afFURmation » Health

National Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day

dawn — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:29:28 +0000

We’ve been lucky so far this winter here in Northeast Pennsylvania with only one snowfall so far, but January is coming and it will probably bring the winter weather with it. Many dogs and cats enjoy frolicking in the snow, but it’s important to remember the snow and ice can bring some dangers with it. To help pet owners be aware of these dangers and learn how to enjoy the season safely, Morton’s Salt is sponsoring National Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day.

What are some ways you can keep your pet safe through the winter months?

Avoid too much outdoor time when temperatures fall below freezing. These temperatures are just as dangerous for animals as they are for people.
Knock on the hood of your car each morning before you start your engine. Often outdoor cats will crawl under a warm hood to sleep, but this puts them in danger of being badly hurt or killed when the engine starts.
Keep antifreeze put away and watch for any spills so you can keep your pet away until it is cleaned up. If the snow is melting don’t let your pet drink out of puddles in case antifreeze has leaked into them. It only takes a few ounces of antifreeze to kill a pet. Consider using an antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead.
Use a pet safe ice melt such as Morton Safe-T-Ice. Many brands contain chloride which can be irritating to their paws and upset their digestive tract. If you go for a walk away from your house, be sure to wipe your dog’s paws in case your neighbors aren’t using a pet safe melt.

You can find more safety tips on Morton Ice Control.

Along with helping to pet owners, Morton’s is helping the ASPCA. They have made a donation of $20,000 and for every “Like” they get on their Facebook page before January 31st, they will donate $1 up to $55,000. You can join in by visiting Morton Salt on Facebook, Liking them and letting them know that you were sent by afFURmation.

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The Great American Smokeout- Do it for your pets

dawn — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:47:34 +0000

November 17th is the Great American Smokeout, a day to encourage smokers to quit. As a cancer registrar, everyday I see the effects smoking has on people. Along with cancer, smoking contributes to heart and lung disease. Second hand smoke effects other people also contributing to lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases.

And smoking also affects your pets. Second hand smoke settles on cats’ fur which they then groom taking in the chemicals in the cigarette smoke and increasing their risk of developing oral tumors and lymphoma. Long-nosed dogs have an increased risk of developing nasal tumors, while short=nosed dogs have an increased risk of getting lungs cancers.

Dogs and cats aren’t the only pets to suffer. Birds have sensitive respiratory systems and smoking can cause pneumonia, lung cancer and skin problems.

Join in the Great American Smokeout so you can enjoy that unconditional love for a long time!

Read more about the effects of second health smoke on pets at Science Daily.

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Making Vet Visits Less Stressful for Your Cat

dawn — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:59:32 +0000

Imagine- you’re checking another item off you’re to do list for the the day- your afternoon nap- when your human grabs you, sticks you into this box and puts you in the car. After a bumpy ride, you’re taken out and into a building where you hear, but can’t see dogs barking, cats meowing and people talking. After sitting for a while listening to all this, you are taken into a little room, removed from the box and stuck on a cold shiny table. Some person you don’t know starts poking and prodding you while your human stands by letting it happen.

When you look at a vet visit from your cat’s point of view, you can see why they hate to go. While you can’t take away the fear completely, there are some things you can do to make the appointments less stressful.

First be proactive. Get your cat used to being examined. This is easy to do with a kitten, but older cats can learn too. Pick a nice quiet time and bring some yummy treats. Start slow and don’t push it. Begin with doing a massage, moving to parts of his body that he doesn’t really like touched. Give a treat every few minutes as a reward. You want to get to the point where you can look inside his ears, touch his paws and lift his lips to look at his teeth.

For most cats, the only time they go into a cat carrier is when there are going somewhere they aren’t going to like. Leave the carrier out with the door open so he can get into it. Encourage him by putting a blanket inside and add some treats or his bowl of food. Let him come and go as he pleases.

When it’s time for the vet visit, put one of your cats’ favorite blankets in the bottom of the carrier to give your cat something familiar from home. A second blanket or towel can be used to cover the carrier if it very noisy in the waiting room. This blanket can also be placed on the exam table to make your cat more comfortable and feel safer because he can grab onto (better is a carrier that allows easy access for the vet while the cat stays in it). If possible find a seat in a quiet part of the waiting room. For cats that get really stressed, you may find it best to leave them in the car until it is time to go into the exam room (only do this during cool weather as cars can over heat quickly).

There are 2 things I picked up working in a vet clinic that seem to help keep the cats calm at least during the exam portion. One thing to be aware of is how the people in the room act. Owners tend to get upset when their cats are upset and start talking to them thinking they are calming them down by what they are saying. What they don’t realize is how often they use a frantic tone voice. Cats pick up on this and start to get upset thinking something awful is going to happen. Remain calm and talk in a lower voice. Stretching words out, like saying “Goooooood” instead of “Good” can help keep a calm tone.

Petting your cat during the exam can help assure him everything is okay. I found many cats enjoy getting a little massage. Just place the fingers of both hands on each shoulder and move your hands in circles.

Once the appointment is over and you are checking out, you may find it better to put your cat in the car before you take care of paying (weather-permitting) or using the extra blanket to cover the carrier. If you keep kitty with you, just be sure to set it away from any loud animals.

Regular veterinary check-ups are very important in maintaining your cat’s health. While he may never love going to the vet, with just a little work and some patience, vet visits for your cat can be made less stressful.

How have you made vet visits less stressful for your cat?

Want to read more cat tips and cat information? Click on the Sensible Feline badge to visit The Sensible Feline Blogger Edition

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Is this an Emergency?

dawn — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:19:49 +0000

How do you know when you need to get your pet to the vet right away? Some problems might be very obvious emergencies, but others might not be so visible.

Problems breathing

Pale or blue gums

Trauma/ hit by a car

Bleeding

Unconscious

Not putting weight on a leg

Not able to urinate

Bloated abdomen

Lethargic

Puncture/bite wounds

Lacerations

Foreign objects embedded

Vomiting that won’t stop

Swallowed foreign object/ poison

Burns

Swelling

High temperature

Low temperature

If you aren’t sure if something is an emergency, call your vet or take them to the nearest emergency clinic. If something is going on that you are concerned about, it is much better to have it checked have everything be okay than to let it go and have a problem become worse.

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Pet First Aid Awareness Month- Knowing What’s Normal for Your Pet

dawn — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:55:18 +0000

photo © 2010 James Brooks | more info (via: Wylio)
Broken legs, a bleeding wound, when something like this happens you know you have an emergency on your hands. But there are some times when an emergency might not be so obvious. Knowing what is normal for your pet by doing a monthly home check-up, can help you make a decision on whether they need to see a vet right away.

Some areas to pay attention to are:

Eyes- look at the color of the conjunctiva- the flesh part you see when you pull back your pet’s upper eyelid- and the inside of the lids- which should be a pink color.

Changes to watch for- white or yellow color

-look at the color of the sclera –the white part of the eye.

Changes to watch for- yellow color or very blood shot.

Ears- take note of the normal skin color of the inner ear.

Changes to watch for- yellow tinge to the skin

Mouth- the gums can be an important indicator of a problem. Normal color gums with the exception of dogs with blue/black mouths are a rosy pink.

Changes to watch for- Pale, dark red or blue gums

-Pressing your finger against your pet’s gums and then releasing it will give you the capillary refill time. Count how long it takes the gums to go from being blanched as you release to normal color. Normal time is about 1-2 seconds. If it takes longer than that you should contact your vet.

-Hydration can also be checked by feeling the gums. They should be slick. Tacky gums are a sign of dehydration.

Body- run your hands over the body and note their general condition.

Changes to watch for- a hard or bloated abdomen or painful areas.

Not all these changes indicate an emergency, but a call to the vet never hurts especially if they seemed to have happened all of a sudden.

It’s a good idea to learn how do your pet’s Temperature, Pulse and Respiration (TPR) not only so you know what is normal for your pet, but also to help you when an actual emergency happens. Stress can make you forgot what you need to do, practicing will help it become second nature. Check by doing the following-

Temperature- a digital rectal thermometer or ear thermometer can be used. A low temperature is a concern along with a high temperature.
Pulse/hear rate- one of the easiest ways to check this is by holding your hand on your dog or cat’s chest over their heart. Have a watch with a second hand or stop watch feature and count the number of beats that occur during a 15 second period. Multiple that number by 4 to get the heart rate for a minute.
Respiration- Keeping that same watch nearby count the number of breaths your pet takes for 15 seconds and multiple it by 4 to get respirations for a minute. .

Normal vital signs

Temperature-T Pulse- P Respiration- R

Dogs- T- 101-102.5 degrees F

P- 70-160 beats per minute (small dogs have a faster heart rate than big dogs)

R- 20- 30 breaths per minute

Cats- T- 101-102.5 degrees F

P- 160- 240 beats per minute

R- 20- 30 breaths per minute

Rabbits- T- 101-103 degrees F

P- 130- 325 beats per minute

R- 32- 60 breaths per minute

Ferrets- T- 100-104 degrees F

P- 180- 250 beats per minute

R- 33- 6 breaths per minute

Parrots- T- 103-105 degrees F

P- approx 200 beats per minute

R- 12- 14 breaths per minute

Guinea Pigs- T- 101-104 degrees F

P- 230- 320 beats per minute

R- 90-150 breaths per minute