April 2008 News Letter
Is it spring yet? The flowers are starting to bloom, eyes starting to
water, trees are budding, noses are running, and allergy season is in the wind.
Fleas and ticks are appearing out of the woods and grass. These are just a few
of the things to look forward to in the spring and early summer. It is best to
be ahead of the game, as far as the ticks and fleas are concerned. It is better
to be proactive and start the preventative now, then to wait until they have
appeared on your pets.
How do you spell relief?
C.A.T. or D.O.G.
A 10 year old study
performed by the A.V.M.A. has shown that having a cat at home could reduce your
risk of a heart attack by almost one-third.
The affection and pleasure that pets give us is a known stress buster.
One study presented in 2006, at a Heart Association meeting, found that a
single twelve minute visit with a dog improved the heart and lung function of
people with heart failure.
The new study analyzed data on 4,435 Americans age 30 to 75 who took part
in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, which ran from
1976-1980. According to the data, 2,435 of the participants either owned a cat
or had owned a cat in the past, while the remaining 2,000 had never done so.
IRAQ IS GETTING THERAPY VIA
DOGS:
Therapy dogs, provided by
America's VetDogs, were deployed to Iraq to help relieve combat stress. Dogs
have been the war efforts unsung heros. American VetDogs have assured that the
dogs are safe. America's VetDogs is a subsidiary of the Guide Dog Foundation for
the Blind and offers guide and service dogs to veterans. A major component of
the program is to provide dogs to members of the military who were recently
wounded in combat. Here is a link to visit and make a donation:
http://guidedog.org/vetdogs.htm If you don't have access to a computer but
want to donate: The number to call is
1-866-282-8045
Urinary tract
infections may come from pets
Picking up an E. coli bug
from your pet might lead to a urinary tract infection, according to
Minneapolis-based researchers.
"Sharing of E. coli strains
among humans and pets within a household, including strains that can cause
urinary tract infections, is extremely common," Dr. James R. Johnson told
Reuters Health.
Harboring the same strain of
the bug implies that it is passed from one person or animal to another.
Dr. Johnson and his
colleagues at the University of Minnesota investigated the extent to which E.
coli strains were shared between humans and pets in 63 households. They
identified 152 people, 48 dogs, 26 cats, and 2 other animals that had stool
samples that tested positive for E. coli. Five of the humans had an acute
urinary tract infection.
In the Journal of Infectious
Disease, the researchers report that the same strain of E. coli was shared by
several of the inhabitants within a household in 68 percent of the residents.
That included three of the five households in which one person had a urinary
tract infection.
Dr. Johnson believes that
this type of research could lead to new options for preventing such
infections.
Bringing Home Kitty
Things to have ready before
you bring your kitten or cat home:
a carrier, food, food bowl, water bowl or fountain, collar and ID tag, brush,
flea comb, nail clippers, litter, litter box, scoop, toys, scratching post, bed,
treats, play structures, shampoo and conditioner, stain and odor remover, dental
care items, heartworm prevention, flea prevention, make an appointment with your
veterinarian for a wellness exam and vaccinations, before exposing it to your
other pets or family members, we recommend that it be tested for feline leukemia
and FIV viruses, and have a fecal test as well. These are things to start with
and as the personality of your cat or kitten comes out, you may want to change a
few of the things.
Don't eat that!
Here are some hazards that are around the house that
can be harmful to your cats, kittens and dogs .
Antifreeze- sweet but deadly
Stringy things- strings, dental floss, yarn, thread and ribbons.
Medicines- Tylenol, aspirin, acetaminophen, anti-depressants,
blood pressure pills, hair re-growth creams, etc
Plants- Lilies and other plants and flowers check this web site
for a list
www.aspca.org.
Kitchen ingredients- onions, garlic, chives, leeks and other
Allium plant species
Poisonous Croakers- cats love to catch and eat critters. The Bufo
Toad is highly toxic and poisonous. (they aren't this far north, but our toads
can also cause salivation, mucous membrane irritation and vomiting)
Fragrant Dangers- liquid potpourri and essential oils
Tiny toys- choking and obstruction
Pest control- rat or mouse poison
Pet First Aid
Once again I want to share
some first aid tips for your dog or cat.
- Bleeding- apply direct pressure with clean gauze before
bandaging.....Call your veterinarian
- Burns- gently flush burns with cool water. If blistered or
charred, cover with non-adhesive bandage to prevent infection and call your
veterinarian
- Heatstroke- if your dog's body temperature is 104 degrees or
higher, cool his skin with tepid water and get immediate medical attention
- Poisoning- call your veterinarian or a poison control center
(888-426-4435). Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so
- Choking- use your fingers to remove any visible obstructions, if
unsuccessful then hold your dog on your lap with his head slightly lower
than your knees and slap him between the shoulder blades. A modified version
of the Heimlich maneuver may be necessary. Call your veterinarian or Pet
Emergency Care Center as soon as possible.
- Hypoglycemia- If your pet appears weak and wobbly, rub Karo syrup
or honey on his gums and under his tongue and call your veterinarian.
- Breathing Problems- CPR can keep pets alive on the way to your
veterinarian. alternate one breath (into your dogs nostrils) to five chest
compressions at a rate of 80 to 100 compressions per minute
- Shock- after CPR, heavy blood loss, hit by car, trauma. Cover
with blankets, elevate hind quarters and take to your veterinarian or pet
emergency center
Locate your nearest Pet Emergency Clinic, ask your veterinarian they may have
the information you need. The Nashville Pet Emergency Clinic- 383-2600
6 Things to do Before Your New Puppy or Dog Comes Home
1. Find a good veterinarian, and make an appointment
2. Sign up for a socialization or puppy training class
3. Arrange your schedule so you can go home midday, or arrange for someone to
take the puppy out for a potty break. Crate training can help with this task
4. Purchase basic supplies
5. Puppy proof the house and garage, or the place where the puppy or dog is
going to be staying
6. Talk to all the family members about the rules for the new pet