8 tips for summer pet health
Via: LA Pets Examiner
Summer is here! Long hot days and warm summer nights – isn’t this the perfect time to own a pet? I love taking Angel out for long walks at dusk, with the weather still nice and warm. But remember, summer is not always a great friend to our pets if special attention and care is not noted. Make this summer the best EVER by following these rules:
1. Water, water, and more water – hydration is the key to good health for your pet, so be sure to have extra bowls of fresh water available. Particularly after a walk or a run, your pet will need more water than normal due to the hot temperatures.
2. Do NOT leave your pet in the car!!! As I said in my last article – even leaving your pet in the car on days that you think aren’t “too warm” does not equate to safety. Cars warm up quickly, even in the shade, and even with the windows open – don’t take a chance on creating a devastating circumstance. Your pet prefers to be home in the air conditioning in front of the television, anyway.
3. Throw away uneaten food – although you may leave wet cat food out or dog food during the day in winter months, summer months and warm weather lead to increased bacteria growth.
4. Stop and smell the roses – just don’t eat them! Many summer bloomers are particularly attractive to the eye, but this is not a good snack choice for your pet. Hibiscus and lilies, for example, are toxic for your pet – so don’t take a chance by letting Fifi snack on a flower.
5. Check for fleas and ticks on your pet. I know flea preventatives are a hot topic for summer season and warm weather, but do check with your vet to determine what flea treatment is best for your unique circumstance. My cat, for example, freaks out with flea drops like Frontline, while my dog is completely indifferent. Certain pets react differently, and because flea treatments can have health impacts, you should always check with your vet first.
6. Brush your pet daily. The easiest way to check for fleas and ticks is while brushing and grooming your pet. Ticks are particularly hazardous to your pet so keep a close eye to your pet’s fur and skin.
7. Take walks in the morning, or early evening. It’s cooler during those times and will help your dog enjoy the walk rather than overheating.
8. Keep your pets out of the sun as much as possible. As I wrote previously: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-941-LA-Pets-Examiner~y2009m5d26-Summer-is-here-check-your-pet-for-skin-cancer pets are more prone to skin cancer than you may have thought.
Cat crosses Siberia to find its home
Two-year-old male cat named as Kuzya has made an unprecedented journey across the Yakutia republic in Russia’s Siberia. The cat walked 2,150 kilometers in three months to find its home, Regnum news agency reports.
The cat lived with the family of the Efremovs in the small village of Olenyok. The owners took the pet to the city of Yakutsk, the capital of Yakutia, in the beginning of summer. The cat apparently did not like the new dusty and noisy place of living and escaped. The Efremovs were going to stay in the city just for a short while, but the cat did not return when they had to leave back to the village. The cat appeared on the doorstep of the Efremovs’ house in Olenyok three months later. The animal looked rather pitiful: it was skinny, shabby and even untamed. “There were traces of some animal’s teeth on the cat’s tail. The three-month journey rubbed away its claws too. We have noticed that the cat became highly precautious. He walks stealthily all the time and he always looks for a hiding place. The poor animal had to cross Siberian woods and hills; he had to cross rivers and lakes. It is simply unbelievable,” one of the family members said.
Raw food for pets? / Despite warnings by veterinarians, growing numbers of dog and cat owners are serving uncooked, homemade fare
This is very interesting indeed… I remember that my aunt, back in the early 1980s, always cooked food for her dog and never gave him any canned food, but I don’t think he got much raw food, and they did feed him dried food, too. But there are reason to consider your dog’s and your cat’s diet as much as you consider your own, and if you do not live on Hot Pockets every day, why should your pet eat highly processed food and nothing else ?
By Christie Keith, Special to SF GateTo most people, pet food is something that comes in a bag or can. The package might be illustrated with pictures of meat chunks, vegetables and grains, but what’s inside is probably the most thoroughly processed food product on the market.
Still, quite a few dog and cat owners are deciding that packaged food isn’t the only way to feed their pets. Over the last two decades, they’ve become a vocal movement advocating food for pets made with whole, fresh, minimally processed and usually raw ingredients.
If calling it a “movement” seems like hyperbole, consider that nearly a thousand pet owners in San Francisco and the North Bay alone belong to SF Raw, a raw feeders’ buying group. Similar organizations have sprung up across the country.
Since the early ’80s, dozens of books have been published on raw pet diets. There are raw feeding dog and cat breeders, animal rescue groups and shelters. There are also uncountable e-mail lists, websites and message boards where raw feeding is discussed. Veterinarians have reported a huge increase in the number of clients expressing interest in raw and homemade diets, particularly after the 2007 pet food recall.
Most of those people, when they did mention raw diets to their veterinarians, got a lecture about the dangers of homemade diets and raw foods in particular. A lot of vets think it’s impossible to make a homemade meal for a dog or cat without a PhD in nutrition and a food laboratory in the garage. And a raw diet? Given the amount of bacteria in raw meat, they say, that’s a recipe for sickness and death for your pets.
So why do so many pet owners insist on feeding raw diets to their pets? And why is the modern raw pet food movement not just alive, but growing?
Get more bark for your buck at the vet
Via: Tails Of The City
Even before the shiny veneer of Obama’s new “stimulus package” fell away and economists began predicting that our country’s recession will get worse before it gets better, I’ve been finding practical ways to pinch pennies. This includes everything from what I make for dinner (lots of veggies) to how I keep my dog, Lorna Doone healthy.
Last week, The Doone had an appointment with holistic vet, Rachael Feigenbaum. I was horrified to discover it had been more than FOUR years since her last nose-to-tail checkup. (eep!) She needed a heartworm test and her rabies shot had expired. The timing wasn’t great for me financially, but I needed to make sure The Doone was okay. Happily, Dr. Feigenbaum gave her a clean bill of health (and my ex agreed to split the cost of the visit)
But what happens when you’re on a tight budget and your vet recommends extensive tests to diagnose your dog or cat’s symptoms? This recently happened to a friend of mine when her 10-year-old Rottweiler Betty hurt her leg during a game of fetch. The vet suggested that the injury could be a simple sprain or, because of Betty’s advanced age, there was a chance it could be bone cancer.
My friend burst into tears in the middle of the waiting room. She was given two options: “wait and see” or spend money that she didn’t have on tests and x-rays that might not be necessary. She chose to do the tests (”I knew I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night if I had waited,” she told me) and had them billed to her credit card. Hundreds of dollars later the tests results came back, cancer free.
Because pets require medical care regardless of our employment or financial status, Dr. Nancy Kay, author of “Speaking for Spot” offers these smart “vet-visit” tips to help us stay sane (and financially sound) while keeping our animals in good health:
* When talking with your vet, lay your financial cards on the table. This isn’t always easy. (”Talking fleas is one thing; having a candid conversation about your bank account is a whole other ball game,” admits Dr. Kay.) But broaching the touchy topic of finances can often open doors to other, potentially less-costly options. Rarely is there only one way to diagnose or treat a disease. You are always entitled to an explanation of the risks and benefits of every single option.
* Request a written cost estimate before services are provided. In no way does this reflect how much you love your pet; you are simply being fiscally responsible.
* Research all of your payment options.
* Consider investing in pet health insurance, especially if you are apt to take the “do-everything-possible” approach.
* Don’t neglect preventive care that could save you money down the road. For example, administering heartworm prophylactics is less expensive for you (and safer for your dog) than treating a heartworm infection.
* And if you’re forced to contemplate euthanasia for a pet solely because of financial constraints? Before making such a drastic decision, thoroughly investigate every other conceivable option. Consider devising a creative payment plan such as bartering services or goods, researching dog or breed-specific rescue associations, borrowing money from friends or relatives, applying for a donation from a pet health assistance organization or finding a new, financially capable guardian for your pet. Taking extra time to explore your options might just save a life and will do wonders for everyone’s peace of mind.
Read the original article here
Does your canine suffer from allergies?
Via: Seattle Pet Health Examiner
Does your four-legged friend go on a sneezing jag that seems like it will never stop? Does he exhibit continuous chewing of his paws or tail? These could be symptoms of allergic reactions to stimuli in his environment. There are several things you can do to better control his reactions.
Pay attention to the food you’re buying. Many dog foods contain BHT or BHA preservatives that exacerbate allergies in pets. Try to stay with foods that are corn, gluten and wheat free to eliminate the most common elements that cause allergic reactions. If you are able, the more natural diet you can provide your pet, the better. Since most people don’t have time to cook separate meals for their pets, I have found the Deli Fresh brand, that most pet food stores carry, works very well. It is a natural diet, full of vegetables and protein, that is pre-cooked and stored in a refrigerated section of the store.
Don’t use chemical sprays on lawns and weeds in any area that your dog frequents. These toxins can not only trigger allergies, but they can actually lead to seizures in animals. Read the labels and make sure they are safe for animals and children before using them.
If you find that your dog is exhibiting jaw vibrations or cramping, consult your veterinarian. Sometimes what looks like allergies can actually be a mild form of epilepsy. Epilepsy can be controlled by medication, and your dog can continue to live a full and happy life.
