No Bones About It: Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog

Some people think it's safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or roast.  The idea that it's natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one.  However, no matter the size of the bone, it's dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.

                                                   Risks:

• Broken Teeth
• Mouth injuries
• Choking
• Intestinal blockage
• Constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Injections
• Death

Make sure to throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dogs can't get to them.  No matter what the size of the bone is, giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to the vet.

There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on.  We offer Purina Dental Chews at South Des Moines Veterinary Center as an alternative to a bone.   Not only do they prevent tartar build-up, they are 100% digestible.  The dental chews dissolve in liquid (stomach acid), so they will not cause any blockage throughout the digestive system.

 

References: www.fda/gov/consumer  FDA Consumer Health Information/ U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Back to School Blues

It's the time of the year: the kids are going back to school.  But how does this affect the family dog?  After a summer filled with the children home every day to play with, then suddenly he's alone most of the day. 

This can lead to boredom and separation issues, which can cause a normally well-behaved dog to behave badly -- chewing on furniture, barking excessively or soiling in the house.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR DOG ADJUST TO THE NEW SCHEDULE:

• Pump up the exercise. Schedule time each day for a long walk, an active round of fetch, or a visit to the dog park where he can romp with canine friends. Leaving your dog alone out in the yard does not count as exercise.

• Add mental stimulation. To reduce boredom while the family is out, fill a treat-dispensing ball with your dog’s breakfast kibble; she’ll have to work to retrieve her meal – and will be so busy that she won’t notice you are gone.

• Send him to doggy daycare. Avoid long lonely days at home with doggy daycare, where dogs play together in a safe, supervised environment that is helpful for dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds. Just one or two days a week is beneficial for most pets.

• Try training. Working on a new trick each day will engage a dog intellectually and physically. A training class will not only refresh skills, but also give dogs time to socialize with canine friends.

Reference:
http://www.khou.com/community/blogs/animal-attraction/Animal-Attraction--165953176.html
http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/

Fun Cat Facts

How many cat facts do you know? Test your knowledge!


Cat Fact #1
The average life-expectancy of an indoor cat is 12-16 years or longer.
A cat who lives outdoors, lives an average of 2-5 years. 

Cat Fact#2
In approximately seven years, an un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat and their offspring can result in over 400,000 kittens. 

Cat Fact #3
Cats start to purr at one week old.


Cat Fact #4
Cats have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 toes on their back paws.  The exception is if the cat is polydactyl meaning they have extra toes.

Cat Fact #5
A cat uses his whiskers to determine whether or not they can fit through an opening.  (This is why you should never cut a cat's whiskers.)

Cat Fact#6
Cats step with  both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run.  They only other animal to do this are the giraffe and the camel.  

Cat Fact #7
The rigid pattern on a cat's nose pad is as individual as a human fingerprint.

Cat Fact #8
A cat has 12 whiskers on each side of it's face.

Cat Fact #9
A cat can easily jump up to 5 times its own height in a single bound, and still lands gracefully.

Cat Fact #10
There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, and the number is growing fast.

How to Get the Most from Your Veterinary Appointment

Your relationship with your veterinarian is a partnership. The better able you are to communicate your pet’s needs and understand your options, the more productive your appointment will be and the more likely your pet will get the treatment needed.

Before the appointment, write down your pet’s symptoms and their dates of onset. List the questions you want answered.

Establishing a good working relationship with your doctor can make a difference in your health and the health of your family. Make sure you: Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable talking. Your doctor may be helping you make life and

At the appointment:

·      Get to the point. Explain why your pets there by relaying the present symptoms and concerns. Relate any relevant past medical history and, if possible provide copies of lab reports, X-rays, etc., if done at another clinic.

·      Tell your veterinarian if your pet has had any adverse reactions to vaccines.

·      Ask questions. Your veterinarian should fully explain your pet’s problem and discuss the pros and cons of the proposed treatments or tests in simple terms. Make sure you understand your pet’s condition and treatment options before you leave the office. Don't be timid or embarrassed: Keep asking questions until you understand. Your pet’s health, and life, may depend on understanding what is being said.

After the appointment:

·        Follow your veterinarian’s orders. If you find you are confused about what you should do when you get home, call the office and ask for clarification.

·      When you pick up prescriptions ask the doctor or technician to review them in detail. Make certain you understand why your pet is taking the drug, when your pet should take it, how much to take, and how it should be taken, i.e. by mouth, mixed with food, etc.

·       Tell your veterinarian about any side effects your pet experiences while on the medication or if the condition doesn't improve or gets worse.

·       Take medications as directed. Follow drug dosages precisely. Taking more of a medication could be dangerous; taking less could delay recovery.

Finally, make any lifestyle changes your veterinarian recommends, such as improving your pet’s diet, and exercising regularly; doing so can improve your pets life.

Pet Fire Safety Day

National Pet Fire Safety Day

Did you know that home fires affect an estimated 500,000 pets annually?  The National Fire Protection Association has determined that nearly 1,000 house fires are accidentally started by the homeowner's pets.  Here are some fire prevention tips for you and your pets!  

Prevent your pet from starting fires

Extinguish open flames: Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.

Invest in flameless candles: These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.

Beware of water bowls on wooden decks: Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun's rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.

Pet proof the home: Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently, such as loose wires and other potential hazards.


Keep your pets safe

Keep pets near entrances when away from home: When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.

Secure young pets: Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home, such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.

Practice escape routes with pets: Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.

Consider using monitored smoke detection services: As an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms, smoke detectors connected to a monitoring center help save pets who can't escape when left home alone.

Affix a pet alert window cling: Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the number of pets listed on them updated.




References:
http://www.fdnntv.com/National-Pet-Fire-Safety-July-15
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/2954

Ticks: Myths vs. Facts

TICKS: Myths Vs Facts

Disease-carrying ticks pose health risk to both dogs and people, no matter where you live.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that ticks in every U.S. state carry diseases and the number of tick-borne diseases are on the rise.  But do you know the myths vs. facts of ticks?

Myth #1: Ticks live in trees, so as long as I don’t live near or visit a wooded area, I don’t have to worry about them.

FACT: Ticks live on the ground no matter the locale, be it an urban park or a rural area. They typically crawl up from grass blades onto a host and migrate upward (which is why they’re often found on the scalp).



Myth #2: The best way to remove a tick is with a lit match,  fingernail polish, or petroleum jelly.

FACT: None of these methods cause the tick to “back out,” and all of them may actually result in the tick depositing more disease carrying saliva into the wound, increasing the risk of infection.

The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull the tick’s body out with a steady motion. Wear rubber gloves and clean the skin with soap and water after removal. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol  or flushing it down the toilet



Myth #3: Lyme disease is the only tick-borne disease that ticks can transmit to dogs and humans.

FACT: Lyme disease is the most widely known and common tick disease, but there are many others that ticks carry and can transmit to people and animals. These include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis (sometimes known as “dog fever”), Ehrlichiosis, and some emerging diseases with potentially devastating effects. 


Myth #4: I don't have to worry about ticks in the winter.

FACT: In most areas of the country, high season for ticks runs from April to November. Experts recommend year-round preventives, however, as infection can occur at any time of the year. In the winter, for example, some tick species move indoors and are in closer contact with pets and people, while others make a type of antifreeze to survive during the winter months.

In Iowa, the most common ticks are the Lonestar Tick, American Dog Tick, and Black-legged Tick.  The Black-legged Tick or deer tick trasmits Lyme disease.  A current Lyme vaccine will protect your dog against Lyme Disease and a monthly tick preventive is an easy way to prevent other tick-borne diseases.  


So are your pets at risk?  Go to DogsAndTicks.com and take the quick assessment to find out what you can do to make sure your pet is protected!





http://www.dogsandticks.com 
http://www.cdc.gov/ticks
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM2036.pdf 

Keep Your Pets Protected This Summer

Summer Pet Care Tips

1. Make sure your pets are on heartworm and flea/tick preventives.  Even pets that are 100% inside should be on these preventives.  

2. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.  The temperature of a car can rise dramatically in a few minutes especially if in the sun.  

3.  Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors.  If they are outside make sure they have a shady place to rest.  Be careful not to overexercise them, and keep them indoors when extremely hot.

A "Kiddie Pool" is an easy and fun way to keep your dogs cool while playing outside. 

4.  Summer is a great time for barbecues.  Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets.  (Alcohol, raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and xylitol).  

5. Water: Not all dogs are good swimmers.  Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool.

5. Screen Test:    The ASPCA sees an increase in injured animals during the warm months due to pets (mostly cats) fall out of windows or doors.  Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed and make sure adjustable screens are tightly screwed.  

6.  Leave your pets at home when you head out to a 4th of July celebration, and never use fireworks around your pets.  Dogs hearing can be 10 times more sensitive than ours, so fireworks may be scary to your dog.  

7.  Harness: If your cats go outside, keep them on a harness for their protection.  Also make sure they are current on vaccines (including Feline Leukemia) and on preventive care.  Display proper tags on their collar. 

References:  Purina Summer Pet Care Tips 2012  

                    www.aspca.com 2012