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Hi Everyone,

Hope you're gearing up for a great summer.  I know I'm excited. But, although I can't wait for the sun and surf of summer, I would like to backtrack a little to last month.  Yes, May.  May was actually cancer awareness month in the companion animal world.   But after visiting several hospitals, I became sadly aware that virtually no one had recognized the occasion.  So, I recommend you talk to your vet about cancer signs, tests, and treatment options.  There are truly some amazing new treatments out there and new medications and protocols are developing everyday.

For instance, many veterinary oncologist now have radiation therapy for compassionate or curative treatment. And while chemotherapy has been around for a long time, new drugs for specific neoplasms, such as Palladia for mast cell tumors, are paving the way for safer and more efficient treatments. (Check out http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2009/06/03/palladia-new-anti-cancer-drug-for-dogs.htm for a brief synopsis of Palladia).

Currently, veterinary oncology is geared mainly toward compassionate care.  This means that, in most cases, pets administered chemotherapy or radiation in a manner that will provide notably improved comfort, but may not totally cure the cancer.  It is a common belief that taking an animal to the brink of death, as is often done in humans-resulting in severe side effects; is not appropriate. This belief is held due to animals' shorter life expectancy and their inability to understand the underlying reasons for such treatment. For these reasons, most patients are kept quite comfortable throughout their treatment protocols. Dependent upon the type of cancer and the individual response to therapy, survival times may range from a few months to a multiple years.

So, some basic facts you should know:
1. while cancer is most common in cats and dogs over 5 years old, it can potentially strike at any time.  For instance, lymphoma has a binodal distribution - this means that while most pets that get lymphoma are geriatric, there is a significant number of young dogs, usually around age 2 years, that are also struck by lymphoma. Therefore, if your pets are young you can feel more comfortable that they will not have cancer, but realize it is not an impossibility.  
2. If your pet is sick, your vet may recommend basic bloodwork, urinalysis and radiographs.  This is entirely appropriate and may show significant abnormalities.  These tests, however are not the end-all.  Most cancer does not automatically show up on bloodwork.  Rather, these are the first step to recognizing small hints that may lead to an accurate diagnosis.  Do not be surprised if your vet has to run several more test based on these initial results.  Follow-up tests may include, but are not limited to, ultrasound, cytology, biopsy, CT, MRI, etc.
3. Before you do every test in the book, discuss the pros and cons of each with your vet.  Also be sure you communicate clearly with your pet's doctor.  Listen to their opinion on the possible treatments and let them know how far you intend to go.  Many people simply are not comfortable with radiation therapy; so why would they put their pet through anesthesia and MRI to delineate the size of a mass?
4. If you do opt to do chemotherapy or radiation therapy, realize it is often intense.  Radiation therapy requires multiple anesthetic episodes and chemotherapy requires frequent blood monitoring. It usually requires a significant investment of time, money and emotion.
5. Finally, if possible, consult a board certified veterinary oncologist.  They are the most knowledgeable about cancer treatment.  Many general practitioners do administer chemotherapy drugs.  I have seen GP's do wonderful work when an oncologist was not an option. They consulted oncologists and practiced studied protocols and appropriate monitoring.  But, unfortunately, I have also seen the rare GP that makes up his own protocols and/or does not properly monitor bloodwork or other parameters.  Often, their patients end up with severe systemic infections. Sadly, many die. If you're going to treat cancer, make sure it is being handled responsibly.

Well, I hope this helps.  Maybe next year, if enough people make requests, my travels will reveal many hospitals doing cancer wellness checkups, including blood, radiographs +/- abdominal ultrasound.

As always, stay happy and healthy,

Nira

P.S. Have questions or comments? Please send to me at iPetHelp@yahoo.com

Hey all,

My dog needed a new bed and some flea control and since Petsmart is giving myself and all my visitors free shipping on flea control, I ordered from them.  Glad they had everything I needed.  Check it out at the link below:                                                    



$5 Off & Free Shipping on Advantage and K9 Advantix Flea & Tick Products at PetSmart!


More info coming soon.  May you and your 4-legged loved ones enjoy the spring.

All the best,



Nira

Hi everyone,

Just getting the word out for all those wonderful service dogs and their owners/handlers.  I posted this on Twitter last week, but figured some of you may not have seen it.

The 3rd annual National Service Dog Eye Exam Event happens this May, but registration is from April1st through May 15th. Merial and the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) are sponsoring appointments with more than 150 board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists throughout the US and Canada.  So register your service dog today at acvoeyeexam.org


Many thanks to all our wonderful service dogs and cats.

Nira

Hey all.  Here is our final article for Poison Prevention Week from Pet Poison Helpline; and it's just in time for Spring. So enjoy the warm weather, beautiful plants and this article.  And as always health and happiness to you and your pets.

Best wishes,


Nira

 

Spring Time Toxins Newsletter
Tips from Pet Poison Helpline to Help Keep Your Pet Safe!
By Erica Cargill, CVT and Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC


Spring is just around the corner! Plant bulbs are just as excited to break through the ground to add some color to our yards, as we are to see some greenery! That said, we need to be aware of the potential dangers spring plants can be for our pets. Here is a list of some of the most common spring plants and their toxicities… so you know how to pet-proof your garden and keep your pet safe!

Tulips and Hyacinth    

Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), so make sure your dog is not digging up the bulbs in the garden. When the plant parts or bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can result in tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus. Typical signs include profuse drooling, vomiting, or even diarrhea, depending on the amount consumed. There is no specific antidote, but with supportive care from the veterinarian (including rinsing the mouth, anti-vomiting medication, and possibly subcutaneous fluids), animals do quite well. With large ingestions of the bulb, more severe symptoms such as an increase in heart rate and changes in respiration can be seen, and should be treated by a veterinarian. These more severe signs are seen in cattle or our overzealous, chowhound Labradors.

Daffodils
These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting). Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary drooling. Daffodil ingestions can result in more severe symptoms so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care.

Lilies

There are dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it is important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus – these result in minor drooling. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies, and these include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as the pollen or 2-3 petals or leaves) can result in severe kidney failure. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more effectively we can treat the poisoning. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney function monitoring tests, and supportive care can grea

Crocus
There are two Crocus plants: one that blooms in the spring (Crocus species) and the other in the autumn (Colchicum autumnale). The spring plants are more common and are part of the Iridaceae family. These ingestions can cause general gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea. These should not be
mistaken for Autumn Crocus, part of the Liliaceae family, which contain colchicine. The Autumn Crocus, also known as Meadow Saffron, is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and respiratory failure. If you are not sure what plant it is, bring your pet to their veterinarian immediately for care. Signs may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days.

Lily of the Valley
The Convallaria majalis plant contains cardiac glycosides, which will cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. Pets with any known exposure to this plant should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.

In addition…Fertilizers
As we gardeners work on our rose garden, be aware of those fertilizers. While most are not very toxic (resulting in minor gastrointestinal irritation when consumed), some fertilizers can be fatal without treatment. Here are a few ingredients to be aware of so you know what toxins and symptoms to watch out for:

• Blood meal – This is dried, ground, and flash-frozen blood and contains 12% nitrogen. While it’s a great organic fertilizer, if ingested, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. More importantly, it can result in severe pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Some types of blood meal are also fortified with iron, resulting in iron toxicity, so make sure to know what is in your bag of blood!
• Bone Meal – This is made up of defatted, dried, and flash-frozen animal bones that are ground to a powder. This “bone” is also what makes it so palatable to your dog so make sure to keep your pet from digging in it and ingesting the soil. While this also makes a great organic fertilizer, it can become a problem when consumed in large amounts as the bone meal forms a large cement-like bowling ball foreign body in the stomach – which can cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract – resulting in possible surgery to remove it!
• Rose and plant fertilizers – Some of these fertilizers contain disulfoton or other types of organophosphates (OP). As little as one teaspoon of 1% disulfoton can kill a 55 lb dog, so be careful! Organophosphates, while less commonly used, can result in severe symptoms [including SLUD signs (which abbreviate for salivation, lacrimation, urination, and defecation), seizures, difficulty breathing, hyperthermia, etc. In some cases, it can be fatal!
• Pesticides/Insecticides – Most pesticides or insecticides (typically those that come in a spray can) are basic irritants to the pet and are usually not a huge concern unless a pet’s symptoms become persistent. Some may contain an organophosphate which can be life threatening when consumed in large quantities. It is always best to speak to a trained medical professional if there are any questions.
• Iron – This is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from ingestion of elemental iron). This is different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a medical professional at Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was toxic or not. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.
  

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on the household toxins (both inside the house and out in the garden!), that way you make sure how to pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all gardening and lawn products in labeled, tightly sealed containers out of your pet’s reach. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

Resources: Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) is an Animal Poison Control that provides treatment advice and recommendations relating to exposures to potential dangerous plants, products, medications, and substances, to veterinarians, veterinary staff and pet owners 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please be aware there is a $35.00/per case consultation fee. Pet Poison Helpline is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Helpline number is 800-213-6680.

For further information regarding services, visit the PPH website at www.petpoisonhelpline.com

        www.petpoisonhelpline.com           8009 34th Ave. S Suite 875 Minneapolis, MN 55425

As promised, here's the next article from Pet Poison Helpline.  Keep those meds out of reach and your pets safe and healthy.  If your pet does get into a toxin you can check out my article "Holiday Emergencies" from Dec. 2009. 

Best Wishes,

Nira

Top 10 Human Medications Poisonous To Pets
Tips from Pet Poison Helpline to Help Keep Your Pet Safe!
By Ahna Brutlag, DVM, Assistant Director of Veterinary Services

Pet owners who are serious about pet-proofing their home should start with their own medicine cabinet. Pet Poison Helpline™ is a 24-hour service available throughout North America for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Nearly half of the calls received by Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications – both over-the-counter and prescription. Whether Fido accidentally chewed into a pill bottle or a well-intentioned pet owner accidently switched medication (giving their pet a human medication), pet poisonings due to medication are common and can be very serious.

Pet Poison Helpline is the only animal poison control with board-certified internal medicine specialists, emergency critical care specialists, and human pharmacologists on staff. With expert staff in both animal and human medicine, Pet Poison Helpline provides a unique advantage since more than 50 percent of all pet poisonings involve human drugs.

Below is a list of the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by pets, along with some tips from the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline on how to prevent pet poisoning from human medications.

1.NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g. Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (e.g. Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2.Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)
When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

3.Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)
While these antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

4.ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)
Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.
www.petpoisonhelpline.com 8009 34th Ave. S Suite 875 Minneapolis, MN 55425

5.Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)
These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.
www.petpoisonhelpline.com 8009 34th Ave. S Suite 875 Minneapolis, MN 55425

6.Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)
Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact (not spayed), are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.

7.ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (or “ACE”) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease. All heart medications should be kept out of reach of pets.

8.Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)
Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike the ACE inhibitor, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.

9.Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)
Pets — especially dogs — get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.

10.Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
These popular medications, often called “statins,” are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

Always keep medications safely out of reach and never administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian. The following are some tips from Dr. Justine Lee and Dr. Ahna Brutlag at Pet Poison Helpline to help prevent pets from getting into over-the-counter or prescription medication:

• Never leave loose pills in a plastic Ziploc® bag – the bags are too easy to chew into. Make sure visiting house guests do the same, keeping their medications high up or out of reach.
• If you place your medication in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your pets. Unfortunately, if they get a hold of it, some pets might consider the pill container a plastic chew toy.
• Never store your medications near your pet’s medications – Pet Poison Helpline frequently receives calls from concerned pet owners who inadvertently give their own medication to their pet.
• Hang your purse up. Inquisitive pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your purse up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication(s).

It is also important to note that while a medication may be safe for children, it may not be safe for animals. Pets metabolize medications very differently from people. Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications may cause serious poisoning in pets. If your pet has ingested a human over-the-counter or prescription medication, please call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline’s 24-hour animal poison control center at 800-213-6680 immediately.

About 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 $35.00 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 www.petpoisonhelpline.com

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Greetings!

We are in the middle of Poison Prevention Week (March 14-20, 2010). If you have pets like mine it is important to know who to call and what to do in an emergency. So if you want to keep you pets safe the first thing to do is poison-proof your house. This means putting away all medications, cleaning materials, air fresheners and, for some clothing, in areas that can be locked or put far out of reach. Luckily, our friends at Pet Poison Helpline have provided a few articles to keep you in the know as to what is toxic and how to keep your friends safe. I'll be posting 3 articles with need to know info over the next few days. So check out Poison Proofing Your Home below; and for more info visit http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

Cheers,

Nira

Poison proof your home - helpful advice form Pet Poison Helpline.
By Ahna Brutlag, DVM
Assistant Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline


National Poison Prevention week is March 14-20, 2010. Pet Poison Helpline wants to remind you that preventing poisonings applies to pets as well as people! Given the curious nature of our pets, poison proofing your home is important. Taking simple steps such as making sure the plants in your home are non-toxic or storing your medications in secure areas will significantly reduce the chance that your pet will come in contact with a toxic substance.
Protect your pet by poison proofing your home, room by room. 

Living room

• Learn about your plants! Some common household plants may be toxic to pets (and not people). For example, lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis spp.) are especially poisonous to cats, so quickly eliminate them from any bouquets. The ingestion of just 1-2 petals can be fatal to a cat. A list of toxic plants can be found at  http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/IsThatPoisonous/poisonous-plants-to-avoid/. Always consult this list before buying new plants for your home.
• Keep home fragrance products, such as simmer pots of liquid potpourri, well out of reach. These products may cause chemical burns if ingested.
• Never spray aerosols or any other heavily fragranced products around caged birds. They are especially sensitive to any airborne products. Do not cook with teflon pans around caged birds. The teflon aerosolizes and becomes toxic.
• Keep ashtrays and smoking cessation products such as nicotine chewing gum or patches out of reach. Even cigarette butts contain enough nicotine to cause poisoning in pets. 
• Be careful with batteries! Dogs enjoy chewing on batteries and battery-containing devices such as remote controls and cell phones. If ingested, they can cause serious chemical burns.
• Hang up your purse! Pets love to dig through purses and backpacks which contain potential pet poisons such as medications, cigarettes or sugar-free gum with xylitol.

Kitchen

• Know what human foods are poisonous to pets. Watch out for raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, unbaked yeast bread dough, fatty foods, and chocolate. More information about human foods that are toxic to pets can be found at http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/IsThatPoisonous/KitchenToxins/
• Keep garbage cans behind closed doors. Trash and compost bins can contain many pet toxins such as cigarette butts, coffee grounds, moldy foods, and chicken bones. 
• Keep alcoholic beverages out of reach. Alcohol causes low blood sugar in many pets.

Bathroom

• Keep medications such as over-the-counter and prescription pills, inhalers, and dietary supplements safely locked up in secure cupboards. Do not leave them on the countertops or tables or store them in plastic zippered baggies, which are easily chewed through.
• Never medicate your pets with human products without first contacting your veterinarian. Some common human medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) are extremely poisonous to pets.
• Always check the container before giving medication to your pet to make sure it's the correct medication. Also, it is best to store your own medications separately from your pet's. Pet Poison Helpline receives many calls from people who accidentally gave their own medications to a pet.
• Keep pets away from cleaning products. Shut them out of the room while spraying bathroom cleansers or other products. Close toilet lids to keep pets from drinking the water, especially if you use automatic chemical tank or bowl treatments.

Utility room

• Keep rodenticides (rat and mouse poison) far away from pets and be mindful of the fact that rodents can transfer the product to locations accessible by pets. Also, certain rodenticides do not have antidotes. If you need to use rodenticides in your home, consult your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline in order to select one that is safest for your pet.
• When using insecticides in your home or on your pets, read the label before using. Never use flea and tick products meant for dogs on your cat as they may cause tremors and seizures.
• Keep glues out of reach. Some glues, such as Gorilla Glue, expand greatly once ingested and require surgical removal. Just one ounce of glue may expand to the size of a basketball! Thus, keep pets out of the room when using glue in a home improvement project.

Garage

• Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) products are extremely toxic and, unfortunately, have a sweet taste that is appealing to pets. Choose propylene glycol-based antifreeze as a safer alternative. If antifreeze is spilled, clean it up immediately or dilute it with several gallons of water.
• Keep all automotive products, such as windshield cleaner fluid or brake fluid, away from pets as they may contain methanol, a toxic alcohol similar to ethylene glycol antifreeze.

Yard and garden

• Dogs like to eat certain fertilizers such as bone meal or blood meal. Keep bags tightly sealed and use products according to label instructions.
• Grub or snail killers-especially those that include metaldehyde-can be harmful to pets. Avoid using them if possible. 
• Yard insecticides that contain organophosphates or carbamates can be very dangerous if ingested in high concentrations.
• Keep pets off lawns until commercially sprayed herbicides are dry.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. PPH 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 $35.00 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in the US and Canada by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

So a twitter friend asked me a couple days ago "Who is in charge of making sure our pet food is safe?" Well that my friends is the FDA.  The Food and Drug Administration is the government organization that monitors pet food products (as well as livestock feed) and their ingredients to ensure safety and quality.  It does get a little tricky as we've seen in the last year with contaminated foods and chicken jerky treats from China. 

The best we can do is try to choose a dependable brand and keep up to date on the latest recalls.  I recommend the websites for the FDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (enter food recalls in the search prompt).  Their links are below:

 

Hi Everyone,

February is DENTAL MONTH! So take a look in Rover and Fluffy’s mouths and don’t get too freaked out when you see the damage.  Tartar build up and gingivitis are very common in companion animals and unless your pet is under a year old there is a good chance they have at least a little.  

While other countries have long ago initiated strong dental care programs for their pets (canine dental care is huge in France), Americans have been slow to realize the need for regular dental exams, cleanings and radiographs for their pets.  But it’s time we realize dental disease is more than just unattractive and smelly.  The bacteria hiding under all that tartar and the secondary gum inflammation is a constant stress on the immune system and may act as a nidus for systemic infection.  Studies suggest that dogs and cats with dental and/or periodontal disease are less able to fight other medical conditions.  For example, some diabetic cats with significant dental disease experience better diabetic control following a full dental cleaning.

So don't let your pets teeth look like this!

Brush their teeth at least three (yes 3) times a week. Foster & Smith has great, and inexpensive, dental cleanser and sponges. Check out DrsFosterSmith.com.  I recommend starting when your pet is young.  That way they can be trained early and more easily for a lifetime of dental health; and they'll have a clean surface on which to start.  Brushing teeth that are already covered with tartar can do little except slow down progression.  Often, periodontal disease will cause pain during brushing. So start early.  If your pet is older, have their teeth professionally cleaned, then slowly begin brushing.

No matter when you do start, remember any home care should be an enjoyable experience for both you and especially your pets.  So start slow.  Take a few days to introduce the materials by simply letting your pet sniff, lick and maybe gently chew the brush and paste.  I usually recommend a small soft brush or sponge.  Once they're use to the items, lift a small portion of their front lip and rub the foremost teeth (AKA incisors).  Over the next couple weeks you should be able to gradually work your way around the entire mouth.  Remember you only have to do the outside surface of the teeth.  Rub the gums with a gentle circular motion and sweep toward the tooth point. Be patient and gentle.  If your pet is head shy or a biter  the process may take longer and require much more positive reinforcement (snacks and praise when they behave). Also, it is usually much easier to initially back them into a corner so they cannot squirm away from you.  For more tips, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has a great DVD called Home Care for Cats.  Go to http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/node/208 for more information.

It's never too early or too late to start practicing good dental care.  Ask your veterinarian if they are having any specials this month for dental cleanings or products and give your loved ones a picture perfect smile.

To pearly whites-

Nira

If you saw my entry from Sept 2009 (first full entry) you're probably looking for a good deal on products.  A great place to check out is 1-800-PetMeds.  For iPetHelp visitors they're offering free shipping. Click on the link below and happy shopping.

1-800-PetMeds

If the link doesn't open you can copy and paste the URL below into your address bar:


You should know that, in general, online pharmacies like 1-800-PetMeds provide quality products at great prices. However, if you purchase through these sites and not a veterinarian you do forfeit the manufacturer's guarantee.  With that being stated, I've done it myself - both my pets and my wallet were grateful.


All the best,

Nira

Hi, I hope the new year finds you happy and healthy.

I am always excited about the new year.  It's a chance to throw out the old ways and begin anew. Like many, I have made a few new year resolutions like saving money and losing a few pounds.  But my new year resolutions also include keeping my pets at a healthy weight; so I contacted Dr. Wakshlag, a board certified veterinary nutritionist, for some advice. 

He recommends seeing your vet to establish the amount of weight needed to be lost and the rate at which it should be removed.  Your vet can identify any underlying factors such as metabolic or joint disease adding to your pet's weight problem and develop a plan for safe weight reduction.  Make sure you bring the nutritional value info from your pet's food as many doctors will calculate ideal body weight and the amount of food that should be fed per day based on the food's caloric value.  It also helps to know the protein, carb and fat percentages. In many cases it may be suggested that you change to a diet or low calorie dog or cat food. 

Cats are particularly difficult because they are finicky and can go on hunger stikes if you don't give them what they want.  A fat cat that doesn't eat sets itself up for life threatening problems, so be very careful when dieting cats.

With that aside, here are a few tips for helping Fluffy slim down at home:
1.Make sure the food is age appropriate.  Kitten and puppy food is highly caloric with high protein and fat values.  Any adult (ages 1-6) dog or cat will easily gain weight on juvenile food. Older animals will often benefit from lower calorie senior diets.
2.Make sure your feeding a reasonable amount.  Use an actual measuring cup! Steal it from your kitchen. Buy a new one for Scruffy. Whatever works. If your feeding canned or dry food measure the amount your giving and compare it with is recommended on the can or bag.  You may be surprised to find you're way over.  If you're already under the label's suggestions, don't increase.  Your pet may not be active enough to burn all those calories.
3.Cut out fattening treats.  At most, dogs and cats should receive not more than 3-4 reasonably sized sized treats a day. If your training, the good news is puppies are generally really active and can burn the extra snacks.  Still discression is advised.  Take a large treat and break it into 4-6 pieces and make your pet work for each treat. Or better yet, trade in fattening treats for healthy, fiber filled alternatives such as chopped carrots.  Cats may be a little more difficult, but affection and a little cat-nip goes a long way.
4.Decrease each meal by a small amount. In general, decreasing meals by about 10% can slowly shed a few pounds.  It's a good place to start the diet trend.
5.Try wet food.  Cup for cup, wet food has less calories than kibble and helps create more gastric fill. And most dogs and cats love it.  So try feeding the same amount in entirely wet food.
6.Diet formulas. If a little change is all that is needed, switching to the low calorie or diet formula of your current food will often do the trick.
7.Bulk it up.  This probably won't work for the cats out there, but if your dog is a chow hound and is never satisfied, consider bulking up his meals.  Add 1/4-1/2 can of green beans for every cup or can of food for a low calorie stomach filler.

Here's to helping our pets win the battle of the bulge.  Til next time,

Nira