Thanksgiving Can Mean Gut Rot for Your Pet

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. I am very happy to report that we had no cases of chocolate ingestion or toxicity at our clinic this year after Halloween. That means that we as pet owners are being much more careful with keeping the candy and treats away from our pets!

But the holidays are not over yet, and with Thanksgiving and Christmas now just around the corner, we still need to be careful about feeding people food to our pets. Along with the harmful effects of chocolate, other types of people food are bad for our pets, and can make them very sick.

1) Anything fatty (such as turkey skin) can cause pancreatitis. This can be as mild as an upset stomach and some vomiting, to as severe as death. Pancreatitis can worsen quickly, and become very bad very quickly. It is nothing to mess around with. Most pets that come into our clinic with pancreatitis are SICK, and need to be on IV fluids, GI medication, a bland diet, and a lot of rest. Some cases have even been referred to 24 hour veterinary facilities, simply because the pet is so sick that he/she needs 'round the clock care. Please be sure to again tell your guests and children not to feed your pets anything, and make sure to keep the trash out of reach. Trash cans at this time of year smell like heaven to pets, and even the most well behaved of them are tempted to go dumpster diving. Take the temptation away.

2) Along with fatty foods making Fido sick, also make sure to keep those turkey bones away from your pets. Cooked turkey bones may seem like a good thing for Fido to use as a chew toy, but the truth of the matter is, once bones of any kind are cooked, they become very brittle and splinter very easily. This means that once your pet has ingested the splintered pieces of a turkey bone, the esophagus, stomach, and/or intestines can become perforated or torn from the sharp bone pieces. Bones can also cause a GI obstruction or blockage. This is a very dangerous medical emergency to have happen to your pet, and would require an expensive surgery to fix the damage. Again, please make sure the trash can (and your Thanksgiving all day buffet) are out of reach of your pets.

3) Raw foods can make your pets very sick, especially raw turkey. Just like with humans, ingesting raw meat can increase the chance of your pets picking up Salmonella or E. coli. And just like with humans, these bacteria can make your pets VERY sick. So while you are thawing that turkey out to be cooked, please take the necessary precautions to make sure that your pets will not be able to get a hold of it. Keep it up high or contained in a place where Fido cannot get to.

It may be best to keep your pets in a separate room during food prep, dinner, and clean up, just to make sure that he/she will not get into any dangerous situations regarding food (or food wrappers for that matter!). Several pet stores sell pet friendly treats, so make Fido feel special this holiday season by buying a special treat just for him. Again, remember to watch those calories!

If you do suspect that your pet has eaten something bad, please contact your local vet right away.

I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, for both you and your pets!

Halloween: SpQQky Treats for Pets

We all love Halloween! Who doesn't, what with the costume parties and trick-or-treaters and CANDY?!? But we all have to remember that candy, especially chocolate, is toxic to pets. This is because chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is in the same family as caffeine. In sufficient quantities, chocolate can make your pet very sick. Dark chocolate is far more toxic than milk chocolate, as it contains higher quantities of theobromine. Here are some simple tips to keep your pets safe from the hazards of chocolate:

1) When your children arrive home from trick-or-treating, (or once all of the trick-or-treaters have gone home for the night) please make sure to find a safe spot to keep the candy so that your pets cannot get into it. It is best to put it up high or in a safe cupboard that your pet is unable to open. Advise your children to do the same. Always monitor the candy around your children and pets.

2) If you are having a party, please tell your guests not to feed anything to your pets. Often times, your guests may not know that certain people foods can cause your pets harm, and will offer a hand out just because Fido is there begging. Better yet, it might be wise to keep your pets in a separate room where guests will not be, just to eliminate the temptation to feed Fido.

3) Make sure that the trash cans in the house are frequently emptied, especially if there are any left over pieces of candy in there that your pets can get into.

4) Make Halloween fun for your pets! Pets can be dressed up in costumes also, and there are many safe Halloween goodies made specifically for pets to eat. Just watch those calories!


What should you do if your pets DO get into chocolate? Well, it does depend on how much chocolate is consumed. An M&M, for example, is probably not going to cause any harm. However, if Fido manages to chow down the entire bowl of Kit Kat Bars that you left out for the trick-or-treaters, you may have a problem on your hands. Some of the signs that you should watch for if a significant amount of chocolate has been consumed would be vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, increased heart rate, panting, and shaking, to name a few. It is best to call your local vet, emergency vet hospital, or animal poison control right away to get further information (depending on what was consumed and how much - ESPECIALLY if you are in doubt at all) and/or to have you pet seen right away. A large consumption of chocolate should be viewed as an emergency situation.

Let's all follow these simple preventative tips to keep our pets safe, not only for Halloween, but for ALL of our holidays coming up. By being prepared and knowing what to do, we are providing for our pets a much happier and healthier Halloween!

Happy HOWLoween!!!

So How Do You Get a Picky Dog to Eat?

1) The first mistake that a lot of dog owners make is to leave food sitting out all day long. This has to stop right here, right now! YOU are in the charge of your dog's food, which means you are in charge of the TIMES your dog gets fed every day. Leaving food out all day long can create a lot of problems! First of all, your dog has not learned that YOU are in charge (we as owners ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have to be the Alpha, or leader of the pack!) Second of all, you are not able to monitor how much food Fido is eating on a daily basis if you are not measuring the amount you are feeding. All of the sudden Fido stops eating because of a medical problem, and becomes very sick because the bowl is always full and no one knows when the last time was that Fido ate. Lastly, your dog is MUCH more likely to become obese if you do not limit the amount of food you feed. If we eat all day, isn't it more likely that we will become overweight too? The same thing applies to our pets! So here is what we all need to start doing to keep our dogs eating normally: A good rule of thumb is to offer food in two separate meals - Breakfast and Dinner. That's easy - most people eat breakfast and dinner themselves, so include Fido in this routine also. Talk to your vet to figure out the appropriate diet and amount to feed your dog every day, then divide that amount into two separate servings. If you are just beginning with the limited feedings, you may have a dog who won't take to it right away. This is normal and to be expected. Put the food down, and leave it for 20 minutes. If your dog does not eat, the food goes away and he/she does not get it again until later in the day, say around lunch time for example. Do the same thing - place the food down for 20 minutes and whatever is not eaten in that amount of time goes away. And then the same thing again at dinner. If your dog learns to expect YOU to provide the meals (instead of the food just being left out) then he/she will learn quickly that this is the only chance to eat at the time alloted. No healthy dog has ever starved him or herself, and eventually when the food is placed in front of him/her again after several times of rejecting it, it will get eaten. DO NOT cave in and offer other treats, tidbits, or morsels because you feel bad for Fido - ignore the sad eyes looking at you, and find something fun for you and your dog to do (say, go for a walk) instead of stressing out and focusing on the food situation. You can set the food down for the 20 minute intervals several times per day when you are getting started with this new schedule. Once Fido has it down, neither of you will need to think about it - it will just become the routine every day.

2) So you have a picky eater. Well, here are a few things you can try to break your dog of his/her pickiness (once, of course you have mastered the limited feeding schedule). I always recommend switching food around every month or so, so that dogs do not become bored with the food they are currently eating. This also allows a different variety of proteins to make their way into your dog's diet (again, to alleviate any boredom with the same food, but to also eliminate the possibility of allergies to occur to one protein source). Having said that, it is not a good idea to offer canned food or other tasty morsels just to get your dog to eat (DO NOT mix canned food in with the dry just because Fido does not want to eat, and likes the canned food better). Then we are back to square one, with Fido being in charge. He now has learned that it is okay to hold out for the good stuff. Instead, try soaking his dry food with water or low sodium chicken/beef broth (it is a good idea to add extra moisture to dry food anyway). If he still will not eat, start all over with the 20 minute interval feedings (as mentioned above). That is not to say that canned food is bad - there is nothing wrong with feeding a canned diet. If you feed a canned diet, then this is what Fido gets twice per day, and nothing else is offered at that time. Canned diets tend to be higher in calories, so you do need to be more careful with the amount you are feeding per day so that your dog does not become overweight.

3) Cooking is another option for any dog, but especially for the picky eaters. My clinic sells a homemade, completely balanced diet called Furishnikovs that essentially ends up being a hot dish for dogs. It comes complete with the mix that contains all of the nutrients and vitamins your dog needs, and all you have to do is cook chicken and rice, and add the mixture to this. If you have the time, it actually is a really good, well balanced diet for dogs, and works well for those picky eaters. Make sure to stick to the same feeding schedule as you would for feeding the dry food (two feedings per day, no extras just to get your dog to eat something, YOU are in charge!)

4) If it comes down to it, and you are more than frustrated at getting your dog to eat (on YOUR terms), I would suggest seeking out the help of a behaviorist to consult this over with. Check with your local vet for a behaviorist recommendation.

5) If all of the suggestions above are not working, it could be medically related, especially if there is vomiting and/or diarrhea involved. I would recommend having a complete work up done to include a CBC, (complete blood count to check for red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) a profile (to check for liver and kidney values, proteins, and electrolytes) and a stool sample check (to check for intestinal parasites and "bad" intestinal bacteria that could be causing problems). In some cases, X-rays can be taken to assess the abdomen for abnormalities. Further diagnostics would include an abdominal ultrasound and/or endoscopy (+/- biopsies). Talk to your vet for recommendations of diagnostic tests and treatments that can be done if you do suspect that a medical problem is keeping your dog from eating.

**** Please note that this section (other than the diagnostic tests) does NOT apply to cats. Cats are very different creatures, and WILL starve themselves if they do not like a food...... They can become very sick very fast by not eating. If your cat is not eating a diet (and seems healthy otherwise), it is best to continue offering different types of food until you find something that he/she will eat. It is always best to talk to your vet if you have any doubts.

Hunting is not for Everyone

I wanted to post this information here today, since fall is very much upon us.... And while we all think of the wonderful and exciting things that fall brings with it, (the leaves changing colors, the crisp, cool air, Halloween and Trick-or-Treating, Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner) we also need to remember the OTHER things fall has to offer. Fall also brings with it deer hunting season, and with this, we need to be sure we are keeping our pets safe. While there are many responsible hunters out there who take the necessary precautions for safe hunting, there are the select few who can make it very dangerous.

The reason I write this? On Saturday, we had a dog come into our clinic with an arrow THROUGH his shoulder. The dog belongs to one of my fellow CVTs. He is recovering from his ordeal, (a MAJOR surgery and 'round-the-clock post-operative care) but not without a lot of angst. He was shot while on the property of a neighbor's, and while this may have been an accident (and it most certainly could have been done on purpose), it certainly was something that could have been fatal. Luckily, the arrow missed all of his major organs and arteries. This is something that could have easily been prevented, had the hunters been more careful in identifying what they were shooting at. The dog should have been kept closer to home also, but he has been able to roam (along with everyone else's dogs in the area) the entire time that he has lived there with no problems of this type occurring in the past. This could have easily been another person that had been shot (had the owners been walking through the woods with the dog at the time, as they often do.) The bottom line is this: PLEASE be aware of your pet's whereabouts, especially during the hunting season. If you take your dog hunting with you, please be sure to put a brightly colored vest on him/her to avoid accidental shootings. Hunters, please take all of the necessary precautions in handling your weapons and identifying prey so that accidental shootings do not occur (of dogs OR humans). And please be prepared in case something should happen - make sure to have a first aid kit with you, prepared especially for your four-legged friend. Talk to your local vet about preparing a first aid kit. In addition, it is a good idea to have your pet microchipped or attired with a GPS collar in case you should become separated.

Let's keep our pets safe this season by keeping these important safety tips in mind!

I'm So Fancy in My New Duds!

Here are a few additional tips for senior pets that occurred to me yesterday while I was at work:

1) Dogs (and cats too if you'd like) can wear clothing! A lot of pet owners (especially those that own larger dogs) would never even consider this, but there is a very good reason (besides the cuteness of it all) for your pets to wear clothing! Unless your pet has a very thick coat (such as huskies, malamutes, saint bernards, chow chows, and golden retrievers, to name a few) or a lot of extra body mass, (no, I am not talking about fat! I'll get to that in a minute) chances are your pets will feel the effects from the cold more, especially if they are not breeds that are meant to be able to withstand colder weather (think greyhound). So in order to add that extra bit of warmth for your seniors while they are outdoors, a coat and maybe some boots would help give that added layer. There is a lot to choose from out there, and this time of year is perfect for finding dog coats and sweaters (and they come in all sizes!)

2) Nail trimming - pure and simple. I thought about this yesterday as I was trimming the nails of a 100 pound senior Rottweiler who looked like he hadn't had them trimmed since he was a puppy. The nails were long talons that had curled and bent sideways. Luckily I was able to get them trimmed a lot shorter. But I have also seen nails so long that they had begun growing into to the paw pads, causing an infection, and nails that were so long that the quick (the blood vessel in the toenail that if cut, hurts and bleeds) had also grown equally as long, which then prevents us from being able to cut the nails short. The concept of nail trimming goes along with providing traction for your senior pets - if their nails are that long, chances are it is affecting their ability to walk correctly. So this stems back to puppy and kitten hood - Begin getting your pets used to having their nails trimmed when they are young so that they will tolerate having it done regularly.

3) Keeping your pets at a healthy weight is THE most important thing that you can do for them, especially for our seniors who have arthritis. If your pets (just like with people) are carrying extra weight, it puts a lot more stress on their joints, not to mention increasing their chances for diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney disease, and heart disease (again, just like with people). So instead of giving Rover that tasty bacon off of your plate every morning, offer him some carrots, apples, green beans, or bananas. Just about any fruit and veggie that WE can eat, your pets can eat. There are a few exceptions to this - NEVER feed grapes, raisins, or onions. These can cause kidney disease and anemia. Also try cutting back on the amount of food you are feeding, or try switching to a lower calorie diet to help take the weight off (again, just like with people). By keeping your pets thin their entire lives (and getting used to feeding them healthier at a young age) you are helping to lengthen their lives more than you can imagine. Not only do they look good and have more energy, but they are healthier overall. (again, just like with people - see a pattern here?)

Let's all follow these simple tips to help ensure happy and healthy senior pets!

Dampness Causes Everything

If you read the comments from yesterday, you will notice mention of dampness being a cause for everything...... My mother will argue this point in full: "Oh, well you're just.... (fill in the blank)... because it's a little damp outside today." Love ya, mom!

While dampness does not REALLY cause everything, it CAN aggravate arthritis in senior pets (both dogs and cats.) Sudden changes in weather can cause owners to notice their pets favoring a limb or limping. Usually this is noticed more in colder climates in the winter time, but can be associated with dampness (usually when it's cold and damp) in the air. The best things that owners can do for their senior pets with arthritis (or pets that have trouble getting around) when the weather changes is to keep them warm and stable on their feet. Take a look at these simple tips:

1) Always provide a warm place for your pets to go to during the day (should they need it) when you are gone, and a warm sleeping area at night.
2) Make sure that you have plenty of traction provided in your home to allow your pets to get around more easily. I suggest placing throw rugs (with rubber backing!) on wood, tile, or linoleum floors.
3) Also keep in mind that it gets slippery outdoors too (if you live in a climate where the ground can freeze). Make sure to provide extra traction with outdoor rugs or by salting walkways to melt ice (but make sure to use salt that is safe for pets to walk on).
4) Keep senior pets away from obstacles that they can trip over (remember, some of our seniors have decreased vision) such as toys and stairs. It may be best to create a "safe" zone that can be gated off during the day when pets cannot be supervised.
5) For our senior cats, provide ways for them to get around the house more easily. A good suggestion would be to add pet staircases up to the sofa or scratching post so that they do not have to jump up or down as much, but can still enjoy their favorite activities. This is a good suggestion also for dogs who still like to be up on the sofa or bed.

If your senior pet slips (either indoors or outdoors) many injuries can occur (fractured bones, sprained, strained, or torn ligaments or muscles, and slipped vertebrae or discs, to name a few) since our seniors (especially those with arthritis) are much more stiff and often times have less muscle mass to cushion falls. Please be aware of the needs of our seniors, as we move into fall and are headed quickly for winter! Make the holidays safe for both you AND your senior pets!

September is Senior Pet Wellness Month!!!

Did you know that September is Senior Pet Wellness month? You may not realize it, but pets become seniors at just 7 years old! That means it is time to begin routine blood screening to detect any possible early signs of disease. You should check with your local vet for information about recommendations for senior wellness care, which should include a comprehensive exam and senior blood testing every 6 to 12 months. It's never too late to get your pet started on a senior wellness plan. Contact your local vet today!!!

Remember.... Senior at Seven!