Maureen Berry commutes from Roslindale to work in South Boston with Nicholas,
her 13-year-old Yorkshire terrier, in his stroller.
Pet trusts protect animals if they outlive their owners
According to the 2012 AVMA pet ownership survey, there are some 164 million cats and dogs in homes across the U.S., and attorneys Elizabeth Carrie and Robert Kass recommend that pet owners plan for the possibility that they may no longer be able to care for their animals. Naming a caregiver, providing detailed pet care instructions and dedicating money specifically to the pet’s care are all important parts of the plan, according to Kass and Carrie. Bundling all the essentials into a specific, separate trust is the best way to ensure the plan will be implemented in the manner the owner intends, they said. Fox Business
If you’re a parent, odds are you’ve thought about the unthinkable: Who will raise your children if something happens to you? Who do you trust to love and care for them the way you would? How do you provide the money needed and ensure that it will be used properly?
These concerns also come into play if you become disabled, even temporarily. Who can you depend on to step in until you recover?
Now consider this: there are three times as many households in the U.S. that have pets than have children- 57%, according to the American Veterinary Medicine Association’s 2012 survey
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Compared to the 28 million children living in this country, Americans own more than 164 million cats and dogs. Adding birds to the mix brings the total to nearly 181 million pets (not to mention horses, small animals, fish, etc.).
For many of us, our pets are our “children.” And, if you want to know they will be properly cared for in the event you can no longer do this yourself, Detroit attorneys Robert Kass and Elizabeth Carrie stress that you need to take some basic steps to ensure your wishes will be carried out.
Kass cites the case of a woman who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Although her body wasn’t recovered for months, it took five days for co-workers and neighbors to realize she was not just away on a trip, but actually missing. During that time her cats were without food, water, and of course, their primary human companion. “When the authorities finally went into her apartment, the cats were crazed,” he says.
If no one steps forward to take in an animal that, for whatever reason, can no longer be cared for by its owner, it is routinely taken to a shelter and put up for adoption. That’s traumatic enough. Unfortunately, unless it is a “no-kill” shelter, if it isn’t adopted within a certain period of time, an animal that was once your beloved pet, will be euthanized.
As Kass and Carrie point out in their book, Who Will Care when You’re Not There?, the biggest mistake a pet owner makes is assuming she or he will outlive her cat, dog, rabbit, African Grey. If you truly care about your pet, that’s a pretty big risk. Depending upon your age and health, the life expectancies of many species- parrots, for instance- make it very likely your pet will outlive you.
Another potential disaster is assuming that your cousin (Fast) Eddie- who always got along great with Fido on Thanksgiving visits- will: 1) know how to care for him (favorite toy, food allergies, medications, afraid of thunder, etc.) and 2) be willing to do so, even when Fido grows old and arthritic
While Eddie may, in fact, be an animal lover (he’s always been fond of the horses- the Kentucky Derby and Belmont kind), there have been sporadic family rumors about money problems. If you leave a bequest to cover the cost of Fido’s care, are you certain Eddie will use it for this purpose?
In the event Eddie surprises the family and ends up being a flawless replacement for you, what if he, himself, is incapacitated, hospitalized, or dies? Naming a successor caregiver is essential, say Kass and Carrie.
There are various avenues you can take to provide for the care of your furry and feathered “kids” if you become incapacitated. You can start with a Power of Attorney, which, unlike a typical POA (which generally covers financial assets) gives another individual the legal power to make decisions about your animal’s care. This includes everything from moving it into their own home, to giving them discretion to take it to the vet, and so forth. If the individual isn’t familiar with the pet, it’s a good idea to attach an instruction sheet listing the veterinarian and grooming names, the preferred type of food and any other important notes about the pet to help it assimilate to a new home.
However, to be on the safe side, Kass and Carrie recommend creating a free-standing trust, separate from the trust that deals with your material possessions and human children. You can fund it with an amount of money that you feel will cover the care of your pet(s) for the remainder of their lifetimes, leaving anything that remains to, perhaps, a pet-affiliated charity. They recommend using attachments to the trust since these can be easily amended as your pets and the care they need change.
Ideally, you want to have an attorney with experience in pet planning and the laws of your state draw up the documents. “If you can’t afford to do this,” says Carrie, “legalzoom.net offers pet trusts online for less than $100.” This document won’t be as customized, but it’s far better than nothing.
Consider everything you pet gives you- unconditionally and daily. Don’t you want to be sure it will receive the care it needs if and when you’re not able to provide it?
Ms. Buckner is a Retirement and Financial Planning Specialist and an instructor in Franklin Templeton Investments’ global Academy. The views expressed in this article are only those of Ms. Buckner or the individual commentator identified therein, and are not necessarily the views of Franklin Templeton Investments, which has not reviewed, and is not responsible for, the content.
Pets can have high blood pressure, too
Hypertension occurs in humans and pets, but the causes are different in each species, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus. Humans with hypertension may have a genetic predisposition to the problem or lifestyle habits that increase their risk, such as smoking and obesity. Dogs and cats develop hypertension from health conditions, most often kidney disease, but also from other ailments, according to Dr. Hohenhaus. Eye problems, strokes and heart enlargement are potential consequences of hypertension in pets, and treatment is similar to that in humans, Dr. Hohenhaus explains. WebMD/Tales from the Pet Clinic blog
When you visit the doctor, before the physician comes into an examination room, a nurse measures your weight, temperature and blood pressure. When your pet goes to the veterinarian, the nurse comes in to take his weight and temperature, but not blood pressure. Does this mean blood pressure is not important in dogs and cats?
Blood pressure measurement is important in our pets, but in a different way than in humans. As many as one-in-four Americans suffers from high blood pressure and most may not even know it. Hypertension, aptly named the silent killer, causes heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Smoking, drinking, and obesity increase our risk of developing hypertension. Some of us are prone to developing hypertension even without smoking, drinking, or eating too much due to a predisposition in our genetic profile. Pets become hypertensive from completely different medical conditions.
Pets have different risks
Genetics is the first point where we and our pets differ with regard to hypertension. Inherited hypertension is extremely rare in dogs and cats, and because dogs and cats do not drink alcohol or use tobacco, these are not risk factors either. Obesity causes serious medical problems in pets, but not hypertension.
What causes pet hypertension?
The number one cause of hypertension in pets is one form or other of kidney disease. The normal kidney plays a critical role in controlling blood pressure. A diseased kidney can no longer perform well as a blood pressure regulator. Since we see more kidney disease in cats, we see more hypertension in cats, but I have a nice Wirehair Fox Terrier patient who has hypertension as a consequence of kidney disease. Hyperthyroidism, exclusively a feline disease, is another cause of hypertension. Finally, some rare tumors of the adrenal gland can cause hypertension, and I have seen only a small handful of pets with this type of hypertension.
Consequences of pet hypertension
Untreated hypertension causes serious problems in pets: strokes, heart enlargement and damage to the eye, causing blindness. Controlling hypertension decreases the risk of these disorders.
Treatment is the same for everyone
If you have hypertension, your doctor has recommended lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and losing weight. You will be prescribed drugs to decrease blood pressure and you may even be asked to monitor your blood pressure at home since some patients get nervous at the doctor’s office and suffer from “white coat” hypertension.
If your pet has hypertension, your veterinarian will recommend lifestyle changes such as a special kidney-friendly food. A common drug used to treat pets with hypertension is amlodipine, a drug also used in people with hypertension. Other treatments will be needed to manage kidney disease or an overactive thyroid gland. Finally, your veterinarian may ask you to monitor your pet’s blood pressure at home since pets also get white coat hypertension. The procedure is not very difficult and The Animal Medical Center has blood pressure monitors to lend pet owners for home monitoring. If your pet has hypertension, ask if home monitoring is necessary.
Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool for veterinarians
When an animal is ill, veterinarians use physical exam results, blood tests, X-rays, and sometimes an ultrasound, writes veterinarian Lawrence Gerson. Ultrasounds are painless and noninvasive and only require the fur over the area of interest to be shaved. Dr. Gerson relates one case in which an ultrasound of a jaundiced cat revealed gallstones as the culprit, a condition that is uncommon in dogs and cats.
By Lawrence Gerson, V.M.D.
When presented with an ill animal, veterinarians will start with a history of the problem and will perform a comprehensive physical exam. If the diagnosis is not obvious, we usually rely on diagnostic testing that may include urinalysis, a fecal exam, or blood tests for a complete blood count and a blood chemistry and a thyroid test. X-rays may also be needed.
Occasionally, additional imaging such as an ultrasound is performed. An ultrasound exam is a noninvasive test that can show the details of body systems with great accuracy. Not only can we see the size and shape of the organs but also the inner structure of most of the abdominal and cardiac structures
Amarillo, a 9-year old gray tabby cat had been losing her appetite over several weeks. Her gastrointestinal tract was upset, and she had not eaten for two days before seeing the veterinarian.
By that time, she had lost a significant 10 percent of her body weight. The veterinarian noticed that her eyes were yellow-tinged, indicating jaundice.
“A yellow kitty is a very sick kitty,” the veterinarian said.
Getting an accurate diagnosis of liver malfunction can be a difficult and expensive process. A blood test confirmed that the liver was not working well as the bilirubin level was high. Because her thyroid level was normal, that eliminated thyroid disease as the cause of jaundice.
She was not anemic, which is another cause of jaundice because of the breakdown of red blood cells.
Palpation of the abdomen did not reveal any obvious tumors or other abnormalities, but she was a bit tender about having her abdomen examined.
The veterinarian recommended an abdominal ultrasound. Commonly, humans have diagnostic ultrasounds of their kidneys, liver, gallbladder or urinary bladder. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves (higher than can be heard by human or even dogs) to look at the organs and tissues of the abdomen and into the chest of animals.
Ultrasound is painless and only requires a shaved stomach and some gel to get a good image. Some veterinarians will ultrasound pets in their offices, while others use the services of a specialist with many years of additional training and experience to view the internal organs.
Amarillo had gallstones. Although not unusual in humans, gallstones are very uncommon in cats and dogs. Additionally, she had stones in her bile duct, causing a blockage of bile flow.
She eventually had surgery to flush out and re-route her gallbladder, and she was back to her adventurous self in two weeks.
Pittsburgh is fortunate to have numerous specialists who can consult with local veterinarians on difficult cases. Some of these specialists will visit area veterinary hospitals to provide additional expertise.
Additional care is also provided at specialty hospitals, giving veterinarians and pets many options and hope for those complicated cases.
Lawrence Gerson is a veterinarian and founder of the Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic. This column was co-written by Nathaniel Myers of Pittsburgh Veterinary Internal Medicine. The biweekly column is intended to educate pet owners. Consultation with a veterinarian is necessary to diagnose and treat individual pets. If you have a question you’d like addressed in Pet Points, email petpoints@post-gazette.com. Please include your name and municipality or neighborhood. First Published September 15, 2012 12:00 am
Pet strollers keep older animals on the go
U.S. pets are living longer than ever before, and with age often comes back, hip or knee problems. Owners are increasingly purchasing pet strollers to improve their pets’ mobility. AVMA statistics indicate that between 1987 and 2011, the percentage of dogs in the U.S. over 6 years old increased from 42% to 48% while the share of older cats increased from 29% to 50%. The Boston Globe
Strollers for dogs: The latest in pet pampering
Strollers offer one way for people to get around with pets that are inform, elderly — or just a little lazy
Really, it should be no big deal. After all, we already live in such a pet-centric world that the sight of a dog wearing Ralph Lauren, or checking into a five-star hotel, or dining on organic, locally sourced food, barely causes a stir. And yet, even in 2012, a dog riding in a stroller seems one pamper too far.
“Sometimes people make snide remarks,” said Soderstrom, 28, an executive assistant who also designs and markets her own line of jewely. Or they point and laugh, and hint that 5-year-old Louis is a “diva.”
Let the public mock. The white dog with the big pink ears has long struggled with a bad back and hips, but he got around OK until a few months ago when he injured a knee, making the two-block walk to the park impossible. “But I wanted to keep him happy,” Soderstrom said.
She carried him back and forth for a while, but that was exhausting. Enter a $130 dog stroller from eBay. “Louis loves it,” she said. “He stands right next to it waiting to be picked up and put in.”
It’s probably too early to declare pets-in-strollers a full-blown trend, at least in Boston. (In certain neighborhoods in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and southern Florida, the unusual dogs are reportedly the ones who are walking.) But the warning signs are building:
Two Pekingese pups were spotted recently in a stroller in the Prudential Center. A Yorkie was seen riding in the South End, where a cat was also observed taking a drive. In Cambridge, a long-haired dachshund was parked in a stroller in front of a Star Market. Reports of stroller dogs enjoying Castle Island and the Gloucester waterfront have also come in.
At the pet-friendly Boston Harbor Hotel, canine guests have begun arriving in strollers, particularly in the winter, the better to protect their paws from ice-melting salt. “It’s a nice easy way for them to get around,” said concierge Rob Fournier. (A stroller even helped one guest sneak a pooch into the hotel’s Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, a jaunt that lasted until a staffer noticed that the body in the stroller was a tad furry.)
And a dog stroller made the iconic September issue of Vogue magazine. “Two days before my dog Rose died, I put her in the stroller and pushed her down the sidewalk,” the best-selling author Ann Patchett wrote. “When my friend Norma bought Rose a dog stroller the summer before, I hadn’t wanted it, but feelings of idiocy were quick to give way to Rose’s obvious pleasure.”
The stroller movement is the natural outgrowth of several other pet-related story lines, including an increase in spending on pet health care, a growing population of elderly pets, and an increasing belief that our pets are not our animals, but rather our children.
In 2001, US pet owners spent $7.1 billion on pet health care, a number that jumped to $13.41 billion in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association. Along with that spending has come an increase in the percentage of senior pets who, having benefited from life-prolonging therapies, need help getting around.
In 1987, forty-two percent of dogs were 6 years old or older, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In 2011, that number had risen to 48 percent. The percentage of senior cats is growing at an even faster rate. In 1987, 29 percent of cats were 6 years old or older. By 2011, 50 percent of cats were “of a certain age.”
But strollers aren’t just for infirm or elderly pets. Some are for perfectly mobile pets who are more child than pooch. Because dogs can be zipped securely into their strollers, the carriages allow pets to accompany owners on an entire day’s worth of activities.
“We like to include our dogs in what we do,” said stroller-user Debby Vogel, the owner of three Chihuahuas, a 14-year-old with mobility issues, and two 9-year-olds who know a good thing when they see it. “The girl is lazy,” Vogel, the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s volunteer services manager, said of one of her younger dogs, “and the boy is nervous when people loom over him. In crowds he gets freaked out.”
Time was when dogs like that would have stayed at home, but that time is not 2012. In fact, Vogel and her husband, a muscular mixed martial arts fighter confident enough to push a dog stroller, are so eager to bring their dogs along that they have assembled a stroller wardrobe, one for off-road, one for in-town. “Our son is in college and [the dogs] are the second kids,” Vogel said, laughing.
The stroller trend started to build about five or six years ago, said Tierra Bonaldi, a “pet lifestylist” with the American Pet Products Association, and it’s moved from strictly small-dog doll-style strollers to joggers strong enough to hold a 150-pound dog, and manly enough for even macho men to be seen with.
On the Uncommondog.com website, The DoggyRide Lightweight Jogger-Stroller will run an owner $359.10, and is built on a light aluminum-alloy frame. On Amazon, the PetZip Happy Trailer jogger goes for $265, and comes in a jaunty red or a nice blue, and a Pet Gear Expedition stroller goes for $197. Pricey? Perhaps, but as one reviewer noted, the gear is not solely for the benefit of the pets. “The stroller was the perfect answer to the problem of our dogs tiring out before we did,” N. Brabec wrote, “and it has allowed us to take even longer walks.”
In South Boston, a pink stroller emblazoned with paw prints allows Maureen Berry, an assistant manager at the Fenway Bark dog hotel, to commute from Roslindale with one or two of her three dogs. The trip involves the Silver Line, the Red Line, and the Orange line, and wouldn’t be doable without wheels.
“What do you think, bud?” Berry asked on a recent afternoon as she and Nicholas, her 13-year-old Yorkie, left work. The 18-pound pooch, youthful but with mobility problems, sat upright in his carriage, the wind of Boston Harbor ruffling his tan and black fur, his adorable black nose sniffing like mad. Berry scratched his head and smiled as the pair made their way home, together.
Beth Teitell can be reached at bteitell@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @bethteitell.
Tips to maintain a healthy horse
Horses are excellent companions, but they have special needs that require an emotional and financial commitment, according to veterinarian Tricia Pugh, who shares 10 tips for protecting equine health. An enriching and safe environment, proper nutrition and adequate exercise, along with regular veterinary care, are important aspects of maintaining a horse’s health, writes Dr. Pugh. The Press-News (Minerva, Ohio)
Tricia M. Pugh, DVM, who provides veterinary services in Louisville, Ohio and has provided “top 10 hints to keep your horse happy and healthy.
Dr. Pugh says, “Owning a horse can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience that most of us have dreamed about since we were young. We either grew up with horses or finally fulfilled that lifelong dream of being a horse owner. Like any investment, both economical and emotional, we want to protect it as much as possible. This involves following general guidelines to help assure your horse is happy and healthy!
“The guidelines are as follows:
1. Environment: A healthy environment is very important to your horse. Providing your horse shelter with a stall, run-in shed, or thick group of trees allows them the opportunity to protect themselves from severe weather elements, such as intense hot sunshine or cold freezing rain. Dry footing, such as grass, dirt, rubber mats, saw dust, or straw ,provides good footing and a healthy environment for their hooves.
2. Wellness Physical Exams: Physical examinations performed by a veterinarian are the cornerstone of any health care program. Even if the horse is not experiencing any problems, baseline information can be vital when determining if there are subtle changes. This data can be critical for diagnosing diseases that are just beginning or are intermittent and sometimes can be difficult to detect by owners who see the horse on a daily basis.
3. Human Interaction and Handling: Routine handling of your horse is essential to their physical and mental health. Human interaction with your horse prepares it for a relationship with other humans and releases the tension when it comes time for the veterinarian to examine your horse for routine physical examinations or emergency situations.
4. Exercise: Just as Mother Nature designed the horse to eat on a nearly constant basis, she also built the horse for lots of constant movement. For horses housed in stalls, it is important that daily exercise is available. Adequate exercise leads to muscle development and gives the horse an outlet for energy to be released.
5. Hoof Care: Regular trimming and/or shoeing by a qualified farrier are the keys to good hoof care. Horses have different rates of hoof growth, so the frequency between trimmings varies from horse to horse. Generally the time range is four to eight weeks for hoof trimming. Daily hoof care consists of picking out the hooves and monitoring for any signs of disease such as cracks or thrush.
6. VCPR: Through a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship, your veterinarian is able to examine your horse and make recommendations related to specific disease prevention and health management needs. This is a value-added benefit for you as a horse owner and your horse. In the absence of a VCPR, you may be relying on advice from catalogs, feeds stores, internet blogs, or other sources who may not be familiar with the specific medical condition of your horse. Your veterinarian is an expert and is the most capable person to consult on the appropriate health care. The important relationship that your veterinarian has with you and your horse allows them to diagnose subtle changes in your horse’s physical condition. If left undiagnosed, these subtle changes, may progress to more serious problems, which could be difficult and costly to treat successfully. Preventative measures are generally more economical than paying for treatment for conditions that could have been prevented. Choose a veterinarian before you find yourself in an emergency situation. A veterinarian already familiar with your horse can be a huge plus during an emergency.
7. Nutrition: The equine digestive system is designed to constantly process large quantities of fibrous foods. Hay or grass is crucial to provide roughage for the horse’s digestive system. Grain may also be supplemented to provide additional energy if needed. Minerals should be provided via mineral blocks, loose mineral, or mixed in commercially available complete grain concentrates. Plenty of fresh water is crucial to your horse’s health as well. Consult your veterinarian or equine nutritionist for more specific individualized feeding recommendations for your horse.
8. Parasite Control: Parasites have been and continue to be a problem for horses. When left untreated, these pesky worm parasites can cause everything from weight loss to a poor hair coat and can even lead to colic. Many dewormers have now become resistant to the worms in the pasture. With the help of your veterinarian, you can analyze your horse’s unique parasite risk profile to create an individualized deworming plan that fits their needs. The start of this program begins with a fecal egg count analysis to determine what level of parasitism exists in your horse before you administer the treatment.
9. Vaccinations: Properly administered vaccinations are simply the safest, easiest, and most economical tools available to help prevent infectious diseases. Illness can take an enormous toll on you horse’s well-being and performance, and may even jeopardize its life. Vaccinating your horse at the right time, well before exposure to viral and bacterial disease, is extremely important. The core vaccinations that are recommended are Equine Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, West Nile Virus, tetanus and rabies. Some of the risk-based vaccines including Strangles and Potomac Horse Fever should be considered if the horses are exposed to new horses frequently or high risk environments.
10. Dental Care: Teeth are a unique concern to horses. An oral examination should be an essential part of the annual wellness examination. Their teeth continue to grow unless worn down by opposing teeth. The horse’s top row of teeth naturally sit wider than the bottom so floating needs to be done to eliminate the points that develop. Occlusal equilibration (floating) refers to the routine maintenance of a horse’s mouth. This includes smoothing enamel points, correcting malocclusion (faulty meeting of the upper and lower teeth), balancing the dental arcades, and correcting other dental problems that can interfere with your horse’s ability to chew and subsequently digest his food. Your equine veterinarian will check for abnormalities in the mouth such as oral infections, masses, gum disease, tooth abscesses, etc., that can also affect the overall health and performance of the horse. Without treatment, dental and oral issues can lead to more serious conditions like gastrointestinal disturbances such as choke and colic. Your equine veterinarian has the knowledge to understand and treat a dental condition that may affect your horse’s overall health.
At her practice, Dr. Pugh offers veterinary services for all patients large and small, with the focus being on large animals. She primarily cares for horses with a focus on equine dentistry, alpacas and llamas, goats and a few beef cows, sheep and pigsAppointments can be made for an ambulatory farm call or for the haul-in clinic. There is also a haul-in large animal clinic which offers a clean facility, safe handling equipment such as horse stocks and a full working cattle runway and chute, a temperature-regulated setting, a comfortable waiting area, grass and dry lots for animals, a convenient location and a very large parking area for trailer maneuvering.Dr. Pugh was born into an active animal loving and raising family in Stark County. Dr. Trish (as she is often called) showed cattle, sheep and hogs in both 4-H and open shows and trail-rode horses during her childhood. She attended The Ohio State University, where she completed her bachelor of agricultural science degree in animal sciences. For her, it was an essential and logical step to obtain a veterinary education as a Buckeye at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Foods that can poison pets
Veterinarian Tanya Karlecke explains that some staple foods are dangerous and potentially deadly for pets, including raisins and grapes, chocolate and even raw bread dough. Xylitol, a component of many household items such as sugar-free candies and human toothpaste, can also harm pets, writes Dr. Karlecke, who points out the importance of seeking immediate veterinary advice for pets that may have ingested a poisonous substance. The Record (Hackensack, N.J.)
There are several food items that are toxic to pets and should be avoided at all costs:
* Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature).
* Grapes and raisins can result in acute kidney failure, which may be fatal even with prompt medical treatment.
* Onions and onion powder can cause damage to red blood cells, which can lead to anemia in dogs and cats.
* There are several sugar-free products and candies that contain xylitol (a sugar-free substitute), which can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar. At high doses, xylitol toxicity can also result in acute liver failure. Xylitol is found in many products, one of which is human toothpaste. It is very important to always brush your dog or cat’s teeth using only pet toothpaste.
* Chocolate ingestion can lead to hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination and lethargy. At high enough doses, although rare, chocolate toxicity can be fatal.
* Raw bread dough made with yeast can be hazardous. Upon ingestion, the dough is activated by the animal’s body heat, which causes it to rise in the stomach. During this process, alcohol is produced, leading to signs of abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, depression and ataxia (lack of coordination).
If your pet has ingested any of these items, it is imperative that you speak to a veterinary professional to determine what type of treatment is warranted, if any. If your veterinarian is unavailable or unfamiliar with a particular toxin, he/she will refer you to the animal poison control hotline (888-426-4435). A veterinary toxicologist will gather additional information from you (e.g., amount of toxin ingestion, the body weight of your pet, information on current clinical signs), and will advise as to what the next best course of action is.
Time is of the essence with any type of toxin ingestion, so it’s important to call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
— Tanya Karlecke, DVM
Identifying, treating and preventing heatstroke in pets
Amid the heat of summer, veterinarian Kathy Gagliardi reminds owners that heatstroke can be prevented by ensuring proper shade and cool water for all pets. If signs of heatstroke such as breathing problems, lethargy and vomiting occur, owners should start cooling measures and bring the pet to a veterinarian from immediate care, writes Dr. Gagliardi. Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.)
As we rush toward the comfort of air conditioning during hot weather, we should not forget our pets and their sensitivity to heat — not only for their comfort, but for their health. Heat stroke is a very serious and often fatal disease that occurs when an animal’s cooling mechanisms cannot keep up and their body temperature elevates beyond 105-106 degrees. Cells and proteins in the body are sensitive to excess heat. When they are damaged, they can lead to conditions that include kidney failure, brain damage, heart arrhythmias, liver failure, muscle damage, systemic inflammation and excessive blood clotting.
Since animals do not sweat (except to a minor degree through their foot pads), they do not tolerate high environmental temperatures as well as humans do. Dogs depend upon panting to exchange warm air for cool air. When the air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by panting is not an efficient process. Cats differ from dogs in that cats that are open mouth breathing or panting are showing signs of serious stress and need immediate veterinary care. With a cat, panting is never a sign of the animal just trying to cool down.
Common situations that can set the stage for heat stroke in animals include:
Being left in a car in hot weather, even with cracked windows and in the shade
Exercising strenuously in hot, humid weather
Suffering from a heart or lung disease that interferes with efficient breathing
Suffering from a high fever or seizures
Being confined on concrete or asphalt surfaces
Being confined without shade and fresh water in hot weather
Having a history of heat stroke
Overweight animals, long-haired breeds, brachycephalic breeds (short faced dogs or cats) and older animals are at increased risk of heat stroke.
Signs: Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting or trouble breathing, bright red gums, lethargy, behavior changes, muscle tremors, bruising, decreased urination, bloody stools, vomiting and unconsciousness.
Treatment: Emergency measures to cool the animal must begin at once. Move the dog out of the source of heat, preferably into an air-conditioned place and call your veterinarian immediately. Successful treatment for most heat stroke animals requires intensive emergency care at a veterinary clinic. Most affected animals will require inpatient hospitalization and intensive care for at least 24 hours, until their temperature and clinical signs are stabilized. Common nursing care protocols that can be done on your way to the veterinary clinic include spraying the animal with cool water; using convection cooling with fans or cooling pads, and using evaporative cooling with rubbing alcohol on the foot pads. Animals should not be immersed in ice or ice-cold water. Cooling a hyperthermic animal too quickly can cause its blood vessels to constrict (peripheral vasoconstriction), which will make it harder for their body to cool down.
Prevention: Some ways to help protect your pet on hot days include limiting exercise during the hottest part of the day, exercising in the cool early morning hours, providing shade and fresh clean water at all times, and NEVER leaving an animal in a car when it is 60 degrees or more outside, even if only for a few minutes.
Early recognition and treatment of heat stroke can mean the difference between life and death. So if you think your animal is suffering from heat stroke call your veterinarian.
How To Keep Dog’s Ears Healthy
DR. DARA JOHNS / Daily News columnist (Florida’s Emerald Coast)
I am often asked by pet owners if they need to be cleaning their dog’s ears. If a dog has normal healthy ears, no cleaning is necessary. But if there are signs of ear infection, yes, the ears would benefit from a good cleaning with the appropriate materials.
Signs of ear infections include shaking the head frequently and scratching at the ears with the back leg. One might also notice a strange smell coming from the ears. The ear canal can be very red and inflamed. Excessive wax sometimes accumulates in the ear. This wax could be purulent from infection or thick and black.
When cleaning the ears, one source of cleaner is your veterinarian’s office. These cleaners are usually gentle and do not cause undue discomfort. I say undue, because some discomfort is unavoidable. Even healthy ears do not like having fluid put in the ear canal. The discomfort is minimized by buffering the solution’s pH.
Ear cleansers generally have a salicylic or acetic acid base to help break down the wax and aid in killing yeast. I like the ones that have a good smell, because it helps to destroy the odor emanating from the ear canal. Ear cleaners do not have antibiotics in them. They are made to be used frequently and as needed. If antibiotics were used in this fashion it would compound our problems with antibiotic resistance.
One mistake I have seen is the use of antibiotic ointment as if it were a cleaner. Owners put antibiotic drops in the ears once a week or when they see a flare-up. These medicines were not made to be used this way. Ear washes are to be used on a daily or weekly basis to prevent infections. Antibiotics are for treating a severe infection. Occasionally a chronic severe case will warrant ongoing antibiotic therapy, but these are few and far between.
What can be used at home for washing out the ears? A good natural wash consists of one part white distilled vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol. Combine these two ingredients and soak a cotton ball in the mixture. Wipe out the ear, rubbing the cotton ball so that the alcohol-vinegar mix trickles down into the ear canal.
The vinegar will kill yeast, and the alcohol will kill bacteria as well as dry out the ear. The biggest problem with this cleaner is that the alcohol burns irritated skin. A gentler version would be one part white distilled vinegar to one part water. It helps treat yeast infections, and it is gentler.
If you find that the ear canal continues to build up with wax even though you are cleaning out the ear or you see the signs of infection worsening, it is time to make an appointment with your veterinarian. He can look at cytology and discover the source of the infection so that a medical treatment can be prescribed.
Read more: https://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/clean-49357-pet-ears.html#ixzz1uE0Sdbon
Help Your Senior Pet Live His Golden Years in Style
You and your furbaby have enjoyed ten glorious years together. You’ve watched her grow from a frisky little pup learning to potty train to learning to sit on command after snagging more than a handful of treats. Sure you’ve had your moments like when she ran away and you spent three hours combing your neighborhood only to find her patiently waiting at your doorstep. She’s been a constant companion in your life and the one who dutifully sat by your side when you were laid up in bed with the flu. But lately, she seems to be slowing down and napping for increasingly longer periods of time.Of course at 10 years old, with each dog year being equal to about seven human years, your furbaby is the ripe old age of 70 and you want to make sure she lives out the remaining time she has left in the most joyous way. Dr. Ernie Ward, author of Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter – A Vet’s Plan to Save Their Lives (2010 HCI) and owner, chief-of-staff at Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, North Carolina, recommends that pet parents be mindful of a host of potential health issues their senior pet’s caretaker.
“While we may still view our eight-year old Lab as our “puppy” the reality is she is undergoing many of the same physical changes of a 50-year old person,” says Dr. Ward.”Simple changes in nutrition and lifestyle can make a huge difference in preventing age-related diseases and preserving quality of life.”
The definition of a senior pet
Historically, any pet over age seven is considered a senior pet, says Dr. Ward. In strict physiological terms, giant breed dogs over age five should be considered senior and toy breeds and cats over age nine are viewed as senior pets. The differences in ages are due to the rate of physiological changes in certain breeds; giant breeds age faster.
Senior pets need specialized diets
As dogs and cats age so do their nutrient requirements and ability to digest certain foods, notes Dr. Ward. If your pet is over seven years old, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian about switching to a diet specially-formulated for older pets.
“Senior pets need less fat and carbohydrates and more highly digestible proteins,” says Dr. Ward. “For example, older cats actually require higher amounts of protein because studies show their ability to digest proteins deteriorates as they age. In general, older pets need fewer calories because they’re less active and begin to lose muscle mass.”
Diet and supplements
Dr. Ward recommends that pet parents give their senior pet low or no-grain, higher protein diets for older cats and highly digestible, low-fat diets for dogs. And since nutritional gaps and cellular damage can accelerate as pets age due to genetics, pollutants and illness, Dr. Ward advises giving nutritional supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils), glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate, and a good multi-vitamin (especially B vitamins and vitamins A, D, E, and K, biotin and beta-carotene) to almost every older pet. He also prescribes SAM-e, silybin/milk thistle, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and probiotics to many senior pets to combat age changes.
Preventative medical care: What you need to know
Start testing at seven years old. Changes in kidney, liver and pancreatic function, arthritis, cataracts, heart disease and high blood pressure are more common in older pets. To diagnose a disease in the early stages requires consistent examinations and lab tests. As soon as your pet turns seven, pet parents should ask for basic blood and urine tests, even if their pet appears perfectly healthy. The value of routine testing is that it establishes baselines for future reference.
“I recently saw a nine-year old cat for a routine visit,” says Dr. Ward. “The owner reported her cat was in excellent health yet our test results showed an increase in two kidney enzymes from the previous year. While the kidney values were still within normal limits, the change alerted me to a potential problem. Additional tests confirmed early kidney disease. If not for the previous test results, we would’ve never diagnosed kidney disease at this early stage. ”
Bottom line: The money you spend on routine diagnostic tests may save you big bucks in the future and add years of life to your pet. Never ignore that tiny voice telling you “something isn’t right.” If you suspect something – anything – is wrong with a pet over age 7, have it checked out.
Melissa Chapman, Contributor to Care.com www.care.com/pet-care
Things You Can Do to Keep Your Pet Young at Heart
When you think of your children, you make almost no distinction between your two-legged ones and four- legged ones. Unfortunately, our fur babies don’t have the same life expectancy as our own human children. But with some vigilant attention to their diet and mental state, we can keep them with us (depending on the breed) for 12 to 15 years. In fact, I’m banking on 20 years for my now 11-year-old Shih Tzu. And I’m willing to undertake any measures that will both prolong her life span, and enrich the quality of her life as well.
Here are tips to keep you and your four-legged kid happily joined at the hip for years to come:
Obesity can shorten your senior pet’s life: less food equals longer life
According to Dr. Ernie Ward, author of Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter – A Vet’s Plan to Save Their Lives (2010 HCI) and owner, chief-of-staff at Seaside Animal Care, PA, obesity is a big problem in older pets that can cause and exacerbate many preventable diseases.
“Do your pet a favor and trade the treats for extra playtime,” says Dr. Ward. “You just may add years of high-quality life to both of you.”
Dr. Ward recommends substituting treats with healthy, whole foods such as carrots, broccoli, asparagus, celery, apples and bananas. Adding plain kefir or yogurt is also a great way to supply essential probiotics without all the calories.
Exercise more
Regardless of your pet’s current physical state, daily walks or play can rewind years’ worth of damage and boost your pet’s mental and physical health. For dogs, a brisk 20 to 30-minute walk once or twice a day is just what Dr. Ward orders. For cats, interactive toys such as feather dancers, laser lights or remote-controlled toys can get even the laziest cat on its feet. Whatever activities you choose, just do it.
Brain games
To keep mental reflexes sharp, Dr. Ward recommends that pet parents constantly provide their older pets with new experiences. Add a food puzzle, teach a new trick, take a trip to a different dog park or enroll in therapy pet classes. Rotate toys by packing old ones out of sight and offering a “new” one every two to three days.
“Even a simple change such as reversing your normal walking route can provide freshness to an otherwise stale routine,” says Dr. Ward. “As often as possible, ask yourself, ‘How can I make this more fun or interesting?'”
Don’t forget
Older pets tend to have a higher incidence of phobias and anxiety, notes Dr. Ward. If your pet suddenly becomes fearful of thunderstorms or loud noises, has accidents in the house, or begins to wake unexpectedly at night, see your veterinarian. Nutritional supplements, behavior training and medications can also help your older pet maintain normal abilities and combat age-related behavioral changes.
A new pet can breathe life into an older one
In almost 20 years of practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Ward says he’s witnessed one thing innumerable times – a new pet breathes new life into older pets.
“Not long ago I diagnosed a long-time patient, Prince, with a serious form of heart disease. After outlining a treatment plan, I told the owner that my next best advice was a bit unorthodox: get a new puppy,” says Dr. Ward. “I shared with her the fact that many times the older pet seems to regain lost vigor and lives much longer than I’d ever dreamed possible whenever a new pet is introduced. What I didn’t tell her was that adding a new pet before losing one helps soften the loss.”
“Sure enough, two months later she appeared in my office with a brand new puppy and a brand new “old” dog. It had been years since I’d seen Prince prance like that,” Dr. Ward says. “Prince lived another year and-a-half, at least six to 12 months longer than I originally estimated. The beautiful part of the story was that not only did Prince live longer and have a better life than I’d expected, but when it was time to let him go, the owner had a new friend to console her. I’ll keep recommending a new, best buddy for every old friend I see.”
Melissa Chapman, Contributor to Care.com www.care.com/pet-care