|
 |
|
|
||
This guest blog is by Mallery Bosworth, ABCDT, Owner/Master Trainer of Happy Paws, AKC CGC Evaluator, an obvious expert in behavior training! She serves the greater Dallas area, check out her website here…
In her blog, Mallery discusses both how and why positive reinforcement training works. As a professional with years of experience, she knows her stuff!
Enjoy and happy holidays!
Unfortunately many pets don’t! Someone knocks on the door every few minutes sending Spot into a flurry of barking to alert you, yet again, that you have visitors. You open the door to a group of little ghosts, goblins, witches and jack-o-lanterns who suddenly shout “TRICK OR TREAT!!” which sends Spot into another flurry of barking as these intruders surely should not be there! Meanwhile, Fluffy has been hiding since the first ghoulish creatures appeared, will not come out for dinner and you’re wondering if Fluffy’s brother, Tomcat, is with her or has slipped out the frequently opening front door.
Halloween can be a very confusing, and yes, scary time for our pets, especially those who are shy or not used to lots of activity. If your dog barks at strangers who come to the door or if your cat is skittish, it’s best to protect them from these stressful events right off the bat. Many pets escape from home on Halloween so the first precaution is to put them in a closed room, preferably one that is furthest away from the front door. Noise phobia can be soothed by having a radio on in the room with your fur kid making sure it’s loud enough to drown out the alien invaders that come for sweets. A favorite toy or blanket tops off the short term distraction created for maximum comfort on All Hallows Eve.
In addition to anxiety and stress, Halloween hazards for pets include food toxins from candy like chocolate and xylitol, opportunities to escape from home and susceptibility to cruel treatment by pranksters if outside. Plan ahead and Halloween can be both fun and safe for you and your fur family. Heck, your pet may even let you dress them up!
Absolutely they do! Diabetes mellitus is not uncommon in dogs and cats. It occurs when the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas are destroyed and the body is no longer able to regulate the essential nutrient glucose (sugar), this results in high levels in the blood and urine. The diagnosis of diabetes generally relies on different testing methods. Since the disease always results in an elevated blood sugar level, some form of measurement of glucose, in both blood and urine, is used.
Diabetes mellitus can strike at any age but typically appears in the middle to senior years (5 and older for dogs, 10 and older for cats.) Symptoms may be hard to notice at first, learn to recognize the signs early and contact your veterinarian as soon as they are noticed:
First Signs Seen with Diabetes Mellitus
Those are the first signs usually seen, your pet may exhibit one or many of them. Keep in mind they are also general signs of many diseases such as kidney failure or urinary problems, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s disease and more. A trip to the vet is the only way to diagnose for sure.
Signs as diabetes progresses:
Treatment of diabetes involves controlling blood sugar with insulin as well as diet and exercise for essential weight control. The type of insulin your veterinarian chooses will be tailored to your pets specific needs to provide optimum regulation of blood sugar. A blood glucose curve will determine the right dose of insulin then curves will be done periodically to monitor your pet’s progress.
Literally hundreds of common plants, both indoors and out, have toxic effects on our pets causing everything from mild gastro-intestinal upset to death. Sometimes dogs and especially cats like to munch on grass and plants for a variety of reasons and sometimes for no reason at all. Try to keep poisonous plants away from your pets’ reach, a list of toxic plants compiled by the ASPCA, the Humane Society and the American Animal Hospital Association (AHAA) can help you determine if you have any poisonous plants around your home or yard.
If you think your pet has been poisoned contact your veterinarian or emergency vet immediately and the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at one of the numbers below:
1-900-443-0000 ($45.00 per case. The charge is billed directly to caller’s phone.)
1-888-426-4435. $45.00 per case, credit card only.)
Follow-up calls can be made for no additional charge by dialing 888-299-2973.
Does your pet eat bizarre things? Some pet owners don’t have to worry about their fur kids eating out of the trash or gobbling up inanimate objects, but others have to keep everything out of reach from their chow hound. When your pet eats table scraps, garbage, or spoiled food, also known as dietary indiscretion, they can develop symptoms similar to food poisoning in humans such as vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and lethargy. Sometimes the symptoms pass on their own with rest and a bland diet. More severe or longer lasting symptoms need veterinary treatment as pancreatitis is a major concern with gastrointestinal illness caused by eating spoiled or high fat foods.
Sometimes inedible household items are eaten and intestinal obstruction is a danger. A foreign object can lodge itself in the intestinal track causing blockage and your pet may require surgery to remove it. Socks, rocks, toys, plastic, wood, metal, jewelry, coins, silver ware, and Christmas ornaments are just some of the items pets have ingested, the list goes on and on. Linear foreign bodies like string, ribbon, yarn, and rubber bands can get caught up and stretch or tear the intestines. Cats often play with and eat stringy items so keep them out of reach of your feline family. Go to your vet if your pet is lethargic, has a painful abdomen, is vomiting, having difficulty defecating or has any other signs of illness. X-rays often reveal the offending object. Some of the most amazing things I’ve seen while working for veterinarians are x-rays of foreign objects in the intestines of pets. You can never predict what a pet will eat, take a look at the x-rays here, I bet you will be amazed too!
Who hasn’t been tempted to throw their pet a table scrap now and then? I mean, look at that face! How can you resist those puppy dog eyes or that kitty cat purr? Unfortunately our pets can’t decide what is good or bad to eat so we have to do it for them. Below are some people foods that are toxic to pets and should be avoided.
Many pet owners know that chocolate is toxic and keep it out of reach. Sometimes the sweet temptation is too hard to resist and ends up being consumed despite our efforts to prevent it. When this happens a trip to the vet is almost always necessary. The level of toxicity depends on the size of the pet, how much and the type of chocolate ingested (dark, milk, unsweetened bakers…) Different types contain different levels of Theobromine, the toxic chemical in chocolate. Contact or go to your veterinarian as soon as you find your pet has eaten chocolate no matter how much or what type. I always tell pet owners who are unsure if they should make a trip to the vet “Better safe than sorry!”
Although once thought to be an urban legend, grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. Many pet owners have used them for treats or snacks but the toxin, which is not known at this time, can potentially cause kidney failure. Some dogs may be more sensitive than others so the amount consumed can be a handful of raisins (more concentrated) or a pound of grapes. Some dogs will seek them out so keep them out of reach of your hungry hound!
The toxin in Macadamia nuts is also not known and, like grapes and raisins, the sensitivity of the pet to the toxin and the amount of nuts causing toxicity may vary. Signs to look for are weakness and inability to walk, especially in the hind legs, vomiting, staggering gait, depression, tremors and elevated body temperature.
Xylitol, a common artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum and mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, and oral-care products, can be fatal if ingested. In addition to causing a sudden sharp decrease in blood glucose, liver failure can occur within 12 to 24 hours of ingestion. Increasing use of the sweetener in our diets has of course increased the number of xylitol poisonings according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Seek veterinary attention right away if your pet consumes xylitol.
When in doubt, don’t feed it to your pet. We love to spoil them but when it comes to treats, pet appropriate ones help keep our fur kids happy AND healthy. As I always say, better safe than sorry!
Summer time means lots of outdoor fun and just like you, your pets need protection from the heat and sun. Pets can’t wear sunscreen of course and they don’t sweat through their skin like we do. Dogs regulate their body heat primarily by panting, as well as through the pads of their feet and their nose. If they are unable to expel heat quickly enough, they can suffer a heat stroke. Recognizing the following signs of heat stroke and can enable you to act quickly and help prevent an avoidable disaster:
If the dog continues to overheat, breathing efforts become slowed or absent, and finally, seizures or coma can occur. ASPCA experts say taking simple precautions will help prevent your pet from overheating. Make sure they have access to plenty of fresh water and shade while outside. Keep them indoors when it’s too hot and limit exercise in extreme summer temperatures. You should never leave any pet unattended in a car at any time. According to the Humane Society of the United States, on a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die. If you see an animal in distress in a parked car, contact the nearest animal shelter or police. You can also spread the word about the dangers of pets in hot cars by downloading fliers and posters at MyDogIsCool.com to distribute in your community.
Growing up in Texas I endured many a hot summer and have some of the best memories of time spent with my family and pets back then. Practice warm weather safety so you can have tons on fun in the sun with your pets too!
Happy Summer and stay cool!
The obesity epidemic in America has unfortunately passed on to our pets. According to Karen Becker, DVM, between 30 to 40 percent of U.S. pets are too heavy, and 25 percent are obese. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has created a list of ideal pet weight ranges based on breed as well as guidelines for caloric intake. Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM offers 7 ways to tell of your pet is fat. Your veterinarian can also help you determine if your furry loved one is obese and may prescribe a weight reducing diet. Exercise is a beneficial part of a weight loss plan, walking your dog every other day or so will help you get in shape as well. Cat toys that allow kitty to jump and run are a good source of activity. Some cats will play fetch, and some will even walk outside on a leash!
For more information on pet obesity, Patty Khuly, DVM discusses giving your pet the gift of proper weight.
The Invisible Fence Company is on a mission to equip every fire/rescue truck in the US and Canada with pet oxygen masks through Project Breathe. According to industry web sites and sources, an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires. To date, Project Breathe has donated more than 3,000 kits to fire stations throughout the US and Canada. They’ve set up a donation program and are asking for your help, please donate if you can!
A similar project, the Wag’N O2 Fur Life Program, has provided over 1,550 pet oxygen mask kits to over 660 departments in North America since 2008. You can sponsor a department on this site as well. All over the US and Canada there are thousands of rescue vehicles that are still not equipped with kits. April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month, what better way to honor the safety of our pets than to donate pet oxygen mask kits?
Have a safe and happy Spring!
Last year Americans spent $45.5 billion on their pets for food, vet care, accessories and other products. That’s billion with a “B” folks! Veterinary care can be one of the largest of those pet expenses and the holiday presents many dangers for our furkids. If an accident happens while your regular vet is closed, your only choice is an emergency clinic adding to an already expensive situation. Taking precautions to protect your pets over the holidays will help prevent expensive disasters and spare you a lot of stress and worry. These top five holiday dangers can be easily avoided so you and your pet can enjoy a wonderful season:
Holiday tinsel and ornaments
Holiday lighting and candles
Gift wrap ribbon
Food hazards
Toxic holiday plants
Dietary indiscretion is prevalent this time of year. According to the Pet Poison Help Line, the top 5 most common holiday calls in 2009 all had to do with pets eating something that didn’t agree with them:
Chocolate
Poinsettias
Raisins/grapes
Mistletoe and other holiday plants
Duraflame logs
Another way to reduce stress over Christmas is to maintain the normal schedule as much as possible. Pets are creatures of habit and changes to their daily routine can create anxiety (we furless creatures are often the same way!) Also, spending extra one-on-one time each day goes a long way and is beneficial to both you and your furry friend!
Have a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!!
