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Archive for August, 2009
Bloat can be deadly. Is your dog at risk?
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GVD), commonly known as “bloat” in dogs, is a very serious and dangerous health condition. Bloat occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes abnormally enlarged or distended.
Stomach torsion is the abnormal positioning of the stomach which is caused by the stomach’s rotation about its axis, i.e. twisting of the stomach. Bloat usually leads to torsion, although torsion can occur without bloat. Chronic gastric volvulus (ongoing mild torsion) may not cause typical signs of GDV, but should be suspected in dogs with intermittent vomiting, weight loss, mild bloating, rumbling sounds in the bowel (borborygmi) and/or belching.
Facts about bloat:
- Dogs weighing more than 99 pounds have an approximate 20 percent risk of bloat.
- In a study done by the Perdue University Research Group, headed by Dr. Lawrence T. Glickman, the Great Dane was the number one breed at risk for bloat.
- In 1993, a statistical study involving 134 dogs with gastric dilation and volvulus was conducted by the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, Germany. In this study, 66.4 percent of the bloated dogs were male and 33.6 percent were female.
- Most dogs with bloat are between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.
- When combined with the complications of GDV, bloat is a leading cause of death to dogs, second only to cancer. While the exact cause of bloat is still unknown, some evidence suggests a familial association.
- A risk factor associated with death following surgery for bloat is when the dog has exhibited clinical signs of bloating for greater than six hours before seeing a veterinarian.
Information provided by The Veterinary Information Network.
Startling Pet Toxins
Did you know that some of your favorite foods are dangerous to pets?
Treats such as raisins, grapes and avocados can be deadly. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) encourages pet owners to learn what foods, plants and other substances are harmful to pets.“It is especially important to realize that what humans eat and enjoy may be toxic to pets,” said Dr. Jack Walther, president of the AVMA. “Grapes, chocolate, raisins, avocados and other seemingly harmless foods can be harmful or even fatal. Pet owners should also talk to their veterinarian about environmental hazards in their area and how to properly use flea control products.”
Clinical signs of poisoning in animals may vary greatly from extreme excitement to severe depression. If you suspect that a pet has been accidently poisoned, phone your veterinarian and ask for emergency treatment advice. Try to determine what the poison is and how much the pet ingested.
Keep meds out of reach
Ensure that your pets don’t have access to any medications. Some human medications are poisonous to pets. This includes common, over-the-counter and prescription medicine, including aspirin, vitamins and sleeping pills.
According to the ASPCA, just one regular-strength 200 mg ibuprofen (Motrin®) pill can trigger stomach ulcers in a 10-pound dog.
Other commonly used human medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and other pain relievers, antidepressants and diet pills can be lethal. Ensure that your home is ‘pet proof,’ with all medicines stored safely out of a pet’s reach and sight.
Common seasonal pet poisons include plants such as lilies, Rhododendrons, nightshade and Japanese yews; chemicals such as fertilizer, rat poisons, swimming pool treatment supplies, pest control products and antifreeze; and animals such as toads or spiders. An extensive list of poisons can be found at www.avma.org.
When it comes to accidental pet poisonings, prevention is paramount. In addition to the obvious toxic materials, pet owners need to know which outwardly innocent substances may be dangerous to their pets as well.
Every Dog Has its Day
And that day is August 26th, National Dog Day! What better way to honor dogs?
This day was created by Colleen Paige, pet expert and author, to not only recognize pet dogs, but also the number of dogs that need to be rescued and the dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort.
“Dogs put their lives on the line every day - for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, saving their lives and often grieving the dead and dying they cannot save,” Paige said.
Be sure to give your pet a little extra love or treats tomorrow!
How do you plan to celebrate National Dog Day?
Top 10 Reasons NOT To Travel with Your Pets
by Thom Somes, The Pet Safety Guy
Summer is here and what better way to spend your vacation than on the road with your pets? Think again. While you may enjoy seeing the sights, your pets are very sensitive to their environment and don’t understand the changes of traveling. Pets—especially cats—may not be able to handle the stress of habitat changes.
9If your pet is young, old, ill or not going to be an integral part of your vacation, you should definitely consider letting your pet stay home and guard the homestead. Pets do best staying on their own turf. Please consider the ten items below before you decide to take your pet on trip.
10. Accommodations - Read the fine print. Some hotels allow pets, but the disclaimer is the pet must not be left alone in the room. This can make going out for dinner or to a theme park with the kids impossible. Check in advance and don’t try and sneak them in. Remember, you are responsible for any damage your pet may cause. If your pet is going to be staying alone in the hotel room anyway, they might as well stay at home.
9. Plane Trips - Check well in advance for airline requirements and conditions for pets traveling with you. Pets will be required to have a travel crate and recent health certificate from your veterinarian. Be warned, some airlines will not accept pets as cargo at certain times of the year. Even with a reservation, airlines can refuse transporting your pet if conditions are not safe. Cargo holds are not heated, cooled or sound proof and can cause possible death, injury and stress on your pet. Beware of medicating your cat. High altitudes can have an amplifying effect on “kitty downers”. Unless you can guarantee conditions and book a direct flight, let your pet stay home and watch the Travel Channel.
8. Car Trips - Numerous dangers exist for your pets inside and outside your vehicle. The first one that comes to mind is the danger of heat stroke, but other dangers can include air bags, unrestrained pets becoming projectiles hurting themselves and potentially others, getting hit by a car and insects or debris flying into the eyes and ears of pets whose heads are hanging out the window. All pets should be crated or restrained in a harness while riding in a vehicle.
7. Identification - Trying to find your lost pet in a strange city will ruin your vacation. Pets lost away from their home are at greater risk because they truly are lost. Strange sights and sounds disorient your pet, causing it to act in ways that put it at greater risk of being killed, hurt or picked up by strangers.
6. Behavior - Well trained and socialized pets tend to stay out of harm’s way. But, the stresses of traveling can test even the best-trained and well socialized pet. Sometimes the best command you can give your pet is, STAY—at home!
5. Food & Water - Drinking local water while traveling and changes in diet can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Unless you are prepared to travel with food and water, keep your pet home.
4. Dangers, Diseases & Illness - This ranges from allergies to ticks, depending on how you are traveling and the place to which you travel. Mosquitoes can carry heartworm, poison ivy on your pet’s coat can get onto you, skunks, snake bite, poisoning and giardia are just a few of the many hazards in store for the unprepared pet traveler.
3. Leashes & Laws - All states have laws regarding your pets and you are responsible for obeying all of them. Every state has “Leash Laws” that are ticketable offenses. Keep your pets on a leash and obey the law or keep them at home.
2. Emergencies & Veterinarians - Knowing pet first aid is important to your pet surviving a medical emergency. However, your pet could require hospitalization for a period longer than your planned stay. Trying to find an emergency animal facility while dealing with your hurt and injured pet is another way to ruin your vacation. Keep your pet safely at home.
1. You have a Pet Sitters International Member caring for your pet - Hire a professional pet sitter for immeasurable peace of mind while you are on vacation. PSI members can give your pets consistent, personal care and attention on a daily basis. They will even leave Animal Planet on the TV for them!
If you choose to travel with your pets, make a conscious effort to keep their best interests in mind. Follow all the DOs and DON’Ts and your pets can be excellent traveling companions.
If you leave your pets at home with a professional pet sitter, maybe you can come home from your vacation a day early to spend quality time with your pet. And remember to send your pet a postcard and bring home something for your pet sitter, too!
©2000 Pet Tech, Inc. Pet Tech’s programs are recommended by Pet Sitters International. For more information about Pet First Aid & Care training near you or to become a Pet First Aid Instructor, please contact Pet Tech, at (760) 930-0309, by e-mail at info@pettech.net or on the Web at www.pettech.net
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Being prepared is being professional
A message from Patti Moran, PSI’s President:
The tragic crash of the Air France Airbus flight sadly brought to mind the information that is so necessary for your professional pet sitter. I’m sure when our members present their often lengthy Service Agreements for clients to complete, they can be daunting! Gee, is all of this information really needed just for you to care for my cat this weekend?!
Well, yes it is. When I first began pet sitting in 1983, my Service Contract was only one-half of a page long. I did not know ALL that I did not know. As a result, when the power went off in a home due to thunderstorms, I had no idea where their breaker box was located. And when I arrived at a home to find the first death of a pet under my care, I was at a loss as to what my client’s wishes were for their beloved cat. Sure, I could and did contact them, but people on vacation aren’t always near a phone (and this was before the accessibility of cell phones, e-mail, etc.)
So, my Service Agreement slowly, but surely, expanded to allow me to gather the pertinent information I needed for the responsibility of looking after beloved pets and homes. Eventually, airline carrier and flight number were added to the form so that in the event of an air disaster, it could be verified if this was the flight of a pet’s parent.
Should your new pet sitter present with you with a lengthy or numerous page contract, or ask you for updates to an existing one, I hope that you’ll just sigh—and smile—as you take the time to share these important details. Being prepared allows us to provide you with peace of mind. After all, that’s what professional pet sitting is all about.
Celebrate the selfless love and devotion of assistance dogs
This week, August 9-15, marks the first National Assistance Dog Week. This week was created to recognize the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs who help individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations.
These specially trained dogs transform the lives of their human partners, who have debilitating physical and mental disabilities, by serving as their companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family.
Assistance dogs are classified in the following ways:
Guide Dogs – Assist people with vision loss, leading these individuals around physical obstacles and to destinations such as seating, crossing streets, entering or exiting doorways, elevators and stairways.
Service Dogs – Assist people with disabilities with walking, balance, dressing, transferring from place to place, retrieving and carrying items, opening doors and drawers, pushing buttons, pulling wheelchairs and aiding with household chores, such as putting in and removing clothes from the washer and dryer.
Hearing Alert Dogs – Alert people with a hearing loss to the presence of specific sounds such as doorbells, telephones, crying babies, sirens, another person, buzzing timers or sensors, knocks at the door or smoke, fire and clock alarms.
Seizure Alert/Seizure Response Dogs – Alert or respond to medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, post-traumatic stress and seizures.
Medical Alert/Medical Response Dogs – Alert a person to oncoming medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
National Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for more than 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs. She is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs at www.petliferadio.com. She founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world.
Getting To Know You, Your Pets and Your Routine
You’ve got a great deal on plane tickets and are ready to jet away for some much needed time off and you’ve already found the perfect professional pet sitter to care for your pets and house while you’re away. You’re ready to leave right? Not yet!
Your pet sitter needs to know you, your pets and your household routines in order to do the best possible job in caring for your pets while you are away. You can help out by providing detailed information to your pet sitter prior to the pet-sitting assignment.
__ Provide written verification that your pet is up-to-date on its shots. Have your pet wear current vaccination tags on its collar.
__ If your pet is prone to chew, please leave “chew toys” and take proper precautions to guard your personal items and home furnishings from his teeth while you are away.
__ Make a list of your pet’s favorite hiding places. This will prevent the pet sitter from worrying if your pet is not where expected.
__ Be sure to tell your pet sitter about any unusual habits your pet has; i.e., destructive behavior when left alone, change in bowel or eating habits, etc.
__ During the initial consultation, please try not to “force” your pet to like the pet sitter. Some pets are shy and can’t be expected to warm up to a stranger immediately. With time and patience, trust will build and a friendly relationship will be established.
__ If you own both dogs and cats, please do not ask the sitter to “ignore” the cats (i.e., not charge) during the visits. It is impossible because the sitter’s conscience would not allow the oversight of a cat in need of food, medical care or human attention.
Now you’re ready! Enjoy!
Tips for conducting a professional pet sitter interview
Just as some people are “dog people” and others are “cat” or “bird” people, there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to finding the right pet sitter to meet the specific needs of you and your pet.
Locate a pet sitter. Finding the right pet sitter requires an investment of time—time to do phone interviews, time to conduct in-your-home meetings, and time to thoroughly check references on those you’re considering hiring. The pet-sitting industry has grown in recent years. This has provided many communities with options for choosing a professional pet-sitting firm, whether pet owners are looking for cat care, dog sitting, exotic bird care, pet fish care or anything else in the way of in-home pet care services.
While it may take a little time up front to determine the pet sitter best suited for your situation, once you’ve made this match, we hope you’ll agree with the multitudes of other pet owners who say, “My pet sitter is worth her (or his) weight in gold!”
Print out this handy Pet Sitter Interview Checklist that will provide you with all the questions you need to ask to ensure you are getting the right pet sitter for your pets.
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