Holidays with Pets

Our patients had a lot of fun dressing up in festive outfits this holiday season!  Enjoy!

Poinsettias and Cats & Dogs

Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant.  Have you banned them from your home because you have heard that poinsettias are deadly to pets? 

Poinsettias have gotten a bad rap when it comes to pets.  The toxic potential of this plant has become highly exaggerated over the years.  In reality, poinsettias are only mildly toxic (if at all) to dogs and cats.  Poinsettia ingestion typically produces only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea. 

Keeping this plant out of reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but it is not necessary to banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure.  If you suspect your pet has eaten a poinsettia and is displaying concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

There are other holiday bouquets that are far more worrisome than poinsettias.  Lilies, holly and mistletoe are three popular ones to watch out for.  Lilies are the #1 flower used by florists.  Just one or two bites from a lily can result in severe acute kidney failure in cats.  Inspect your holiday bouquets thoroughly. 

If holly is ingested by dogs or cats, it can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.  Mistletoe is best kept out of your pet's reach as it can cause hypotention, ataxia (walking drunk), seizures and death if consumed in large amounts.    

Sources:
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/poinsettia
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

Happy Holidays for the Homeless Pets

South Des Moines Veterinary Center has partnered with Animal Lifeline of Iowa (ALI) this holiday season to make sure homeless pets can have a Happy Holiday too!

During the month of December, we will display a tree in our lobby with ornaments featuring pets in need at ALI.  Each ornament will list items that will benefit the featured animal.  Take the ornament with you and bring back any item listed to help a homeless animal in need. 

Or pick up an item from the list below next time your our doing your holiday shopping and drop it by the clinic during the month of December.



                                    Wish List

    CAT SUPPLIES
    Cat toys of all kinds - laser pointers
    Scoopable Cat Litter
    Yesterdays News Cat Litter
    Canned cat and kitten food
    Feline Prescription Diets (dry and canned)

DOG SUPPLIES
Milk Bones brand dog biscuits-small
Buster Cubes and Jolly Balls - for dogs large and small
Toys for dogs of all sizes
Nylabone Rings
Peanut Butter - creamy
Small and Medium Flat Buckle Collars and Leashes
Canine Prescription Diets (dry and canned)

      GENERAL SUPPLIES 

      Liquid Laundry Soap

      Dish Soap

      Bleach

      Clorox Anywhere Spray Cleaner

      Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags

      Paper Towels

      Toilet Paper

      Kleenex Tissues

      Dobie Scrubbers

      Bottle Brushes

      Copy Machine Paper

      Postage Stamps

GIFT CARDS (to purchase supplies)

Suggested retailers:

PETCO

PetSmart

Target

Walgreens

About Animal Lifeline of Iowa:
“Animal Lifeline of Iowa is a special needs, no-kill animal shelter. Seventy percent of our work is done by our caring volunteers, and we receive no government assistance. All donations go directly to care for and help animals in need. Animal Lifeline of Iowa is a tax exempt, non-profit organization.”

Mosquitoes in Winter?

Mosquitoes in Winter?

In the dead of winter in parts of the country where the mercury drops below the freezing point and it snows often, owners are probably not seeing mosquitoes. But that doesn’t mean the threat of heartworm disease goes into hibernation.

Preventing heartworm can be as important in the winter as it is in the summer.

• Heartworm medicine works by killing the parasites that your pet picked up the previous month. If you stop giving it in the fall or early winter, the parasites might remain and cause an infection.

 

• In many regions, the weather remains mild and mosquitoes continue to bite and cause heartworm disease.

 

• If you live in a cold climate, but travel with your pet to warm places, you may expose your pet to the threat of heartworm infection.

 

• Finally, getting the timing of when to stop and start giving heartworm medicine right is much more difficult than staying on a regular monthly schedule. And while prevention is inexpensive, treatment is not. You may not see mosquitoes buzzing around in the middle of winter, but the threat of heartworm disease hasn’t disappeared.

 

Protect your pet — every month, all year round.

 

This fact sheet was produced by the American Heartworm Society 2012 

Pet Diabetes Month

Pets can develop diabetes just like people can.  While there is no cure for diabetes, proper care can help your pet live a happy, healthy, active lifestyle.  

What to look for?

1) Excessive thirst

2) Frequent urination

3) Lethargy

4) Weight Loss

Who is at risk?

Genetics can play a role, however diabetes can affect any breed of dog and cat at any age.  Older pets and those with inactive lifestyles may face greater risks.  

What can you do to prevent diabetes?

Keep your pet at a healthy weight with regular exercise. 

How is diabetes diagnosed?

A veterinarian can diagnose diabetes through blood glucose testing.

How is diabetes regulated?

Regulation is achieved through a balance of diet, exercise, and insulin.

References:

http://www.petdiabetesmonth.com/

Adopt A Senior Pet Month

1.  What you see is what you get!
You know exactly how big they will get since they are already full-grown.  You will know grooming requirements and will get a pretty good idea of their personality from the start.  

2. They're not a 24-7 job
Senior pets don't require the constant monitoring that young pets do, which leaves you with more freedom.  

3. They settle in quickly
They have already been around the block, so they know what it takes to become part of the pack.

4. Fewer messes
 Most senior pets are already house-trained or they can pick it up quickly.  They are also past the destructive phase so you don't have to worry about things getting chewed up or scratched up.  

5. They enjoy easy livin'
 They don't require as much exercise as young animals and will probably want more cuddle time!

6. Save a life, be a hero
     Older pets tend to be the last to get adopted from shelters.
  

7. They're CUTE
      No explanation needed!




References:

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/reasons-to-adopt-an-older-dog.aspx

Homemade Dog Treats- Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Flavored!

Can we make dog treats today?

Yummy- Peanut Butter!

Oooh!  Pumpkin too!

Mixing the ingredients together.

Baking in the oven.  Is it ready yet?

Looks delicious!  I will share them with all my doggy daycare buddies this week!

Taste test? I'd be happy to!

That was hard work.  Time for a nap...

 Ingredients
2 1/2 C whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 C canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.  Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.  Roll the dough into 1/2 inch thick roll.  Use cookie cutter to make cut out shapes.
3.  Bake in oven until hard, about 30-40 minutes.

References:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/

SDMVC Takes The Color Run!

On Saturday, October 6th, South Des Moines Veterinary Center took on The Color Run 5K!  We all had a blast participating and it was definitely a fun 5K to be a part of.  The Color Run Des Moines partnered with Variety: The Children's Charity to raise money for their group.  Check out our before and after pictures!  

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Celebrate at home.  Going house-to-house in the dark increases the chances that Fido will get spooked or get a hold of some potentially dangerous decorations or candy. 

Better to plan games and a movie night with a few friends and family who can appreciate Fido’s Halloween costume and respect his needs.

Pick A Safe Costume.  It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow.  Also make sure the costume does not have any small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on.  Last, be sure to try on costumes before the big night.  If your pet seems distressed in their costume, consider a festive bandana instead. 

Schedule a Special Outing to show her off.  If your pet enjoys dressing up in a costume, enter her in a local contest or parade.  South Des Moines Veterinary Center is hosting a Halloween Costume Contest on Facebook during the month of October.  We would love for you to stop out and show off your pet’s costume!

Post emergency numbers on your fridge.  Post your veterinary clinic’s number, emergency/after-hours veterinarian, as well as the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) for emergencies. 

ID’s Please!  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.  Microchips and collars with tags will increase the chances of your pet being reunited with you if he or she goes missing.  

Breast Cancer Awareness for Pets

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  But did you know that breast cancer, or mammary tumors, occur in our pets just as they do in people?

Facts

-25 % (1 in 4) of unspayed female dogs will get mammary cancer 

-Most "at-risk" breeds: Poodle, Brittany Spaniel, English Setter, Pointer, Fox Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Boston Terrier

-Only about 1 in every 4000 un-spayed cats will get mammary cancer.  However, 90% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant while about 50% are malignant in dogs.  

Home Screening

Since our dogs and cats cannot perform a "self-exam" like people can, it's up to us to do it for them.  Dogs and cats have 8 to 10 mammary glands or teats, so it can take some time to check for lumps and bumps.  Have your pet lay on their side and gently massage each teat and the surrounding tissue.  Note any abnormalities.  

Not all lumps are tumors, so don't be alarmed if you feel something unusual.  Nursing mothers or females in heat will have enlarged mammary tissue due to hormone associated changes.  Overweight or older females may have fatty deposits in the mammary area.  

If you find a suspicious lump, bring your pet to the veterinarian for further assessment.  Early detection is key just like in humans.  

Prevention

Fortunately, spaying a dog or cat before their first heat will reduce the chance of breast cancer to almost zero. 
If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an  8 percent chance of developing breast cancer.  If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 25  percent. 

References:
http://blog.purinacare.com/post/2011/10/21/Breast-Cancer-Awareness-for-Pets.aspx
http://www.firstline.com

Car Safety For Pets

Do your pets travel with you?  
Pet travel is at an all-time high with tens of millions of dogs traveling with their families every year.  So what's the safest way to travel with your pets?

Front Seat Vs. Back Seat
Dogs want to move around and explore in the car unless they are restrained.  Just like children, dogs should stay in the back seat so if an accident occurs, they are safe from the dashboard air bag impact.  Air bags deploy at 200 miles per hour and the force could injure or kill them.

Carrier Vs. Seat Belt
The best way to transport your pet is in a well-ventilated carrier that has a secure door and latch (big enough for your dog to sit and lie down).  The carrier should be facing forward so your dog will get plenty of air during the trip.  Most importantly, secure the carrier to the car so if you stop short or have an accident, the carrier doesn't get thrown around the car.

Though not as effective as a carrier, pet seat belts are better than having a loose pet.  There are many different brands and types of pet seat belts on the market.  Each company has their own testing and standards so it's difficult to compare product to product.  There are no specific safety standards on animal restraints currently and testing by the manufacturer is not a requirement.

Another benefit of a restrained pet in a car is a decrease in distractions for the driver.  According to a 2010 American Automobile Association (AAA) survey, 2 out of 3 pet owners engage in distracting behaviors (playing with, feeding or petting their dog, or letting their dog sit in their lap) when pets are in the car.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 20% of injury crashes involve distracted driving. 


Are There Any Studies in Progress on Pet Seat Belts?
A pilot study was done by the Center for Pet Safety, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 2011 where they tested four popular animal travel harnesses.  Their testing was done according to the conditions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for child safety seats.  A realistic crash was tested on "crash test dogs".  No live animals were used in this study.  The study indicated 100% failure rate.  While travel harnesses may offer some protection in a crash, none of these products can guarantee safety for your pets during a crash. For more information on this study click here.

Another website that has done some research on the different types of pet restraints is Pet Auto Safety.  Their research consisted of ranking four different car harness brands based on comfort, tangling, cost, and manufacturer testing.    

With pet travel at an all time high, we hope studies continue on these products and safety standards are put into effect for the protection of our pets.

References:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012petsafety/06pilotstudy/prweb9612738.htm

http://www.petinsurance.com 

http://www.barkbuckleup.com/whybuckleup.asp

http://www.petautosafety.com/
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Hot-Cars-and-Loose-Pets.aspx