Rainbow Wags August 2025
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August is National Dog Month but here at Rainbow, we celebrate dogs (and all other animals!) every day of the year! Your pup wouldn't say no to an extra treat in their honor though - how about frozen treats, chews, bones or a new toy to let them know how special our dogs are to us!
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How can summer be ending already? It’s time for Back To School! Send your favorite students off to class in the best style with a new outfit from the Rainbow clothing department. From teens to toddlers, there’s sweatshirts, jeans, boots and shoes, jackets and Tees for every student!
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If you and your dog enjoy walks on the beach, you should be aware of the leptospirosis outbreak among California sea lions that can put your dog – and you – at risk. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that attacks the kidneys and can cause severe illness or death. The bacteria is passed through urine, and is often found in stagnant water, or places where congregations of sea lions gather on beaches . While there is a vaccine for your dog, there is not one for humans. This summer, the outbreak in sea lions arrived earlier than usual and sick animals have been documented along northern California beaches.
Health experts advise that people taking their dogs to the beach keep them leashed and far away from marine wildlife. The lepto vaccine is very effective – talk to your veterinarian about the annual vaccination. Early detection of the infection is vital: once the bacteria has attacked the kidneys, the recovery percentages are very low. Contact your vet immediately if your dog develops a fever, becomes lethargic, has a loss of appetite, or starts vomiting.
Learn more about Leptospirosis, and the current outbreak in marine mammals:
Leptospirosis in Dogs – American Veterinary Medical Association
Fatal kidney disease in sea lions along CA coast could impact pets, marine biologists warn – ABC News
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Leptospirosis can “affect people and animals, including pets and farm animals, rodents, and wild animals like wild pigs and marine mammals.” Dogs are one of the most at-risk animals for contacting this bacteria, but what about cats? While cats can become infected with Lepto, compared to other animals, they are considered resistant and rarely show symptoms. The bad news is, cats may shed the leptospirosis bacteria in their urine for years, making it possible to pass along the bacteria to humans and other pets. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Lepto in cats available in the United States.
For a list of animals who can contract Leptospirosis and symptoms and treatments, see the CDC’s leptospirosis web page.
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The Fair Season is not over! Join Rainbow Ag and support the Youth at these upcoming Fairs.
Lake County Fair – August 28 – 31 “A Blast From the Past”
Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show – September 12 – 14
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Pet-Fix Lake County did it again! Over the August 8 – 10 weekend, 203 Cats and Dogs were spayed and neutered. And they are going to do it again in September! Although the sign-up period is closed for the September event, you can learn more and volunteer or donate to help pet owners in Lake County reduce the overpopulation of stray animals. Pet Fix is a volunteer driven partnership with Clearlake Animal Association, Dogwood Animal Rescue and SPCA of Lake County. Their goal is to offer affordable spay/neuter surgeries to the animal residents of Lake County to address the overpopulation crisis.
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Hey, everyone! Trivia Is Back!
Enter to win a $15 Rainbow Coupon, good on any purchase at any Rainbow store. All correct answers go into a random drawing.
The August question is, what animal rarely shows symptoms if infected with leptospirosis?