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

Canine Influenza

WHAT IS CANINE INFLUENZA?

Canine Influenza is a relatively new disease caused by a "flu" virus.  It causes respiratory infection and only affected dogs.  It spreads quickly and may cause serious illness such as pneumonia.

IS IT CONTAGIOUS?

Very.  And you don't know which dogs are shedding the virus.  Just like human flu, the clinical signs appear after the shedding.  First reported in 2003, canine flu quickly reached 30 states by 2009.  Then with increased awareness, cases were identified in an additional 8 states.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

In 3 ways:

• Through direct contact between dogs (licking, nuzzling)
• Through the air (coughing, sneezing)
• Via contaminated surfaces (such as a shared toy or when a person picks up the virus on their hands, then pets a dog)

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CANINE INFLUENZA?

About 80% of dogs that show signs of influenza will have mild disease.  Signs include:

• Lasting cough
• Low-grade fever
• Nasal discharge
• Lack of energy
• Loss of Appetite

In about 20% of the cases, more severe signs will occur, such as:

• pneumonia
• high fever

 HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

It's hard to diagnose canine influenza.  It can be confused with Bordetella (kennel cough) because the signs are very similar.  Your veterinarian will treat the clinical sign most likely with antibiotics, but to confirm flu, she would need to collect blood or nasal swab samples.

IS MY DOG AT RISK FOR INFECTION?

Most dogs, regardless of breed or age, are at risk for canine influenza.  However, certain venues and activities can raise your dog's risk of canine influenza infection even higher,  Review this list of questions to see if any of these places or activities apply to your pet.

DOES YOUR DOG:

• Come from a shelter, rescue center, breeding kennel, or pet store?
• Board at a kennel or go to doggie daycare?
• Attend group training or "dog kindergarten"?
• Visit a groomer or dog parks?
• Enter dog events?
• Travel with you across state lines?

If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions, tell your veterinarian and ask what can be done to protect your dog from canine influenza.  

Protection in the form of an effective vaccine is available through your veterinarian.  This vaccine has been clinically proven to significantly reduce the severity of influenza and the length of time that a dog is sick.  The initial vaccine required 2 doses given 2-4 weeks apart, followed by annual revaccination.  If your dog is presently being vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella), it is a likely candidate for Canine Influenza (CIV).

At South Des Moines Veterinary Center, we require the Canine Influenza Vaccine for dogs who board and groom with us as well as those dogs who attend doggy daycare here.  If you have any questions regarding Canine Influenza, we encourage you to call the vet center 515-285-5523

References: Merck Animal Health 
www.doginfluenza.com
   

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.