Christmas Pet Safety

“My pet would never eat food off the table!”

“My pet would never knock over the Christmas tree!”

“My pet would never bite someone!”

We all know our pets pretty well, but what we don’t always realize is that stress can make anybody do crazy things! When you have holiday guests or flashing Christmas lights or loud holiday music—or all of the above—at your house all at once, your pet may get stressed and frustrated, causing them to act out in unexpected ways. Most pet accidents are met with the statement, “He’s never done anything like that before!”

We recommend always making sure that your pet has a safe place to sit and relax during your holidays parties. Just like some people, pets need to get away from the action and de-stress, but most of the time they don’t know how to ask for their space. If your pet is comfortable in their crate, we recommend moving it into a quiet room and letting them spend some time resting during your holiday get-togethers. Your pet will be happier, and by extension, you and your guests will be happier! And holidays disasters will be prevented.  

Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran’s Day. Say “Thank You” to the veterans today!

Even Great Danes are tiny when they’re babies!

Time to Clean Your Pet's Ears?

Veterinarians see a lot of patients with ear infections. In fact, it's the second most common reason for a client visit, according to pet health insurer, VPI Pet Insurance. With ear problems prompting so many trips to the vet, should ear cleaning be a necessary part of grooming your pet?

Generally, cleaning a dog's ears on a routine basis is not necessary, according to Leonard Jonas, DVM, MS, DACVIM, a veterinarian with Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colo. That's because animals have a naturally occurring self-cleansing process.

"I've had pets my whole life," Jonas said. "I don't remember ever routinely cleaning out their ears."

However, that doesn't mean pet owners should never take notice of their dog's ears. Certain breeds, lifestyles and physical characteristics will make a dog more prone to what Jonas calls "abnormal situations," in which the pet's normal homeostasis is disrupted. This is when something, either systemically or locally in the ear, interferes with the normal surface barrier defense system and the normal cleaning process that keeps bacteria and yeast under control.

There are signs to watch for if your pet is having an issue with its ears. These, according to Jonas, include:

• Shaking its head
• Flapping its ears
• Rubbing at its ears, either with a paw or by rubbing against furniture or carpet
• Self-massaging the ear to ease itch, pain or irritation
• Debris and/or redness inside the ear
• Sores inside the ear
• Odor in the ear due to abnormal oils and bacteria

"If you [the pet owner] look in the ear, you can see sometimes a lot of debris," said Jonas, explaining what an ear with an infection or problem may look like. "Then [you] see redness on the ear flaps (inside) or sores developing. And then there's also odor that occurs when you have an abnormal ear."

Breeds to watch
There are certain breeds of dogs—such as Shar Peis, bulldogs and poodles—that have narrow ear canals and have a higher chance of incurring ear issues. Poodles, especially, have more hair in the canals, Jonas explained. "The hair itself is not a problem, but if they've got something abnormal with their whole defense system, all that extra hair in there makes it difficult."

Cocker spaniels are notorious for ear problems, Jonas added.

When to clean your pet's ears
According to Jonas, it's best to consult your veterinarian before going forward with an ear-cleaning regimen. Unlike cleaning the teeth, cleaning the ears does not need be done regularly. If a pet owner suspects that something may be wrong with the ear, it's advised to visit the veterinarian and establish whether the dog's ear needs to be cleaned by the owner either routinely or for an instructed period of time.

Cleaning the dog's ears without first seeing a veterinarian is not a good idea, Jonas said, "because you don't know what's going on inside. You don't know if there has been a ruptured ear drum; you don't know if there's a stick or a stone or something stuck down inside the ear that needs to be fished out by a veterinarian."

A veterinarian can diagnose the problem and make the proper recommendations, which may be cleaning and/or medication.

Typically, there are two situations for which a dog's ears would need to be cleaned regularly. The first is when a veterinarian instructs for it to be done, and the second is when the dog is frequently in water. "Water in their ears disrupts the normal defense barrier system in that ear, and can make them prone to getting infections and irritation and inflammation," Jonas said.

If there needs to be ear cleaning
A veterinarian should show the owner how to properly clean the dog's ears because "there are a lot of different techniques, and it depends on what the problem is," Jonas advised.

There are a couple of precautions to always remember, according to Jonas. First, never use a Q-tip, because it tends to push the wax and debris further into the ear. Second, be sure a groomer does not pluck the hair out of the dog's ears, unless that hair is contributing to an ear problem; Jonas believes that doing so may cause irritation.

One thing pet owners should also consider is that if the dog has an ear infection, it could be very painful for them. Forcing the dog to get its ears cleaned or putting medication in them can be a dangerous situation for the owner and the dog.

"If your pet doesn't want you to do it, don't, because it hurts," Jonas said. "You're just going to create a problem, and you need to look to alternatives."

Originally published by Healthy Pet.

Summer Treat Recipe for Dogs

Are you looking for a nice summer treat for your dog? This can be as easy as stuffing a Kong and freezing it! Just remember to feed your pet their cool treat outside because it can get a little messy as it defrosts.

Dog House Repairs Month

Does your dog have a dog house? It's Dog House Repairs Month! Make sure their house is not made of pressure treated wood if they are a puppy or a chewer! Pressure treated wood is treated with arsenic and is poisonous to pets if consumed!

National Pet Preparedness Month

Are you prepared for your pet’s care in the event of an emergency? A pet emergency preparedness kit should include food, water, leash and collar, bowls, pet ID, medications, immunization records, pet carrier, first aid kit, and a contact list for all pet emergency contacts.

Pets and salmonella

Our pets may not be as harmless as they look. Just this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported salmonella infection outbreaks related to pet hedgehogs, turtles, and small water frogs this year. Children accounted for many of the cases in each of these outbreaks. Infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to becoming severely sick from salmonella.

In January, the CDC reported 20 hedgehog-related infections, including one linked to a death. Officials noted an increase in such cases since 2011. Forty-five percent of the cases were in kids 10 years of age or younger. The CDC then reported last month a total of 347 turtle-related illnesses from the past several years in 37 states and the District of Columbia.

Most recently, small water frogs marketed and sold as pets were linked to an outbreak of salmonella infections from 2008 to 2011, according to a CDC report .The infection sickened 376 people in 44 U.S. states and sent 29 percent of those infected - mostly children - to the hospital.

We asked Nicole Wyre, DVM, DABVP, avian attending clinician and section head of exotic companion animal medicine & surgery at Penn Veterinary Medicine, to talk more about these outbreaks and how to safely handle exotic pets to prevent infections, and Shelley C. Rankin, PhD, chief of clinical microbiology and associate professor of microbiology at at Penn Veterinary Medicine about salmonella infections with cats and dogs.

How does salmonella spread from these pets to humans? Isn't this more of food-related infection?

Salmonella can be found normally in the feces of some animals.  If people are handling their pet and/or the pet's feces they can get the salmonella on their hands and then inadvertently touch around their face or mouth, and get this salmonella into their mouths.  Therefore, good handwashing techniques are imperative after handling any animal.

Are there other pets that are considered risky for carrying salmonella?

Historically, reptiles, amphibians and poultry have been blamed for salmonella in children, but salmonella can be seen in many pets and we are finding it in other species.  For instance, hedgehogs were recently implicated in salmonella outbreaks.  This just reinforces that we need to wash our hands after handling ALL animals and children need to be monitored when with animals to ensure that they are also washing their hands and faces after playing with their pets.

How common is it for pets to carry salmonella? Should I avoid having these pets completely?

Since salmonella can be intermittently shed in the feces of animals, you can never say for sure that an animal is "free from salmonella" no matter how many times you have their feces tested.  Therefore, it is difficult to definitely say how common or prevalent it is for a pet to carry salmonella.  As far as concerns for salmonella, there isn't one specific pet to avoid.  Educating the family on good hand washing and proper handling of all pets is the most important aspect of avoiding salmonella.

Does my exotic pet need to be treated for salmonella? Can I tell if my pet is carrying it?

Depending on the species of pet you have, salmonella can be a normal inhabitant of their GI tract and so it does not need to be treated.  It is very difficult to tell if your pet has salmonella because they intermittently shed it in their feces. You can test the feces, but a negative salmonella test just means they were not shedding it at the time the test was performed.

How should my child and I be handling pets that could carry salmonella?

Hands and faces should be washed after handling any pet, their feces or bedding and cages.  Children should be monitored while handling their pets to make sure the pets are not being placed too close to their face/mouth or on any surface that will come into contact with food.  For instance, no pets or their cages/tanks should be bathed or washed in the kitchen sink or allowed to walk on the kitchen table or any other food prep area.

What are some symptoms of salmonella infection?

Salmonella infections in humans mostly include gastrointestinal signs such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain that can also be associated with a fever. In general, these signs can be seen eight to 72 hours following infection.  Medical attention should be sought if these signs become severe, become prolonged or are associated with blood in the diarrhea, a high fever or dehydration. It’s best to consult with a medical professional for advice if you suspect salmonella infection.

Should I be concerned about getting salmonella from cats and dogs?

Dogs and cats can carry salmonella in their feces, as can many other pets. The number of animals that carry salmonella and show no clinical signs (have no diarrhea) is very small, which means the risk to owners is also very small. That being said, good basic hygiene practices are recommended when you come into contact with your dog or cats feces. Wash you hands after you pick up dog feces or clean the cat’s litter box.

Can I tell if my dog or cat is carrying salmonella? Does this require medical attention?

If your dog or cat has diarrhea, a fecal culture would have to be performed by your vet to test for salmonella. Once the results come back from the lab, your vet will decide whether or not to treat your pet.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Pets-and-salmonella-QA-How-to-prevent-an-infection.html#1oOVvPlVMHUQZZXw.99

It's National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Brushed Your Pet’s Teeth Lately?

Can you imagine what your teeth would be like if you didn’t brush them for a year? Talk about bad breath! Considering your pet can’t brush his own teeth, this is kind of what he experiences. February is National Pet Dental Health Month and a great reminder that dental health is more than just teeth; your pet’s oral hygiene affects his overall health. Diseases of the mouth can often be painful and can contribute to additional problems. Having regular dental checkups and having your pet’s teeth cleaned are important to ensuring a positive quality of life.

February is Pet Dental Health Month

Did you know that a healthy mouth is a necessary aspect of your pet's overall physical health? February is Pet Dental Health Month and we urge you to bring your pet in for a dental appointment this month! Keep your pets’ mouth fresh and disease free this February!

6 Common Cat Health Problem

Cats are good at self-maintenance, but even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of the more common cat diseases and health issues. To help you care for kitty, here's a brief overview of six of the most common cat health problems.

Common Cat Health Problem: Vomiting Vomiting is a very common cat health problem, with causes ranging from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes. Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. And, because it's hard for a pet owner to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

Common Cat Health Problem: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD) About 10% of cats brought to the vet have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes. Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight, unfit, or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has. FLUTD symptoms include: •Straining to urinate •Bloody urine •Urinating in unusual places •Crying when urinating •Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain) •Depression •Dehydration •Lack of appetite •Vomiting It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

Common Cat Health Problem: Fleas Fleas are a very common external feline health problem, but one you can treat easily. Signs your cat has fleas include: •Flea dirt on their skin (they look like tiny black dots) •Constant scratching •Frequent licking •Red or irritated skin •Hair loss •Skin infections or hot spots Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations. Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication.

Common Cat Health Problem: Tapeworms One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine, sometimes growing as long as two feet. Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle, but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms, or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms. Treatment options include injection or oral medication, but because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

Common Cat Health Problem: Diarrhea Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including hairballs, spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more. Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or even months. If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration, then remove kitty's food for no more than 12-24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day, or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, or if you cat is straining to defecate.

Common Cat Health Problem: Eye Problems Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease. A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid. Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.

SOURCES: American Veterinary Medical Association: "External Parasites," "What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?" Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: "About FLUTD. "Veterinary Partner: "Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)." "Vomiting and Diarrhea." Suevet.com: "Cat Vomiting." ASPCA: “Fleas," “Worms," “Diarrhea," “Top Tips for Keeping Kitty's Eyes Healthy.” ©2011 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Source: WebMD.com http://pets.webmd.com/cats/6-most-common-cat-health-problems

National Pet Travel Safety Day

Today is National Pet Travel Safety Day. A day to remind you to be aware of your pet’s safety during travel. If you’re traveling by car, you should always have your dog in a seat belt and your cat in a strapped-in carrier. If you have questions about your pet’s safety during travel, don’t hesitate to ask us.