Posts in Category: Dogs

Dogs and cats can have either congenital or acquired deafness, and only a Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test can confirm hearing loss unequivocally, writes veterinarian Christie Long. She points out that deaf animals make excellent pets and that deaf dogs can be taught to respond to hand signals.

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Pet Sitters International has sponsored the day since 1999, encouraging employers to allow pets in the workplace for one summer Friday.

The goal is to boost employee morale and promote animal adoption and support for shelters and animal rescue groups.

For information, go to www.takeyourdog.com.

Mr. Eckles came to Sunnycrest Animal Care Center in Fullerton, CA with Charlie his 15 year old Pug and sadly felt he needed to have Charlie put to sleep because he could no longer carry Charlie up the stairs and Charlie could not make it on his own.  We offered to either keep Charlie at the office or find a home for him. It only took a few days for Mary at Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles (www.pugnationla.org) to find Charlie a great home with someone who will bring him to visit his dad once a month.  Charlie got to visit Mr. Eckles on his 95th birthday on his way to his foster home.  Doesn’t get any better than this!  Thanks to everyone who helped find Charlie a wonderful home.

George, a two-year-old Basset Hound in West Yorkshire, England got into a predicament while his owners were gone.

Read about his daily life

Pet owners are asked to be mindful of Easter foods and decor that can pose threats to animals.

Here are several tips:

Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.

Chocolate is toxic for dogs when ingested in large quantities and contains xylitol, which can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure. Also posing a risk are candy wrappers, sticks and plastic eggs.

Human holiday food can cause pets to become ill, including gastrointestinal sickness, pancreatitis and intestinal blockage or injury from eating bones.

Easter basket grass can cause intestinal obstruction in cats and may lead to emergency surgery.

Chicks and rabbits should not be taken on as pets unless their owners are committed to giving them permanent homes and caring for them responsibly.

For more information, visit lmah.net or call 645-2758.

This question comes up every day at veterinary hospitals; how important is the laboratory analysis of a dog or cat’s stool? Years ago, fecal exams were done only on animals with digestive problems, either diarrhea or vomiting. But times have changed and so has our knowledge of disease-causing parasites.

First, there are newer ones that, years ago, never existed in our local environment. Just a few years ago, we rarely saw hookworm or whipworm infections. But as people have moved with their pets from other parts of the country into South County, these “bugs” have emerged as a potential problem. In addition to intestinal worms, protozoa (named giardia) are nearly endemic in many parts of California, causing digestive upset in animals and people. And those pet store over-the-counter medications? Unfortunately, they’re not effective in eliminating many of these parasites.

Veterinarians and medical doctors are keenly aware that some animal parasites can also infect children, causing serious illnesses including blindness and paralysis. It’s a nasty world out there and we can’t just look the other way. So we’re always on the lookout.

I’m sure your vet made the right decision insisting on that fecal exam. Considering your pooch’s weight loss, it makes sense to check into the potential for a parasitic problem. Fecal exams should be done whenever there are signs of indigestion, weight loss or unthriftyness. It’s good medicine for your pooch AND for your family.

From the Animal Endocrine Center Blog