Our handbags may be our favorite place to stash goodies we need on the go, but it’s also one of the top danger zones for pets. SHARE this message to keep purse poisons out of reach of little paws!
RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.
Theo had been roaming the streets of Compton, California for a year before he was rescued. Neighbors said his family had moved and left him behind to fend for himself. Theo was dirty, hungry, and scared. But then Hope for Paws found out about him and made it priority #1 to save this little guy. Watch his amazing transformation in this all new rescue video from Eldad Hagar. For info on adopting Theo who is being fostered by Mutt Scouts, please visit his Adopt-a-Pet.com profile: http://www.adoptapet.com/pet/11013073-los-angeles-california-poodle-miniature-mix.
Yes! Pets, just like people, can get a sunburn. Most pets have fur which does provide some protection from the sun’s burning rays, but pets don’t have fur on their noses or pads of their feet, and many pets have very thin or no hair on the tops of their snouts, the tips of their ears, their bellies, groins, and armpits. Dogs with pink skin and/or pink noses are especially prone to getting a painful and dangerous sunburn. Also just like people, sunburn puts pets at a higher risk of skin cancer. So what can you do to protect your pet from sunburn?
Many people still believe that a dog or cat should have her first heat before she is spayed. In a vet office yesterday, I overheard a young couple ask the vet, “Can our puppy really get pregnant now? She is only a baby!” Their puppy was a 7- month-old baby, so the vet’s answer was YES she can! Dogs and cats (puppies and kittens really) can go into heat as young as 6 months of age, especially smaller dogs and kittens. That’s just one reason the ASPCA and so many caring vets are recommending their clients have their dogs and cats spayed before 5 months of age. Your puppy does not need to have her first heat – on the contrary! North Shore Animal League of America points out that, among other benefits, by spaying before the first heat: “Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle.”
There are so many great reasons to have your dog or cat spayed by 5 months of age! NSALA not only has a great website listing them all at www.spayusa.org, their SpayUSA website or 800-248-7729 hotline will help you find a low-cost or free spay option near you.
“The Destroyer” – Must kick up substantial chunks of lawn and delicate flowers, while simultaneously shooting poo into the sky.
RedandHowling: Musings on Dogs, Cats & Other Bundles of Love.
Bloat. For many dog owners, the word “bloat” is like a stab of fear to their belly. Rightfully so! Bloat in dogs can be fatal. Bloat is the common term for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) The ASPCA says, “When bloat occurs, the dog’s stomach fills with air, fluid and/or food. The enlarged stomach puts pressure on other organs, can cause difficulty breathing, and eventually may decrease blood supply to a dog’s vital organs. This condition can cause rapid clinical signs and death in several hours. Even with immediate treatment, approximately 25% to 40% of dogs die from this medical emergency.” Oh my! Many pet owners aren’t even aware of what the symptoms of bloat are, or if their dog – because of his or her breed or breed mix – may be prone to bloat. (If you’re familiar with colic in horses, it is very similar.) So what causes bloat, and what can you do to reduce the risk that your dog will bloat? Read on…
My dog Max, because of his size (large), age (over 7), breed mix (deep chested), temperament (fearful/anxious) is a high bloat risk. I’ve had two bloat scares with him — neither time did I see his stomach swell, and both times it did not progress to bloat, thank goodness! He was exhibiting many of the classic symptoms: retching with nothing coming out, restlessness, drooling, and looking at his stomach like it was bothering him. We rushed him to the vet, and thankfully he burped on the way! Xrays confirmed he had a lot of gas in his stomach, but it didn’t progress to the swelling and twisting that is bloat.
What are the symptoms of bloat?
The symptoms of bloat can be so subtle, they can be hard to miss! If your dog’s stomach, behind his ribs, looks swollen – that is one clear sign, but not always present. Drs. Foster and Smith say, “The most obvious signs are abdominal distention (swollen belly) and nonproductive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. Other signs include restlessness, abdominal pain, and rapid shallow breathing. Profuse salivation may indicate severe pain. If the dog’s condition continues to deteriorate, especially if volvulus has occurred, the dog may go into shock and become pale, have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, and eventually collapse. A dog with gastric dilatation without volvulus can show all of these signs, but the more severe signs are likely to occur in dogs with both dilatation and volvulus.”
Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, DipABVP at The Pet Health Library lists the following:
Factors Increasing the Risk of Bloat
You can take the opposite of many of those and figure out what you can do in some of the factors to reduce the risk of bloat, such as feeding multiple smaller meals each day, slowing down how fast your dogs eats if he’s a fast eater, keeping him at a healthy weight, and feed canned/wet food diet from a bowl on the floor, and always give him access to water.
We hope this article helps you on your path to educating your self to be the best pet parent you can be!