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Posts tagged "PetHealthQuestions"


How to Introduce a Kitten to Your Older Cat

by Donna Rodgers (Subscribe to Donna Rodgers's posts)
Mar 8th 2010 4:00PM Filed Under: Cats

ZeroOne, Flickr

Cats are territorial creatures and you are their most prized possession -- it only makes sense that an older cat would not want to share you. But with planning and supervision, you can help bring the kitten successfully into the pride, reducing incidents of hissing or other bad behaviors.

Felicia Smith, a retired veterinarian in central New York, counsels cat owners to keep the new pet in a "safe room."

"Depending on how young the kitten is, and where the kitten has come from, give both pets privacy for three or four days, and longer if you feel it will benefit them. If you adopt a pet that has already received a vet exam and clean bill of health, and your older cat has all his shots, introduce the scents of each to the other first."

A young kitten may require a longer sheltering from your older cat. Smith recommends "If your kitten still takes milk -- if for any reason she isn't fully weaned -- please keep her away from the older," says Smith. It is also critical to keep them apart if either could be sick. "I remember one tragic instance when a kitten carrying feline leukemia was introduced to an older pet," says Smith. "The older cat hadn't been vaccinated for the disease. Within two years, both were dead."

A rare occurrence? We hope! More commonly, passing ear mites or a mild infection between pets occurs. If your new kitten is feral, make sure a vet checks and vaccinates her and that you know it is safe before introducing her to the older cat.
    

Ask The AKC Animal Behaviorist: Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts)
Mar 5th 2010 2:45PM Filed Under: Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist
sad dog

Zer0_pt, Flickr

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior.

Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of nine books, more than 200 articles and has been a lobbyist on legislation concerning hazardous dogs and responsible dog ownership.


Dear Dr. Burch,
My dog has a disturbing habit -- he eats his own poop! Why does he do this?

Dr. Burch Says: If there is a dog behavioral issue that makes us cringe, it's when dogs eat their own waste. We're talking about when the dog eats his own or another dog's poop.

There are several reasons dogs eat feces. A few of the most common reasons include:

A Nutritional Deficiency: When there are inadequate nutrients in a dog's food, he feels hungry and eats whatever is readily available. Nutrients can be depleted as a result of parasites like tapeworms. Not enough or too much food can cause the nutritional deficiencies that result in coprophagia, the consumption of feces. Too much food, especially for puppies, can cause diarrhea that depletes nutrients. If there is a period of time that dogs are starving and they eat feces to survive, like some feral dogs, they may develop this hard-to-break habit.

A Desire to Clean House: Dogs like to be clean. When confined in dirty crates or small areas, some dogs will eat their feces to clean the area. Dams (mother dogs) will often eat poop to keep their puppies clean. When puppies are newborns, dams lick them to provide stimulation that results in urinating and defecating.

A Need for Self-stimulation: Dogs who are bored will sometimes eat feces simply to have something to do. Confinement combined with neglect can cause maladaptive behaviors like eating feces. Some dogs are copy-cats (or copy-dogs, as the case may be) and they will join in if other dogs in the household are providing waste management services in the backyard. Training is a good tool for managing this behavior. A reliable "come" and "leave it!" will help prevent the problem in instances where the dog finds something before you do. Your veterinarian can talk to you about nutrition and the appropriate food for your dog.

Basically, the main reason dogs eat poop is because it's there. If your dogs are eating feces when they're in the backyard, remember, they can't eat it if it's not around. Do some quick patrolling and cleaning of your yard before the dogs go out.


Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.

    

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Petfinder.com Introduces New FurKeeps Program

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts)
Feb 22nd 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Pet Adoption
put that down, Flickr

Did you know that 34.2 percent of people who give up their pets have had them for over two years? Clearly, these folks didn't give up their furry family member at the first sign of inconvenience--which, lets be honest, happens the first day you bring a pet home. But due to changes in housing, the potentially high costs of pet-owning, behavior problems, and a host of other reasons, many animal adoptions don't quite take.

That's why this March, Petfinder.com is introducing their new FurKeeps program. (Though you can go online now and preview some of the features.) Prospective pet parents can go the section "Starting Your Adoption Right" which features an adoption checklist as well as an explanation about what to expect in the first 30 days with your new pet. Current pet parents will be able ask pet professionals their questions about animal care, health, and behavior in a free "Ask the Experts" online forum. The FurKeeps Web site also includes resources addressing the most common reasons people give up their pets. From tips on finding animal-friendly housing (36.4 percent relinquish their pets because of a move) to pet training tips (17.9 percent of pets are given up because of behavioral problems), the site aims to help you plan ahead. As the site says, "Part of being a great pet parent is planning for the long haul. Your adoptive pet could be with you for a very long time, and even pet parents who have the best intentions at the time of adoption run into problems sometimes. This is nothing to be ashamed of."

In other words, pets can be a pain. We all love them, but it is common for there to be tough times with furry family members and its good to remember that there are resources to help.
    

Dr. Marty Becker on Diseases We Can Catch From Our Pets

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Nov 5th 2009 10:30AM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Pet Health, Ask A Vet

Dr. Marty Becker, center, with Dr. Oz, right. ZoCo Productions LLC

Do you let your dog lick you on the mouth? That may not be such a wise thing to do. "Your mouth is such a portal for zoonotic diseases that the days of the 'canine tonsil swab' are over," veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker tells Paw Nation. "We can still love our dogs and hug them, but it's really not a good idea to let dogs kiss you on the mouth. Let 'em lick you on the cheek instead."

On Thursday's episode of The Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Becker (of "Good Morning America" fame) talks about diseases you can catch from your dogs and cats. "Because we're living more intimate lives with our pets – hugging and kissing our pets, and sleeping with them at night -- we're at more risk for catching certain zoonotic diseases from our dogs and cats," Dr. Becker tells Paw Nation.

Foremost among those diseases come from MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), parasites and ringworm. The bacteria MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics. A study found that a full 50% of the houses that researchers inspected had MRSA lurking on kitchen and faucet handles, drains, and on high chairs and trash cans. The common denominator was pet cats. "Cat owners are eight times more likely to have MRSA in their homes," says Dr. Becker. Moreover, the bacteria was "ping-ponging back and forth between humans and pets."
    

Feline Asthma: What to Know

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts)
Aug 20th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Cats, Pet Health
feline asthma

Thompson, the author's cat, shows off his AeroKat feline asthma inhaler. Photo: Kirsten Taylor

Sometimes feline asthma can just sound like a bad hairball. But if your cat is making hacking noises without spewing blobs of hair, it might be something more serious.

Feline asthma causes cats to wheeze and cough, making sounds that are often mistaken for the gagging, retching sounds that go along with hairballs. About one in a hundred adult cats suffer from feline asthma, according to the Winn Feline Foundation. Untreated, the disease can be deadly.

Feline asthma goes by a variety names, such as chronic bronchitis and allergic bronchitis. "Really, [feline asthma] is a hypersensitivity to allergens in the air," says Paw Nation expert vet Matthew Cooper. Common allergens include cat-litter dust, plant pollen, air fresheners, flea sprays, and hair spray, along with smoke from fireplaces and cigarettes. Those allergens cause muscles in a sensitive cat's airways to contract, making it hard for the kitty to breathe.

Just like in people, feline asthma attacks can range from mild to severe. Fortunately, treatments exist -- and they, too, mimic asthma treatment for humans. Inhaled steroids help prevent attacks by reducing inflammation in the airways. And inhaled drugs called bronchodilators help open the airways when an attack is occurring, reports the Winn Feline Foundation.

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Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Aug 18th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Small Pets, Pet Health, I Work With Animals!

Lon Black working on a happy client. Photo: Brian Crumley.


What animal lover hasn't daydreamed about ditching their desk job and applying for a job at the zoo? Or at a doggy daycare? Or tracking gorillas in Africa? We sure have, but since most of us may never actually get to work with the animals we love, we thought we'd introduce you to a few people who do.


Name: Lon Black
Age: 53
Job: Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist; Hope Veterinary Clinic

What is small animal massage therapy?
It's traditional massage on small animals -- meaning cats and dogs, with an occasional rabbit here and there, but that's pretty rare -- using Swedish massage strokes.

Where do you work at?
I work through the Hope Veterinary Clinic in Brooklyn, NY. I've been with them since my internship. The medical director saw things I did that amazed her so much she asked me to stay on board.

What made you interested in this?
I wanted to make animals feel better. I wasn't interested in doing show animals or agility animals -- animals that were already healthy. I wanted to make animals who were not feeling well, feel better. I wanted to get animals who have trouble with mobility to start walking again.

Is that possible through massage?
Absolutely. It is great support for aging animals. Sometimes I'm amazed by what I see. The results can be quick and dramatic; it depends on the animal and the stage they're in, but I've turned around some very skeptical owners who only did it because the vet referred them to me. When they see their animals acting younger and doing things they haven't done in years, then they see first-hand what massage can do.

Did you go to school to learn animal massage?
Yes. I studied at a human massage school called the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester, Massachusetts. They're one of the oldest human massage schools in the country. They started an animal program and I was in the very first class that graduated five years ago. They have since added an equine program, which is a different course of study altogether.

How long is the program?
It's 13 months of intensive study. We learn full-fledged animal anatomy and do internships. We started learning massage techniques on each other before we even began with the animals, and it was very beneficial. They wanted to have us get verbal feedback, which obviously you can't get from an animal -- you have to rely solely on body language.

Is one required to be certified to do animal massage?
It's state by state. There's no licensing requirement for this yet, but there is a national certification test in the works. In fact, I've been selected as one of the people asked to look over the test questions and comment on them.

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Stem Cells Used to Treat Animals Suffering From Arthritis

by Steve Friess (Subscribe to Steve Friess's posts)
Aug 12th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Health

Photo: J Pat Carter, AP


The debate may rage on over stem-cell treatments for people, but hundreds of veterinarians are already using the renewable cells to give arthritic dogs and horses a new spring in their steps.

Vet-Stem, the company pioneering such treatments, harvests adult stem cells from the suffering animal's body fat, isolates them in a lab, and then injects the stem cells into the affected area, such as the hips. While there have been no truly independent clinical studies to determine the effectiveness -- Vet-Stem has funded the three biggest studies to date -- there has been promising anecdotal evidence coming from reputable sources.

University of Florida veterinarian Kristin Kirby, for instance, told the Associated Press that the owners of the five dogs she's injected with stem cells extracted from their own fat have all reported marked improvement -- though no outright cures -- from vexing mobility problems. Ditto for Adam Gassel, a vet in Irvine, Calif., who has treated 40 dogs and found 80 percent of his patients enjoyed varying degrees of relief.

"I was pretty skeptical," Dr. Gassel told the Associated Press. "I was hoping that dogs would just be more comfortable."

California-based Vet-Stem has treated 3,500 horses and 1,500 dogs, and they've licensed 1,500 vets to use their procedures since they started in 2003. Treatments for cats are coming this year. "We're a long way from growing a heart or a whole organ outside of the body and transplanting it, we're decades away, I'm sure," Vet-Stem founder Dr. Bob Harman told ABC's "Nightline". "What we can do is take these cells and put them in a damaged organ and help the organ truly heal itself."

At $2,500 to $3,000 a pop, the treatments aren't cheap, and there's no guarantee more operations won't be necessary. But consider the case of Be A Bono, a thoroughbred with bone chips in his knees and damage to cushioning fluid around the joints. After surgery, Be A Bono went on to earn more than $1 million in racing purses. Now if only there was a way for Fido to earn that kind of money fetching the ball!

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How to Give Your Dog a Pill

by Sonia Zjawinski (Subscribe to Sonia Zjawinski's posts)
Aug 10th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Health
For kids, it's a spoonful a sugar that helps the medicine to go down. For dogs, it's cheese.

The video below from HowCast teaches you how to get your dog to pop meds without needing a team of helpers to manhandle your pup. Luckily, canines tend to be much more comfortable having fingers shoved down their throats than their feline counterparts!

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Fixing Aggressive Dog Behavior

by Michelle Toglia (Subscribe to Michelle Toglia's posts)
Jul 31st 2009 5:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News, Pet Health
aggressive dog behavior

Will a little dental work help this biting pup?
Photo: Jake Stevens / LA Times

These days, Cotton's bark may actually be bigger than his bite.

The aggressive six-year-old American Eskimo dog recently underwent a highly controversial dental treatment known as canine disarming to trim and smooth his teeth.

Cotton's owner Diane Krieger had tried just about everything -- puppy training classes, self-help books, and even assistance from "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan -- to tame her pup's dangerous bad habit, but the biting persisted. She even looked into dog rescue groups, but most refused to take pets with a history of biting.

Last month, as an alternative to euthanization, Krieger resorted to the $1,600 treatment. Veterinary dentist Dr. David Nielsen performed the canine disarming procedure in hopes of making Cotton more obedient -- or at least, less harmful.

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Feline Leukemia, FIV - A New Treatment

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts)
Jul 27th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Cats, Pet Health
feline luekemia

Feline leukemia can be spread by kitty kisses and other casual contact. Photo: SuziJane/Flickr

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are phrases that every cat owner dreads -- and for good reason. The diseases are deadly, and treatments for either of them are limited. That may soon change.

Missouri-based company ProLabs has recently launched a drug to fight these devastating infections. It's the first treatment for the diseases to have been granted a conditional license by the USDA.

Veterinarian and consultant for the Cornell Feline Health Center Christine Bellezza told Paw Nation that FeLV and FIV are related but distinct diseases. "They both affect the immune system, but in slightly different ways."

Both infections suppress a cat's immune response and impair the ability to fight off diseases. As a result, infected cats often pick up a parade of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Blood disorders, such as life-threatening anemia, are common in cats with FeLV or FIV, and the viruses can also cause various types of cancer. In fact, feline leukemia is the most common cause of cancer in cats.

FIV is spread from cat to cat mostly through bite wounds and intercourse (another reason to spay and neuter!). FeLV passes from cat to cat much more casually -- infected kitties can pass the virus to their playmates through grooming and by sharing a litter box or food dish. Kittens are especially susceptible to contracting the virus.
    

Allergy Season for Pets

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts)
Jul 22nd 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Pet Health

"Can somebody get me some Claritin, please?" Photo: TheGiantVermin/Flickr

Red eyes, itchy skin -- 'tis the season for allergies, for people as well as pets. Seasonal allergies typically affect pets between July and October, peaking in August and September, reports the Janesvile (Wisconsin) Gazette. About 2 to 3 percent of cats and 5 to 10 percent of dogs suffer from seasonal symptoms. Any breed (or mutt) can have allergies, but Labrador retrievers, cocker spaniels and poodles are particularly vulnerable.

Dogs and cats are bugged by the same common allergens that make us humans reach for the medicine cabinet: pollen, ragweed, house mites, feathers, grasses, and mold are common culprits, writes petplace.com. But instead of the watery eyes and sneezing fits that plague their owners, dogs and cats are more likely to have symptoms that affect skin, such as redness, scabs, and hair loss. Owners often notice the problem when their pets keep them up at night licking and chewing at their itchy skin.

Luckily for Itchy and Scratchy, there is relief to be had. Cool baths can take the edge off the itch, or in more severe cases, vets may prescribe coritsone creams, over-the-counter human meds, or even immunotherapy. As always, be sure to consult your veterinarian before administering any treatment.

Itching can also be a symptom of more serious skin diseases, but vets are getting better at recognizing and treating seasonal allergies, veterinarian Daniel Heder told the Gazette. "It's rare we can't get a handle on the patient and we now have excellent therapy now that was not available 15 to 20 years ago," he said.

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Flea Treatments Under Scrutiny by EPA

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts)
Jul 20th 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Pet Health

"If I could only reach that one spot!" Photo: doug88888/Flickr

This spring, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was taking a hard look at pesticide products for controlling fleas and ticks in dogs and cats. EPA spokesman Dale Kemery told Paw Nation that the products have come under scrutiny due to a sharp increase in reports of negative reactions to the drugs. Reports of such problems jumped from about 29,000 in 2007 to about 44,000 in 2008, according to EPA data. Those reactions ranged from mild skin irritation to more serious incidents, including seizures and even death.

Spot-on flea and tick treatments are liquid pesticides typically applied to the skin between the animal's shoulder blades or along the back. Some of those products, like Advantage, are sold only through licensed vets. Others, like Frontline and Hartz, are available in retail stores. But don't let that difference fool you. Spot-ons from vets and from pet shops can contain the same chemicals, and they're subject to exactly the same regulations by the EPA. "EPA is looking at all the spot-on products, regardless of formulation, regardless of manufacturer," said Kemery.

Spokespersons for both Bayer Animal Health (which makes Advantage and Advantix products) and Hartz said they haven't seen a rise in adverse effects from their products. They and other manufacturers of spot-on products are working closely with the EPA to get to the bottom of the story, Bob Walker, spokesman for Bayer Animal Health, told us.

The news of the EPA analysis has left many pet owners feeling confused and frightened. But is the problem as scary as it sounds? Steven Hansen, senior vice president of the Animal Health Services at the ASPCA, told us he's skeptical that adverse reactions to spot-on products have increased so dramatically. He points out that the spike in reported problems came just after the widely publicized pet-food recall of 2007. "The pet-food recall raised awareness for reporting issues with animals to a level we haven't ever been anywhere near," he said. "I really wonder if there's not just a much greater awareness and a greater reporting."

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10 Things Poisonous to Pets in Your Home

by Michelle Toglia (Subscribe to Michelle Toglia's posts)
Jun 25th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Birds, Cats, Small Pets, Pet Health, Photo Galleries
Here at Paw Nation, we do whatever we can to help you keep your pets safe and sound. That's why we've teamed up with Petside.com on the Pet 'Net Safety Event 2009. Read on to see what common household items may be dangerous for your pets, or check out Petside.com to read more safety tips for your pals.

10 Things Poisonous to Pets in your Home

    Many common household items -- ones that we've never even thought twice about -- can be harmful and potentially fatal to our four-legged friends. Gretchen Lee Schoeffler, Chief of the Emergency and Critical Care Service at Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital, weighs in on the items to keep far away from your pets' paws.

    jupiterimages

    Chocolate
    It may be the ultimate feel-good treat, but chocolate has quite the opposite effect on your cat or dog. The chemical methylxantine is toxic to dogs and in high doses can cause abnormal heart beats, seizures and death. In addition to the breed and size of your pet, chocolate type is also an important factor in the severity of intoxication. Dr. Schoeffler says the richer the chocolate, the higher the methylxantine content. Therefore, milk chocolate accidents are much less severe than cases involving Baker's chocolate.

    jupiterimages

    Gum
    Overall, most gum is only a problem for pets if they ingest a large amount, but be aware of your dog digging into any amount of gum containing the ingredient Xylitol. Dr. Schoeffler says this new sugar substitute is proven to be fatal for dogs-causing seizures and severe liver damage. She won't even bring a pack of sugarless gum containing Xylitol into her home.

    Corbis

    Grapes/Raisins
    Dr. Schoeffler says that vets have seen an increase in troubles with dogs who have eaten grapes or raisins in the past 10 years. While some dogs can handle a couple of grapes as a treat, others end up in the hospital on an IV. While the mechanism is unknown, ingesting grapes and raisins has lead to acute renal failure in canines.

    Getty Images

    Potpourri
    The essential oils in this fragrant mix can be harmful to curious cats and dogs who often spill it on themselves or rub against the dish containing the oils. The Cationic detergents in the hot liquid can cause significant burns in a cat's esophagus, mouth, and tongue. Dr. Schoefflerer says that these type of burns will prevent a cat from being able to groom itself. Try putting liquid potpourri far from your pets' reach or using an air freshener instead.

    Photodisc

    Lilies
    While these flowers will brighten up your home, make sure to keep them away from your cat. Even in small amounts, Lilies can cause severe kidney failure in cats. "Don't even take a bouquet home if it contains a lilies," says Dr. Schoefflerer. Be sure to take note of other toxic plants.

    Photodisc

    Non-Stick pans
    Have a bird? Then forget about cooking with your non-stick pan, says Dr. Schoeffler. When non-stick pans are heated to high temperatures, the fumes can cause a respiratory condition called Teflon Toxicity that can be abrupt and fatal.

    jupiterimages

    Fertilizers
    Fertilizers may do wonders for your lawn, but they can be extremely harmful to your outdoor pet. Last year, the ASPCA received more than 2,000 calls related to fertilizer exposure. Pets that ingest fertilizer can suffer from damage to their digestive tract and life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction. Be sure to follow instructions for your fertilizer before letting your puppy play in the grass.

    Corbis

    Paint
    If you live in an old home with lead-based paint or are in the process of remodeling, make sure to keep a close eye on your pet. Dogs who chew on old paint or drink runoff from lead-based paint can suffer from lead intoxication. If left untreated, lead intoxication can be fatal. Dr. Schoefflerer has also seen paintballs pose a threat to pets. The paint pellets can cause an electrolytic disturbance if ingested.

    DV Wired

    Human medication
    Many people tend to think that if a pill is safe for a human, it's safe for a pet too. Dr. Schoefflerer says that's not the case at all. Human medication is considered to be one of the most common household hazard to pets. She identifies non-steroidal medications as the most common to our animals. Arthritis medication like Ibuprofen can be toxic. There are safe ways to administer medication to pets, but it must be done under veterinary guidance.

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Global Warming Multiplies Harmful Fleas and Ticks

by Sonia Zjawinski (Subscribe to Sonia Zjawinski's posts)
Jun 25th 2009 12:00PM Filed Under: Pet Health

Photo: jurek d./Flickr

Ok, so there's a long list of doomsday situations brewing due to global warming, but did you know your pets are at a greater risk of catching an infectious disease due to milder temperatures? As the mercury rises, more and more infectious diseases are spreading via ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes.

With winters becoming more mild, pest populations are increasing, turning into a major nuisance, to say the least. New Scientist reports that, "the European dog tick is transmitting a malaria-like disease, canine babesiosis, into countries where it was once rare including Belgium, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, lxodes ticks are living at greater densities across Europe, increasing their risk of passing tick-borne encephalitis to horses and dogs."

Heartworm, cat flea typhus, and canine leishmaniasis are of concern as well, and not just in Europe. Tick, flea, and mosquito numbers are ballooning everywhere.

What can you do to protect your pets and yourself?

  • Check yourself and your furry friend for ticks anytime you're out in tick prone areas.
  • Use flea killing meds such as Advantage or Revolution to keep biters at bay.
  • Keep your pup up-to-date on heartworm meds.

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FDA Approves First-Ever Cancer Drug for Dogs

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Jun 10th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News, Pet Health

Not feeling so well. Photo: Perfecto Insecto/Flickr

It's good news on a somber topic.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-ever cancer drug formulated specifically for canines in the United States. Made by Pfizer Inc.'s Animal Health division, the drug called "Palladia" is aimed at treating mast cell tumors in dogs. "Mast cell tumors are the second most common tumor type and are often seen as lumps in the skin," explains Pfizer in a statement.

A clinical study of the new drug found that "approximately 60% of dogs had their tumors disappear, shrink or stop growing," said Dr. Cheryl London, DVM, PhD, board certified medical oncologist and associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine who has helped Pfizer develop Palladia since 2000. Dogs whose tumors responded to Palladia experienced an improved quality of life, added Dr. London.

Sadly, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs according to the Morris Animal Foundation. Every year, an estimated 1.2 million new cases of canine cancer is reported in the United States, states Pfizer Animal Health.

Palladia, whose scientific name is Toceranib phosphate, will be available through veterinarians sometime in early 2010. In the meantime, Pfizer is distributing the drug to veterinary oncologists to try out. The price of the drug has not yet been announced, but the veterinary community is urging Pfizer to make the drug affordable for the "average client" who may have to purchase the tablets for their dogs for months or years to come, reports ABC News.

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