Even if you don’t think that your cat seems bored, there are a number of good reasons to provide enrichment opportunities for your feline friend.

• Cats who lack enrichment can be aggressive in play, both with people and with other animals in the household.
• Young cats without planned enrichment opportunities often pester their pet parents for play at inappropriate hours of the day and night. They may also interact destructively with furniture, plants or other objects in the house.
• Cats lacking enrichment can become reclusive and are more likely to retreat from new people or objects that enter their homes than cats who are frequently exposed to a variety new sights and sounds.
• Cats lacking regular play may be more attracted to perches by windows. When looking outside, they may overreact to the presence of outdoor cats they can see and become very distressed.

Great Ways to Enrich Your Cat’s Life

Enrichment opportunities can easily be provided for cats. Here are some ideas to try:

• Provide a variety of toys for your cat. Some cats prefer toys that they can throw around themselves. Other cats prefer toys that require owner participation, such as those you wiggle and dangle. Stimulating play for a cat involves opportunities to “hunt,” so move toys in such a way that they mimic the movements of a rodent or bird. Introduce new toys periodically to keep your cat from becoming bored with her toys. Please see our article,Cat Toys, for fun toy recommendations and tips on playing with your cat.
• Provide objects for your cat to explore, such as cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags, packing paper and toys that encourage her to investigate various holes with her paws. A dripping water tap can provide hours of fun! An aquarium with real fish or even a bowl of fake fish that move around can fascinate your cat. Rotate playtime objects frequently so that your cat doesn’t become bored.

Please click here to continue to the full article from the ASPCA‘s website!

Q:  Why does my dog dig? It’s like he’s digging to China!

A: Why do dogs dig holes? Oh, let us count the reasons:

• To regulate their body heat if sufficient shade or warmth isn’t available.
• To hunt . . . oh the mice, moles, beetles, and bugs that live in the ground!
• To hide their treasures . . . bones, toys, and other precious items go into the ground, naturally!
• Boredom . . . they are bored, and digging is fun if you’re a bored, frustrated dog.
• You dig, why can’t they? They learn from their leaders, so if you dig in the garden, they will, too!

Unfortunately, sometimes your dog’s tendencies to dig aren’t compatible with your life, can be disruptive, and so on. So what can you do to manage your dog’s digging?

• First, talk to your veterinarian to rule out any medical reasons for your dog’s digging, including separation anxiety.
• When you catch your dog in action, interrupt his digging with a loud noise or command; if he stops, provide a positive reward, such as an edible treat.
• Make sure your dog has plenty to do and gets lots of exercise. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog.
• If your yard has unwanted pests, identify the best way to control them—or your dog will!

Click here to continue to the full article!

It’s the Leash You Can Do

What’s the best type of leash? “Use whatever you feel most comfortable holding,” recommends the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT.

• Flexi-leads are best reserved for walks in the park, when it’s safe for a dog to explore a bit further away from her pet parent. They are NOT a good idea if you’re walking in an area with high foot traffic or off-leash dogs, as the long line may get wrapped around your dog, a person’s leg or another dog.
• Many people think chain leashes look nice, but they are much heavier than nylon or leather, and they can be very hard on the hands. Even so, they sometimes work well for dogs who like to tug or bite the leash. “Metal doesn’t feel nearly as nice in a dog’s mouth,” explains Collins.
• Leather leashes are a good option because they are easiest on the hands.
• Nylon leashes can cut into hands or give a pet parent “leash burn” if a dog pulls a lot or unexpectedly lunges forward. But they come in many stylish colors and designs, and they hold up well after repeated exposure to rain and snow.

Pull Over, Rover!

Constant pulling on the leash makes walks stressful for both of you. “It’s a common problem that can happen for a number of reasons,” says Collins.

• If your dog darts after local wildlife, it may help to walk him when critters are less likely to be out and about; avoid dawn and dusk. You can also check out our article Dogs Who Are Reactive on Leash.
• If the problem is simply pulling on leash due to natural canine enthusiasm for all the exciting signs and sounds you encounter on walks, you’ll find  help in our article Teaching Your Dog Not to Pull on Leash.

Please click here to continue to the full article brought to you by the ASPCA‘s website!

The company said it was now pulling a total of nine brands of its dry dog food from the shelves. In April, it began the recall by pulling three brands.

The salmonella cases were found in humans who may have had contact with dogs or dog foods prior to their illness.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is still investigating the outbreak, but said cases could be due to a number of causes, including people touching the dog food and then handling their own food; cross-contamination through the use of dishes or utensils that came in contact with the dog food, but were not properly cleaned; or from direct contact with a dog carrying the disease.

The additional brands have been recalled as a precaution and none had tested positive for salmonella, according to a statement issued by the company on Saturday.

The products were distributed in 16 states, mostly along the U.S. East Coast and Canada.

Several other food companies, including WellPet LLC and Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc, have also recalled brands as a precaution.

Diamond first started pulling some brands of dog food produced at a South Carolina plant after salmonella infections were reported from October 8, 2011, to April 22, and five people were hospitalized.  Click here for the full article.

Please click here to go to the recently updated pet food (and other) recall list provided by the FDA.

Many owners are lulled into a false sense of security because they don’t see visible signs of fleas on their pets. They may think that they can afford to forego preventive treatment. However, fleas are good at hiding in your pet’s haircoat and in the environment. Their bodies, sleek and thin, are extremely well adapted for scurrying and disappearing in dense fur, especially near the ears, tail, head, and groin. Unless you are expressly looking for them, you may never actually see them. When infestations are mild or emerging, many owners may think that their pet’s itching or scratching is part of its normal grooming behavior. Cats, in particular, being the fastidious groomers that they are, are very good at grooming fleas off of themselves.  That, however, doesn’t stop new fleas from jumping on them.

Fleas are well adapted to survive a broad range of environmental conditions and are very capable of surviving indoors year-round, even during winter. Keep in mind that the adult fleas you may or may not see on your pet represent only 5% of the flea population. The other 95% are lurking in various immature stages in your pet’s immediate environment — in bedding or carpeting or hiding in hard-to-reach crevices. While flea pupae normally hatch in about two weeks, they can exist in a suspended state for weeks or even months when environmental conditions aren’t just right. This dormancy period means that you may have a continually emerging source of new adult fleas for up to several months, even after you have started treatment. Most topical or oral flea-prevention medications require the adult flea to actually be on the pet or to ingest a blood meal in order for the flea to be killed. And, the environmental sprays that must be used in extreme infestations aren’t always effective against all of the life stages of immature fleas, particularly if pupae have hidden themselves in hard-to-reach places.

In addition, fleas are ubiquitous in the environment, and it is easy for pets to pick them up while outside. Fleas can be carried into your yard and even into your home by local wildlife, such as raccoons and mice.

Be Pound Wise, Not Penny Foolish

These special life-cycle and environmental adaptations can lead many owners to think that flea-prevention products don’t work and aren’t worth the investment, because they may continue to notice new fleas. The reality, however, is that they do work and are highly effective over time when used as directed. The best way to avoid fleas is to use one of the many proven topical or oral monthly flea-prevention products that are available on the market. These products are very safe and easy to use.  Be sure to ask your veterinarian for recommendations on how to prevent and control these pests.

Please click here to continue to the full article at www.healthypet.com.

A Primer on Leptospirosis
by Nancy Kay, DVM

Of all the vaccination questions I receive, the most common one is from folks questioning whether or not to vaccinate their dogs for Leptospirosis. And I am so pleased they are asking- I love when people recognize that simply handing their dog over for “the works” in response to a vaccination reminder card (or these days, perhaps an email reminder) simply doesn’t make sense.

Unlike canine distemper and parvovirus- infectious bad guys that are ubiquitous in the environment and against which all dogs should receive vaccine protection- not all dogs come into contact with Leptospirosis. Exposure is truly dependent on where you and your dog live and his or her extracurricular activities- in medical jargon this is referred to as “biolifestyle”. Leptospirosis organisms are bacteria that thrive in warmer, wetter climates. Wild animals (particularly deer and rodents) and some domesticated animals (cows, sheep, pigs) can be Leptospirosis carriers. Although infected, they manage to maintain good health while shedding Leptospirosis organisms in their urine. Dogs can develop the disease by coming into contact with the infected urine or urine contaminated soil, water, food, or bedding. So, if your dog’s biolifestyle includes roaming on rural property or drinking from creeks, streams, lakes, or rivers the potential for exposure to Leptospirosis is far greater than if your pup is a couch potato and your yard is devoid of trespassing wildlife.

Not all dogs become sick when exposed to Leptospirosis, but for those that do, the results can be devastating. Symptoms associated with kidney failure (lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite) are most common. The liver and lungs are also targets for this disease. Your veterinarian will suspect Leptospirosis based on the history your provide, abnormal kidney and/or liver enzymes on blood testing, and specific blood and/or urine testing for Leptospirosis.

Successful treatment ideally consists of aggressive round the clock intravenous fluids and antibiotics. If the kidneys become so inflamed that urine production diminishes, temporary dialysis may be recommended. Infected dogs should be housed in an isolation ward to protect other hospitalized patients and personnel are advised to wear protective garb (gloves, gown, goggles) as Leptospirosis is considered a zoonotic disease (humans can become infected via contact with infected urine). Yes, such therapy is expensive- far more costly than the price of a vaccination- and in spite of everyone’s best efforts, some dogs do succumb to Leptospirosis.

The Leptospirosis vaccine provides adequate protection for one year and, in theory, the risk of adverse reactions is no different than reported with other vaccinations. However, some vets feel strongly that the Lepto vaccine is more likely to produce transient “post-vaccine blues” than are other vaccinations.

Click here to go to the full article at healthypet.com!

What Causes Compulsive Disorders?

Compulsive behaviors often develop when a sensitive cat is frustrated or stressed. Initially, the cat performs a displacement behavior. She wants to do one thing but she can’t, so she gets frustrated and does something else. For example, when a cat sees another cat outside the window, she might want to attack—but she can’t get out, so she performs a seemingly irrelevant behavior instead, like licking herself. If stressful situations like this happen repeatedly, the cat may continue to engage in the displacement behavior. At first, she’ll do it only in stressful situations, but she may eventually do it even when there’s nothing frustrating going on. At this stage, the behavior has become repetitive and compulsive.

While it’s not been confirmed, some experts believe that kittens who were weaned too early might be susceptible to developing compulsive disorder later in life.

Facts About Compulsive Disorders in Cats

• Cats are usually less than two years of age when they develop compulsive disorders. Kittens may be as young as three to four months old when they start wool sucking, for example.
• Although any cat can develop a compulsive disorder, Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese, are particularly prone to developing them. It’s likely that the breeding practices necessary to create and maintain these purebred cats also concentrate genes associated with compulsive disorders.
• Female cats are more commonly affected with psychogenic alopecia. There is no known sex bias for other compulsive disorders.
• Compulsive disorders occur most often in cats who live exclusively indoors, presumably because indoor cats get less mental stimulation and physical exercise. Indoor cats are also more likely to face stressful situations, like fighting with other cats in the home.
• Significant disruptions in a cat’s life, like moving to a new house, home remodeling, or the addition of a new pet or family member to the household, can cause stress and trigger the development of compulsive behavior.

Please click here to continue to the full article brought to you by the ASPCA!

Overview
As is the case with people, a dog’s health changes with age. Unfortunately, our pets age much faster than we do.

Symptoms
Regardless of your dog’s age, you play a key role in helping her combat illness and remain as healthy as possible. Remember, your dog cannot describe symptoms to you, but she can show you signs of disease. Awareness of the signs of the most common diseases is one way to help reduce your pet’s risk of being affected by them. It’s a little scary to consider that 10% of pets that appear healthy to their owners and their veterinarians during annual checkups have underlying diseases.¹

The top 10 signs that your dog may be ill are:

1. Bad breath or drooling
2. Excessive drinking or urination
3. Appetite change associated with weight loss or gain
4. Change in activity level (e.g., lack of interest in doing things they once did)
5. Stiffness or difficulty in rising or climbing stairs
6. Sleeping more than normal, or other behavior or attitude changes
7. Coughing, sneezing, excessive panting, or labored breathing
8. Dry or itchy skin, sores, lumps, or shaking of the head
9. Frequent digestive upsets or change in bowel movements
10. Dry, red, or cloudy eyes

If your best friend shows symptoms of being ill, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Unfortunately, you may not always recognize that your dog is sick. Often, even the most well-intentioned dog owners attribute the subtle signs of disease to aging.  Please click here to continue reading the full article at The Pet Health Network.

Please e-mail your resume & qualifications to indyvets@indyvets.com or mail a copy to:

Michigan Road Animal Hospital
7720 North Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Attn: CSA

Protect your new friend with the best veterinary care right here at Michigan Road Animal Hospital! Just like children, puppies require vaccinations to build immunity against common diseases.  Go right to our puppy package page by clicking here.  Your puppy will recieve vaccines every 3 – 4 weeks starting at around 6 – 8 weeks of age until he/she is about 14-16 weeks old.  Our Puppy Packages include everything your pup needs to get off to a healthy start including: three wellness visits to their Veterinarian, vaccines, intestinal parasite screenings & dewormings, heartworm & flea preventative for the first three  months, a Home Again® microchip & 1st year’s Enrollment, nutritional counselling,  30 days of Trupanion® pet health insurance, and a puppy consult with our trainer,Catherine Steinke of Sensible K9®.  We also offer discounted spay & neuter surgeries for our puppy package puppies.

Please contact us today for more information, to schedule an appointment or if we can answer any questions!