Sick dogs and cats, Pt. 2

Now for part 2 of how to spot that your fur kid might have some serious health issues going on. We talked about lack of an appetite, decreased activity. Going hand in hand (or paw to paw for those who favor bad puns) with not eating is a loss of weight. Assuming you don't have them on a diet of course. Losing weight is an issue but when this is combined with other behavioral issues, it could indicate something serious. A friend of mine who recently lost her dog to cancer noticed that her dog wasn't eating...and then dropped weight very suddenly. She took him in shortly after noticing these signs and he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Fortunately he didn't suffer much but sometimes if you catch something early enough, you can give them a fighting chance.

Another sign is a sudden change in how much water they drink. Drinking more water is often associated with a few diseases including kidney disease (which we lost our last bully too) and diabetes mellitus. If you notice that your dog or cat is drinking a lot more water, see your veterinarian.

Yet another sign is not grooming. Dogs and cats that don't feel well don't groom themselves. Or you may notice a dull lusterless coat. If your pet's coat changes, have him/her evaluated by your veterinarian.

The last sign for today is bad breath. Also known as halitosis, bad breath can be the result of dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders. Dental disease is the #1 disease in dogs. If not treated it can lead to many other metabolic diseases that cn shorten your dog's and cat's life.

Sick dogs and cats, Pt. 1

One comment I hear from our clients is that they don't know if their dog or cat is sick. I generally remind them that any behavior that is out of the ordinary for their animal can be an indication that something is wrong.

I will review the signs that I see/hear about most often and almost all of them I have observed in my animals.

One of the most common signs is when an animal loses its appetite. This is usually the first time that owners will notice that something is amiss. As I mentioned earlier, when a routine differs, this will indicate an issue. For example, our oldest bully gets fed one cup in the morning, one at night. Several times in the last month he looks at his food, sniffs it, then walks away. And we know that his stomach is upset: typically he gets into something outside and eats it upsetting that tender bully gastrointestinal track. Feed your pets at regular time frames, maintain that consistency and it will be easier to spot a problem earlier.

Sometimes running parallel with the loss of appetite is a less active than normal pet. When Bishop's stomach bothers him, he is also a bit subdued and not his normal effervescent upbeat bull. Again, when he is quiet, we start looking a little closer. Try not to confuse this with a dog that is simply getting older when they naturally become less active.

Bufo Toad Poisoning

Recently a friend of ours contacted us and said that they thought their dog had grabbed a toad. They had heard that toads could be deadly but they weren't sure what to do. Yes, certain species of toads do secrete a very toxic substance that is highly toxic to dogs and cats. The substance is a defense mechanism: when the toad is grabbed (jaws of a predator for example), they secrete the toxin which irritates the mucous membrane of the assailant and they release their grip.

Unfortunately, I have see this a number of times. Take the following steps if you think your dog or cat has come into contact with a toad.

1. wash their mouth out, taking care to rinse the gums thoroughly

2. After rinsing, look carefully at the gums - they should be pink. If the gums are a fiery red, that means the dog has absorbed the toxin and it is crucial that you get to an emergency room.

Symptoms are excessive salivation, restlessness,. If left untreated, dogs will seizure, develop irregular heartbeats and in some cases, die from the toxins.

Keep your pets safe and keep wagging!

Smoking Cigarettes and Your Pets

A number of clients that we see at the hospital are smokers. How do I know? Their pets reak of cigarettes.

According to the American Cancer Society, second-hand smoke is responsible for:

- an estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers
- about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults
other breathing problems in non-smokers, including - coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
- 150,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually
- increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
more than 750,000 middle ear infections in children.

There isn't much difference between our lungs and our pet's lungs! Just like humans, our furry friends are also susceptible to lung disease due to second hand smoke.

We've discussed this at a hospital before and we bring it up to our clients that in the best interest of their pets, we recommend that they do not smoke around them.

Even if you choose not to stop smoking (come on people!), maybe you could smoke outside, away from your pet.

These animals don't have a choice. Make the right choice for them!

Keep Wagging and keep your kids (both kinds) safe and healthy.

Monique

Equine Spirit Sanctuary

I recently visited the Equine Spirit Sanctuary in beautiful Taos, New Mexico and met a wonderful person in Ruth Bourgeois who happens to be the director there. Ruth was very gracious with her time and gave us a tour of the wonderful facility. They do wonderful work there but, predictably, they are understaffed and underfunded! No surprise there! I encourage you to visit their website and see what they are about.

I posted a video so you can see what a beautiful home these horses have...and I encourage you to make a donation! I know times are tough but these are also tough times for some of these horses! Many are brought to the facility after being with someone for 10, 15, 20 years...because the families that raised them can no longer afford to keep them! In fact, there is a timely and informative article in DVM magazine about the impact the economy has had on horses...you can read it here.

Ruth introduced us to Soxy, Bindy and Ginger among others...all were magnificent creatures and you can look for more video to appear shortly!

Keep wagging everyone!

Dog Nail Trimming Part II

One of the most viewed of our videos is our series on trimming your dogs nails. Yes, we’re also shooting a video on how to trim your cats nails! One question that I hear frequently at the animal hospital is “how often should I trim my dog or cats nails?”

First, we need to understand why it is important to trim your dog or cats nails. I’ve seen some dogs that are brought in that have nails that haven’t been trimmed in a very long time and are actually curling back around into their paw! Obviously for health reasons, this is not a good thing. That’s why reason why you want to trim your dog or cats nails: Health.

If your pets nails are overgrown, they can quickly develop other problems with their hip or back. Bone and joint problems are also common in dogs that have been neglected. Ingrown nails can lead to bleeding, infections and it’s all downhill from their.

Trimming nails does not have to be traumatic experience for your dog or cat. Frequently it’s as traumatic for a pet owner as it is for a dog or cat. As I mention in my videos, you should get your dog used to having his feet touched. This is one of the biggest obstacles…many simply don’t like it…so the sooner that you can get them used to their paws being touched, gently squeezed or groomed, the easier it will be to trim them.

Many owners are reluctant to clip their dog or cats nails. Either they have never attempted to trim their dog or cats nails, attempted but ended up nicking the quick (the blood vessel running through part of the nail) and the dog bled. This can be traumatic for both you and the dog or cat. And of course, the minute they see you with the clippers again, they'll clear out of the room. Which is understandable. Particular if you have a dog or cat that doesn't like to have his/her feet handled.

Some like clippers. Some like grinders/sanders (Dremmel). I use both. I use the clippers to take off the majority of what I'm trimming, then use the sander to smooth out the sharp edges. I say use what is comfortable and if you are comfortable trimming their nails, I recommend having your vet do it.

Of course, getting back to the question: How often? Depends on your dog or cat and what they walk on. Dogs in New York City rarely get their nails trimmed (assuming they're allowed to walk outside on the concrete). Holding all things constant, I would say a general rule of thumb would be every 4 weeks.

Have a great day and keep wagging!

Cat Food Recall

We wanted you to be aware of the following food recall from Nutro Products:

Franklin, Tennessee (May 21, 2009) -- Today, Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO(R) NATURAL CHOICE(R) COMPLETE CARE(R) Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO(R) MAX(R) Cat Dry Foods with "Best If Used By Dates" between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO(R) dry cat food.

This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier. An extensive review confirmed that only these two premixes were affected. This recall does not affect any NUTRO(R) dog food products, wet dog or cat food, or dog and cat treats.

Affected product was distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Israel. We are working with all of our distributors and retail customers, in both the US and internationally, to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or distributed further.

Consumers who have purchased affected product should immediately discontinue feeding the product to their cats, and switch to another product with a balanced nutritional profile. While we have received no consumer complaints related to this issue, cat owners should monitor their cat for symptoms, including a reduction in appetite or refusal of food, weight loss, vomiting or diarrhea. If your cat is experiencing health issues or is pregnant, please contact your veterinarian.

Consumers who have purchased product affected by this voluntary recall should return it to their retailer for a full refund or exchange for another NUTRO(R) dry cat food product. Cat owners who have more questions about the recall should call 1-800-833-5330 between the hours 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST.

Remember, this affects only NUTRO CAT food marked with the dates identified above. For more detailed product information, visit www.nutroproducts.com and click on "recall". Please direct any questions about the food to the 800# listed above.

Sincerely,
Monique and the Nose Prints Family

Dogs, eating, and exercise

From time to time you may hear the term "bloat"...and if you are unfamiliar, please read this and watch the video. I'll also provide a link with more detailed information at the end of this post.

My husband, being the clueless type (he would be the first to admit this - in fact, he just received his certification in Florida, making it the third state he has been certified (8A-1) in cluelessness), recently fed the dogs and took them out to play. Yes, it was probably only 90 degrees and about an hour after they ate. In his defense, he believed they had not been fed yet. Well, flash forward 30 minutes after the dogs came inside - and Tuna is pacing around, panting. This I would have expected of Bishop - it takes him a long time to relax and settle down after coming inside but Big Tuna, she settles down in minutes. She was laying on her side and panting, the later being the unusual behavior. I noticed she looked...well, unusually rotund. I poked her abdomen and it barely moved. I realized, to my horror, that she may be experiencing "bloat"...a scenario where a dogs stomach actually twists and pinches off the blood flow to the lower intestines. Long story short, we drove to the emergency clinic and stopped on the way to pick up Mylanta - this actually helped her burp and pass gas...if they can do that, they are not bloating.

Here is an excellent site for information on Bloat. I would encourage you to pass this information along - so few pet owners are aware of this very serious condition!

Cocoa Mulch toxicity in dogs

I know...I know...it's springtime and everyone wants to have their lawns and yards looking their finest...which means landscaping. Weeding. Mulching. Pesticides. Actually, I'm only concerned with the mulch aspect of landscaping today. Specifically, Cocoa mulch. You see, Cocoa mulch (and I'm sure its a very fine product as far as mulch goes) is not necessarily a good thing to have around a yard if you have a dog in your family. Cocoa mulch is toxic to dogs. And no, this isn't one of those wild internet rumors that rear their head every couple of years. This one has some substance. You can also check out this link here to verify the toxicity risk. 

Cleaning a Dogs skin part 2

Okay...I promised you more and here is an issue that plagues many dogs with funky tails. Since a lot of bulldogs have corkscrew or just downright bizarre tails, they require a bit more care than most. Using Mr. Bishop as an example, we  have to make sure that we clean around his big fold of skin above his tail. This is the area most prone to infection and he can't clean it...so it leaves it up to us. We know when it is bothering him when he turns his head from side to side as if something were bitting his rump...but usually it means his skin is acting up a bit and we missed a cleaning or two. So watch the video and learn how easy it is to clean and maintain healthy skin on your dog! A clean dog with infection free skin is a happy dog. My father used to say this all the time when I was growing up and we never owed a dog. Odd man but now I know what he meant. Keep Wagging!

Caring for Bulldog Skin

I've spoken in the past about the issues that pure breeds pose. Everything from surgeries to repair bad knees, backs and hips to allergies. I'm going to show you how to take care of bulldog skin. Actually any dog that has wrinkles needs to have her/his skin cleaned but most pet owners are not aware of this. If they don't take care of the skin properly, their dog can end up with a nasty infection that can quickly become a very serious problem. So if you see a red inflamed area around a fold, time to wipe it out and clean. If a dogs face smells unusually bad, time to clean their face. Good rule of thumb: clean their face by wiping with a baby wipe or wet gauze at least twice a week. Minimum.  Watch the video below to give you an idea of how to do this very easy procedure and keep your dog happy and healthy! Keep wagging!

miracle dog swims six miles

I have to share this incredible story with you. Just when you think you've heard a story about a dog or a cats resilience...there comes another story that makes your jaw drop. And this is one of those stories. Apparently this dog fell overboard and swam six miles...okay, I won't spoil the rest but you can check out the story here: _ http://tiny.cc/QNwLe 

Dogs and cats...okay, not just dogs or cats but all animals...they continue to amaze me with their survival instincts and skills. I can only imagine how the owner reacted when she got word that her dog was alive! This is a wonderful story! 

Whimsical clip of the week

Big Tuna...lets see how I can put this? She does not possess the most intimidating growl to would be intruders. Okay, I should be fair and say that I have no idea what she is trying to communicate with this growl...its always accompanied by a shake of the head and the pursed lips...always the pursed lips. So it may be a play thing. Anyhow, when you hear it, the first instinct is to pinch her ample cheeks rather than run. Too damn cute.

What do Barkology products and Evil laughter have to do with each other?

Feel free to blame my husband for this one. He insisted that I post this for the "whimsical" value...I still have no idea what he is referring to. This was a commercial for our Barkology products that he put together but ultimately never distributed. But he insisted that the laugh should be heard by the masses and that I should indulge him just this once. Again.

Canine Acupuncture

Here's a subject which we haven't talked about yet but you should definitely be aware of. Acupuncture has been around seemingly forever and in the past couple of years the use of acupuncture on our four legged companions has become increasingly popular. Acupuncuture is used for treating a variety of ailements as well as a preventative treatement. 

Noseprints recently paid a visit to Dr. Gary Zinderman of the Animal Health and Healing Center. You can watch video of Tucker the wonder daschund undergoing treatment for his chronic back pain. Some dogs are prone to back issues and one look at a Daschund and you understand why they have back issues. They have no legs and are basically a tube with a head and a tail. Okay, maybe not that bad but the elongated body and hence spine just scream "back problems just around the corner". What is also very interesting is that acupuncture is used on larger mammals (excluding my cousin Vinnie) as well. In fact, check out the video below on the comparison of needles used on a dog and those used on a horse. The equine acupuncture segment will be posted in a few weeks. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact myself or Dr. Gary Zinderman and we'll get you some answers. 

Keep Wagging everybody!

spaying and neutering dogs and cats

I have to share one of our newest shirts with you because not only is it a beautiful shirt, it also carries a serious message. Stylish and serious...who would have thunk?

The spay and neuter shirt from Barkology not only is a beautiful design with a wonderful charcoal drawing on the front...but it also has the one message that needs to be everyones mantra: spay and neuter. Spay and neuter. Spay and neuter.

Why? Let me whack you upside the head with the following:

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that more than 40 million American households own at least one dog and that more than 38 million own at least one cat. However, millions more unwanted animals are homeless. By having your pet spayed or neutered, you can make sure not to add to the number of unwanted pets and protecting your pet's health at the same time.

Now, for those unfamiliar with the concept of spaying and neutering, let this serve as your primer.

Female dogs and cats are usually spayed around the age of 6 months, preferably before their first heat. Spaying is a surgical procedure in which the uterus and both ovaries are removed. In addition to ensuring that your pet will not have puppies or kittens, spaying provides a number of additional health benefits. Spaying removes the risk of uterine cancer and dramatically reduces the risk of mammary cancer (common in older intact female dogs and cats), especially if it is done before the first heat. Also, spayed animals cannot develop uterine infections or complications due to pregnancy.

Neutering of male pets is also usually done around the age of six months and involves surgically removing the testicles. This surgery does not change your pet's behavior in any negative ways, but it does cut down on the male's desire to roam away from home to find a female. Neutering also dramatically reduces the risk of prostate diseases (including cancer), which are common in older, intact male dogs. I can't tell you how many males (0f the human variety) object to their dogs being "fixed"...they're not thinking about the dogs. They're only thinking about whatever hangup it is that makes men do such things. So guys, remember: it's not about you, it's about your dogs health. And preventing more dogs that needs homes and won't get them.

Both surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, but most pets recover quickly in just a day or two. Your veterinarian will provide instructions for caring for your pet at home after the surgery. For example, you'll need to restrict your pet's activity for a week or two to allow healing to occur. Most pets can return to their usual routine around the time that their sutures are removed.

You can check out Barkology on Nose Prints' website!

Keep Wagging everybody!

Pied-billed Grebe

Be still.

You would be surprised what you see when you just stop. And look...pay attention to life around you.

From time to time, I like to remind myself to just...slow down and take in life. Its very easy to get caught up in things and, in a totally oblivious state, take for granted the unique life swirling about you. Case in point. My husband and I went kayaking (without the dogs) and sort of blowing through the river, not really taking in the beautiful life forms around us. We decided to just stop and take a moment...and what do we see? Something that looked like a duck...but not. We drifted along, following the little guy. He had the most unique way of submerging...just sort of slowly going straight down, almost as if he were being pulled straight down. Fortunately, we were able to get a good shot of him on video...we had to look him up and I found out what he was: a pied-billed Grebe.

Take a look at this cutey:

Turtle Rescue

I am looking forward to the time that I never have to rescue a turtle that has been hit by a car. It happens way too often. 

Approximately one year ago, we rescued a turtle that was hit by a car as he/she was attempting to cross the road. Yes, to get to the other side. I grabbed him and he didn't look so good. His shell was cracked and he was bleeding. I brought him to the hospital, had x rays taken and saw that he had a nasty crack in his shell.  The crack in his shell is easier to see in the photo at left...it's on the right side, middle of the shell. You can also see where some of the shell was rubbed off from the road. We brought him home and released him in our pond. That was one year ago. We finally saw him for the first time several days ago. Happily sunning himself with a couple of other smaller models. It was so nice to see that he survived. We've rescued a number of turtles but not all of them make it depending on the severity of their injuries. Anyhow, just wanted to share with you a happy success story! Keep wagging!

Yearly whimsical post featuring puppies

From time to time i like to talk and show dogs being...just themselves. In this case, I ran across video from when Big Tuna was about a year old and was playing with Mr. Bishop our older male English bulldog and Frodo and Ruadh, two wonderful pit bulls and Tonka, a mutt (I think). Anyhow, pay attention the overweight white bio mass of a puppy that resembles an on demand water heater. That girl can swim! 

Enjoy and keep wagging!

Car Travel and Your Dog (and Cats too!)

This is the time of year that people, cooped up for most of the very long winter, want to escape for the weekend. Which means driving someone. With you four leggeds. 

That ominous string music you here being queued up in the background doesn't have to be there. Sure, some dogs are a nightmare to travel with. Car sickness, barking, projectile vomiting on the windows....sometimes Dogs just don't travel well. But then there are the others that enjoy jumping in the car, ears flipping in the breeze, not a care in the world where they are headed, just that the pack is out and about. So yes, traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, particularly if you prepare ahead of time and ensure your pet's comfort during the trip.

Make sure that your dog is used to being in a car before you take them on a long journey.  Begin by taking your pet for short trips and rewarding it with praise and a treat afterward.  Avoid feeding your pet just before short rides.

Car (motion) sickness can make travel difficult for both you and your pet. Signs of motion sickness include restlessness, drooling, vomiting and in extreme cases, speaking in tongues. If can remember, please do yourself a favor and don't feed your dog for 5-6 hours before long trips.  If necessary, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to relieve your anxious pet's discomfort.

Dogs should ride inside the car rather than inside a camper or in the bed of a pickup truck.  Restrict your dog's movement so that it cannot interfere with the driver.  Special harnesses and car seats are widely available.  Do not let your dog stick its head out the window, which can lead to eye injuries. You may recall in one of my videos that the buddy belt has a built in area to clip a seat belt into. If you don't recall, I'll help you by posting the video here:

Remember to stop for regular breaks every few hours to give your dog a chance to exercise, relieve him/herself, and have a drink of water.  Secure your pet with a leash before opening the vehicle door, and pay attention to pet restrictions at rest stops.

Never, never, never leave any animal in a parked vehicle in warm weather, no matter how briefly.  The inside temperature can skyrocket to a dangerous level in a few short minutes, even with the windows cracked open.  This can lead to heat stroke, brain damage, and death very quickly. Conversely, you don't want to leave them in a car when it is 2 degrees either. Just use common sense. 

Many lodging facilities accommodate pets, but be sure to check pet policies and make arrangements well in advance of your travel date.

Keep Wagging!

Caring for your Elderly Dog or Cat

Let's face it. As we embrace dogs and cats as members of our families, they are living longer, happier lives. And just like humans, as our dogs and cats get older, their health gradually deteriorates. As caretakers, we need to be tuned into what is going on with them since they can't speak to us. Or put another way, they can speak, we just have to learn the language by being cognizant of their behavior and keenly watching them for signs that will tell us if we need to care for them differently.

One of the more obvious adjusments we need to make both as humans and for our four legged companions is that as we become less active, we need to modify our diet AND excercise. We don't need as much fuel so we don't (or shouldn't) take in as much. Weight gain can have serious ramifications for both of us. Overweight dogs have a better chance of injuring a knee and it puts more strain on arthritic joints. A lighter older dog will be much happier and more pain free if they're not lugging around the equivalent of a microwave on their body in the form of extra weight. They don't need to work on their winter layer. That's why they have (or should) a nice, warm comfortable bed. That being said, you should keep them (and yourself) as active as possible within limitations. In other words, you probably don't want your 18 year old lab jumping for frisbees. A walk is probably just fine. And remember the dog massage therapy that I discussed awhile ago? This might make for a wonderful treat for your older dog and cat!

Pay attention to their grooming habits. As our cat Blanche hit 17 years of age, she began to have difficulty cleaning some of the areas of her body. This could have been due to arthritis (no, she wasn't fat). Be sure to brush them and groom them a bit more than usual. And by doing so, you'll notice small differences in skin condition or other things that may alert you to other conditions that may be present (fleas, dander, weight loss etc.).

One of the biggest indications that something is going on will be a change in your dog or cats habits. If they stop grooming, eating, socializing with you or playing, if they begin to vomit, lose weight or stop drinking, or drink in excess. All of these are signs that it's time to get a physical and see what is driving the behavior. Water is key. Our first bullie Maggie began to drink more water than usual and that was the que that I had to bring her in. And it turned out that this was the beginning stage of her renal failure.

Always check with your vet to confirm any suspicions you may have or just to monitor how your dog or cat is holding up. Your pet should have a full physical exam at LEAST once per year. If your pet is a senior (over 7, 5 for giant dogs) then they should be seen at LEAST twice per year. These guys age very quickly so more frequent exams are warranted. The quicker you can diagnose a chronic problem, the better it is for your dog, cat and you.

We were able to have Maggie in our life a bit longer because we caught her renal failure early and began giving her fluids both a.m. and p.m. at home. It became our ritual where she would come over and sit in front of us as we pulled out the fluid bag. She was a good girl and got her treats. One important issue (which will will discuss in a another post) is where do you draw the line with trying to keep an animal in your life.

Till next time, Keep Wagging!

New Year and a time to give thanks

The start of a new year is a time for most of us to be reflective...take stock of our lives, give thanks and look forward to our lives unfolding for hopefully another year. And unfortunately, there is the other side of the equation that balances out the happy part. Loss.

And today, we lost a beloved member of our four legged family, T2, our rescue African Spur Thighed tortoise. I will save specifics for another post but T2 succumbed to pneumonia.

I know grieving the loss of a reptile becomes an easy target to mock ("It's a frickin' tortoise for Christ's sake!"), but everyone defines family differently. If my friend loves her family of Koi fish and grieves over the loss of one of them, who am I to apply my definition of family to theirs? Grief is grief, loss is loss. And of course, loss helps refocus your attention to the things that you take for granted. Loss gives meaning to what you have.

So, today, I am thankful that I and the rest of my family are healthy. I am thankful that both my husband and I have jobs and a home that isn't being foreclosed on. And of course, we are happy that we did have T2 in our lives for a half decade or so.

I leave you with one final thought. I read today that one of Katie Courics regrets was not telling her husband that she loved him twenty times a day.

So don't wait to lose someone or something to tell them what they mean to you. Be thankful for everything you have in your life and keep wagging baby, keep wagging!