Category: Other Interests

We live in an age of almost instantaneous information. 24-hour news stations, talk radio, and the Internet have revolutionized the way we think and educate ourselves. It is easier than ever to research a topic and make decisions about almost any subject, even the medical care of our families and our pets. But how do we decide what is the best advice on caring for our four legged family members? For most pet owners their veterinarian is their primary source for advice. In fact, veterinarians consistently rank in the Top 5 of America’s most trusted professions. Despite these warm feelings of trust, the urge and desire to save money on our pet’s care is a big factor in who pet owners will turn to for advice. One example would be the increase in chat rooms, blogs, and other media sources that highlight pet “experts” other than veterinarians. Anyone can post information on the Web. There is no requirement that the person actually be an expert. And while much valuable information can be found, there is also much that is inaccurate or just plain incorrect or dangerous. When it comes to understanding how all aspects of a pet’s environment, genetics, physical health, and even mental and emotional health are related, your family veterinarian, with his or her years of intensive post-graduate training in medicine and surgery, is still the best choice to provide you with the answers you need. Veterinarians have either a D.V.M. or a V.M.D. degree. This Doctor of Veterinary Medicine designation is your assurance of proper training and the completion of a university accredited curriculum. Just like your doctor, some veterinarians become specialists, focusing on internal medicine, dermatology, or even family practice. Knowing this, a good place to start to find accurate and up-to-date information on animal health care, is your veterinarian’s web site. Most veterinary sites have links to pre-approved veterinary medical sites, such as www.veterinarypartner.com or sites associated with the nearest veterinary teaching hospital. The best part about visiting your family veterinarian’s web site is the comfort of knowing it comes from your pet’s doctor – who knows your pet and your family best. Other trustworthy sites might include the website for the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.petsandparasites.com), the kennel club website (www.akc.org) and even some manufacturers (www.merial.com).  The huge pipeline of information that is the Internet is an incredible resource at your fingertips. But frankly it should come with a warning label – “Caution, the information you receive or the products you buy may or may not be correct. For the health care of your special pet friend you, your veterinarian and your pet are the best team to ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life. Why You Should Not Order Your Pet’s Meds from an Internet Source, Including Those Advertised on T.V. Major manufacturers of veterinary pharmaceuticals do not supply medications to internet pharmacies. There is no regulatory agency overseeing internet pharmacies. Therefore, manufacturers will not guarantee a medication or cover any medication failure or adverse reaction if the product came from an internet source. Internet pharmacies may get their supply from illicit sources within the US. Some come from overseas where the product may, or may not be equivalent. The FDA did a study where it took pharmaceutical drugs shipped into the US and sent them to a laboratory for analysis. Only 10 % met FDA standards. 80% of Canadian pharmacies are not actually located in Canada. Counterfeit medications are a large issue in other countries and the problem is seeping into the US. The EPA had a warning about counterfeit, name brand flea medicine sold on the internet. When medication is counterfeited, they also counterfeit the packaging. Ordering medicines from an internet source is a potentially dangerous and expensive way to obtain medications.

Many dog owners admire the unique looks and personalities of purebreds, but also worry about the fate of millions of pets euthanized each year. What many people don’t realize is that there are specific breed rescue organizations for almost every breed of dog, placing dogs in need to new homes. Rescue groups are an invaluable resource in the on-going battle to keep millions of pets from being euthanized. With armies of volunteers, these organizations not only rescue their specific breed from shelters and other situations, but also provide them with medical care. In many cases, these dogs are rescued just days – even hours – before euthanasia is scheduled. Patricia Humphries, a board member with the Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue says the success of rescue groups is due in part to their method of pairing dogs with owners. With a breed rescue, both dogs and applicants are carefully screened to help find the right match between an individual dog and its new family. Many of the millions of pets found in shelters each year are repeat surrenders. Behavior issues, medical problems, or lack of knowledge keeps these pets returning. In breed rescues, the overall goal is to find each and every dog its forever home. Compared to shelters, breed rescues have high success rates placing dogs in lasting homes. By evaluating the dog’s personality and thoroughly screening the potential owners, rescue groups have become proficient at matching the right dog to the right person. In addition, education about the breed before the adoption and strong follow-up support after adoption helps new owners through this transition period. Care should be taken when looking for a breed rescue. Look for an organized rescue with a good website that is updated regularly. The rescue should have 501c3 non-profit status and a set adoption process. Humphries stresses patience when adopting from a breed rescue. Expect to fill out an application, provide references and have a home check done. In most cases, a good rescue organization may take one to three weeks for the entire adoption process. New owners should expect to pay an adoption fee or donation, ranging from $100 up to $500. Ultimately, these groups are all non-profit. Adoption donations and fees allow the rescues to provide continued care for their foster animals and reach out to more dogs in need. Dogs aren’t the only lucky recipients of this type of attention! Purebred cat rescues exist, as well as rabbit rescues, horse groups and even organizations devoted to rescuing exotic pets such as turtles and other reptiles. If you want to acquire a new purebred pet, consider saving a life as well! Look for a breed rescue in your area. An easy way to find rescues is to search for your breed on the Internet. Go to Google.com and type your breed into the search box along with “rescue” and your state. Check out www.petfinder.com and www.akc.org as well. Purebred Rescue Groups- Finding Forever Families Purebred rescue groups search for and remove their specific breeds from shelters. Sometimes, the animals are saved just days or hours before euthanasia. These dedicated groups are focused on matching the right pet to the right owner. They want to find each pet their “forever home”. Some people think that rescue groups only get pets with behavioral or medical problems. But, the truth is many young healthy pets end up in rescue as well. Prospective adopters should prepare themselves for a lengthy application and interview process when dealing with rescue groups. Because of their commitment to finding the right home for the pet, rescue groups might require a home visit prior to adoption. This is in addition to numerous interviews. Because of their devotion, breed rescue groups often have higher success rates at placing pets than most shelters. These groups are all non-profit organizations and rely on donations and adoption fees to continue their work to save pets. Rescue groups exist for dogs, cats, horses, and even exotic pets.

Hot dogs may be a popular summertime treat for baseball fans and backyard cookouts, but allowing our canine friends to overheat is a potential fatal disaster!  Keeping our pets cool as the temperatures heat up doesn’t have to be a challenge if you keep a few easy facts in mind. Dogs don’t sweat like us; therefore, they rely on panting to cool themselves down during a warm day.  Even just a few hours in the hot sun can spell tragedy for the pet and the owner.  Everyone has heard about the horrors of dogs left in cars during summer days, but many of our pets can overheat easily in their own backyard. Dogs need access to plenty of cool water and shade if they are going to be left outside for any extended period of time during warm weather.  Even the seasoned “outdoor dogs” can succumb to higher temperatures if adequate shade and water are not provided.   Short faced breeds, like Boxers and Bulldogs, are at higher risk because of their inability to pant effectively. Signs that your pet may be experiencing heat stroke include:  an inability to stand, weakness while standing, vigorous panting, thick ropy saliva, and occasionally, bright red mucous membranes. This situation is a medical emergency!!  Your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian without delay.  Immediately bring your pet to a cooler area out of the sun and apply cool, but not cold, water to the extremities.  A fan is often very helpful as well.  As soon as you can, load your dog into the car and go to your veterinarian.   Elevated body temperatures can be fatal to your pet in a matter of minutes! Don’t let a preventable pet emergency spoil your summertime fun!

Winter is a time of cold weather festivals, holiday parties, and changing weather. For pets and pet owners, this season can bring its own unique set of challenges and hazards. Keeping your pet safe during this time of year will require some preparation and homework. Family gatherings and get-togethers can be a potential trial for pet owners. With so many strangers and so much food, many pets will take advantage of this situation to the fullest. Be sure to tell your party guests to avoid feeding the four-legged vacuum cleaner. Many of the traditional holiday foods can possibly be dangerous or even deadly to your pet. If your dog or cat will not behave, you may have to relegate them to their room for the duration of the festivity. Holiday plants, such as mistletoe and holly, have been known to cause severe stomach upset to dogs and lilies of any sort are almost certainly deadly to cats. Artificial decorations pose their own threats. Glass ornaments can cut, electric cords can burn if chewed upon, and the traditional strands of tinsel often end up causing an obstruction in the belly of a cat. Outside, the situation might actually worsen. A very common poisoning during the winter months is car antifreeze. Antifreeze has a very sweet taste and most dogs and cats will readily consume it. If you suspect your pet of drinking antifreeze, you must act immediately and contact your veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital. The colder temperatures can be rough on older pets, especially those with arthritis. For pets who live outdoors, be sure to supply them with adequate shelter and a source of water that will not freeze over. Pets and people can enjoy the beauty that winter has to offer, but it always pays to be prepared.

According to a survey of pet owners by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), more than 53% of dog and cats will travel with their owners. With the upcoming busy travel season, what are the best ways of traveling with your best friend? It has been said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. For pet owners preparing to travel by plane or car, a few ounces of preparation and time will prevent future heartaches and frustrations on the trip. First, make sure that your pet has proper identification on him or her at all times. This can be something as simple as an ID tag on his collar, but a more permanent solution would be the use of an implantable microchip. Next, make sure you have copies of vaccination records and needed medications easily accessible during the trip. You might even ask your family veterinarian for a recommendation of an emergency hospital near your destination. And finally, do your homework. Some airlines and travel sites may require a health certificate for your pet. This document must be dated within 10 days of the start of your travels. For pets who will be flying with their owners, good communication with the airlines is a must. In all cases, your four legged friend needs to be over 8 weeks old and weaned for at least 5 days. Most airlines will require the above mentioned health certificate and all recommend arriving at the airport early to insure the smooth check-in of your pet. Kennels that will be checked into the cargo area must be non-collapsible, large enough to allow the pet to stand and have a leak-proof bottom covered with absorbent material. Be sure to check the weather at home and at your destination. Some specific breeds and individual pets may not do well, especially during the warmer temperatures of summer. Airlines may refuse to transport pets if the temperature exceeds 85 degrees in the cargo hold or is less than 45 degrees anywhere along the itinerary. American Airlines, for example, requires a veterinarian’s statement that the pet is acclimated to cold weather if the temperature drops below 45 degrees. Many owners are very worried about the safety of their pets in flight and during boarding procedures. According to the website, www.dryfur.com, the majority of accidents and injuries that happen to pets are the result of poor quality carriers or kennels that are missing pieces. Again, a few moments of preparation by the owner can avoid a loss or death of their pet. And for those owners who have contemplated sedation for their pets, the answer is a resounding NO! The AVMA, and the American Humane Association both agree empathically that sedation during flight is a risk pet owners should not take. Traveling by car may be less complex than air travel, but due to the longer time frames, owners need to plan rest stops and exercise times for their animal companions. The AVMA recommends that you keep a jug of fresh water in the car to avoid times when reliable water sources may not be available. Pets will travel better with small amounts of food and water in their system frequently rather than allowing the pet to eat his or her normal ration. Cats should be kept in carriers or cages during travel to avoid potential accidents if the pet gets “underfoot” of the driver. When you reach your destination, be sure that you are aware of pet-friendly hotels and campsites in the area. Also, veterinary and animal experts recommend owners to be “considerate” and have a kennel or crate available. There are many sites online that can help you find lodging that allow pets. At www.petswelcome.com, over 25,000 hotels and other locations that allow pets are listed. For owners who will be camping with their dogs, veterinarians recommend the application of a topical flea and tick preventative to help avoid bringing home any unwanted guests. So, as the busy travel season gets underway, remember that many problems and potential injuries can easily be avoided with a little bit of preparation and homework.

Many pet owners are just as concerned about what goes into their pet’s food as they are about their own food. With so many brands out there, how can a concerned pet lover know that they are feeding the best? How can we know what is going into our friends’ diets? With the health of their pets on the line, pet owners have shown an increased awareness and concern for how commercial pet foods are produced. Many are choosing alternative sources when providing nutrition for their pets. There are more than 15,000 brands of pet food offered in the United States and the responsibility for insuring the safety of those foods lies with the FDA, the USDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Consumers have choices ranging from dry kibble that provides convenience and a long shelf life to canned and semi moist foods that look good enough for humans to eat. Through a combination of quality ingredient selection, proper compounding, and a cooking process that destroys harmful microorganisms and enzymes, pet food manufacturers help to insure the safety of the pet’s food. The benefits derived from this attention to detail are evident in the extended longevity of our dogs and cats over the last few decades. Home cooked meals have provided a strengthening of the human-animal bond for some pet owners, but veterinary experts agree that people should take time to discuss the possible concerns of this type of diet with their veterinarian. Nutritional deficiencies can be very common when feeding meals prepared at home. Whether discussing the merits of a particular diet or trying to decide which commercial food is best for your pet, the family veterinarian is still the best choice to help you make an informed choice.

Ask your family veterinarian to talk about what he or she has found inside the stomachs of dogs and you will be in for an afternoon of stories. For a variety of reasons, our canine pets seem to enjoy gobbling up the oddest things! Recently, a leading manufacturer of veterinary x-ray products held a contest to find the oddest objects. Some of the winners included another Labrador with 14 golf balls in his stomach, a Boxer with 208 rocks of various sizes, a Pit Bull puppy who swallowed an 11 inch steak knife, and a Pug with expensive taste. The 7-month old pup had swallowed his owner’s 2-carat diamond ring! The winner of the dog category though went to the Samoyed who had 8 batteries of differing sizes, from a “D” cell all the way down to AAA, a plastic raccoon, 7 rocks, a marble, 2 broken light bulbs, machine parts, and a variety of staples. Many of these pictures can be seen below. Most amazingly, from the follow up reports, everyone of these pets has done fine and most left their veterinarian’s hospital the next day wagging their tails and anxious to head home. What perplexes many owners, and many veterinarians, is why the dogs are eating these objects in the first place. Some items can be obvious, for example, pieces of glass from a broken spaghetti sauce jar could easily end up in the abdomen of a dog hurrying to finish off the tasty treat. Others, such as the sticks and rocks, are less obvious as to why they were eaten and even more curious is how many of these dogs swallow items without damaging themselves and why they continue the habit. Keeping the voracious dog from eating all manner of things can be a challenge in itself as well. To keep your pet from making an emergency trip to the animal hospital, veterinarians recommend the following: Keep all garbage behind a secure door or cabinet. Use baby gates or closed doors to create “off-limits” areas for your dog. Monitor your dog while walking. Many pets will find irresistible treats, such as corn cobs and walnuts, while enjoying the day in the park. Being proactive and picking up leftover food, utensils, and other items after eating can help to curb the dog’s desire as well. While some of the pictures in this article are amusing and the stories have all ended happily, it is important to remember that these pets underwent painful surgeries. Their owners likely suffered anguish and worry as their dogs were at the veterinary hospital and the retrieval of these items likely cost more than $1000 at each occurrence.

Christmas time advertisements often picture a happy family with a bright eyed, ribbon adorned puppy licking the children’s faces. But, is giving a pet as a gift likely to create a winter wonderland or a potential blue Christmas? It may be an honored and even adorable holiday tradition, but animal experts and animal lovers alike all agree that puppies and kittens should not make an ideal gift for the season. Although giving a pet as a present is often portrayed in movies, art, and literature as a thoughtful, even romantic gesture, groups such as the Humane Society of the United States and even many veterinarians point out a variety of reasons why animals do not make good gifts. Animal behaviorists point out that a crucial socialization period for puppies and kittens often happens between seven and twelve weeks of age. Fears and avoidance behavior learned at this time can be difficult to overcome. It is easy to see that the chaos of holiday noise, seldom seen relatives, and even, irregular hours for the family could potentially be a scary situation for a new puppy recently removed from his familiar mom and siblings. Besides the effects on the pet, animal experts point out that the Christmas season provides many other detriments to giving a puppy or kitten as a gift. Limited hours by many veterinarians, weather related concerns, and even the short attention span of some children can all have a negative effect on the pet and its relationship with the family. Statistics quoted by humane groups show that a large percentage of holiday pets will not live to see a second Christmas. Choosing to give a pet as a holiday gift is a tradition that many animal groups would like to see disappear.

On a low carb diet? Planning on sharing some of those low calorie dessert treats with your canine friends? STOP! That sugar-free snack you think is good for you and your dog could actually send you to the veterinarian! The sugar substitute, Xylitol, has been a great development in the fight against tooth decay and in helping diabetics gain better control over their disease. However, this popular sweetener may be devastating to the family pet. New research now being released shows that ingestion of Xylitol by dogs can cause liver failure and even death. Reports from the ASPCA Poison Control Center show the number of Xylitol related pet exposures is on the rise and that rise has many veterinarians and pet owners concerned. For years, veterinarians have suspected that Xylitol could make dogs sick, but an article in the October issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) has documented the outcomes of several cases of Xylitol ingestions in dogs from 2003 to 2005. Five of eight dogs died or had to be euthanized due to complications stemming from Xylitol ingestion. Often found in human mints, sugar-free gums, toothpastes, and sweets, Xylitol, has been a popular sugar substitute since the 1960s. However, researchers found that even small amounts of Xylitol can cause liver damage and even death in dogs. Dogs that ingest large amounts of Xylitol have sudden and profound drops in blood sugar levels, leading to weakness and uncoordinated movements. Occasionally, seizures may be seen as well. However, even small amounts of Xylitol are not safe. As little as 1 gram of Xylitol can set off a chain of events leading to liver damage. A dog could receive this amount in just a few candies or sticks of gum containing this sugar substitute. Xylitol can also be found in children’s chewable multi-vitamins, certain cough medications and even mouthwashes. Although most pet owners routinely give some sort of “people food” to their dogs, the JAVMA report should be a wake up call, showing that many foods that are safe for humans can be harmful to pets. Any pet owner concerned about anything their dog has ingested should seek veterinary medical attention immediately.

Each year almost 5 million dog bites are reported across North America and it is a rare evening on the nightly news when a dog attack is not reported. Yet, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinarians and their staff make up a very small percentage of those bites in spite of their obvious risk factors. What can we learn from them to avoid being bitten by a dog? According to veterinarian and behaviorist, Dr. Kersti Seksel, being aware of a dog’s warning signs can help people avoid the dog’s teeth. Almost everyone is aware that a growling dog who is baring his teeth is aggressive and likely to bite, but other warning signs might be less obvious and include raised hackles, overall tenseness, and even a slowly wagging tail. It would appear that veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other veterinary personnel have learned to quickly read the dog’s body language and adjust their movements and actions accordingly. But not all dogs will read from the same book. Some pets have been punished for growling or snarling and therefore may provide little to no warning before lashing out at someone. Prospective dog owners should research their desired breed and then take the time and effort to attend puppy socialization classes and even obedience training. If you have children in your household, their education should also be considered. Young children, especially young boys, should be taught never to approach a strange dog. Additionally, if the behavior of the dog seems to be unusual, teach children to stand still, keeping eyes downcast, and to remain quiet. Children should never run towards an unknown dog, even if the owner is present. Teaching children to ask an owner about petting a new dog can be a big step in avoiding potential dog bite situations. For more information about avoiding dog bites, contact us at 803-438-1223 about appropriate dog breeds and effective dog training.