Questions about dogs from "It's a Dog's Life..."

Gene Therapy Research Team From Penn Vet and Scheie Eye Institute Cures Retinitis Pigmentosa in Dogs

2012-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Previously published on UPENN's website:

PHILADELPHIA -- Members of a University of Pennsylvania research team have shown that they can prevent, or even reverse, a blinding retinal disease, X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa, or XLRP, in dogs.

The disease in humans and dogs is caused by defects in the RPGR gene and results in early, severe and progressive vision loss. It is one of the most common inherited forms of retinal degeneration in man.

“Every single abnormal feature that defines the disease in the dogs was corrected following treatment,” said lead author William Beltran, assistant professor of ophthalmology at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

“We were thrilled,” said senior author Gustavo Aguirre, professor of medical genetics and ophthalmology at Penn Vet. “The treated cells were completely normal, and this effect resulted from introducing the normal version of the human gene into the diseased photoreceptor cells.”

The similarities between humans and dogs, in terms of both eye anatomy, physiology, disease characteristics and positive response to this gene therapy, raise hope for a clear path to human therapies.

Beltran and Aguirre collaborated with Artur Cideciyan and Samuel Jacobson at the Scheie Eye Institute, part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. This achievement results from more than 10 years of close collaboration between the scientists at Penn’s veterinary and medical Schools and the University of Florida.

In addition to others at Penn Vet, Scheie and Florida, researchers at the universities of Michigan and Massachusetts and the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health contributed to the research.

The study will be published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The gene therapy approach used takes advantage of a viral vector — a genetically modified virus that doesn’t cause disease and is unable to divide -- to deliver the therapeutic RPGR gene specifically to diseased rods and cones. In the absence of treatment, these cells malfunction and progressively die.

The research team has previously successfully applied a similar approach to two other heritable vision disorders that occur in both humans and dogs: Leber congenital amaurosis and achromatopsia. The present study was more challenging, as it was necessary to target both main classes of photoreceptor cells.

While the exact disease mechanism of the RPGR form of XLRP is still unknown, the researchers were able to successfully treat dogs with two different RPGR mutations. The mutations disrupt photoreceptors in different ways, but both ultimately cause them to become useless for vision. While this form of blindness is rare in dogs, it is common in humans. Patients with XLRP usually begin to lose night vision as children and become almost totally blind by middle age.

This is the first proof that this condition is treatable in an animal model; a single subretinal injection administered to the diseased dogs led to functional and structural recovery. The dogs’ recovery was assessed using a variety of methods that are used clinically in patients, such as electroretinography and optical coherence tomography.

The researchers feel the results are promising and relevant for translation to the clinic.

“We are intervening to treat both classes of photoreceptor cells, rods and cones, and that has never been done before in a large animal model,” Beltran said. “And not only can we prevent the disease onset but also restore the remaining photoreceptor cells to normal once the disease is ongoing.”

While the ability to repair both rods and cones was itself a first, the research team went further, showing that its treatment also repaired the photoreceptor connections to other retinal neurons that eventually send visual signals to the brain, another first.

“This not only provides hope for reversing XLRP but potentially for any form of photoreceptor degeneration,” Aguirre said. “Altered inner retinal wiring is a common feature for these diseases that has been considered irreversible.

“The study required a combination of genetic tools and surgical technique to make sure the therapy targeted only the diseased cells. The viral vector had to be injected in the sub-retinal space so as to be in close proximity to the photoreceptors. Likewise, you need to ultimately deliver the therapy to the right location of the retina,” Aguirre said.

“In the human disease, careful characterization of the areas of the retina that need to be treated is going to be critical for therapy to succeed in the clinic,” Cideciyan said.

The genetic aspect of the viral vector used in this study involved a double safeguard. The first safety feature was to use a viral vector that is known to predominantly target both rods and cones but not other cells. The second safeguard involved attaching the healthy RPGR gene to a “promoter,” a piece of genetic code that would “switch on” the gene only if the virus penetrated the correct cell.

Selecting the right promoter was critical; the lead researchers at the University of Florida, William W. Hauswirth and Alfred S. Lewin, had to find one that that would be turned on exclusively in rods and cones. This way, even if the virus made its way to a non-photoreceptor cell, that cell would not start activating the RPGR gene.

That both the promoter and the RPGR gene it activates are taken from humans is a strong sign that the treatment may be translatable to patients.

“While there is still much work to do to assess long-term efficiency and safety with this approach, there is hope that this vector and knowledge could be used in a few years to treat the many patients losing vision from XLRP,” Jacobson said.

In addition to Beltran, Aguirre, Cideciyan, Jacobson and Hauswirth, the research was conducted by Sem Genini and Simone Iwabe of Penn Vet; Alejandro J. Román, Malgorzata Swider, Alexander Sumaroka and Tomas S. Alemán of Scheie; Alfred S. Lewin, Diego S. Fajardo, Vince A. Chiodo, Wen-Tao Deng and Sanford L. Boye of Florida; Hemant Khanna of Michigan and Massachusetts; and Anand Swaroop of Michigan and the National Eye Institute.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a Fight for Sight Nowak family grant, the Midwest Eye Banks and Transplantation Center, the Macula Vision Research Foundation, the Van Sloun Fund for Canine Genetic Research, Hope for Vision, and Research to Prevent Blindness.

What Breed of Dog is Best for Me? Part 1 | petMD

2012-01-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

What Breed of Dog is Best for Me? Part 1 | petMD

What do you want your vet to learn?

2011-12-28T09:33:00.001-08:00

What Do You Want Your Veterinarian to Learn? | petMD

Sleeping With Your Pet | petMD

2011-12-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Sleeping With Your Pet | petMD

Be Gentle: I know my dog is old

2011-12-17T09:23:00.001-08:00

An amazing article I wanted to share by Susan Seligson:

A call for improving our etiquette with older dogs.
By Susan Seligson

Like everyone else in a society loudly lamenting a decline in civility, I recognize there are new breaches of etiquette every minute. On any typical day, cell phones alone account for the rudeness factor going off the charts.

But I believe there is one type of impolite behavior among adult humans that goes pretty much unchecked. I’ve been guilty of it myself and slinked away feeling really stupid. It just isn’t something that makes it into the etiquette books and it apparently isn’t even worth Miss Manners’ fleeting consideration.

I am referring to the blunt, utterly uncensored and often just plain mean things people say to us about our dogs (by “us” I mean dog people). My close friend Pam has a 12-yearold German Shepherd who is visibly aging. So are the rest of us, human and canine, but to what person would you ever be so crude as to say the following: “Is that your mother? Wow, she looks awful. She can hardly move!” Yet this is the unsolicited blubbering my friend endures from strangers, all day long, about her old dog. I empathize because I’ve been through this three times, beginning with our family Beagle, Sam, who lived to be nearly 17, mostly out of spite.

“How old is he?” People would ask this unrelentingly about my now-departed Irish Setter, Amos. I didn’t mind telling them that he was 12 or 13. “Wow. They don’t live much longer than that, do they?” How tacky is this?

But it gets worse. When my big, hairy mutt, Louie (we called him our “Bavarian crotch-smeller”) was old and frail, someone once asked me, “Have you thought about putting him down?” First of all, that’s kind of like asking a woman in her 40s (this also happened to me), “Have you ever thought about having children?” “Gee, there’s an idea! Why didn’t I think of that?” When your dog is old and sick, the end is pretty much all you can think about. Your heart is breaking and you’re preparing yourself to come to that decision in a way that spares your dog unnecessary suffering while giving yourself time to feel as peaceful as possible about letting him go.

People assume they can say anything they like about a stranger’s dog. While they’d (I hope) refrain from saying, “Excuse me, but it looks like your husband is losing his hair,” when Louie was suffering from Cushing’s disease, strangers constantly took it upon themselves to point out his hair loss. “Do you know your dog is losing his hair?” And what can you do except mumble, um, yes, this is my dog, he’s part of my family, I’m nearly always with him, I bathe him, I brush him, he sleeps with us, and throughout most, if not all, of these activities, I am looking at him! And it’s always too late when you think of how you could’ve said, “Do you know you have a wart on your chin?”

Pam is at the point where she dreads walking her dog in public because she knows passersby will make insensitive comments she can’t bear to hear. Out in the world she is thoughtful and tender enough not to remind everyone she encounters that they are mortal. Like the rest of us, she can tell when a person’s on his or her last legs, but she keeps herself from saying, “Gee, you sure are slowing down” or asking the person’s daughter, “So how long do people in your family tend to live?” When approaching people like my friend, it helps to remind oneself that she knows her dog is old. She knows it every waking second of every day.

The last years and months we share with our geriatric dogs are among the most bittersweet times in dog lovers’ lives. We know, from the moment we choose these guys as puppies or meet their limpid stares at the animal shelter, that our hearts will be torn apart some day. What makes it so much worse is that the older they get, the sweeter they get, and when they reach absolute critical sweetness—you simply cannot love them any more than you already do—they grow completely exhausted and die. So a person patiently coaxing an old dog on his increasingly shrinking route is someone who could benefit from a little compassionate restraint. Like a simple hello for the owner, or a tender pat on the head for the doggie emeritus.

Benny Bully's Liver Chops treats

2011-11-20T09:42:00.001-08:00

I was first introduced to Benny Bully's Liver Chops at a veterinary exhibit hall. The company was giving out free samples, and when I told them I had a picky "treat-snob" dog, they handed me a pack of liver chop treats. Well, the company was correct - my dog couldn't resist these liver treats.

What I like about this product: it's made in the USA, has no additives, fillers, coloring, or preservatives, and they are extremely palatable. The ingredients are simple to understand - just one: Pure beef liver.

These treats are perfect for puppy obedience training for that dog who isn't food motivated - even he (or she) will sit for these!

Dr. Justine Lee on Pet health Radio: Part II of the interview

2011-10-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Part two of the Pet Health Radio interview can be found here!

http://www.healthradio.net/component/mtree/Health-Radio-Shows/Pet-Health-Radio/Everyday-Items-that-Could-Harm-or-Kill-Your-Pet-45611/details

Dr. Justine Lee on Pet health Radio

2011-10-26T07:19:00.001-07:00

Pet Poison Control - could save your life! Listen to the interview here about common toxins that poison your pets!

http://www.healthradio.net/show/all-shows/Health-Radio-Shows/Pet-Health-Radio/Pet-Poison-Helpline---Could-Save-Your-Pet%27s-Life!-45612/details#

Top 10 costly veterinary visits - thanks to DVM360 and VPI!

2011-09-19T06:19:00.001-07:00

Previously published August 1, 2011 in Veterinary Economics and DVM360.

Many of the most common pet insurance claims for more than $1,000 can yield good prognoses—but that's only if a client (or your practice's angel fund) can pay for treatment. Take a look at a recent list from VPI Pet Insurance of the top 10 most common expensive pet health conditions. Consider whether your average client would hesitate to spend the money for those procedures. If so, injured and ill cats and dogs—and their owners—may have another way out, too. Visit http://dvm360.com/waystopay to make sure you're offering clients options for funding medically necessary procedures.

Dogs dangerously distract drivers, study finds

2011-08-25T06:36:00.001-07:00

Your dog may love the open road, but allowing him to ride shotgun could spell trouble for you or other drivers.
Previously published on Aug 17, 2011 by VETERINARY ECONOMICS

A recent AAA survey of America’s drivers reveals some dangerous driving habits, and we’re not talking about applying mascara or talking on a cell phone while cruising down the freeway. An increasing number of dogs accompany today’s pet owners on road trips, day trips and local errands. But this can result in added distractions for the driver and added dangers for passengers, including pets.

The AAA survey asked dog owners how often they drive with their dog and examined their habits behind the wheel. The results indicate drivers not only love to bring dogs in the car, but they often engage in risky behaviors when man’s best friend is along for the ride.

Motorists frequently bring dogs along, engaging in distracting behaviors. Nearly 56 percent of respondents have driven with their dog at least once a month in the past year. However, many participate in behaviors that take their attention away from the road, like petting their dog (52 percent of respondents reported doing this). Nearly 23 percent have used their hands or arms to hold their dog in place while braking, and 19 percent have used their hands or arms to keep their dog from climbing into the front seat.

Drivers admit dangers of unrestrained pets, but most don’t use pet restraints. Eighty-three percent of respondents acknowledge that an unrestrained dog in a moving car can be dangerous, but only 16 percent currently use a pet restraint system. However, use of a restraint is three times greater among drivers who have heard of situations where unrestrained dogs were injured or caused injury to other passengers in a car crash (32 percent) compared to respondents who were not aware of such a situation and still use a restraint (9 percent).

Calm dogs and lack of awareness top pet owners’ reasons for not using a pet restraint. More than 42 percent of respondents say they do not use a pet restraint because their dog is calm and they do not think he or she needs a restraint. However, a calm dog will be thrown with the same amount of force as an active dog in the event of a crash or sudden stop—a danger for all passengers as well as the pet. According to AAA, an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 miles per hour will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 miles per hour will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure.

Advise your clients to restrain their dogs in the car and refrain from engaging in distracting behaviors while driving—and make sure you do the same when you take your dog along for the ride.

About.com's book review of "It's a Dog's Life... but It's Your Carpet"

2011-08-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Shout out to Dr. Janet Tobiassen Crosby for reviewing my dog and cat book found here at:
The Bottom Line

It's a Dog's Life...but It's Your Carpet: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Four-Legged Friend is a long title, but this is a book filled with many short, easy to grab-and-go, answers about everything you want to know about your dog.

Some things you would rather not know. Maybe even things you didn't know you needed to know.

Pros

* Many interesting and hard-to-ask questions answered
* Fun, casual style
* Helpful notes and resources at the end of the book

Cons

* Some language or situations may not be appropriate for younger readers
* Lots of references and jokes that I missed

Description

* A humorous, sometimes irreverent, look at questions people ask (or wish they could ask) their veterinarian.
* Selecting an appropriate dog for your lifestyle, dog peculiarities, training, vet questions and more.
* Many questions and answers about dogs. Some I have never heard of. (What's the big "K"?)

Guide Review - Review: It's a Dog's Life...but It's Your Carpet
Looking at the cover of this book, featuring a dog with a big cheesy grin and the question of "Why does my dog lick his balls?" on the back cover, you realize that this isn't going to be the most serious of books.

I know author Justine A. Lee DVM DACVEC through her work at Pet Poison Helpline. I attended CE (continuing education) meetings she has given on veterinary toxicology, and I have read her other book, The Five Minute Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology.

This book is different.

This book is personal narrative (learn about Dr. Lee's beloved dog, J.P.), serious veterinary information, humor, dog trivia/training/travel tips, embarrassing topics, and some unexpected questions too, such as: "Is that animal psychic worth the $2.99 a minute?."

The variety of questions in this book, in addition to providing information, could also be good conversation starters at your next party. That said, this book isn't for all readers.

My 12-year old daughter saw the cute cover and wanted to read it, so I let her read it prior to reading it myself. The topics are fine of course, but some of the humor is geared more for adults (e.g. references to dating). Nothing shocking, but a heads up for parents who might find themselves with a few new questions to answer. There is also the occasional 4-letter word, used in conversational tone.

I am a huge fan of Q & A articles, books, etc., because I tend to ask lots of questions. And this book has lots of questions. Several that I haven't thought of. Or don't want to.

Questions such as:

* If my dog eats chocolate, will his poop smell like chocolate?
* Can I drink out of my toilet bowl too?
* Can you make your dog crazy?
* Do dogs kiss?
* Can I exercise my dog beside my car?

Check out Dr. Lee's zany responses in this book, plus many more.

PetMD: How much would you pay for your dog

2011-07-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Previously posted on PetMD: The Daily Vet June 29, 2011 by Justine Lee

By now, most of you know JP, my 12-year-old rescue pit bull, cancer survivor extraordinaire. JP is the first dog that I’ve ever owned as a responsible adult. Not only is he the main character in my book It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet, but he’s been my main squeeze for the past decade plus.

JP has been my loyal companion and "Justine-supporter" through many a move, transition, job, residency, and boyfriend. JP is named after Jamaica Plain, an up-and-coming (i.e., ghetto) subdivision of Boston where I used to live. (This is on the infamous "other" side of the tracks, where one needs a pit bull to safely walk down the street.) Since rescuing him from parvovirus, he’s been a fantastic, well behaved, obedient ambassador for the breed.

One year ago today, JP acutely seizured. As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I knew instantly what this meant — something horrible: a stroke, a hypertensive event, or a brain tumor. Unfortunately, a few days later, JP was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor (a suspected glioma) based on the MRI.

Panic set in. This dog was my main love: above boyfriends, family, and friends. The rational, scientific side of Justine fought with the emotionally charged, "pathologically-attached-to-my-dog" Justine. I frantically called fellow colleagues who specialized in veterinary oncology or neurology to figure out what to do. My options…

Euthanasia - Humanely euthanizing him
Average life span: 0
Cost: $200-$400
Pros: He doesn’t suffer; no seizures or behavioral changes to deal with
Cons: He’s dead, I’m a mess, and I’ve had no time to spend with him

Medical management - Putting him on anti-seizure medications and steroids (to reduce the swelling in his brain)
Average life span: 1-2 months
Cost: $200-$400
Pros: Cheap
Cons: I’m still dealing with bad seizures; I have to deal with side effects from the medication (e.g., excessive thirst, urination and hunger); and I don’t get that much more time with him

Traditional radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy - Putting him under anesthesia once a day for 21 days for radiation therapy to zap his whole brain (including healthy brain tissue)
Average life span: a few months
Cost: A few thou’ ($3-$4,000)
Pros: I can get it done locally in St. Paul, MN
Cons: High risks of anesthesia, low specificity of radiation

Stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) - Putting him under anesthesia once a day for 1-4 days for a specialized radiation therapy that zaps only his tumor — not his whole brain. Average life span: 4-10 months
Cost: $8000-$10,000
Pros: Cutting edge technology where it’ll maximize a good quality of life; specific localized radiation against evil tumor cells
Cons: High risk of anesthesia; expensive — it costs more than my car; and I’d have to drive cross-country for it (as it’s only offered in a few places in the United States)

Brain surgery - Putting him under anesthesia and having the tumor surgically "debulked" (which is a nice way of saying "melon-scooped" out, as an anonymous veterinary oncologist told me).
Cost: Free, thanks to an NIH grant at University of Minnesota
Pros: Cutting edge research; free; done by board-certified specialists
Cons: High risk of anesthesia; risk of having a mentally-impaired dog post-operatively

So what did I do?

I needed to do everything that I could, as long as it didn’t hurt JP or put him through what I deemed to be too much. I wanted my dog — not a mentally impaired dog — and couldn’t handle the risks of JP losing his cognitive function or personality.

So, thanks to a 5-hour energy drink and a mocha, I drove non-stop from St. Paul, MN to Fort Collins, CO to one of the top oncology departments in the world at Colorado State University for stereotactic radiation therapy. Thanks to the support of some excellent counseling staff at Argus Institute (part of Animal Cancer Center’s team), I was able to survive the tumultuous, stressful, one week experience…

A few weeks later, once JP was recovered, a friend asked me, "What’s the cost-benefit ratio to you?" In other words, how long would JP have to live before it was worth the financial investment for SRT?? Bluntly, I said that if I got an extra six months with JP, I’d be happy. I needed that time with JP to say goodbye, provided it was a good quality life.

One year later today, I crunched the numbers. Between his MRI, CT, blood work, SRT, medications, pet-sitting and dog walking fees, treats, emergency endoscopy (Damn rawhide!), etc., JP cost me $37/day since his initial seizure one year ago.

And you know what? It was worth it.

While my friends and family were appalled by what I spent on JP, I needed it. (This coming from the girl who is too cheap to splurge on Starbucks mochas more than once a week.) All in all, I’m ecstatic that I had an extra 365 days to spend with JP. My love for that mutt runs deep, and I’m blessed that I was able to afford it.

I’m cognizant that most people aren’t, but where people splurge on cars, plasma screen TVs, and assorted materialistic things, I splurge on pets. (I do drive a 2000 Hyundai, after all). Besides which, $37/day is a hell of a lot cheaper than a daily shrink visit … and JP has provided me a lot of mental health.

JP is on his last leg, and I’m battling the decision to humanely euthanize him as we speak. I’m not even sure if he’ll be alive by the time this blog posts. Regardless, JP would appreciate the dedication in The Daily Vet.

To all those pet owners out there struggling with cancer: Hang in there. Whatever decision you make is the right one.

To JP: Thank you for teaching me more than I could ever learn from a two-legged human — devotion, loyalty, companionship, and most importantly, that success isn’t measured by society, but by the joy of a tail wag.

Holy crap - DNA testing on dogs...

2011-06-28T12:41:00.001-07:00

Apartments use DNA to nab poop-scoop scofflaws

(AP) – 4 days ago

LEBANON, N.H. (AP) — Here's the scoop: Some apartment complexes are using DNA testing on dog doo to find out who's not cleaning up after their pets.

The Timberwood Commons in Lebanon, N.H., opened this year and already has had problems with some residents who aren't cleaning up messes their dogs leave.

So manager Debbie Violette is going to use commercially available DNA sampling kits to check the DNA that dogs leave behind when they go.

"We've tried doing the warning letters. We've tried all sorts of things," she said Friday. "It's always a problem. It's just that the majority of people are responsible pet owners and there are a few who are not."

She said residents have been told they must submit samples from their dogs so DNA profiles can be put on file.

"I want people to know that we're serious about this," she said. More than 30 dogs call the 252-unit complex home.

Violette just received the kits from a Knoxville, Tenn., company called PooPrints, a subsidiary of BioPet Vet Lab. Jim Simpson, president of the lab, said about 20 properties in the country have been using the kits.

For testing samples, the company provides a feces collection kit. A small amount is put in a solution and mailed back to the lab. DNA is extracted from the feces. The lab then checks to see if it matches any of the profiles listed for the apartment complex.

"It's one of the coolest things I've ever done as a property manager," said Debbie Logan, who manages the Twin Ponds Development in Nashua, which has identified some problem pet owners through the tests.

Violette said that she hasn't decided what to do if she catches a pet owner not cleaning up after their dog but that they'll probably be fined. Language about the DNA testing will be included in a lease addendum addressing pet issues, she said.

So far, Violette said, she has gotten a positive response from dog owners.

Nestlé Purina Recalls Limited Number of Dry Cat Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk

2011-06-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Own a cat too?

Nestlé Purina Recalls Limited Number of Dry Cat Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk
(Shipped Only to Colorado, Idaho and Oregon)

Contact:
Consumer:
800-982-6559

Media:
Jill Winte
314-982-3032

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 27, 2011 - Nestlé Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling approximately 870 bags of dry cat food shipped to Colorado, Idaho and Oregon. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Only the following products with both the "Best By" date and production codes shown are included in this voluntary recall:

Product Name Bag Size "Best By" Date & Production Code* Bag UPC Code
Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Foot 6.3 lb. AUG 2012 10331083 13 17800 11320
Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food 3.15 lb. AUG 2012 10381083 06 50000 08450
Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food 16 lb. AUG 2012 10381083 06 50000 57578

*"Best By" Date and Production Code is found on the back or bottom of the bag.

The bags of dry cat food in this recall were distributed in error in February, 2011 to a small number of customers in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon, which may have further distributed the product to other Western states. There have been no consumer complaints and no reports of illness.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved. Only products which match the "Best By" date and production codes above are involved.

Consumers who have purchased any of these dry cat food products with these "Best By" Dates and Production Codes should discard it.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products. People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

At Nestlé Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall. For further information or to obtain a product refund, please call NPPC toll-free at 1-800-982-6559 weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time, or visit www.purina.com1.

Kudos to Florida for rescuing and saving pit bulls!

2011-06-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs SB 772 Into Law
June 22, 2011, 1:45PM MT
By Jessi Freud, Best Friends Network volunteer
Legislation repealing automatic death sentence for canine victims of cruelty passes, individual evaluations to be encouraged

It's all smiles and wagging tails for Florida's dogs!

With Gov. Rick Scott's signature on June 21, 2011, SB 722 is now a law. And that means that dogs who are seized as victims of dogfighting operations may now be individually evaluated and adopted into loving homes, instead of being automatically euthanized. This effort was spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society and sponsored by Rep. Garcia of Miami and Senator Norman of Tampa.

A ceremonial bill signing will take place on September 19.

From May 5, 2011:

The 2011 Florida legislative session scored one huge victory for the dogs. Senate Bill 722 (formerly House Bill 4075), unanimously passed in every committee and in the Senate, and yesterday cleared the House floor with a 99-17 final vote. Sponsored by a team of three bipartisan lawmakers – Representatives Luis Garcia and Jeff Brandes, and Senator Jim Norman – this legislation supports what we already know: rarely is an abused animal beyond redemption and no breed is inherently dangerous.

“In a year in which the State has gone after many of Florida’s most vulnerable I was glad to see that we came together as a legislature to stop punishing these abused animals,” said House bill sponsor Rep. Garcia. “I truly believe that you can judge the civility of a society by the way it treats its most vulnerable, including its animals.”

Best Friends Animal Society’s Ledy VanKavage, a nationally-respected expert on pit-bull terriers and reckless owner/dangerous dog legislation, testified last month in support of SB 722. Other animal advocacy groups, veterinarians, and rescue groups also voiced their support for the bill by highlighting their work with dogs seized in from animal-fighting situations.

“We have been working to remove the automatic ‘dangerous’ stigma from dogs and puppies seized from cruelty situations,” said Ledy. “After SB 722 becomes law, we will continue our work to remove this arbitrary designation in the remaining 13 states as part of our national pit bull terrier initiatives.”

SB 722 provides local authorities with the option to conduct individual behavioral evaluations of all animals seized from dogfighting situations and to determine if the dogs can be rehabilitated and adopted. The individual evaluation is not required, but an option for animal control officials.

“I am honored to be a co-sponsor of this bill which allows animal experts to evaluate the dogs and gives these victims of abuse a second chance a life,” noted Rep. Brandes.

Prior to its passage, the legislation received a warm reception at a Tallahassee capitol press conference. Bill sponsors decided to put a face on canine victims of cruelty by showcasing Dolly, a rehabilitated pit-bull terrier who was believed to have been used as a bait dog but now lives peacefully as a Canine Good Citizen canine companion and therapy dog for senior citizens.

"You can see what a wonderful animal this is," said Senate bill sponsor Senator Jim Norman during the press conference, as Dolly laid down near his feet. "This is a dog that has been typified as a vicious type of animal but, as you can see, if dogs are treated right, they're man's best friend, ladies' best friend — just wonderful creatures."

Best Friends Animal Society is working throughout the country to help pit-bull terriers, who are battling everything from a media-driven bad reputation to ineffective and expensive legislation. Best Friends hopes to end discrimination against all dogs. Dogs are individuals and should be treated as individuals. Find out how you can help by visiting and becoming a fan of the pit bull terrier initiatives.

Exposure to pets and risk of childhood allergies

2011-06-21T15:32:00.001-07:00

June 13, 2011 — Exposure to pets in early life may not raise the risk for childhood allergies and may even be protective, according to the results of a birth cohort study reported online June 13 in Clinical & Experimental Allergy.

"Prior research about whether keeping a dog or cat at home causes allergies to that pet has been limited to outcomes in early childhood," write Ganesa Wegienka, MS, PhD, from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and colleagues. "...In this report, we used a life course approach, similar to our examination of overall sensitization, to further investigate the relationships between exposure to indoor dogs and the risk of dog sensitization and exposure to indoor cats and cat sensitization."

The goal of the study was to examine the association between lifetime dog and cat exposure and allergic sensitization to the specific animal at age 18 years among 566 participants enrolled in the Detroit Childhood Allergy Study birth cohort during 1987 to 1989.

Lifetime indoor dog and cat exposure, defined as the pets spending at least 50% of their time inside the house, was determined from annual interview data from childhood and follow-up interviews at age 18 years. Sensitization to dog or cat was defined as animal-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels of 0.35 kU/L or more. Exposure was analyzed separately for dogs and cats and for first year, by age groups, and cumulative lifetime exposure.

Compared with boys who did not have an indoor dog in the first year of life, those who did had half the risk of being sensitized to dogs at age 18 years (relative risk [RR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 - 0.92). This association was not observed in girls. For boys and girls delivered by cesarean, the RR was 0.33 (95% CI, 0.07 - 0.97).

Teens who had an indoor cat in the first year of life had a reduced risk (RR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31 - 0.90) of being sensitized to cats. Neither cumulative exposure nor exposure at any other age was associated with the risk for sensitization.

"This research provides further evidence that experiences in the first year of life are associated with health status later in life, and that early life pet exposure does not put most children at risk of being sensitized to these animals later in life," Dr. Wegienka said in a news release.

Limitations of this study include incomplete follow-up data on all participants enrolled in the original study, use of parental allergic history that was based on maternal report, and lack of lifetime measurements of the participants' actual exposures to dog or cat allergen. In addition, although the investigators controlled for a parental history of allergy, this history of allergy is not necessarily specific for dog or cat allergy.

"Dog and cat exposure has been reported to be associated with recurrent asthma exacerbation in sensitized individuals," the study authors conclude. "By preventing sensitization, hopefully exacerbations would be reduced or eliminated. ...An insightful and logical next step would be to further delineate the effects of pets on immune development during smaller time windows (e.g. the first month, the first 3 months) in the first year of life."

The Fund for Henry Ford Hospital and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases supported this study. The study authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Clin Exper Allergy. Published online June 13, 2011.

New Lyme Disease test for your Belgians

2011-06-20T09:39:00.001-07:00

New Lyme Disease test By Debra Eldredge, Belgian Breeds Examiner
June 18, 2011 9:03 pm ET

Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Lab in Ithaca, NY announced late on Thursday that there is a new Lyme Disease test available for diagnostic testing in dogs. Blood samples are submitted for the new antibody test that will replace ELISA and Western blot testing for Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is a bane of existence for many Belgian owners. Belgians are active outdoor enthusiasts. They love to hike, herd, track and simply run for fun through fields and woods. Unfortunately many of those fields and woods are infested with Lyme Disease carrying ticks. Lyme Disease is found over most of North America as seen on this map.

Ticks carrying Lyme Disease (and often other tick borne illnesses as well) latch on to an unsuspecting dog. The tick will feed on your Belgian's blood and in exchange, give your Belgian a dose of the spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi. Belgians with Lyme Disease generally show lameness. Some of the dogs will have enlarged lymph nodes, fever and severe pain. A few dogs will develop kidney failure. Most dogs will respond to doxycycline treatment. Dogs may develop a chronic form of the disease. Some dogs will show a relapse after treatment if they are stressed.
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It has been very difficult with present tests to distinguish between dogs with antibodies from having been vaccinated for Lyme Disease and dogs who are actually infected with Lyme Disease. The new test can make that distinction and in addition, tell a dog with an early stage infection from a dog with a low grade chronic infection. This additional information can help your veterinarian plan the ideal treatment protocol for your Belgian.

The new "multiplex" Lyme Disease test looks at three separate antibodies to the spirochete that causes Lyme Disease. Using the input from all three antibodies helps to make the distinctions listed above. This test requires a blood sample from your dog so it is relatively easy to do. The cost for test itself is $36. Expect to pay an additional fee for the drawing of the blood sample and the shipping to the lab.

Should you be feeding raw food?

2011-06-14T10:35:00.001-07:00

The top 10 most dangerous days for pets!

2011-05-25T08:15:00.001-07:00

BREA, Calif., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of the best days for people—weekends, holidays, summer break—turn out to be the worst for pets. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to find the most dangerous days for pets in 2010. The company tracked accident claims by treatment day across the entire year to discover that, in general, more accidents occur in the summer months, and the most accidents are treated the day after holidays and weekends. Contrary to popular belief, the company did not find any spike in pet accidents treated on or following full moons.

Day - 2010 Number of Accident Claims Treated

1. Monday, June 7 206

2. Tuesday, September 7 205

3. Monday, June 14 199

4. Tuesday, June 1 193

5. Monday, June 21 188

6. Monday, August 9 183

7. Monday, April 26 179

8. Monday, June 28 179

9. Monday, April 5 173

10. Monday, August 2 171

The amount of accident claims treated spiked following holidays—particularly Labor Day (No. 2), Memorial Day (No. 4) and Easter (No. 9)—and increased overall during the late spring and summer months. June was the most dangerous month of the year, with 4,145 claims for an average of 138 pets treated each day for accidental injuries and five of the Top 10 most dangerous days of the year. The safest month was December with an average of 108 claims treated each day and only 2 days in the top 50 most dangerous days.

In order to accurately assess the "danger" of a day, the company only analyzed claims submitted for injuries requiring immediate attention, such as broken bones, poisonings, and lacerations. The data revealed that on the average day in 2010, about 118 VPI-insured pets were treated for severe accidental injuries. Of the days of the week, Mondays had the largest average number of pets treated for accidental injuries at 152. Sundays were the lowest at 59.

"The difference in the number of accidents treated between Sunday and Monday may indicate that treatment is more difficult to find on Sundays and holidays," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "In case of an off-hours or holiday emergency, pet owners should know where to find the closest 24-hour animal hospital and have a plan for covering unexpected treatment costs. Preparation and timely treatment can make the difference between life and death."

While some people may suspect that full moons cause an increase in emergency room visits and accidental injuries, VPI actually saw a slight decrease in the average number of pets treated for accidental injuries—107—on days with a full moon. There was only one "Friday the Thirteenth" in 2010. VPI received 112 claims for accidental injuries on that day in August, which was below the average for the year, month and for Fridays in general.

For a full breakdown of the data, visit http://on.fb.me/dangerousdays.

About Veterinary Pet Insurance
With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the No. 1 veterinarian-recommended pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional CareGuard® Coverage is available for routine care.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,000 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

SOURCE Veterinary Pet Insurance

Top 5 Selling Human Medications and What Happens When Pets Eat Them

2011-05-23T08:17:00.001-07:00

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (May 23, 2011) – The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics recently released a report that included the top five human prescription (Rx) drugs sold in the United States.

“Nearly half of the calls we receive are for pets that have accidentally ingested human medications,” said Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC and the associate director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. “Recognizing the most commonly sold drugs in the U.S. and how they affect pets can help pet owners be more cognizant of potential dangers associated with these drugs.”

Pet Poison Helpline is a division of SafetyCall International, the world's largest industry poison control and adverse event management center, handling both human and animal calls. The veterinarians and pharmacists work side-by-side to provide multi-disciplinary expertise to the veterinarians and pet owners they assist.

According to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics report, which was released in April 2011, the top five human drugs dispensed in the U.S. are Lipitor®, Nexium®, Plavix®, Advair Diskus® and Abilify®. Because Pet Poison Helpline’s call volume is high for dogs and cats that have ingested human medications harmful to pets, the veterinarians are sharing how these drugs typically affect pets that ingest them. As explained below, some drugs cause only minor symptoms and some can be potentially life threatening. Awareness of these drugs and how they affect pets can save lives. Likewise, in cases where a pet has ingested a non-life threatening drug, awareness can save the pet owner a great deal of heartache.

#1 – Lipitor® (atorvastatin)
Used to reduce cholesterol levels, U.S. citizens spent $7.2 billion on Lipitor in 2010, making it the top selling drug in the country. Generally when pets get into Lipitor, only mild side effects are seen, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, Lipitor is not considered to have high toxicity levels for pets. While some human drugs are utilized in veterinary medicine, Lipitor is not.

#2 – Nexium® (esomeprazole)
During 2010, Americans spent $6.3 billion on Nexium. It is an anti-ulcer medication and proton-pump inhibitor that results in decreased gastric acid secretion. While it is utilized in veterinary medicine for some pets, mild side effects can include vomiting and diarrhea. Pet owners of dogs or cats that get into this drug should watch their pet closely, but not be alarmed since symptoms will generally subside on their own.

#3 – Plavix® (clopidogrel)
In third place is Plavix, which is a drug that affects platelets in humans, inhibiting clot formation and reducing the risk of stroke. Rarely used in veterinary medicine, $6.1 billion was spent on this drug for humans last year. When pets get into Plavix, it has a wide margin of safety and generally is not considered to be acutely toxic. Only mild vomiting or diarrhea may be seen.

#4 – Advair Diskus® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol)
Often used for treating asthma and administered through an inhaler, Advair Diskus contains beta-agonist drugs that expand the lungs and steroids that decrease inflammation in the lungs. Americans spent $4.7 billion on Advair Diskus in 2010, making it fourth top selling drug. Because inhalers contain many doses, dogs that chew into them are exposed to massive amounts of the drug all at once. This often results in heart arrhythmias, an elevated heart rate, agitation, vomiting and even acute collapse. Severe electrolyte abnormalities such as very low potassium levels are likely and can be life-threatening without immediate veterinary treatment.

#5 – Abilify® (aripiprazole)
The fifth top-selling drug is Abilify. It contains aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic agent that is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and clinical depression. It is important to keep this drug out of the reach of pets, as ingestion can result in profound lethargy, vomiting, hyperthermia, significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and seizures. If a pet ingests this drug, immediate veterinary attention is needed.

In order to keep pets safe from ingesting these and other dangerous human medications, the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline offer these recommendations.
• Keep human medications stored in a different location from pet medications. Pet Poison Helpline often takes calls from pet owners who accidentally give their human medications to pets.
• Weekly pill holders are irresistible to some dogs, as they resemble chew toys and rattle. The danger is that a dog could ingest a full seven days’ worth of medications, significantly increasing the risk for poisoning.
• Avoid putting medications into plastic storage baggies before traveling – these are not pet proof (or child-proof), and can easily be chewed into by dogs.
• Hang your purse out of the reach of your pets. Inhalers, medications, sugar-free gum, and other items that are dangerous to pets can be easily snatched out of a purse by a curious dog or cat. Pet Poison Helpline recently produced a video titled “Handbag Hazards” available here http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/Ask-the-Vet-Videos.

Remember that what is safe for humans isn’t always safe for pets. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, it is always better (and less expensive) to get help immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 for life-saving help. Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effective animal poison control center in North America charging only $35 per call, including unlimited follow-up consultations.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline™, a division of SafetyCall International®, is an animal poison control service based out of Minneapolis available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes unlimited follow-up consultations. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Steve Dale's Pet World featuring Dr Justine Lee

2011-05-04T18:55:00.001-07:00

Love of Dog. Or God. Whichever you prefer.

2011-04-23T18:54:00.001-07:00

Do I Really Need to Bring My Pet in to the Emergency Vet? | PetMD

2011-04-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Do I Really Need to Bring My Pet in to the Emergency Vet? | PetMD

Bulldog deaths lead to Delta ban | ajc.com

2011-04-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

Bulldog deaths lead to Delta ban | ajc.com

"Senior" dog foods

2011-04-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

Previously published By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Even though most Americans might believe that "senior" dog food is formulated differently than food for young adult dogs and pups, experts say that brands can vary widely in their ingredients and there are no requirements for what goes in foods for older canines. A new survey finds that most Americans think that senior dog foods are lower in protein, sodium, fat and calories.

"But when we actually looked at the diets, there was an incredible range," said Dr. Lisa M. Freeman, co-author of a paper appearing in the latest issue of The International Journal for Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine.

The manufacturers "might be increasing protein, decreasing protein or keeping it the same," said Freeman, who is professor of nutrition at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Mass. "That emphasizes to us to look at the individual animal, and not all aging animals need a different diet. It's much, much more important to look at individual dogs."

The issue is close to home for many people, given that better medical care now allows many more pets to live longer lives. The confusion stems from a variety of sources, one of which no doubt is the perception that there are minimum standards that must be met for dog food to qualify as "senior."

Although professional organizations do stipulate requirements for pups and adult dog food, the Association of American Feed Control Officials and the National Research Council have no such requirements for food marketed for aging or "mature" canines (beyond what's required for adult dog food). Also, the term "old" is extremely relative in the canine world. The average lifespan for an Irish Wolfhound is only about six years but "a toy poodle at 7 is very young still," Freeman explained. Some "old" dogs may be the picture of perfect health, while others might have a medical condition that warrants less sodium, for example, she said.

About 1,300 people -- 92 percent of them dog owners -- responded to Tufts University's web-based survey. Most respondents (84.5 percent) believed that senior dogs need to eat differently than younger dogs. Although about 43 percent of Americans said they used a senior diet for their older pooches, only one-third had actually consulted their vet about it.

Respondents tended to assume that senior dog foods were lower in calories (in actuality, this varied from 246 to 408 calories a cup). And not all dogs gain weight as they age, Freeman said. Some lose and some stay the same, meaning calorie requirements may or may not change as dogs enter their golden years. People also tended to assume that senior diets had less fat, protein and sodium but, again, this was not necessarily the case, with enormous variation among individual brands. There is very little scientific evidence to suggest that dogs mimic humans as they age, though this is another widely held perception, the study authors stated.

"The study highlights the diversity among dogs and, consequently, dog food products. Each dog is unique and has distinct needs," said Kurt Gallagher, a spokesman for the Pet Food Institute, a trade group. "Attaining senior status depends on several factors, including the breed and weight of the dog. The differing nutritional needs of dogs are exemplified by the variance in the amount of protein senior dogs should consume."

"The study explains that some dogs require higher levels of protein from what they consumed earlier in life, while others actually need lower levels," Gallagher continued. "A variety of pet food products, including senior products, are available to pet owners so they may purchase a product that meets the specific needs of their pet. Dog owners may want to make a decision on whether to feed a senior diet, and which product to feed, in consultation with a veterinarian."

The study authors also advised talking with a veterinarian, noting that every "senior diet" for dogs is different and may or may not be appropriate for a particular dog, depending upon his overall condition and health.

What causes dogs to die? Mortality in dogs...

2011-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Mortality in North American Dogs from 1984 to 2004: An Investigation into Age-, Size-, and Breed-Related Causes of Death
J.M. Fleming, K.E. Creevy, and D.E.L. Promislow

Background: Anecdotal beliefs and limited research suggest variable patterns of mortality in age, size, and breed cohorts of dogs. Detailed knowledge of mortality patterns would facilitate development of tailored health-maintenance practices and
contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of disease.

Hypothesis/Objectives: To describe breed-specific causes of death in all instances of canine mortality recorded in the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB)a between 1984 and 2004. We hypothesized that causes of death, categorized by organ system (OS) or pathophysiologic process (PP), would segregate by age, body mass, and breed.

Animals: 74,556 dogs from the VMDB for which death was the outcome of the recorded hospital visit.

Methods: Retrospective study. Causes of death from abstracted VMDB medical records were categorized by OS and PP and analyzed by age, breed, and breed-standard mass of dog.

Results: Causes of death, categorized by OS or PP, segregated by age, breed, and breed-standard mass. Young dogs died more commonly of gastrointestinal and infectious causes whereas older dogs died of neurologic and neoplastic causes.
Increasing age was associated with an increasing risk of death because of cardiovascular, endocrine, and urogenital causes, but not because of hematopoietic or musculoskeletal causes. Dogs of larger breeds died more commonly of musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal causes whereas dogs of smaller breeds died more commonly of endocrine causes.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Not all causes of death contribute equally to mortality within age, size, or breed cohorts. Documented patterns now provide multiple targets for clinical research and intervention.

Bad dog! Dog on a hot tin roof

2011-03-31T06:42:00.001-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Why you should date a veterinarian

2011-03-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Why you should date a veterinarian. Previously published at PetMD, by Dr. Justine Lee

While reading The New York Times best seller Freakonomics, I was pleasantly surprised to see Levitt and Dubner list female veterinarians as one of the top three most desirable online daters.

My ex-boyfriend didn’t appreciate me photocopying the page and mailing it to him, but I thought it was important that he realize the obvious: we are hot commodities. (Why, oh why, did you need me to remind you? And why didn’t I take that as my hint to exit the relationship?)

Men are usually "dog" people who love to wrestle with Fido and enjoy some of the hobbies of dog ownership, such as hiking and being outdoors. But men often have a misperception that we women only want a pet so we can fulfill our maternal instincts by grooming it and braiding its hair.

Female veterinarians escape that stereotype — guys know we probably have a higher tolerance for dirt, hair, drool, and mud. And considering that men may realize that they have some similar qualities to dogs (dirt, hair, drool, mud, and of course, loyalty), why wouldn’t they want to jump on the love train?

Currently, 73 percent of veterinary students are women, and nearly 50 percent of practicing veterinarians are, too. If I can make a broad generalization, female veterinarians are hard working, somewhat anal retentive, and outdoorsy; they love animals and are well-rounded. C’mon guys — what more could you ask for?

What do you think? Should the Patty Khulys and Justine Lees of the world get their chance on The Bachelorette, or are we too covered in dirt, bodily fluids, dog hair, and cat abscess fluid to make it?

Me? I’ll be cuddling with my more loyal four-legged friends on the sofa tonight …

Pit Bulls

2011-03-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Top 10 pet medical conditions!

2011-03-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance's database of more than 485,000 insured pets:

Dogs
1. Ear infection
2. Skin allergy
3. Skin infection/hot spots
4. Gastritis/vomiting
5. Enteritis/diarrhea
6. Arthritis
7. Bladder infection
8. Soft tissue trauma
9. Non-cancerous tumor
10. Hypothyroidism

Cats
1. Lower urinary tract disease
2. Gastritis
3. Chronic renal failure
4. Hyperthyroidism
5. Diabetes
6. Enteritis/diarrhea
7. Skin allergy
8. Periodontitis/dental disease
9. Ear infection
10. Upper respiratory infection

Exotic pets
1. Bowel obstruction
2. Gastritis/vomiting
3. Bladder infection
4. Upper respiratory infection
5. Eye infection
6. Cancerous tumor requiring surgery
7. Arthritis
8. Skin inflammation
9. Skin abscess or pressure ulcer
10. Inflammation of hair follicles

Jury Fails to Convict Baltimore Teens Accused of Abusing Dog

2011-02-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

This was listed on the ASPCA website... a sad, sad case. Write your MA representative and promote more aggressive animal cruelty laws!

Dr. Justine Lee

In Maryland, a shocking case of violence against animals has concluded, for now, with a whimper: A single juror prevented the jury in the Johnson brothers’ animal cruelty trial from reaching a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial on February 7, 2011. The 11 other jurors reportedly were in favor of convicting the Johnsons.

Twins Travers and Tremayne Johnson, now 19, were accused of dousing a young Pit Bull in gasoline and setting her on fire in the streets of Baltimore in May 2009. Although the dog was saved by a policewoman and treated by rescue workers (who named her Phoenix), her injuries were so severe that she had to be humanely euthanized a few days after the incident.

Nearly two years after her death, Phoenix remains an enduring symbol and the face of animal cruelty victims nationwide—what’s more, the senseless attack served as a catalyst for change in Baltimore. With support from the ASPCA, the city created the Baltimore Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission in November 2010. The commission, whose members include Dr. Randall Lockwood, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects, has pledged to provide training on animal cruelty to law enforcement, prosecutors and judges throughout Maryland.

The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office is expected to retry the case against Travers and Tremayne Johnson.

Love me, love my dog! (or my cat!)

2011-02-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

Kudos to Lisa Spector for a great article about our beloved pets!

Dr. Justine Lee

By Lisa Spector, Canine Music Expert, Juilliard Graduate, and co-creator of Through a Dog’s Ear.

In 2006 there were more than 72 million pet dogs in the U.S. and nearly 82 million pet cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2007 Edition). In the same year, nearly half of pet owners, or 49.7 percent considered their pets to be family members.

How many of those consider their pets to be their sweethearts? In a poll taken of 3,000 British dog and cat owners, 19 percent stated that they would rather have a pet than be involved in a romantic partnership. For 81 percent of the dog owners polled, it would be an instant deal breaker if their date didn’t like their pet. And 79 percent polled stated that they wouldn’t give up their pet for a romantic partner.

A study by the National Institutes of Health revealed that having a pet can help to diminish feelings of loneliness, particularly for women living alone, and compensate for the absence of human companionship. However, owning a pet doesn’t have to disallow meeting a human mate. In the British study cited above, 5 percent of dog owners have been on a date with someone they met walking their dog, with 1.5 percent still dating that person. I am in the U.S. and am amongst those who have been on a date with someone I met while walking my dog (while not being in the 1.5 percent still dating that person.) I have been known to fall in love with a Golden Retriever in a heartbeat, and it may have been possible that I confused who my attraction was for when I looked up at the other end of the leash. However, I believe that how you do anything is how you do everything. So, observing someone’s relationship with their pet can also reveal a lot about the person.

That may account for the recent popularity of online dating sites for pet owners. DateMyPet.com, LoveMyPet.com, and PetPeopleMeet.com are three such sites. On the latter, I read a success story from a woman who met her match when she fell in love with a man who also rescues dogs. Yet, once in a human relationship, people often state they crave the kind of unconditional love they receive from their pets. Can Pets Improve your Relationship?, an article by Dr. Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, states that all the qualities we often want in our mate appear similar to those we experience with our pets. Her reports show that a person in a relationship often wants to be spoken to with the same affection shown to their pet.

According to a survey by Sealy mattresses, 67% of people regularly bed down with their cats and dogs, and many prefer to share their beds with their furry friends than with human partners. Why is that? 51% say their sleep is disturbed by their partner, compared to 38 percent who claim their canines and felines wake them up constantly. But, does the real answer go much deeper than quality of sleep? What do you think? Have our beloved pets replaced human partners or enhanced those relationships? Thanks for clicking on “comment” below and sharing your thoughts. Also feel free to share stories if you met your human partner because of your pet or if you stayed away from someone because you listened to your pet.

Whether your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day is human, furry, feathered, or all of the above, Sanchez and Gina and I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day. To show my appreciation to Care2 readers, I am offering a 25 percent discount on all product purchases at ThroughaDogsEar.com, valid through the end of the day on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Enter the coupon code “care2vday” at checkout. (May not be combined with other special offers or bundles.) Enjoy music with your human and canine families that has been clinically demonstrated to calm the canine and human nervous systems. Click here to listen to a sound sample from our Music to Calm your Canine Companion series.

Lisa Spector is a concert pianist, Juilliard graduate, canine music expert, and Facebook coach. By combining her passion for music with her love of dogs, she co-created Through a Dog's Ear, the first music clinically demonstrated to relieve anxiety issues in dogs. For the past 14 years, she has owned Lisa Spector’s Music School in Half Moon Bay, CA. She shares her home and her heart with her two adorable "career change" Labrador Retrievers from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Sanchez and Gina.

Would you choose your dog over a romantic relationship?

2011-02-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

By Dave McGinn, Globe and Mail Update
If you're trying to woo someone with a dog, make sure to put in time petting and playing fetch

It's puppy love. No, really. On the eve of Valentine's Day, a new poll [http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/oukoe-uk-britain-valentines-iduktre71a00e20110211] shows that some Britons are so enamoured with their fuzzy, furry, four-legged friends that it might be stopping them from human-on-human romance.

Of the 3, 000 pet owners surveyed, 80 per cent said they would not date someone who didn't like their pet. So if you're trying to woo someone with a dog, make sure to put in time petting and playing fetch.

Then again, it might not matter how much time you put in trying to prove you love that scruffy little fella: nearly 20 per cent said they would rather have an animal companion than a relationship.

Problem? It might be, with 12 per cent saying they felt owning a dog or cat was having a damaging effect on their relationship.

Some people seem to have very good reasons for being jealous of cats and dogs, because if you think they're getting all the attention, you just might be right: 36 per cent of all pet owners said they stroked their pets more than they touched their partners.

Top 10 pet names of 2010

2011-02-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Brea, Calif. -- Previously released by Veterinary Pet Insurance and DVM360.

Pet owners latched on to the popular “Twilight” series when it came to naming their pets last year. In fact, Bella ranked as the most popular name for dogs and took second place (behind Max) for cats in 2010, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance. The company recently released its list of top 10 pet names for the year.

Other top dog names were Bailey, Max, Lecy, Molly, Buddy, Maggie, Daisy, Charlie and Sophie. Of the nearly half a million pets insured by VPI, only 13 were given the moniker Fido, revealing a trend toward using more human names for pets.

Cat owners favored names like Max, Chloe, Oliver Lucky and Charlie in 2010, while traditional names like Tiger and Tigger fell to the bottom of most-popular list.

Other common exotic names, revealed for the first time in 2010 by VPI, were Charlie, Baby, Sunny, Jack, Kiwi, Bandit, Max, Sammy, Gizmo and, again, Bella.

Some of the most unusual dog names identified by VPI included Pickle Von Corndog, Badonkadonnk and Dog Vader. Cat names included Purr Diem, Bing Clawsby, Chairman Meow, Optimus Pants and Admiral Pancake.

Can dogs get poison ivy?

2011-02-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

They can, but thankfully, dogs don’t seem to get poison ivy nearly as commonly as humans. Thanks to their long, protective hair coat, the oils from poison ivy just can’t reach the skin. Unfortunately, these oils can be spread from Itchy Izzy to you. Use caution when hiking through poison ivy with Izzy and avoid petting her immediately after. If you bring a towel, dry wipe her off after hiking (while wearing gloves!). Often you can minimize the likelihood of her transmitting these oils to you. If itchy Izzy has short hair and does get poison ivy, try bathing her in a colloidal oatmeal shampoo – they have them for dogs too!

Material from It's a Dog's Life... but It's Your Carpet, available at amazon.com. More information available at www.drjustinelee.com

Copyright © 2008 Justine Lee Veterinary Consulting, LLC.

Can you believe the idiot wants her mailed puppy back?

2011-02-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Doggone it, woman who tried to mail puppy wants him back

Previously published y By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

Last update: February 3, 2011 - 10:00 PM

The Minneapolis woman who tried to mail a puppy wants him back.

"I'm just appalled," said Mitzi Carroll, who learned about the puppy's plight from a TV broadcast in Georgia, where she lives. "And now she wants it back? Really? I have a strong problem with that. How do you put a puppy in a box and try to mail it? That's just animal cruelty."

That's exactly what Minneapolis authorities thought. They charged Stacey Champion, 39, with animal cruelty and impounded Guess, a 4-month-old poodle-Schnauzer mix that postal officials said likely would have been DOA at its Georgia destination.

As word of the pup's discovery in a sealed box with no air holes spread across the country, concerned animal lovers began calling and e-mailing city officials with requests to adopt the black dog.

But Carroll, who already has adopted two dogs and three cats, and other would-be rescuers will have to wait for the outcome of an administrative hearing Monday, at which Champion is scheduled to plead for the dog's return.

That request itself is a bit unusual. "In the four years that I've been here, we never had a person appeal after an animal was impounded because of animal cruelty," said Dan Niziolek, manager for Minneapolis' Animal Care and Control. Of course, city officials can't remember ever handling a case in which someone tried to send a puppy through the mail, either.

In appealing the case, Champion had to pay about $250 in fees for the city to kennel and care for the puppy. If she loses her case before the administrative hearing officer, the puppy would be put up for adoption or she could take her case to the Court of Appeals, Niziolek said. But Champion would have to pay the city $15 a day for the puppy's care until her case was resolved.

Champion also needs to resolve the criminal case for animal cruelty in Hennepin County District Court. Even if she wins the puppy back during her appeal, a judge could restrict her ownership of animals, Niziolek said.

Champion didn't return calls asking about her plans for Monday's hearing.

"I would like to be at that hearing. I really would," said Sally Shortridge, who is outraged over the idea that an adult woman who put a puppy in the mail might regain custody.

"I have nieces and nephews at 12 and 14 who would know much better," she said. "She shouldn't get that poor little puppy back."

Should I get pet insurance?

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

After JP, my 12 year-old, rescue pit bull had a dental cleaning, followed by a cancer-like mass removed from his jaw, followed by his spleen and adrenal gland removed 9 months later, I was in the hole $5,000 (and that’s with my professional discount!). One year later, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After a CT, MRI, and stereotactic radiation therapy, I was in the hole a whole lot more... It was just about that time when I was finally considering pet insurance. But was it too late, and is it worth it now?

While pet insurance has been around for over 30 years, it hasn’t grown in popularity when compared to other countries. For example, over 30% of pets in the United Kingdom are insured, compared to < 1% of pets in America. So why is that? First, pet insurance is indemnity insurance, and is different than your human health insurance. Both involve a third-party insurer, but with pet insurance you pay the bill directly to your veterinarian first, then seek reimbursement for the amount (or some part of the bill) by submitting a claim to the pet insurance company. Keep in mind that some pet insurance companies reimburse only a portion of the bill. And, all of them will have pre-existing medical condition limitations or breed-limitations on coverage (in other words, if you own a German shepherd where hip dysplasia is rampant in that breed, it won’t cover your dog for this!).

When it comes to pet insurance, it’s important to educate yourself as a pet owner on whether or not it’s a good fit for you. Ask yourself the following three questions to consider whether or not to invest in pet insurance:

What’s my financial situation?
Pet insurance is beneficial for large veterinary expenses or catastrophic emergencies – in other words, for that dog who swallowed a sock and needs emergency surgery in the middle of the night, to the cat who ran outside and got hit by a car. If you can’t afford a several thousand dollar surgery in the middle of the night, even partial reimbursement may help in your financial situation. Again, it’s important to remember that you still must pay the bill in full, and seek reimbursement later with your veterinary pet insurance. If you can’t afford to put yourself into debt on your dog’s behalf, pet insurance is a great emergency backup plan.

What’s my bond with my pet (i.e., stop treatment amount)?
My pets are family members in my household – they sleep with me, eat with me, share my bed, and have a high pecking order in my family circle! That said, not all pet owners share the same human-animal bond, and may not want to pursue aggressive treatment on their pets (including anesthesia for an MRI or chemotherapy). If you find yourself saying “Well, he’s just a dog,” pet insurance may not be the best option for you, as your “stop-treatment amount” is likely low. If you’ll walk the ends of the earth for you pet – as I would – extra financial help and insurance may best support your needs for your pet.

What’s my tolerance for risk?
If you worry about the veterinary costs each time your dog sneezes, or cringe each time your cat looks at you cross-eyed, pet insurance may be for you. If you aren’t comfortable with the risk of paying several thousand dollars for your pet’s emergency surgery at the last minute, indemnity insurance offers you protection. If however, you find that you tolerate financial risk well, and are willing and able to shell out a few thou’ at 2 am without any problem, you likely wouldn’t benefit as much from pet insurance.

Ultimately, pet insurance does offer the right person and the right pet adequate coverage – especially in cases of emergency, and as costs for veterinary care continue to grow. When in doubt, thoroughly research your options out there for pet insurance and talk to your veterinarian about how to educate yourself on the best pet insurance plan for you and your pet.

Picking the right kennel for your dog

2011-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you business travel a lot, you may have to kennel your dog. So how does one find the best kennel out there for your dog? The best way to pick a good kennel for your dog is to stick to one main rule: if you wouldn’t mind sleeping there, then it’s OK for your dog to sleep there. After all, 60% of Americans share their bed with their dog, right?

When picking a kennel, make sure they pass these three simple tests. First, always visit the kennel and check out the facilities. Are the cages or run conditions clean, dry, well-kept, in good lighting, and appear to be in a well-secured, safe environment? (i.e., is there an extra fence outside around the perimeter to make sure dogs can’t escape)? If you are visiting cages in a dark, damp basement or garage, look elsewhere! Does it stink like wet dog or feces when you get there? It’s likely because dogs may be soiling their kennel because they aren’t being walked frequently enough. Is water available at all times? Is there protection from the shade (if it’s an outdoor run)? When in doubt, surprise visit a kennel randomly on a weekday or weekend , so you make sure that the kennel didn’t just clean up for your appointment. Secondly, make sure it’s healthy for your dog to be there. Check to make sure that the facility has stringent rules like proof of vaccination (for distemper, parvovirus, rabies, and kennel cough). Does the kennel require that all dogs be on flea and tick preventative (after all, you don’t want to bring your dog home with a flea infestation!)? If your dog is on medications, where are the medications stored? Who’s administering them? Thirdly, make sure it’s a kennel that communicates well with you. Do they ask for all your contact numbers? Do they ask for your veterinarian’s name and number? Does the kennel have a “living will” established for you and your dog (i.e., “If X, Y, and Z happens and we can’t get in touch with you, you want to do A, B and C performed.”). Lastly, does the kennel have an emergency veterinarian and routine veterinarian that they would bring your dog too? When in doubt, go with your gut. If it’s good enough for your dog, it has to be good enough for you. If not, look elsewhere.

Tips:

1) Be well informed. Ask the kennel for references to call. Read unbiased on-line reviews about the kennel. Ask a pet-loving friend where they kennel their dog!

2) I use a house and pet-sitter that I trust and rely on. Again, ask your dog park friend’s for a reference. Most pets prefer to be in their environmental (instead of a stressful, new environment), so if you can, use a house-sitter instead!

3) If your dog runs and cowers the next time you go to the kennel – AVOID IT! Likewise, if your dog is overjoyed to run back into the kennel, he likely had great dog play time and lots of loving – that’s a good sign!

Should I buy a FURminator?

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

During the spring and summer, pets shed more to help them thermoregulate. That said, you don’t have to tolerate fur-dust bunnies in your home just because you own and love pets. As a vet surrounded by fur and dander all day, I admit it - I hate shedding fur and take it to an extreme with my own pets: I shave them. That’s right – I shave my two short-haired cats down to the peach-fuzz level during the spring and summer to decrease the massive shedding… that is, until I met my first FURminator.

I’ve always just used traditional brushes on my pets: a metal shedding blade scraping brush on my dog, and a metallic slicker brush for my cats. I didn’t realize what injustice I was doing until I tried out my first FURminator – and was appalled at how much hair I could groom out. If you have a cat or a long-haired dog, it’s worth the investment. In fact, after using it once, you’ll realize that you finally found the ideal brush to get that undercoat out. The bad news – if you’re too aggressive, you can actually cause bald or patchy spots on your pets. I noticed this after aggressively grooming one of my cats…but thankfully it grew all back.

So yes, unless you want to invest a few hundred into clippers, the FURminator is worth the investment! Two thumbs up from this vet.

Constant dog barking: your social responsibilities to shut it up!

2011-01-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

As a pet owner, you carry certain societal responsibilities: poop scooping, keeping your dog under strict control, preventing pet overpopulation, and keeping noise pollution down to a minimum. As a vet, I fully admit to having a lower tolerance for persistently barking dogs (after all, I have to deal with it at the clinic all day!), so I can really empathize with those who have to put up with a neighbor’s constantly barking dog.

Know that there are several contributing factors when it comes to that constant barking: breed, inappropriate training, and bluntly, an un-neighborly neighbor. Certain breeds like Rottweilers, German shepherds, Scottish terriers, West Highland white terriers, and miniature schnauzers are infamous for being “top watchdog barkers.” Likewise, Shetland sheepdogs and beagles are often noisy neighbors too. Beagles have a particularly abnormal bark called a “bay” which even beagle owners learn to hate. Secondly, inappropriate training – where positive and negative feedback is misused – is another no-no. One of the biggest mistakes I see is when pet owners try to “shut their dog up” by giving them a bone to chew on instead. This is inappropriate positive feedback – you are rewarding the dog with a nice tasty bone treat for its last action: barking! What’s better: rewarding the dog with a bone when he’s lying there quietly, as you reward him for being quiet. Lastly, the neighbor. Having open lines of communication on how to best work this problem out together is a must. Asking your neighbor to keep their dog indoors more frequently, or at least when you’re in the yard, is also important. In desperate measures, an anti-bark collar can be used. Citronella-based collars are a very effective, more humane option instead of using anti-bark shock collars; instead, they spray out a citronella burst that dogs dislike. Unfortunately, this only works well on short-haired dogs (in long haired breeds, the citronella gets stuck in the fur!) and certain breeds.

Shouldn't we all be this relaxed?

2010-12-30T09:14:00.001-08:00

Why are so many veterinarians women?

2010-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Prior to the 1970s, veterinary medicine was a 90% male dominant career. This is not too surprising, as it still felt a bit like a 90% male dominated world. It was extremely difficult to get into veterinary school as a female back then. Since then, veterinary medicine has become progressively, incredibly, indubitably, more female-friendly, as more opportunities for women have opened up.88,89 Personally, I think a lot of horse-crazy, stuffed animal crazy, girls grow up wanting to be veterinarians (until they find out how many years of school it is or that they may have to euthanize animals), so it doesn’t surprise me that the field has seen such an influx. While this gender change hasn’t been seen in the human medical field, it still stands to hypothesize that the reason there are more women is because we are naturally more compassionate and nurturing and have a natural passion for helping animals. At least, as a woman, that’s what I’d like to think.

Do you see animal abuse cases?

2010-12-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

I’m afraid we do, and it’s one of the most heart-breaking occupational hazards of the job. Unfortunately, like people, dogs and cats can’t pick their owners and some get a bum deal. What’s interesting is that you can’t always guess or identify who the owner will be. I’ve had cases where people look completely “normal,” almost yuppie-like, and continually pay thousands of dollars fixing fractures, ruptured spleens, internal bleeding, or broken bones. It doesn’t take long before the red flags go off.

Animal abuse cases are complicated. Depending on what state you live in, it may be mandatory for veterinarians to report it to the state. Other states are deregulated. Some cases of animal abuse are from a spouse, and veterinarians become concerned about the possible repercussions from reporting the case. Abuse-like symptoms could also be due to Munchausen-by-proxy, a psychological disease where the owner hurts their pet to draw more attention to themselves, and to feel like a nurturer. I don’t know about you, but having my pinkies broken in the name of love, a la Stephen King’s Misery, doesn’t sound like fun. I’m sure the pets would agree, but unfortunately they cannot speak for themselves. Regardless, animal abuse cases are always complicated in nature, as they could hurt more than just the pet.

If you suspect animal abuse, there are places where you can turn. Animal shelters have established animal welfare systems, and often times an animal control officer will investigate the situation. While they may be overwhelmed with numerous cases, know that you have some place to turn to report a case of suspected animal abuse or cruelty.

How to be a smart consumer - what your vet wants you to know.

2010-12-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

We want pet owners to be smart, fun-loving, responsible, and wise. On the other hand, we’d also like million-dollar-a year salaries, and free booze at happy hour, but that’s not happening any time soon. Luckily, dog people for the most part tend to be pretty cool (this means you!). With just a little training…we can get them to deliver our free booze! In all seriousness, the first step to being a good consumer is to find a veterinarian that you like and feel comfortable with. Just like with your own health care, you should trust and like your veterinarian. If not, seek a second opinion. At the same time, remember what your options are. With the advent of the internet, there is a lot of knowledge available but you must be able to separate wheat from the chaff. There is a lot of inaccurate, wrong information out there, and I’d hate for you to make a hasty decision. When in doubt, talk to vet and remember that you always have the option to seek a second opinion or a referral to a specialist with or without your veterinarian’s approval. Become educated on the health of your pet, either by consulting reliable sources (veterinary-based) or by asking your veterinarian. Finally, maintain an anal retentive medical record at home, so you have all that information readily available in case of an emergency. One helpful hint is when your dog has blood work done, ask for a copy for your own record. Be your pet’s advocate!

How do I know if I’ve found a good veterinary hospital?

2010-12-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Finding a health care provider that you trust and believe in is imperative whether you are a 2-legged or a 4-legged client. Things to keep in mind when finding a veterinary practice include the following:

• Do you feel comfortable with the doctor and technical staff? Do they take the time to answer your questions?
• Does the veterinary clinic maintain an organized health record that details prescriptions, physical examination findings, and blood work?
• Are your phone calls answered and handled well?
• Are the office hours convenient to you?
• What payment plans or methods are available?
• Do they accept pet insurance?
• What range of medical services do they provide? Do they do in-house blood work and x-rays? Do they have anesthetic machines, oxygen, a full pharmacy, and options for referral if necessary?
• How are emergency calls handled?
• Do they provide non-medical services such as grooming, nail clipping, boarding, and puppy training (if not, can they refer you to such a place?)
• Are the veterinarians members of a professional association (such as the American Veterinary Medical Association) or a state veterinary association?

Ask your friends, breeder, or acquaintances in the dog park who their veterinarian is, and shop around. Be a smart consumer for your 4-legged family member. It’s not like you’re shopping for a new brand of dog food here; it takes research and forethought to make the best choice. That being said, there is also something to be said for trusting your gut – would you let Dr. Igor come near you with a cackling laugh and gleaming syringe? Then please keep him away from your pooch! Creepy hunchbacked second-fiddle vets only give us all a bad reputation.

Holiday Pet Poisoning Myths Debunked!

2010-12-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

Holiday festivities, decorations and rich foods can wreak havoc on undiscerning pets who love to taste test everything that appears new and interesting. While pet owners need to be made aware of the very real and dangerous threats to pets this time of year, the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline would also like to debunk several common myths that cause unnecessary stress each holiday season.

Real Holiday Dangers
Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, day and Easter, make lovely centerpieces but are also extremely toxic to cats. These beauties fall into the category of real and acute danger. As little as one or two petals or leaves, and even the pollen, can cause sudden kidney failure. They should be kept well out of kitty’s reach. Thankfully, dogs are not as severely affected by lilies with only mild stomach upset expected.

While not as toxic as lilies, ingestion of Christmas cactus by dogs and cats can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Likewise, the spiny and leathery leaves of the Christmas or English holly can result in significant damage to the stomach and intestines of dogs and cats. The holly’s berries have mildly toxic properties, but are fairly tolerable in most pets. While death is not likely, it’s best to keep your pets away from these holiday plants.

Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine is inviting, but if you heat scented oils in a simmer pot, be aware that it can cause serious harm to your cat. Some liquid potpourris contain chemicals called cationic detergents which can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing and tremors. Dogs are not as sensitive to the chemicals but may still suffer burns so it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Scent your home with a non-toxic candle in a safe no-pet zone.

With the holiday season comes delightful baked goods, confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise, and sometimes quite dangerous, to share these foods with your pets. Keep them on their regular diets over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak them these kinds of treats. Some of the most dangerous foods are chocolate and cocoa, sugarless gum and candy containing xylitol, leftover fatty meat scraps, and yeast bread dough.

Holiday Myths Debunked!
According to the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline, these are the most common myths concerning pet safety during the holiday season.

Myth #1 - Poinsettias are highly toxic. Although they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are only mildly dangerous to dogs and cats and their relative toxicity has been quite exaggerated. The most problematic component of the plant is its sticky white sap that may cause mild mouth or stomach irritation if ingested. Contact with the skin may also result in mild irritation. However, serious poisoning is not expected from ingestion.

Myth #2 - Mistletoe is toxic. Like poinsettias, American mistletoe, which is a popular plant used as holiday décor, also gets a bad rap. Rumors of its toxic nature are largely attributed to its cousin, European mistletoe. Though ingestion of American mistletoe leaves or berries may cause mild stomach upset, serious or life-threatening poisoning is not likely.

Myth #3 - Fruit cake is a healthy holiday treat. While fruit cake may be a fine food for people, it can actually be deadly to pets. Grapes, raisins and currants are common ingredients in fruit cakes and can result in kidney failure in dogs if ingested. Additionally, fruitcake that has been soaked in rum or other alcohol may also prove poisonous to your pet if ingested. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and can affect pets quickly, causing a dangerous drop in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure.

Myth #4 - Tinsel is a pet-friendly decoration. An ornament that pet owners should avoid is tinsel for decorating trees. If you own a cat, toss the tinsel! What looks like a shiny toy can prove deadly if ingested. While tinsel itself is not poisonous, it can result in a severe linear foreign body, which occurs when something “stringy” wraps around the base of the tongue or anchors itself in the stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. As the intestines contract and move, the string can slowly saw through the tissue, resulting in severe damage to your pet’s intestinal tract. Treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery. It’s best to keep tinsel, as well as ribbon, yarn and thread out of your pet’s reach.

“Dogs, cats, birds and other pets often use their mouths to investigate new things,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “Much like small children, they simply cannot resist the temptation to chew on potentially harmful plants, foods and other ‘goodies.’ Thankfully, it’s easy for pet owners to educate themselves about common pet poisons. At www.petpoisonhelpline.com you can view and print our list of toxic foods and post it on your refrigerator as a reminder. This is also a way to discourage your holiday guests from feeding Fido poisonous people food!”

Make this holiday season merrier for you and your pets by keeping dangerous items safely out of their reach. If, however, you think your pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes unlimited follow-up consultations. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

How do I avoid a bad veterinarian?

2010-11-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

This “Top 10 signs you’ve gone to a bad veterinarian” list was from David Letterman’s 101 Top 10 list back in September 2002. Tis’ true…

10. When you hand him your cat, he asks uncomfortably, "Monkey?"
9. Two weeks later your dog coughs up a rubber glove.
8. Big sign in waiting room: "No pets allowed."
7. Diploma looks a lot like menu from Chinese restaurant.
6. Always saying, "I've got a tick bomb in my pants!"
5. Sends you card every spring: "Time for your dog's annual neutering."
4. First question: "What ails your varmint?"
3. He has a lot of posters up advertising cockfights.
2. He himself wears one of those big funnel-shaped dog collars.
1. He bites.

Do I need deodorant for my dog?

2010-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

While your hairy boyfriend may have pit stains on his t-shirt, your dog won’t – he doesn’t sweat through his armpits. One of his only ways of sweating is through the pads of his feet. I work with a lot of fit, athletic dogs (i.e., Greyhounds or sled dogs) and have yet to see a dog’s feet sweat while exercising, however. Your dog’s paw sweat glands are a minor way of heat release as the main way he thermoregulates and controls his body temperature is primarily by panting.

That said, no, your dog does not need deodorant! Instead, make sure he has plenty of cool water, shade, and a supervised ability to pant and blow off all that hot air to help cool him off. This is particularly important to remember when he’s running back and forth with a tennis ball in his mouth while you have him out for a walk. You may think it’s cute for him to carry his own toy back home, when really it’s safer for you to carry it back (along with his poop bag!). Him lugging his own tennis ball in his mouth may occlude his ability to pant well and can make him overheat. Be a good owner and carry the toy back for him.

twincitieslive.com - Halloween Safety for Pets

2010-11-20T13:02:00.000-08:00

twincitieslive.com - Halloween Safety for Pets

twincitieslive.com - Pet Obesity

2010-11-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

twincitieslive.com - Pet Obesity

Art on a bike - beautiful!

2010-11-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

Granted, this has nothing to do with dogs or cats, but it's so beautiful, I couldn't help posting it!

How do I make Fido shed less?

2010-11-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

My non-vet friends always fearfully ask “is something wrong with your cat?” before they reach over to pet one of them. The thing is, I often shave my short haired cats down to a “peach fuzz” level. I do it because I can’t stand the extra hair shedding in the house, and no, it’s not infectious (unless I don’t like you). Maybe it’s not a typical, normal, healthy way to decrease shedding in the house, but hey… the clippers are just so accessible. However, I should warn you that if you do attempt this, all your friends will make in fun of you (as will your veterinarian). Apparently, this does not get old.

And to be honest, there’s not much else you can do to prevent your hairy companions from shedding aside from constant clipping or grooming. While there are liquids, ointment, liniments, sprays, and other supplements advertised, don’t believe the hype – otherwise we’d all be using it, and Danny DeVito would be out of a career. In general, dogs shed more in the spring and summer, so it’s important to brush Fido daily (or at least weekly) particularly if he’s got medium to long hair. The more hair you brush or rake out (with those circular scrapping brushes), the less it will cling to your furniture, floor, and feet like a sympathy prom-date. There are a few breeds that don’t shed, such as the poodle or Bichon, but even these dogs need to be groomed frequently.

Top 10 pet-friendly cities named

2010-11-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

Formerly published in DVM NEWSMAGAZINE Oct 10, 2010
National Report — Portland, Oregon tops the list of Best Places to Live with Pets, according to a new report from Livability.com.

The cities on this list have pet-friendly parks and trails, quality veterinary care, active animal-welfare groups, as well as an abundance of pet boutiques and retail shops.

“But to make the list, these cities also had to offer an incredible quality of life for pet owners as well,” Livability reports in a prepared statement.

“According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners will spend over $47 billion on their pets in 2010,” says Livability.com spokesperson John Hood. “Obviously Americans take their pets seriously, and we’ve noticed a tremendous amount of interest in pet-related content. So our editors researched cities around the country and looked for cities that were both pet and people friendly. From quality healthcare and higher education to diverse job opportunities and active artistic and cultural scenes, these cities are some of the best places to work, live, play and own a pet in America.”

The top 10 cities include:
1. Portland, Ore.
2. Colorado Springs, Colo.
3. Rocky Mount, N.C.
4. Boulder, Colo.
5. Santa Cruz, Calif.
6. Eugene, Ore.
7. Asheville, N.C.
8. Albuquerque, N.M.
9. Nashville, Tenn.
10. Louisville, Ky.

Why do dogs shed?

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend thinks that I leave my hair everywhere to purposely “mark” my territory, but since he only dates brunettes, it doesn’t really help me. Hair wouldn’t be effective as a “conquering flag” anyways – stray winds and foot traffic make it unlikely to stay put. Strategically abandoned clothing, on the other hand…
Now, while hair may be semi-useless for us humans, it has several functions for Dandruff McGruff; not only does it protect him from cold, heat, and damaging UV light rays, but hair also provides a protective barrier against any skin trauma (while he’s running through the woods, playing with other dogs, or getting bitten by insects).

Since your little furball doesn’t have the option of donning a warm parka in the winter or getting buck-naked in the summer, his coat has to be able to adapt to environmental changes. During short daylight, his brain tries to maintain a thicker coat for warmth. He’ll even grow in “secondary” hairs in the fall and winter to add more warmth.

In the spring and summer months, you may find yourself Swiffering® your house much more frequently because during longer daylight hours, your dog’s brain is affected by the changing photoperiod (the amount of daylight he is exposed to) and he may begin to shed more aggressively. Often he will only shed his shorter undercoat and develops a coarser, longer hair coat during the spring and summer; this helps act as a protective buffer and provides a cooler layer around the skin. For this reason, we don’t advocate shaving dogs that spend time outdoors, as they will a) sunburn, b) get attacked by insects, c) still stay hot despite looking naked, and d) get ridiculed by neighborhood dogs.

There are three stages of hair growth: the growing period, the transitional period, and the resting period. Once the hair has gone through all these stages, it stays in the follicle as a dead hair until it is shed or removed by grooming or licking. If only humans were as efficient! Unfortunately, our tongues don’t reach. Remember that dogs normally shed some of their hair coat to get rid of dead hair; however, if your pooch starts going bald, if you and your family start itching, or if you notice a sudden change in his hair coat, consider bringing him to a veterinarian or dermatologist for consultation.

Why don’t dogs get hairballs?

2010-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Unlike cats, dogs are not particularly fastidious when it comes to cleaning themselves – remember, they roll in dead, decaying animals, race into murky bodies of water like they’re on fire, and don’t mind eating other poop. I’m not quite sure why dogs tolerate being dirty, stinky, and messy, but, like many children and some human males, they just don’t seem to mind. Because cats groom excessively (and therefore don’t require baths), they have a natural barbed tongue which grabs shedding hair that they later purge all over your carpet. Because dogs don’t groom (or don’t care), they don’t develop hairballs. Instead, they develop weird smells and doggy dreadlocks as they are waiting for you to brush and bath them! This isn’t a hippie commune – go at it!

Veterinarians Warn Pet Owners About Halloween Dangers

2010-10-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Four Most Common Hazards around Halloween!

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (October 4, 2010) – During the week of Halloween, calls to the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline increase by 12 percent, making it the call center’s busiest time of year. The helpline, which is a 24-hour service, assists pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are treating potentially poisoned pets.

“Each year we experience a sharp increase in calls around Halloween, especially during the weekends surrounding the holiday,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline.

“Most often, these calls involve pets accidentally ingesting Halloween candy or décor. Chocolate is one of the most problematic candies as dogs and cats cannot metabolize it as well as people. Thus, it places them at risk for poisoning.”

The four most common food-related Halloween hazards for pets are chocolate, candy overindulgence, raisins and candy wrappers.

· Chocolate – Of all candy, chocolate is one of the most toxic to pets. Over the past year, more than 1,100 calls to Pet Poison Helpline involved exposure to chocolate and 98 percent of them involved dogs. Many dogs are inherently attracted to the smell and taste of chocolate, making it a significant threat. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, methylxanthines, are similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties. In fact, a 50-pound dog can be sickened by ingesting only one ounce of Baker’s chocolate! On the other hand, it may take up to eight ounces, (half a pound) of milk chocolate to cause poisoning in that same sized dog. White chocolate contains very low amounts of methylxanthine and rarely causes poisoning. To avoid issues, keep Halloween candy well out of the reach of pets at all times. If you think your pet may have ingested chocolate, symptoms to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures.

· Candy overindulgence – Pets are indiscriminate when it comes to eating tasty treats and can gorge themselves on snacks and food meant for humans. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy can lead to pancreatitis in pets. Potentially fatal, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and very painful. It may not show up for two to four days after the pet ingests the candy. Symptoms include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and potentially, kidney failure or organ damage.

· Raisins – Some people prefer to distribute healthy snacks instead of candy on Halloween, such as mini-boxes of raisins. These are extremely are poisonous to dogs! Very small amounts of raisins (and grapes) can cause kidney failure in dogs and, potentially, cats. When it comes to your pets, raisins deserve the same pet-proofing treatment as chocolate – stored in secure containers far from their reach. Unfortunately, some dogs develop idiosyncratic reactions at any dose – in other words, they can ingest any amount and potentially be poisoned. Therefore, any ingestion of raisins or grapes should be treated as a “poisoning” case. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, and severe kidney failure.

· Candy wrappers – Generally when pets eat candy, they don’t bother to remove the wrappers. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can cause a life-threatening bowel obstruction, which if severe, can require surgical intervention to correct. Watch for vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate, or lethargy. X-rays may be necessary to diagnose this problem.

Other Halloween hazards to be aware of include glow sticks and glow jewelry, costumes and candles.

· Glow sticks and glow jewelry – Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these items. Over the past year, Pet Poison Helpline received nearly 80 calls concerning pets that punctured glow sticks or glow jewelry, and 70 percent of the calls involved cats. While not usually life-threatening, their contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth, as well as profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth.

· Costumes – Pets look cute dressed in costumes, but they might not enjoy it as much as their owners. If you dress your pet in a costume, be sure it doesn’t impair his vision, movement or air intake. If the costume contains metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces, be aware that if ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Also, don’t be tempted to dye or apply coloring to your pet’s fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic to humans, it could still be harmful to pets.

· Candles – Keep candles out of the reach of curious noses and wagging tails. Sometimes pets don’t realize something is hot until they get burned.

During this Halloween season, help keep your pet safe. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline suggest that you get help sooner than later. It’s always easier, less expensive, and safer for your pet to be treated earlier, versus when he’s showing severe symptoms. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680.

About Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to you and your pets!

twincitieslive.com - Halloween Safety for Pets

2010-10-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

twincitieslive.com - Halloween Safety for Pets

How well do dogs smell?

2010-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Isn’t it great how Tracker can find that dead, decaying carcass in the woods from hundreds of feet away? Dogs have an amazing sense of smell which they used to hunt and survive in the past, and to find and dig up things better left alone in the present (“Hey Ma! Look what I found!”). For comparison, humans have approximately 5 million olfactory sensory cells that we use to smell with, while dogs can have up to 220. That’s the reason why police use bloodhounds and drug dogs - their sense of smell is a million times stronger than our own nose!2,3 I once had a patient named “Kilo” who was a police dog; like his name described, his schnozz was able to sniff out illicit drugs behind dry wall, in crawl spaces, and in all the hidden spots where druggies hide their stash. Unfortunately, he started passing out once he got excited due to a heart arrhythmia, but since putting a pacemaker in him, Kilo is back to bustin’ the bad guys! Given the state of urban living today, I suppose we should be thankful our sniffer isn’t stronger.

Why do dogs like to sniff butts?

2010-10-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Why, hello there! Ever wonder why dogs like to sniff each other’s butts in the dog park? Dogs have two anal glands just on the inside of their rectum. This releases a foul brownish discharge with a strong, unique scent. Both male and female dogs have these, and that’s why you may notice dogs “identifying” each other by a sniff of their scent glands. While this may seem crude to you, it’s the dog-equivalent of a handshake and introduction.

Pet Insurance Company Releases Top Breeds Affected by Cancer

2010-10-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

Pet insurance company Trupanion reviews cancer claims and releases top dog breeds affected by the disease. Seattle, WA (Vocus) October 11, 2010

Trupanion, the nation’s fastest-growing pet insurance (http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com/) company, today released a list of dog breeds (http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com/BreedGuide/Dog-Breeds) most prone to cancer, according to pet insurance claims received since August 12, 2000.

The Boxer ranked first on the list, with 98 cancer-related claims totaling $47,501.45. Boxers are a playful and outgoing breed, but are sensitive to the heat and cold.

Second on the list was the German Shepherd, with 96 reported claims associated with cancer, and a total of $42,489.57. This is a faithful and protective breed, commonly used as police dogs.

The Golden Retriever ranked third, with 86 cancer-related claims from insured dogs. Golden Retrievers are extremely obedient, good natured, intelligent, and very easy to train.

The Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher rounded out the top five, with 86 and 42 cancer-related claims respectively.

According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, canine cancer affects one in every three dogs, and of those affected, half will die from the disease. To catch the disease as early as possible, the foundation encourages all dog owners to routinely examine their dogs for any physical or behavioral abnormalities and bring their dogs in for regular veterinary exams.

Symptoms of cancer include abnormal swellings, lumps under armpits and under the jaw, sores that won’t heal, foul breath, weight loss, difficulty breathing, and unexplained bleeding.

Is your dog’s nose an accurate indicator of his overall health?

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

The truism goes that the eye can lie, but the nose knows. However, I think that when Mrs. Anonymous wrote this gem, she was referring to the contents of your fridge leftovers or the guilty party with the perfume-scented collar rather than the hairy housemate in the leather collar. In general, Fido’s nose is not an indicator of how sick or healthy he is. Check out your dog’s nose. You may notice it fluctuates between slightly drier to a more soft, moist nose depending on the day, weather, and humidity. A dog’s nose usually feels wet due to the lateral nasal glands and the nasal vestibular glands producing secretions that keep it moist.1 There is, however, no direct correlation with the health of your pet and their sniffer. If, however, you notice that your dog’s nose is excessively thickened, cracked, or bleeding, then that would warrant a vet exam as certain conditions such as pemphigus or lupus can present this way. The difference will be very obvious. Just remember this handy little rhyme: if it’s dry or wet, no vet; but if looking makes you sick, get hip! This should help you weed out your anxieties from the true emergencies.

New posts each Monday!

2010-10-10T20:28:00.001-07:00

So I've gotten my act together! I'll be posting a new blog post each Monday morning, so check back for more!

Veterinarians Warn Pet Owners About Halloween Dangers

2010-10-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Four Most Common Hazards

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (October 4, 2010) – During the week of Halloween, calls to the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline increase by 12 percent, making it the call center’s busiest time of year. The helpline, which is a 24-hour service, assists pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are treating potentially poisoned pets.

“Each year we experience a sharp increase in calls around Halloween, especially during the weekends surrounding the holiday,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “Most often, these calls involve pets accidentally ingesting Halloween candy or décor. Chocolate is one of the most problematic candies as dogs and cats cannot metabolize it as well as people. Thus, it places them at risk for poisoning.”

The four most common food-related Halloween hazards for pets are chocolate, candy overindulgence, raisins and candy wrappers.

• Chocolate – Of all candy, chocolate is one of the most toxic to pets. Over the past year, more than 1,100 calls to Pet Poison Helpline involved exposure to chocolate and 98 percent of them involved dogs. Many dogs are inherently attracted to the smell and taste of chocolate, making it a significant threat. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, methylxanthines, are similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties. In fact, a 50-pound dog can be sickened by ingesting only one ounce of Baker’s chocolate! On the other hand, it may take up to eight ounces, (half a pound) of milk chocolate to cause poisoning in that same sized dog. White chocolate contains very low amounts of methylxanthine and rarely causes poisoning. To avoid issues, keep Halloween candy well out of the reach of pets at all times. If you think your pet may have ingested chocolate, symptoms to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures.

• Candy overindulgence – Pets are indiscriminate when it comes to eating tasty treats and can gorge themselves on snacks and food meant for humans. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy can lead to pancreatitis in pets. Potentially fatal, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and very painful. It may not show up for two to four days after the pet ingests the candy. Symptoms include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and potentially, kidney failure or organ damage.

• Raisins – Some people prefer to distribute healthy snacks instead of candy on Halloween, such as mini-boxes of raisins. These are extremely are poisonous to dogs! Very small amounts of raisins (and grapes) can cause kidney failure in dogs and, potentially, cats. When it comes to your pets, raisins deserve the same pet-proofing treatment as chocolate – stored in secure containers far from their reach. Unfortunately, some dogs develop idiosyncratic reactions at any dose – in other words, they can ingest any amount and potentially be poisoned. Therefore, any ingestion of raisins or grapes should be treated as a “poisoning” case. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, and severe kidney failure.

• Candy wrappers – Generally when pets eat candy, they don’t bother to remove the wrappers. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can cause a life-threatening bowel obstruction, which if severe, can require surgical intervention to correct. Watch for vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate, or lethargy. X-rays may be necessary to diagnose this problem.

Other Halloween hazards to be aware of include glow sticks and glow jewelry, costumes and candles.

• Glow sticks and glow jewelry – Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these items. Over the past year, Pet Poison Helpline received nearly 80 calls concerning pets that punctured glow sticks or glow jewelry, and 70 percent of the calls involved cats. While not usually life-threatening, their contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth, as well as profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth.

• Costumes – Pets look cute dressed in costumes, but they might not enjoy it as much as their owners. If you dress your pet in a costume, be sure it doesn’t impair his vision, movement or air intake. If the costume contains metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces, be aware that if ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Also, don’t be tempted to dye or apply coloring to your pet’s fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic to humans, it could still be harmful to pets.

• Candles – Keep candles out of the reach of curious noses and wagging tails. Sometimes pets don’t realize something is hot until they get burned.

During this Halloween season, help keep your pet safe. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline suggest that you get help sooner than later. It’s always easier, less expensive, and safer for your pet to be treated earlier, versus when he’s showing severe symptoms. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Here is a list of recalls from the FDA:

2010-10-08T07:47:00.001-07:00

Thanks to petplace.com for listing out this recalls! FYI!

09/07/2010 The Hartz Mountain Corporation Recalls Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

08/30/10 P&G Voluntarily Recalls a Small Amount of Dry Cat Food

08/29/10 P&G Recalls Small Number of Bags of Cat Food From Stores in Loveland, Colorado

08/13/2010 Merrick Pet Care Recalls Filet Squares & Texas Hold'ems 10oz Bag (Item # 60016 All Lots) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

08/09/2010 FDA: Salmonella risk from frozen rodents fed to reptiles

08/03/2010 Merrick Pet Care Recalls Texas Hold'ems 10 oz Bag (Item # 60016 Lot 10127 Best by May 6 2012) because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

07/30/2010 P&G Expands Voluntary Limited Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

07/28/2010 Evamist Hormone Spray May Cause Illness in Pets

07/27/2010 Mice Direct Recalls Frozen Reptile Feed Because of Possible Health Risk

07/25/2010 P&G Recalls Two Lots of Prescription Renal Diet Cat Food due to a Possible Health Risk

07/15/2010 Feline's Pride Expands Nationwide Recall of its Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food Due to Salmonella Contamination Salmonella

07/02/2010 Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares for Dogs Treats 10oz Bag (Item #60016 Lot # 10084TL7 Best By March 24, 2012) Because Of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

07/02/2010 United Pet Group Voluntarily Expands Recall of Nutritional Supplements For Dogs to Include Additional Tablet and Powdered-Form Products for Dogs and Cats Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

07/01/2010 Feline's Pride Issues Nationwide Recall of its Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food Due to Salmonella Contamination

06/22/2010 United Pet Group Voluntarily Recalls Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

06/18/2010 Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food Due to a Possible Health Risk

06/18/2010 Kent Nutrition Group, Inc. Conducts Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Kent Feeds Swine Products

06/09/2010 P&G Recalls Specific Canned Cat Foods Due to Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

06/02/2010 Kent Nutrition Group, Inc. Undertakes Limited Recall of Kent Feeds 20 Lamb DQ45 Medicated

04/12/2010 Response Products Voluntarily Recalls Advanced Cetyl M Joint Action Formula for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

5 Life Skills You Already Have that Can Make You a Great Blogger

2010-10-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

I need to learn from this great, wonderful, St. Paulian!

This guest post is by Sarah Von from Yes and Yes.

If you’ve just started a blog you are, no doubt, using your best Google-fu to hunt down every last post giving advice to novice bloggers. There’s heaps of great information out there, but it can get a bit overwhelming for the true beginner. Tweeting and SEO and HTML, oh my! Never fear. Many of the skills that make you an awesome friend/partner/human being will also make you a great blogger!
Work your strong suits

When you sing karaoke, you know you can rock Bob Dylan, and when you’re buying jeans, you know you should stick to boot-cut because they makes your butt look great. The same approach goes for blogging.

We can’t all be Pulitzer-worthy prose writers. Nor does everyone have an unerring eye for good design or a never-ending fount of ideas for amazing posts. But you’re probably pretty good at one of those things, most of the time.

Make the most of your talents! If you’re a good writer but a bad designer, find a good template and then leave it alone. If you’ve got a great eye for design but tremble at the sight of an empty page, maybe you’re meant for tumblr blog rather than something based in Blogger or Wordpress. If you’ve got heaps of great ideas but lack the words to convey them, take a writing class or have a writer friend look over your posts in exchange for a nice dinner

Rest assured that very, very few bloggers have got the market cornered on every area of expertise. While there’s always room for improvement for all of us, don’t make yourself crazy sweating the details on an aspect of blogging that doesn’t really interest you.
Be reliable

In real life, you wouldn’t back out of wedding you RSVPed to attend. Hopefully, you’d never forget to pick up your best friend at the airport. Showing the people in your life (whether they’re here in person or out there on the Internet) that you are reliable is super-important.

I am not exaggerating when I say that many of my favorite blogs have a special place in my heart because I know that every morning I will find new content on them. And I will find that new content every day at the same time. It’s such a bummer to find a blog that you love, only stop by on Music Monday or Food Tuesday and just see posts from last week. That’s how blogs get removed from my RSS feeds.

You don’t need to post seven days a week to develop a loyal readership, but if you say you’re going to post new content every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, well, for the love of Pete, do so! And if your posting is going to be spotty for a while, tell us. People will take you (and your blog) seriously when you take it seriously.
Be a considerate conversationalist

Being able to make conversation can open so many doors for you. And it’s not hard! Ask people questions about themselves, actually listen to their responses and talk about topics that are of interest to both of you (not your Atkins diet or your dog’s health problems).

The same goes for the Internet. It might be tempting to write that post complaining about your coworker who took credit for your new marketing plan. And if you really, really want to, by all means post away! But before you click the Publish button, consider what you’re hoping to accomplish by publishing a negative post, which is probably of interest to a very small group of people.

Many successful bloggers include personal content in their blogs and allow readers a glimpse behind the proverbial curtain. However, unless you are a hilarious and excellent writer, you will probably struggle to find a large readership if your blog consists solely of posts detailing who makes you angry, how you feel about Grey’s Anatomy, and what you bought at Target today.

Write about a topic that interests you and then ask your readers how they feel about it. Respond to their comments. Write posts that are useful to them. If they email you asking for advice, write a post answering their questions. Engage your readers and show them that you value their input.
Make friends and help them out

Life’s a lot more fun with friends, isn’t it? It’s great to have people around you who share your interests and get excited when good things happen to you.

Increasingly, the line between real-life and Internet friends is blurring and one of the greatest things about blogging is all of the wonderful, clever, talented people that you will meet. It’s incredibly easy to make friends through your blog. Leave comments on blogs that you like and respond to your readers’ comments. Email bloggers directly and tell them that you like what they’re doing. Link to great blog posts and include friends in your blog roll. Do post exchanges. Nominate your blogging friends for awards. Let your readers know who your Internet friends are — we all like to be in on the fun!
Be the most attractive version of yourself

I am not possession of rock-hard abs, Michelle Obama arms or a designer wardrobe. However, that doesn’t mean that that I’m ready to throw in the towel and spend the rest of my days in yoga pants and a ponytail. It’s a fact of life that people judge us by our appearance: when we take care of ourselves, people notice.

You don’t need to hire a personal trainer or a stylist to look great, and you don’t need a graphic designer to create a good looking blog. You’d be amazed what you can find by googling “free blog templates.” Keep your page clean and uncluttered and resist the urge to fill up all your whitespace with animated ads or buttons.

Less really is more. Many people will fall all over themselves to navigate away from a blog with tiny white text on a dark background, oddly sized photos and animated flower that keeps blowing kisses at them.

Think about blogs you love and their visual design. Do they have a uniting color scheme? Are their pictures always the same width as the text column? Is the text fully justified? Take a few cues from the bloggers who seem to have it figured out!

There are many, many things you can do to create an great blog. But if you’re already an awesome human being, you’re more than halfway there!

Sarah Von posts daily about travel, style, design, and adventure on Yes and Yes. Sometimes, she really is waiting for you to stop talking about your Atkins diet so she can tell you her funny story.

Pet product review of Science Diet Hill's Essential Treats Jerky Strips

2010-09-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

These adult jerky strips are a HUGE improvement for Science Diet when compared to their DRY Essential Treats. The dry treats are unpalatable, but this moist, chewy jerky strips are much more tasty. My dog loves these, and will beg for them constantly. These treats are about 4 inches X 1 inch in size, so be careful feeding them to really small dogs. Not only is there the potential risk for them wolfing down these treats whole (getting stuck in their esophagus), but they can contribute to obesity when not regulated and adjusted with diet. My dog's vote: 2 thumbs up for palatability. One thumb down for having a huge, long ingredient list.

Spouse in the dog house; dog in the bed

2010-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Previously published in FIRSTLINE on Sep 7, 2010

Where partners may fail, dogs succeed. At least, that’s what a recent study sponsored by Purina suggests. More than 60 percent of women say they confess their problems to their dogs and one-third say they feel their dog is a better listener than their husband. While some women may find their communication needs better met through a pet, some men may be turning to dogs for affection. Fifteen percent of male respondents said their dog showed them more love than their mate. Perhaps this accounts why 24 percent of men say they use their dog to approach a good-looking stranger in the park. Or why one in five respondents, both male and female, say their dog sleeps in their bed every night. This begs the question, is man's best friend becoming man's better half? Or woman's for that matter? Probably not. But it goes to show what an important role dogs play in the lives of pet owners.

Hills Science Diet Essential Treats (Dry)

2010-09-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

My 12 year old dog was never touched these treats... that is, until I had to put him on steroids (prednisone) and anti-seizure medications (phenobarbital) that made him ravenously hungry! Previous to his medications, he would turn up his nose to any of Science Diet's dry treats - they weren't palatable, were too hard and dry, and were hard to chew into. Now that he's on his medications, he'll eat them, but with no real zeal. He jumps and begs for other treats, but simply carries these dry, hard treats onto his bed, where he eats them at his leisure.

So, if you have a chowhound who will eat anything, go for it. That said, if your dog has dental disease, I'd avoid them - these treats are so hard and crunch so loudly, I worry it actually hurts my dog's teeth to chew on these.

My dog's review of this treats palatability: two thumbs down.

Pet product review of Trimline Veterinary Recovery Collars

2010-09-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

As a veterinarian, I’ve prescribed a lot of Elizabethan collars (aka “funnel hats”) in my lifetime. These collars are designed to protect pets – not torture them – by preventing them from biting, licking, or scratching certain areas of their body that may be affected by a disease or by a veterinarian’s well-intentioned hands (i.e., a surgical incision, a bad infection, a feeding tube, etc.). Over the past few decades, these Elizabethan collars (or “E-collars”) have steadily improved in quality, color, and patient comfort. E-collars used to be difficult to assemble and opaque. They then improved to clear hard plastic with Hook-and-Loop fasteners (i.e., “Velcro”), making them easy to remove and clean. The newest addition to the e-collar world: Trimline’s blue, soft, flexible collars.

There are several pros and cons of Trimline collars, and in general, I have used them successfully… although mostly in cats. The pros are that Trimline e-collars are soft and comfortable, and easier for pets to maneuver around hard-to-navigate spots (like the covered kitty litter box!) without banging around loudly (scaring the pet in the process). They are also relatively easy to clean – they have a water resistant (read: NOT WATER PROOF), laminated fabric that allows for a quick wipe down (with a damp terry cloth or sponge). The cons: they have a draw string, and some owners don’t apply these correctly (i.e., either too loosely – where a pet can get their jaw, mouth, or paw stuck in the opening or completely remove the collar themselves – or too tightly!). The other con: for serious conditions, these collars may not always cut it (i.e., post-abdominal surgery), but this is highly dependent on the individual animal. Their last con: the fabric, while soft and light, does have a “crinkling” sound that can frighten cats – although it’s much improved over the hard plastic sound of your cat’s head and collar hitting a wall or the kitty litter box lid.

Some pets will leave their incision completely alone – never licking, scratching, or irritating the area, while some pets will constantly lick and chew to the point that they have opened up their incision (spilling their intestines on your carpet). Likewise, certain e-collars work on certain animals. Having clinically used these quite a bit, I find them most useful for mellow, sick cats. Cats typically hate hard plastic e-collars, and I find that they tolerate these relatively well for short periods of time (i.e., not for more than a few weeks!). I typically use this when I have put a temporary feeding tube into a cat’s nostril (going down into their esophagus). Cats, who are very agile and flexible, need some sort of e-collar on AT ALL TIMES if they have a feeding tube in place – even removing the e-collar for a few minutes can result in one swipe that removes a hard-earned and placed feeding tube. In the hospital, I use Trimline blue e-collars in sedate or mellow cats, or those cats with feeding tubes. I don’t use these blue e-collars for any blocked cat (with a feline urethral obstruction), as I want to be 110% positive the cat doesn’t get that urinary catheter out (which then requires yet another expensive sedation!).
In dogs, I haven’t found these collars to be as successful. Often, dogs can bend or flex the soft plastic, eventually figuring out how to access their intended target. Nevertheless, these collars are worth checking out – but your pet should still be closely supervised while they are on to make sure they are 1) appropriately applied, 2) aren’t getting around to their incision or affected area. My general experience is that if you absolutely cannot afford to get that e-collar off (i.e., for the health of your pet, it must 100% stay on), I’d stick with a more torturous clear, plastic, hard e-collars. For more laid back pets with something more “inconvenient” (i.e., “stop licking at your hot spot on your leg”), this blue e-collar is more comfortable. That said, if your pet figures out how to get out of it, a permanent plastic e-collar is a must in the future. These blue e-collars worth a try though, particularly if you’re of the feline persuasion!

Pet product review of Purina Veterinary Diets Meaty d'lites

2010-09-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on a free bag of Purina Veterinary Diet’s “Meaty d’lites” treats, and tried them out on JP, my dog. As Purina is on a huge kick right now to help educate pet owners’ on the growing (literally) problem of pet obesity in America (folks, 60-70% of pets are grossly obese!), this treat was a perfect product release!

These low calorie treats contain approximately 8 calories each, and average approximately 1”X0.5” wide. These treats actually look like meat, which I think is a bit unnecessary (Dogs don’t care if it looks like meat or not!). That said, they are highly palatable for being so low calorie, and are really low in fat. More importantly, they fit perfectly into a Kong (which I use for environmental enrichment). Most importantly, the direction for use are key – If treats are given, the amount of food should be reduced accordingly!

The active ingredients are slightly scarier sounding, but are safe to feed, provided your dog doesn’t have any wheat, corn, or chicken allergies!
Ingredients: Ground wheat, water, corn gluten meal, glycerin, ground yellow corn, wheat flour, sugar, powdered cellulose, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, chicken by-product meal, salt, soybean meal, malted barley flour, animal digest, beef, corn starch-modified, phosphoric acid, dried whey, sorbic acid (a preservative), natural flavors, gelatin, bacon fat preserved with BHA and citric acid, added color, calcium propionate (a preservative), BHA (a preservative), citric acid (a preservative).

Pet product review of Cloud Star's Tricky Trainers

2010-09-18T19:33:00.001-07:00

Cloud Star’s Tricky Trainers are bite-sized, palatable, chewable treats that are approximately 0.5 inches big. They come in three main flavors: cheddar, liver, and salmon. I sampled (well, JP, my dog, sampled) two flavors: cheddar and liver. These treats were perfect sized for putting into a Kong treat dispenser, and were generally palatable (JP finds them much more palatable then dry treats). I found the Tricky Trainers surprisingly more “dry” than most pocket-sized treats, however. In other words, they don’t seem to be oily to touch, aren’t excessively moist, and have a high anti-squish (i.e., firm) factor. This is beneficial if you’re using them as true training treats to reward your dog (i.e., storing them in your pocket). Their con: I found the cheddar smell to be repulsive – it has a really strong smell, so if you’re cheese shy, avoid. Cheddar is the 5th ingredient (remember, ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance (from most to least). For the other two flavors, chicken liver and salmon are listed first. The other con: the number of calories per treat isn’t listed, so we don’t know exactly how “low fat” or “low calorie” they truly are. The final con: if you have a super picky puppy that you are trying to train (and are using these as food motivation rewards), these may not work as well as small pieces of hot dog or pieces of freeze-dried liver treats. When it comes to puppy training, finding a treat that your dog can’t resist is imperative to get them to train correctly!

These products are listed as wheat and corn free, which is good if your dog has these specific food allergies. That said, if your dog doesn’t have these specific allergies, not a big deal. The good news: all ingredients are natural, made in the USA, and the products contain no artificial favors or colors. Overall, a pretty good training treat!

Poisonous plants to pets!

2010-08-31T21:51:00.001-07:00

Pet product review of Greenies "Pill Pockets"

2010-08-26T20:05:00.001-07:00

As a veterinarian, I’ve dispensed a lot of medications for both dogs and cats…that is, until I had to start medicating my own pets. I’ve became a lot more empathetic now that I’ve realized that I can barely pill my own cat (who runs away from me), and that my dog will not take pills in cheese or peanut butter. In fact, pilling my own pets has smartened me up on what meds pets really need. As a result, I’ve started prioritizing pills – in other words, I rank the order of importance of each prescription for pet owners, so they know which pills are an absolute MUST give, and which ones they can skip if they are getting desperately fed up with pilling.

Since then, my life has changed… thanks to Pill Pockets. I regret not inventing these, as it was one of those “duh” products that came out, making you wish you had the money-making patent. Whoever owns a dog that needs to be pilled chronically, pay heed. The Greenies Pill Pockets are awesome… that is, for dogs, at least.

My dog recently got put on a bunch of medications, and he’s super picky (although less so, since getting put on steroids!). Being that he needs a total of 5 medications a day, I found Pill Pockets to be a true life saver, as they improve both my dog’s and my quality of life. These little tasty, greasy, soft, malleable pockets are designed so that you can stick the pill (or multiple pills) in the center, and seal them into a hidden ball of “treat.” It’s like playing with palatable play-dough. Drop it in the food, and voila, it “makes pills a treat to give!”

The pros: Pill Pockets are easy, convenient, tasty, and come in multiple flavors (Dog: beef and chicken; Cat: salmon and chicken. It also comes in a hypoallergenic flavor - duck and pea - for both species with food allergies). More importantly, they are palatable - dogs seem to love them. Another pro is that they come in multiple sizes, and I’m able to stuff 5 pills – yes all 5 pills – into the larger “capsule” dog Pill Pockets.

The cons: One of my two cats won’t touch Pill Pockets. This is, of course, the cat who actually needs to take medication. He also won’t touch Feline Heartgard monthly chewable pills either, so I suspect he doesn’t like moist treats. So, try at your own risk, particularly if you have a finicky cat. The other con is that Pill Pockets are a bit greasy – they have a high vegetable oil content. As ingredients are listed in order of use, vegetable oil is #4 for the dog pill pockets. While this doesn’t affect the health of your pet, a hand-washing is a MUST after playing with Pill Pockets (which you should always do when handling your pet’s meds, anyway). That said, I know that the vegetable oil is needed to keep the Pill Pockets malleable (easy to fold and maneuver). The other con – cost. They’re not cheap, and if your pet is on loads of meds, it can certainly add up. Try jamming 5 pills in one capsule to help. But anything for Fido, right?!

For dogs, 5 stars. For cats, I'm only giving 3 stars, as only one of my two cats will eat them!

Pillingly yours,

Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC

5 changes to make this month

2010-08-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

5 changes to make this month

You may have seen the bumper sticker “Help me be the type of person my dog thinks that I am…” After all, pets love us unconditionally and seem to ignore all our faults, stress-attacks, and bad moods. As a result, it’s our responsibility as pet owners to afford our dogs and cats (aka, family members) the emotional, financial and physical attention that they need – to make sure we’re providing an environment that is healthy, safe, and mentally stimulating to them. As a small token of appreciation to our loyal four-legged friends, let’s dedicate this month to following these 5 simple, veterinary-recommended tips on how to treat your pet right.

1. Cut out 30% of the food
Loving your pet doesn’t mean feeding it more… in fact, your actions may reflect otherwise. I generally consider obese pets poorly cared for, as the pet owner isn’t looking out for the best health of their pet and may not be exercising them as much as they should be. Studies have proven it – the skinnier your dog, the longer he lives. On average, you can extend your dog’s life by almost 2 years1,2 by just cutting out the calories. The same is likely true for humans (and cats!) too. Being that 40-70% of pets are overweight or obese, I can tell almost all of you to cut back on 30% of the pet food right now. First, use a measuring cup when scooping out your pet’s dinner, so you know just how many calories you’re serving, and when in doubt, cut back on the snacks and table scraps. Find low-fat, high-fiber snacks to make your pet feel more full. Canned pumpkin, green beans, carrots, and low-salt, low-butter popcorn are great places to start! Finally, switch to a senior pet food – even if your pet technically isn’t “senior” yet. It’ll contain more fiber and bulk so yes, he’ll poop more, but he’ll shed more weight in the process!

2. Take an extra walk around the block
The more you exercise with your dog, the more weight your dog loses, and the more weight you lose too. After a long stressful day, the last thing you may want to do is take your dog on a time-sucking walk or run, but it’s important for your pet’s health and important for your mental health. Take the extra 10 minutes out of your day to take another loop around the block. For you cat owners, time yourself with a clock and laser pointer and dedicate a whopping 5 minutes of exercise time a day with your cat. When you exercise with your pet, you release natural endorphins while burning calories, and it’s a great way for both of you to feel better.

3. Start a pet savings account
If you can’t afford – or haven’t had time to research – pet insurance, do the next best thing. Start a savings account just for your pet, and don’t dip into it unless it’s for a pet emergency. Simply saving a dollar a day will help for those middle-of-the-night emergencies which are costly… and as your pet ages, the more you need to potentially save! My tip is for each year that your pet is over 10 years of age, save that much for each week of his life (i.e., $11/week for an 11 year old dog!).

4. Skip the vaccines this year
Never thought you’d hear a vet say this, right? As your pet ages, the less vaccines he or she needs – typically only those that are required by law. Instead, save the money for blood work which evaluates your pet’s kidney, liver and thyroid function function, and white and red blood cells. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can detect metabolic problems (like kidney failure or diabetes), and the sooner you can treat them. Talk to your vet about making this switch.

5. Splurge on a good toy
If you can’t afford doggy daycare or a dog walker, splurge on a good toy for your pet instead. Environmental enrichment (i.e., how to prevent your pet from getting bored at home) is important for all species. For dogs, a treat-stuffed Kong toy may provide hours of entertainment (just make sure to cut back on the dog food since you’re providing more calories this way!), while for cats, a sisal scratching post, feather on a string, or a laser point (human required) is a must. I also love cat window rests, so your cat can enjoy the great outdoors from the safety of inside.

References:
1. http://www.purina.com/Company/448Study.aspx
2. Kealy RD, Lawler DF, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA 2002;220:1315-1320.

Biography:
Dr. Justine Lee is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is also the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet and It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It.

twincitieslive.com - Pet Safety

2010-08-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

Check out my tips on the news clip about pet safety at: twincitieslive.com - Pet Safety

Pet Safety

We all love our pets but they could be at risk – without us being aware of it. Associate Director of Veterinary Services for the Pet Poison Helpline , Dr. Justine Lee is here to help us keep our pets save from dangers indoors and out.

Easter is right around the corner and there are some things associated to this holiday that we all need to be aware of. Easter lilies are pretty but they are poisonous to our pets if eaten. Sugar free candy might be a smart choice for your kids but it contains xylitol, a chemical dangerous for pets. And be sure to keep your pets from eating the “Easter grass” used in Easter baskets.

Spring is the time when new litters of cands and dogs are born and new pet owners bring them home. Just remember, puppies and kitties are naturally more curious and love to explore. Things like extension cords, string, grass, carpet, ant baits, socks, and clothing are looked at as an opportunity to chew and explore. This is why vets recommend crate training.

If you think your pet is poisoned, remove your pet from the area of danger. If he has ingested a medication, pick up all the pills and collect them in a plastic bag, along with the chewed up contents of the bottle, if applicable. Keep phone numbers easily accessible for your veterinarian or pet poison helpline. The information you are going to need is:
~ current weight of your pet
~ medical history
~ any medications the pet is on
~ a writing utensil and paper handy
~ credit card information

twincitieslive.com - Cleaning Risks for Pets

2010-08-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

Check out my tips on safe Spring cleaning around your pets at: twincitieslive.com - Cleaning Risks for Pets

Cleaning Risks for Pets

Everyone is doing spring cleaning but cleaning products can be very harsh towards pets and even household birds. Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of the Pet Poison Helpline gives us tips for keeping your pets safe when you’re doing your spring cleaning.

• Strong acidic or alkaline cleaners pose highest risk – the most dangerous cleaning products are those which may cause corrosive injury or chemical burns. These include rust removers, toilet bowel cleaners, lye, drain cleaners and calcium/lime removers.

• General cleaners are safe in small doses – cleaners such as glass cleaners, spot removers and most surface cleaners have a wide margin of safety. If ingested in small amounts, most only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Also, if they touch pet’s skin, they may cause mild irritation. Therefore, it’s still wise to keep these products out of reach.

• Read the label – cleaning labels can provide helpful information, as long as you understand the terminology. Key words to look for include "danger" and "warning" as this indicates products with higher toxicity or the potential to cause chemical burns. Items that use "caution" as their primary signal word are "less toxic" than those using "danger."

• Risk varies by type of animal – birds and other exotic pets may be more sensitive to cleaning products, especially products that are aerosolized. “Birds have a unique respiratory anatomy called air sacs, which results in particular sensitivity to fragrances and aerosolized chemicals,” says Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. To be safe, aerosolized products should not be used in the same room as caged or free birds.

• "Natural" does not always mean "safe" – some natural products can and will cause just as many problems as more traditional cleaners.

• No need to worry about Swiffer Wet-Jets – it is a common internet rumor that Swiffer Wet-Jets are dangerous for dogs. In fact, no evidence exists that suggests Swiffer products are dangerous to animals when used properly.

• When spring cleaning, be safe and keep all pets out of the area of cleaning until the room is well ventilated and all cleaning products have dried.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep cleaning products up and out of your pet’s reach, but when in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

Origin of the pit bull

2010-08-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

How to brush a dog's teeth!

2010-08-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

How to give your pet an injection!

2010-08-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

Veterinarians vs. MDs

2010-08-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

VPI Pet Insurance counts the poisons that send dogs to the veterinary hospital

2010-08-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Previously published on Jul 31, 2010 in DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Brea, Calif. -- VPI Pet Insurance has released numbers on the most common toxins behind its pet poisoning claims after trips to the veterinarian. VPI reports its policyholders spent more than $6.6 million between 2005 and 2009 treating their pets for poisoning.

Accidental ingestion of pet or human medications drugs was the most common source of pet poisoning claims between 2005 and 2009, costing policyholders an average of $791 per claim and accounting for nearly 25 percent of the total poisoning claims. The most expensive type of poisoning, heavy metal poisoning, cost an average of $952 per claim.

These are the number of claims by toxin for VPI Pet Insurance claims from 2005 to 2009.

Poison / No. of claims
Drug reactions/accidental ingestion of drugs: 5,131
Rodenticide: 4,028
Methylxanthine: 3,661
Plant poisoning: 2,808
Household chemicals: 1,669
Metaldehyde: 396
Insecticide/organophosphate: 323
Heavy metal toxicity: 288
Toad poisoning: 270
Antifreeze: 213
Walnuts: 100
Alcohol: 75
Strychnine: 28

When in doubt, call an animal poison control (e.g., Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680) for assistance with treating poisoning cases!

twincitieslive.com - Pet Obesity

2010-08-04T22:30:00.000-07:00

Help combat pet obesity with Dr. Justine Lee on:

twincitieslive.com - Pet Obesity

Pet Obesity

Obesity in humans is a national epidemic and it’s happening more and more in pets. Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of Pet Poison Helpline, weighs in on what you need to do to keep your pet healthy.

Dr. Lee is author of “It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live In It’. The Feline Rescue’s 2010 Book Fair will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 14^th and 15^th. Meet Dr. Lee there for autographed copies of her book where 25% of proceeds go directly to Feline Rescue for care of cats.

Emergency Vet Interview from LoveToKnow Cats

2010-08-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

LoveToKnow Cats interviews veterinarian Justine Lee about everything from how to handle an emergency with your cats to poison control. Read this in-depth, exclusive interview at: http://cats.lovetoknow.com/Emergency_Vet_Interview

Proctor and Gamble Iams Eukanuba Recall July 2010

2010-07-30T20:39:00.001-07:00

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) issued a voluntary recall on July 25, 2010 of two specific lots of its therapeutic renal dry cat food in North America due to a possible salmonella health risk. As a further precaution, P&G is voluntarily expanding its recall to include additional veterinary formulas and some specialized Eukanuba dry pet food.

P&G Pet Care wanted to make sure veterinarians were aware of the situation as soon as possible to help you address any client concerns. The health and welfare of pets and their owners is our top priority.

These products are made in a single, specialized facility. In cooperation with FDA, P&G determined that some products made at this facility have the potential for salmonella contamination. No salmonella-related illnesses have been confirmed. As a precautionary measure, P&G is suspending operations at this facility and recalling all dry pet food products manufactured at this plant, which include:

Product Name Version “Best-By” Dates UPC Codes
Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas All dry sizes and varieties 01Jul10 – 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Naturally Wild All dry sizes and varieties 01Jul10 – 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Pure All dry sizes and varieties 01Jul10 – 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin All dry sizes 01Jul10 – 01Dec11 All UPC Codes

No canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements, including ProstoraMax are affected by this announcement.

If you need additional information, please call our veterinary line at 800-535-8387. Concerned pet owners may be directed to call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823. We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you and want to assure you that P&G Pet Care is taking all the necessary steps to ensure our product quality meets your expectations.

Top 10 signs that you've gone to a bad vet!

2010-07-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Safe Pet Considerations for your 4th of July

2010-07-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Safe Pet Considerations for your 4th of July
Pet Poison Helpline offers tips for keeping pets safe during this time of celebration

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (June 30, 2010) – When celebrating with family and friends this 4th of July, remember that fireworks can be hazardous to your pets. Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC and the associate director of Veterinary Services at the Pet Poison Helpline, wants pet owners to be aware of the potential dangers of fireworks. “Pets are curious and will get into trouble if left unattended around fireworks,” said Lee.

How Fireworks Can Harm Your Pet:
· Most fireworks are toxic to pets. They contain hazardous chemicals such as potassium nitrate, which is an oxidizing agent. They can also contain charcoal or sulfur and coloring agents, which are potentially dangerous heavy metals.

· When ingested, pets can develop gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, a painful abdomen, and bloody diarrhea. The severity of pet health issues resulting from ingestion will depend on the type of fireworks and the amount that was ingested.

· Pets ingesting large amounts can suffer tremors or seizures, along with acute kidney failure, bone marrow changes, shallow breathing and jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin.

· Exposure to lit fireworks can result in burns to the nose, face, lips, or inside of the mouth, as well as eye irritation and conjunctivitis.

· Noise factors: If addition to the poisonous hazards associated with fireworks, many pets are frightened by the loud noises they make. Fireworks can cause anxiety to those pets that are noise-shy. Dr. Lee states, “If your pets are gun-shy, thunderstorm phobic or noise-shy, consider talking to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety drugs or sedatives that can help them relax during fireworks.”

Simply keeping your pets out of the reach of fireworks will prevent them from being poisoned this 4th of July. Keep pets a safe distance away by securing them on a leash or in the house during firework displays. If your pet ingests fireworks this 4th of July and is suffering, do not induce vomiting. Immediately seek help by calling your veterinarian, emergency veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680.

About the Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Pet Products Vets Love to Hate

2010-06-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

As an animal-lover, I can’t resist browsing through the pet boutique catalogs that come my way. After all, how else are my pets going to be the cool kids on the block? With the advent of the Internet, we’re seeing lots of pet products marketed towards our four-legged friends. That said, just because you love your poochie doesn’t mean you should buy indiscriminately. Dog lovers spend $43 billion dollars(1) a year on pet products, but that doesn’t mean that all of us have “SUCKER” written across our forehead, does it? As a vet, I look with even more critical eyes—and frankly, a lot of what I see makes me cringe. Well, when it comes to certain products, heed this vet’s advice and avoid these losers.

Magnetic beds
Perhaps you’re thinking about spending a pretty penny on an anti-arthritis, magnet-laden bed. There’s pretty extensive human research disputing the benefits of magnets and their ability to increase circulation and reduce inflammation. Most research shows that it’s the placebo affect that is beneficial, and not the magnet itself. While there isn’t any veterinary research, it’d be worth doing - as pets aren’t affected by the placebo affect to the extent that humans are. In the meantime, Dr. Choi, an associate professor in integrative medicine at the University of Minnesota, recommends seeking more aggressive treatment for arthritis (like weight loss, cartilage-protective drugs like glucosamine chondroitin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and acupuncture) instead of just “support” itself (like a magnetic bed), as the magnets just don’t cut it.

Pet pockets and purses
Notice how the Paris Hiltons and Brittany Spears of the world love to tote their Chihuahuas around in a pet purse? You may have seen these pet purses, pet pockets, pet slings (which look like a Baby Bjorn), or pet backpacks that allow people to carry their dog or cat over the shoulder or around their waist while they run errands, go hiking, or clean the house. First of all, your dog doesn’t want to clean with you. And like your husband, your dog definitely doesn’t want to run errands with you either. He’d rather be home chewing on a bone or licking his privates in private. And chances are, with the growing problem of pet obesity, your dog should be walking with you, not having him carry you around for exercise sake. While you may love your pet just as much as any human child, don’t stick your loved one in a piece of nylon, no matter how durable it looks. More importantly, while you may think you have a good grasp of your pet while he’s sitting in your new nylon contraption, you don’t. If you’re out for a walk or in the lobby of your vet’s clinic, a barking, snarling, lunging dog is all it takes for your cat to escape from his nylon “restraint” and go flying up your face, nails a slashin’ and tail a fluffin’, as he unintentionally bolts away forever. While the extremely mellow cat that’s well adjusted to traffic, loud noises, and barking dogs may tolerate a pet purse well, your average cat that’s never been out of the house will definitely not enjoy the ride. While we vets prefer that you keep your cat indoors, that doesn’t mean the annual trip to the vet should be skipped just because you don’t have a secure carrier. Lastly, while some of these purses or slings have an attachment for you to latch your dog’s collar onto, now your dog will just choke himself as he tries to jump to the ground to play. With these unsecured carriers, I worry about a quick escape or even a quick drop in the event of a stumble. I can’t tell you how many broken front legs I’ve seen from jumping out of these things. When transporting pets, it’s always worth splurging on a well-secured, lightweight, easy-to-carry carrier (i.e., Sherpa) or one of those cool, netted, pet strollers instead (although, once again, I’m assuming your dog could use the exercise).

Hypoallergenic body wipes
Being that pets can’t wipe themselves to keep clean, grooming duty is often left up to you. For those dirty dogs, you can purchase hypoallergenic body wipes… these are basically just like baby butt wipes to help wipe away a dirty bum, dirty paws, or just a greasy coat in general. So, do cats need these wipes too? Thankfully, cats are more fastidious cleaners, so they lick and groom themselves without your help. If you’re so inclined and want to try these pet wipes, read carefully before you buy them. If you’re using them to keep the fur cleaner, sure, they help. But remember that these hypoallergenic body wipes don’t make your pet hypoallergenic – it’s just that the wipes are made up with ingredients that usually don’t cause allergies (like aloe vera, purified water, vitamin E, and even Hawaiian Awapuhi extract).

Some people think that these hypoallergenic body wipes help minimize allergies. Sneezing from that cat of yours? Sure, you can try these wipes, but when it comes down to it, it’s hard to wipe away cat allergen Fel d 1, which is what causes those runny, red, itchy eyes. With dogs, the allergic reaction is due to the hair, while with cats it’s from the allergen in the dried saliva (known as dander)… which accumulates on everything from its fur, to its skin, to your clothes, to your furniture. So, for people who are allergic to dogs, they can buy a breed-specific dog like a Bichon or poodle to minimize allergies (these breeds don’t shed, and need to be groomed and trimmed frequently). Unfortunately, cat lovers are usually out of luck. Unless you frequently groom (daily brushing), shave (lion cut, here I come!), bath (your cat will hate you), and saliva proof (impossible) your cat, these body wipes don’t work as well as one would hope. First of all, these wipes often lack the “juice” (despite their purified water, sorbitol, and aloe vera) and are often a bit too dry to effectively wipe off dried saliva. While they’ll help clean off the dirt, dingle berries, shedding fur, grease, and yes, probably small amounts of dander, they aren’t great for getting all of it off. If you have mild allergies, and can implement other habits to minimize dander (like keeping your cat out of your bedroom, where you spend most of your time; using a HEPA air filter; grooming your cat frequently; vacuuming frequently, etc.), sure, these wipes will help those minimally affected by allergies keep it under control. Those severely affected, however, won’t get any relief from these wipes… it’s just too hard to wipe away dander. While there aren’t any studies done by veterinary dermatologist, it’s not a product they typically recommend. Don’t worry though – if that doesn’t work, you can always get a hypoallergenic cat.

While Time magazine may have voted it one of the best medical inventions of 2006, Allerca Lifestyle Pet’s hypoallergenic cat, which was first available in 2006, is probably not the first thing I’d run out and buy… especially at the asking price of $31,000. Depending on how “exotic” you want your new hypoallergenic cat to be (perhaps with some African Serval or Asian Leopard Cat blended in), the price can go up to $125,000. Don’t get me wrong – I love my cats and all, but I’d sooner buy one or two cars (or perhaps half a house) before I pay that much for one cat. As a vet, I do believe the science of being able to create genetic divergences – which is what Lifestyle Pet’s did - by minimizing the cat allergen Fel d 1. That said, for all that money, those cats should be able to scoop their own litter box, wash their own food bowl, and bring in your mail while they’re at it. Most vets wouldn’t run out and buy one – we’d rather adopt and save a life… but of course, most of the time, we’re not the ones with the severe allergies (that’d be a bad occupational hazard). These cats must be popular, as there’s a one- to two-year waiting list; thankfully, money can buy happiness in this instance - if you pay an extra $1,950, you can reduce your wait from two years to just a few months.

Anti-Stress Treats and Calming Sprays
When you leave your house for the day and are worried that your pets are stressed by your absence, is it worth investing in products to mellow them out? No, we’re not talking about giving your dog a Prozac or your cat some kitty crack, but we’re talking about those good ole’ company money makers – anti-stress treats and calming sprays. Some people feed their dogs anti-stress treats – there are biscuits or rawhides with some random vitamins, green tea, and chamomile. Others spray their animals with calming sprays. While sipping some green tea may settle you, the minimal amount of caffeine within it is unlikely to relax your four-legged friend. As for those calming sprays, they often sell well because some of them work well; however, you must be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Some of the effective sprays contain pheromones, which are natural hormones are help settle down your pet. The pheromone sprays [such as Feliway or Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP)] do seem to work, and many veterinary behaviorists recommend them to help mellow out some patients – but keep in mind that it doesn’t work in every pet… just like how every woman doesn’t respond to Drakkar. If you don’t notice a beneficial response, don’t bother continuing to buy the pheromones.

The less effective sprays (i.e., knockoffs) contain mostly Vitamin B and a random assortment of herbs. And unless you like paying a lot for Vitamin B (which is water soluble and very safe, since it won’t accumulate in your pet’s body – he’ll just pee all your hard, earned money away), I wouldn’t bother with these other types. Again, there are still other more holistic, natural sprays that contain herbs like chamomile and lavender that may have a calming effect, but the effect is negligible… otherwise veterinary behaviorist would be recommending these cheaper calming sprays instead of the pheromone ones. Remember, some of these products only contain vitamins in either an edible or water form. If these anti-stress, vitamin-packed rawhide treats worked, I’d be eating them, and vets would be spraying our clinics constantly to stop the constant barking.

HINTS:
• When it comes to picking a pet product, do your research. Read product reviews, blogs, and consumer reports if available. Remember, there’s a lot of info on the Internet, and when in doubt, ask your vet or survey your fellow dog park owners!
• Often times, if the product doesn’t work in humans, it won’t work in our pets. While there’s more limited veterinary research on certain topics, check to see what the human research tells us.
• Think twice before you pick it up – dogs and wolves have survived for thousands of years without these products, and would you randomly spray a product on your kid without finding out what all those ingredients were? Be discriminating when it comes to your latest pet purchases.

Skeptically yours,

Dr. Justine Lee

Resources:
1 http://www.appma.org/

Biography:
Dr. Justine Lee is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is also the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet: Everything you ever wanted to know about your four-legged friend and It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It: Everything you ever wanted to know about your furry feline.

Fleas

2010-06-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

When it comes to fleas, America spends about $1 billion a year on preventative medications.1 Apparently, our hatred for histamine-releasing, itch-causing fleas runs deep. That said, approximately 46% of American pets2 still have some level of flea infestation despite all those powers, dips, spray on products, and flea bombs. Find out how - and why - it’s so important to rid your life (and house) of these pests.

Where your pets are picking up fleas
No matter how meticulous you may think your house is, dogs and cats are exposed to fleas – and it’s likely from the backyard, playground, dog park, beach, or boarding kennel. Fleas have an incredible jumping ability, and while you may not suspect so, they leap onto any four- (or two-) legged victim with voracity and speed (after all, they don’t have wings, and need to be able to jump high). Once they grab a host (i.e., your dog or cat), they crawl to safety, hidden under all that fur and dander. After biting your pet for a blood source, fleas are able to produce “flea dirt” or dried blood – which their eggs, pupae, and larvae then survive off of as their future meal.

How to spot them
Fleas are the size of the tip of a pencil, and can be seen with the visible eye – provided you can see through all that hair and undercoat. Common areas where fleas hide on your pet include the lumbar region, the area near the tail, the belly, the inner thighs, and the neck. The best way to find if your pet has a problem is to purchase a flea comb, which has fine teeth to snag those fleas and flea dirt. An easier way to spot a flea problem is to look for flea dirt – those small black specks that look like ground pepper. If you see this, you have a flea problem - and it’s in all your pets, not just one - as fleas will rapidly infest the environment. These black specks are dried blood, and if you moisten these specks, you’ll notice a blood-red color on the towel.

What damage fleas cause
When a flea bites you or your pet, the bite results in a small raised, reddened, itchy hive that crusts over. However, it’s the saliva that a flea injects into the skin that can be a problem – it may result in flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) – a sensitivity reaction in some pets that can cause a severe allergic reaction that results in intense itching and chronic hair loss. In pets with FAD, it only takes one flea bite to cause a problem. Some dogs (especially those long-haired breeds) develop a moist dermatitis (the dreaded hot spot) instead - that’s because they get so irritated from the antigen in the saliva that they chew their skin raw. Regardless, flea bites are an uncomfortable feeling for all, and flea problems should always be treated. Not only will you relieve your pet of annoying itchiness, but you’ll help reduce tapeworm problems, the risk of transmission of other rare diseases, and anemia (from getting all the blood sucked out!). Because the flea acts as a host for the tapeworm egg Diphylidium caninum, your pet can ingest a flea (while grooming and chewing), allowing the tapeworm to grow in your pet’s intestine. Within a few weeks of ingestion, you’ll notice small, white, rice-like, sticky segments of tapeworm hanging out by your pet’s rectum – all thanks to that flea. Likewise, some outdoor cats (particularly those who live in the Southwestern region of the USA) are often infested with the rodent flea Oropsylla montana, which can carry the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which causes plague. While treatable, this is a serious disease, as it’s contagious to people, reportable by law to the CDC, and also used as a chemical warfare agent! Finally, I’ve seen some kittens so severely infested from fleas that they die from anemia - which could have been easily prevented with one convenient dose of flea product.

How to treat them
When it comes to fleas, you want to nip the problem in the bud before it results in a severe environmental contamination of your whole house. Thanks to veterinary prescription spot-on treatments, you can help avoid those chemical home and lawn sprays, flea collars, defoggers, powders, shampoos, and dips. While there are OTC products, they aren’t quite as effective and can be quite toxic to your other pets (especially for cats! Remember dog-specific flea products should never be used on cats). It’s definitely worth splurging on the “good stuff” and getting the safer prescription products (which come in either an oral or topical form). There are different products you can use, and they basically either act as birth control (or insect growth regulators – or IGRs) or adulticides (which kill adult fleas). IGRs [like lufenuron (found in Program) and methoprene (found in Frontline Plus)] work by preventing certain stages of the flea (the egg, pupae, and larvae) from being able to develop into a full blown adult. This is important because one adult flea produces 40-50 eggs a day, and up to 2000 in one flea’s lifetime.3 These IGRs are very safe, as they don’t affect your pet’s body at all, but again – only kill future fleas. Some flea products contain both an IGR and an adulticide, such as Frontline Plus (fipronil + methoprene). The adulticides are typically chemicals like fipronil (Frontline), imidacloprid (Advantage), imidacloprid with permethrin (Advantix), selamectin (Revolution), and oral nitenpyram (Capstar). Confused by all these chemicals? Check out some great resources by the FDA to help you decide.4 These chemicals aren’t systemically absorbed in your pet’s body and work by being absorbed in the hair follicles and skin oils instead. Unfortunately, the fleas have to bite your pet to get killed off, but it’s the easiest, safest, and most effective way of reducing the flea burden on you and your pet.

HINTS:
• Despite what you think, Brewer’s yeast and essential oils don’t effectively reduce a flea problem, according to veterinary parasitologists. In fact, some essential oils can cause severe allergic reactions in some pets - especially cats - so use them with caution!
• If you do have a flea infestation in your house, vacuum frequently to help suck up those eggs, larvae, and pupae lying on the carpet and pet beds. Make sure to throw that vacuum bag away immediately, or they’ll hatch in the bag and crawl out, re-infesting your house.
• Splurge when it comes to flea products – veterinary-prescribed products are safer, more effective, and more environmentally friendly. The key to treating fleas is prevention, prevention, prevention!

Signing off flea free,

Dr. Justine Lee

References
1 Brakke Consulting, Inc., The U.S. Flea Control and Heartworm Markets Report, 2006.
2 Lilly pet owner market research, January 2006, http://www.comfortis4dogs.com/about-fleas/, accessed March 7, 2009.
3 M.W. Dryden, Integrated Flea Control: Flea Control for the 21st Century; presented at the North American Veterinary Conference, January 2001
4 http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2001/petchart.html

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.

Lyme disease in dogs

2010-06-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

The Diagnosis to Doubt: Lyme disease

Ah, Lyme disease. Not only is it the #1 mispronounced disease out there (it’s Lyme, not Lymes disease, folks!), but it’s probably also the #1 misdiagnosed disease as well. This Gram-negative spirochete (bacteria-like) organism Borrelia burgdorferi was originally discovered in Old Lyme, Connecticut in the mid-70s. Nowadays, over 90% of the cases of human Lyme disease come from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Regardless of which state you live in, pay attention!

What is it?
Lyme disease, an infection that causes shifting-leg lameness, arthritis, joint swelling, fever, platelet abnormalities, and rare heart arrhythmias, is usually transmitted by the Ixodes deer tick (Ixodes scapularis or I. pacificus). In severe cases, it causes “Lyme nephritis,” which results in protein loss through the kidneys (called protein-losing nephropathy or “PLN”) and results in fatal kidney failure – this is particularly common in golden retrievers and Labradors.

How do I treat it?
Treatment for Lyme disease typically entails an antibiotic called doxycycline, which needs to be given for one month. While this is a relatively “safe” antibiotic, doxycycline can cause vomiting, esophagitis or reflux, sun-sensitivity, and permanent yellowing of puppy teeth – and it’s inactivated by dairy products – so make sure your dog really needs it before you give it!

Diagnosing Lyme
There are a lot of Lyme blood tests out there nowadays, and it’s important to know how these tests work. Thanks to a new convenient blood test called the Idexx SNAP ELISA 3DX or 4DX test, Lyme disease is probably a bit over-diagnosed and over-treated. Most vets use this test to check your dog for heartworm, but they don’t always know how to interpret the other two or three tests that come with it – which test for Lyme, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia canis – and that’s because we’re lacking adequate research data to tell us how it’s best to treat this confounding disease! The Idexx test detects infection or exposure to the Lyme bacterium (via an antibody called C6), and this test isn’t affected by vaccine-induced antibodies. In other words, if your dog was vaccinated for Lyme disease, this test won’t falsely test positive just because of the vaccine, unlike the old tests out there. If you’re looking for a more specific test, your vet can run a Western blot test (which can tell if a positive result is from true infection or Lyme vaccination; a quantitative C6 from Idexx; or tick titers. Keep in mind that in some areas of the country, up to 90% of dogs may test positive while never demonstrating clinical symptoms of Lyme disease. So just because your dog tests positive doesn’t mean you necessarily need to treat them.

If your dog tests positive:
Relax. If this was done on the Idexx DX test, it means that your dog was exposed to the bacteria causing Lyme – but doesn’t mean that he’s going to develop symptoms and the disease. Take the next step and get a special urine test [testing for protein loss in the urine – specifically microalbuminuria - and a urine protein creatinine (UPC)] done. If this test is positive, or if your dog is showing symptoms of Lyme disease, then he should be treated. On the other hand, if you own a Labrador or a golden retriever, I’d be aggressive and recommend treating promptly – that’s because we want to ward off devastating Lyme nephritis. Otherwise, for your average Joe-dog, the positive test just means that at some point in his life, he’s been exposed to the bacterium causing Lyme, and he may not need treatment.

If your dog is negative:
Chances are that your dog doesn’t have Lyme and doesn’t need to be treated. If your dog is still showing signs of shifting leg-lameness, fever, etc., then your vet should hunt for something else going on, as it’s likely not due to Lyme – that is, unless it’s a very acute infection (and the body hasn’t had time to make antibodies to result in a positive test). Keep in mind that long-term treatment with doxycycline will eventually turn your dog’s test negative after a few months of treatment.

How to prevent it:
When in doubt, prevention is the key. I don’t typically recommend vaccinating for Lyme unless you live in one of the above mentioned states, own a hunting dog, or are hiking in the woods frequently. If you live in a deer-free area, or don’t live in a high-risk state, then your dog doesn’t need the Lyme vaccine. Instead, use preventatives like monthly prescription-strength tick preventative (like Frontline or Advantix). If you’re in a severely tick infested area, I also use these in conjunction with an additional Preventic collars too – especially if you have one of those predisposed breeds! When it comes to store brand tick collars – save your money. It’s not worth risking Lyme disease and potential kidney failure for a few dollars.

Easy ways to prevent Lyme disease in your pet:
• Check your pet (and you!) carefully after a walk in the woods – check the inside thighs, the ears, and the trunk of the belly, where these tiny ticks like to hide.
• Repeat your tick-inspection again the next day! It takes about 24-48 hours for a tick to transmit Lyme disease, so you have a narrow window to pull those ticks off.
• Simply pull the tick off with a pair of tweezers as close to the base (skin) of the tick as you can.

Prevent side effects from Doxycycline by:
• Double check to make sure the diagnosis is legit – and that your dog really needs these drugs in the first place!
• Giving the pill in a small meatball, followed by your pet’s normal meal (to push the pill into the stomach)
• Don’t give the pill right before your dog goes to bed – otherwise, it’ll make the esophageal reflux worse.
• Keep your outdoor dog inside (so he’s out of the sun for long periods of time) while he’s on the medication.

Signing off tick free,

Dr. Justine Lee

References:
1. Littman MP, Goldstein RF, Labato MA, et al. ACVIM small animal consensus statement on Lyme disease in dogs: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. J Vet Intern Med 2006;20(2):422-34.

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.

Pet Vaccines 101

2010-06-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just got a card in the mail reminding you to bring in your pet for vaccines? Well, make sure you take the time to re-educate yourself, as we vets have recently changed our vaccination guidelines.1,2 While we used to recommend annual vaccines, it’s now changed to an annual exam with vaccination every three years.

Think about it – when was the last time you got vaccinated? Add to that - we humans live about five to ten times longer than our pets, and don’t get half as many vaccines, right? Our pets are generally well-vaccinated and protected from certain viruses after a certain age, provided they’ve gone through the proper puppy or kitten series, so we want to minimize the extra chemicals we’re injecting into them. Now, don’t interpret this as skipping out on your annual vet visits – you should still go every year for a physical exam, heartworm test, flea and tick preventative, and routine care. Just know what you’re getting into when you’re bringing your pet to the vet.

So what vaccines are we talking about giving, and which ones can you skip? When in doubt, consult your vet on your pet’s exposure, environment, and age, which all play a role in how often we vaccinate and which vaccines we recommend. Typically, the vaccines with all those extra letters – like FVRCP or DHPP (which vaccinates for three to five major viruses in one vial) – is strongly recommended for your cat or dog, respectively. This, along with the rabies vaccine, is a must for your pet, especially since it’s often state law!

But what about those extra vaccines your vet may be offering? In general, I only recommend the short-acting kennel cough vaccine if you’re boarding your dog frequently, taking your pup to doggy day care, or traveling to dog shows. Otherwise, skip it. Likewise, if you don’t live near a stream or pond where your dog may catch leptospirosis, it’s likely not necessary (hence, you can get the DHPP instead of the DHLPP). At the same time, if you’re fostering shelter animals and exposing your own pets to all those coughing, sneezing, and diarrhea-covered furry balls of infection, you better make sure your pet is well-vaccinated and protected against a few others (like coronavirus and feline leukemia, just to name a few).

As for those vaccines against Giardia, FIP, and random other diseases, I usually avoid them. But be sure to discuss the most up-to-date research1,2 with your vet. Take the controversial Lyme vaccine – which still stirs lots of debate. Currently, the top Lyme experts in the field don’t use or recommend them – they prefer preventatives instead (like Frontline or Preventic collars).3 That’s because dogs that are vaccinated may develop worse signs when infected with Lyme disease, and can develop more severe forms of kidney failure (Lyme nephropathy). So, all that said, what’s a pet owner to do?

Pediatric pets
Now, if you just adopted a new puppy or kitten, know that their immune system is very immature, and they require more frequent vaccines to booster their immunity and protection against bad viruses. Young pets need a vaccine every 3-4 weeks of age (starting at 5-6 weeks of age) until they reach 14-16 weeks of age. Yes, that means you’re going to the vet at least 3-4 times in the beginning of puppy- or kitten-hood! Some people naively think that the one vaccine from the breeder is protective, but it actually doesn’t do “anything” to protect your pet - it’s those additional vaccines that are necessary to stimulate the immune system after it recognizes the first vaccine. Once your pet goes through those 3-4 vaccines, she’s finished her pediatric series, and will need a vaccine once a year thereafter for just a few more years.

Adult pets
Once an adult, vets speculate that your pet’s immune system is adequately protected, depending on how often you exposure your pets to other animals, and what kind of stress they are under. If they aren’t competing at the Westminster surrounded by hundreds of dogs, then you’re probably OK vaccinating every three years once your pet has reached adulthood (3-7 years of age). When in doubt, you can always have a blood titer done instead of a vaccine, to see if the antibody response is adequate.

Geriatric pets
Finally, the golden years…for a dog, that’s over 7 years of age (depending on the size) and over 12 years for a cat. By this point in your pet’s life, your pet should be well protected, provided you went through the above mentioned protocol. Instead of getting vaccines at this age, splurge on blood work instead, especially since your pet is more likely to get metabolic problems (like underlying liver or kidney) in these geriatric years. Not only are you avoiding an unnecessary vaccine, but the tests will let you pick up problems earlier, allowing you to treat them sooner and more successfully.

Complications
Like any drug or chemical, vaccines are designed to protect – but do potentially come with a rare down side. Minor effects include an allergic reaction to the vaccine, which you discover hours later after your puppy has been vaccinated – that cute swollen muzzle and face need to be treated! Rarer, less proven side effects of vaccines include the hypothetical link between too much antigenic stimulation (the components of a vaccine that stimulate the immune system) and resulting immune diseases (like lupus, or immune destruction of your red blood cells and platelets!). Lastly, for you cat owners, make sure you know about the controversial feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine. I’m not a big fan of this vaccine, because it’s not as effective as all those other vaccines out there (versus the feline and canine distemper vaccine which prevents the disease by 99%). In fact, the FeLV vaccine isn’t protective – it only reduces the severity of the disease, and your cat can still get this deadly disease! More importantly, back in the mid-90’s, this vaccine was one associated with a rare, but aggressive cancer called vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma. Since then, they’ve modified the vaccine and done extensive research to prevent this, but just to be safe, I avoid it unless your cat is one of those high-risk cats: one that likes to roam the great outdoors, is immunosuppressed from cancer or FIV (the feline equivalent of HIV), or has exposure to a lot of random cats (like if you’re not appropriately quarantining those cute foster kittens from your own). All those rare, scary medical risks aside, when it comes to vaccinating your pets, keep in mind that sometimes less is more.

TIPS:
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), and the Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) have established vaccine recommendations for both dogs and cats in an attempt to minimize unnecessary vaccines and reduce the incidence of feline vaccine-induced cancer. Check out their websites for more information. For you cat lovers, check out Cornell’s Feline Health Center for everything you need to know about vaccinating your cat.4

So, what do all those abbreviations stand for?
D: Distemper
H: Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2)
L: Leptospirosis
P: Parainfluenza
P: Parvovirus

FVRCP
FVR: Feline viral rhinotracheitis
C: Calicivirus
P: Panleukopenia

How often do you get your pet vaccinated? Ever have a "fight" with your vet about vaccines? Tell us about it!

Signing off, unvaccinatingly yours,

Dr. Justine Lee

References:
1. http://secure.aahanet.org/eweb/dynamicpage.aspx?site=resources&webcode=CanineVaccineGuidelines
2. http://www.catvets.com/professionals/guidelines/publications/?Id=176
3. Littman MP, Goldstein RF, Labato MA, et al. ACVIM small animal consensus statement on Lyme disease in dogs: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. J Vet Intern Med 2006;20(2):422-34.
4. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/newcat.html

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.

Caring for geriatric pets

2010-06-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, you really can get a cat scan for your cat, or a total hip replacement for your dog (at the cost of your own arm and leg!). Thanks to the improvement in the quality of veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer than ever. I tell my dog, JP, and my cat, Seamus, that they need to live till at least 15 years of age… otherwise I’m not sure how I’ll deal! Want some secrets from a neurotically-attached, pet-obsessed vet on how to make your pets live longer?

Keep ‘em thin
One of the easiest (but toughest for owners!) ways of helping your pet live longer is to starve them. Seriously. Remember, feeding more doesn’t mean you love them more! Back in 2002, the “Purina Study,” a 14 year long study evaluated 48 dogs fed a control-fed versus a restricted-fed diet, and the results were amazing. Not only did dogs live an average of almost two years longer (11.2 vs. 13 years of age!), but restricted-fed dogs had a dramatic decrease in osteoarthritis (OA) and the need for medical treatment for OA.1-4 By 8 years of age, 77% of the control-fed dogs had evidence of OA in multiple joints, compared with only 10% of the restricted-fed dogs – isn’t that proof enough? Overall, the restricted-fed dogs weighed less, had lower body fat content, were healthier, and were able to push back their requirements for medical treatment by two years; so, make sure to cut back on that kibble (by at least 25%) to help delay the onset of signs of chronic disease. Being that 40% of our pets are obese, if you really love your pet, cut back on the treats, table food, and the calories (and consider switching to a low-calorie, lower-protein food) while increasing the exercise. After all, this advice applies to you too.

Lumps, bumps, and everything bad
As your pet ages, the chances for medical problems increase, such as kidney failure or cancer. Most of the time, people notice the signs too late – which makes for an expensive ER visit and a poorer prognosis. Chances are your pet’s pretty stoic, but make sure to look out for early signs of a problem such as vomiting, decreased appetite, shivering or shaking, crying or whimpering, a change in urination or thirst, weight loss, coughing, increased breathing rate, or growing lumps and bumps. As soon as you notice any symptoms, get your pet to a vet for blood work, x-rays or lump biopsies (called aspirates) right away. The biggest mistake I see is owners waiting too long to go to the vet…why chance it? In fact, the next time you go to your vet for routine stuff, skip those vaccines and put that money towards annual blood work instead if your dog is over 8 or your cat is over 12 years of age. You won’t regret it in the end.

Aches and pains
Being that some of our most popular dogs (such as Labrador and golden retrievers) are so predisposed to hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis (thanks to pet obesity), it’s important to make sure your pet isn’t in pain, which results in a poorer quality of life. Aside from a massive diet (I want to feel ribs, folks!), the use of glucosamine therapy (like Cosequinn) or orthopedic beds are first places to start. The next line is veterinary NSAIDS; owners are usually shocked how much spring in their step their pet has gotten back! Of course, these aren’t benign so you don’t just want to be popping pills constantly. Your goal: to get your pet to be able to play or walk like he used to years earlier.

Wanna kiss?
If your pet’s breath is so foul, take a look why. Severe dental disease, such as large chunks of plaque, a red line near the gum (gingivitis), bleeding gums, or ulcers on the tongue are signs of problems that need to be checked out right away. Untreated, oral bacteria from a really infected mouth can spread to the bloodstream or even the heart valves. Cancerous oral masses or metabolic problems (like kidney failure or diabetes) may also cause that bad breath too. While anesthesia and a dental cleaning are riskier in older patients, it’s important to keep those pearly whites white.

How to assess your pet's quality of life:
While no one wants to talk about it, it’s important that you know how to assess your pet’s quality of life as they age. When in doubt, ask a vet.
• If your pet stops eating, that’s their way of telling you they feel like crud.
• If your pet is crying, whimpering, acting really clingy or hiding – especially for cats - check with your vet if it’s time for some type of pain relief.
• If your pet doesn’t act like they used to (i.e., doesn’t want to go for a walk, acting aloof, doesn’t want to play or get in the car anymore), he’s not up for living…

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

References:
1. http://www.purina.com/Company/448Study.aspx
2. Kealy RD, Lawler DF, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA 2002;220:1315-1320.
3. Kealy RD, Olsson SE, et al. Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs. JAVMA 1992;201:857-863.
4. Kealy RD, Lawler DF, et al. Five-year longitudinal study on limited food consumption and development of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of dogs. JAVMA 1997;210:222-225.

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of the new book It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It.

What should I feed my pet?

2010-06-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

Feeding your four-legged friend

Back in March 2007, the devastating pet food scare resulted in over 60 millions cans and pouches of pet food, along with several million pounds of dry kibble to be recalled. Due to melamine contamination, a chemical used in plastic, glue, fertilizer, and cleaning products, an unknown number of dogs and cats succumbed to kidney failure – some fatally. Turns out that the wheat gluten in the pet food (along with rice protein and possibly corn gluten from South Africa) was “contaminated” from China, and that some of our American pet food companies were getting their sources from unregulated international suppliers. That said, please know that 90% of the pet food industry wasn’t affect by this recall… it was a few bad apples that ruined the batch. Justifiably, many owners didn’t know where to turn next, and what food was safe to feed their pets. Immediately during this time, I had some owners switch to home cooked or raw food diets, some unsuccessfully. Despite their good intention, I had a few fatal complications as a result (like bones stuck in the esophagus to severe pancreatitis). Before you surf the ‘Net and discover all the wrong information out there, read on to find out what’s best to feed your four-legged friend.

When it comes down to it, stick with a reputable, large, research-based pet food company, and your pet’s health is in good hands. Top brands include Science Diet, Iams or Eukanuba, and Purina. Check out their website to make sure that the company supports veterinary-recommended, humane research to ensure progressive developments and updates. Rest assured that all pet foods are regulated and approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) organization, which is like the animal FDA, and monitors the nutritional content of animal food to ensure that diets are appropriately balanced for that species. That said, this doesn’t mean that AAFCO checks where the ingredients came from – hence the melamine scare – so you still have to be a wise consumer and do your research. Start by reviewing the ingredients listed on the bag, which are listed in order of content. If peanut hulls are the first ingredient, turn elsewhere! This crappy filler, while full of fiber, probably isn’t the #1 (or #2, #3, etc.) ingredient that you’d want to eat either. Remember, just because a vegetable or grain (like corn and rice) is one of the first ingredients on your dog’s bag of food doesn’t mean it’s bad – it just means most of the protein is a vegetable versus protein source (which is less expensive, but just as effective). If you don’t know what all the ingredients are, ask your vet. Some sound scary, but are just another name for a vitamin or amino acid. At the same time, understand the semantics – beef “flavored” should make you ask “Where’s the beef?” and move on to something better.

Organic and preservative free food
What exactly is in that all natural, organic, preservative-free, holistic bag of dog or cat food? When it comes to “all natural,” know that ingredients that are available for the pet food industry include human non-edible pet food-grade byproducts (such as parts of the animal that we don’t normally eat such as tendons, cartilage, and organs) – and that still counts as au natural - to human grade ingredients (your filet mignon). As for “organic,” while it’s ideally better (and some companies truly get organic vegetable and meat sources), remember that the FDA doesn’t even have good regulations for human organic foods… so they aren’t double checking on your pet’s organic food just yet. When it comes to pet food quality organic foods, there are no organizations verifying that it is truly organic. We’re trusting the pet food company here to believe what’s really in that bag.

Lastly, preservatives. Keep in mind that this helps keep the fat in the food from going rancid and the food from spoiling. It can actually be more dangerous to feed rancid, moldy food that is “preservative free.” Before buying any bag, check the expiration date on that bag of food, and more importantly, make sure there are no tears in the bag or any staining on the outside of the bag (such as grease on the outside, or any area where moisture may have wicked into the bag). If the bag isn’t lined with a plastic lining or isn’t 100% water proof, your pet’s food can indeed spoil. The other concern is that while the pet food manufacturer may not have put any preservatives in, there’s no accountability or way of knowing what the supplier put in it prior to purchase.

Homemade diets
Have the time and money to burn and want to cook up some grub for your dog? Go for it! Some owners love to cook for their dogs. Personally, I can barely cook for myself (not including an additional twelve paws), so I probably have some patients who eat better than I do. The good thing about homemade diets is that they can be made specifically for your dog’s special needs (particularly if your dog has inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, kidney failure, or cancer). Keep in mind that you can’t just rely on Joy of Cooking or Internet surfing to concoct a canine diet. That’s because common nutritional problems can result from inappropriate dietary supplementation or inappropriate balancing including: not enough calories; deficiencies in microminerals, vitamins, and calcium; and supplementing too much protein. Also, when feeding a homemade diet, be aware that you must give your dog a daily PetTab and other veterinary-recommend supplements to balance the food appropriately. Notice how I said dog? You can’t cook for your cat, and here’s why.

Cats are completely carnivorous and require essential amino acids (such as taurine), ruling out a vegetarian, vegan, or home cooked diet. Homemade cat diets are often deficient in energy density, fat, and palatability (which is the result of substituting vegetable oil for fat) and are rarely balanced, meaning those extra veterinary daily cat vitamin-mineral supplements aren’t even helping. Yes, I know you can find veterinarians blogging about how to make a homemade cat diet out there on the Internet, but I’d really rely on the specialists of veterinary nutrition or internal medicine here before preparing a homemade diet for your pet!

Bones and Raw Food Diet (BARF)
Some breeders and owners advocate the BARF diet (bones and raw food), which uses raw, uncooked meat, liver, pasta, and eggs as part of their diet as a way of bringing their dog “back to the wild.” That said, you don’t let him eat your cat, chase down prey for food, roll in wolf scat, negate medical care, or sleep outside in the dirt to bring him back to the wild, do you? Because the BARF diet is not AAFCO approved or balanced, veterinarians have some big concerns about feeding it. The biggest problems are the trace mineral and vitamin deficiencies seen when this is fed as a primary diet. Zoo vets discovered this decades ago when they were feeding animals, as raw meat contains more phosphorous than calcium, which can result in bone abnormalities and secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism. While this sounds like a mouthful, it’s a serious chronic, degenerative, painful nutritional disease that results in fractures and bone deformities from inappropriate diet. Secondly, the BARF diet can be dangerous because of the risk of uncooked meat harboring bacteria (like E. coli or Salmonella) – despite your hand washing. Because of the risk of food handling safety with raw meat, the implementation of the BARF diet is not advocated in households with children, elderly, or the immunosuppressed.1 Even if you have the most sterile kitchen that Mr. Clean would be proud of, the bigger concern is that you are colonizing your dog’s intestines with these deadly bacteria… in other words, your pet may not have a problem with it, but can shed Salmonella as part of his or her normal gastrointestinal bacteria flora when you scoop that poop! I have also seen some rare, severe complications and fatalities from starting the BARF diet in an unaccustomed intestinal tract, as it could potentially cause inflammation of the pancreas (called pancreatitis) and severe bloody diarrhea. On the other side of the coin, I’ve had some clients rave about it. Either way, before considering a BARF diet, do your homework and consult with a veterinary nutritionalist to make sure you’re feeding a balanced diet.

Cats
No doubt cats will be cats, and do things differently just because they can. When it comes to your finicky feline, don’t even think about making any sudden changes when it comes to your cat. Cats resent any sudden change in life, and you cannot starve a cat until he eats. Unlike your dog who can go on a hunger strike to protest the new cheap dry food, your cat doesn’t have that same luxury. If your cat goes more than three to five days without eating enough, he can develop hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver syndrome. This causes jaundice, generalized malaise, weight loss, and even liver failure or clotting problems in severe cases. Most cats require an expensive ultrasound and temporary feeding tube to solve the problem, which can run you $1500-2500. With that amount of money, you could have bought a pallet of his favorite feline Friskies!

Also, keep in mind that all seafood diets (like canned tuna from the grocery store) have higher levels of an enzyme that breaks down taurine. While you may think that you’re spoiling your cat feeding him canned tuna his whole life, you can cause severe amino acid deficiencies by doing this! You should never feed this unbalanced, all seafood diet alone as the primary diet.

Tips:
• Check out Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Dr. David Stromberg,2 a retired veterinary gastroenterologist from UC Davis. He’ll tell you the correct way of feeding your pets!
• While there are Internet dog forums abounding on topics like diets, holistic medications, and pet food rants, don’t believe all the hype - some of these sites provide inaccurate information.
• Make sure to research the topic carefully, and when in doubt, consult a veterinary nutritionalist.

Most importantly, there are a lot of different opinions out there. I've had cat owners scream at me (seriously folks?!) for feeding my cats dry food. While they are right in that cats don't need the extra carbohydrates found in dry kibble, they don't volunteer to to pet sit and come over 2-3X/day to split a can for my two cats.

I've seen dogs on crappy, Walmart food live till 18 and dogs fed organic, preservative free gourmet meals die at 6 from horrible cancer or metabolic disease. Keep in mind that diet is important but it's not the ONLY contributing factor to pet health.

What do you think?

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

References:
1. Freeman LM, Michel KE. Evaluation of raw food diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218(5):705-709.
2. D. R. Strombeck. Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternative. (Ames: Iowa State Press, 1999).

Home remedies for pets

2010-06-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

As a veterinary emergency specialist, I’m lucky that I have a concoction of supplies, equipment, and tools at home in the event that my pets need some TLC without requiring a 2 A.M. visit to the emergency clinic. Here are some tricks of the trade about what home remedies are laying around your house that may help you avoid an expensive trip to the vet.

Hot spots
Have one of those extra hairy beasts that constantly gets hot spots during the summer? Most Golden retrievers, Labradors, or Newfoundlands succumb to these hot spots (aka “moist dermatitis” or “superficial pyoderma”). Hot spots are usually triggered by allergies, fleas, insect bites, or excessively wet skin folds that can’t air out normally and end up accumulating moisture, resulting in an overgrowth of the normal skin bacteria. Once your dog starts to itch, it becomes a vicious cycle and he ends up excoriating half his skin and fur off, much to your dismay! They should call them “quick spots,” as these can spread fast – within a few hours, your dog may have scratched the area so badly that it’s now four times larger.

Keep in mind the vet dermatological trick of the trade: if it’s wet, keep it dry; if it’s dry, keep it wet. If your dog will tolerate it (it’s really itchy and uncomfortable!), use grooming clippers (not your husband’s razor) to gently clip away a large amount of hair on and around the hot spot. You don’t want to clip too close to the hot spot as you’ll cause more irritation, but you want to remove enough hair that it lets the area “breath” to allow it to dry. Make sure to clip 1-3” around the periphery of the hot spot, which will allow the wound to dry quickly without that extra hair in the way. Next, use a cool, damp, clean terry cloth or 4X4s to gently blot away the area after you clip. Whatever you do, don’t put any ointment on that site. While your instinct is to coat it with cortisone or triple antibiotic ointment, that’s the worst thing that you can do. Instead, consider applying one of these home remedies to the hot spot, two to three times a day: a dilute (1:1) solution of water and apple cider vinegar, Domboro’s solution (an aluminum acetate astringent that dries out the wound, found OTC at any pharmacy), or even wet black tea bags. You can either soak a terry cloth in the solution or put it in a clean, new water sprayer and spray it on. For the tea bags, gently apply them to the site and cover them with a terry cloth, holding them for 10 minutes. Avoid putting anything on the hot spot that will irritate it more (like salt, cayenne, oils, etc. – would you like lemon juice in your wound?). Again, keep the moist dermatitis dry and non-irritated – which means not letting your dog itch at it – that’ll require an Elizabethan collar (aka funnel hat) for a few days too. The biggest thing about hot spots is the sooner you catch them, the easier they are to treat. If you catch it early, voila – this may fix it! If it’s really bad, check with your vet if things don’t improve in a day or two - some dogs require oral antibiotics and steroids.

Minor wounds
Have an accident prone dog who likes to scrape himself up? When it comes to wounds, remember that a small puncture could be a tip of the iceberg. If your dog just got attacked by another dog, it’s always best to have a vet check it out, as a small wound can have severe tissue injury underneath. But, if it’s a small scrap from running through your rose bushes, you may be able to check it out at home. While some pets won’t let you touch them once they are injured at home (which is why we vets resort to drugs to sedate them to alleviate their pain), you can try carefully inspecting the site to see how bad the wound is and to make sure no foreign material (i.e., thorns, dirt, splinters, etc.) are inside. If it’s superficial and minor, you can try the following: first, apply some sterile KY jelly to the affected area. This doesn’t act as a barrier to germs or anything, but is designed to help prevent the fur that you’re about to shave from entering into the wound, allowing it to be gently wiped away after you clip it. Use grooming clippers to remove as much hair around the wound as you can. This will allow you to visualize the wound better and let it heal with less infection. Next, use warm, wet 4X4s diluted with povidone iodine to wipe away the KY, blood, fur, and debris on the wound.

Once the wound is more “clean,” take a closer look to see how deep it is. If the wound is bigger than the tip of your pinky nail, appears to be deep, or if continues to ooze or be painful, go to vet to double check. If it’s small and minor, you may be able to manage with conservative nursing at home. First, apply a warm compress to the area three to four times a day, for 10-15 minutes each time; this will increase draining from the area, allowing it to heal more quickly. Next, gently blot away any discharge with a damp terry cloth. Once it’s dry, apply some aloe vera gel (by just breaking the plant open) to the area; simply break the plant open for the clear gel, but make sure to avoid the white saponins that are released on the edge of the plant – these can cause minor irritation. You can apply this two to three times a day for 3-4 days. While you may notice a small amount of pus and blood for the first day or two, the wound will slowly granulate in – in other words, scar over slowly. While it may not be the prettiest (you can start calling your dog “Scarface” instead), it may heal just fine.

Gastrointestinal upset
One of the most common presenting complaints that I see in the ER is vomiting. Most owners are upset to see their pet vomit once or twice, but have no hesitation in promptly feeding him again – only to have him vomit up that meal. Duh. If you were sick from last night’s Mexican food, would you want someone to offer you a burrito again? In cases of gastroenteritis (acute inflammation of the intestines or stomach, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea), it’s always best to rest the gut – in other words, to not feed your pet any food for at least 12 hours (provided he’s healthy and not a diabetic with other problems!). Most people don’t want to torture their pet by skipping a meal, when that’s what he may need. If, after a 12 hour fast, there’s no vomiting, start back with a tiny amount of a bland diet (like boiled chicken with boiled rice with no fat, skin or bones or canned tuna). And when in doubt, start slowly. As long as your pet is holding down tiny amounts, you can gradually increase the frequency and amount over the next few days, only to gradually wean in his normal food once he’s better. If he’s still vomiting despite this, rush him to a vet, as he’ll likely need x-rays done to make sure nothing is stuck in him. Don’t make the classic mistake though – don’t feed through illness and let that stomach rest!

When in doubt, you can try some more benign OTC medications like H-2 blockers (anti-ulcer medications) like Pepcid AC. It’s a relatively safe medication and will help decrease the stomach acid and hopefully minimize the vomiting. Typically these are 10 mg tablets, and are relatively inexpensive (0.5 mgs per pound every 24 hours). Lastly, while it won’t be fun to coat the walls in pink Pepto, you can give your dog some Pepto-Bismol to help settle the stomach for a few days. The dose is typically 5 mls per 10 lbs of dog, every 6 hours. Keep in mind there are small amounts of aspirin in Pepto, so you shouldn’t use this concurrently when your pet is already on an NSAID. And since cats are particularly sensitive to the aspirin component, I’d only give one day’s worth for our feline friends. When in doubt, always check with a vet!

Allergic reactions
Isn’t it cute when you let your dog out and ahhh! He comes back in all puffy-faced and swollen? Dogs show allergic reactions differently from cats and humans, and usually develop severe hives or swelling of their face, muzzle, and ears rather than the classic anaphylactic reaction that requires an epi-pen (please don’t use your epi-pen on Fido). If you’re not sure what caused the reaction (you didn’t see your dog get stung or didn’t apply a new carpet cleaner), first try bathing your dog with a mild dish detergent like Dove – it may be a contact irritant that triggered this reaction, and until you get it off, his hives will keep on coming. Next, consider OTC Benadryl – the plain kind, without the extra decongestants. Typically, the dose is 0.5 to 1 mg per pound, so your typical Labrador would get 50 mgs worth orally every 8 hours until those hives go away. Word to the wise – most dogs get very sedate from Benadryl, but the rare dog gets hyperactive and flies off the handle. Good luck. If the hives don’t improve within a few hours, or if your dog starts getting worse or having difficulty breathing, he’ll need that 2 A.M. visit to get IV injections instead.

When in doubt, always contact your veterinarian for assistance, as not all drugs, wounds, etc., can be managed without a vet!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

Pet Poisons to Avoid!

2010-06-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Things around the house that don't seem poisonous... but are…

At the young age of seven, I came to the childhood recognition, like every other girl out there, that I wanted to become a veterinarian. Being a die-hard animal lover, I was shocked to find out decades later that the way I medicated my childhood dog was deadly. I used to gently place the daily prednisone pill for my dog, Yi-nian (which translates into “man’s best friend” in Chinese) in the middle of a grape, only to have him gulp it down without suspecting anything. Little did I know that my loving way of medicating him could have been slowly killing him.

Nowadays, as an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I’m well aware of all the acute toxicities out there, and have had both sad and happy outcomes – with most of the toxicities having been preventable. One of my favorite survivors was a dog named Harper. She had eaten over two pounds of raisins, and the owners didn’t realize that grapes and raisins were poisonous. The owners ended up bringing in Harper days later once she was lethargic and had stopped eating; by that point, she had already developed severe kidney failure. Unfortunately for her owners, her bill topped out at $8,000 (but fortunately, we were able to save her from the brink of death). Had the owners known about this toxicity earlier, they could have brought Harper into the vet immediately after they noticed their raisin container empty – and we could have induced emesis (pumped her stomach and made her vomit) for about $300 without her developing any kidney failure to begin with… had she vomited up all the poison. That said, the unusual thing about grape and raisin toxicity is that it is idiosyncratic – in other words, it causes kidney failure in some dogs but not all dogs, and it’s not dose-dependent (in other words, one dog can eat a tiny amount and develop severe toxicity, while another dog can eat pounds of grapes or raisins without it ever causing a problem). It’s an individual effect – some dogs may never be affected (thankfully, like Yi-nian), and some are severely affected. When in doubt, keep them out of paws’ reach.

Didn’t know that grapes or raisins are poisonous to your dog, or that the bouquet of flowers that your beau got you can kill your cat with one leaf? When it comes to commonly known toxins, most pet lovers know that household poisons like chocolate, antifreeze, and poinsettias are poisonous. Unfortunately, as an emergency veterinary specialist, I’m still shocked that people don’t know about the more dangerous toxicities out there that are sitting right in your house or yard. Here are the most common toxicities that are suddenly showing up as problems, at least in my ER.

You know that pack of gum you have in your purse? If your dog likes to stick his schnooz in your purse to dig around for something tasty, be aware. With the increase in popularity of sugarless gum (i.e., Trident, Orbitz, Ice Breakers), we've been seeing an increased number of toxicities from xylitol, an artificial sweetener. While this doesn't cause a problem in humans, it causes severe hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and acute hepatic necrosis (liver failure) when ingested by dogs. As little as one pack of gum or two muffins made with this sweetener can be fatal without immediate treatment, which includes decontamination (in other words, inducing vomiting and pumping the stomach immediately), activated charcoal (to bind up all that poisonous product), and intravenous fluids. Thankfully, most animals recover quickly, but the sooner we find out – the better. That way it’s easier for us to decontaminate the toxicity from their system.

Another common toxicity that’s dangerous when your dog rummages through your purse is that cute plastic chew toy – you know, your asthma inhaler. While you may think that metal albuterol inhaler is too tough to chew through, your dog’s sharp teeth often easily puncture the container. If this happens, and your dog inhales a jet of albuterol, he can collapse and get extremely weak. This can immediately cause a life-threatening drop in the body’s potassium, one of the electrolytes important for salt balance, resulting in potentially fatal arrhythmias. Immediate IV fluids, treatment, and continuous heart monitoring (with an electrocardiogram) are necessary to treat this toxicity acutely. So when in doubt, keep those purses out of reach.

For those of you who have pet-proofed your house, don’t think you’re immune. Think you’re safe leaving your pet outside in your fenced-in yard? While we commend you for providing a nice, “safe” yard to play in, I never recommend leaving your pet outside unsupervised. There are numerous backyard toxins that could rapidly poison your pet. For example, that compost pile in the corner of the yard. There’s a reason why gardening stores tell you to fence in and cover your compost – all that rotting organic matter actually contains fungal-like chemicals called aflatoxins and mycotoxins in it, and can quickly poison any animal (including wildlife). Clinical signs are seen within hours, and include severe trembling and seizures that result in hyperthermia (a high temperature from having severe muscle tremors). Treatment includes intravenous (IV) muscle relaxants and IV fluids, and thankfully, compost toxicity is rarely fatal with treatment. While I commend you for composting for the sake of the environment, fence off your pile for the sake of your pets.

Likewise, if you let your cat outdoors, your neighbors’ Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, and even some day lilies (are you getting the hint?) can kill her. As little as one leaf, pedal, or bite of stem can cause severe, irreversible kidney failure within as little as a day, and even aggressive hemodialysis and IV fluids may not help. Signs include generalized malaise, lack of urination, vomiting, and not eating, and if you notice those signs by then, unfortunately it may be too late. When in doubt, keep this common backyard plant and more common floral arrangement plant out of your cat’s reach.

If you notice your pet get into something, never assume it’s safe. A lot of products out there are very toxic to dogs and cats, as they have a different metabolism than we humans . When in doubt, contact a vet or a Pet Poison Helpline immediately. While there may be a fee to be seen by your emergency vet or to call a helpline, it’ll detect a problem sooner and help protect your pet and your pocketbook.

HINTS:
• When in doubt, always call an emergency veterinary clinic if you saw your pet ingest something abnormal – the receptionist or technician may be able to counsel you on what to do when your pet gets into something toxic.
• When it comes to our pet’s health, always call one of the Poison Control Hotlines across the country to find out more information: www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Has your dog or cat gotten into any dangerous and unique? Help spread the word and let me know by writing a comment!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

How to be a pet owner without your house smelling like it

2010-06-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

By Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC

When I first rescued Seamus, my grey and white tabby kitten, from an abusive household, I was ready for the responsibilities of pet ownership: scooping kitty litter, buying food, and keeping him healthy. It was a reciprocal relationship, right? I loved him, and he loved me right back. What I wasn’t prepared for was how much stink he came with. Luckily, I’m a neurotic once-a-day-kitty-litter-scooper, so I was able to keep the pet odors down. However, once I adopted my second cat Echo, a black adult male cat, I was shocked at how doubling the number of cats in the household seemed to triple-fold the mess, kitty litter duty (literally), and odiferous essence. Regardless of how many pets you have, you don’t want your house smelling like it, right? So, what’s a pet owner to do to limit the stinkiness of living with our pets?

It’s pretty apparent that the more pets you have, the more potential for reek. That said, there are a few things you can do to minimize the stink. First of all, make sure your pet doesn't have a medical reason for their stink. When in doubt, take your pet to a vet for a routine physical exam. Make sure your vet takes a good look at those pearly whites, as that’s one of the primary sources for malodor. Certain breeds like greyhounds and poodles are two of the worst breeds that are predisposed to tartar build-up, which results in severe halitosis. Your pet may need a dental cleaning every few years to help keep his or her breath fresh. In between those teeth cleanings, brush your pet’s teeth to help keep away that plaque. Once that plaque hardens into tartar, you’re out of luck – your vet will have to scrap it off with special tools during a dentistry done under anesthesia. When brushing, keep in mind that you don’t need a fancy pet toothbrush – simply use a small swatch of old pantyhose or a clean, dry 4X4 gauze, wrap it around your index finger, apply a small amount of pet toothpaste to it, and rub the sides of your pet’s teeth to help scrape away that plaque (without getting bitten in the process). You can also use other grooming tools such as doggy toothpaste or prescription-strength mouth spray (such as Chlorhexidine oral spray, since your pet can’t gargle). This is an antiseptic, anti-bacterial mouth spray that will help keep some of that odor down too. Most dogs generally don’t need it, but if your dog has really foul, unhealthy teeth, it’d be a healthy option to help keep that oral bacterial count down. Don’t despair for those of you who can’t keep up with your dog’s dental disease - there are experimental anti-plaque vaccines coming out for some of these more troublesome breeds!

While you’re at the vet, also make sure to have your vet check out your pet’s skin and ears. Notice how when you give your dog a good pet-lovin’ rub-down that you end up with a brown, waxy, greasy film on your fingertips? That’s because some breeds like Labrador retrievers, basset hounds, cocker spaniels, and West Highland white terriers may have inherited seborrhea oleosa (a fancy way of saying, greasy skin and dandruff). This is the same condition that makes certain people break out with acne or dandruff more than others. Untreated, this makes the skin and fur too moist, predisposing your pet to an underlying, foul-smelling yeast or bacterial infection. Breeds with floppy ears (like cocker spaniels, basset hounds, and clumber spaniels) or those who have a love for swimming (labradors and golden retrievers) are also more predisposed to chronic ear infections. With those floppy or constantly wet ears, moisture gets trapped in the middle ear (the inside part that you’re not supposed to put a Q-tip in), allowing bacteria and yeast to grow in there. If you have one of these ear-affected breeds, make sure to occasionally clean your pet’s ears once or twice a week with a safe, gentle ear solution like Oti-Clens or OtiCalm. On the contrary, don’t over-clean those ears – otherwise, you can create a yeast infection (by taking out all that healthy bacteria that are supposed to be in there normally). Finally, don’t let your pet’s ear or skin infection get out of control, or you, your pet, and your house will pay – that’s because if your dog has a yeast infection in his ears and is scratching at them with his paws, he’ll soon spread that infection to his feet and the rest of his skin – making his whole body stink too. Once your pet’s medical condition is treated appropriately by your vet, you can maintain your pet’s freshness by using doggy body anti-yeast wipes (MalAcetic) or sprays (which kill the yeast wherever you wipe, minimize the smell and the number of tub visits), degreasing shampoos (like a prescription Chlorhexidine shampoo, which kill yeast, bacteria, and certain fungus too), and even doggy cologne.

For you cat lovers, use a covered litter box and scoop! While those cute little charcoal filters on top of the box barely make a difference, the cover helps keep in the stink from diffusing throughout your house. The cover also prevents your cat from splashing kitty litter or accidentally spraying urine outside of the box. The most important part of keeping the cat smell down is to have good kitty litter habits. First, you should have n+1 litter boxes per cat. In other words, if you have three cats, you should have four litter boxes, depending on how much room you have in your abode. Cats are very territorial when it comes to their bathroom habits (and use urine to mark their spot), and often prefer to have their own box. Secondly, make sure you use clumping instead of clay litter – not only do veterinary behaviorists say that cats prefer clumping, but it makes it easier to scoop out the stink (and it’s more environmentally friendly to just scoop out the clumps and poop instead of dumping the whole litter box out each week). Most importantly, scoop that box frequently. I’m often shocked that pet owners tell me they only scoop their litter boxes once or twice a week (that’s the equivalent of you flushing every other day!). While kitty litter duty seems laborious, gross, and dirty, you should be scooping daily. This is the #1 way to keep the stink down, but more importantly, it’s medically healthier for your cat. Keeping a hygienic box helps prevent bladder or colon problems (like cystitis or constipation). If your litter box is too dirty, your cat is only going to want to go in it once a day instead of three times a day, fear of getting his paws dirty. If your cat happens to have crystals in his urine, and he’s holding his urine to avoid stepping into a nasty box, those crystals get more concentrated, predisposing him to a life-threatening bladder blockage (called a urethral obstruction). Lastly, scooping daily helps monitor your cat better. After all, how else are you going to know how long your cat has had diarrhea for, or if his piles of urine are abnormally-sized unless you scoop? If you notice larger clumps of urine than normal, it could indicate that your cat has diabetes or even kidney problems. Lastly, scooping daily also prevents behavioral problems (like urinating on your dirty pile of laundry or pooping right outside the box). Get the hint if your cat is doing this – he doesn’t want to step inside the dirty litter box because there’s no room left to walk in or cover up his excrement. Cats are fastidious and clean by nature, and appreciate a clean litter box. Help your pets out by sparing them the discomforts of itchy skin, ears, and dirty boxes, and your house guests the pet odor. After all, when it comes to our pets, we all love them… but don’t have to tolerate the stink.

Some basic tips to keeping a pet, odor-free house:
• Make sure to have good, clean, fresh ventilation: open your windows and screen doors, turn on fans, and let the house air out.
• Use a HEPA filter in the most pet-occupied room – where your litter box is hiding or where your dog’s bed is. Not only will it make the air fresher for you, but it’s healthier air for your pet to breathe!
• Use a dilute 10% bleach solution to launder those pet beds, collars, leashes, kitty litter boxes, and dog toys frequently. Do it on the first of the month, so you always remember when it’s time to clean.
• For those of you with central air or heat, make sure to change your furnace filter at the start of each season (I do it monthly!) to hide the stink. This catches all the pet dander and fur, and once again, makes it healthier air for you to breath.

Do you have any good tips for taking the stink out of pet ownership (they're worth it though!). Spread the word and list your ideas here!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

Do you need to take your pet to a veterinary specialist?

2010-05-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

As a board-certified veterinary emergency specialist, I’m often amazed at what owners will put up with from their vets. Take a recent client of mine. She’d brought her sick cat to her regular veterinarian, who said Felix needed to stay for intravenous fluids. The vet didn’t have 24-hour care, though. So Felix’s owner picked her cat up at 5 P.M. and drove him to the local “after-hours” emergency clinic; the next morning, she got to the clinic before it closed at 8 A.M. so she could bring Felix back to her vet. She did this a total of seven times over the course of four days before she and Felix ended up in the emergency room of the university vet school where I work.

When I saw her, she was physically, mentally, and financially exhausted. And Felix was really, really sick—he was in severe kidney failure and needed much more aggressive care than either his regular vet or the after-hours clinic had been able to give (a feeding tube to start him on some much needed calories, a urinary catheter, and a special catheter in his jugular vein to maximally flush toxins out of his kidneys). Don’t worry: Felix survived. But it was touch and go, and the process cost his owner thousands more than it needed to.

I promise I don’t have my eye on my wallet when I say this: There are times when your pet needs someone other than the wonderful vet you’ve been using for years. People tend to be reluctant to ask if a specialist might be helpful—who wants to risk causing offense or hurt feelings? But from my vantage point at what’s called a tertiary-care center, where the very sickest animals end up, I’d say that’s one of the biggest mistakes people make at the vet.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: If you’d need to go to a specialist for a problem, your dog or cat probably does, too. A general practice vet doesn’t usually do hundreds of ultrasounds or bone marrow tests a year even if he has the equipment, so it would be strange if he were as adept at doing the tests as a dedicated veterinary ultrasonographer (AKA radiology specialist) or internal medicine specialist, respectively. Same holds true for other advanced or invasive tests or treatments. If you’re really uncomfortable raising the issue with your vet, keep in mind that unlike in human medical care, you don’t actually need your vet to refer you to a specialist—you can just pick up the phone.

On the other hand, another common mistake I see is that people don’t go to their regular vet enough—fast enough, that is. It can seem reasonable to wait a while to see if your pet’s decreased appetite, lethargy, or general malaise improves on its own. But it actually takes a lot for your tail-thumping dog or self-contained, stoic cat to show those signs of illness. For those sorts of somewhat vague symptoms, it’s generally fine to wait a day—but if you wait two days with no signs of improvement, you can have a full-blown emergency on your hands. Of course, no fair taking my advice as license to wait around if you just saw your dog lap up antifreeze or your cat’s been munching on dental floss or poisonous lily plants!

The third major error in my book is that people think their vet is all about vaccines. I know you can’t believe a bona fide veterinarian is actually suggesting this, but chances are good that if your pet isn’t a baby, you should skip the shots this year. The reason: Once he’s gone through the full puppy or kitten series of shots and has had annual vaccines for four to five years, his immune system is in good shape. At that point, to get the maximum protection with the fewest possible side effects, current veterinary recommendations are to switch to vaccines every two or three years—depending on your state’s laws on rabies shots (which must be kept up to date). Now, don’t interpret this to mean you get to kiss your vet goodbye between-times. A middle-aged or geriatric pet still needs an annual physical exam, which should include routine blood work to check how well her kidneys and liver are working, and to look at her electrolytes and red and white blood cell counts. Abnormalities in these levels can be warning signs of disease, so those tests can help you detect a problem sooner rather than later. But if your vet pushes for yearly vaccines, know that you can decline them. That’s right, folks—just say you’re electing not to vaccinate this year, according to the latest recommendations, and would rather have just an annual exam.

When in doubt, demand the best care for your pet. Felix’s owner did, and it ended up saving Felix’s life. After all, with the improvement in the overall quality of veterinary care and increase in veterinary specialists available, we want our pets to live as long as we humans do! It’s one thing to be needle- and doctor-phobic yourself… just don’t make the same mistakes with your pet!

Have any cluster-((()*()* by a veterinary specialist? Let me know!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

Biography:
Dr. Justine Lee is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet: Everything you ever wanted to know about your four-legged friend and It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It: Everything you ever wanted to know about your furry feline

Three mistakes people make at the vet

2010-05-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

I’d hate to toot my own horn, but veterinarians topped the 1999 Gallop poll for most trusted professions in America, beaten only by nurses and pharmacists. We even came before medical doctors, kindergarten teachers, clergy, and judges. When it comes to our pets, Americans puts a lot of trust into their veterinarians, and we appreciate that.

That said, sometimes people make mistakes when they take Fluffy or Fido to the vet. As a board-certified veterinary emergency specialist, I want you to be the best advocate for your four-legged family member and for yourself. Based on my own MD appointments, I realize that the whopping ten minutes of time you get with the doctor can fly by or be overwhelmingly stressful. All the questions that were in your head have, voila, disappeared, and you’re kicking yourself for not remembering to ask that question. Well, when it comes to taking care of our pets, avoid these three mistakes people make at the vet.

First, be a strong advocate for your pet! The first place to start is by simply maintaining a good medical record at home. If you have blood work done at your vet, ask for a copy. Every few years, ask for an updated copy of Fido’s medical record so you have it on hand if you ever have to rush to an emergency veterinarian or decide to up and move. Next, know your rights; in the case that Fido is really sick, you can always self-refer Fido’s case to a board-certified specialist or to another veterinarian if you’re worried about the diagnosis, prognosis, or simply, just want a second opinion. Most people are too embarrassed and don’t want to offend their veterinarian--but when it boils down to Fido’s health, let’s do what’s best for Fido. Lastly, if you have a lot of questions for your vet, do your research (on reputable Internet sites, please!) and bring a list of questions to ask your vet so you make sure all your points are addressed. Keep the list short and to the point: three to five main questions… otherwise, your vet will worry more about you.

Secondly, skip the vaccines this year, but make sure to still have an annual exam. Once your pet has gone through their whole puppy or kitten series, followed by annual vaccines for four to five years, studies have shown that Fluffy’s immune system is well protected! Current veterinary recommendations are to make sure Fluffy has an annual exam, but we’ve moved vaccines to every two to three years, depending on your state’s Rabies law. If you own a middle-aged to geriatric pet, talk to your vet about getting routine blood work (such as a complete blood count or chemistry panel) every year instead of the vaccines.

Thirdly, when something’s wrong, don’t wait to see a vet. Fido and Fluffy can’t tell you where it hurts. I often see people waiting too long before they finally take their pet in to their vet. Signs such as increased thirst or urination, decreased appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, panting excessively, not wanting to move, collapse, pale gums, a racing heart, or generalized malaise are all basic signs that you should bring your pet to a vet right away. For you cat lovers out there, watch your cat’s kitty litter habits. If you notice bigger clumps in the litter box, please don’t wait too long to bring Fluffy in; common diseases like chronic kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, or even hyperthyroidism can be fatal without treatment. Likewise, a lack of urine in the litter box after a day or two could mean your male cat has a bladder obstruction and may need to be rushed to the ER. Most people wait too long, and it’s more expensive to treat when you wait until your pet needs to go to the ER or be admitting into the hospital. Remember, it takes a lot for your generally happy-go-lucky cat or tail-thumping dog to show you signs that he’s sick.

Avoid these three simple mistakes the next time you visit the vet. Since Fluffy and Fido can’t speak up for themselves, we as veterinarians and you as owners have to.

Have any good tips on mistakes that YOU made at your vet and want others to avoid? Let me know!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

References:
Nurses Displace Pharmacists at Top of Expanded Honesty and Ethics Poll (press release, Princeton, NJ: The Gallup Organization, Nov 16, 1999). Available from http://www.colnurse, org/cno/new2/glp111899. html. Accessed 8 May 2000.

Biography:
Dr. Justine Lee is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet: Everything you ever wanted to know about your four-legged friend.

Flea-Proof Your Pets

2010-05-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

How to keep your dog, cat and house free from these oh-so-common pests.

If you have pets, fleas are a fact of life. Nearly half of all dogs and cats become infested with them at some point—despite the over $1 billion Americans spend annually on products to control the pesky critters. Once your pet has them (those that play outdoors are especially susceptible), you’ll find that fleas can rapidly take over your house. They can also cause your animal serious illness, including hair loss, dermatitis, and tapeworms (because they’re hosts to the worms’ eggs). Fleas may even carry bacteria that are contagious to humans. But you can keep fleas at bay—or prevent them in the first place—with these three easy steps:

Prevent an infestation
Save yourself a lot of trouble by using a topical prescription preventative such as Advantix or Frontline Plus every 30 days (but especially during warm-weather months). Both are liquids that are applied between a cat or dog’s shoulder blades and keep infant fleas from developing into full-blown adults. If you have a dog, you can also opt for pills that have the same effect (like Comfortis or Program); they are usually given once a month and may even come combined with heartworm medication (like Sentinel). These products are safe. They are also more effective than OTC home and lawn sprays, flea collars, bug bombs, shampoos, and dips, which are potentially toxic to you and your pet when used inappropriately or inproperly.

Spot them—and destroy them—fast
Sometimes an infestation occurs despite your best efforts, so if you notice early symptoms (such as your pet’s excessive scratching or small, itchy flea bites on you, the owner!), here’s what to look for: The pesky critters are the size of the tip of a pencil, so if you separate your animal’s hair to look for them, they’re visible to the naked eye. They most commonly hide on or around your pet’s lower back, tail, belly, inner thighs, and neck. A flea comb, which has fine teeth, will snag both the bugs and flea dirt: small, black specks of dried blood that turn red when you sprinkle them on a wet paper towel.

Get rid of them for good
If you find evidence of an infestation, move to a vet-recommended topical product that will rid your pet of adult fleas once and for all. Unfortunately, the fleas have to bite your pet for the pesticides to take effect—but it’s the easiest, safest, and most effective way of eliminating them. Your pet gets relief in 5 minutes and could be flea-free in as little as 12 hours.

Get rid of fleas hopping around your home by vacuuming frequently to suck up adults and eggs lying on the carpet, furniture, and pet beds. Throw away the vacuum bag away immediately, or fleas will crawl back out, re-infesting your house.

Parasitically yours,

Dr. Justine Lee

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.

3 diseases your pets can spread to you!

2010-05-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

1) Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)
Those bared kitty claws can potentially transmit the bacterium Bartonella henselae into the wound, leading to an infection with symptoms ranging from fever and swollen lymph nodes to abdominal pain. About 40% of cats carry this bug during some stage of their life, though they remain symptom-free. Be extra careful around kittens—they carry the bacteria more than grown cats and tend to scratch more during play.

Prevent it: Keep feline nails neatly trimmed. If you do get scratched, rinse the wound well with soap and water; if you develop an infection at the scratch site, consult your doctor about antibiotics.

2) Larval Migrans (aka worms)
Intestinal worms are found in your dog or cat’s feces—and can be spread to you by direct contact with contaminated soil. Puppies may be born with them, but both pups and kittens can also pick them up during nursing. Touching contaminated feces 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 with sometimes devastating effects: A cough can mean they’ve migrated to the lungs; permanent vision problems—and even blindness—are possible if they end up in the eyes. The brain, lungs, heart, liver, and other organs can also be affected.

Prevent it: Deworm your pet regularly at vet visits. This means starting at 2 or 3 weeks old, for every 2 weeks until 8 or 9 weeks of age, and then monthly until 6 months of age, and then as recommended by your vet. And make hand-washing a priority—especially after any exposure to animal feces. If you think you’ve been infected, your physician can determine the severity of your case and help you choose the right treatment.

3) Fungal Infections (AKA ringworm)
The same type of infection that causes jock itch and athlete’s foot (called dermatophytosis, or more commonly, ringworm) is found in our pets. 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 passed on to humans, you’ll also notice red, raised lesions on your body. As a vet, I’ve gotten a ringworm rash on my neck after my stethoscope touched an infected animal.

Treat it: Use an OTC antifungal cream. Unfortunately, ringworm can’t be prevented. Luckily, though, humans are the wrong host —so it won’t survive for long, and will disappear in a few weeks with regular cream applications.

Get anything gross or bad from your pet? Tell us your story!

Signing off,

Dr. Justine Lee

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.