Christmas Hazards For Pets

‘Tis the season to be jolly’ -- and to keep our pets safe over the holidays.  There are many surprising hazards in the home now, such as certain foods, Christmas trees and decorations, and even visitors.  Here are few tips to keep your pet safe.

Holiday foods are the biggest hazard for our beloved pets.  Most are rich in fat, which can cause severe intestinal upset, vomiting, and diarrhoea.  Fat-rich foods can also cause life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.  Chocolate and alcoholic beverages are severely toxic to dogs and cats.  Symptoms can range from vomiting and diarrhoea to muscle tremors, unconsciousness, and death.  It is vital to tell family members and guests not to give your pets anything from the table before, during, or after dinner!

Christmas trees present dangers too. They are tempting objects for cats to climb, and their decorations attract both dogs and cats.  Trees can be knocked over easily by pets, so make sure your tree is secure.  Decorations can be lethal because cats will play with and eat string-like decorations, which can cause intestinal blockage.  Dogs may mistake glass balls for playthings and chomp down on them, cutting their mouth and digestive tract.  Cords from lights are also tempting objects to chew.  This can cause electric shock, burns to the mouth and tongue, and most importantly, fires.  Dogs may also decide to unwrap and chew presents under the tree. And dogs that eat real or fake Christmas trees can get stomach upset and intestinal blockage.  Prevent unwanted surprises -- keep your pets away from the Christmas tree, lights, and presents. 

Other holiday plants can also be toxic to dogs and cats.  If your pet chews on the leaves of poinsettia or mistletoe, it may start to drool or have mouth pain. In severe cases, vomiting and even death can result.

Prepare for the arrival of guests by setting aside a room for your pet to prevent it from getting stressed by all the activity or running out an open door.  When things have settled down, you can then bring your pet out to introduce it to everyone. 

If you follow these simple tips, everyone can have a safe and happy holiday.  Nevertheless, have your vet’s number near the phone in case of an emergency.

Keeping Your Pets Safe For Halloween

Halloween is a scary time for pets. They can get nervous when people in costumes come to the door to trick-or-treat, and they can become terrified when fireworks go off.  Here are a few tips for a happier Halloween with your pets.

Keep animals (dogs and cats) indoors for a few weeks before and after Halloween to shield them from fireworks, especially at night.  Their hearing is more sensitive than ours, so what might sound loud to you, sounds deafening to them.

Some dogs and cats will try to scratch or chew their way out of the house to escape loud noises.  Keep sensitive pets in the centre of the house. Play music with a good beat at a moderate volume.  Feed a large carbohydrate meal (pasta, bread, or rice) about an hour before sundown because carbohydrates will make your pet sleepy.  You can also give your dog a toy to keep it occupied.

There are many items available to help calm nervous pets around Halloween time.  These products can also be used for other stressful situations, such as moving, travelling, boarding, or a new addition to the household.  Most of these products are available through your veterinary surgeon.  There are now special calming food and herbal preparation savailable for both dogs and cats to cause relaxation.  There are pheromone impregnated collars, sprays and diffusers are available to help calm nervous pets.  CDs are available to help animals overcome sound phobias, but these must be used for a few months to condition the dog.  A new product on the market for anxiety and sound phobias is the Thundershirt.  These shirts exert constant, gentle pressure on the dog, causing relaxation.  I have tried many of these products on my own dogs, and they do work.

On Halloween night, keep your dog away from the front door.  Dogs get agitated by strangers coming and going, and may be inclined to bite. And don’t give your dog any Halloween candy because chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats and can make them very sick.

Make sure that your dog or cat has a collar with a legible ID tag in case it does run away.  You can also have your pet microchipped, which is particularly useful if the collar comes off.  If your pet is already microchipped, please make sure that your contact details are correct.  Animal shelters and veterinary surgeons are inundated with phone calls about pets missing around Halloween. Unfortunately, due to lack of identification, people aren’t always reunited with their beloved pets. So be prepared!

Cats should be kept indoors from now until a week after Halloween.  There are many cruetly cases involving cats around Halloween time.

Halloween decorations are fun for kids to look at, but can be lethal to our pets.  Cats and dogs can ingest fake cobwebs and other Halloween decorations, causing life-threatening intestinal blockages.  Keep carved pumpkins with lit candles out of reach because our four-footed companions can be knock them over and start fires.

Have a happy and safe Halloween with your pets.  If you are dressing up your dog for Halloween, please ensure that the costume is lose fitting and that their vision is not obstructed.  If your dog is too distressed by the costume, then remove it.

Feline Leukaemia Virus

We have been seeing an increasing number of cats with Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV). 

Feline leukemia virus infection is responsible for more deaths among cats than any other infectious disease. The virus affects domestic cats and occurs in some wild felines as well.  A cat can be infected with the virus for years before it starts to show any signs of illness.

There are three main types of feline leukemia virus.  A cat can be infected with one, two, or all three types.  The most predominant type causes a severe weakening of the immune system.  The second most common type causes tumors and abnormal tissue growth.  The least common form causes severe anaemia.  FeLV can also cause reproductive, gastrointesintal, or neurological problems.  The signs of infection are variable because FeLV affects many body systems.  However, cats will usually lose their appetite, lose weight, and become weak.

FeLV is spread from cat to cat in saliva and other secretions, such as tears, urine, and faeces.  It can also be passed from a pregnant female to the unborn kittens.  The most common modes of transmission are through bites, nose-to-nose contact, mutual grooming, and shared dishes.  After the initial infection, the virus replicates in the tonsils and lymph nodes in the head region. It spreads via the bloodstream to other parts of the body, especially the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and intestinal tissue, where it continues to replicate.  The virus usually shows up in the blood 2 to 4 weeks after the initial infection. 

FeLV infection is diagnosed by a simple blood test that can be performed by your veterinary surgeon.

How can you prevent your cat from getting FeLV?  There is a vaccine available that can be given at the same time as your cat’s yearly cat flu and enteritis injection.  Your cat should be tested for FeLV first before the vaccine is given for the first time.  Also, you should limit exposure to feral cats by keeping your cat indoors.

Obesity

OBESITY

It is becoming more common to see obese dogs.  As in people, animals carrying extra weight put stress on the organs in the body.  This can lead to disease and sometimes death.  The health risks of overweight dogs are serious, and it is important for pet owners to be aware of them.

Approximately one quarter of overweight dogs develop serous joint problems.  When joints carry excessive weight, they can become damaged.  This leads to arthritis, which is a very painful condition, and is not reversible.  It is, however, treatable.  The increased load on joints of obese pets also puts pressure on the ligaments, and can cause them to rupture.  A common injury encountered in obese, large breed dogs is a rupture of the ligaments in the knee.  This requires surgery to repair it.  Small, obese dogs, such as dachshunds, tend to develop back problems.

Similar to people, overweight animals are prone to heart disease and increased blood pressure.  This is due to an increase in workload by the heart to pump additional blood to the excess tissues. 

In overweight animals, the lungs can not function properly.  The additional fat in the chest and abdomen restricts the expansion of the lungs.  This results in your dog becoming breathless very easily.

Obesity affects all of the organ systems in the body.  Diabetes can develop.  This will require a life-time of insulin injections and special diets.  The liver function decreases because it gets filled with fat. 

Other effects of obesity are a decrease in stamina, heat intolerance, decreased immunity, skin and coat problems, reproductive problems, digestive problems, and an increased risk of cancer.

Some diseases, such as Cushing’s disease (excess cortisol production) and Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) cause dogs to become obese.  These are diagnosed with blood tests.  Once the underlying illness is treated, the dog will go back to their normal weight.

So how can you tell if your pet is overweight?  How can you help your dog to shed those extra pounds?
The ideal body condition for a dog is when the ribs have a thin layer of fat over them.  They are easily felt, but not seen.  The waist and belly are discernable without being prominent.  An overweight dog has increased amount of fat over the rib cage so that it is difficult or impossible to feel the ribs.  You won’t be able to see the waist.  In morbidly obese animals, the belly will be protruding, and there may be at rolls visible around the tail base and neck.
If you feel that your dog is overweight, then you should bring your dog down to your veterinary surgeon for a physical examination, a weight check, and possibly a prescription weight loss diet.  You can also monitor weight-loss by measuring the circumference of the dog behind the ribs.
Decrease snacking!  As with people, extra snacks during the day can increase weight.  Do not give in to begging and the sad eyes!  All commercial brands of dog food have a weight chart on the side of the bag, which you should use as a guideline for daily feeding.  If you measure out the daily amount, put aside a few nuts and use those as treats.  You can also cut back on the amount of food that you are feeding.
Exercise is an important part of any weight-loss regime.  Take your dog out for daily walks, not a 2 hour run once a week.  Swimming and fetching are also good ways to get your pet to be more active. 
Feed lower calorie meat-based, dry dog food.  Stay away from tinned food!  These contain a lot of sugar and empty calories.  The fat content of dry food should range from 12-16 percent.  This value may be lower in some of the veterinary prescription diets.
Certain dog breeds, such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Spaniels, are prone to becoming obese.  Keep this in mind if you have one of these breeds.  Make sure that your pet receives enough exercise to work off its daily ration so that it doesn’t get too fat.

As you can see, a pudgy pet is not a healthy pet!  Obesity will affect your dogs’ quality of life shorten its life-span.  If you feel that you pet is overweight, contact your veterinary surgeon to discuss a proper weight loss program before it is too late!

Safe gardening with your pets

I have been spending a lot of time outside in the garden with my dogs and cat trying 'help' me plant things. The cat usually just lies in the way, but the dogs have fun taking and chewing the plastic flower pots and sticking their noses into everything.  Gardening can be enjoyable for you and your pets, but there are some hazards to be aware of.

Heat stroke

The warm, sunny weather brings everyone outside.  When I am gardening, it is usually during the warmest part of the day.  The dogs like to follow me around and lie next to me in the sun.  If it is too hot outside, I put them in the house to keep cool.   I also make sure that their water dishes are full.  I also put ice cubes in the water, which they like to take out of the dish and chew.  Dogs are unable to sweat to cool themselves down, so they pant.  If they are outside in direct sunlight on hot days, they can get heat stroke.  Animals can also get sunburn.  White parts of cats and short-coated dogs can get burned, so if you are bringing your pets outside, put sunscreen on the white areas, such as ear tips and top of nose.

Plant toxicity

Many plants toxic to dogs and cats are in our gardens.  Leaves, berries, bulbs, bark, sap, roots, and seeds can all be potentially fatal to pets.  The ASPVA has posted a comprehensive list of toxic (and non-toxic) plants and trees on its website (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/).  Symptoms of plant toxicity range from drooling, blisters on the tongue and mouth, swelling of the face, rashes, vomiting, diarrhoea, depression or excitement, to kidney failure, seizures, coma, and death.

Pest Control


I seem to be waging a constant battle against slugs and insects.  Slug pellets and insecticides are lethal to pets and wildlife.  If ingested, slug pellets and insectides can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, nervousness, twitching, seizures, coma, and death.  Avoid using any chemicals for pest control -- use organic methods instead.  To control slugs, keep a tidy garden by removing all dead plant matter and eliminating dark, cool places for slugs to lay eggs and hide.  You can also place crushed egg shells, diatomaceous earth, or wood ashes around flower beds.  And don't forget your potted plants -- place copper tape on them to repel slugs. If you're an early riser, like me, you can go out and pick slugs and snails off your plants and put them in a jar with soapy water to kill them.  Beer traps are great for attracting and killing slugs, but you have to  be vigilant about cleaning and filling them.  Attracting birds and hedgehogs to your garden will also help with slug and insect control.

There are many natural ways to kill insects such as aphids, caterpillars, beetles, and ants.  You can make sprays of diluted soap, garlic, cayenne pepper, or vinegar. You can also place coffee grounds in flower beds.  Even with these natural methods, you have to be careful with your pets because garlic and coffee are toxic. Monitor them when they are in the garden.

Weed Control


I think I spend a majority of my time weeding my garden.  I never use commercial weed killers  because they are toxic to pets.  Symptoms of toxicity include salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney failure, breathing difficulty, and death.  There are many ways to get rid of weeds aside from pulling them out.  Pouring boiling water on weeds will kill them instantly.  Be careful not to pour it on your plants, pets, or yourself!  You can also spray vinegar on weeds, but you may have to apply it a few times to get rid of really stubborn ones. Salt can control weeds on large areas such as brick paths or patios.  You can make a spray using all three ingredients and apply it to the base of the weed with a baster.  Add some liquid soap to your mixture to help it to stick.

Be aware that even if you haven't used any insecticides, slug bait, weed killer, or fertilizer, your neighbors might.  Keep your pets out of other people's gardens to avoid contact with these products.  Your dog or cat can walk through a treated area and get the substance on their paws.  They may lick it off and get very sick.

Fertilizers


Along with the other products that I have mentioned, commercial fertilizers are toxic to pets.  There are many ways to feed your plants naturally.  Although it may be smelly, manure is great for fertilizing plants because it is high in nitrogen, which plants need.  Recycle your vegetable matter and make a compost heap or get a wormery to make your own fertilizer.  Keep your dogs out of your compost heap because decaying vegetable matter can make them sick.

Ponds and Water Features


There is nothing nicer than having a pond or water feature in your garden.  It attracts birds and wildlife and is relaxing to look at and listen to.  Dogs and cats are also attracted to them to drink from or to swim in.  Pets can fall into ponds or water features and depending on the style, be unable to get out.  They can drown.  If your pet falls into your pond in the cooler months, it can get hypothermia.  I have a pond, but it is in a separate area of the garden so the dogs do not have access to it.  Always supervise your pets around water features and ponds to avoid disaster.

I hope that you follow my advice and enjoy the summer outside with your pets safely!

A Dog For Max - Please Share This Blog

I just received an email from my cousin, Pamela, in Florida asking me for help. I am extending this plea to all of you around the globe.  Her son, Max, has a rare disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia.  I have attached a description of his disease below.

We are looking for someone to donate a large or giant breed puppy to be trained as an assistance dog to help Max.  There is an organization that will train the puppy for free as an assistance dog.  A few days ago, the puppy that was donated for Max was diagnosed with a leg deformity, so he is not suitable to help Max.  As you can imagine, everyone is upset about this setback, and Max is heartbroken because he had already met and fallen in love with the puppy.  Assistance dogs give people with disabilities a great sense of security and freedom.

Max is 21 years old, 5'10" tall and 125 pounds.  He is very independent and lives on his own.  He gets around on a motorized wheelchair.  When Max walks, he is very unstable and has a tendency to fall, so the dog will have to be big enough to support his weight to help him get up.

I would really appreciate it if you could pass this around to as many people as possible, and hopefully someone has a puppy that they would be willing to donate to be trained as an assistance dog for Max.  If you are interested in knowing more or have a puppy that you are able to donate, please contact my cousin, Pamela Stitzer at adogformax@gmail.com


Description of Max's condition:

Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) (Boder-Sedgwick syndrome^[1] or Louis–Bar syndrome^[2]:555) is a rare, neurodegenerative, inherited disease that affects many parts of the body and causes severe disability. Ataxia refers to poor coordination and telangiectasia to small dilated blood vessels, both of which are hallmarks of the disease.
A-T affects the cerebellum (the body's motor coordination control center) and also weakens the immune system in about 70% of the cases, leading to respiratory disorders and increased risk of cancer. It first appears in early childhood (the toddler stage) with symptoms such as lack of balance, slurred speech, and increased infections. Because all children at this age take time to develop good walking skills, coherent speech, and an effective immune system, it may be some years before A-T is properly diagnosed.
AT is caused by a defect in the ATM gene, which is responsible for recognizing and correcting errors in duplicating DNA when cells divide, and in destroying the cells when the errors can't be corrected. The protein normally repairs double-stranded DNA breaks

Ataxia-telangiectasia like disorder (ATLD) is an extremely rare condition that could be considered in the differential diagnosis of A-T. ATLD patients are very similar to A-T patients in showing a progressive cerebellar ataxia, hypersensitivity to ionising radiation and genomic instability.

Grooming

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we have been inundated with calls for grooming, both cats and dogs.  Grooming is an important part of your pet's health, and should be done on a daily to weekly basis.  Grooming also helps you and your pet to bond with each other.

As many of you know, these are my dogs.  They require a lot of grooming.  The two dogs on the right require more brushing than the two on the left because they are a non-shed breed.  Non-shed breeds such as poodles and Bichon frises and crosses with them are becoming increasingly popular.  What people don't realize is that these breeds and their crosses require daily brushing and a visit to the grooming parlor every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their coats in good condition.

What is the benefit of brushing?  Brushing removes the dead hair and dirt.  It also prevents matting.  Dogs that are brushed regularly also have shinier coats because brushing will stimulate the blood supply to the skin and help spread the oils produced by the skin onto the coat.

Too often, dog groomers are presented with dogs that are never brushed, brushed only occasionally, or brushed incorrectly.  The coat will be very matted close to the skin, even if the top of the coat looks fine. Dogs in this condition have to be shaved down.  Dogs with a lot of mattes are also prone to skin and parasitic infections because the mattes create a warm, moist environment for bacteria to proliferate.  Mattes also make it very difficult for owners to see fleas and ticks.  Sometimes dogs with coats in poor condition can even get lice (not the same as human lice).  To brush out mattes can be extremely painful and can cause bruising of the skin as the hair is pulled.  This can be more distressing to the dog than owners realize.

When your dog is brought to the grooming parlor the coat is brushed, clipped, styled, and washed.  The nails are clipped and the ears are plucked (if needed) and cleaned.  Your groomer can advise you as to which brushes or combs are most suitable for your dog's coat.  Have your groomer show you how to use them correctly, to help prevent mattes and to keep the coat in good condition.