Avoiding the Hissing Fit
As any cat owner can attest, the only thing worse than trying to give your cat a pill is trying to give it a bath. And let’s not think about brushing their teeth; it would be safer to negotiate a runaway chainsaw than battling a cat for access to its teeth.
Cats, the independent individuals they are, resist the very idea of having a human intercede in daily hygiene, but sometimes it’s necessary. To help the helpless, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, through their program Partners in Animal Health, has created a series of free online videos specifically aimed at pet owners, demonstrating basic pet hygiene and medication how-to’s.
Among the cat videos you’ll find Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth, Giving Your Cat a Pill or Capsule, Taking Your Cat’s Temperature, Trimming Your Cat’s Claws and Pet Owner’s Guide to Cancer. Other topics discuss diabetes, liquid medication and kidney disease.
Their professionally developed videos are brief, but thorough. Actual demonstrations coupled with animated video clearly explain not only how to safely manage a procedure, but also what and why you’re doing it.
For example, administering a pill to a cat can sometimes seem an impossible task. The video shows a step-by-step process with two people, one gently restraining the cat by its front shoulders and the other administering the pill after wrapping a towel around the cat’s body like an oversized shawl.
However, if you can’t recruit someone to help restrain Miss Kitty, the video also demonstrates how one person can easily administer the pill and without injury to human or cat (hint: on the floor and in a corner).
For more information or to watch the videos, visit Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Teresa Brown Posted 09/29/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Hold the Guac
They are so hard to resist, those big brown eyes looking lovingly, longing at your food. Let’s face it, all dogs can be good moochers, but sharing our favorites isn’t a healthy idea for dogs.
Most folks know that chocolate is a no-no, but what about candy, raisins and… avocados? Yes, those yummy green fruits contain persin, a toxic substance for dogs. Just a tad can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Actually, the same goes for the whole plant, seeds, leaves, bark and all.
Here are some other foods to keep on the counter and out of the dog dish:
•Onions – It doesn’t matter what form (powdered, raw, cooked or dehydrated), it’s all the same when it comes to feeding it to your dog—bad news. An occasional taste may not cause any problems, but don’t make it a habit.
•Caffeine – In large amounts, it can poison. Caffeine poisoning symptoms are: restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits and bleeding. Don’t forget, there is caffeine in tea, coffee, energy drinks and even in some medications.
•Grapes and raisins – Even a small amount can cause kidney damage in a dog. Watch for repeated vomiting or hyperactivity following ingestion.
•Xylitol – Fancy name for a sweetener often found in candy, gum, toothpaste, some diet foods and baked goods. Ingestion may cause increased insulin in your dog, leading to a drop in blood sugar and even liver failure. Signs to watch for: vomiting, lethargy and coordination loss.
•Fruit pits – A peach or plum pit sounds harmless enough, but intestinal obstruction is a real issue.
Just in case, keep your vet’s emergency number by the phone, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number, 888-426-4435. For a full list of food no-no’s, visit the ASPCA.org.
- Teresa Brown Posted 09/24/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Join Us For Price Chopper Pet Day!!!
Come one and come all to our Second Price Chopper Pet Day on October 4th, 2009 from 10am to 2pm at the Sanford Farms Plaza Price Chopper in Amsterdam, NY! Bring your pets and make a day of it! Here is what you can look forward to:
FREE Iams, Purina, and Sergeant's samples both for cats and dogs
FREE Price Chopper Best Friends samples
Veterinary and groomer experts on site to answer questions
Pet Food Drive- donate a can or bag of pet food to a local charitable organization
FREE magnet of you with your pet!!!!
Pet adoptions
- Tara Mahnk
Posted 09/21/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Join Beneful's Wag World Today!
For Life's Everyday Adventures With Your Dog visit Wag World today to receive FREE Purina Beneful and PetCentric communications. Once you've become a member, you can rate and review pet friendly locations near you such as hotels, parks, and more! It's the ultimate spot to blog about your experiences. You can even share new spots with viewers that you and your furry friend(s) enjoy. New to your neighborhood? Wag World allows you to search for places to eat, play, and stay near you that allow pets. Posted 09/17/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Cough-cough, Bark-bark
Your dog and you may have more in common than sharing the same house. Dogs can suffer from many of the same ailments plaguing humans.
Allergies are a common canine affliction. As in humans, dogs’ allergic reactions may be triggered by anything, including plants, foods or even flea bites. Your veterinarian may advise medicated baths, antihistamines or other medications for relief.
Another frequent condition is a bladder infection. Since our four-legged friends can’t talk to us and express discomfort, we might see infection signs in other ways. For example, a dog that is housebroken suddenly begins to have accidents. Straining, painful or frequent urination may be red flags. A quick visit to the vet can have your dog on the road to wellness in no time.
As dogs age, they can be affected with the same degenerative joint diseases we suffer from: arthritis. The cause is simple wear-and-tear and it won’t heal on its own. A veterinarian can guide you to providing the appropriate pain relief.
One disease which may be a surprise is diabetes. Just like us, sometimes dogs will become diabetic and may require diet management, insulin or other medications.
Gum disease is an often overlooked condition which can be harmful. Plaque buildup on a tooth’s surface can cause dental problems, such as bacteria attacking the gum lining and eventually leading to tooth loss. A simple brushing and periodic checkups can avoid a lot of toothy issues later.
The list doesn’t end here. Dogs can also suffer from cancer, ulcers, cataracts and even acne. It’s important we know our dog’s behaviors and note anything out of character. And, finally, regular visits to a vet for checkups will help keep our dogs at the top of their game.
- Teresa Brown Posted 09/16/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Registries don’t say it all
It sounds so flashy and important, saying a dog is [insert acronym here] registered. But what in the doggone dog-world does that mean?
First, you should understand what a registry is; simply put, it is a record of a dog’s genealogy. The record includes the breed, gender, birth date, color, owner, sire and dam names (as well as those dogs’ information). It may also contain (for all of the dogs in the record) titles, such as champion if it was a winning show dog. A good registry will have generation after generation after generation recorded.
Perhaps one of the most familiar registries in the United States is AKC (American Kennel Club), but there are many other reputable registries. Some cater to specific breeds and some are located in different countries.
The one thing a registry isn’t is a sign of quality. If a registry is strict and the breeder is responsible, you can be reasonably sure of a dog’s breeding and ancestry. However, the system is only as strong as its weakest link.
Unfortunately, there are also questionable registries that operate with little to no restrictions on the dogs it registers. For example, they may require only one or two generations of information about a dog’s lineage and they may not require any proof of that lineage. What this translates into for the average dog owner is a purchaser may not get a purebred dog.
Likewise, even if a dog is registered in the most reputable registry, it still doesn’t equate to quality. A disreputable breeder can breed poor quality–but purebred–dogs time and time again and can legitimately call them registered.
Don’t be glamorized by the acronym. Instead, remember the final word is the old cliché: “Buyer Beware.”
- Teresa Brown Posted 09/16/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
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