Prevent Heat Stroke in Pets
Now that the hot, humid days of summer are here it’s a good time to review the ASPCA recommendations for preventing heat stroke in yur pets.
“Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat,” says Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, “and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly.”
Watch out for the following symptoms of overheating in pets: excessive panting or difficulty breathing, drooling, mild weakness, stupor and even collapse. Pets can also suffer from seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.
- Avoid dehydration by always having fresh, clean water available and lots of shady places where pets can cool off. When the weather’s extremely hot, keep your pets indoors.
- Give your dog a light summer haircut to help prevent overheating. Shave the hair to a one-inch length, but never down to the skin, as fur offers protection from the sun. Brushing your cat more often than usual can also help prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
- When using sunscreen or insect repellent, be sure the product is labeled specifically for use on animals.
- Never leave an animal alone in a parked vehicle. “On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time—even with the windows open—which could lead to fatal heat stroke,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.
Please visit ASPCA.org for their complete list of hot weather safety tips!
Meet Chanel, the World’s Oldest Dog
Chanel, the world’s oldest dog, celebrated her 21st birthday on Wednesday May 6th with a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records and a visit to a dog hotel and spa.The off-white dachshund, a rescue dog from Port Jefferson in New York, wore an orange sweater and red goggles as her owner, Denice Shaughnessy, accepted the award marking her longevity.
Chanel became the world’s oldest dog following the death of Butch, the 28-year-old former record holder, in 2003. She’ll be listed in the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records, scheduled for publication this October. She celebrated her birthday with a visit to the New York Dog Hotel and Spa where she was joined by some doggy friends and posed for photographers as she sat on a red mini-sofa.
Shaughnessy said Chanel tires quickly, wears goggles for cataracts when she is in the sun, and booties to cushion a benign tumor on her hind leg.“I just take good care of her,'’ said Shaughnessy, 51, who cares for Chanel with her husband, Karl. “I treat her like a person.'’Shaughnessy adopted Chanel from an animal shelter in Virginia when she was just six-weeks old. Although Chanel could run miles in her younger days, now she suffers from joint problems and spends most of her days at home.
The oldest dog ever whose age could be verified was Bluey, an Australian cattle dog that died at the ripe old age of 29 years, 5 months in 1939. 
Can Your Pets Get Swine Flu?
According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) as well as the ASPCA, the H1N1 virus, previously known as swine flu, appears to present little risk of infecting our furry friends.
The AVMA states that “to date, there is no evidence that pets are susceptible to this new strain of influenza; it appears to be transmitted solely from person to person.”
“Currently there’s no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City.
”However, owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animals’ health more closely and take steps to limit transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa.”
If you do count a pet pig as your animal companion, please consult with your veterinarian about a Type A influenza vaccine, which is available and recommended for all healthy swine.
So dog and cat lovers, we need not fret for our fur kids. But remember to take the necessary precautions for your own health.
Secondhand Smoke And Your Pets
Few pet parents are aware that our animal companions face risks rangiong from respiratory problems to cancer when exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is unsafe for pets as well as humans.One recent study shows that nearly 30 percent of pets live with at least one smoker. This is a grave concern, according to Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, Medical Director of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, since secondhand smoke can damage the nervous systems of both cats and dogs.
“Tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans,” says Dr. Gwaltney-Brant. “Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause many of the same harmful inflammatory changes in the airways and lungs of dogs as their human counterparts.”
Cats who live with smokers are prone to developing malignant lymphoma, perhaps as a result of ingesting carcinogenic residue when it settles on their fur. Dogs are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke’s respiratory effects, and can develop life-threatening nasal and lung cancers.
Nicotine is highly toxic to animals if ingested. A dog who accidentally eats tobacco may develop weakness, muscle twitching, decreased breathing rate, and finally collapse, coma and possibly death. The ASPCA strongly recommends keeping your pet away from tobacco as well as secondhand smoke.
Avoid smoking around your pet Smoke outside and preserve the lungs of your furry children.
First aid classes keep pets safe
Taking a pet first aid class could save your pet’s life.
Countless emergencies can be averted and accidents prevented by the the owner or Pet Care Professional being trained in pet first aid.
Red Cross Pet First aid classes, which last about four hours, are a combination of lecture, discussion, video presentation and live demonstration. They can be taught for dogs, cats or both, and topics include actions to take in an emergency — such as CPR and controlling bleeding.
Students learn how to perform CPR and rescue breathing on stuffed animals modified to simulate lungs and airways. Pet mannequins are also used to practice making emergency muzzles out of cloth strips. These can be necessary for human safety when an animal is in pain. Students also learn when not to muzzle, when the emergency involves choking or difficulty in breathing.
The Red Cross first began offering pet first aid classes in 1997; prices are set by individual chapters. The course was revised in 2007 to separate care for cats and dogs, which are different in some important respects. (American Red Cross Pet First Aid)
“A cat is not a small dog,” says Deborah C. Mandell of the University of Pennsylvania, veterinary adviser to the Red Cross. For instance, she says, while urinary blockage is possible in dogs, in cats it’s one of the most common life-threatening problems, and it’s critical to recognize the signs.
Another source for pet first aid classes is Pet Tech, which has 300 trained instructors in 30 states, Canada and Mexico. Started 13 years ago by Thom Somes, a former emergency medical technician and a human first aid instructor, the company offers first aid and CPR, dental care, and senior pet care classes.
PetSaver™ Training is a one-day course designed for pet owners as well as Pet Care Professionals. Pet Tech Instructor (PTI) Training is a three-day course that will train you to teach the PetSaver™ course to pet owners andPet Care Professionals in your area.
Pet Tech is the first international training center dedicated to First Aid, CPR & Care for dogs and cats .
For more information, contact the Red Cross in your area, or visit the Pet Tech site: http://www.pettech.net/
To Twitter … or Not?
Have you joined Twitter yet?
What is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you doing?”
At least, that was the concept. However, it is becoming a dumping ground for every advertiser to just promote their product with sometimes 10 or more entries in a row that are nothing more than “commercials’.
I believe in networking with like-minded individuals, and enjoy reading the little comments from pet lovers many of whom also have web sites. I do not object to an occasional plug for a product or service. But an endless list of entries from large commercial pet product outlets and manufacturers just clutters up the page and makes it nigh onto impossible to find the personal entries.
How, I wonder, can anyone possibly follow 1000 + followers? For some this has just become a numbers game. I don’t want that many ”tweets” on my page. I can’t possible read them all, nor do I want to.
That having been said, the original concept is still a great one. Through twitter you can find other pet lovers to connect with and make friends. All About Dogs and Cats has a Twitter account. You can find us at: http://twitter.com/AboutDogsNCats We welcome all dog and cat parents to join us. We’d love to hear from you.
Pet Poison Alert: Mothballs
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to put away your winter woolens! But beware, pet parents—take care when storing your cold weather gear with mothballs, warns the ASPCA. These strong-smelling deterrents contain pesticides that repel sweater-loving moths but can wreak havoc on the health of your furry family members.
In the past year, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has managed 113 cases of mothball poisoning, and most of those accidents happened during the spring and summer months. According to the APCC’s Dana Farbman, CVT, the ingestion of just one mothball can produce significant illness.
Naphthalene—an offending chemical found in some brands of mothballs—is toxic to dogs, cats and other animals, and if ingested, can cause serious illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, swelling of the brain tissue, seizures, damage to the liver, kidneys and blood cells, coma and even death.
Farbman also advises pet parents to look out for mothballs that contain dichlorobenzene. “This insecticide is somewhat less toxic than naphthalene,” she says, “but it can still cause stomach upset and potentially even neurological effects if consumed in large amounts.”
It’s important to seek immediate attention if your pet has ingested mothballs. Prompt treatment can make the difference between just another household accident and permanent tragedy. The prognosis for those pets who receive immediate care is quite good, provided no other underlying conditions like liver disease or anemia are present.
If you suspect that your pet may have ingested mothballs—or any other poisonous substance—please call your local veterinarian or the ASPCA’s emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435. For more information about keeping your pet safe from household poisons, please visit APCC online.
Go Orange for Animals
Go Orange !
This month the ASPCA will kick-off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month on April 7 when iconic buildings and landmarks across the country will support the ASPCA’s life-saving work as they light up in its signature color and “Go Orange For Animals .”
Last year New York, Chicago and many other cities lit up—even Niagara Falls went orange.
Show your support for the ASPCA by going orange. Call your city council and find out how to get prominent buildings and landmarks to light up orange—it could be your town hall, local businesses, schools, libraries, museums, baseball fields, you name it.
The ASPCA’s official color is orange, and they’re asking people to “Go Orange ” all month , telling the world that you love animals and don’t want to see them hurt.
Ways to Go Orange
Wear Orange !
Get out those bright orange pants, hats, caps, bandannas, shirts, sneakers and socks! Dressing up can be great fun for you and four-legged fashionista if you take the proper precautions. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, consider a simple orange bandana instead. Please make sure the costume doesn’t limit your pet’s movement, hearing, vision or ability to breathe or bark.
Free ASPCA Posters Download and customize your own Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month poster! Use it to promote your own event, or just ask people to visit ASPCAApril.org! ( Download Now )
Go Orange Photo Contest
Get out your pet’s favorite orange outfit, grab your camera and send ASPCA your best shot Enter the Contest here
Learn to recognize if an animal has been abused
April kicks off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month—but you can’t fight cruelty if you don’t know what it looks like.
“It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behavior alone,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. “The best way to tell whether a pet is being or has been abused is to observe his body and the surrounding environment.”
ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams agrees. “The clues I look for when investigating a scene,” says Adams, ”are whether the animal is being provided with adequate food, water and shelter, and whether he or she appears injured or sick.”
Check out ASPCA’s complete list of telltale signs that an animal needs help.
If you suspect an animal is being abused, don’t keep it to yourself—report it to your local authorities. Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care. By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—which you can do anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.
Watch the Video: 17 Plants that Poison Pets
In 2008, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxins, many of which were everyday household items. Some of the worst offenders were those living things that keep your home fresh and green—household plants!
The ASPCA has created a video of their top toxicologist, Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, discussing the dangers of 17 common plants that you may have in your homes right now, including lilies, chrysanthemum and sago palm. Dr. Hansen shows you examples of each plant, so you’ll know exactly what to look out for.
This video is available for viewing on the ASPCA website . Access it by clkicking HERE.
Remember, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
