Posts Tagged ‘pet health’
Trupanion Pet Insurance-How It Works
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Pet insurance infographic created by Trupanion.
MRSA-Is It Time To Panic?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant
“superbug” is receiving consistent media attention, with recent articles discussing whether pets are transmitting the infectious bacteria to people.
Although some healthy people carry MRSA bacteria and never become ill, it can cause serious skin infections, which may develop into potentially fatal organ and bloodstream infections and pneumonia. Click here to continue…
Top 12 Things Every Pet Owner Should Know About Parasites!
As a pet owner, you’ve likely heard about the dangers of parasites. But do you really know everything you should know about the tiny organisms? Have you had an in-depth conversation about them with your veterinarian? Are you doing all you can to prevent parasites in your pets and in your family?
Here are the top 12 things you should know to keep your pet and your family safe from parasites.
- What is a parasite? What are the types of parasites that can affect pets?
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host’s expense. Some parasites that may affect your pet include:- Fleas
- Ticks
- Ear Mites
- Mange Mites
- Coccidia
- Giardia
- Toxoplasmosis
- Heartworms
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Whipworms
Please click here to continue to the full article!
February is “Responsible Pet Owner” Month
February is “Responsible Pet Owner” month and that got us thinking: how
do we view responsible pet ownership? While there isn’t an exact definition for it the America Kennel Club gives each of us a great starting point for how we view pet ownership: “Owning a dog is not just a privilege-it’s a responsibility.”
Whether you own a dog or a cat one thing is for sure, owning that pet comes with great responsibility. Pets are not accessories that can be thrown aside and forgotten. Pets are companions that need love, care and devotion.
With this in mind, consider PetSafe’s 12 Tips for being a responsible pet owner.
- Pick a pet that fits your lifestyle. The decision to become a pet owner should come after extensive research and planning, not as an impulsive purchase. Just because a pet is cute, does not mean it will be the perfect fit for you. For example, if you are unaware that cute kitty you just bought is very high maintenance and you are low maintenance your cat may form behavioral problems. These problems are the number one reason pets are given to shelters or abandoned leading, in a majority of cases, to euthanasia.
Please click here to continue reading…
Canine Parvovirus-What Is It?
Overview
This is one virus you DON’T want your dog to pick up.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a nasty, highly contagious illness, spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with feces. That means that your dog can get CPV from either eating an
infected dog’s poop or simply sniffing an infected dog’s hindquarters! It can be especially hard on puppies who haven’t yet beenvaccinated because their immune systems haven’t yet fully developed.
This is one virus you DON’T want your dog to pick up.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a nasty, highly contagious illness, spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with feces. That means that your dog can get CPV from either eating an
infected dog’s poop or simply sniffing an infected dog’s hindquarters! It can be especially hard on puppies who haven’t yet beenvaccinated because their immune systems haven’t yet fully developed. Please click here to continue to the full article…
Caring for Puppies & Kittens
No two ways about it, puppies and kittens are adorable. It’s easy to be transfixed by the tiny paws, tiny noses, and big
bellies galloping around your home in a riot of excitement. Puppy- and kittenhood, the first six months of life, can be one of the best times in a pet’s life, but it requires some diligence and special care from loving pet owners.
First off, if you’re in the market for a new pet, be sure you allow him enough time with his mother and his littermates to be healthy and well socialized. Young animals should be adopted when they’re ready to be socialized somewhere between 10 and 16 weeks for kittens and seven to 10 weeks for puppies. Once you get them home, and have picked up the litter, collar, leash, pet bed, and everything else you need, you can start to be a wonderful pet parent.
A Trip to the Doctor
The first thing you should do with your new kitten or puppy is make an appointment to see a veterinarian. Young animals, whose immune systems are not yet running at full force, are more vulnerable to parasites like fleas and worms as well as respiratory infections and other conditions. Your veterinarian will record your pet’s weight, perform a physical exam, and possibly do a fecal exam or a blood test, in order to rule out parasites or other potential problems. There are several conditions, such as orthopedic problems, that can be effectively treated if they are caught when animals are young, so seeing a veterinarian early is vital.
It’s also important that your little pet sees the veterinarian because he needs to be immunized. Puppies and kittens are initially immune to many diseases because of the antibodies they receive from their mothers’ milk. After weaning, however, they need to receive a series of vaccines in order to develop immunity on their own. Vaccinations for kittens generally include rabies and a “combination” vaccine for feline distemper and respiratory illness, and can also include feline leukemia, depending on where the pet lives and whether or not he goes outdoors. Puppies receive more vaccines, usually distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, rabies, and sometimes bordetella. If you’ve adopted your puppy or kitten from a humane society or a reputable breeder, he has probably already had his initial vaccinations. He needs to continue to be vaccinated every three to four weeks, however, until he is five or six months old. After this point, you and your veterinarian can discuss how often he will need booster shots. (See Vaccinations.)
Click here to continue reading the full article at HealthyPet.com!
Aspirin Toxicity in Cats
Signs
Cats with aspirin toxicity get sick fast. One of the first signs is a lack of appetite; you may also see vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and fever. There may be red blood in the vomit, or flecks of digested blood that resemble coffee grounds. If you see dark, tarry feces, this is called “melena” and represents digested blood from the small intestine or stomach. Sometimes, the central nervous system is also affected and your cat may have trouble walking, seeming weak or even “drunk.”
Diagnosis/Treatment
If you suspect your cat has ingested aspirin, you should call your veterinarian immediately. They may recommend tests to determine how severe the toxicity is.
These tests may include:
- Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver and pancreatic function as well as sugar levels
- A complete blood count to identify if your cat is anemic and to check her clotting function
- Electrolyte tests to ensure your cat isn’t dehydrated or suffering from an electrolyte imbalance
- A urinalysis to rule out urinary tract abnormalities and evaluate the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine
If it is determined that your pet has aspirin toxicity, your veterinarian will begin treatment immediately to reduce the impact of the toxicity and to provide supportive care. They may recommend hospitalization and monitoring blood tests to ensure your cat becomes stable. Please click here to continue reading the full article at The Pet Health Network!
Stay Prepared For Emergencies With Your Pet
From your friends at HealthyPet.com!
Last month, piercing emergency alarms in my neighborhood woke me up at midnight, warning me of severe thunderstorms and flash floods.
Then, a couple of weeks later, I helped my parents pack up their house as they prepared to evacuate their home in advance of the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs.
The summer’s severe weather across the states of Colorado has left the words “emergency” and “evacuation” emblazoned across my mind. Thinking about it, I had to admit that I wouldn’t really be prepared to take care of myself in an evacuation situation, much less my dog and my cat. However, when precious seconds can matter, it pays to be prepared ahead of time.
Here are some suggestions on being prepared for emergencies, taken from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA):
- Identify shelters and temporary housing ahead of time that accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets – well in advance of needing them.
- Pack a “pet survival” kit: Include pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, food dishes, leashes and a first aid kit.
- Make sure identification tags are always up to date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
- Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness in case your pet panics and tries to escape.
- Keep your pet carriers and evacuation kits in an easily accessible location.
Pets should never be left home alone during an emergency. During Hurricane Floyd, a man leaving his flooded home noticed a neighbor’s dogs swimming in circles around the yard. Swimming over to investigate, the man discovered that the dogs had been left chained to a stake in the yard, and were swimming frantically just to stay alive. Please click here to continue reading this important article.
What is Patellar Luxation?
By Amber, from Trupanion.com
Patellar Luxation is also known as luxating patella and quite a number of different dog breeds are susceptible to this condition. Luxating patella happens when the kneecap (patella) moves around or displaces in and out of place. This can eventually cause lameness and if left untreated the grooves in the bones will break down causing more frequency in pain and ultimately lead to arthritis. Genetics, malformation during development and trauma can contribute to this condition and smaller breeds are more prone to developing it than larger breeds.
Effects of this condition include:
- Sudden yelping when running
- Limping
- Lameness
- Refusal to put weight on leg
Treatment: The most common treatment for Patellar Luxation is surgery. During surgery the femur is reconstructed so that the groove is better fit to hold the kneecap. Another procedure called lateral imbrication can be performed by tying the kneecap down to prevent divergence from the groove. Please click here to check out the full article at Trupanion.com!
Keeping Your Pets Safe in the Summer Heat
by JEN REEDER of HealthyPet.com!
Denver resident Susan Kohut loves hiking Colorado trails with her 3 ½-year-old Great Dane, Floyd. But since he weighs 160 pounds and his black fur attracts heat, she is careful to make sure he avoids overheating.
“I saw him once after a long, long walk. He found a cool spot to lie in and was breathing heavy for about 20 minutes,” Kohut says.
Kohut fed Floyd ice cubes and he soon recovered and was ready for their next excursion. To avoid any future discomfort or danger to Floyd, she takes additional precautions to make sure their hikes are safe as well as fun.
“If it’s going to be a hot summer day, we either go out really early in the day and finish by 10 or 11 at the latest, or we go out late afternoon. And I definitely make him stop frequently to drink water. I carry a liter bottle of water with a sport tip on it and he knows how to drink from that.”
Kohut adds, “It’s great fun to hike with him!”
Summertime is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with pets – and as long as pet owners take precautions to prevent overheating.
“The main reason hot weather is an issue for pets is because they are not able to cool off as efficiently,” says Tom Carpenter, DVM, AAHA President 2007-2008, and President of Newport Harbor Animal Hospital in Costa Mesa, Calif. “They don’t sweat and have to pant to release the heat.”
The main issues that arise from overheating in summer heat are dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn. Symptoms of dehydration include the gums of the mouth feeling tacky to touch and/orthe skin may become slow to return to its natural position when pulled up. According to Dr. Carpenter, dehydration can lead to lethargy as it progresses, and the pet’s eyes may appear to be sunken. In mild to moderate cases, giving your pet small amounts of water to drink over time will help, but in severe cases they’ll need IV fluids administered at your veterinary hospital. To prevent this, it’s important to have clean, fresh water available for your pet at all times, in a container that can’t be tipped over accidentally.
Heat stroke is very serious. Symptoms include extreme panting, salivating, staggering, vomiting and diarrhea. As it becomes fatal, your pet will become comatose and their temperature will range from 104- 110°F.
Please click here to continue reading the rest of the article at AAHA’s HealthyPet.com!
