Pet Care

Posted by Charla Dawson

Declawing cats is among the most controversial procedures performed in veterinary medicine. Many consider the surgery mutilation and think it should be made illegal. Others think the opposite, and believe it improves the bond between cat and human.

Those that oppose the procedure make a good argument. The surgery entails amputating the first joint from each toe. This removes the claw and the tissue that is responsible for growth. If the procedure is done poorly the claw can start to grow back, which requires more surgery. Those that find nothing wrong with declawing cats will tell you that there are risks involved with every surgery.

It has been recommended by the CDC that cats, who are owned by immunocompromised individuals, be declawed. This is to protect these individuals from acquiring bacterial infections from cat scratches.

Whether or not you choose to declaw your cat is a personal decision. Most veterinarians in the United States still perform the procedure. There is a movement to try to make the procedure illegal in the US; as it is in many European countries. The ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Cat Fanciers Association all oppose declawing cats and find the procedure inhumane.

Posted by Charla Dawson

Oprah Winfrey, a long time friend to dogs, dedicated todays show to “Sophie”, her dog that passed away last month. This show devoted the hour to exploring puppy mills. The show was a wake up call for Oprah herself who said she will never purchase another dog from a breeder, but only adopt from shelters.

Lisa Ling, an Oprah contributer, went undercover to investigate the puppy mills and came back a changed women. She toured puppy mills in Pennsylvania and saw the conditions the dogs are forced to live in first hand. The conditions she witnessed are best described as deplorable.

Oprah is calling people to action to help stop puppy mills. A puppy mill is a mass dog breeding operation. These dogs are kept in cages their entire lives and forced to breed litter after litter of puppies. Many puppy mills breed numerous puppies of different breeds. Theses breeders only see dollar signs and do not care about the welfare of the dogs. A responsible breeder will want to know about you and your home before selling you a dog; and will be willing to take the dog back, for whatever reason (even years later).

Oprah's show encourages everyone to first look to a shelter or rescue for a new pet. If you do want to purchase a puppy from a breeder please be sure you use a reputable breeder and avoid pet stores who often buy puppies from puppy mills.

If you missed Oprah's show then please read Lisa's report for more details.

Posted by Charla Dawson

My sister has a Boston Terrier named Buddy. This little guy is about as cute as they come and we all love him dearly, but he will not stay out of the bathroom trash. Unfortunately, for him and my sister, he got into the trash one morning and ate a tampon. Gross and embarrassing (for her) all at the same time. She called me at work and I talked her through giving hydrogen peroxide. (Hydrogen peroxide can be given orally to make dogs vomit, but always ask a veterinarian first because some items should not be vomited.) Unfortunately he wouldn't vomit with just the hydrogen peroxide so he had to be taken to her veterinarian to be given a prescription medication that makes dogs vomit.

The danger in leaving the tampon in the stomach is that some non-food items will not pass safely out of the stomach and through the intestine and into the colon. If the item becomes stuck it is called an intestinal foreign body. The foreign body starts to cut blood supply off to sections of bowel causing the tissue to die. If this happens then a section of bowel may need to be removed during an emergency surgery.

Buddy's veterinarian made him vomit and the tampon came up. He is doing great now and his mom keeps her bathroom trash out of reach. Buddy avoided a major surgery that not all dogs survive. Buddy's mom avoided seeing her best four-legged friend go under the knife and she avoided spending a large sum of money on vet bills. This particular surgery is not cheap. Intestinal surgeries can cost $2000.00 or more depending on where your live. .

Posted by Charla Dawson

We've all had to stand in line at a public restroom. When your bladder is full the wait can be unbearable. There have been times when I felt like the bathroom stall was never going to be free, or worse yet I wouldn't be able to hold “it” any longer. Male cats that have a urethral obstruction feel quadruple the discomfort I just described. These poor cats have a distended, hard bladder and physically can not relieve themselves.

I cannot stress enough how uncomfortable and painful this condition is. Cats that are straining to use the bathroom need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. There is not much you can do for them at home and they are so painful by this point that they may scratch or bite anyone who tries to check their penis for debris.

The veterinary clinic I work for recently hospitalized a cat for a urethral blockage. This cat had a urinary catheter sutured in place for 3 days. The catheter has been removed and we have continued to hospitalize him and monitor his urine output. He is on what we call his “third strike”. Meaning if he blocks again (which I'm sure he will) he will under go a PU surgery. The surgery will remove his penis and prevent him from blocking in the future. The owners of cats that may get this surgery should know that it is not a fix for all bladder problems, but it may be the best option for cats that continue to become blocked.

Posted by Charla Dawson

We've all heard stories about dogs who risk their lives to save their owner. Few of us have actually experienced that kind of loyalty, but Christopher Peebles has. Christopher is a teenager from Portage, Indiana. His dog, Laney, saved his life, and the lives of his friends on January 4, 2008.

Laney, a Labrador mix, saved the life of her young owner and his friends last week. The teenagers were sleeping in the basement of their home when a fire broke out. The dog bit Christopher Peebles, to wake him up, and then led the teenagers up the basement stairs. The fire started in the garage and spread through the attic. Firefighters arrived and were able to put out the flames. The teenagers credit Laney for saving their lives. Laney was later seen by her veterinarian who gave her a clean bill of health.

The complete story can be read at CBS Chicago.

Source: Family Dog Saves Children From Fire, Pamela Jones, CBS2Chicago.com, January 4, 2008

Posted by Charla Dawson

First bring the carrier or cat box out of hiding about 72 hours before actually needing to use it. Many times cats just have to take one look at the box and they know – it's time to scatter. Bringing the box out early allows the cat time to get used to seeing the box around the house. Start feeding the cat around and eventually in the box – do not shut the door. When it is time to use the box the cat might actually walk right in. Ideally you will have given yourself enough time to desensitize your cat to the carrier and this will not be a traumatic trip for your cat.

If you need to use the cat carrier right away and do not have time to desensitize your cat to the box; here are the tricks I use. Carries that open on top, whether they be cardboard, plastic, or soft, tend to be the easiest – open box and insert cat. The plastic carriers that open on one end are the tricky ones. Start by placing the carrier on one end with the door facing the ceiling. Pick the cat up under the front legs and lower the cat into the carrier, behind first. Once in the box quickly close the door. Slowly, so not to injure the cat, lower the carrier so it is up right. Using familiar bedding, like an old tee shirt or a blanket from home, also helps to keep the cat relaxed. I also use a towel to cover the carrier, cats like to hide and covering the carrier seems to help de-stress my cats.

These tips are not for feral or wild cats.

Related Article: Taking Your Cat To The Vet

Posted by Charla Dawson

An elderly client came to our clinic wanting to adopt a kitten and I was apprehensive of the idea because of her age. I felt that it was probable that the kitten would outlive the client and that didn't seem like the best idea, not to mention the fact that a playful kitten wouldn't be the best match for an older person anyway. The idea came to me that I could pass away at anytime and who would be left to care for my furry babies. My family would make sure they were okay but would they love them? I doubt that they would really want them. I started to think that perhaps my husband and I should find the perfect person to take on our pets in the case of our passing and put it on paper. This would put a lot of worries to rest.

I did some research and found that including a pet in a will doesn't necessarily mean that the animal will be cared for. In America animals are seen as property like a piece of furniture, that means that the individual who inherits your pets can decline or turn around and give them to a shelter. It is advised by the AVMA that we talk to our friends and relatives about taking on our pets in the event of our passing before including them in the will. A friend at work has her 2 dogs and her horse in her will, in the event of her passing the animals will be cared for by a friend, who will also inherit enough money to help with their expenses.

For more information: Pet Estate Planning and

Providing For Your Pets Future Without You

Posted by Charla Dawson

Dog fighting is not new, it has been going on for centuries, but what is disturbing is that it is still being practiced today. Recently authorities have found very disappointing evidence that Atlanta Falcons star, quarterback Michael Vick, participates in this gruesome activity. To torture dogs for ones entertainment is inexcusable and to learn that Michael Vick might be involved, despite his talent, his millions, and his endorsement deals, is disheartening.

According to the associated press there is an 18 page federal indictment filed in the US District Court. This indictment alleges that Michael Vick and three others operated competitive dog fighting under the name "Bad Newz Kennels", procured and trained Pit Bulls for fighting, and conducted the operation across state lines.

According to news reports the dogs were fought to the death or near death. The losing dogs that did not die in the ring were hung, shot, drowned, or electrocuted. The investigation started after a drug raid at Michael Vick's home in April 2007. In June a second search was done where the remains of 7 dogs were found. At some point in the investigation 66 dogs were seized from the property, 55 of them Pit Bulls, dog fighting equipment was also found at the home.

To read the entire news report and to learn more information: Fox news, associated press, NFL Quarterback Michael Vick Indicted in Dog Fighting Cast.

CBS news, associated press, Michael Vick Indicted By Grand Jury.

Posted by Charla Dawson

An article for Live Science, written by Andrea Thompson, blames global warming for increases in nation wide cat populations.

Many shelters across the nation are reporting increased intake numbers of cats and kittens. According to the article the cause of the increased cat numbers is a prolonged breeding season due to rising temperatures. Cats usually breed during the Spring and Summer with global warming they have become year round breeders says Kathy Warnick, President of Pets Across a America, a national adoption organization.

A solution to this problem is to spay and neuter all pets. The importance of spay and neuter can not be underestimated. This is the only humane solution that we have to date. Global warming is a highly and sometimes hotly debated subject. If you don't agree with the global warming crowd perhaps you can at least agree with the need to spay and neuter all pets. If you want to breed your pet then spay or neuter after having the litter. If you have already spayed or neutered your pet then sponsor the spay or neuter of a shelter animal or the pet of someone who is financially unable to have the surgery done themselves.

To read the entire article: Adoption Group: Cat Invasion Due to Global Warming

I like to eat when it's hot, I wonder if I can blame my increased jeans size on global warming? To top it off can I sue the environment or SUV owners (since they are to blame for global warming) for my increased weight? Just a thought.

Posted by Charla Dawson

A new article from the associated press says 3 out of every 10,000 dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food developed kidney failure.

Banfield, a veterianary hospital chain, saw a marked increase in the cases of kidney failure during the three month period the food was sold. Banfield also noted an increase in the cases of kidney failure in cats during this period which suggests the contaminate was more dangerous to cats versus dogs.

Because of the size of the Banfield practice they are able to give us, and the FDA, a good idea of just how devastating the contaminated pet food was to cats and dogs. Unfortunately, because there is no CDC for animals we may never have an exact number of pets that were made sick or killed from eating contaminated food.

For more information and to read the new Associated Press article: Thousands of pets probably sickened by food.