Pet Owner New Year’s Resolutions

by on December 31, 2011 · 4 comments

Pet Owner New Year's Resolutions

Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions pertaining to your pets? It seems a lot of pet owners have. “Halo, Purely for Pets surveyed more than 1,000 pet parents to find out their New Year’s Resolutions.” Courtesy of the amazing Caroline Golon, who helped Halo with the survey, here are the results:

The Biggest Response

What was the biggest response?

Pet parents would like to spend more time with their pets and love them even more than they did in 2011! Now that seems like a very positive resolution to me!

Exercise

88.7% of pet parents plan to help their pets get more exercise. Here’s how:

  • 62.4% – more walks
  • 68.3% – play with them more
  • 30.3% – find a new game to play
  • 2.9% – take a Doga class
  • 1.9% – get into extreme sports
  • 20.2% – go to the dog park more often
  • 15.8% – run my cat up and down stairs

Weight loss

45.9% of pet parents plan to help their pets lose weight in 2012. Here’s how:

  • 44.8% – feed better quality food
  • 35.1% – feed less food
  • 34% – give fewer treats
  • 33% – give more nutritious treats
  • 68.7% – get more exercise
  • 10.9% – plan a program with their vet

I will admit to being biased here but I do wish more people would consider partnering with their veterinarian in planning a weight loss program for their pet. At a minimum, your pet should be examined before starting on such a program.

New tricks

48.1% of pet parents plan to teach their pets new tricks this coming year. New tricks are fun for pets and pet owners alike.

Healthy Eating

69.4% of pet owners plan to feed their pets higher quality food. Always a good idea!

Grooming

86.8% of pet owners plan to groom their pets more regularly. Here’s how:

  • 68.1% will trim nails more regularly
  • 52.7% plan to bathe their pets more regularly
  • 80.3% are going to brush their pets more regularly
  • 35.5% will start giving their pets supplements for their coat and skin
  • 50.1% plan to brush their pet’s teeth more often
  • 33.2% are going to start using natural grooming products

Philanthropy

94.1% of the people surveyed plan to help pets in need. Here’s how:

  • 11.5% – adopt a new pet
  • 11.5% – foster a pet
  • 69.8% – donate to a rescue or shelter
  • 45.5% – play Freekibble.com or Freekibblekat.com
  • 65.6% – continue what I’ve been doing!

This is wonderful! Pet lovers are a truly special group of people.

Other Resolutions

Here are some other resolutions offered by single respondents:

  • Take my pets to the beach
  • Hand make toys and cushions for my pets
  • More rides in the car for my pets
  • Buy a new scratching post for my cat
  • Visit hospitals and retirement homes to make people happy
  • Make sure my pet drinks more water
  • Build new cat tress
  • Train dog to ride to the dog park in his Harley side car
  • Bring my pets with me to more places
  • Open a savings account for vet emergencies

These are all great resolutions. For me, I’d like to spend more time with my cats. They already got lots of new toys for Christmas. Feel free to share your own resolutions by leaving a comment below.

Photo Courtesy of babasteve/Flickr.com

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Switching Your Dog Safely from One NSAID Medication to Another

by on December 28, 2011 · 0 comments

Dogs and NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, commonly known as NSAIDS, are frequently used drugs in veterinary medicine. However, because of the potential risk of side effects with these drugs, it is mandatory that they be used with caution and within proper protocols.

NSAIDs and Pain Relief in Dogs

There are many different types of NSAIDS available today. Many of the newer medications are more specific in their actions than their older counterparts and are therefore somewhat safer. Older examples of NSAIDs include aspirin and phenylbutazone. Newer examples include Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Metacam and others.

Though phenylbutazone is not commonly prescribed for our canine patients now, it was once used pretty regularly before many of the newer safer NSAID products became available. The drug is still available though and is sometimes used to treat horses for pain.

Likewise, I don’t normally recommend aspirin to treat pain for my patients (although there are other uses for it). However, often a pet owner will decide on their own to administer aspirin to their dog as a pain reliever. There are some veterinarians who do still recommend aspirin as well, especially in cases where the pet owner has limited finances and may not be able to afford the safer medications. In these types of cases, you may find yourself in a situation where your dog needs to be switched from one of these older medications to another NSAID.

NSAIDs and “Wash Out” Periods: Switching to a New NSAID Safely

In most cases, when NSAIDs are necessary, only one of them should be given at a time. Two NSAIDs generally are not recommended to be administered to the same dog at the same time. As a result, when it is necessary to switch a dog from one NSAID medication to another, oftentimes a “wash out” period is necessary. The “wash out” period allows the dog’s body to clear the previous drug from its tissues before the new NSAID is administered. This “wash out” period helps reduce the potential for adverse effects from the medications.

But the harder question remains: How long should the “wash out” period be? The answer to this question will vary depending on the drug being administered. If the original NSAID being used is one of the older drugs, such as aspirin or phenylbutazone, the recommended “wash out” period is anywhere between 4 to 14 days. (Source: RIVMA 2011 annual conference lecture presented by Dr. William Tranquilli)

On the other hand, if the previous NSAID being used is one of the newer more selective medications, such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx or Metacam, according to Dr. Tranquilli, there may be no need for a “wash out period”. To be honest, in my practice, I’m not that brave and usually recommend a “wash out” period of at least 24-48 hours before beginning a new NSAID medication. Though it may not be absolutely necessary, I feel safer in doing so. With medications like NSAIDs, I would rather err on the side of caution. However, this is merely my personal preference and other veterinarians may disagree and, like Dr. Tranquilli, feel safe switching medications without a “wash out” period. I certainly cannot fault them if the pet does not experience any ill effects.

What Happens During the “Wash Out” Period?

What do you do for the dog during the “wash out” period to relieve his pain? There are other treatment modalities that can be utilized. Other drugs, such as tramadol, gabapentin or amantidine, can be used during the “wash out” period or other forms of rehabilitative therapy may be pursued instead.

Photo Courtesy of ralph and jenny/Flickr.com

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Cats and Carriers: No Need To Be Foes

by on December 27, 2011 · 1 comment

We all know (or hopefully we do!) that cats, just like dogs, need to visit the veterinarian on a regular basis. In addition, increasing numbers of people are opting to travel with their pets and this sometimes includes traveling with a cat. But before you can safely travel with a cat, whether it be to the veterinarian or on that dream vacation, you need to get your cat used to being in a carrier.

Transporting your cat in a carrier is the safest way of traveling with your cat, no matter how far your trip is going to take you. This video provided by the CATalyst Council will walk you through the process of acclimating your cat to a carrier.

In the video, you’ll learn:

  • how to choose the right carrier. I love the fact that the video mentions choosing a carrier from which your cat can be easily removed. I’ve found, in my practice, that being able to take the top off a cat carrier is far less stressful for any cat that will not willing exit the carrier on his own.
  • the best place to train your cat to enter the carrier. Simply setting the carrier on the floor and hoping your cat goes in may not be the best option. You’ll learn how to choose an appropriate location as well as how to coax your cat to go in the carrier willingly.
  • how to make your carrier “cat-friendly”. There are lots of good tips here that will help you convince your cat that his carrier is a good place to be.
  • how to help your cat learn to ride in the car. I’m very happy that the video demonstrates the proper way to secure the carrier inside the car. There’s nothing more scary for a cat than a carrier that is sliding around the car while the car is in motion. You’ll also learn why it’s not a good idea to simply put your cat in the car and go.
  • how to help a cat that is fearful of the carrier. This is particularly important information because many cats are naturally suspicious of a carrier. Some cats may have had bad experiences that led them to be frightened of the carrier as well. These fears can be overcome with a bit of patience and some practice.

If you’re a cat owner, I strongly urge you to take ten minutes of your time to watch this video right now. You won’t regret it and your cat will thank you for it too.

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Lyme Disease: Should You Treat Your Healthy Lyme Positive Dog with Antibiotics?

by on December 26, 2011 · 4 comments

Lyme Disease, Dogs and Antibiotics

In certain parts of the United States, this is a scenario that happens relatively often. Your dog has a routine test performed for Lyme disease which comes back positive. But your dog is not ill and is showing absolutely no sign of disease.

In my part of the country, roughly 50% of the dogs that are tested come back with a positive test result for Lyme disease. Now, the question becomes: What should you do? Should you treat your dog with antibiotics even though he is not sick?

In all honesty, this is a complicated question and not all veterinarians and other experts agree on which answer is right. One of the things that complicates matters is the fact that approximately 95% of these dogs that test positive will never get sick with Lyme disease. However, we have no way to identify which dogs make up that 5% that may become symptomatic.

The Argument For Treating All Lyme Disease Positive Dogs with Antibiotics

Some veterinarians recommend treating all dogs that test positive for Lyme disease with antibiotics, usually doxycycline. These veterinarians argue that doxycycline is a safe antibiotic associated with minimal risk of side effects. In their minds, the risk of the dog developing Lyme disease is higher than the risk of treating with the antibiotic.

The Argument Against Treating All Lyme Disease Positive Dogs with Antibiotics

There are other veterinarians that advise against treating an apparently healthy Lyme positive dog with antibiotics. There are many different reasons for this recommendation:

  • Approximately 95% of these dogs will never get sick from Lyme disease anyway.
  • We have no definitive proof that administering antibiotics actually decreases the dog’s chance of developing disease. In many cases, the antibiotics do not completely clear the Lyme disease organism from a dog’s body.
  • Though the risks associated with administering doxycycline are minimal, they are not non-existent.
  • There is also the risk of antibiotic resistance developing due to the misuse of antibiotics. This poses a risk to the entire population.

What Should You Do for Your Lyme Positive Dog?

I’ll offer my opinion. Your veterinarian may agree or disagree. I won’t criticize your veterinarian if she feels differently than I do but this is what makes sense to me.

I don’t typically recommend treating otherwise healthy dogs that test positive for Lyme disease. I can’t justify in my own mind using an antibiotic to treat what amounts to little more than a blue dot on a test strip. However, I do recommend monitoring your Lyme positive dog closely for signs of Lyme disease.

Part of the monitoring should be periodic blood screens to monitor kidney function. I also advise testing of urine, particularly looking for evidence of protein in the urine. Also known as proteinuria, protein in the urine may be the first sign of kidney disease in Lyme positive dogs.

If your dog begins to show signs of kidney disease, as evidenced by changes in blood or urine tests, or if other symptoms of Lyme disease (lameness, fever, etc.) occur, then I would advise treatment with doxycycline.

Though we don’t completely understand why kidney disease occurs in some dogs with Lyme disease, this is generally a serious presentation of Lyme disease for a dog and is more difficult to treat than lameness and some of the other symptoms that may occur as a result of Lyme disease.

Photo Courtesy of Lulu Hoeller/Flickr.com

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Happy Holidays from Pet Health Care Gazette

by on December 25, 2011 · 4 comments

Merry Christmas

For those of you who celebrate the Christmas holiday, I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a happy holiday season.

Photo Courtesy of AuntNett/Flickr.com

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Avoid Winter Hazards for Your Pet

by on December 24, 2011 · 0 comments

Winter weather poses special threats for your pet that are not present during other times of the year. Hazards such as exposure to cold weather, antifreeze poisoning and other such dangers can cause injury and pain for our pets, and sometimes even death. The video above provides tips for keeping your pet safe in winter offered by the AVMA. It’s worth a few moments of your time to watch the video and be prepared.

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Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

by on December 23, 2011 · 0 comments

With the holiday season here, many of you are likely planning on traveling with your pets within the next few days. So, I thought this would be a good time to offer these pet travel tips supplied by the AVMA. Being well prepared for a trip with your dog or cat can help some of the stress out of holiday travel.

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Another Chance to Win Money for Yourself and Your Favorite Animal Charity

by on December 22, 2011 · 0 comments

Do you have a favorite animal charity that could use a donation this holiday season? Could you use a few extra dollars yourself? Well, here’s your chance to win both.

My animal charity of choice is the PetFinder.com Foundation. But you can choose your own. If you win, you’ll win over $100 dollars for yourself and over $200 for the animal charity of your choice.

Enter by using the widget below. Simply login and click the green button next to each entry. Follow and then click “Done”. The more entries you choose, the more chances you have to win. Good luck.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you haven’t entered the Facebook or Twitter portions of the contest yet, there’s still time. You can earn more entries in the contest and more chances to win!

For those that are interested, here are the blogs that are participating in the Social Media for Social Good campaign. They are all excellent and I highly recommend checking out each of them.

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Rudolph and the Rest of Santa’s Reindeer Are Ready to Fly, Says Santa’s Veterinarian

by on December 21, 2011 · 0 comments

It’s official! Santa’s veterinarian traveled to the North Pole to examine all the reindeer that will need to pull Santa’s sleigh. The reindeer have a very important task ahead of them, one that carries a lot of responsibility. If they’re unable to complete the trip, there will be a lot of disappointed children all around the world. So, it’s essential that they be healthy and in tip top shape before the big night. To make sure, they’re examined thoroughly every year and that examination just took place.

The verdict: Santa’s reindeer, including Rudolph, are ready to fly. You can watch the video above to see the veterinarian doing the exam and hear her talk about what each reindeer is examined for.

Good news for all of you who have been nice this year. Not so good for those that have been naughty. But I know all of my readers have been nice because they’re some of the most wonderful people in the world! Happy holidays everyone!

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Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Cat Litter Review

by on December 20, 2011 · 0 comments

Cat's Pride Fresh & Light Scoopable Cat Litter

The marketing for Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light cat litter claims that the litter is 25% lighter than other cat litters. I have to admit that made this product an immediate draw for me. Carrying around those heavy boxes and containers of cat litter gets old after a while. And with six cats, you better believe we go through a LOT of cat litter.

But the lighter weight wasn’t all that I liked about this product either. I received a 15 pound sample of Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light multi-cat scoopable cat litter to try. I’m happy to say that it works very well for us.

I notice no odor when I use the Cat’s Pride product, which is important to me. In a house with six cats, odors can build up pretty quickly and become overpowering and unpleasant. So, effective odor control is definitely a plus.

I also liked the fact the litter clumped quickly. I use automatic litter boxes in my home. With six cats, having the cleaning of litter boxes automated makes it much easier to handle litter box duties and keep my cats going back to the boxes. But, with the automatic litter boxes, if the cat litter has not clumped by the time the rake moves through the cat litter, it can make a mess. Fortunately, the Cat’s Pride litter clumps quickly enough that the rake effectively removes the entire clump of urine.

The other thing that I really like about the Cat’s Pride litter is the packaging. The plastic container has a screw-off lid that is easily removed and replaced. I find this type of packaging so much easier to use than the cardboard containers that often tear the wrong way when I’m trying to open them. For me, it is a pleasure to be able to remove the lid, pour the litter into the box, then replace the lid and store the container until I need it again.

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product in return for the consideration of a review. However, I received no other financial compensation for writing this review and the review represents my honest and unbiased opinion of the product.

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