Pet Poison Helpline Offers Halloween Safety Tips for Pets
Advice on “treats” that pets should avoid and other Halloween hazards
Minneapolis (October 14, 2009) – Holidays can bring unique foods and materials into the house that pose special threats to animals. Halloween, with its costumes and candy, can be a dangerous and stressful time for a pet.
The following tips showcase what pet owners should watch out for around Halloween.
· Tricks, not treats! Some human treats can be deadly for pets
o Chocolate: Make sure your kids know to hide their Halloween stash from food-seeking dogs. Ninety-five percent of Pet Poison Helpline’s chocolate calls involve dogs getting into chocolate candy. Keep in mind, the less sweet and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem.
o Other candy: Remember when you felt ill after gorging on too much candy? The same thing can happen to pets. Large ingestions of high-fat, high-sugar foods may lead to a condition called pancreatitis — a painful and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of pancreatitis typically show up two to four days after ingesting a large high-fat meal. Monitor your pet for a decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and other odd behavior.
o Raisins/grapes: While small boxes of raisins are popular and healthy treats for people, keep them away from dogs. Even small numbers of raisins or grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs (and possibly cats). Never offer grapes or raisins as snacks for your pets. Choose carrots, peas, green beans or apples instead.
o Candy wrappers: Not only is candy toxic to pets, but so are the wrappers. Few animals will bother to unwrap Halloween treats before eating them. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers may cause a bowel obstruction when ingested in large quantities.
· Halloween hazards
o Glow sticks/jewelry: Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these colorful toys. Though not highly poisonous, the glowing contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth as well as profuse drooling, nausea and vomiting.
o Costumes: While dressing up our pets can be entertaining, keep in mind that your pet may not enjoy it. Make sure the costume does not impair their vision or movement. Also, beware of costumes containing metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces. If ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Never dye or apply coloring to your pets’ fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic, many are not meant to be ingested and can potentially cause harm.
Additionally, pets may be afraid of people dressed in costumes and may not even recognize those they typically know. Fear can cause animals to act aggressively or in an unpredictable manner. If your pet seems nervous or afraid, make sure to have a safe area for them to hide or take a “time out.”
o Candles: Wagging tails and curious noses do not mix with candles. Keep candles well out of reach of four-legged friends and, when possible, use safe, electric lights in jack-o-lanterns.
The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated about the common foods and items that are potentially toxic to pets. Make sure to avoid accidentally feeding your pets human foods that may be dangerous for them and keep poisonous products out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt or if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
People spreading H1N1 to animals!
The Minnesota State Fair, my all time favorite event of the year (great people watching, everything you could ever imagine deep-fried on a stick!) finally made national news. Unfortunately, recent tests confirmed that pigs at this summer's Minnesota State Fair were infected with H1N1 influenza virus. They are the first swine in the country to be found with the 2009 pandemic virus. Infection in the fair pigs does not necessarily mean contamination of commercial herds, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson, because the populations seldom share personnel or animal stock. Unfortunately, people likely spread it to the pigs, as there was a large 4-H child outbreak of H1N1 at the same time (and hundreds of children were affected!).
Rest assured - you can't get H1N1 from eating pork or pork products, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The samples collected at the fair were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota research project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a separate incident this month, Oregon State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emilio DeBess suspects a Portland mother and her children may have accidentally infected their pet ferret with the H1N1 virus. DeBess tested and confirmed H1N1 in the animal, which is recovering. Ferrets have always been really predisposed to catching what humans have (and spreading their influenzas to humans). Be aware ferret owners!
Rest assured - you can't get H1N1 from eating pork or pork products, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The samples collected at the fair were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota research project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a separate incident this month, Oregon State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emilio DeBess suspects a Portland mother and her children may have accidentally infected their pet ferret with the H1N1 virus. DeBess tested and confirmed H1N1 in the animal, which is recovering. Ferrets have always been really predisposed to catching what humans have (and spreading their influenzas to humans). Be aware ferret owners!
Cure to ALS found in dogs?
Internal medicine board-certified neurologist Joan Coates, DVM, MS and a team of researchers from the University of Missouri (MU) and the Broad Institute have found the genetic mutation responsible for degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is the same mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the human disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
“We uncovered the genetic mutation of DM which has been unknown for 30 years,” said Dr. Coates. “Dogs with DM are likely to provide scientists with another animal model for ALS. Since DM is a spontaneous disease in dogs, it may represent a more reliable model than genetically modified mice for biomarkers and possible therapeutic strategies.”
DM, a progressive disease of the spinal cord, causes affected dogs to wobble when walking and has a high prevalence in German Shepherds, but is also found in Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Boxers. Although it is not a painful disease, weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk and becomes paraplegic. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in humans that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.
Dr. Coates, an associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at MU, began studying DM in dogs in 1997 when on faculty at Texas A&M University. Over the course of a decade, Dr. Coates and a team of researchers, including Drs. Gary Johnson, Claire Wade, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, and their colleagues, embarked on a research path which required the collection of many cases and samples from many dog breeders, owners, and veterinarians. e ultimate result was the discovery that DM is caused by a gene mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, which is the same gene that causes some forms of ALS in humans. Even with this extraordinary discovery, the road to curing both diseases is far from over. “The outlook for a dog with DM is still grave,” said Dr. Coates. According to Dr. Coates, efforts are being made to improve quality of life such as good nursing care, physical rehabilitation, pressure sore prevention, monitoring of urinary infections, and ways to increase mobility through the use of harnesses and carts for affected dogs.
“We still have a lot of work to do in finding ways to follow disease progression so that we can monitor therapeutic strategies,” said Dr. Coates. “Hopefully this discovery will offer an opportunity to other veterinary neurologists and specialists to use their expertise for further study of this disease and in establishing ‘proof of concept’ for possible therapeutic strategies.”
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wysong food recall
Wysong responds to online critics on dog-food recall
This article was previously published by DVM NEWS magazine on Oct 15, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Midland, Mich. -- Responding to angry comments from pet owners on Internet blogs and message boards about a recent dog-food recall, natural pet-food manufacturer Wysong Corp. updated its recall notice with responses to criticism, giving details of how the recall was announced and why.
Wysong says it contacted distributors, retailers and the Food and Drug Administration, and tried to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Sept. 29 immediately after finding mold in select batches of Maintenance and Senior dry dog food. Stores were urged to throw away the food, and Wysong removed its in-house inventory of the lot.
A recall notice appeared on Wysong’s Web site at roughly the same time, the company says. But it acknowledges that some visitors to the site might have missed the notice because it appeared, not on the first page, but after clicking on the “dry dog food” tab.
“Much of the criticism has focused on our purportedly not publicizing the recall enough, or that we are attempting to downplay or hide the recall,” the firm says in the notice. “When we determined a recall was necessary, we put our focus into alerting those that actually received the products, not those who had no reasonable chance of acquiring the affected products.”
Wysong received reports of possible health effects to dogs who ate the dry food, but “cannot confirm as cause/effect,” according to the recall notice. The notice explains that the mold was likely caused by a faulty moisture-checking device and high heat and humidity during manufacturing in June and July.
The affected lot numbers are Wysong Maintenance 090617, 090624, 090706, and 090720 and Wysong Senior 090623.
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Dr. Lee's biased opinion: This is one of the issues with feeding an "all natural" diet - often times, they lack preservatives that prevent mold and fungus from growing in the bag. Sometimes those natural tocopherols (preservatives) are necessary!
This article was previously published by DVM NEWS magazine on Oct 15, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Midland, Mich. -- Responding to angry comments from pet owners on Internet blogs and message boards about a recent dog-food recall, natural pet-food manufacturer Wysong Corp. updated its recall notice with responses to criticism, giving details of how the recall was announced and why.
Wysong says it contacted distributors, retailers and the Food and Drug Administration, and tried to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Sept. 29 immediately after finding mold in select batches of Maintenance and Senior dry dog food. Stores were urged to throw away the food, and Wysong removed its in-house inventory of the lot.
A recall notice appeared on Wysong’s Web site at roughly the same time, the company says. But it acknowledges that some visitors to the site might have missed the notice because it appeared, not on the first page, but after clicking on the “dry dog food” tab.
“Much of the criticism has focused on our purportedly not publicizing the recall enough, or that we are attempting to downplay or hide the recall,” the firm says in the notice. “When we determined a recall was necessary, we put our focus into alerting those that actually received the products, not those who had no reasonable chance of acquiring the affected products.”
Wysong received reports of possible health effects to dogs who ate the dry food, but “cannot confirm as cause/effect,” according to the recall notice. The notice explains that the mold was likely caused by a faulty moisture-checking device and high heat and humidity during manufacturing in June and July.
The affected lot numbers are Wysong Maintenance 090617, 090624, 090706, and 090720 and Wysong Senior 090623.
_________________________
Dr. Lee's biased opinion: This is one of the issues with feeding an "all natural" diet - often times, they lack preservatives that prevent mold and fungus from growing in the bag. Sometimes those natural tocopherols (preservatives) are necessary!
5 tips you should learn from your dog!
5 most wanted dogs!
The American Kennel Club recently released the names of the most popular breeds in the United States for 2008. Check out the pooches' personality pug-shots, if you will, to see which winning characteristics you can emulate to become the pick of your practice.
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Intelligent and eager to please, this gentle dog easily wins people over.
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Energetic and adaptable, Yorkies are driven to investigate every situation.
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Direct and dependable, these hard-working hounds are loving and loyal.
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Super smart and easy-going, friendly Goldens strive to satisfy.
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Happy-go-lucky and sociable, these comedic canines just love to make their companions smile.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Product review of Zuke's Hip Action treats
It's not every day that you learn about a great product and solid company that makes you want to quit your job and join them, right? Well, I discovered Zuke's, a "bone brokering," performance pet nutrition company based out of Durango, Colorado that makes treats so good that you almost want to eat them. I was first introduced to a sample size of Zuke's "Hip Action" treats, and questioned how "natural" they really were. With the melamine-induced pet food scare back in March of last year, I've been much more discriminating (as a vet) in what I feed my pets (as a pet owner!) and always make sure to read the ingredients on any treat or food product.
Being that JP, my 10 year-old rescue pit bull, has discriminating tastes (i.e., he's uber-picky and doesn't even eat pig ears sometimes!), I thought I'd put him to the test. Well, he wolfed these Hip Action semi-moist dog treats down and begged for more. JP has always been partial to soft treats, and these often contain a lot of propylene glycol (which is a humectant used to add or preserve moisture content of the treat). Upon reviewing the ingredients in Zuke's treats, I was impressed that I understood all the ingredient names and they were quite natural after all! Keep in mind that "natural" is different from "organic" (which must be certified organic). "Natural" means that no additional ingredients are added into the product, and I was glad to hear that all of Zuke's ingredients are natural by definition of AAFCO. I also loved how all the ingredients are sourced in the USA, as we know we have tighter regulations (USDA, FDA, AAFCO) than other countries (hence, the pet food poisoning last year). Zuke's only exception to this is their lamb and venison, which are imported from New Zealand. Apparently, even the salmon in their treats are wild-caught! (Remember, we green-crunchy types always want to promote that people eat WILD salmon, as farmed salmon has quite a severe, unhealthy effect on the environment).
Hip Action: Ahhh... my favorite. Well, actually, JP's favorite. As a 10 year-old dog, JP is fit, lean, and well conditioned... but he still is slowing down from arthritis. I have him on Cosequinn DS (double strength), which contains 500 mg of glucosamine and 400 mg of chondroitin (GAGs) in each capsule. Unfortunately, I have to pill JP each time (by hiding it in a meatball of canned food) to get this medication into him. Zuke's provides a tastier option in these Hip Action treats (dog), which contain 300 mg of glucosamine and 50 mg of chondroitin. These are very similar in size, appearance, and ingredient to the Jerky Natural treats - with the added benefit of these cartilage-protecting, safe products and some blueberries, apples, carrots, and flax seed to boot. That said, keep in mind that most of the veterinary research that has been done has only evaluated Cosequinn (we vets know that this brand of GAGs works), so I can't vouch for the anti-arthritis properties of Hip Action. That said, it's likely the same and is benign enough to be a safe, healthy treat for your dog. For you cat lovers, fear not. Zuke's has this in cat form too. Your average cat likely doesn't need it, but if your cat is diagnosed with arthritis, has had a fracture before, is stiff getting up in the morning, or is grossly overweight, it might be worth trying this treat for Kitty. With only 2 calories per treat, these cat Hip Actions contain 50 mg of glucosamine and 15 mg of chondroitin.Product review of "Halo" Liv-a-Littles Healthsome dog biscuits
I received a free sample of the Liv-a-Littles Healthsome dog biscuits with real chicken. This small biscuit, which you can see visible rolled oats in, prides itself on being oven-baked, with high-quality natural ingredients. Unfortunately, JP - my 11 year old picky pit bull - took it from my hand like a kid forced to swallow an oatmeal vitamin coated with vegetables. He eventually ate it, but it lacked the palability to please my pit.
The ingredients include (in order): whole wheat flour, chicken, potato flour, pea flour, chicken liver, rolled oats, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, tomatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, cranberries, split peas, carrots, green beans, green bell pepper, celery, parsley, and ascorbic acid (a preservative - Vitamin C). While it has all the healthy veggies in it that your mom would be proud of, it failed the Lee palatability test.
The ingredients include (in order): whole wheat flour, chicken, potato flour, pea flour, chicken liver, rolled oats, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, tomatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, cranberries, split peas, carrots, green beans, green bell pepper, celery, parsley, and ascorbic acid (a preservative - Vitamin C). While it has all the healthy veggies in it that your mom would be proud of, it failed the Lee palatability test.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Nutro puppy food recall - spread the word!
Q: I heard that there may be plastic in some NUTRO® products. Is this true? Upon discovery of the melted plastic, we immediately halted manufacturing and performed a thorough search of all equipment. We identified the source as a worker’s “bump cap,” similar to a hard hat, which inadvertently made its way into our manufacturing process. Based on our extensive review, it is highly unlikely that any pieces of plastic made it into finished product. However, upon learning of the incident, we voluntarily retrieved all potentially affected products.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Diamond cat food recall and why you dog owners should care!
Yet another recall by Diamond! Two brands of dry cat food from Rochester, NY were recalled recently due to severe deficiencies in thiamine (Vitamin B). This was first discovered by pet owners and veterinarians in the Rochester area when their cats showed neurologic problems, and Pet Poison Helpline was consulting with some of these calls.
The affected products are Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat with the following date codes: RAF0501A22X 18-lb. bag, RAF0501A2X 6-lb. bag, RAH0501A22X 18-lb. bag, RAH0501A2X 6-lb. bag.
Please check your bags of food at home, and make sure that they don't have those date codes! If you do have this in your clinic or home, please return it immediately to the retailer. Pets that consumed the recalled products should be immediately taken to a veterinarian for a thorough physical examination, baseline blood work, and possibly a Vitamin B injection!
Thankfully, this hasn't affected any other foods produced by Diamond. Based on thorough testing, other batches of Premium Edge cat foods were not affected. FYI: Diamond Pet Foods also had to settle a class action lawsuit due to aflatoxin (a mold) contaminated dog food in 2005 for $3.1 million. While the manufacturer refunded money to affected consumers who bought Diamond-brand products tainted with the mold aflatoxin and covered veterinary bills, some dogs were severely affected and did die from this!
The affected products are Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat with the following date codes: RAF0501A22X 18-lb. bag, RAF0501A2X 6-lb. bag, RAH0501A22X 18-lb. bag, RAH0501A2X 6-lb. bag.
Please check your bags of food at home, and make sure that they don't have those date codes! If you do have this in your clinic or home, please return it immediately to the retailer. Pets that consumed the recalled products should be immediately taken to a veterinarian for a thorough physical examination, baseline blood work, and possibly a Vitamin B injection!
Thankfully, this hasn't affected any other foods produced by Diamond. Based on thorough testing, other batches of Premium Edge cat foods were not affected. FYI: Diamond Pet Foods also had to settle a class action lawsuit due to aflatoxin (a mold) contaminated dog food in 2005 for $3.1 million. While the manufacturer refunded money to affected consumers who bought Diamond-brand products tainted with the mold aflatoxin and covered veterinary bills, some dogs were severely affected and did die from this!
Our pets are getting obese!
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) recently released scary stats: 1/2 of the dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese (that's > 20% over ideal body weight). That’s 33 million dogs and 51 million cats, folks!
While being obese may not sound like a lot of weight, it is. A 10 lb cat that weighs an extra 2 lbs (12 lbs) is morbidly obese - that's the equivalent to a 150 lb human female that carries around an extra 30 lbs (180 lbs). A 70 lb ideal Labrador retriever is obese at 84 lbs... and keep in mind most Labradors should be 70 lbs! That's the equivalent of a 200 lb human male carrying around an extra 40 lbs (240 lbs). Yikes!
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is trying to raise awareness by hosting the 3rd annual: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. This is important, because obesity is expensive for your pet's life and your pocketbook! That extra weight results in strain to the heart, lungs, trachea, and musculoskeletal system. I've had a lot of Labrador retriever owners bring in their dogs for expensive ACL knee surgery due to obesity... only to have to pay $1500-$3500 to fix one knee. This could have been totally prevented by weight loss!
Start by committing to an extra loop around the block (an extra 10-15 minutes of exercise), and a reduction of 30% of the amount of food that you're feeding. Cut those table snacks OUT NOW! Also, talk to your vet about gradually switching your dog to a low-calorie, senior dog food.
When in doubt, keep those dogs trim. Studies have proven it - the skinnier the dog, the longer they live. Don't you love Fido enough to trim him down?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Hunting dog safety tips!
As you and your Labrador retriever, German shorthaired pointer, or Irish setter prepare for hunting season, it’s important to make sure that you’re keeping your dog out of harm’s way. Be aware of potential hazards to your hunting dog to help ensure a safe, enjoyable and bountiful hunt.
Toxin alert: Hunting dogs encounter risks that backyard pets don’t. Here are some toxins you should know about.
- Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria): Each year, hunting dogs in the US die as a result of drinking from water contaminated with blue-green algae. Toxic blue-green algae contain liver and/or neurotoxins and often occur during hot, dry weather and give the water a “pea soup” appearance. Signs of poisoning show up immediately, and include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, collapse, tremors, seizures, and jaundice (yellow skin and gums). Death from the neurotoxin can occur within minutes while death from the liver toxin may take several days. Because treatment is often unsuccessful, prevention is key. Providing fresh water for your dog is imperative.
- Lead Shot/Bullets: Aside from the trauma caused by gun shot wounds, the lead found in pellets and bullets may lead to lead poisoning if left in the body. If your dog is shot, seek veterinary care immediately. If the bullet fragments or pellets cannot be removed, check blood lead levels to ensure that chronic lead poisoning doesn’t occur. Signs of lead toxicity include behavioral changes, gastrointestinal signs (i.e., vomiting, diarrhea), and neurologic problems (including walking drunk, seizuring, and blindness.)
- Clay Pigeons: These contain coal tar and heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, and nickel, and can result in toxicity if ingested. If you have a “mouthy” hunting dog known to ingest toys or rocks, beware. Make sure they’re not eating scattered pieces of clay pigeons, as poisoning can result in liver, brain and kidney damage.
- Mushrooms: Being that hunting dogs are exposed to the great outdoors, they’re more likely to ingest a mushroom in the field than a couch potato dog. While most mushrooms are generally non-toxic, certain types can be very dangerous. One of the most dangerous is the plain looking Amanita phalloides or death cap mushroom, found throughout the United States. Because proper identification of mushrooms is extremely difficult and often only done by experts, consider all ingestions of unidentified mushrooms as toxic until proven otherwise. Depending on the type of mushroom ingested, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, tremors, and seizures, with ingestion usually leading to liver and kidney damage.
- As hunting dogs are more likely to run through barbed wire or lacerate themselves by running through dense brush, it’s important to keep your dog in a blaze orange chest protector vest. Not only does this protect vital organs from injury, but it saves on expensive vet bills.
- For dogs that don’t have an electronic shock collar on, the excited hunting dog can take off after a scent, resulting in hours of searching for your companion. Make sure identification tags are well secured onto your dog’s collar to ensure a happy reunion.
- Rarely, a genetic abnormality in Labrador retrievers called “hunting dog hypoglycemia” can result in an acute drop in blood sugar, resulting in the collapse of a normally active dog. Making time for frequent water and snack breaks throughout the day is important.
- Heat stroke is always a big risk early in the hunting season – dogs are excited and combined with the higher air temperatures, this can increase chances of heat exhaustion. Keeping a canine first aid kit handy, along with a thermometer, is important in case of emergency. If you notice your dog constantly panting, make sure to take frequent water breaks and water dips (in ponds without blue-green algae.) When in doubt, always play it safe and give your dog a break to cool off.
- Make sure to scope out the area where you are hunting and have the phone number for a local veterinarian, emergency veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline programmed into your phone in the event of an emergency.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Can Pets Make You Sick?
You love your pet, but you won't love an illness your dog or cat transmits to you. Here, how to prevent 3 of the most common diseases pets can pass to humans.
By Justine A Lee, DVM, DACVECC
1. Cat Scratch Disease: Those bared claws can potentially pass on the bacterium Bartonella henselae into your scratched skin, leading to an infection with symptoms ranging from fever to swollen lymph nodes. Be extra careful around kittens--they carry the bacteria more than grown cats and tend to scratch more.
Prevent it: Keep feline nails neatly trimmed. If you're not sure how to trim properly, ask your vet to show you.
2. Larval Migrans: (aka worms) Intestinal worms can be found in your dog's or cat's feces. Touching contaminated feces or soil can result in a skin infection. If you forget to wash your hands before sitting down to a meal and ingest the eggs, the worms can travel through the body, causing a variety of symptoms and potential damage to your eyes, lungs, brain, and other organs.
Prevent it: Deworm your pet regularly at vet visits. Plus, make proper poop scooping and hand washing a priority.
3. Fungal Infections: (aka ringworm) Cats carry ringworm on their fur more frequently than dogs and are typically asymptomatic; dogs will almost always show signs of the infection, such as raised, circular lesions and hair loss. When ringworm is passed on to humans, it produces red, raised lesions that you'll notice on your body.
Treat it: Use an OTC antifungal cream. Unfortunately, ringworm can't be prevented, but the lesions will disappear in a few weeks with regular applications.
Copyright 2009, Prevention October 2009
By Justine A Lee, DVM, DACVECC
1. Cat Scratch Disease: Those bared claws can potentially pass on the bacterium Bartonella henselae into your scratched skin, leading to an infection with symptoms ranging from fever to swollen lymph nodes. Be extra careful around kittens--they carry the bacteria more than grown cats and tend to scratch more.
Prevent it: Keep feline nails neatly trimmed. If you're not sure how to trim properly, ask your vet to show you.
2. Larval Migrans: (aka worms) Intestinal worms can be found in your dog's or cat's feces. Touching contaminated feces or soil can result in a skin infection. If you forget to wash your hands before sitting down to a meal and ingest the eggs, the worms can travel through the body, causing a variety of symptoms and potential damage to your eyes, lungs, brain, and other organs.
Prevent it: Deworm your pet regularly at vet visits. Plus, make proper poop scooping and hand washing a priority.
3. Fungal Infections: (aka ringworm) Cats carry ringworm on their fur more frequently than dogs and are typically asymptomatic; dogs will almost always show signs of the infection, such as raised, circular lesions and hair loss. When ringworm is passed on to humans, it produces red, raised lesions that you'll notice on your body.
Treat it: Use an OTC antifungal cream. Unfortunately, ringworm can't be prevented, but the lesions will disappear in a few weeks with regular applications.
Copyright 2009, Prevention October 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Composting dog poop? Only in Ithaca, NY!
Fecals aren't the only use for all that dog poop
Kudos to earth-lovin', crunchy, Ithaca NY - home of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine! A dog park in Ithaca, N.Y., is trying to turn collected dog waste into usable compost.
Previously published on Sep 24, 2009 in FIRSTLINE
The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group in Ithaca, N.Y., in conjunction with Cayuga Compost, has started processing the waste collected at a local dog park to turn it into compost. Owners simply deposit their dogs' feces in composting bins located within the park, and then Cayuga Compost takes the collected waste to their plant for processing.
According to the U.S. Composting Council, compost made from dog feces cannot be used in gardens or as topsoil because it often contains harmful parasites and pathogens that would contaminate water supplies if it were washed away. But it does have value as deep-fill, among other things.
About 50,000 dogs visit the Ithaca dog park each year, and the park estimates that they're collecting about 1,000 pounds of dog waste each month, according to a recent story in the Kansas City Star. They hope to be able to market their compost in two or three years.
Maybe it's time to start thinking about poop as a diagnostic means and a way to save the Earth. Is there a popular dog park in your area? Maybe your town, too, could make use of normally useless dog waste. Or, if you'd like to try composting on a smaller scale at your clinic, several pet waste compost converters are available, such as the Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter.
Kudos to earth-lovin', crunchy, Ithaca NY - home of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine! A dog park in Ithaca, N.Y., is trying to turn collected dog waste into usable compost.
Previously published on Sep 24, 2009 in FIRSTLINE
The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group in Ithaca, N.Y., in conjunction with Cayuga Compost, has started processing the waste collected at a local dog park to turn it into compost. Owners simply deposit their dogs' feces in composting bins located within the park, and then Cayuga Compost takes the collected waste to their plant for processing.
According to the U.S. Composting Council, compost made from dog feces cannot be used in gardens or as topsoil because it often contains harmful parasites and pathogens that would contaminate water supplies if it were washed away. But it does have value as deep-fill, among other things.
About 50,000 dogs visit the Ithaca dog park each year, and the park estimates that they're collecting about 1,000 pounds of dog waste each month, according to a recent story in the Kansas City Star. They hope to be able to market their compost in two or three years.
Maybe it's time to start thinking about poop as a diagnostic means and a way to save the Earth. Is there a popular dog park in your area? Maybe your town, too, could make use of normally useless dog waste. Or, if you'd like to try composting on a smaller scale at your clinic, several pet waste compost converters are available, such as the Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter.
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