Posts tagged "pet health"

Tramadol is a veterinary drug used to treat osteoarthritis in household dogs. As part of a Paw Nation series providing background about the medical problems your pet may suffer, we spoke with Dr. Butch Schroyer, Owner/Operator of the Animal Care Clinic in Lexington, Ken., to learn more about the drug. You should always consult your veterinarian before giving medicine or supplements to your pet.

What is tramadol?
Tramadol is a synthetic, narcotic pain killer, used to treat chronic pain in dogs.

Is tramadol a prescription or over-the-counter drug?
Tramadol is a prescription medication available from your vet. It is the generic form of the drug Ultram, which was originally developed for and used in humans.

Heartworms in dogs are easy to prevent but difficult and costly to cure. Our friends at WebMD Healthy Pets asked Sheldon Rubin, 2007-2010 president of the American Heartworm Society, to separate facts from the myths about heartworm infestations in dogs.

Q: How do dogs get heartworms?
A: Only by the bite of an infected mosquito. There's no other way dogs get heartworms. And there's no way to tell if a mosquito is infected. That's why prevention is so important.

Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states. And the bite of just one mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae will give your dog heartworm disease.

Heartworm disease has not only spread throughout the United States, but it's also now found in areas where veterinarians used to say, "Oh, we don't have heartworm disease." Areas like Oregon, California, Arizona and desert areas -- where irrigation and building are allowing mosquitoes to survive. And if you have mosquitoes and you have animals, you're going to have heartworms. It's just that simple.

It takes about seven months, once a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. They then lodge in the heart, lungs and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing. Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches in length, can live five to seven years, and a dog can have as many as 250 worms in its system.

Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife Anna adopted as a puppy in late 2009, and the first dog Ben's ever had.

Back in April, Anna wrote about her trying experience meeting Pippi's first vet. Not only did this woman lack a decent bedside manner (implying Pippi had behavioral issues. As if!), but she pushed to prescribe Pippi a bunch of pointless medicines and treatments, including an unnecessary antibiotic and a preventative lyme-disease treatment (despite the fact that she already had a recent negative lyme-disease test). The experience left Anna exasperated, and many of you readers commiserated with us.

After that semi-traumatizing incident, we found a new vet from a friend's referral. Though this one was a bit further away -- getting there, it felt like we bypassed every outlet mall in northern New Jersey -- she was well worth it. For one thing, she didn't make us feel like Pippi was a freak just because she was a bit nervous and squirmed when her ears were being cleaned. The "puppy wrangler" had to be called in -- a short brunette with arms thicker than mine -- to contain and calm Pippi while the medication was being squirted into her floppy ears, but the team helped put us and our dog at ease. They smiled, joked, and truly seemed to enjoy being around her. They also were quick to praise what we were doing right, rather than only criticizing.

In an age where all of your pet's necessities can be purchased online, it only seems natural that its medication should be available through the click of a mouse. While a multitude of online pharmacies provide a convenient and often inexpensive way to obtain prescriptions you'd normally purchase at the vet's office, many veterinarians warn against using them.

Risk #1: Pharmacy Could be Selling Counterfeit or Inferior Medicine
A major concern for most veterinarians is the source of the medications sold by online pharmacies. "Many online pharmacies are not well regulated," said Dr. Michael Farber, Practice Owner and Chief of Staff at West Chelsea Veterinary. "Not all of these sites are licensed to sell drugs. Some sites are not based within the United States, so many of the medications they're selling are foreign-made or bootleg, and may not be exactly what has been prescribed by the vet."

Counterfeit products, expired products, and "products replaced with lesser products under the same name or category" may put your pet's health at risk, warned Farber.



Risk #2: Even High Quality Products Can Degrade During Shipping
Quality control also worries many veterinarians when their clients purchase medication from online sources. "There is no real quality control that I'm aware of with most online pharmacies," said Dr. Alan Stewart, Internal Medicine Specialist at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists. "When medications are shipped under the correct conditions, they're safe to use, but medicines shipped improperly in extreme hot or extreme cold may become damaged."

Going on a trip can be stressful enough without adding your dog to the mix. Some organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States recommend against flying with your dog at all because of numerous cases where the animals didn't arrive safely. But if you'll be taking to the skies with Fido in tow, some advance planning can ensure that both you and your pet will be ready for takeoff.

Assess whether your dog can handle the trip.
Radio show host and pet travel expert Stephanie Abrams points out that every breed and every dog has its own temperament that can affect your trip. "Some by nature are more high-strung," she says, and not good at dealing with the motion and the other rigors of travel. If your dog is relaxed in the car, that is a good sign. Certain breed-specific physical characteristics can make travel difficult, for instance brachycephalic dogs such as pugs and shih tzus have a pushed-in muzzle that often causes breathing problems which makes traveling in airplanes -- and especially the cargo hold -- risky.

Veterinarian David Smith of the New York Department of Agriculture agrees: "Be realistic about whether or not your pet is a good candidate for air travel. If your pet is easily stressed out by new environments, it may be better to leave it with a trusted pet-sitter." (The U. S. Department of Agriculture and state agriculture organizations are involved with the rules regarding transport of live animals.)

Know the airline rules.
These can vary quite a bit. Many airlines, like American Airlines, require that animals be at least 8 weeks old at the time of travel. Most airlines say that an animal under 20 pounds (including the weight of the pet carrier) can be brought aboard as long as the carrier can fit underneath the seat. Some allow larger animals to be flown in the cargo hold, but not all. For instance Jetblue has an extensive JetPaws Pet Program but passengers can only bring a pet as carry-on.

Not all customers feel comfortable having their pets travel kenneled in the airplane's cargo hold. It can be extremely stressful for both the dog and the owner -- especially with recent news reports of dogs being lost or sent to the wrong destination. If your dog is small enough to fit in its carrier underneath your seat, you'll probably want to travel that way.

Fees vary per carrier and can be anywhere from $75-200. A good resource for comparing airlines is PetTravel.com, which has the lowdown for every major carrier. Once you've narrowed your choices, go directly to the airline site to get the most updated rules. If you plan to have your dog in the cabin, it's important to make a reservation for your dog at the same time you are booking your flight, because every airline has a limited number of animals they will allow on board.

The Air Transport Association recommends that, "whenever possible, book a direct, nonstop flight and avoid holiday or weekend travel. Consider schedules that minimize temperature extremes. For example, try to avoid travel during excessively hot or cold periods. Morning or evening flights are preferable during the summer."

No matter how careful we are as pet owners, dogs and cats sometimes still manage to cut themselves, get overheated and eat things they really shouldn't. In honor of National Pet First Aid Awareness month, we at Paw Nation want to help you be prepared should trouble strike.

We asked Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro, Director of Emergency Services at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Colorado, and the official veterinarian of Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VI what she recommends you do in these five common situations:

1. Treating A Cut or Scratched Paw
"One of the most important things clients can do if injury is on the animal's paw is to put pressure on it with a clean towel and bring the pet into the nearest veterinary hospital," Dr. Mazzaferro tells Paw Nation. Don't apply a tourniquet because it can decrease blood supply to the injured limb and be dangerous. And you should probably avoid rinsing a wounded paw in water. "Sometimes that will release a blood clot that's formed." says Dr. Mazzaferro.

2. Evaluating Vomiting and Diarrhea
"If your pet's vomiting or diarrhea occurs more than just a couple of times, or if there is blood in it, or any suspicion of the dog or cat having gotten into a toxin, the pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away," says Dr. Mazzaferro. Otherwise, if vomiting occurs just a couple of times, withhold food and water for at least six hours and see if the condition subsides. "If they continue to vomit or become lethargic, or if they're a puppy or a very small, toy breed dog, I would bring them into a vet because they can dehydrate quickly," says Dr. Mazzaferro

3. Dealing With Heatstroke
Heatstroke is especially a risk during summer months. Signs include panting, increased respiratory sounds, collapse, seizure, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. "Get the animal away from the heat immediately," says Dr. Mazzaferro. "Soak towels in room temperature or tepid water -- not cold water or ice – and place the wet towels over the dog and put a fan in the room to allow ambient cooling." Put the towels over the dog's torso, over their back, chest and abdomen. "The mistake people make is dousing the animal in ice-cold water, and that can actually cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict and it could cause the animal's core temperature to rise and make the temperature worse," says Dr. Mazzaferro. "The most important thing is to get the animal to the vet. They may need intravenous fluids if they're severely dehydrated."

Talk about a diamond in the ruff!

A hungry golden retriever made headlines when he swallowed a three-carat diamond worth $20,000, reports WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.

The expensive meal was eaten at Robert Bernard Jewelry Store in Rockville, Md., where Sollie goes to work everyday with his owner, George Kaufmann, who co-owns the store with his business partner, Robert Rosin. When a visiting diamond dealer was showing the men some loose diamonds, one of the glittering gemstones dropped to the ground, according to WTTG-TV.

What occurred next was stunning. "Saw Sollie go for the diamond -- gobbled it up," Rosin told WJLA. "Tried to get it, couldn't get it -- gone!"

"Stones have dropped before and [Sollie] doesn't pay attention," Kaufmann, the dog's owner, told WTTG. But this particular diamond fell and landed right in front of his mouth.

The men quickly called the veterinarian, who had some sage advice: Let nature takes its course.

Kaufmann walked Sollie morning and night, collecting the dog's stool for inspection. On the third day, the diamond surfaced. "It was 7 a.m. and they had just come back from their morning walk," Rosin tells Paw Nation. "George was going through everything on his deck and, eureka, there it was!"

Sollie still goes to the jewelry store every day, but now Kaufmann and Rosin make sure to have lots of doggie treats on hand. "It wasn't so funny then, but I guess it's funny now," laughs Rosin.

A 23-year-old British man was charged with reckless driving and lost his license after police witnessed the man, Paul Railton, driving his car and walking his dog, a lurcher, alongside the vehicle as he held the dog's leash out of the driver's side window.

Railton pled guilty to "not being in proper control of a vehicle," reports the (U.K.) Guardian. He was fined the equivalent of about $100 and -- due to prior penalty points accumulated on his license -- was banned from driving for six months.

The matter was initially brought to the police's attention by a concerned cyclist, who was riding down a country road and spotted what appeared to be a dog being dragged alongside a car that was traveling at about five miles per hour, reports the Guardian.

Railton's lawyer admits that his client didn't use the best judgment. "He accepts it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness. He does not usually drive in a such a manner," the Guardian reports attorney Paul Donoghue as saying.

But Railton doesn't think there was anything wrong with what he did. "A lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner," Fox 5 News reports Railton as saying.

Many of us look back on the early- to mid-20th century as a time when life was simple, intentions were pure, and America was a shining beacon to which the rest of the world looked for guidance and inspiration.

That is until you see this ad from the June 1936 issue of Popular Mechanics featuring the Dog Sack, a handy-dandy device used to strap your dog to the side of your car so it can ride "safely and comfortably" on the running board. Then you realize that some of the inspiration America was selling involved truly insane ideas. Those poor dogs!

Here is hoping that no one actually bought this thing.

You never want to imagine your dog or cat needing a blood transfusion – but there is one group of people working to make sure your pet is covered. They're the folks at animal blood banks scattered throughout the country, a group that likens itself to the Red Cross -- but for pets.

"We do everything the same way," explains W. Jean Dodds, D.V.M., president of Hemopet, the only national non-profit animal blood bank. Blood is taken, typed and stored for shipment to veterinarians across the country. At local clinics this blood supply is put into animals who've lost blood from injuries or is pumped into dogs during surgery. It is also used to treat a host of diseases from anemia to Von Willebrand's (a hemophilia relatively common in canines).

Blood is also ordered by some breeders to be used for puppies whose mothers have died or who are in dire straits, but most blood banks deal strictly with vets.

The goal, according to Debbie Sweany, manager of the Veterinarian's Blood Bank in Southern Indiana, is to ensure the veterinarians have enough blood to serve all their needs. Large 24-hour veterinary clinics in major cities are their number-one clients, but small country vets make orders too -- and they're responsive to the needs of their patients. If a cat is going through cancer treatments, for example, it may need frequent transfusions, and vets will order enough to keep up with that demand.

An unusual threat is making dogs in South Florida suffer paralysis that can last up to a week and in extreme cases, can end in death. The surprising cause? Dead iguanas. The recent frigid temperatures killed these reptiles, leaving behind remains that are being eaten by curious dogs -- who then proceed to get sick from botulism in the dead animals.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's news program, The Morning Show, reports on the illnesses.

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.

At 88, Betty White's career is going as strong as ever. She recently starred in the hilarious Snickers Super Bowl commercial, which was watched by the largest television audience ever. She had an unforgettable turn as Ryan Reynolds' kooky grandmother in the 2009 romantic comedy, "The Proposal," with Sandra Bullock. And in recent weeks, there's been a Facebook campaign to get her to host "Saturday Night Live," an effort that already has close to 400,000 supporters.

White, who has been an actress for more than 60 years, has as much passion for animals as she does for show business and divides her time equally between the two worlds. For decades, she has worked with the Morris Animal Foundation to promote animal health and welfare, sponsoring more than 30 animal health studies that have led to groundbreaking research that have improved the lives of dogs, cats and horses.

On Feb. 15 in Las Vegas, Nev., the Morris Animal Foundation honored White for her commitment to helping animals enjoy longer and healthier lives. P&G Pet Care, who sponsored the luncheon, made a $10,000 donation in White's name to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Afterwards, White spoke with Paw Nation about her career, her much adored dog Pontiac, and how deeply honored she felt to be recognized for her work with animals.

Should I call you Betty or Ms. White?
Oh, Betty. That's so much easier.

How long have you worked with the Morris Animal Foundation?
I've worked with them for 43 years and they made me a wonderful luncheon today honoring me and, well, I lost it. I just lost it. I was so touched.

Your dog's ears may be better at hearing than yours will ever be --- but taking care of them comes at a price.

According to an evaluation of veterinary claims filed with the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), canine ear infections were the leading cause of vet visits in the United States. In 2009 alone, VPI -- the company that insures almost half a million American pets -- received about 68,000 claims for ear related vet visits. The average cost per visit was $100.

Also among the company's top reasons for doggie vet visits were skin allergies at number two, followed by skin infection/hot spots, gastritis/vomiting and enteritis/diarrhea.

In cats, lower urinary tract disease was the most common concern -- the VPI counted 3,700 claims for cats with urinary issues, costing their owners an average of $260 a visit. The other common reasons felines went to the vet included gastritis/vomiting in the number two spot, followed by chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism and diabetes.

A Rhode Island man who performed surgery on his own dog to remove a cyst on the aging Lab mix's leg is facing animal cruelty charges. So why does Alan MacQuattie blame it all on the economy?

The Vietnam vet told TV station WPRI he didn't have the money to pay a vet for the dog's care, but he didn't want 14-year-old Nakita to suffer. Using what he says was training from the Army, MacQuattie injected the dog with Lanacane to numb her pain and got to work removing a cyst on her hind leg.

When animal control and representatives of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) received reports of the at-home surgery, they showed up at MacQuattie's Barrington home and found Nakita with a wound on her right leg. The group's chief doctor told WPRI "poverty is no excuse" for what MacQuattie did.

The dog was taken to a local animal hospital where a second surgery was performed, while MacQuattie has pled no contest to charges of unnecessary cruelty to animals and unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. But he maintains what he did was the humane thing -- and animal control has allowed him to have his best friend back.

Estimates from Consumer Reports put the average cost of a vet visit for an older dog or cat at $340, but there are options out there for pet owners suffering in this ailing economy. The Humane Society of the United States maintains a list of organizations that offer everything from pet-food assistance to offsetting medical bills.

Some veterinary schools also run low-cost clinics for pet owners. Check with the American Veterinary Medicine Association for one near you.