With all the hustle and bustle, it is easy to forget that some of the festivity surrounding the holidays can pose potential dangers for our dogs and cats. Here is a quick list to help you keep your pets safe, and avoid spending precious time in an emergency room. The Christmas Tree • Make sure it is securely seated and not easily toppled over by curious dogs and cats • Place your fragile ornaments high on the tree above the reach of playful pets. Broken glass and swallowed ornaments can cause serious injury • Keep the tree water covered and inaccessible.Decorations • Shiny, moving things …
With colder weather and snow just around the corner, many of you may be pulling your dog’s winter jackets out of storage. Others may be horrified a person would even think of degrading a dog by putting clothes on him. There is room for discussion. Natural Adapters Most dogs and cats have natural coats that adapt to weather changes. Many of you have experienced the avalanche of hair that can be shed during the change of seasons. “Getting a winter coat” in the fall and “shedding the winter coat” in the spring are major events in some households. A dog’s winter coat traps warm air from …
Teeth and gums (gingiva) are the gateway to the bloodstream. The blood nourishes all the organs in our bodies. If bacteria from dental plaque and tartar enters the blood stream through inflamed gums, it can create infection in the valves of the heart, the complex machinery inside the kidneys, and countless other areas of the body. We aren’t always able to get a close look at the teeth of our dogs and cats. Even in the smallest of dogs and cats, there is a surprising armament of teeth hidden behind the lips. Underneath the gingiva are tooth roots that are often longer than that part of …
When a client asks what dangers lurk for pets on Thanksgiving, my first thought is turkey strings. Beware the ties that bind! My colleagues and I have removed countless turkey strings lodged in the intestines of dogs and cats. The strings that bind a turkey while roasting become soaked in fats and turkey juices, and are irresistible to a pet. When placed in a trashcan on ground level, that’s an invitation to disaster. When you remove the string from your roasted bird, put it inside a plastic bag and in the freezer. Throughout the day, immediately place discarded skin and bones into that …
The options for feeding our dogs and cats can seem overwhelming. Nutrition advice comes from all corners. While there are no easy answers, there are important considerations. GUIDELINES • Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their diets must contain meat.• Dogs are carnivores with an ability to adapt to grains and vegetables, and are therefore considered by many to be omnivores. Meat, however, is considered to be the major nutrient for the canine body.• The quality of a food is only as good as the quality of the ingredients For example, if the protein in a food cannot be …
Today our dogs and cats are healthier and live longer than ever before. Often living active and happy lives well into their teens, our pets will begin to experience signs of aging just as we humans do. Many of our area animal clinics offer wellness programs for seniors. This usually means that the routine exams are more thorough and perhaps more frequent, in an effort to identify health issues in the early stages when they are more easily managed. Dental health is important at any age, but the aging pet is more vulnerable to cumulative oral problems that cause pain, infection, tooth loss …
Children and adults enjoy Halloween. Not so all dogs and cats. Halloween can be frightening and dangerous for pets. Some of our furry friends enjoy being part of the merriment and festivities. They're extroverted and adventurous, or maybe just tolerant. But your pet may be shy or uncertain about the people knocking on your door, and the strange noises they hear Halloween night. Avoid heartache and disaster. Considering the following. Costumes If your pet likes to dress up, or tolerates having clothing attached to them, by all means make them part of the fun. But beware of anything that …
One of the major health issues facing our dogs and cats is obesity. Overweight pets are more prone to joint disease, heart disease and a host of other health conditions. As with humans, excess fat visible from the outside means there's probably fat surrounding the heart and kidneys, infiltrating the liver, and adding excess stress on joints and spine. Excess fat often means that muscles are not as strong and conditioned as they should be, because exercise is not comfortable and stamina and strength are greatly diminished. One way to tell if your pet is overweight is by gently feeling for …
While there are some cats and dogs that are easy to pill, let’s just assume that most are not. Their ingenuity and flexibility becomes very apparent as you prepare to get that tiny pill into the stomach of your pet. Unless the pill is a chewable taste tab, grinding it and putting it in food rarely works. The dog and cat’s sense of smell is so superior to ours that they usually know when you have “contaminated” their food; and they may avoid their food bowl after that betrayal. The food bowl is sacred, especially for the sick patient; so keep that food appealing. Their sense of time, too…
You stand frozen in place, wondering if what you just heard is correct. Your veterinarian has just asked you to bring in a urine sample. From your cat! Is this possible? It is possible, but it may take some effort and patience on your part. In 30 years, I have had two clients who swore they just followed their cat to the litter box and placed the urine cup underneath him, as he politely and efficiently gave the requested sample. Don’t count on this method; you will be disappointed. If you have been asked to collect a urine sample from your pet, this means that it should be a “clean catch…
It's so easy for all of us to put exercise off until tomorrow. With our busy lives, there’s never enough time. Without physical exertion and mental exercise we stagnate. We become couch potatoes. We lose interest in the world around us. We’re too tired at the end of the day, and we have too much to do in the mornings. Sound familiar? Now let’s look at it from the dogs' point-of-view. Your pet is totally dependent on you for everything. You are the one who provides food, entertainment, housing, and everything in your pet’s world. You are in total control of how much your pet is …
Dear Dr J: "I have two cats. One is always having hairballs (ruining my carpet!) and the other never has hairballs. Why is this?" Baffled in Burke Dear Baffled: Welcome to another interesting characteristic of the cat. While other species also are afflicted with “hairballs,” the cat seems to have a special knack for creating them, ridding themselves of them, and leaving them in public places. Whether you visually come upon them unexpectedly, or you step on one barefoot in the dark, it is undoubtedly unpleasant and usually provokes an oath of some sort. A hairball, also known as a “furball…
In the normal course of daily handling of your pet, you can do a fairly thorough preventive exam. You might find something that needs attention before it becomes a problem. Safety for both you and your pet is important, so don't force any part of the exam if your pet becomes nervous or fearful. Sometimes wrapping a soft blanket around them will make them more comfortable. Use soothing words and caresses, and go slowly. First look your friend in the eye, face to face. Are his eyes equal in size? Is there any redness or discharge? Is there any excessive blinking? Now check the mouth. …
It can be difficult to know what to do when you suspect that your pet has a problem. Should you wait and see if it goes away on its own? Or should you get it checked out early, before it gets worse and could be more difficult to treat? If you're at all concerned, make an appointment and have the problem checked. Life threatening situations that demand immediate attention can include: Difficulty breathing Sudden weakness and pale gums Serious blood loss A prolonged seizure Ingestion of a poison “Bloat” (your dog’s abdomen is distended and painful) Infections and injuries often need …
Taking your pet to the vet can be an unnerving experience for both of you. Anxiety and fears are understandable. When you call to make an appointment with your veterinarian, it is usually for one of two reasons: either your pet is due for a routine visit such as an annual examination, or your pet has a medical issue that you cannot handle without the help of your vet. A lot of information will undoubtedly be exchanged during the visit. To maximize the time and quality of your scheduled appointment, you can make some preparations. Let’s look at the annual checkup first. Dogs and cats …
