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by Dr. Donna Fuller, Pet Medical Center of Duncanville - the following tips are reprinted, verbatim, from our Newsletters.
 It's spring time and that means more allergies for humans and pets. Symptoms of pet allergies may range from light skin irritations to extreme itchiness, coughing, scaly skin, hives and even anaphylactic shock. The top priority is to identify the allergen agents and apply suitable treatment. However, in addition to conventional treatment you may also apply a few simple tricks to reduce the allergy symptoms.
1. Reduce Exposure - Food is easy to avoid and so are other materials such as plastic, wool or chemicals. Dust and mold may also be removed with proper cleaning.
2. Regular Grooming - Grooming is a relaxing way of keeping your dog clean. A dog with a proper hygiene is less prone to allergies.
3. Baths - Bathing a dog with allergies may reduce significantly the symptoms off allergies. Use a gentle shampoo formulated for allergic pets. Rinse the pet with a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar. This will alleviate the itchiness of the skin.
4. Immunity Boosters - Dogs that develop allergic reactions are typically dogs with a weakened immunity. Fatty acids such as omega 3, 6 or 9 are recommended to boost immunity. The omega fatty acids are found in fish oil or flaxseed oil or as supplements.
February is National Pet Dental Health month. Bad breath and yellow teeth in our pets are more than just a cosmetic issue; they can be a sign of serious disease which may cause heart, liver or kidney damage. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets, affecting 70% of cats and 80% of dogs by age 3. Now is the time to take our pets to their Vet and have their teeth checked!
With the weather changing and the temperature dropping quickly you may be gearing up for staying warm this winter, but don’t forget about your pet's safety in the cold weather! Here are some safety tips to consider while you get the whole family ready for the cold weather:
- Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter because a longer coat will provide more warmth. Is your dog a short-haired breed? You should consider getting him a coat or sweater to provide the warmth that the short hair can’t.
- Do not let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, and especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent and become lost easily, so make sure your dog always wears his ID tags.
- Never leave your pet unattended in a car during cold weather, no matter how long you will be gone. The car can act like a refrigerator and hold in all the cold.
- Be sure to thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in from playing outdoors. It is possible he can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals from licking his paws. Antifreeze is a lethal poison for pets so be sure to thoroughly clean any spills from your vehicle to ensure Fido doesn’t accidently lick it off the ground.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold weather as well as older dogs, and housebreaking during the winter may become a little more difficult. If your puppy seems to be sensitive to the weather you might want to consider paper-training him indoors until he can handle being outside for longer periods of time.
- When it gets cold outside cats like to sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If you know your cat likes to sleep under the hood of your car, or if there are outdoor cats in your area bang on the hood loudly to give the cat a chance to escape before starting the car.
IF YOU FEED IT, FIX IT -
Spring is the time of year for kittens. Female cats come in to heat multiple times in the spring and fall, continuing to cycle until they are bred. That sweet kitty you place food out for can produce several litters of 5 or 6 kittens each in one year. Why don't you catch, have her spayed, and release her again to continue to enjoy without contributing to kitten season? There are many low cost spay and neuter clinics in our area that would cost less than the cost of a few months cat food.
IT'S MOSQUITO SEASON! - As it warms up we will start seeing mosquitos. They are the intermediate host for heartworms, a serious bloodstream parasite of both dogs and cats. Clean up all standing water and change water bowls daily to reduce mosquitos, use fly spray and protect your pet with monthly heartworm preventative. Your indoor pets are also at risk- don't forget about them- and we are finding more and more cats with heartworms so they need to be on preventative also.
Springtime is the season where many things grow, including weeds. As you apply your weed killers this spring, remember to keep your pet out of the yard until the weed killer is absorbed or diluted by water. Also, be careful when you sow your lawn when there are pets in the area.Allergies also start up in the spring, just as they do in people. Early treatment of an allergic condition can often help reduce the side effects of allergies. One must keep in mind that most allergies are not curable, but are treatable.As spring approaches, so do the internal and external parasites. Hopefully, you have kept your dog on heartworm preventative all year round. If your pet has been taken off heartworm preventative, you must have your pet checked for heartworms prior to starting back on prevention. Not checking for heartworms before starting heartworm preventative can result in serious illness or death if the dog has heartworms.
How Do I Make My Cat Shed Less? There’s not much else you can do to prevent your cats from shedding aside from constant brushing or grooming. While there are liquids, ointment, liniments, sprays, and other supplements advertised, don’t believe the hype. The most important tip to minimize shedding is to brush your cat daily (or at least weekly), particularly if he has medium to long hair. The more hair you brush or rake out (with those FURminators), the less it will cling to your furniture, floor, fleece, and feet. There are a few breeds that don’t shed, such as the Devon Rex or hairless Sphynx, but you have to get used to touching that greasy, ratlike skin that only a mother could love.
Both dogs and cats have anal sacs that may become impacted or infected if not emptying properly. This causes itching, scooting, bad odor and sometimes pain, too. Severe cases may abscess and rupture. Learn the signs of anal sac problems and how to keep your pet comfortable and scoot-free. So how often do the sacs need to be emptied? In the best case, never. They should take care of themselves. Your pet's mileage may vary, however, as some pets have recurrent problems with anal sacs not emptying properly. Routine emptying when not necessary is not recommended - the expression may disturb the normal balance, leading to inflammation or infection. Some pets do seem predisposed to having anal sac problems. If this is the case with your pet, speak to your vet about learning how to empty the anal sacs at home to prevent problems.
With the temperatures over 100 degrees, heat stroke in dogs should be considered a highly dangerous condition. It may seem normal for dogs to romp and play in the yard; however they don't have the ability to effectively cool themselves after a thorough workout. The only means a dog has for sweating and cooling himself down is by panting. But panting can only cool a dog down so much because the technique does not allow sweat to escape from the entire body.
The symptoms of heat stroke are very noticeable because they come on strong and quick. In addition, it will probably be obvious to you that this is occurring if your dog has spent many hours outside on a hot day. Some of the symptoms to look for include:
- Excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Loss of coordination
- Not being able to walk straight
- Loss of energy
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
- Jaundice or paling of the gums
When any of these symptoms are recognized, it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately.
With National Disaster Preparedness Month upon us, do you know what you would do with your pets if there was a disaster? Whether confronted by natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornados, or unexpected catastrophes such as a house fire, you need to be prepared to take care of your animals. A pre-determined disaster plan will help you remain calm and think clearly. Countless times people have been told to leave their homes for a “short time,” only to find that they cannot return for days or weeks. Even disasters like gas leaks and minor flooding can keep you from tending to your animals for extended periods of time. To prevent situations such as these, TAKE YOUR ANIMALS WITH YOU. It is best to be overly cautious during a disaster warning. Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly is the best way to keep you and your family, including your animals, out of danger.
- Familiarize yourself with each type of disaster that could affect your area, not forgetting a hazardous materials spill.
- Be prepared for the possible disruption of services for extended periods of time, including electric, phone, and local food and water sources.
- Having a plan in place and practicing the plan prior to a disaster will help you accomplish a successful evacuation and maintain the safety of your animals.
The American Veterinary Medical Association Saving the Whole Family© brochure offers a comprehensive list of what needs to be done to safeguard your pets before, during and after a disaster.
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