Foods Your Pet Will Love

In a previous article we covered foods you shouldn’t be feeding your dog. And what a list is was. We covered everything from avocados to onions and chocolate. So with such an extensive list of foods you shouldn’t feed your dog are there really any foods that are safe to offer as a treat?

***Quick Note***
Remember, everything in moderation. Too much of something a dog isn't used to eating can cause digestive upset, such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. Treats/snacks/extras should only make up a very small portion of your dog’s diet and are generally no substitute for dog food designed specially for them.

Dog Food & Treats
Of course the best treats you can offer your pet is one specially formulated for his or her needs. You can purchase treats like this pre made or make them yourself at home. If you are interested in making your own dog treats www.homemadedogtreats.net is a wonderful resource available online.

Lean Meats
Lean meats, such as deskinned and deboned chicken, can make a great snack for your pet. Just make sure it is thoroughly cooked before offering as raw or undercooked meats can carry harmful bacteria that can make your pet sick.

Some fruits
Fruits can make for a tasty snack if you are looking to switch things up a little. Just be careful not to offer fruits such as peaches (the pit contains small amounts of a cyanide like toxin) and remove any seeds before offering. A few pet friendly fruits include apples, oranges, bananas, and watermelons.

Vegetables
Remember how your mom always told you to eat your vegetables because they were good for you? Well, as it turns out they can be good for your pet as well. Carrots, sliced cucumbers, green beans, and sliced zucchini are all great snacks for your pet to chew on. And the best part? No cooking necessary.

Pasta & Rice
They’re simple, they’re quick, and they can be great when your dog’s not feeling his best. Rice and pasta (served plain of course) are great foods to offer your pet. So next time you fix up a pasta dinner for the family why not set a little aside for “Fido”? Just remember not to give too much as no snack should be a substitute for his normal diet.

Ice
During the hot summer months who wouldn’t like something a little cold to munch on? While ice may not be the best thing for their teeth it is a very safe treat that many dogs seem to love.

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World Veterinary Day

It's World Veterinary Day today. So set aside some time for you and your furry friends to visit your favorite veterinarian and tell them how much you appreciate all they do for you and your furred, feathered, and scaled friends.

http://www.worldvet.org/

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Earth Day: Green Tips For Your Pets

Tomorrow (April 22nd) is Earth Day and to celebrate here are a few tips you can use to make you and your pet more eco-friendly.

1.) Scoop the poop! Use biodegradable bags to collect your dog’s waste. Normal bags may take decades to decompose in a landfill. Using bags that meet biodegradability standards (ASTM D6400) can reduce our mark on the planet as they will decompose in just a few short months. For cats try more environmentally friendly litter alternatives such as those made from plant sources or recycled newspaper. Not only are they just as effective as clay litters but they contain less chemicals and don’t need to be mined for their main component.

2.) Don’t throw that away. Old socks with a ball tied inside can make a great toy for any dog and some left over pieces of cardboard combined with a little catnip can make for a great scratching post. Also those big plastic containers your cats litter comes in can be reused as well. A few creative suggestions include using them as a planter, tool bucket, pet food container, and more.

3.) Protect local wildlife by keeping your dog leashed and your cat indoors. Dogs and cats can be devastating to local wildlife if left unchecked. So give them a chance and keep your pets close to home.

4.) Organize a dog park cleanup. Not only will it keep your community cleaner but the satisfaction in knowing you did your part will be a big reward in itself.
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Smile And Say “Dog Bone”!

Having a pet can be one of the greatest experiences you will ever know. From relaxing together on the couch after a long day, to hikes through the woods, and games of catch your time together will be filled with memorable moments. However, if like most people you want to use your camera to make these moments last forever you will find that few things in life can be as frustrating as taking your pet’s picture. Below is a list of 5 tips and tricks you can use to get the best possible pictures of your furry friend for you to share with family and friends.

1. The sun is your best friend
Q: What is extremely powerful, free to use, and available almost everywhere?
A: The sun.

Sunlight is your best friend when photographing your pet. It’s more powerful than any flash you can buy for your camera and best of all it’s free to use. However, for best results try to avoid direct sunlight as this may cause deep shadows and obscure details such as the eyes. Instead take the picture in a shady area such as a room in the house with a large window or outside under a tree. If you don’t have a tree readily available don’t despair! A cloudy or overcast day will work just as well.

2. Turn off the flash
The problem with on camera flash is that it causes very severe “red eye” (or in the case of cats and dogs “green eye”). The eyes of cats and dogs collect and reflect light much better than ours, which is why they can see better than us at night, and your camera’s flash will accentuates this feature. If flash is an absolute must for a picture then try to not have your pet looking directly at the camera. By having them turn their head slightly to one side (even by just a small amount) you can reduce the amount of discoloration of the eyes in the final image or possibly remove it altogether.

3. Use the buddy system
Here is how this tip is going to work. You take the pictures and a friend distracts the model (aka your pet). The reason this works is because it allows your cat or dog to focus on something else besides the camera. A good assistant will be able to help get a cat to look in a particular direction or keep a dog sitting for those few extra moments you may need. A few suggested pieces of equipment for your assistant to use include some of your pet’s favorite treats, a favorite toy, and/or a noisemaker to attract and maintain your pet’s attention.

4. Get down to their level
Everybody knows what your dog looks like from the top down view so why not change things up a little to get a whole new perspective on your furry friend. To instantly increase the quality of your pictures try to get down to your pet’s eye level. Yes, this may mean you will have to get down on your hand and knees or even stomach but the payoffs are huge. Pictures taken in this way both seem more personable and have an undeniable cuteness factor.

5. Show what makes them unique
Does your dog have a unique expression all his own? Does your cat like to stretch out a certain way or peek out at you from around the corner? If so keep on alert for these precious moments and always keep a camera within easy reach so you won’t miss a thing.
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Heartworm Disease: Getting To The Heart Of The Matter

Heartworm Facts:
-Heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs caused by a worm called Dirofilaria immitis.

-The female worm is 6 to 14 inches (15 to 36 cm) long and 1/8 inch (5 mm) wide; the male is about half the size of the female.

-Heartworms are found in the heart and large adjacent vessels of infected dogs. One dog may have as many as 300 worms.

Read on to find out how this potentially deadly parasite is spread and what you can do to prevent it from affecting your dog.

How Heartworms Get into the Heart

Adult heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs. They have been found in other areas of the body, but this is unusual. In a dog they can survive up to 5 years and, during this time, a female worm can produce millions of young (microfilaria). These microfilaria live in the bloodstream, mainly in the small blood vessels, where they wait for a mosquito to bite the infected dog so they can complete their life cycle. Microfilaria in this stage are not conidered to be infective as they are unable to fully mature without the intermediate mosquito host.  However, even though they are not considered "infective" they can still cause other problems for the infected dog.

Once a female mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests the microfilaria during a blood meal the microfilaria continue developing for another 10 to 30 days before entering the mouthparts of the mosquito. After entering the mouthparts of a mosquito the microfilaria are now considered "infective." If the microfilaria are transmitted to a dog during this stage they will complete their life cycle and grow into an adult worm.

Geography

Canine heartworm disease occurs all over the world. In the United States, it was once limited to the south and southeast regions. However, the disease is spreading and is now found in most regions of the United States and Canada, particularly where mosquitoes are prevalent.

Contagion

The disease is not spread directly from dog to dog. An intermediate host, the mosquito, is required for transmission. Spread of the disease therefore coincides with the mosquito season. The number of dogs infected and the length of the mosquito season are directly correlated with the incidence of heartworm disease in any given area.

It takes a number of years before a dog can show any outward signs of infection. Consequently, the disease is diagnosed mostly in 4 to 8 year old dogs. The disease is seldom diagnosed in a dog under 1 year of age because the young worms (larvae) take up to 7 months to mature following establishment of infection in a dog.

Effects on the Dog

Adult worms: Adult worms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart. They interfere with the valve action in the heart and by clogging the main blood vessels, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly in the lungs, liver and kidneys, leading to malfunction of these organs.

Dogs infected with heartworms may not show any signs of the disease for as long as 2 years. Unfortunately, this means by the time signs are seen, the disease is well advanced. The severity of the signs of heartworm disease depend on several factors including the number of adult worms present, the location of the worms, the length of time the worms have been present, and the degree of damage to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys from the adult worms and the microfilaria.

The most commons symptoms are: a soft, dry, chronic cough, shortness of breath, weakness, nervousness, listlessness, and loss of stamina. All of these signs are usually most noticeable following exercise, and may cause some dogs to even faint.

Listening to the chest with a stethoscope will often reveal abnormal lung and heart sounds and in advanced cases, congestive heart failure may be apparent or the abdomen and legs may swell from fluid accumulation. There may also be evidence of weight loss, poor condition, and anemia.

In extreme cases severely infected dogs may die suddenly during exercise or excitement.

Microfilaria (Young worms): Microfilaria circulate throughout the body but remain primarily in the small blood vessels. Because they are as wide as the small vessels, they may block blood flow in these vessels causing damage to the cells and tissues beyond. The lungs and liver are two organs commonly damaged in this way.

Diagnosis

In most cases, diagnosis of heartworm disease can be made by a simple blood test that can be run in the veterinary hospital. If a postivie result comes back further diagnostic procedures are essential, in advanced cases particularly, to determine if the dog can tolerate heartworm treatment. Depending on the case, some or all of the following procedures may be recommended before treatment is started.

Serological test for antigens to adult heartworms: This is a test performed on a blood sample and works by detecting antigens (proteins) produced by adult heartworms.

Blood test for microfilariae: A blood sample could also be examined under the microscope for the presence of microfilaria. If microfilariae are seen, the test is positive. The number of microfilaria is then counted to give a general indication of the severity of the infection.

Blood chemistries: Complete blood counts and blood tests for kidney and liver function may give an indirect indication of the presence of heartworm disease if they show abormal values. These tests are also often performed on dogs diagnosed as heartworm-infected to determine the function of the dog's organs prior to treatment.

Radiographs (X-rays): A radiograph of a dog with heartworms will usually show heart enlargement and swelling of the large artery leading to the lungs from the heart. These signs are considered presumptive evidence of heartworm disease. Radiographs may also reveal the condition of the heart, lungs, and vessels. This information allows us to predict an increased possibility of complications related to treatment.

Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a tracing of the electric currents generated by the heart. It is most useful to determine the presence of abnormal heart rhythms.

Echocardiography (Sonogram): An echocardiogram allows us to see into the heart chambers and even visualize the heartworms themselves. Although somewhat expensive, this procedure can diagnose heartworms when other tests fail.

Treatment

There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms, although fatalities are rare. In the past, the drug used to treat heartworms contained arsenic so toxic effects and reactions occurred somewhat frequently. Now a newer drug is available that does not have the toxic side effects of the old one. Today we are able to successfully treat more than 95% of dogs with heartworms.

We see some dogs with advanced heartworm disease. This means that the heartworms have been present long enough to cause substantial damage to the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and liver. A few of these cases will be so far advanced that it will be safer to just treat the organ damage rather than risk treatment to kill the worms. Dogs in this condition are not likely to live more than a few weeks or months.

Treatment to kill adult worms: An injectable drug to kill adult heartworms is drug is given for two days. It kills the adult heartworms in the heart and adjacent vessels.

Complete rest is essential after treatment: The adult worms will die in a few days and then start to decompose. As they break up, they are carried to the lungs, where they lodge in the small blood vessels and are eventually reabsorbed by the body. This is a dangerous period, and it is absolutely essential that the dog be kept quiet and not be allowed to exercise for 1 month following treatment. The first week after the injections is very critical because the worms are dying. A cough can be noticeable for 7 to 8 weeks after treatment in many heavily infected dogs.

Prompt treatment is essential if the dog has a significant reaction in the weeks following the initial treatment, although such reactions are not common. If a dog shows loss of appetite, shortness of breath, severe coughing, coughing up blood, fever, and/or depression, you should notify us. Response to antibiotics, cage rest, and supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, is usually good in these cases.

Treatment to kill microfilaria: Approximately 1 month following treatment to kill the adults, the dog is returned to the hospital for administration of a drug to kill microfilaria. Your dog needs to stay in the hospital for the day. Seven to ten days later a test is performed to determine if microfilaria are present. If they have been all killed, the treatment is complete. If there are still some present in the blood, treatment for microfilaria is repeated.

In some cases, the heartworm infection is "occult," meaning that no microfilaria were present. In this case, a follow-up treatment at one month is not needed.

Other treatments: In dogs with severe heartworm disease, it may be necessary to treat them with antibiotics, special diets, diuretics to remove fluid accumulations, and drugs to improve heart function prior to treatment for the heartworms.

Dogs with severe heart disease may need lifetime treatment for the failing heart, even after the heartworms have been killed. This includes the use of diuretics, heart drugs, aspirin, and special low salt, low protein diets.

Response to treatment: Dog owners are usually pleasantly surprised at the change in their dog following treatment for heartworms, especially if the dog had been showing signs of heartworm disease. The dog has a renewed vigor and vitality, improved appetite, and weight gain.

Prevention

When a dog has been successfully treated for heartworms, you cannot sit back and relax because dogs can be reinfected. Therefore, it is essential to begin a heartworm prevention program. Three commonly available products for heartworm prevention are HeartGard*, Interceptor*, and Revolution*. Heartgard* and Interceptor* are chewable tablets that are given only once a month while Revolution* is a topical product that is also applied once monthly. All three products are very safe and very effective and one of these should be started immediately after treatment is completed. Read more...