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Did you know...
Dogs & cats can get diabetes? Signs to look for are increase in thirst, urinations, and weight loss.
November is Pet Diabetes Month in conjunction with the American Diabetes Month. Go to www.petdiabetesmonth.com to learn more.
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Don't Let The Holidays Be Hazardous For Your Pets |
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The holidays are a joyous time that we all look forward to, but it's also a time when pet owners must pay special attention to keep their pets safe from foods that can make them illor worse. Planning for guests and cooking that big turkey will all the trimmings can cause even the most loving owner to overlook what dangerous foods their pets might be eating.
The holidays are the happiest time of year for all of us, but they can be extremely hazardous to beloved pets. It's tempting to share bits of a delicious meal with our furry friends, but doing so may cause gastrointestinal upsets, and in the case of chocolate even death. The best holiday treat for pets is one made especially for them.
Pet owners should ensure visitors and houseguests, some of whom may not have pets, understand what can and cannot be fed to animals. Offer to let guests feed your pets their usual pet treats, explaining why it is important that your animals don't eat people treats like candy.
Watch visiting children closely to be sure they don't "share" with Fluffy or Fido.
Here are seven tips to help you protect your animal friends during the holiday season.
1. Try to avoid feeding your pet leftovers from the holiday meal. A little tidbit of turkey or ham may be safe, but don't overdo it. Holiday foods tend to have a high fat content, and this can cause stomach upsets for your pet. Dogs given too much turkey can even develop pancreatitisa serious and often deadly condition. Holiday foods can add extra calories, so it's best to stick to their normal diet.
2. Make sure your pets don't get any poultry bones. They break off easily and can cause a cat or dog to choke to death. Additionally, if poultry bones are swallowed, they can puncture the intestines. Only large soup bones are safe for dogs.
3. Every holiday seems to include some sort of traditional candy or sweet, but remember that sugar is not good for animals. Pets can choke on hard candies, or the tinfoil or cellophane wrappers. Tinfoil can cut a pet's mouth, and if swallowed, cut their intestines.
4. Although chocolate is a favorite with humans, it is among the most dangerous food items for dogs. A 20-pound dog that eats a pound of chocolate can suffer seizures and even die. They may become hyperactive and excited, and may vomit. The effect of the chemical theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous. It can increase the dog's heart rate or cause the heart to beat irregularly. When these effects are combined with exercise, the result can be fatal. Because signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, call your veterinarian immediately if your dog eats a large amount of chocolate.
5. Any food that is not "pet food" has the potential to harm your pets. Table scraps like pasta, meat, eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables are usually okay in small quantities, but some can be harmful even one time. Onions contain a toxic ingredient that can cause gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs, and lead to severe illness. Although the toxic compound is unidentified, we do know that macadamia nuts can cause weakness or paralysis of the hindquarter of dogs. Fortunately, dogs usually recover after a time, but it is a painful experience for them.
6. Other foods you should avoid giving your pets include: puddings and creamy deserts, gravies, heavy cheese sauces, cheese chunks, broccoli, raisins, grapes, potato peelingsand of course, alcohol.
7. Don't place presents containing candy, especially chocolate, or other edibles under the Christmas tree if your pets stay indoors. | |
"Paws" before Giving a Pet for a Holiday Gift
And other tips to protect our animal friends this holiday season
Thoughts of the Winter Holidays bring to mind cold weather, the smell of cookies baking, Christmas trees surrounded by presents, menorahs, and homes filled with family and friends. All of these harbingers of the holidays bring joy to our hearts, but they also present potential harm to our beloved pets.
Christmas and Hanukkah are a joyous time of year, but pet owners must keep a special watch on their animals to protect them from the hazards of the holidays. Pet owners must make sure their pets are safe from potential danger both inside and outside of the house. Here are 11 tips to help you protect our animal friends during the Winter Holidays:
1. Remember pets that don't fit can't be returned. Giving a pet as a holiday gift takes planning. First, you have to make sure the person really wants a pet, and he or she realizes the responsibilities of taking care of the pet. A new pet is a member of the family, and not everyone has time to appreciate this fact amid the bustle of festivities. It's often advised to wait a week or two after Christmas before giving the pet, to make sure the pet doesn't get injured in all the holiday activity.
2. Christmas trees and pets are a recipe for disaster! Try to place decorations above paw level; use no breakable ornaments; use string, rather than hooks, to attach ornaments; and make sure electrical cords are out of chewing reach.
3. A ten-pound cat two thirds of the way up your tree spells T-I-M-B-E-R! Live trees should be held in place by tying the top of the tree with nylon wire and securing it to a hook in the ceiling.
4. Both dogs and cats will eat tinsel or angel hair, which can cause severe intestinal problems. Tinsel and other string-like objects have a tendency to get stuck under a cat's tongue or in the outflow area of the stomach and can't pass through the digestive system. The result is severe injury and potential infection of the abdominal cavity. Angel hair is made of spun glass and can irritate the skin, cut or damage the eyes, and if eaten, cause intestinal blockage.
5. Pets can be shocked, burned and even electrocuted if they chew on electrical cords. Play it safe by running cords through PVC pipe or hiding them under rugs or behind furniture.
6. Poinsettias, mistletoe, holly and ivy range from mildly to extremely toxic. Eating them can cause your pet gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system or cardiac problemsor even death.
7. Gift wrap in all its many forms can be dangerous if eaten by your pet. Keep rubber bands, staples, string, ribbon, foam packaging and foil out of your pet's reach. Some of these can cause serious complications if ingested. Put away all wrapping materials when you are through with them.
8. Chocolate is the most dangerous holiday food hazard for dogs. It can cause theobromine poisoning which is an overstimulation of the nervous system, and can be fatal. Bones can cause choking and internal punctures for cats and dogs. Too much spicy, fatty or sweet food can bring on gastric upset and pancreatitis. Never leave any food unattended when pets are around. Your pets will have a happier holiday by sticking to their regular diet!
9. Beware the holiday visitors who share their dinner with your pets, perhaps even giving them treats that are bad for them. Explain to visitors that certain foods can harm animals, and then give them a few pet treats to offer instead. Keep a special eye on small children who might not know how to handle or play with your pets.
10. Flames or dripping wax can burn pets or singe their whiskersnot to mention the fire hazard if they knock over a burning candle. Keep the lighted Menorah out of reach, and never leave candles burning near an unattended pet.
11. Not all holiday hazards are inside your house. Be sure to keep anti-freeze out of a pet's reach! Some animals like the sweet taste of anti-freeze, but even in the smallest amounts, it can harm or kill your pet. Always give your horn a honk or two prior to starting your car to alert pets sleeping on your warm engine. Wipe off the salt used to melt ice from your pet's feet before they lick them.
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1/17/05 |
FEBRUARY IS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH |
Poor Dental Health is Dogging Pets, Too
Problems in your Pet's Mouth can Lead to Serious Health Problems
Thanks to plenty of lectures from dentists, we're all aware of the need to brush and floss our teeth regularly. But did you know that you also need to pay attention to your pet's teeth? February is National Pet Dental Health Month and a good time to become aware of the importance of proper care for your pet's pearly (or not-so-pearly) whites.
Research shows that when bacteria in your pet's mouth accumulate on his or her teeth, plaque and tartar form. Without proper oral care, this build-up of plaque and tartar may lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss. The bacteria associated with periodontal infections also have the potential to spread to other organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.
In fact, studies show that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by the time they are three years old. Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets. Fortunately, oral disease can be controlled and in some cases reversed.
"If your pet's mouth isn't healthy, then your pet isn't healthy," said Dr. Johnson. "Your pet's mouth is a big line of defense in protecting against disease, and appropriate home care is critical in helping to prevent oral disease."
The American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) recommends a three-step program to help pet owners keep their pets' mouths bacteria free and healthier:
1. Take Your Pet to the Veterinarian For a Dental Exam. Your pet's veterinarian is also your pet's dentist. As part of your pet's annual exam, he or she will receive a health checkup that includes a thorough physical exam and a dental check. If plaque and tartar build-up are a problem, your pet's veterinarian will probably recommend a dental cleaning.
2. Start a Home Dental Care Routine. Your pet's veterinarian will also suggest steps you can take at home to help keep your pet's teeth clean. This could include regular brushing and special pet foods with dental benefits.
3. Get Regular Veterinary Checkups. Follow-up is important because plaque continues to build up on your pet's teeth every day. Some pets, such as small dogs, tend to accumulate plaque and tartar more quickly. Tooth brushing and regular dental cleanings are especially important for these pets.
For more information about dental care for your pet, visit the Pets Need Dental Health, Too' site at www.petdental.com. | |
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11/16/05 |
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In the last couple of weeks of September 2005 and continuing into October, numerous warnings to dog owners about a new lethal canine disease swept the Internet. Some of these warnings contained legitimate information while others contained half-truths or information that is simply wrong. We'd like to take this time to sort out the facts from the theories from the misinformation.
What is Canine Influenza?
Let's start with what an influenza virus is. Influenza viruses are a group of viruses. There are three types (genera) of influenza viruses: Type A (including the canine influenza virus), Type B, and the less closely related Type C. They produce fever, joint pain, and respiratory signs with which we are all familiar. Death is unusual but stems from respiratory complications and is most common in the very old and very young.
The virus has on its surface an assortment of proteins that determine its "strain" or subtype, and it is against these surface proteins that our bodies mount an immune response. If a viral strain mutates and sufficiently changes its surface proteins, a new strain is created. A new strain is one where the susceptible population has no immunity and infection can spread rapidly.
Unless a mutation occurs as described, influenza virus strains are specific to host species. Human influenza only infects humans. Equine influenza only infects horses. Canine influenza only infects dogs.
Molecular studies indicate that canine influenza represents a mutation from the equine influenza virus. Canine influenza was first confirmed in a racing greyhound in 2003 and has largely been a concern of the racing greyhound industry, particularly in Florida.
Starting in April 2005, the canine influenza virus has been seen in the pet populations of many states outside of Florida, hence the recent barrage of email, news reports etc.
What Happens to the Sick Dogs?
Infection rate is high but (depending on which report one reads) 20% to 50% will simply make antibodies and clear the infection without any signs of illness at all.
The other 50% to 80% will get symptoms of the "flu:" They will have fevers, listlessness, coughing, and a snotty nose. Most dogs will recover with supportive treatment (antibiotics, possibly nebulization and/or humidification, etc.). A small percentage of dogs will actually get pneumonia. These dogs are those at risk for death and support becomes more aggressive: hospitalization, intravenous fluid therapy, etc. Most of these dogs will recover as well, as long as they receive proper care. Mortality rate is 5% to 8%.
The incubation period is 2 to 5 days and the course of infection lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Because this is an emerging disease, few dogs will have immunity to it and there is currently no vaccine. This means that any dog is a candidate for infection.
The point is not to ignore a coughing dog.
Do not allow your dog to socialize with coughing dogs.
If your dog develops a cough, see your veterinarian.
If your dog develops a snotty nose, listlessness,
and cough do not be surprised if your veterinarian
wants to look at chest radiographs and considers hospitalization.
How Is The Disease Transmitted?
Dogs that are infected will shed virus in body secretions whether or not they appear to be sick. Virus transmission can occur from direct contact with an infected dog or with its secretions. Kennel workers have been known to bring the virus home accidentally to their own pets. The virus persists on toys, bowls, collars, leashes etc.
How Are Sick Dogs Treated?
Fevers are treated with anti-pyretic medications or cool water baths. Pneumonia results from secondary bacterial infections (i.e., bacteria invades the lung after the virus has damaged the tissue and compromised its ability to defend itself). Pneumonia in dogs is virtually always secondary in this way, meaning that an initial condition damages the lung allowing bacterial invaders to settle in, and treatment is similar regardless of the cause.
One treatment that might be different in this disease vs. other pneumonias or respiratory disease is oseltamivir (Tamiflu
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