. I tend to snort when you do this. I like to be around everyone but I am content having a roof over my head. I don't tear things up and I am a good girl. I am a mature woman so I won't tell you my age. Actually I don't know my age but I will have an idea after I go to the vet. One of the neighbors believes that I am 5. I LOVE riding around and I LOVE the wind in my face, mouth and the flapping of my tongue. If someone says "let's go" then I'm ready! I am good with puppies and I am adjusting to the other women (4 legged) here. The foster family was told that I'm good with cats. I do talk a lot just so you know. My foster family says that I am a no maintenance dog. I am potty trained and just happy being near you. Please consider adopting a mature gal like me.

XOXO

Kada

Lookout! Flea & Tick Season is Among Us!

Fleas are external parasites, living off the blood of mammals. Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about 5 or 6 weeks after the weather starts to warm up.



Warning Signs that you dog or cat may have fleas!!
*Sratching/biting at their skin. Fleas bite-they hurt-your pet wants them off!

*If infested with fleas, your pet can become very nervous and annoyed.

*Black Specks on your pet's skin or in your dog's or cat's bed may be "flea dirt"--the fecal matter from adult fleas. This can be usually seen more easily on a pets back or belly area.


Ticks are blood feeding external parasites of mammals, birds, and reptiles throughout the world. Ticks prefer to live in woods, tall grass, weeds and brush. They climb onto low vegetation and attach to suitable hosts which pass by, including pets and people. When they detect vibrations and chemical cues such as host odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, ticks will fall from their perch or stretch out (holding on to their perch with only 2 or 4 of their rear legs) and hope to snag or attach onto a passing host. Ticks are also capable of detecting shadows cast by a passing host.


Be careful! Ticks can be dangerous to both pets and humans. Many ticks carry bacteria and disease such as: Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and/or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Prevention:
Help prevent your pet from having problems with fleas & ticks by using preventative products which can be pruchased from your vet, or local pet stores, such as: Frontline, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Bio-Spot. Ask your vet which is right for your pet.

If your pet already has fleas/ticks: Many of these same products are also used to treat flea infestations. You also need to treat your home, pet's bedding and living area, along with your car (esp. if you transport your pet with fleas).

For a more natural remedy, Shear Paradise offers ALL-NATURAL, NON-TOXIC flea and tick baths too. (no dips or pesticides)
_________________________________________________________

Cash

Cash is 18 months old and he was rescued from a pound in Indiana. After a little digging we determined Cash was hit by a car and dumped by his owner. He has permanent damage to the left side of his body but he is not letting this put him down. Cash has a beautiful spirit and is planning on enjoying life. Cash was recently neutered and in June he will have surgery on his leg. Midwest Mastiff Rescue received a donation to help offset a lot of the medical expenses for Cash.

There are so many wonderful people out there willing to donate money to help with medical and living expenses. We are so grateful for all the help we receive. If you would like more information regarding volunteer opportunities please check out our website and complete a volunteer application.

A Forever Family for Addyson

Here is a special note from Addyson's new family.

After much soul searching, and even more researching, we decided an English Mastiff would certainly fit the bill, as an addition to our family. We began looking, all the time our beloved German Shepherd Dog Zues, was slipping away to DM (spinal paralysis). Zues took to a wheelchair very well, and even though at 12 ½ years old, and knowing he had had a good long life, it was still a devastating shock when he passed away in our arms – that boy had such heart!



I began looking in earnest. Even though my husband said he just wasn’t ready – I wrote breeders, went to dog shows – then after much talking, we decided to look to someone who REALLY needed a home – a rescue dog. This, was going to be hard, we both knew, with our somewhat unusual lifestyle – a 9 year old cat, 2 horses, 2 miniature donkeys, and 15 chickens. Although we wanted to share our life and give a home to someone who needed it, we both knew an older dog would be a HUGE challenge, and potentially a dangerous situation.



Then who did I see but Little Miss Addyson. A PUPPY Mastiff! Holy Smokes, we couldn’t believe it! Against all odds, but with all our heart, we applied to be considered, and with God at our back, and Addyson’s foster Mom Jean at our front, we finally went to pick her up.



We’ll never be able to thank Mid-West Mastiff Rescue enough for such a joyful addition to our family. From the first moment we saw her online, we knew she was our baby – and thankfully she now is. Jean, the foster Mom, did such a wonderful job, that made Addyson’s transition to yet another home not all THAT scary. She was such a good girl, and adjusted surprisingly quickly. One thing that was so nice, is that Jean let us know up front all about her, and questioned us extensively to make sure that a good fit was being made.



For all of you who may have also seen Little Miss Addyson and surely wanted her, I can tell you that this little girl is SO loved – not only by her forever Mommy and Daddy, but also by her little 9 year old rescue cat that adores her (and after thoroughly cleaning her face every night sleeps with her) – two Andalusian Stallions that are amused at her puppy antics and gently put up with her puppy play time, 2 miniature donkey brothers that calmly watch as she wants to play SO badly with them, and 15 chickens that have decided they’ve now got an exercise coach that will keep them in shape.



This little girl is already loved by all the storekeepers in our small town, and has adapted so well, it’s like she was born here. Kudo’s to Shirley and all of the people at Mid-West Mastiff Rescue – and especially Jean, our little girls foster mom. You can be assured that these wonderful people truly care about the charges and responsibilities they accept, and want only the best for these little souls that deserve a forever home.



Thanks guys, for giving us our little girl. She is a joy and light to our lives – and reminds us to find joy in everything – even when you get an unexpected snowstorm after you’ve already plowed your garden (grin) – (if you’d like to see a silly video of Addyson, go to www.proshowgold.com , and click on the tab called ‘sharing’, then click on ‘member name’ and type in LatitudeAndalusians – Addyson’s video is the first one)

Thanks so much to our wonderful foster and adoptive families.