Tip of the Month

11/12/2008	An Owner’s Responsibility in Preventing Dog Bites Although most interactions between dogs and people are positive and harmonious, there are still an estimated 4.5 million dog bites reported each year in America. These bites range from minor nips to major attacks. There is no way to guarantee that your dog would never bite someone because all animals have the potential to become aggressive in certain situations. Fortunately, there are many things that an owner can do to reduce the chances of their dog inflicting an injury on someone. Dog owners should make themselves aware of the steps they can take to reduce the risk of their dog biting someone. Learn your dog’s body language and know what situations your dog is comfortable in and what situations make your dog nervous or scared. Socialize your dog at an early age. Speak with your veterinarian about their recommendation on a safe age for a puppy to meet other dogs. Introducing your dog to different situations and people greatly reduces their chances of becoming nervous and/or fractious in social situations. Train your dog. Taking your dog to training/obedience classes is not only an excellent way to socialize your dog, but they will also learn how to sit, stay, lie down, and most importantly, trust you. Training is a family matter, and anyone who lives in the same house as the dog should be familiar with the training techniques used, and actively participate in the dog’s education. Never hit dog as a punishment as this can cause a dog to exhibit dangerous behavior as a defense and is very hard to correct with training. Training should always be a fun activity for your dog. Training is a life long commitment, and you should try to work with your dog as much as possible. This will not only reinforce behaviors already learned, but strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Do not teach your dog to chase after or attack people or animals for fun – dogs do not always understand the difference between play and serious situations. The first time your dog exhibits signs of potentially dangerous behavior towards a person or another animal you should seek the advice of a vet, animal behaviorist or qualified dog trainer. Be a responsible dog owner. Follow all laws related to owning a dog. License your dog, and provide it with proper veterinary care including keeping the rabies vaccines up-to-date. When you go on outings with your dog, keep him/her on a leash at all times, and never let your dog roam off leash or unsupervised. Dogs are social animals, and want to be part of a family. Isolating your dog in the backyard or on a chain by itself increases the risk of your dog displaying dangerous behavior. As a socialized and happy member of your family, your dog will be much less likely to bite. If you don’t know how your dog will react to a new situation, use caution and work with professionals to help your dog become comfortable and accustomed to new situations. Working with your dog, and educating yourself about dog behavior and training is the best way to keep both yourself and others protected from dog bites. Source: Humane Society of the United States
10/10/2008	Senior Wellness in Pets Due to advances in veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer and healthier lives. However, they can suffer the same ailments as senior humans – diabetes, dental disease, liver and kidney disease, stiff joints, heart disease and cancer. As pets age seven times faster than their human companions, a 10-year-old, 20 to 50 lb dog would be 60 in human years while a 10-year-old feline would be the equivalent of a 64-year-old human senior. Many conditions can be detected early and treated successfully while adding years of a comfortable and active lifestyle to your pet’s life. A routine, semi-annual physical exam with blood testing and other diagnostics along with careful observation by pet owners can assist the veterinarian in detecting possible problems. Diagnostics are usually recommended when pets reach the age of seven years old. Indications of possible problems could include: • Increased water intake, more frequent urination or “accidents” in house • Changes in hair coat (thinning or roughness), lumps or changes in the color of the skin • Inability (or unwillingness) to jump up, limping, or difficulty getting up • Drooling excessively • Bad breath • Coughing or choking • Reluctance to play or tiring easily The following tests can help the veterinarian detect the possibility of certain problems: • The Complete Blood Count (CBC) and chemistry panels can detect infections, problems with the liver and kidneys, assess the condition of the pancreas which produces insulin and enzymes, and check the level of calcium and phosphorus in bones and electrolytes in the body. • Thyroid testing for hormonal imbalances can indicate the pet’s thyroid level. Too low of a thyroid level can result in weight gain, poor hair coat and listlessness while a thyroid level that is too high (mostly in senior cats) can cause kidney and heart disease along with weight loss. • Urinalysis will help detect bladder and kidney problems. • Parasite exams include flea control and identification of internal parasites such as giardia, coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms. • Heart exams could detect heart murmurs. Further diagnostics using x-rays, ECGs and/or ultrasound imaging may be required if a murmur is found. • Skin inspections include checking for bumps or changes in skin color which could indicate cancer. • Eye exams include checking for cataracts and/or glaucoma. • Radiographs can help in detecting masses in the abdomen, bone cancers, and conditions of the chest and lungs. • Dental exams are done to detect infections in the mouth and dental disease which can occur by the time your pet reaches the age of seven years old. Tartar and broken teeth need to be removed and/or repaired. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight through a good diet and plenty of exercise, scheduling him or her for routine exams and proper vaccinations, and giving him or her lots of love will help your pet to live a longer, healthier life. Reference: Your Vet Connection
9/12/2008	Trouble Areas in the Home – Dangerous Places for Pets Both dogs and cats can get into a lot of trouble in many areas of a house or yard. Keep all areas safe for your pets and watch them closely. • Swimming Pools – A pet can fall into a pool and drown. Keep the area around a pool fenced. Provide a ramp in the event a pet falls into the water. • Gardens, Garden Sheds, and Garages – Pesticides, antifreeze, fertilizers, gasoline and oil all contain chemicals that may cause serious illness or death. Keep containers tightly closed and out of harm’s way in locked cabinets or placed high on shelves. • Balconies – Pets can either fall from balconies or slip through railings that are spaced too far apart. Make a barrier to either keep pets away from balconies or to block railings. • Doors and Windows – An open door or window is an invitation for a pet to run away and explore if left open. Doors should be kept closed and all windows should contain screens. • Electrical cords – Electrocution can occur if pets chew on electrical cords that are plugged into wall. Keep cords for computers and all electrical systems hidden under carpets or behind appliances. • Washer and Dryer – Cats are known for jumping into washers and/or dryers. Keep lids closed when these appliances are not in use or when you need to leave them unattended for even a few moments. Spilled bleach can cause chemical burns if spilled and walked through or illness if ingested. • Fireplaces – Eating fireplace ashes can cause a pet to get sick. Keep a screen in place and ashes out of pets’ reach. • Trash Areas – Spoiled food can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Fruit pits may cause blockage in the pet’s intestines as can aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Empty tin cans could cause cuts on mouth and/or tongue if chewed on. Pets may get their heads stuck in discarded containers. • Bathrooms and Kitchens – Cleaning products, either ingested or picked up on pads of feet and licked off, can cause vomiting and diarrhea. An owner’s prescription medication may cause serious side effects or death if left out and ingested by a pet. Reference: ASPCA Pet Insurance
8/12/2008	Flea Control – Shut Down the Circus in your Home Do you have a flea problem in your home that just won’t go away? Do you seem to keep treating your pets but never seem to stop the prolific infestation of fleas? Here are some facts and tips to help you plan an attack that will shut down that flea circus in 24 hours. A flea has four stages in its life. First, fleas are laid in eggs which hatch into larvae. The larvae resemble tiny maggots and within a week build a protective cocoon around themselves. Once in this cocoon state, they are called pupae. The pupae can remain in this stage until warm, moist conditions are present (up to a year) which are necessary for them to hatch into adult fleas. Adult fleas live up to two years, and an adult female flea can lay up to 50 eggs every 24 to 48 hours, totaling up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime. Fleas can transport themselves from one animal to another by walking, jumping, or being transported by a host. They feed off the blood of pets, with the female flea consuming up to 15 times its own body weight of your pet’s blood each day. Young puppies and kittens can develop “flea anemia” if the infestation is out of control, which can lead to death within a day or two. Adequate flea control involves the following steps: •Removing fleas from the inside of your house •Removing fleas from the outside areas surrounding your house •Removing fleas from your pets •Using preventative flea control products on your pets A treatment program should be planned and executed within a 24 hour period. Since fleas do not live on the your pets (they usually just jump on for a meal), they will live and lay their eggs in your carpets, curtains, bedding, throw rugs and areas around the house where your pets sleep, such as dog beds. In the morning, take your pets to the veterinarian for a flea bath or flea dip (whichever your veterinarian recommends) and leave them there for the day. Then, treat the indoor environment with the proper amount of flea bombs or flea foggers. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Next, treat the outside environment with a pesticide spray that includes agents that kill fleas specifically. Be sure to spray kennel areas and any warm, moist areas in the grass and/or dirt where your pets play or lay. Again, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Many pest control companies can be hired to spray the indoor and outdoor environments for you if you do not want to do this yourself. Lastly, ask your veterinarian about topical flea products that will kill the flea when it bites, or internal flea growth regulation medications that cause the female fleas to lay only sterile eggs when feeding off your pet. The best plan for flea control is prevention before the problem becomes dangerous to your pet’s health and wellbeing. It is important to keep your pets protected all year round. Remember that prevention is key in keeping the flea circus from setting up and thriving in your home!

Website Visitors

If you would like to subscribe to ABC's Animal Care Tip of the Month, please click here for instructions.

Webmasters

If you would like to link ABC's Animal Care Tip of the Month to your website, please click here.

We invite you to click through our site or speak with an ABC Admissions Counselor at:
 
1-800-795-3294