Archive for the ‘Pet Health’ Category

Causes and Types

It is a scary sight to see your beloved canine pal having seizures. There are many reasons that your pup may be having seizures. Some of the causes are:

* Brain Tumor or Head Injury

* Distemper

* Epilepsy

* Environment (toxins)

* ‘hypo and ‘hyper conditions such as gastrointestinal disease, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperkalemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, renal disease, tick bites, and toxoplasmosis

If you witness your dog having seizures, it is crucial that you note all of the details. There are many types of seizures:

* Generalized Seizure: Tonic-Clonic (can be grand mal or mild): In the grand mal seizure, the tonic occurs as the animal falls, loses consciousness and extends his limbs rigidly. Respiration stops. This lasts 10-30 seconds before the clonic phase begins. Clonic movements include paddling of the limbs and/or chewing. In both phases, you may see dialation of the pupils, salivation, urination, and defecation. The mild seizure involves little or no paddling or extension of limbs and usually no loss of consciousness.

* Petit Mal Seizure: Usually described as very rare or unrecognized in animals. Signs are a brief duration of unconsciousness, loss of muscle tone, blank stare and upward rotation of the eyes.

* Partial Seizure: Movements are restricted to one area of the body, such as muscle jerking, movement in one limb, turning the head or bending of the trunk to one side, or facial twitches.

* Complex Partial Seizure: Associated with bizarre or complex behavior such as lip-smacking, biting at invisible flies, chewing, aggression, vocalization, hysterical running, cowering, or hiding. Other signs are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal stress, salivation, blindness, unusual thirst or hunger, and flank biting. Obvious lack of awareness, but no loss of consciousness. Abnormal behavior could last minutes or hours and can be followed by a generalized seizure.

* Cluster Seizure: Multiple seizures within a short period of time with only brief periods of consciousness between.

* Status Epilepticus: Can occur as one continuous seizure, lasting 30 minutes or more, or a series of multiple in a short time with no periods of normal consciousness.

If your dog has a seizure, be sure to pay close attention to the details of the seizure or seizures and get your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

Sources: www.canine-epilepsy.com and www.K9web.com

“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”
–Unknown

This is a fantastic article from www.all-creatures.org

EXCELLENT GUIDELINES to SPOT and PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY!

1. Be aware. Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn’t know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU–that’s why it’s so important to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly–a possible indicator of abuse.

2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms that we see in many of the cases we investigate:

· Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.

· Wounds on the body.

· Patches of missing hair.

· Extremely thin, starving animals.

· Limping.

· An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.

· Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.

· Dogs who have been hit by cars–or are showing any of the signs listed above–and have not been taken to a veterinarian.

· Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.

· Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

 

3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. We’re lucky here at the ASPCA in New York City, because we have Humane Law Enforcement officers who have the power to investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty in the state of New York. But every state and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact your local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren’t sure where to report cruelty, you can search our Humane Law Enforcement directory online or ask your local humane organization.

4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME–and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

6. Know your state’s animal cruelty laws. They vary from state to state, and even from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA’s website and get a wallet-sized printout with outlines of the animal welfare laws in all 50 states.

7. You can fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.  It’s frustrating when I have built a strong case against someone who has been arrested for cruelty to animals and the judge treats it like a simple violation. But with stronger laws, they’ll be more likely to receive tougher penalties. You’ll receive e-mails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws–and you can send them directly from our website.

8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve. But it’s more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered. And I always give my own pets lots of hugs when I get home!

9. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect. I regularly see children in homes where animal abuse has been reported. If a parent isn’t treating the family’s pets right, I tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day, or if they spent some time playing with them. If the animal has been left outside without shelter, I’ll say, ‘You have a nice house, and if you get cold, you can put a coat on. But your dog can’t do that. Don’t you think he’d like a nice warm place to go, too?’ I know of families who watch Animal Precinct together, and I think it can help children realize that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness. You can see these emotions on the faces of the animals on the show.

10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Before I even knew that police for animals existed, I was volunteering at an animal shelter. It’s a great way to make a difference. Some of our ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area with our National Shelter Directory.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -Mahatma Gandhi

Clipping Your Dog’s Nails is Not as Scary as You Think!

It can seem intimating to trim your dog’s nails, but you can save yourself a lot of time and money if you learn to do it on your own.
First, make sure you have proper nail trimmers. You can ask your vet or a pet supply store what they recommend for your particular dog. Some dogs, particularly outdoor dogs, don’t need a nail trim as they shed naturally from the texture of ground they are used to. Breeds such as the dachshund and the Basset hound, need to have shorter nails at all times.

Start from underneath the nail, not the top downward. Be sure to remain on the white area of the toe nail. The pink area has blood vessels (it’s called the quick), and if you cut there, it will bleed. If your pup has black nails, then you can’t see the quick. Just trim a little bit at a time. The dead part is white (you can see this in the middle of the nail as you’re trimming), and as you get toward the quick, the white gets darker. Stop then.
Use quick, easy squeezes on the clippers. If you accidentally trim a little too far and your dog is bleeding, don’t worry. Just apply pressure with a tissue or dip their little toe that’s bleeding in corn starch or flour. If your dog keeps bleeding and it doesn’t seem to be stopping, call your vet.
After you’ve clipped your dogs nails, you can file them down to keep them from being jagged, or you can take them on a nice walk on pavement to file them naturally.
To begin, just clip a little bit at a time every week. You’ll quit being nervous after you and your dog are more comfortable with the process.

“In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.” – Edward Hoagland

While researching this subject, I found that there are MANY toxic dangers out there for your pets. I did my best to collect them all and put them in a readable and organized list. Please let me know if I left anything out and I’ll add it. There is so much, make sure that if you think that your pet has ingested or breathed or touched something that is making them act weird or feel bad, get them to the vet first and ask questions later. You could save their life.

PLANTS

Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (pit)
Arrowhead
Asparagus Fern
Avocado
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Baneberry
Begonia
Bird of Paradise
Black Locust
Black Walnut
Bleeding Heart
Boston Ivy
Caladium
California Poppy
Calla Lily
Carnation
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Cherry (seeds, wilting leaves, and pit)
Chinese Evergreen
Chives
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Corn Plant
Crocus
Croton
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Delphinium
Devil’s Ivy
Dicentra
Dieffenbachia
Donkey Tail
Dumb Cane
Dutchman’s Breeches
Easter Lily
Elderberry
Elephant Ears
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Florida Beauty
Four O’Clock
Foxglove
Foxtail
Fruit Salad Plant
German Ivy
Gladiola
Hemlock
Holly
Honeysuckle
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Iris
Ivy
Jack in the Pulpit
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Kalanchoe
Lamb’s quarter
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords-and-Ladies
Lupine
Marigold (Marsh Marigold)
Marijuana
Mayapple
Mexican Breadfruit
Milkweed
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law plant
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Nephthytis
Nightshade
Oak Tree (buds and acorns)
Oleander
Onion
Peace Lily
Peach (wilting leaves and pits)
Pencil Tree
Philodendron
Pigweed
Poinsettia
Poison Ivy
Poison Hemlock
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Poppy
Potato (all green parts)
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Cactus
Rubber Tree
Sago Palm
Schefflera
Shamrock Plant
Snake Plant
Snow on the Mountain
Sorghum
Star of Bethlehem
Stinging Nettle
Stinkweed
Swiss Cheese Plant
Taro Vine
Toadstools
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (entire plant except ripe fruit)
Umbrella Tree
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wisteria
Yew

FOODS
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados—toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats
Cherry pits
Candy (particularly chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
Garlic
Grapes
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Yeast dough

This information was gathered from several sources.

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb

With storm season upon us and Fourth of July right around the corner, I’m sitting here looking at our dog, Sammie, a German Shepherd and Collie mix, wondering what to try next. She is absolutely terrified of storms and fireworks. I’ve noticed that since adding Jake (our mini-schnauzer and cairn terrier mix) a few years ago and Gizmo (our shih tzu) that Sammie’s fears have gotten a little better. She went from constantly panting and pacing to occasionally lying down either in her crate or on her bed in the living room. The discomfort in her is still very clear, though, as she still has the wide-mouthed pant.

I read something new to me on this subject that I found interesting. When dogs are showing stress during storms and fireworks (or probably any other time), there is a 207% spike in their cortisol levels. Cortisol is a chemical also produced in humans during high levels of stress. The same study also showed that dogs that live with other dogs have a lower level of cortisol in the event of high stress, but there’s a catch. They also found that dogs who already live with other dogs have a higher level of cortisol just from living with another dog. Not really too sure about how that works, but I don’t recommend running out and getting another dog just yet!

There are a lot of different opinions out there about what to do about your pup’s fears. One thing that I have learned is that consoling and petting Sammie while she’s freaking out doesn’t help anything. Infact, it seems to have reinforced her fears. Leaving her be and providing her with plenty of “safe places,” like her crate with a big, soft blanket in it (her favorite hiding spot) and several other dog beds throughout the house has seemed to keep her a little more calm.

If you know that there is a storm coming in the next few hours, give your fearful dog some good, vigorous exercise. Take them for a nice, long walk or jog, or (if your dog has been trained to) put your pup on the treadmill for a nice workout. An exercised body can sometimes wear the mind out, so then they’re too tired to be afraid.

Some people swear by putting a snuggly fitting t-shirt on your dog. I’ve heard that this works from several different people. NEVER leave your dog unattended in any sort of clothing. If he starts to rip at the shirt, remove it. A piece of shirt in the intestines can hurt or kill your dog. Also, I’ve heard that rubbing a dog down with a fabric softner sheet is supposed to help block the static and won’t allow the change in the atmosphere to affect them as much. I don’t recommend this because if your dog licks the chemical, it IS toxic and can cause harm.

There are a lot of different homeopathic remedies to try. I’ve used Rescue Remedy on several dogs in kennels that I’ve worked in. I’ve seen it work on some dogs and have no affect on others. It’s definitely worth looking into. http://www.bachflower.com

I also found a book that I’m going to pick up soon to read. It’s called The Big Bang: How you can help your dog cope with thunderstorms and fireworks and was written by Claudeen E. McAuliffe. If anyone has read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The best thing for Sammie that I have found so far in the event of fireworks and thunderstorms is to be available for her, show leadership and use calm assertive energy, but not to pet her, talk to her in a baby voice, or show her attention while she is in an anxious state.

Remember to take your dog to the vet if the anxiety or fear becomes destructive.

Do you have any tips or opinions on this subject to share? Our cats aren’t affected by storms at all, but I’d like to hear tips on fear of noises in cats as well.

My dog is usually pleased with what I do, because she is not infected with the concept of what I “should” be doing.
- Lonzo Idolswine

I realized one day as one of our 3 cats, Ajax, was weighing down my lap with his 17 lbs, it’s time to get this kitty moving! Once I started trying to get this docile senior off of the chair and down on the floor, I immediately recognized that this is truly a daily task that I have ahead of me, and not an easy one!

I bought a laser pointer and had him really going all over the house like a kitten! When our other two cats jump in, though,  Ajax backs off and returns to his horizontal position. I also put some cat nip in the toe of a panty hose knee high and all 3 of our cats enjoyed that, especially when I tacked it up a little high.

Ajax and I spend some one-on-one time together almost daily; me with toy in hand, and he with a kitten look in his eyes. He is 12 years old and still looking good! Since I started this play time with him, he’s gotten down to 16 pounds. I know one pound doesn’t sound like a lot, and it certainly isn’t enough, but it’s a great start in my opinion!

I’ve also started harnessing and leashing our cats one at a time and giving them some time in the backyard. Comet, Chili and Ajax all three really enjoy this time.

What do you do with your cats to keep them active? Any fun games or favorite toys you can suggest?

When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time with me rather than I with her? – Montaigne