Pet Food Nutrition and Fad Diets – what’s the right diet?
Over the last decade, the number of new and pop-up food brands has exploded, making it hard for pet owners to know which diet is best. Well-produced advertisements show foods that look like human food but are commercially available for pets. Some of these foods boast being fit for people, fresh and grain-free, and claim to have ‘natural, fresh ingredients. This couldn’t possibly be bad, right? Wrong – some of these new diets lack appropriate nutrients, contain bad gut bacteria and have been linked to heart disease. Here are the facts:
How to Introduce Your Dog to New Animals
Introducing a new dog to the pets of your home can be a little tricky at first. You want your current pets and your new pet to live comfortably with everyone. Keep in mind that realistic expectations are important. Some dogs are not capable of getting along with other dogs. Some dogs have such a strong reaction to smaller animals that their instinct to chase and catch will override their ability to stay calm (this is known as a strong prey drive). The key to ensuring good first interactions and blending the new family together is to separate everyone initially, let everyone get used to the new smells in the house, then closely supervise any interactions among the pets for a while, slowly increasing the amount of time your pets spend together. In order to avoid any inappropriate behaviors from your new pet or your current ones (e.g., urinating outside the litterbox, chasing, hiding), everyone should be comfortable together, not just tolerating each other. Get your new dog checked by a veterinarian to ensure he is healthy and free of any diseases that may be contagious to your other pets. Discuss your concerns about the upcoming introductions with your vet so you can get as many tips and suggestions as possible to make adding a new pet a smooth transition. Introductions to Other Dogs When introducing a new dog to your current dog(s), the point is to avoid reaching the threshold where they start to growl and posture, not to react to it after it happens. Start by keeping the new one separated from the current resident(s) and let him sniff out the house alone. It is a good idea to start supervised visual contact without having them interact at first (i.e., keep the new dog leashed and across the room from the current and leashed dog(s) so they can see each other). Then while they are both leashed, supervise them together. You can also let them meet outside in the yard. If any growling or lunging aggressively occurs, you may need to re-separate them and back up a few steps for a while. If the dogs get along well but start to play too roughly with each other, take a break from playtime. If the aggression continues, separate them again, and follow this with supervised interactions until they are able to interact without getting too worked up. Make sure each dog has plenty of his own food, toys, and water to help prevent fighting over these objects. Give each dog plenty of your attention and affection, even if that means separating them to do so. It is also a good idea to feed the dogs separately until they get used to each other, and then supervise their meals very closely. Understand that there is a honeymoon period when a new dog comes into the home, during which the new dog slowly becomes more comfortable and behaviors that were not evident at first can emerge. Over time, creating a daily routine that involves time together, time apart, and exercise will go a long way towards keeping all pets comfortable and happy. Exercising them together by walking them on separate leashes, possibly with one person to each dog, is a great way to help them get used to each other in an enjoyable manner. Always remember to reward good behavior. When the New Dog Is a Puppy Introducing a new puppy to your pet family is a little bit different than introducing an adult dog. Puppies generally have a harder time interacting properly in social settings because they haven’t learned how. Examples include playing too roughly and chewing on everything, including other pets. Puppies learn how to behave by being taught by other dogs, such as their mother and siblings. So when you bring an energetic, rough-playing puppy home to meet your other pets, you will likely notice that the other pets seem almost annoyed by these interactions. An older dog may nip or growl at the new puppy when the puppy crawls on him and tugs on his ears. This is technically normal, but needs to be carefully monitored as it is difficult to know whether this is a “Hey, kid, get off me…” type of warning or truly aggressive behavior. Introducing the puppy to a cat is similar: the persistence of a puppy can lead to what appears to be rude behavior by the cat (swatting at the puppy or hissing), but may be the cat trying to teach the puppy what is appropriate behavior. Yelling at your adult animal for correcting the puppy will only create more tension and may lead to a more permanent dislike of the new pup by your current pets. Remember to keep everyone distracted with their own treats/toys during their time together. Your current dog may feel uncomfortable around a puppy who does not really understand the adult dog’s communication, and so the puppy doesn’t realize the dog doesn’t want to interact. If the puppy goes near the adult and the adult gets up and moves away, that is clear communication that the adult doesn’t want to be disturbed. If the adult does that and the puppy follows the adult around anyway, the puppy is not understanding the adult’s communication. If the puppy jumps on the adult, the puppy is really not understanding his communication; this is akin to a strange and annoying child coming up to you in your home and ignoring your asking him to play outside and leave you in peace. The adult dog will snap at the puppy or raise his lip, which is a higher level of communication. The adult dog has raised his “go away and leave me alone” to “go away and leave me alone, or else…” This is good communication and should not be punished. If the puppy doesn’t understand the adult’s communication to go away, the adult needs to go to you for help instead. Praising the adult dog around the puppy helps.
Grain-free Pet Diets and Heart Disease in Pets
You may have heard about a link between grain-free diets and canine heart disease from the news or from your veterinarian. If you haven’t, here’s some important information we’d like to share with you: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has alerted pet owners and veterinary professionals about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs that are eating grain free foods. It should be noted that cats eating similar foods are at an even greater risk. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disorder that results in a decreased ability of the heart to pump blood through the body. Historically, this seemed to be a heritable disease affecting certain dog breeds. Previously, cats eating certain diets came down with this disorder. Once dietary changes were made by food companies, we stopped seeing this in cats and only specific dog breeds, most notably the Doberman Pincher, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes. More recently, with the advent of grain-free / boutique diets, veterinary cardiologists began reporting the disease in atypical dog breeds. The FDA stated in its report in July that the Center for Veterinary Medicine is looking into the links between grain-free dog foods and DCM along with the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network. Recently, veterinary cardiologists have been reporting increased rates of DCM in breeds not usually associated with DCM such as Miniature Schnauzers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Doodle mixes, Shih Tzus and French Bulldogs. There is suspicion that the disease is associated with eating boutique or grain-free diets with some of the dogs improving when their diets are changed. A cardiologist from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine noted DCM in a household with two unrelated Miniature Schnauzers and they were both eating the same boutique, exotic protein grain free diet. Cardiologists have noticed that both the typical and atypical breeds were more likely to be eating boutique or grain-free diets with ingredients such as kangaroo, lentils, duck, pea, fava bean, buffalo, tapioca, salmon, lamb, barley, bison, venison, and chickpeas. Some vegan diets have been associated with DCM and it has even been seen in dogs eating raw or home-prepared diets. The cause of the rise in DCM in breeds not usually associated with this condition is unclear at this time. The most likely opinion is related to the amino acid taurine. While most grain-free foods have it, there may be a problem with how its processed and absorbed in the grain-free diets. Taurine is an essential amino acid involved in heart contractility. We learned this lesson the hard way when DCM was found in cats. In 1987 it was discovered that feline DCM was caused by insufficient taurine in the diet. All reputable commercial cat foods now contain enough taurine to prevent the development of this lethal disease. While no one is 100% certain why the grain-free diets are causing DCM, it is suspected that there is a link to how the taurine is processed. Most of the atypical dogs affected were eating boutique, grain free or exotic ingredient diets. Many affected dogs improved with taurine supplementation and returning them to a traditional grain diet. If you are feeding your dog or cat a grain-free or raw diet, it is recommended that you switch back to a traditional grain-fortified diet. In fact, there is no proven benefit to feeding a diet that lacks grains. So what is the best diet for your pets? You can speak with your veterinarian about what diet is most appropriate. based on your pet’s age, level of activity, and any special needs or requirements they may have. The right nutrients in the right proportions must be in the diet, the effects of processing (or not processing) the food needs to be considered, and the effects all the other ingredients in the food need to be addressed, in addition to ensuring rigorous quality control and testing. Not every manufacturer can do this type of quality control and food analysis/testing and certainly not every manufacturer does. If your pet is in good health and a good body weight, some very reputable brands that put a lot of research into their foods include Royal Canin, Hills, Eukanuba and Purina. These diets are readily available in pet food stores and some are even found in supermarkets.
Pain in the Rump – Anal Sacs Issues in Cats and Dogs. What are They and Why is My Pet Scooting?
Anal glands are small glands that live just inside the anus of most mammals. they are small and contain a smelly fluid. If the glands act as they should every time your cat or dog defecates, the feces presses against the glands before leaving the large intestines and glandular material is released. The exact purpose of these glands are not 100% known but they are believed to help animals mark their territory. What Happens When the Glands are Too Small or are Inflamed? Symptoms like scooting are noticed by most pet owners when the glands cannot empty easily and need to be expressed. This can be caused by very tiny gland opening or by inflammation related to things like food allergies. When the fluid is trapped and it can’t leave the glands normally, owners notice signs like scooting, licking of the glands and so on. If a gland remains filled with fluid that keeps being produced, the gland can become tender and painful and may rupture externally – next to the anus. This is now an anal gland abscess (a walled of infection). This requires antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment and sometimes placing a topical medication directly into the sire of the rupture. Ideally, with the first signs of an enlarged gland like scooting, you bring your pet into your veterinarian for an exam and the glands can be evaluated through rectal palpation and expressed. If the gland fluid appears to be infected, your veterinarian will probably add antibiotics. For chronic cases that don’t seem to improve, your veterinarian may sedate your pet, obtain a sample of the gland fluid for bacterial culture and infuse and antibiotic and steroid directly into the gland pores so the medication can mix with the impacted gland. Some cases of impacted glands respond to a noel protein diet that your veterinarian may prescribe. Over time if your pet has food allergies which lead to inflammation, a special veterinary diet may help with sensitivities and reduce inflammation and make it easier for fluid to exit the glandular pore. For refractory cases that don’t respond to direct gland infusion or any of the other discussed treatments, there is always the option of surgically removing the glands. The gland importance is not very significant and if it is causing ongoing discomfort for your pet and regular visits to your veterinarian for expression and management, anal sac removal (anal sacculectomy) may be just what the doctor orders! Plus, most animals become progressively scared of veterinary visits as a painful gland or glands are constantly being examined and expressed. A procedure like this should be done by a boarded veterinary surgeon or a general practitioner with a lot of experience doing this procedure. If too much tissue is taken it can damage the anal sphincter and make your cat or canine companion incontinent. While an anal sacculectomy may sound extreme, for companion animals with chronic anal gland issues, this is a permanent solution. In this author’s experience, I can’t think of anyone that regrets doing this procedure. It should be reserved for chronic cases that don’t respond to standard treatments, but it is a cure that provides lasting relief to your furry friend and ultimately to you, as you’re not seeing your pet uncomfortable or scared to see your family veterinarian anymore. If your companion animal is experiencing anal gland issues, Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital is here to help. Call us to schedule your pet’s exam and let us help you ensure that they live in comfort and with the dignity they deserve!
Bladder Inflammation (Cystitis) in Cats and Occasionally in Dogs
Cystitis (non-bacterial bladder inflammation) in Cats This condition is also known as Feline Interstitial Cystitis, Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, FIC. Cystitis is any kind of inflammation in the wall of the urinary bladder that causes clinical signs in pets. Cystitis may result from a bacterial infection or bladder stones. However, young and middle-aged cats in particular get sterile cystitis, which means it is not caused by bacteria or stones. While bacterial cystitis, an infection, is treated with antibiotics, and cystitis caused by bladder stones is taken care of by removing the stones (surgically or medical dissolution) and a change of diet, sterile cystitis can be tough to deal with because there is nothing obvious to treat besides increased water consumption and decreased stress. Most commonly the evaluation by your veterinarian will include a history, physical examination, a complete urinalysis, and X-rays or possibly an abdominal ultrasound or even a limited ultrasound scan of the bladder. A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel may also be done. Dogs rarely get sterile cystitis but in some cases if water is restricted it can occur. In contrast, it’s quite common among young to middle-aged cats. A similar condition occurs in people called interstitial cystitis. Idiopathic sterile cystitis is thought of as the most common urological disease of young cats. It is less likely to start after the age of 10-12 years. When the urinary tract just isn’t quite right, you can see signs in your cat (an in some cases, you dog), but you need to look carefully. Clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease can include: In sterile cystitis, these signs may be episodic and the most common one is usually blood in the urine, either visible to your eye or only under a microscope. While you will know soon if your cat is going outside the box or going frequently, you may not notice the straining and signs of pain while trying to urinate unless you are paying attention to your cat’s litter box habits. It can be frustrating when there is no specific test for the actual, most common cause of a problem. Testing, such as a culture for bacteria or radiographs to look for stones, may be done to look for the less common causes of bladder disease in the younger age groups. If Nothing is Wrong, Why is My Pet Peeing Blood? The bladder’s health affects the rest of the body, and the body’s overall health affects the bladder. An affected animal may well have another disease or syndrome at the same time. Importantly, it turns out that chronic early stress for a cat can change gene expression that can lead to disease. Stress in early life – orphaned, needing to be bottle fed, exposure to environmental instability, trauma, disease – can all lead cats to be more susceptible to illness throughout their lives. In other words, a cat’s owner hasn’t likely done anything wrong to cause their cat to have this issue. The seeds may have been sown in a kitten’s early life or by the mother’s experiences before the kitten was even born. That said, it can be helpful to reduce any known environmental the stress. Cats with sterile cystitis also show abnormal hormonal response to subsequent stressors. This stress response can promote inflammation and pain in the bladder for some cats. In these cats, the inflammation and pain will progress to a chronic disorder that is resistant to treatment, such as in the case of sterile cystitis. Often, clinical signs associated with environmental events come and go. Other problems such as obesity, shyness or aggressiveness, intermittent vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, asthma, over-grooming, or even a mild heart murmur may all be issues created or compounded by stress. Use Multiple Therapies to Prevent Flare-ups Specific veterinary diets can make a big difference in male cats who end up with a urinary blockage at the cat’s urethra. While bladder stones can cause a blockage, in cases such as Pandora, the blockage is usually caused by a paste-like mix of mucus and protein called matrix. As mentioned, a blockage is a veterinary emergency. Even if the cat is experiencing a bout of Pandora, on a certain diet they might be less likely to have a related life-threatening obstruction. Veterinary diets designed for cats with sterile cystitis might promote more dilute urine and contain fatty acids to help reduce inflammation. A wet food (canned or in pouches) can also have the same benefit of making the urine more dilute. Unfortunately, there have not been any clinical trials to prove that certain medications are effective. Some are tried empirically, meaning that the veterinarian’s choice of medication and dosage is formed based on their own experience using those drugs. Sterile cystitis can be tough to deal with and it may take some trial and error to see what works for an individual cat. We try to prevent the inflammation and pain caused by feline stress by lessening the stress. A program referred to as Multimodal Environmental Modification – MEMO for short – has proven it lessens stress and the resulting complications of inflammation, urinary bladder pain, and clinical signs. The aim is to reduce the types of stress that cause sterile cystitis. Because it involves shaping behavior, it is more than sneaking a pill or two into your cat. A cat owner must be dedicated to do everything that can help a cat suffering from Pandora syndrome. You and your veterinarian should work together to find an enriching lifestyle that does not cause your cat stress, which can be a rewarding process. The basic principles are: Studies show that the MEMO approach often reduces or removes urinary tract symptoms and associated problems completely. Medications are used to ease pain and signs, but the goal to keep in mind is a life free from recurrences and no need for stress medication. Does your cat have a safe space to get away from people and other pets? Do they like their food, the way their
Raw and Frozen Diets for your Pet – Things to Consider
As veterinary medicine advances and human diets evolve through phases like Akins, Keto there has been a movement in the boutique pet food industry to create diets that pet owners may perceive as being more healthy than regular dog food brands. Some owners also feel that their pets come from wild animals who eat small prey and raw diets may be closer to what they’d be eating in the wild. Some of the things that are overlooked when considering these diets are: cats and dogs are over 10,000 years evolved from their wild cat and wild dog ancestry. It stands with good reason that their gastrointestinal tracts have changed as they have domesticated. Also, in nature, wild animals don’t and didn’t live nearly as long as today’s domestic cats and dogs that have life spans ranging from 13 to 19 years! The other aspect to keep in mind, is when wild animals ate their prey, they consumed bones (calcium) the skin / muscles and the prey’s organs which provided vitamins and minerals, which raw food often doesn’t contain. While raw food is often appealing to your cat and dog’s taste buds and easily digestible, they often don’t provide the full spectrum of nutrients your pet needs. And with all raw meat depending how it has been stored, shipped and then re-stored before you purchase the product, bacterial organism can grow on it. Commonly found bacteria on raw diets include the bacterial Klebsiella, Listeria, E. Coli, Salmonella, Clostridium and more. This can result in diarrhea, vomiting and in the case of Salmonella can be transmitted to others in your household through infected fecal material. Following the raw diet and carbohydrate free fad in people, there are other foods that mimic human packaged meals and contain uncooked meats and vegetables. Similar issues can occur with these diets. Everything from raw to the newer packaged refrigerated versions also lack certification from AAFCO – the veterinary body that sets and certifies a food meets a companion animal’s minimum nutritional requirements. Some pet owners feel that meat and vegetables are all a cat and dog needs. This follows the human carbohydrate-free fad that seems to help people lose weight. Dogs and cats are not humans and there is nothing to show that grains are problematic in companion animals. In fact, some newer grain-free foods have been associated with cardiac issues as an essential amino acid called taurine is not being appropriately absorbed by the pet from grain-free diets. With the number of new pet food brands hitting the pet market each year, many heavy with TV, radio and print advertisements, it can be very confusing to figure out what food are best for your pet. Ultimately, that’s all most of us are trying to do – give our companion animal the very best. One thing that can help is to check how much money the companies put into nutritional research each year. If you can’t find the answer, then there is likely minimal data to support the nutritional worthiness of the food. The other things to look for is AAFCO or WSAVA nutritional certifications. Think of AAFCO as the pet equivalent to the USDA for providing nutritional standards. WSAVA goes even further. If you can’t find information of nutritional studies and the food isn’t certified by AAFCO or WSAVA there’s a reason. These are foods to stay away from. If you have a specific goal you are trying to achieve with food or you are someone that wants to use something novel for your pet, talk to your veterinarian for recommendations. In some cases, home-cooked or off-brand foods can be made more complete by your veterinarian working with a veterinary nutritionist to create a customized plan for your pet that they enjoy and keeps them living their best, healthy lives!
When to Spay and Neuter your Companion Cat or Dog
In the US as well as Europe, altering (spaying or nurturing) is a common procedure for companion pets. More recently studies have been underway suggesting that altering earlier in life may have some consequences. This is a very highly debated subject in the world of veterinary medicine and pet owners may find themselves getting differing information. This article will review the different perspectives and discuss some recent research – which is still ongoing – to try and provide the insight pet owners need to make an informed decision on the health of their pets. When to Spay / Neuter? When to alter your pet depends what side of the veterinary field you represent. Shelters and rescue groups advocate for young altering as their mission is to prevent overpopulation. Many puppies and kittens in shelters are altered by 10 weeks of age – before they have been adopted. From a population control standpoint, this makes a lot of sense. there is a huge population of unwanted pets in the United States, which in turn leads to abandonment, neglect, shelter over-crowing and euthanasia. When faced with the choice of altering early or adopting out and ‘hoping’ the new adoptive family alters their new pet, shelters often take the conservative approach and with understandable reason. Population Control or Health benefits? That said, if we are not approaching it from the population control aspect, then there are benefits to waiting until pets are a little more mature. Smaller sized patients lose body heat faster and can have serious decreases in body temperature when they are younger and therefore smaller. Storing of blood glucose in less mature livers can also lead to low blood sugar when fasted and under anesthesia which can have serious consequences. So in an ideal world, cats and dogs would be altered at a later age. When depends of the species and breed. Cats and Small Breed Dogs In cats, typically 5-6 months of age is appropriate. female cats may start ovulating as early as 4-5 months. Male cats may begin marking behavior around 6 months of age. Currently, no risks other than what is listed above are noted in altering at the 5-6 month mark in feline patients. Small or toy breed dogs can also be altered around 6-months of age without negative consequences with two notable exceptions: the Boston Terrier and the Shih Tzu. Newer studies show that in 35 larger dog breeds, there are benefits to waiting past 6 months of age and in some larger breeds, sometimes over a year. Larger Breed Dogs Debilitating side effects of early alerting include joint disorders such as hip and elbow dysplasia along with ligament tears like cranial cruciate tears and ruptures. In some dog breeds studies, cancer was associated with altering earlier than 6-months of age. These breeds include the Golden Retriever, Standard Poodles and Rottweilers among others. Cancers that were increased by earlier altering included lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma. The highest percentage of these cancers were found in larger dogs altered at under 6 months of age. Again, for the smaller breed dogs, only the two breeds mentioned above had increased cancer risks. And no small breed dog showed issues with musculoskeletal abnormalities or ligament issues. Work with Your Veterinarian Outside of the shelter or rescue group setting, most pet owners can elect at what age they want to spay or neuter their pet. Talking to their veterinarian can help with that decision. But a guideline for 35 studied breeds at risk has been compiled to help pet owners make sound decisions. It is important to consider that these studies are newer and still ongoing. It is possible that more or differing information may emerge as this issue is further researched. It’s also important to keep in mind that some dogs, based on individual personality and lifestyle, may need to be altered sooner then the suggested guidelines. For instance a multi-dog household with males and females places the risk of unwanted litters. In an environment where the males and females cannot be separated, altering may be an important consideration. Some intact male dogs can also show some dominant, aggressive or territorial behavior at an early age. For dogs like this, training and an earlier castration may be beneficial. Also for dogs that are housed outside, intact males may try to jump fences or dig under them if they smell a female dog in heat. There are many things to consider when making the decision of what is the right time. Currently, there are some guidelines on sex, breed and the best age to alter dogs. While these guidelines are evolving, consultation with your veterinarian about the most appropriate age for your pet is advisable.
General Checklist to Keep your Cat and Dog Companion Healthy
Our pets love us and we love them. So, what can we do to try and give your cat, dog or other animal companion a life that keeps them healthy? Besides our love and time, what else can we do? This article reviews the basics for ensuring your animal companion receives the best general preventative care. Dental Care One thing that is often overlooked but is important, is dental care. Bad breath and dental disease occurs in every species with teeth . Just like people, our pets are vulnerable to dental issues ranging from plaque and bad breath to painful tooth root infections. The need for dental care goes far beyond the importance of treating “bad” teeth that are painful and thus can make pets reluctant to eat or drink. The bacteria involved in the infection can travel through the body, causing problems in other organs. You can help to prevent dental disease by brushing your pet’s teeth regularly at home with a toothpaste made for pets, not humans, and by making sure your veterinarian checks your pet’s teeth at every appointment. Most pets require yearly dental cleanings and evaluations under anesthesia for such concerns as gingivitis, periodontal disease, or tooth resorption. Exercise While exercise helps prevent obesity, preventing weight gain is not the only reason to provide exercise. Dogs and cats need physical activity. Many cats have a strong hunting drive. We can help satisfy their needs by setting aside play time for indoor cats and ensuring younger dogs are taken out to run and play. Exercise helps prevent restless destructive chewing for instance, behavior and aids in sleeping soundly at night and to have social time (particularly dog play dates). Playing with your pet strengthens your bond with your pet. Just going for a walk with your pup to check out the smells and sights makes your dog’s day, and interactive cat toys will keep your cat’s mind and body sharp. Regular Checkups Your pet should have at least an annual checkup with your veterinarian. It’s the equivalent of your annual physical. (Some pets may need more frequent checkups, due to on-going health problems and age-related diseases). Your pet’s doctor will do a physical exam and feel the skin, muscles, bones, etc. for problems; check teeth; and make sure his/her health appears to be good. Finding a potential problem sooner, rather than later, is always in the best interest of your animal companion. (And often, it saves you money over the long run.) The older your pet gets, the more important this preventive care becomes. Microchip While the system of scanning for microchips is not perfect, having your pet chipped greatly increases the chance they will be found and returned should they get lost. Tags can fall off collars. Sadly collars and tags are also sometimes removed by people that find your pet. A microchip is there to stay, however. Additionally, in the aftermath of natural disasters or an emergency, microchips can be invaluable. Nutrition Your pet needs a balanced diet created for his/her species and for dogs, breed. The price of a pet food doesn’t necessarily equate to the best food for your pet and his health needs. Check the food packaging ensure the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or WSAVA which has an even higher nutrition standard. These two groups test commercially available pet food and tells us if it meets our pets’ nutritional needs or not. It goes without saying that your animal companion requires access to fresh water every day. Parasite Control Internal and external parasites can make your pet (and, in some cases, your family) sick, so using preventatives can keep your pet comfortable and save you a lot of money paying for disease-related issues. It is essential to control fleas, ticks, tapeworms and other intestinal worms and organisms. Heartworm disease is also imperative. An infestation of fleas can suck so much blood that your pet can become severely anemic. They also can cause allergic skin problems. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and Cytauxzoonosis. Heartworm disease kills cats and dogs every year; heartworm prevention medication is much less expensive than treatment. And for cats, there isn’t an easy way to detect or treat the disease. Sometimes the first sign of infection is sudden death! Play and Environmental Enrichment Like young children, dogs and cats need to play and have fun. The best environment for them is one that stimulates both their minds and their bodies. For cats, that means plenty of scratching posts, cat trees from which they can look outside or hide in, and toys that the cat chases or bats at. Dogs have individual preferences about types of toys: stuffed, hard rubber, balls, ropes, food-dispensing, squeakers, etc. Dogs also enjoy having a space of their own, such as a crate or their own bed. Bored dogs tend to be destructive. Training, exercise, and games help them pass the day without getting into trouble. Spay or Neuter Spaying your dog or cat at an appropriate age, which can be determined by your veterinarian, can help prevent numerous health and behavioral concerns. Spayed females have a low to no risk of mammary gland tumors / cancer or pyometra (a life-threatening infection of the uterus) as well as uterine/ovarian cancers. It also costs much less than caring for a litter. Neutering male dogs and cats reduces marking/spraying, aggression, and roaming. Your veterinarian can help you decide on the appropriate age for this procedure. Weight Management Obesity can take years of your pet’s life away from you. Some diseases, such as diabetes mellitus in overweight cats, lung problems, heart disease, joint degeneration, pancreatitis gallbladder disease, and liver disease can be prevented by not becoming obese. Sure, it’s tempting to give leftover ham salad to your pet, but most table scraps simply have too many calories and too many from fat. Giving too many treats to a pet who is overweight is not beneficial. Keeping your pet at an appropriate weight is the healthiest thing. Love can be expressed in other ways besides food. Vaccinations Your veterinarian can recommend the vaccination program
Harris County Requirements for Microchipping, Rabies Vaccination and Licensing for Cats and Dogs
Recently, Harris County has updated some of its county requirements regarding licensing of cats and dogs. Currently, the county requires all cats and dogs over three months or 12 weeks to be vaccinated against rabies and microchipped. Cats and dogs (whether inside or outside) are required to be licensed, chipped and show proof of rabies vaccination. Failure to have your cat or dog microchipped, vaccinated against Rabies and registered with the county may result in fines. Pet owners should be aware that the county is requiring veterinarians to report the cats and dogs that they vaccinate against rabies on a regular basis. Veterinarians that do not comply are subject to a $500/day fine from the county. As a result, your veterinarian is likely reporting pets they vaccinate, and if they are not already licensed through the county or don’t have microchips for identification purposes, the county may issue a fine to pet owners. The County’s website states, A. The custodian of every dog or cat (excluding animal shelters) must ensure that the dog or cat that is over three (3) months of age is licensed by HCPH VPH. B. In order to be licensed by HCPH VPH, the custodian must provide the identification number of the dog or cat’s implanted microchip, a physical description of the animal, and proof that the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies. C. Upon presenting proof that a dog or cat is currently vaccinated with a one 1-year rabies vaccination and payment of a $60.00 fee to HCPH VPH, the animal will be licensed for one (1) year term. The license will expire when the rabies vaccination expires or within 12 months of the license date, whichever occurs first in time. D. Upon presenting proof that a dog or cat is currently vaccinated with a 3-year rabies vaccination and payment of a $180 fee to HCPH VPH, the animal will be licensed for three (3) year term. The license will expire when the 3-year rabies vaccination expires or within 36 months of the license date, whichever occurs first in time. E. Upon presenting proof that a dog or cat is currently vaccinated with a one 1-year rabies vaccination, proof that the animal is spayed or neutered and the payment of a $20 fee to HCPH VPH, the animal will be licensed for one (1) year term. The license will expire when the rabies vaccination expires or within 12 months of the license date, whichever occurs first in time. F. Upon presenting proof that a dog or cat is currently vaccinated with a 3-year rabies vaccination, proof that the animal is spayed or neutered and payment of a $60 fee to HCPH VPH, the animal will be licensed for three (3) year term. The license will expire when the 3-year rabies vaccination expires or within 36 months of the license date, whichever occurs first in time. Based on these requirements, Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital encourages pet people with cats and dogs to ensure their pets are microchipped, current on their rabies vaccination and licensed through the county, if they have not already done so. Additionally, microchipping is beneficial to your pets. Lost or even stolen pets can be returned to their homes when they are scanned. This is why it’s also important to ensure your microchip is registered with the provider and is associated with your name, current address and phone number. Microchips help reunite thousands of animals with their homes! If you have any questions about licensing or requirements, you can contact BARC the animal organization for the county that issues the licenses or reach out to your family veterinarian. Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital is happy to work with you and your pet and administer a microchip and ensure your animal companion’s rabies vaccination is current and in compliance with the county!
Screening for the Silver Years – Pre-emptive Testing for Older Cat and Dog Companions
Just like people, advances in medicine mean our canine and feline companions are living longer than ever before. As they age, different issues may arise. Being one step ahead of you pet’s illness can help catch things early, slow down disease progression and ensure your companion animal lives a comfortable and happy life. Common age-related illnesses: We have the benefit of being able to speak to our doctors, friends and family. Our companion animals can’t talk, so symptoms can include decreased energy, decreased mobility, weight loss, fur loss, panting, not eating, not wanting to run or jump, increased urination and drinking and more. One thing we recommend on our older patients, which usually (depending on breed, size, etc.) is at 8 years onward, is annual lab work to look for things like diabetes, issues with the kidneys, liver changes, increased thyroid levels (for cats). But we can go one step further and do imaging of the chest and abdomen to look for other developing issues – tumors, heart and lung issues, arthritis of the spine, hips and shoulders and more. These pre-emptive screening tests can help us pick up problems before they turn into significant health issues or worse, an un-planned emergency. Talk to you veterinarian about what he or she thinks is recommended in your senior or maturing companion animal so that you always stay a step head!