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Dog Xylitol Poisoning on the Rise

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:10:00 +0000

It seems that the numbers of dogs who are poisoned after consuming Xylitol are increasing quickly. Authorities feel that this may be due to the increase in consumable products for people that contain Xylitol.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is primarily used as a substitute for sugar in a lot of diet and confectionary products. Derived from the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, Xylitol is naturally occurring and can even be found in corn husks! It is a crystalline sugar alcohol that is used to replace sugar as a sweetener in various food products, most popular of which is chewing gum and candy.

It effectively imitates the effect that natural sugar has on the body, causing a release of insulin from the pancreas as well as an overall reduction in blood sugar levels.

Bloating and diarrhea affects humans who have consumed too much Xylitol; however, it is felt that these side effects are less problematic that what is experienced after over-consumption of the more popular sugar substitute, Sorbitol. Because of the more severe side-effects of Sorbitol, manufacturers are scrambling to replace some of the sugar in their products with Xylitol instead.

Sadly, Xylitol negatively effects dogs as it is quickly absorbed through their digestive tracts, which causes a quick and strong release of insulin that is associated with secondary hypoglycemia.

In 2009, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Center received roughly 2,690 calls that were directly related to a pet who accidentally consumed Xylitol. These numbers indicate a 40% increase from 3 years ago and 30% increase from just 2004!

Dr. Eric Dunayer, Senior Toxicologist at the Animal Poison Control Center affirms that dogs that accidently ingest products that have been sweetened with Xylitol, will have experience a sudden drop in their blood sugar levels; this will result in a loss of coordination, depression, and even seizures:

"These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product. Therefore, it is crucial that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately."

Dr. Dunayer maintains that there is a correlation between Xylitol ingestions and the development of liver failure in dogs, although it was previously believed that only large consumptions of Xlyitol would result in such problems in dogs.

"We seem to be learning new information with each subsequent case we manage. Our concern used to be mainly with products that contain Xylitol as one of the first ingredients. However, we have begun to see problems developing from ingestions of products with lesser amounts of this sweetener," explains Dr. Dunayer.

Dr. Dunayer also states even with the consumption of smaller concentrations of Xylitol, the onset of clinical signs may well be delayed for as long as 12 hours after a dog accidentally ingested in.

"Therefore, it is important to remember that even if your pet does not develop signs right away, it does not mean that problems won't develop later on."

Xylitol in tiny amounts can potentially cause significant toxic poisoning in dogs. Even just one to two pieces of regular sized chewing gum that contains Xylitol can be potentially toxic to a dog that weighs less than 20lbs.

In dogs who have ingested Xylitol, the symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of coordination, pale gums, liver damage/failure, and even seizures. If these symptoms are not immediately treated, Xylitol toxicity may eventually lead to liver failure, blood clotting abnormalities, and possibly death. Therefore it is of extreme importance that your take your dog to a veterinarian immediately if you suspect that he ingested any Xylitol containing product, especially if it has been less than 2 hours as a veterinarian will have better luck in preventing your dog’s body from absorbing it.

As a dog owner you can prevent Xylitol poisoning by removing all consumer products containing Xylitol from your home.

Photo Credit: House of Sims

Give a Dog a Bone - NOT!

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:13:00 +0000

A few days ago the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), released a consumer products update and in it they included bones that are meant for dogs.

Most pet owners feel that it is quite natural to give their dogs bones to chew on. However, it is never recommended by any veterinarian as it can cause serious injury to dogs.

A veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration, Dr Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., states:

"Some people think it's safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast. Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death."

"Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can't get to them," suggests Dr. Stamper, who also adds that taking out the trash immediately or placing any bones way out of your dog's reach until you have a chance to properly dispose of them are also good choices. "And pay attention to where your dog's nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood - steer him away from any objects lying in the grass."

The FDA has compiled a list of 10 reasons why you should not give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth. Your dog can easily break or chip a tooth or two by chewing on a hard bone. You will then need to take your dog into to have expensive veterinary dentistry.

2. Mouth or tongue injuries. Dogs can easily bite down on their own tongue and inside of their mouths whilst gnawing on a bone. This can result in a lot of blood and will definitely require a trip to see a veterinarian.

3. Bone gets hooked around a dog's lower jaw. This is extremely scary and painful for a dog to experience and will also cost a pretty penny to repair. You should immediately take your dog to an emergency veterinarian if this happens.

4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus. Bones have the potential of getting stuck inside your dog's throat, or rather the tube that food travels through to reach their stomach. If this does happen your dog may gag, in an attempt to bring the bone back up. A trip to the vet will be in order as well.

5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This can happen when a dog accidentally inhales a tiny piece of the bone itself. Because your dog will have trouble breathing, you will need to take him to a veterinarian immediately!

6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. Most often, a dog will be able to swallow a bone just fine, but then it will get stuck in the dog's stomach as it is too large to pass through and into the dog's intestines. Your dog may need surgery or even upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, depending on the bone's size.

7. Bone gets stuck in intestines. The bone will cause a blockage if it does get stuck and surgery will be required.

8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Due to the size of the bone, your dog may have difficulty in passing the bone fragments because they're very sharp and they will scrape the inside of the large intestine and rectum as they move along. This will cause extreme pain for your dog and will require a trip to the veterinarian.

9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. If you notice bleeding, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

10. Peritonitis. This is a bacterial infection of the abdomen which is caused when bone fragments stab holes in your dog's stomach or intestines. Although it is very difficult to treat, your dog will need to see an emergency veterinarian as peritonitis can kill your dog.

Photo Credit: FDA

Carbon Cat-Paw Prints

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:42:00 +0000

With another Earth Day celebration just dying down, most people are more consciously aware of their energy use and practice recycling and reusing in an effort to reduce their own personal carbon foot prints on the Earth. Whilst this is certainly a good thing, cat owners should not forget their cat's carbon paw prints either.

Your Cat's Carbon Paw Print

In 2007, a survey was conducted by the American Veterinary Association, in which it was found that there were more than 80 million household cats in the USA.

On her blog about green living for cats, environmentalist Holly Tse, states: "Reducing one cat's carbon footprint is helpful, but 80 million cats collectively could make an enormous difference!"

By using energy efficient light bulbs and Energy Star rated appliances, you are certainly well on your way to reducing your carbon footprint; which is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions created by your activities. But how do you help your kitty reduce her carbon paw print? Here are a few Earth-friendly ideas:

Cat Beds

Choose a comfy bed for your kitty made from 100% organic cotton or hemp. Natural hemp is extremely durable and will outlast any cat bed made from synthetic fibers.

Cat Litter

Avoid using a clay based cat litter as this will only end up in a landfill somewhere; and therefore it has a negative impact on the environment. Instead opt for cat litter that is made with recycled newspapers and other materials.

Cat Carriers

Every cat needs to get out of the house at some point, such as going to the vet, and most prefer to do it in style. Pick a carrier that will allow your cat to move about freely inside but that is also good for the planet, like carriers that are made with recycled plastic, recycled water bottles or hemp.

Cat Toys

A fun way to help ease your cat's carbon paw print is by making cat toys yourself by reusing and recycling items that you find inside your home. Place a few pieces of rice inside a small piece of paper and fold it up into a ball - now your cat will have a fun, noisy ball to play with. You could also use an empty toilet paper roll and place your cat's favorite treats inside and then close the ends with paper – place a few a holes around it and toss it to your cat to play with.

Cat Treats

Cats love treats, but those store bought ones can be filled with preservatives and other ingredients that are not entirely healthy for your cat. Plus, by purchasing them you are encouraging companies to mass produce such products that are unhealthy - both for your cat and for the environment. Instead, try your hand at cooking up some delectable treats for your cat at home.

Household Cleaners

Throw out all of those chemically laden cleaning products as not only are they toxic to the environment, but they are also toxic to your cat as well. In fact, Tse states that:

"Over time, our pets develop a much higher concentration of toxic chemicals in their systems than humans do. Since your cat spends so much time grooming itself, it may ingest the chemicals."

Choose cleaners that contain enzymes as these are biomolecules that digest the organic odor-causing substances found in cat urine and waste.

Another easy cleaning agent is vinegar and baking soda.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Remember to keep these three R's in mind when helping to reduce your cat's carbon paw print (and yours). Try to avoid buying new supplies and toys etc, and instead reduce your waste by reusing and recycling as much as possible.

Also consider having your cat spayed or neutered. One female cat and her young can create more than 42,000 cats during a 7 year period - this will create extra carbon paw prints.

Photo Credit: flickr

Lyme disease on the Rise

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

With the month of April halfway through, flea and tick season is fast approaching. In fact, the relatively mild winter that was experienced through much of the US has actually led to an increase in reported cases of Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is transmitted by infected ticks. The most common carrier tick is the deer tick, although smaller dog ticks can also be blamed. Even though they can infect another being at any time of the year, deer ticks usually hibernate under the snow during winter. However, since the US experienced a lower than average snowfall this year, what little snow there was on the ground began to melt away a while ago. This means that the deer ticks have had an early start in their resurgence in both animals and humans.

Along the Eastern seaboard of the USA, veterinarians and doctors alike have already started to see a dramatic increase in the number of patients, both furry and human, with tick bites. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to claim the East Coast from southern Maine to northern Maryland a high-risk area for Lyme Disease.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills of the Maine Center of Disease Control agrees with the CDC's claim by stating that 50 new Lyme Disease cases were reported in Maine during both January and February. This number is a huge increase from the five year average of 15 that is normal for these two months.

Over 900 cases of Lyme disease have been reported to the CDC every year over the past two years – this number is expected to increase in 2010.

Even veterinarians are seeing an increase in the number of their furry patients who have contracted Lyme Disease. Most veterinarians in southern Maine have stated that their doggie patients were diagnosed with Lyme Disease during this past winter, an occurrence that usually happens around the springtime.

Veterinarian, Dr. Sandra Mitchell, from the Animal Medical Associates in Saco, Maine, explains:

"I was pulling ticks off (dogs) in January and seeing active cases of Lyme disease in January. It's already been a banner year for ticks. Once they get out and start breeding and feeding, we're in for a rough year."

However, Dr. Diane Shively, a relief veterinarian at Lakes Region Animal Hospital in Windham, Maine, believes that pet owners should never have stopped being concerned about ticks and Lyme Disease:

"Lyme disease in this area is very common. We deal with it on a regular basis."

Since its discovery in 1975, very little medical advancement has occurred in the treatment of Lyme Disease in more complex cases.

When a human being contracts Lyme Disease, a medical doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics immediately, which will usually prevent any further problems. But pets are not as lucky as most vets do not know how to cure a dog of Lyme Disease, especially in advanced stages.

"If you ask 10 vets, you get 11 options," Dr. Mitchell said. "It's true there isn't any scientific proof to support any of the common treatments. We're kind of left to our own good judgment."

However, all veterinarians agree that Lyme Disease is more of a threat today than it ever was in prior years.

"If the dog is getting a positive test for Lyme disease, people need to be aware of their environment. If it's a parent with children, you want to know if your dog is positive if your kids play in the same place," said Dr. Shively.

Lyme Disease can be contracted by humans, dogs and horses. It occurs in 49 States and is most prevalent between Massachusetts and Maryland, in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin and Minnesota), and in the west (California, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon).

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota actually account for 90% of all reported cases of Lyme disease in the US.

To learn more about Lyme Disease visit Petwellbeing's Wiki.

Photo Credit: jkirkhart35

Happy Earth Day!

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Thursday, 22 April 2010, is Earth Day. It was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, to promote awareness of the overall health of the Earth and the environment in which we all live.

Today, many people are aware of how to 'go green' for themselves by eating organic foods and carpooling to work; but there are now ways in which you can help your pet to 'go green' as well!

Green Food

Most commercially produced pet food has reconstituted animal by-products - the low-grade leftover waste after the beef and poultry industries have finished packaging their products for human sale.

The majority of the actual animal products that are in commercial pet food are classified as "4-D" = "Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Disabled".

Look for pet food that states it contains FDA certified food grade meat as these meat origins were raised in humane ways. USDA guidelines state that pet food should not contain pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial or genetically engineered ingredients.

Another option is to make your own pet food or use a dehydrated, natural food such as made by the Honest Kitchen. A good rule of thumb should be to never feed your pet anything that you wouldn't eat.

Green Health Care

It is far better to prevent an illness than to try and treat it once your pet is already sick. Consider using natural pet health products, like Milk Thistle to help cleanse your cat or dog's liver and prevent liver disease in the long run.

PetWellbeing.com has a large array of herbal products specifically designed for the health of cats and dogs.

Green House

Purchase a steam mop to clean your tiled kitchen floor, instead of using chemical disinfectants, as your pet will inadvertently ingest some of these chemicals when they lick their paws later after walking over your clean floors.

Green Poop

As shocking as it sounds, cats and dogs in the USA create roughly 10 million tons of waste each year! Most of it will end up in a landfill or be left on the ground to be washed into the sewer system.

The best 'green' solution is to compost your dog's waste. However, do not use this compost on your vegetable garden because it will not heat up enough to kill pathogens like E. coli. Instead, bury an old, metal trash can and use that as a pet poop composter.

Use biodegradable bags to scoop your dog's poop when out walking. This will prevent it from spending eternity in a plastic bag in a landfill.

Avoid clumping clay cat litter as it is strip-mined, which is very unhealthy for the Earth. Moreover, the clay sediment is infused with carcinogenic silica dust that can actually coat a cat's lungs very quickly leading to chronic respiratory problems.

The actual clumping agent, sodium bentonite, commonly found in grouting and sealing products because it can increase by 15-18 times its dry size, is often accidentally ingested by a cat whenever they groom themselves, and can poison a cat because it acts like expanding cement inside their body.

Look for cat litter that uses recycled newspaper and that is eco-friendly instead.

Green Toys

Give your pet toys that are made with recycled materials and sustainable fibers, such as hemp. Make your own pet toys using recycled pieces of string, paper and cardboard boxes.

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

This is a great 'green' choice for your pet's health, as well as the Earth's environment. Spaying or neutering your pet will not only help them avoid certain health issues but will also help prevent pet overpopulation.

Adopt a Pet

Everyone knows the importance of recycling. So why not do your part too and recycle someone else's 'unwanted' pet and adopt one from your local animal shelter? Give a pet a new lease on life by bringing them home with you!

Photo Credit: Scarleth White

National Pet ID Week

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

This week, 18 - 24 April, 2010, is National Pet ID week in the USA.

Although there are many pets that are lost each year in America, only about 2% of cats and 15% of dogs are ever reunited with their human families. The best way to increase your chances of being reunited with your pet is to make sure that he or she always has proper identification.

Traditional pet identification methods consist of either an ID tag or a tiny tube that are clipped onto a pet's collar, along with a rabies tag and license. The ID tag is inscribed with the contact information of the pet's owner. The tube usually contains a small piece of paper on which a pet owner can write identifying information about their pet, including their own contact information as well.

Tattooing

For many years, pet owners have opted to discreetly tattoo their pets for identification purposes. Tattoos are painless to apply and are instantly traceable.

Tattoos are done by qualified tattooists and are usually placed either on the tip of the ear or near the groin area.

Microchipping

One of the more common forms of pet identification, microchipping consists of a tiny microchip that is roughly the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is embedded under the pet's skin that lies loosely around its neck. Each microchip is assigned a unique identification number that is then registered with a national database.

When a found pet is taken into a veterinary clinic or animal shelter, the staff will immediately scan the pet with a universal microchip reader. If found, the scanner will then reveal the microchip ID number and which database it is registered with.

The staff can then call the database registry to report the animal found. The database registry then contacts the pet owner.

Since statistics prove that the chances of finding a lost pet are six times greater if they are microchipped, most animal shelters provide microchipping for pet's prior to their adoption. Veterinary clinics also offer microchipping as well.

If you are concerned about having your pet microchipped, you can read a brochure that the American Veterinary Medical Association put together on their website.

There are other steps that you can take to help recover your pet quickly in the event that he or she is lost or stolen:

* Whilst an ID tag is a necessity that no pet should be without, to make it even more effective, the ID tag should be registered with a national recovery service and database. Always remember to keep your information up-to-date with the recovery service.

* Keep an up-to-date list of all the people you can think of that knows your pet well. Whether they are your family members, neighbors or dog park friends, these people will be the first people that you contact should your pet go missing and can help keep an eye out for your pet.

* Take a photo of your pet every month and keep a copy of the most recent one online, such as on Facebook or Flickr. This way you have the ability to access it anytime from anywhere in the world. This is especially helpful if you have to print out posters or post on local message boards.

* Make your own ID tag by using PCPetID. Available at Petco stores nationwide, the PCPetID is a portable computer storage device that allows you to create a distinctive ID tag for your pet by entering as much information, or as little information, as you want, via a USB port. It is waterproof and shock resistant.

* Another great option is to give your dog a real dog tag from Tag'Em. You can create 5 lines of text that fits on a military size dog tag - perfect for large breed dogs!

Photo Credit: liza31337

Dryer Sheets are NOT safe to use in a pet household

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Pet hair seems to get anywhere and everywhere these days.

But there is a very well-meaning suggestion floating around that states pet owners should use dryer sheets to repel their pet's fur. When put to the test, this theory certainly seems to work: dryer sheets are designed to cut down and even eliminate static, which is what causes pet hair to stick to fabrics in the first place.

Pet owners, who are deep in the fight against pet dander, even choose to wipe their pets down with a dryer sheet to reduce any static buildup.

However, even though laundry companies are quite happy to encourage this secondary use of their products, how safe are they to use on pets?

Safety concerns

The reason why dryer sheets work so well in repelling static, and smell so good too, is because they contain a variety of chemicals.

Each laundry company has their own specific formula but your favorite fabric softener or dryer sheet may contain any of the following chemicals that are associated with certain health concerns:

*A-Terpineol: Causes respiratory problems, such as fatal edema as well as damage to a pet's central nervous system

* Benzyl Alcohol: Irritates the a pet's upper respiratory tract

* Benzyl Acetate: Associated with pancreatic cancer

* Camphor: Also causes major damage to a pet's central nervous system

* Chloroform: This is considered to be an anesthetic, a carcinogenic and a neurotoxin

* Ethyl Acetate: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed this as a narcotic on its Hazardous Waste list

* Ethanol: Also on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list, this chemical can cause central nervous system disorders

* Linalool: Yet another narcotic that can wreak havoc on a pet's central nervous system

* Pentane: Studies have shown that this chemical can be quite harmful if inhaled

Pet Health Warnings

None of the above-mentioned chemicals are safe for pets, let alone humans! In fact, the Merck Veterinary Manual states that cationic detergents, found in most major fabric softeners and dryer sheets, can trigger a variety of problems for pets that range from minor irritations, such as itching and rashes, to widespread suffering.

To be fair, every laundry company has wording on their packaging that advises pet owners to keep their dryer sheets away from their pets so as to avoid accidental ingestion. But that is not the only way in which dryer sheets, and fabric softeners, can be harmful to your pets.

Interactions

Most laundry and other cleaning products are unregulated simply because the manufacturers do not believe that the chemicals in their products can be absorbed into the body - be it human or animal. The truth though, is that everything that comes into contact with the skin will find its way inside the body and into the bloodstream.

Furthermore, every pet has the tendency to groom themselves by licking their fur, so running a dryer sheet across their fur to repel dander may unnecessarily expose them to health risks. Pets should never be allowed to play with dryer sheets either as there a few reported cases of kidney failure in pets that have ingested dryer sheets accidentally.

Ironically, dryer sheets are the most harmful when they are heated, because while they are spinning around inside your dryer, they are releasing toxic fumes too.

Alternatives

Although more time-consuming, the best and most natural way to keep control of pet dander is to simply brush your pet on a daily basis. Using a lint brush will help to eradicate pet hair on your clothes. Special adapters are available for vacuum cleaners so that you can remove pet hair and dander from your furniture.

There are also alternative solutions to chemically-laden dryer sheets and fabric softeners. A few good companies to investigate are:

Mountain Green

EcoVer

Mrs Meyers

Photo Credit: admiller

Emergency Preparedness

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:58:00 +0000

On Thursday, 15 April 2010, Northern Utah experienced a 4.9 earthquake that startled many of its residents. Salt Lake City, in fact lays on one of the world's oldest fault lines. Seismologists have determined that earthquakes generally occur in Utah once every 350 years. And since the last big earthquake was over 400 years ago, 'the big one' can happen at any time.

Furthermore, Seismologists believe that since Salt Lake City has not received any activity over the last few hundred years that it may be next in line for a large earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.5 or higher.

Raising Awareness

The Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition (UEARC) is helping to raise pet owners' awareness of how best to handle their pets during the event of a natural disaster.

"The number one thing that is a surprise to most people is their animals will react to a stressful situation just like people do. And animals frequently don't behave the way that they normally would in a normal environment," explained President of UEARC Warren Hess.

The UEARC wants pet owners to be as best prepared as possible with a plan for themselves and for their pets should a natural disaster occur.

"If they're not ready in a disaster to take care of their animals, they won't evacuate or they won't follow directions that our emergency people are asking them to do. So we're trying to get ready to help them do that," Hess said.

UEARC have set up a web site for pet owners to know what to do in case of earthquakes, floods, or fires.

ASPCA

However, Utah is not the only state in the USA that is on a fault line. Just last week an earthquake hit the earthquake-prone state of California. It is therefore very important to have a plan set up prior to an earthquake or natural disaster occurring in your neighborhood.

The biggest resource nationally is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA. They have set up a web page that details tips and suggestions to help you and your pet prepare for and survive an emergency situation.

Do you know what to do for your pets when a disaster occurs? Since any disaster can strike at any time it is crucial to be as best prepared as possible, as this will enable you to not only save your own life but also the lives of your cats, dogs and other pets.

Emergency Checklist

* One of the easiest steps you can take to ensure your pet's safety is to position a sticker on the inside of your front window. This 'Rescue Alert Sticker' should have the words 'Animals Inside' clearly written on it. This sticker will be able to alert rescuers that you have pets inside your home, in case of an emergency when you are not home.

* You should keep your pets' carriers and leashes easily accessible at all times. Also remember to clean them out at least once a week so that they are ready to use in an emergency.

* If your street participates in a neighborhood watch, you should suggest that every household create an emergency plan that includes their pets. A good idea is to design a laminated card that has your family's contact information clearly displayed. Don't forget to include the following information as well:

1. All phone numbers where you can be reached
2. Phone numbers of nearest immediate relatives
3. The number of pets living in your home
4. Their species; i.e. cat, dog etc
5. Where they sleep inside your home or where their cage is kept
6. Your pets names and how they can be called, e.g. by whistling
7. Any pertinent medical information about your pets

* Make sure you have an emergency preparedness kit already put together that includes food, medications, blankets and toys for your pets and yourself.

Photo Credit: Lisa

UK Postal Workers Attacked By Elderly Cat

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:37:00 +0000

Everyone has heard stories of dogs barking at, and sometimes even biting, postal workers who are trying to deliver the mail to their owners' homes. But have you ever heard of an attack cat?

Apparently this is exactly what is happening in the United Kingdom! The national postal service has had to suspend their postal delivery services to the Brayshaw residence after their cat attacked several postal workers.

Senior Cat

Whilst all this might sound like the work of a very young, spunky cat, it is not. It is, in all actuality, the work of one very old, very territorial, senior cat named Tiger.

Tiger is certainly no spring chicken at 19 years old - his favorite pastime is sleeping away the day in the sunshine.

Cat Attacks

Most homes in the United Kingdom have letterbox openings in their font doors where their mail is pushed through. In order to deliver the post, UK postal workers have to walk through a home's front yard to get to the front door so that they can put any letters directly through the letterbox.

The UK postal service claims that little old Tiger attacked and chased their postal workers over the course of several weeks, causing the postal authorities to stop all mail delivery to the Brayshaw house on High Bank Street in Farsley.

Instead, Tiger's pet parent, Tracy Brayshaw, must now collect post from their local Royal Mail office, causing Brayshaw to claim that the ban was "a bit silly".

Brayshaw, a 43 year old pharmacy dispenser, described her black and white cat, Tiger, as being prone to sleeping for at least 20 hours per day.

"We're talking about a 19 year old geriatric cat here who likes lazing out in the sun. There have been three incidents where Tiger's jumped through the cat flap and is said to have scratched a postie, so they've decided to suspend our post. He's never done anything like this before," explained Brayshaw in an interview with the BBC.

Her daughter, Amy, 17, also added:

"Tiger sleeps, he drools when he sleeps and he likes climbing trees, but in the space of three weeks we've had our post banned because he has attacked the postman. Apparently he attacked one postman on the leg and on the arm and chased him down the garden path. He is very territorial but he's just an average cat really. He wakes up in the middle of the night meowing because he just wants some attention. He's not a monster."

Royal Mail

The UK Royal Mail service is attempting to negotiate with Brayshaw to prevent Tiger's territorial attacks on their postal delivery workers and resume deliveries to the Brayshaw residence.

In fact, the Royal Mail has issued a statement to the UK media stating the following:

"We are sorry for the inconvenience to Mrs Brayshaw and, as we want to resume delivery of mail to her address as quickly as possible, we're trying to agree on a way to do this and avoid our employees suffering further nasty injuries, as has happened three times already."

US Postal Pet Attacks

Whilst there is no recollection of a cat attack, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States, have claimed that U.S. Postal Service letter carriers are the third most likely group of people to be attacked and bitten by dogs.

According to the US Postal Service:

"Every day that a letter carrier comes into a dog's territory, the dog barks and the letter carrier leaves. Day after day the dog sees this action repeated. After a week or two, the dog appears to feel invincible against intruders. Once the dog gets loose, there's a good chance it will attack. A dog threatening from its own yard could lead to the temporary curtailment of mail delivery."

Always practice responsible pet ownership.

Photo Credit: how_long_it_takes

The perfect dog blanket for your small dog

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Although it may officially be spring time across the USA, there are many towns and states where Old Man Winter is being very reluctant to leave! During colder weather, small dogs feel the cold much more than their larger counterparts do. However, it is easier to keep a larger dog warm than a smaller one.

A Burrito Dog

That was, at least, until one very smart lady, Lori Broadhead of Grantsville, Utah, came up with an ingenious idea to keep her tiny Toy Poodle, GiGi, warm. During the harsh Utah winters, GiGi would shiver from the cold; during the equally harsh Utah summers, GiGi would shiver from the air conditioning.

Lori stated that she tried everything to keep her little GiGi warm:

"I put a tee shirt on her, but she was still cold. I put a coat on her, but she seemed uncomfortable. I wrapped her in a blanket, but she'd soon wiggle out, and the shivering started all over. I searched the web and every pet store and boutique I could find, trying to find something that would keep Gigi warm, to no avail. I discovered that she was only warm when I wrapped her in a blanket and tucked her in it, like a burrito."

However, even though GiGi loved being wrapped up like that she would somehow manage to wiggle out of it and as Lori says: 'she wouldn't stay in it very long before I'd get her big-eyed stare saying, "Mommy, I'm cold."'

This lead Lori to design the RoverWrap blanket - a special blanket that is shaped just like a furry burrito. The RoverWrap blanket does not fall off GiGi when she sleeps or wriggles about. In fact, Lori says that it didn't take long for GiGi to recognize her 'blankie' and start pawing at it, asking her 'Mommy' to help her get inside so that she could get warm.

The designs

In total Lori has created three different types of RoverWraps:

Kickin' It Kasuals: The most comfortable and economic of all the RoverWraps, these are designed for pure relaxation. Created with a single layering of fleece accompanied by a shiny satin binding, this collection has the largest color selection and is very versatile.

Prices start at $8 for an Extra-Small and go up to $20 for a size Large.

The next most popular RoverWrap is the Urban Chic collection. These blankets are pure luxury with their faux suede outer shell and inner fleece-lining for extra cozy comfort. Beautiful embroidered accents throughout the blanket add that touch of extravagance that even the most pampered pooch will appreciate!

Prices start at $25.00 for an Extra-Small and end at $35.00 for a Large.

Lori's newest single-layered collection, Village Vogue, has not quite hit the cat walk yet, but it is rumored to be the sportiest blanket on the market.

How to Measure for a RoverWrap

The RoverWrap collection of small doggie blankets comes in four sizes:

Extra Small: This is the perfect size for the tiniest Pocket dog breeds, such as those who are under 3 pounds, as well as tiny puppies and kittens.

Small: These RoverWrap's are designed to fit most Teacup breeds that are approximately 4lbs to 6lbs, such as the Teacup Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Teacup Poodle, small Yorkies, and kittens.

Medium: Toy breeds such as the Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Miniature Dachshund, Papillion, Pomeranian, Toy Springer Spaniel, and average-sized adolescent cats, will all benefit from a medium sized RoverWrap.

Large: Designed to fit most Miniature breeds like the Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Standard Dachshund, French Bulldog, Lhasa-Apso, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Pug, Miniature Schnauzer, Shih-Tzu, and large adult cats (or multiple smaller cats).

To read more about the RoverWraps, Lori and GiGi read the rest of this article here. To order a RoverWrap for your little darling visit RoverWrap.com.

Photo Credit: RoverWraps

New Drug for Canine Ear Infections

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

One of the most common types of infections that are prevalent in dogs is an infection of the outer ear canal due to yeast or bacteria, otherwise known as otitis externa.

However, there are few dog breeds that are more prone to ear infections than other dogs; namely Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Schnauzers and Retrievers. Although any breed of dog with long, floppy and hairy ears are also susceptible.

Symptoms of an ear infection

It is fairly easy to diagnose an ear infection in a dog as his ear canals will be quite sensitive and he will shake his head at different intervals in an attempt to dislodge the bacteria or fluid. A dog may also scratch or rub his ears more than normal; he may also be more irritable and appear visibly uncomfortable. An infected ear canal will be red and inflamed with very offensive odor.

Causes of an ear infection

Ear infections can be caused by an accumulation of wax, or thick, matted hair lodged inside the dog's ear canal. However, self-diagnosis is never advisable unless your dog suffers from bouts of recurring ear infections. Infections can also be caused by a variety of bacteria and fungi, and your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's ears so that a proper diagnosis can be made.

Water is another culprit that causes canine ear infections. Therefore dogs that love swimming are more prone to ear infections. Another common cause is parasitic insects such as ear mites.

In some case these symptoms may also be indicative of an ear infection: a tumor in the ear canal or the existence of a foreign body, such as a seed. Your dog's ear will need to be examined so that your veterinarian can determine whether or not the eardrum is still intact. If this is not done and your dog's eardrum is ruptured, certain medications can cause deafness.

Hormone imbalances and some allergies could also be a cause of Otitis externa.

Approximately 20% of all dogs will become affected at some point in their lives.

Treatment Options

The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new drug that has been specifically created to treat ear infections in dogs, and has made it available to veterinarians across America.

Made by Intervet, Inc. of New Jersey, the drug called Posatex Otic Suspension, was approved by the FDA 1 April, 2010, to be used primarily for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs associated with susceptible strains of yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) and bacteria (coagulase-positive staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis). This drug suspension contains orbifloxacin, mometasone furoate monohydrate, and posaconazole.

The Posatex Otic Suspension should only be prescribed by a veterinarian when the cause of the ear infection is deemed to be bacteria or yeast. Prior to Posatex Otic Suspension being approved, veterinary treatment included antifungals or antibiotics.

This new drug does come with a dog weight limit: Dogs who weigh less than 30lbs should be prescribed 4 drops of the suspension once daily inside their ear canal; whilst dogs that weigh more than 30lbs should be given 8 drops once per day.

Other Options

If your dog has been diagnosed with an ear infection, or if he has a recurring ear infection, looking into an alternative treatment may be a better option.

A great choice is Canine Echo Gold sold online by PetWellBeing.com. It is a herbal formula that was formulated by a naturopathic veterinarian. Echo Gold contains a variety of important herbs that have been proven to help relieve itching and reduce pain by working as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. These herbs also have an antibiotic action that helps fight off the ear infection and prevents it from recurring.

Prevention

Always keep your dog's ears as clean and dry as possible. Apply a warm, dry compress on your dog's ears to help alleviate any discomfort.

Photo Credit: tanakawho

Animal Cruelty Month

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

The ASPCA has declared April to be Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The 2010 campaign is being called 'Go Orange for Animals' and the ASPCA is encouraging all animal lovers to help raise awareness of this cause across the country by living an 'orange life'.

Going Orange

Orange is not only the official color of the ASPCA; it is also seen as a vibrant and energetic color as well. Therefore it is the perfect color to help with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The ASCPA has created a list of ideas as examples on how best to use the color orange and raise awareness for this campaign at the same time:

* Wear an orange colored T-shirt, pants, socks or shoes. The ASCPA has some great shirts available in their online store. Let your dog wear an orange bandana around his neck. Tie an orange ribbon in your hair, your pet's hair, or tie it onto your purse, front door or aerial of your car.

* Decorate your car by using special chalk to write animal friendly messages to encourage people to be aware of animal cruelty in your area.

* Throw an orange bake sale with orange colored, or flavored, cookies, scones and cakes. You can even hold the bake sale outside a local pet store or animal shelter. Remember to donate all, or some, of the proceeds to the ASCPA to help with their animal welfare efforts.

Animal Abuse Laws

The ASCPA is hoping that people will spend the month of April learning about animal cruelty, and educating themselves on the current animal cruelty laws in their State, as well as to hopefully support pending legislation that would make animal cruelty a felony.

In the USA, the District of Columbia and 33 other States have all passed laws that list intentional cruelty to an animal a felony charge. Kicking, hitting, chocking, deliberate starvation, any type of physical or mental abuse is considered to be intentional abuse.

Most States, however also cater for unintentional abuse. This when the person does not really know how to properly take care of their pet and their ignorance causes harm to the animal. This type of unintentional abuse is usually grounds for a misdemeanor charge.

Animal Abusers

Generally, there are 3 different types of animal abusers. The most common type is those people who unintentionally abuse animals. This is usually by way of not providing adequate shelter, food or water for their pet. Or they may be an animal hoarder, with too many pets that they can't take proper care of all of them. Education on proper pet care can help alleviate this type of abuse.

Intentional abusers, who hurt an animal on purpose but not over a long time period, are the next largest group of animal abusers. These are usually teenagers or people who have had a really bad day and take their feelings out on their pet. Oftentimes, these people are not thinking clearly and especially are not thinking about the animal's feelings, only their own selfish ones. Proper education can also help these people see the error of their ways and prevent animal abuse in the future.

The final type of person that abuses animals, are the worst as they enjoy inflicting pain on other living creatures. Typically these abusers would prefer to harm other people around them instead of an animal, but are usually too afraid of getting caught. So they hurt a poor defenseless animal instead. Over time, these abusers may build enough courage to hurt a child. These abusers must be stopped and brought to justice before they hurt any other animal or human.

What to do

If you witness animal abuse or believe there is an animal abuser in your neighborhood, contact your local ASPCA or humane shelter. Never confront the person directly as they may hurt you.

Photo Credit: .Jennifer Leigh.

Dog Mansions For The Pampered Pooch

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:22:00 +0000

Everyone has heard of a dog house, but have you heard about a dog mansion?

These are dog-sized replicas of human houses that offer every conceivable type of interior amenity as their larger counterparts. And they also come with a hefty price too!

Take Tammy Kassis for example - she owns a Victorian mansion in Temecula, California, and is the loving caregiver to three little dogs. So loving in fact that she spent roughly $20,000 for a custom built dog house that is a mini version of her Victorian mansion. This specifically designed dog house is 11 feet tall, has its own turret and vaulted ceilings.

Inside the doggie mansion, the three 4lb dogs can enjoy watching their own television whilst being comforted by air conditioning and heating. There is even a doorbell, a doggie door, hardwood floors and designer doggie beds too. On the outside the dogs' have their own porch and yard surrounded by a white picket fence.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," Kassis said. "I live in it. I hang out in there with them. We have had camp-outs with my niece and nephew."

Expensive Interiors

Besides the ostentatious size of such doggie mansions, the interior amenities are just as expensive. Such amenities include electricity, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, crown molding, designer wallpaper and paint, closets, beds, yards, fences and even patios.

The designer of the Kassis dog mansion is a famed architect to the world's most pampered pooches: Alan Mowrer.

Owner of La Petite Maison in Denver, Colorado, Mowrer works alongside partner and interior designer Michelle Pollak. Pollak runs The Lollipop Tree in Charleston, South Carolina. Together they have designed roughly 20 dog mansions over the past 10 years or so. Starting at around $5,000, the dog mansions can increase in amount to the mid $30,000s depending on overall size and extravagance.

Pampered Pooches

Other clients of La Petite Maison includes model, Rachel Hunter's three dogs, a Doberman, a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever.

"It has a lot of wrought iron. It is Spanish style with turrets and a light in each tower. It looks great at night," Mowrer said. "It has hardwood floors, wallpaper, and wrought iron on the front doors. We replicated part of her house."

Mowrer and Pollak enlisted the help of an artist to hand-paint every brick that was used to build another client's dog house for her Labrador. The goal was to have the color of the bricks in the dog mansion match the color of the bricks of the client's mansion.

Another client in Long Beach, California, purchased a miniature version of a Spanish cathedral with stained glass windows and white marble granite floors for their Chihuahua.

Industry Standards

Pollack has stated that the dog mansion business was doing very well until last year when the housing market crashed.

"Our clients were not directly affected but out of respect for their friends and colleagues who were, they postponed some purchases until 2010," she explained. "Everyone felt the effects of the economy. When your friends are affected by something that large, you don't want to go throwing your money around."

A West Palm Beach, Florida, company called Doggie Mansions has had to temporarily halt its services. When Donald Gorbach founded the company back in 2006, he was offering doghouses from $10,500 up to $100,000. Due to the sharp downturn in the US economy such prices are no longer feasible, with Gorbach explaining:

"We thought it was a bad time to promote $10,000 doghouses when people are losing their homes."

However, it seems that money is never a concern to a few wealthy pet owners who can afford such stately dog houses. Kassis explains:

"Life is about choices and everyone has their standards. There is no right or wrong. I will do whatever it takes to make my animals safe and happy."

Photo Credit: libraryrachel

Easter Pet Dangers

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Today is Good Friday and many people are getting ready to celebrate the Easter festivities.

However, even though Easter is certainly a time of celebration of rebirth for some Christians, their pets may not be able to be resurrected if they have consumed one of the five most deadly pet dangers of Easter:

Easter Lilies

Although the Easter Lilly is one of the most common plants used to celebrate the arrival of Easter, it is the most lethal of plants to cats. Even simply ingesting a few of its leaves can result in grave, acute renal and kidney failure which may lead to your cat's untimely death.

However, it is not just the Easter Lilly that is harmful to cats - all plant members of the Lilly family are potentially lethal.

Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC explains:

"This is your friendly reminder to keep those darned Easter lilies OUT OF YOUR HOUSE! There are dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it's important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus - this results in minor drooling."

Call your veterinarian of the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.

Foil or Plastic Easter Grass

Easter grass is the second most commonly found dangerous element of Easter to pets, especially cats. This is because the brightly colored foil makes an extremely attractive cat toy.

Similar to tinsel used during Christmas time, this plastic and foil grass can lead to intestinal distress in cats that requires immediate veterinary care.

Because it is hard to monitor, opt instead to use paper grass, or better yet, cat grass.

Chocolate Bunnies

It's not Easter without those yummy chocolate bunnies! Just be careful that young children do not inadvertently feed one to your cat or dog. Make sure that none of these chocolate bunnies, or other chocolate treats, are out of the reach of inquisitive pet noses. Chocolate can be extremely lethal to both dogs and cats and will also require immediate veterinary attention.

Easter Eggs

Brightly colored hard-boiled eggs can be a child's delight and their pets too. However, day old eggs that have not been properly handled or refrigerated can spoil on the inside, making them lethal to pets.

When hiding these Easter eggs around your house or yard, be sure to keep count of them and make sure that they are all found. Another good tip is to remind children to throw away the eggs in the garbage when they are done eating them.

Baby Animals

Whilst it may seem tempting, purchasing a baby chick, baby bunny, or a baby duckling, may not be such a great idea. Most of these baby animals can carry Salmonella which can then be passed on to your children and other pets.

If you really do want to purchase one of these baby animals for your child as a gift, it is best if you wait until after Easter and then take your child to visit your local animal shelter or humane society. Here you will most undoubtedly find a large selection of baby bunnies, baby ducklings and baby chicks that have been abandoned over the Easter weekend.

The best part is that not only will you teach your child about the significance of Easter, but you would also have taught them the value of pet adoption – which is the ultimate example of Easter rebirth.

House Guests

Since Easter is time best spent with family, take a few extra precautions to ensure the safety and comfort of your pets when guests come to visit. Make sure your pets have their own room or space in which they can retreat to when they become overwhelmed. Remind any visiting children to not feed Easter eggs or chocolates to your pets.

Photo Credit: i eated a cookie

Pet Obesity on the Rise in the UK

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

A recent research study conducted amongst UK veterinarians, by the UK's Sainsbury's Finance, has discovered that nearly 4 in 10 pets that are seen by veterinarians, are obese.

The Sainsbury's Finance study revealed that almost 1 in 10 (9.4 %) of dogs and cats were severely overweight. Furthermore, almost 3 in 10 (29.8 %) of dogs and cats are heavier than what is recommended by the UK's veterinarians.

Study Results

Sainsbury's Finance believes that the results of their study should be a great cause for concern amongst pet owners and veterinarians alike. This is due to the fact that obesity is the major underlying cause of a multitude of serious and life-threatening ailments because it places such a great strain on the pet's heart.

Sainsbury's Finance, the Head Company of Sainsbury's Pet Insurance, believes that the figures it discovered may suggest that roughly 1 in 7 pet insurance claims could very well be attributed to illnesses and conditions that could result from a dog or cat simply being too overweight. Such health conditions include pet diabetes, heart disease, as well as bone and ligament problems.

UK Pet Weight Issues

Sainsbury's Finance's research also discovered that approximately 13% of dogs and cats who are seen by their veterinarians are in actually underweight. This too, states Sainsbury's Finance, can gravely compromise a pet's long-term health as well as its quality of life.

Spokeswoman for Sainsbury's Pet Insurance, Lucy Hunter, states the following:

"The saddest thing about this research is the fact that the pets are not to blame. As is the case with humans, a lack of exercise and a poor diet, or overeating, is causing our pets' weight to balloon. Unfortunately a lot of animals will eat everything that is put in front of them so the onus is on the owner to monitor and restrict the amount of food that their pet is consuming. Owners that do not look after their pets through poor diets and a lack of exercise increase the chances of their animals suffering serious health problems, which can run into thousands of pounds in veterinary bills."

USA Pet Weight Issues

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 45% of dogs in the USA are considered to be overweight or obese; whilst an estimated 58% of cats in the USA are overweight or obese. With a population of 77.5 million dogs in the USA and 93.6 million cats, these figures equal out to be that 35 million US dogs are estimated to be overweight or obese and 54 million US cats are estimated to be overweight or obese as well.

Pet Obesity Treatment Options

There are two main areas that can be controlled in order to help your cat or dog lose weight (or gain a few pounds if your pet is underweight). The first of these two is making sure that your pet gets plenty of healthy exercise; and the second is insuring your pet has a proper diet.

Buy your cat a laser toy and let her chase it around the room. Crumple a piece of paper up into a tight ball with a few pieces of rice inside and roll it around on the floor for your cat to chase.

Dogs should be walked at least once a day. Play games with your dog such as fetching a stick or a ball. During the hot summer months take your dog to a local pond, stream or lake and allow him to swim a bit.

Choosing the right type of food is also important in helping your pet lose weight. A great pet food to try for cats is Prowl Cat Food, which is a dehydrated raw food; for dogs try Embark Dog Food, which is also a dehydrated raw pet food.

Both of these pet foods are created with all-natural fresh ingredients.

Photo Credit: dicktay2000

Does Your Pet Have Dementia?

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Odd as it may sound, pets are also subject to dementia, just like humans are.

Unfortunately, most cases of dementia are simply chalked up to a pet's particular personality or even to a medical reason. Whilst it is sometimes true that your cat enjoys scratching furtively in their litter box before deciding that the carpet in your living room is a much better place to relieve herself; or that your dog always seems to lose his toys, these signs are also true in the case of pet dementia.

Dementia, otherwise known as cognitive dysfunction, is quite prevalent in pets these days.

Cause of Pet Dementia

The hospital director at the Cape Cod Veterinary Associates in South Yarmouth, Maine,
Dr. Thomas M. Burns, believes that there is no known cause of this progressive disorder, stating that:

"Among the suspected culprits is vascular damage leading to hypoxia in the brain, beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, oxidative stress or modification of proteins in the brain."

Hypoxia arises when a specific region of a pet's body is deprived of an sufficient oxygen supply.

Dr. Burns also states that companion pets these days are actually living longer lives, due to improvements in veterinary care as well as nutrition. However, the down side to this is dementia.

"With an increasing senior pet population, we are seeing more pets with apparent dementia," Dr. Burns says.

Recently, a veterinary study discovered over 25% of cats aged 11-14, and over 50% of cats over the age of 15 experienced at least one senior onset of a behavioral problem.

"In dogs, cognitive dysfunction can develop as early as age 10," Dr. Burns says. "However, it is usually seen in dogs that are older."

Medications

Dr. Burns further stated that the published data described a few prescription veterinary medications that have proven to be helpful in slowing down the full onset of dementia in pets.

Such medications include Selegiline or Anipryl for both cats and dogs. Newer veterinary medications like Senilife and Novofit have also shown some progress too.

"There is some anecdotal evidence that diet can help early to moderate cognitive dysfunction," he says, though he is unaware of any definitive study that's been conducted to determine if nutrition affects the progression of the disease.

Dr. Burns recommends that dogs with known dementia be fed Prescription Diet Canine Brain Diet made by Hill's, a leading manufacturer of pet foods. According to Hill's, this diet has been specifically formulated with a mixture of antioxidants and other nutrients, like Omega-3 fatty acids, so as to combat the symptoms that are associated with cognitive dysfunction and advancing age in dogs.

"Veterinarians first must rule out underlying medical conditions that could mimic the clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction," Burns emphasizes.

Such conditions include kidney disease, liver disease, high blood pressure and diminished vision or hearing.

"Only after a thorough senior evaluation, that includes laboratory work and testing - such as blood pressure = can a patient be considered to have cognitive dysfunction," Burns says. "There is no definitive test for cognitive dysfunction. It is diagnosed by exclusion of other medical conditions."

Preventing Pet Dementia

Writer, Steve Dale, explains that the symptoms of dementia in pets is quite similar to those witnessed in humans. Dale uses the acronym DISH (disorientation, interaction, sleep, house-training) to explain the incapacitating condition.

Dale uses the example of dog with dementia who appears confused, disoriented and forgets the location of his food or water dish and subsequently bumps into furniture.

Pets with dementia may suddenly stop being so affectionate and will withdraw into themselves; introverted pets who have dementia will do the opposite – they will become rather vocal and demand more attention.

It is recommended that senior dogs and cats should be examined once every 6 months. It is also suggested that pet owners try to keep their pets as mentally stimulated as possible in order to keep their brains sharp.

Photo Credit: me'nthedogs

2010 National Mutt Census

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:04:00 +0000

This year thousands of Americans will be partaking in the 2010 U.S. Census. To correspond with this national census, Mars Veterinary has unleashed its own nationwide census: the 2010 National Mutt Census. This doggie census is an attempt to gather statistics about mixed-breed dogs across the United States of America.

Mixed-Breed Dogs

According to Mars Veterinary, 38 million mixed-breed dogs currently inhabit the USA. Unfortunately, most of the pet parents of these mixed-breed dogs do not truly know what breeds their dogs' parents or grandparents are.

This lack of breed information on the pet parents' part simply means that they do not know whether there are any behavioral issues, genetic disorders or diseases that their mixed-breed dog may genetically be pre-disposed to.

Dog DNA Testing

During a time of medical emergency, knowing what breeds exist within your dog can help improve their chances of survival and overcoming any illness or other health concerns.

Mars Veterinary understands this need and so have created dog DNA tests to help pet owners learn the breeds that dwell in their mixed-breed dogs. According to Mars Veterinary, most mixed-breed dogs are in fact a mix of three or more different types of dog breeds and therefore specific breed characteristics can be hard to visually identify.

These DNA tests include the Wisdom Panel Professional which is a blood based canine DNA test usually administered by a veterinarian; and the Wisdom Panel Insights DNA test that is a 'do-it-yourself' test in which you collect a DNA sample from the inside of your dogs cheek using a supplied swab.

These DNA tests are available online for $79.99, and can help in determining your dog's heritage by comparing your dog's DNA amongst more than 170 different dog breeds currently in the Wisdom Panel database of recognized dog breeds.

Top Mutt Breeds

According to the Wisdom Panel database the top mutt breeds in the USA are the following:

1. German Shepherd Dog

2. Chow Chow

3. Labrador Retriever

4. Boxer

5. Rottweiler

6. American Staffordshire Terrier

7. Poodle (Miniature)

8. Golden Retriever

9. Siberian Husky

10. Cocker Spaniel

Uncommon Mutt Breeds

According to this same database of 170 dog breeds, the breeds that are least likely to be found in a mixed-breed dog are the following:

1. Black Russian Terrier

2. Polish Lowland Sheepdog

3. Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

4. Ibizan Hound

5. Lakeland Terrier

Dog Breed Census

Mars Veterinary is hoping that by holding their inaugural National Mutt Census, more dog owners will become interested in using their Wisdom Panel DNA tests to learn more about their dog's background.

Mixed-breed dog owners can answer a questionnaire on their mixed-breed dog online at www.MuttCensus.com. Each dog that is included in the Census will be entered into a sweepstakes in which they can stand a chance to win various prizes such as a supply of Pedigree dog food and Greenies digestible chewy treats.

Developed by veterinarians and geneticists, these questions cover a dog's age, size, gender, weight, eating habits and, of course, the role of the dog in the household, i.e. whether the dog is an indoor or outdoor dog, who walks the dog and where does the dog sleep.

This doggie census will help researchers to better understand the health risks that are associated with specific breed mixes. The results will be published after the Census ends on 31 August, 2010.

According to Mutt Census website:

"Uncovering these insights will speak volumes about the health and behaviors that apply to the most common breeds. It will help dog-owners become better pet parents, creating a closer bond. And dog-lovers will understand the four legged population around them that much better.

At Mars Veterinary, we believe the part-Terriers and part-Poodles of the world deserve to have their numbers known. They deserve to be counted, so please register your mutt today."

Photo Credit: bradleyolin

New Flea and Tick Product Restrictions

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:19:00 +0000

For years, pet owners have been voicing their concerns about the true safety of using spot-on pesticide products for controlling fleas and ticks on their dogs and cats.

In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that in 2008, 44,263 reports were presented detailing gruesome deaths and other reactions in cats and dogs that were directly associated with topical flea and tick products. This number is an unfortunate increase from 28,895 reports in 2007.

More than 600 of these cases involved the death of a pet. Small breeds of dogs, as well as cats, all seem to be particularly vulnerable to the harsh chemicals contained within these spot-on flea and tick control pesticide products; especially in cases where they are given products that are actually intended to be used on a larger dog, according to the EPA.

Such adverse reactions include skin irritations (such as rashes, hives and hot spots), neurological issues (such as seizures), and gastrointestinal issues (such as vomiting and diarrhea). Other pet owners have stated that their cat or dog has seemingly suffered burns and welts on their skin; other pets drooled excessively or began to shake uncontrollably or lost control of their legs after being treated with these chemically-laden flea and tick control products.

Flea and Tick Control Product Safety

In response to these increasing incidences, the EPA has issued a statement that it fully intends to increase the safety of the spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for pets.

Steve Owens, the assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, explains: "These are poisons. These are products designed to kill fleas and ticks, and they do their jobs."

Therefore, the EPA has begun to conduct an extensive assessment of such products. As such, the EPA will begin reviewing the labels on these flea and tick products to determine whether or not they need to be re-written to include easier to understand statements and information, so as to help prevent misuse of the products, as well as to ensure that the correct dosage is given according to the pets weight and breed.

It is expected that these new rules will force the flea and tick control product manufacturers to re-word their labels so that products for dogs and products for cats can be easily differentiated. In addition, dog and cat products will not share similar brand names.

For their part, the EPA plans to conduct a new consumer information campaign to more fully explain the new labels. Furthermore, the EPA is planning on conducting more stringent testing and evaluations on both existing and new products. Once a new flea or tick control product is approved for use, this approval period will only be for a limited time so that the EPA can conduct post-marketing product surveillance. Additionally, the EPA will limit the use of inactive ingredients that have been deemed to have contributed towards the adverse reactions incurred by cats and dogs after a flea and tick product was applied. The EPA is also demanding that these flea and tick product manufacturers provide them with more inclusive sales figures so that the EPA may be able to more easily determine the percentage of doses that lead to incident reports.

"The EPA is committed to better protecting the health and safety of pets and families in all communities across our nation," said Owens. "New restrictions will be placed on these products, and pet owners need to carefully read and follow all labeling before exposing your pet to a pesticide."

What can you do?

Since most of these cases involve improper dosing, be sure to read the labels very carefully.

You should also consider using a more organic form of flea control such as Target Spray for Fleas.

Target Spray is a natural insect repellent containing Pennyroyal, Lavender, Aloe, Rosemary and Sweet Mace amongst other herbs.

Photo Credit: Roy Montgomery

Iditarod Ends With No Dog Deaths!

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:01:00 +0000

On Saturday, 20 March 2010, the very last musher competing in the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, crossed over the finish line in Nome, Alaska.

The Red Lantern Award

The Red Lantern was awarded to this last musher, a 37 year old rookie named Celeste Davis from Deer Lodge, Montana. The Red Lantern is awarded to the team that finishes last in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

Even though this award is given to the last musher, the circumstances involving this year's award is rather unique: Ms. Davis completed the race in 13 days, 5 hours, 6 minutes and 40 seconds - making this the fastest Red Lantern time throughout the race's entire 38 year history.

No Dog Deaths

However, this year's Iditarod race had something even more spectacular to celebrate when Ms Davis crossed over that finish line: Iditarod officials have stated that there was no dog deaths related to the 2010 Iditarod race.

The Iditarod's chief race veterinarian, Stuart Nelson, happily claimed:

"To stand there and watch that last team come in, I'll tell you, is the highlight of my veterinarian career. I think it's a pretty safe assumption that this is a first."

The majority of the mushers who competed in the 2010 race all agreed that their dogs' general wellbeing was enhanced by the low temperatures and good trail conditions.

"Typically our greatest concern is dogs that might overheat," explained Dr. Nelson. "So when you have a colder race, you can take that factor, typically, out of the equation."

Iditarod Dog Deaths

Dr. Nelson first became involved in the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race back in 1986.

The first year in which a dog died during the race was in 1994, followed again in 1996. Incidentally, though, the number of dog deaths slowly arose from two per year in the 1990's to almost three per year in 2000. The increase in dog deaths has been attributed to the increase in mushers who competed in the races - some years there were 80 to 90 competitors.

In 2009, the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race was extremely harsh and there were six dogs reported to have died during the race. This added fuel to the fire already growing from animal rights groups around the world, who claimed that the 1,000 mile race borders on the line of animal cruelty to the sled dogs.

Animal Rights

One of the most well known animal rights groups, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, stepped forward and insisted on a full investigation into the deaths of the dogs in last year's Iditarod race.

This caused the race organizers to increase their plans to have the sled dogs more closely studied during the 2010 race and enlisted the help of 40 volunteer veterinarians whose sole purpose was to check the dog teams at various points on the trail for any health issues.

Hugh Neff, a musher who finished in ninth place this year, was informed that Dr. Nelson had "put out the word to all of us that the dogs were going to be checked more thoroughly and that after what happened last year, we needed to be more vigilant."

Sled Dog Action Coalition

Although there were no dog deaths during this year's race, many people are still concerned about the health and wellbeing of the dogs, such as Margery Glickman, who is the founder of the Sled Dog Action Coalition.

"If it's true that there have been no dog deaths, I hope that remains the case for however long this race is run and I hope that they make other improvements," Ms. Glickman reportedly told an Anchorage newspaper.

However, mushers feel quite strongly about their sled dogs; like Lance Mackey who is this year's winning musher:

"I'm not going to win the Iditarod at the expense of my team."

Photo Credit: Alaskan Dude

Vizsla Wins Crufts Best in Show

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:44:00 +0000

The largest and oldest dog show in the world today, Crufts, awarded best in show for 2010 to a Hungarian Vizsla. A very prestigious reward for a very handsome dog!

Yogi Does Better This Year

Ash Chi/Aust Ch Hungergunn Bear It'n Mind, whose pet name is Yogi, took best in show at this year's Crufts dog show in the UK. Last year Yogi was outdone by a Sealyham Terrier from the United States named Charmin. This year after winning the Gundog Group, he advanced into the highly competitive Best in Show category and came out the winner. He competed against 6 other group winners which included a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Pharoah Hound, Maltese Terrier, Scottish Terrier, an Akita and a Rottweiler.

This is not only the first for this highly decorated dog, but also the first time a Vizsla has taken Best in Show in the history of the Crufts dog show. The award has been in existence for 79 years and there are 41 breeds that hold this honorable title. Cocker Spaniels hold the most Best in Show trophies at Crufts, followed by the Welsh Terrier and the Irish Terrier both of whom have won 4 times. Yogi is the first in his breed ever; therefore his owners have indeed earned bragging rights!

Yogi is currently co-owned by Naomi Cragg and Kathryn Armstrong from Carlisle, Cumbria. His handler at the Crufts dog show was John Thirlwell.

Upon winning the Best in Show title, John Thirlwell claimed:

"It hasn't sunk in, it is just so surreal. Yogi is seven now and has had a fantastic year. We are just absolutely delighted!"

The Kennel Club Communications Director, Caroline Kisko, said:

"We give our congratulations to Naomi, Kathryn and Yogi who has taken the prestigious Best in Show Award."

So What is Crufts?

The Crufts dog show is named for its founder, Charles Crufts, who was destined to be a jeweler by trade and follow in his family's business. However, he surprised his family by dropping out of college in 1878 and joined a new venture selling dog cakes. From there he was invited to Paris for the Paris exposition and brought the first Crufts dog show to London in 1891.

Today, entries come from many different countries and are praised for being the best in their breed on many occasions.

Yogi has the most show wins in the history of dog shows, but none as important as Best of Show.

A Bit About the Vizsla

The Vizsla is a medium-sized dog with a rather short coat. Originally the breed came from Hungary. It wasn't until the 1950's, however, that they started to appear in the United States of America. The ancestors of the breed were not only hunters, but they were also considered close companions for a tribe that settled in what is now known as Hungary, called the Magyar horde. They have since developed into the beautiful strong breed that they are today.

Originally bred as a hunting dog, the Vizsla breed almost became extinct after World War I and World War II. These dogs are revered for their superior nose and sense of smell, as well as their excellent hunting ability and quickly became accustomed to the Hungarian climate. They were frequently used to hunt game, rabbits and waterfowl.

Revered in the show ring as well as on the hunting fields, this medium sized dog is a lively and affectionate breed that loves his people. They are quite easy to train and are well suited for active families. Shedding is there as it is with all dogs, but the Vizsla's short wiry hair is an easy cleanup with minimal daily maintenance.

The AKC recognized the Vizsla in 1960 as part of the Sporting Group. Their average size is 21 to 24 inches of power and loyalty, which adds up to a great family companion and an extremely good hunting dog.

Photo Credit: Opalset

Dog Bite Insurance

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:47:00 +0000

There is currently a push in many areas to institute compulsory dog bite insurance for pet owners. The United Kingdom, one of the toughest countries on vicious dogs, is in the process of drafting such legislation. There are a lot of different ideas being tossed around such as limiting the requirement to owners who possess status dogs, these are dogs known for having an intimidating presence. Of course, when the final laws are passed there is a possibility that all dog owners will be required to carry some kind of third party dog bite insurance.

Dog Bite Statistics

It is estimated that there are 4.7 million dog bites in the United States every year. Of that number, around 800,000 require immediate medical attention. Cumulative emergency room reports estimate that there are about 1,087 people seen for dog bite related injuries every day. This is a large number of cases on the surface.

Dog Bite Insurance Pros

As you can see from the above statistics, there are some very valid reasons for wanting dog owners to carry some kind of liability dog bite insurance. If you were an innocent bystander injured by your neighbor's dog it should be the dog owner who bears the burden of your medical expenses and dog bite insurance would definitely be a plus in this situation.

The real target of dog bite insurance laws however are those who are engaged in illegal activities with their dogs, such as with dog fighting rings. In the UK, for instance there are a growing number of gangs who are using formidable dogs as weapons as well as intimidators. The feeling is that increased legislation will give police and the courts more recourse, and also allow the tracking of such offensive individuals.

Dog Bite Insurance Cons

While it sounds like a solid solution to a fast growing problem, there are some flaws in this particular concept. For starters, most homeowners already have insurance in place that covers dog bite incidents on their property and as over 50% of dog bites occur on the owner's property it seems a bit redundant to insist that the property owners carry two forms of insurance for one possible situation. Add to that the fact that the overwhelming majority of bites are from a family or a friend's pet and you will quickly begin to see that there is not really a good argument for having every dog owner carry dog bite insurance since bites from strange and unfamiliar dogs are fairly rare.

Requiring all owners to carry dog bite insurance may also unfairly punish owners of breeds not known for aggressive tendencies as well as for the ones whose bites do not break through a person's skin nor damage a person in any way physically. This, in effect, makes all owners share the burden of what a few breeds are responsible for.

The idea that those engaged in illegal activity will follow the law when it comes to dog bite insurance is rather a contradiction in terms. If an individual is fighting dogs or using them in any other illegal activity, insurance compliance would be extremely low on their list of pet ownership priorities.

Conclusion

There are good and bad concepts when it comes to dog bite insurance. On the one hand, people may feel more confident that they will not wind up with crippling medical expenses because of another person's irresponsible activities. Nevertheless, there are still some major concerns to be addressed before this type of legislation can do the most good without punishing the wrong people.

Photo Credit: OakleyOriginals

Asthma in Cats

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:16:00 +0000

Most cat owners are not aware that their precious cats can suffer from asthma because it is regarded as a human-only illness. This is not true and many cats suffer from asthma, although it is sometimes mistaken for an upper respiratory infection or a cold. Here are some tips on helping you identify asthma in your cat.

Signs and Symptoms

Asthma affects the lower airways of a cat's lungs. It prohibits adequate air exchange and subsequently manifests itself with several symptoms. Shortness of breath upon brief periods of activity, coughing, wheezing and overall lethargy is a common symptom. Asthma may be cyclic or continuous. It may occur once or rarely with acute attacks or be prolonged requiring constant monitoring and medication indicating a chronic condition.

Diagnosis

If your cat manifests these symptoms, your vet should be consulted and tests need to be done. Commonly a chest x-ray and full examination ensue. Chest x-rays can help in the diagnosis of asthma, heart conditions, and pneumonia. Asthma causes over-inflation of the lungs due to the inability to express the air on their own. It will also show inflammation of the tissue surrounding the lung.

Blood tests may also be performed, including a CBC. High white blood cell counts indicate infection or inflammation due to allergies. During that time, testing for heartworms or other parasites can also be done. Bacterial infections, lungworms, and heartworms can cause similar symptoms and therefore a wash may be performed to obtain tissue from the lungs.

Treatment Options

Treatment for feline asthma usually consists of several therapies. Oxygen and injectable medication may be administered to provide immediate relief. This attempt to stabilize the patient will allow further long-term treatments to be prescribed. Theophylline may be given by inhalers that were designed to fit over a cats face through a mask to relieve the swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs with steroidal properties are also used. They will reduce swelling rapidly and reduce inflammation in and around the airways. If allergies are involved, steroidal medication will also slow down the immune system to counteract the allergens. Careful monitoring is required for patients receiving these drugs.

Bronchodilators can be administered through inhalers as well. They will dilate the bronchi and allow freer passage of air.

Prognosis

Some cats may have one isolated incidence of asthma and not have another ever again. Others may have a chronic disease and require ongoing medication and treatment. Initial onsets do not necessarily indicate a chronic condition and may be a onetime occurrence caused by external stimuli, parasites, or other invaders.

Prevention

There are preventive steps that can be taken for these patients. Obesity can impair function and the condition may be relieved by weight loss. Cigarette smoke can exacerbate symptoms as well as odors for litter, perfume, or household chemicals. The simple prevention is to avoid obesity, don't smoke around your asthmatic cat, and limit exposure to other odors. Household cleaners may have to be changed to a natural cleaner rather than the one you are using.

Although asthma is a serious condition and can be life threatening, factors that complicate the condition can be avoided. Most acute episodes can be treated successfully and chronic conditions can be treated so the cat has a good quality of life. The most important step is close monitoring by your veterinarian. Subtle changes can be identified and dealt with immediately and your cat can be happier and healthier.

To learn more about how asthma affects cats, visit PetWellBeing's wiki page.

Photo Credit: Maggiejumps

Financial Assistance Programs For Pet Owners

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Each year thousands of pets are neglected and abused, winding up in a variety of different shelter programs around the country. While many of these owners deliberately abuse their pets, just as many have problems taking care of them, through no fault of their own. This can be because of a loss of their jobs, or they themselves are under some other kind of financial burden, or even just getting older and not being able to care for their beloved four legged friends.

What a lot of people in these situations don't realize is that there are actually an abundance of different programs available to help them take care of their pets, and many are just a phone call away. For example, there are many programs sponsored by the ASPCA that can help with the financial burden of neutering or spaying your cat or dog. Some have a yearly time set aside where you can bring your pet in to a place set up like a clinic, where for a nominal fee, just $10 in most cases, you can have your cat or dog spayed or neutered. In other areas, there are also vouchers that will reduce the price of getting your cat or dog fixed at a local clinic or animal hospital. This can, in some cases, reduce these costs by nearly half.

There are also many different programs that will provide you with pet food on a regular and timely basis. These programs are in place because it is much cheaper to help you than it is to have your pet at a shelter. They also understand how traumatic it can be for an owner to have to give up a pet, and try just about anything they can to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Here are just a few of the agencies you can contact for assistance:

The Pet Fund, and the United Animal Nations LifeLine Fund are two organizations that will help you with the expensive costs of having surgery, or medical treatments for your cat or dog, as well as help with the costs of getting neuter or spay surgery, and even sometimes with just routine vaccinations and other veterinary care. Other organizations that also help in this area are the Brown Dog Foundation, the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program, and Feline Outreach.

If your pet has some kind of cancer, or chronic disease, there are also agencies that can help with the expense of taking care of these special needs pets. There is the Diabetic Pets Fund, The Mosby Foundation, the Magic Bullet Fund, God's Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity and many others.

Another great resource is IMOM, In Memory of Magic, an organization that helps fight for the lives of companion cats and dogs who are at risk of euthanized simply due to the fact that their caretakers are financially strained.

Cats in Crisis is another pet caring group that provides assistance to cat owners to help them pay for chronic or emergency medical care for the cats by way of financial and fundraising assistance.

You don't have to give up your cat or dog, or abandon them because they are sick, injured, need vaccinations, or even food. There are also many different programs that will help the elderly take care of their pets, walking their dogs, taking them in for routine checkups, as well as many others.

Don't be too proud to contact one of these agencies and ask for help, it is just plain stupid not too, with so many organizations that are available to help you and your cat or dog. If you are not sure where to start, one internet search can give you a lot of providers, or even just contacting your local Humane Society or ASPCA where you live can be a good start.

Photo Credit: Ollie Crafoord

Cats And Dogs Detecting Serious Illnesses In Humans

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Animals have a sixth sense. They know when there is danger, illness or even impending death. Dogs have a much more highly developed sense of smell than people do with 220 million times more ability to sense certain smells. In some cases, their nose can even detect cancer. Cats, also known for detecting diseases mysteriously, may also use their noses. However, sometimes, no explanation exists for the way some animals know about disease.

Sniffing Dogs
If sniffing is an art, then some dogs are indeed sniffing artists. In a report in the September 15, 2001 issue of the Lancet, a well-known medical journal which was started in 1823, an article on cancer sniffing dogs notes a story about one lucky master and her persistent dog.

Even though the woman with the sniffing dog knew she had a mole on her leg, she ignored it and was not the least bit concerned. That is until her relentless dog, half Doberman, half Border collie, refused to allow that behavior. The dog not only constantly sniffed at her mole, he even tried to bite it off once!

After many sniffs, nips and warnings from her furry friend, the woman decided to have a doctor look at it. After all, if Fido was concerned, maybe there was something there that she should be a concerned about too. The doctor confirmed her dog's diagnosis. This was no ordinary mole, but a malignant melanoma 1.86 mm thick. The doctors removed it. Her dog quit sniffing and everyone lived happily ever after.

This isn't the first and only case of animals finding cancer, nor will it be the last. In fact, because of that story, Dr. Cognetta and expert dog trainer, Duane Pickel, teamed to see if a trained dog could detect cancer. They used a bomb-detecting dog, George, a standard Schnauzer, to be the first trained cancer sniffer. He identified cancer on six out of seven skin cancer patients.

Caring Cats

Cat's have an uncanny ability to know illness and disease as well. Almost everyone has heard of Oscar the hospice cat. The Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I. didn't adopt Oscar to identify or comfort the dying patients; it just turned out that way. Oscar makes his rounds and regardless of the doctor's predictions, knows enough to snuggle with the patient in the last hour or two of life. His predictions are early enough that the staff has time to contact the family.

Some people believe that Oscar's ability also stems from his sense of smell. However, how does he know to comfort the patient in their last hours? Animals, particularly cats and dogs, often seem like they are angels sent to protect. Judy Danchura believes this is true.

Ms. Danchura found a stray outside her home and decided that she would give it a plate of food. However, that one kind act led to an abrupt awakening at 3 a.m. when the cat howled loudly outside her door. She let it in, readied the home with a litter box and hoped to get a good night sleep now that the cat was inside the house.

But Sumo, the stray's new name, wanted more. He climbed into her bed and stepped onto her body. As he stepped on her breast, she noted there was unusual pain and realized she had a problem. After a doctor's visit and many tests, it seems her furry angel alerted her of breast cancer. The early alert improved her chances of survival to 95 percent. Did Sumo appear at Danchura's home on a mission? Or, was the cat's arrival simply a fortunate turn of events? No one will ever know for sure. What they do know is that Sumo now has a permanent home with a grateful owner.

Photo Credit: CarulMare

How to Spot Common Dog Ailments

libbi@naturalwellbeing.com (Libbi) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:23:00 +0000

After purchasing a dog and getting it vaccinated, owners may think that their dog is protected against all future health issues. Unfortunately, this is not true. Even careful pet owners can have dogs that get sick or suffer from common diseases. It is vital that dog owners understand how to detect and treat these conditions.

Even Common Health Problems in Dogs Which are Prevented by Vaccines Have Limits

It is important to understand that vaccines go only so far in protecting dogs against diseases. The right shots or medications can protect dogs against parvovirus or heartworms but they can have expiration dates. Dog owners need to keep up to date on vaccinations and make sure they take their dogs back to the vet before protection expires. Even then, there are many common health problems in dogs which are not covered by routine vaccinations.

Parasites can Cause Common Diseases in Dogs

Fleas commonly plague dogs during the summer months or any time of the year when the weather is warm enough to permit fleas to thrive (they can also bite dog owners as well). They are more than a nuisance. Fleas can give dogs potentially deadly diseases as they pass on tapeworms. They can also cause dogs to scratch themselves so strongly that they suffer from hair loss. Some dogs are even highly allergic to fleas. It is better to get rid of them and not have the dog - or the dog owner - suffer from itching, sores and bothersome bites.

Common Parasites Which can Be Deadly to Dogs

There are also more dangerous parasites and insects, ones that can cause common- and potentially fatal illnesses- in canines. These include various types of worms, including hookworms, tapeworms and heartworms. While early symptoms may not be noticed or cause mild problems, they can be deadly for dogs if left untreated. Symptoms of heartworms include coughing, weakness and general tiredness. A blood test can detect heartworms. Prevention is the best action, giving dogs medications to prevent various types of worms.

Common Health Problems in Dogs Include Skin Diseases

There are a host of skin diseases in dogs, ranging from fungus infections to mange to bacterial conditions. It may often require a skilled veterinarian to determine the exact cause and treatment of canine skin diseases. Just like people, dogs can suffer from allergies that affect their skin. They can even be allergic to food or plant pollen - just like people! Once a dog starts suffering from itchy skin, it may scratch itself so much that the skin is broken and bacteria enters, allowing a bacterial infection to take hold.

Without Proper Oral Hygiene and Care, Dogs Frequently Have Dental Problems

Dogs and dental care? While this may seem like an odd combination, owners of canines should not assume that their pets' teeth will automatically stay healthy. Plaque and cavities cause common health problems in dogs, particularly if dogs aren't given routine check-ups to make sure their teeth are in good shape. Veterinarians can recommend safe treats and bones which can help prevent plaque build-up.

Dog owners should check their dogs' gums to make sure they are not inflamed and also make sure that teeth don't show signs of decay or plaque. Some owners brush their dogs' teeth while others use a soft cloth to wipe off excess material on the teeth. Without proper care, tooth infections can arise.

Stay on Top of Other Common Canine Health Problems and Consider Buying Pet Health Insurance

Vigilant owners should also be on the lookout for ear problems, including scratching and shaking of the head (this can be a sign of ear mites). Any dog which can't hold down food and vomits should be watched for bloat, a potentially deadly condition. Err on the side of safety and call a vet if there is concern.

Photo Credit: Dan Harrelson