The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Spay The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Spay
Showing posts with label Spay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spay. Show all posts

Friday, April 22, 2022

Gimme Five! Five Animal Bills Pass The Maryland General Assembly in 2022


Five Animal Bills Pass the Maryland General Assembly in 2022

Thanks to YOU, our dedicated team of advocates, organizations, and legislators, 2022 was a HISTORIC year for animals in Maryland! FIVE bills passed that greatly improve the welfare of animals in our state. In a definitive show of support for animal welfare in Maryland and beyond, Governor Hogan has signed all five bills.

Cat Declaw Prohibition (SB67/HB22) Senator Cheryl Kagan/Delegate Lorig Charkoudian Maryland becomes the second state to ban this cruel and painful procedure except in medically necessary circumstances that involve the health of the cat. New York outlawed elective declawing in 2019. Fourteen US cities have banned the practice including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. Elective declawing is illegal in most of Europe as well as in Brazil, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand.

To read more on this story, click here: Gimme Five! Five Animal Bills Pass The Maryland General Assembly in 2022


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Friday, February 11, 2022

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog


Picture of dog
Billions of dollars are spent annually on companion animals - we buy toys, treats, food, leashes, collars, food bowls, beds, crates and pay veterinarians, trainers, groomers, pet sitters, dog walkers, professional poop-scooping companies, pet psychics, pet masseuses, and pet health insurers thousands of dollars over the course of a single pet's life.


We do all these things because animals make our lives better. Most pet owners would agree that the money we spend on pets pales in comparison with the amount of joy they bring us.

All of these expenditures are directly related to improving the lives of the animals we share our homes with. While it is important to care for your pet in the best manner that circumstances allow, it is also important that we remember the one simple thing each of us can do to improve the lives of not only our own dogs and cats, but dogs and cats throughout the nation and internationally - spaying and neutering dogs and cats.

Why You Should Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
There are many benefits of spaying or neutering your pet. One of the most important is that spaying dogs and cats ensures that your own pet will not contribute to the pet overpopulation crises. Unaltered cats and dogs can be prolific breeders, and there are many more cats and dogs needing homes than there are homes for them. Pets without homes are often euthanized in shelters or left to fend for themselves, often unsuccessfully, in the search of food and mating opportunities.

Others spay/neuter pets for health reasons. Here are some of the benefits of neutering male dogs:

  • Eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
  • Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
  • Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
  • May possibly reduce the risk of diabetes

And here are some benefits of spaying female dogs:

  • If done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs
  • Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
  • Reduces the risk of perenial fistulas
  • Removes the very small risk (.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
  • Spaying and neutering also can reduce roaming behaviors, territorial marking behaviors, intersex aggression, etc. in dogs.

The Spay/Neuter Debate
As with any major surgery, there are both benefits and risks associated with spaying and neutering. While spaying and neutering pets seems to reduce the risk of many cancers and illnesses, there is evidence that it can contribute to others, and there is research that indicates that spaying and neutering can decrease some behavioral problems while contributing to others.

Most veterinarians advise spaying and neutering around six months of age. Some dog owners, particularly those with large breed dogs, prefer to wait until the dog has physically matured until neutering or spaying. Dogs that are neutered/spayed after reaching full maturity tend to be more muscular than early spay/neuter dogs, which is important in working dogs.

Some dogs may have health problems which might prohibit spaying or neutering. Educate yourself about the behavioral and physical health benefits and risks associated with surgery and have a discussion with your veterinarian about what is best for your dog.

If You Decide Not To Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
As of right now, the law cannot force you to spay or neuter your pet (although legislation to this effect has been proposed). If you choose not to spay or neuter your pet, it is imperative that you do not allow your pet breeding opportunities. If you have an unspayed female, she must be on leash at all times during a heat cycle and not be given the opportunity to interact with intact males. If you have an intact male, it is your responsibility to contain him safely so that he does not run through the neighborhood creating the next batch of puppies that will end up dying in a shelter because there are no homes for them.

Dogs should only be bred intentionally to other similarly accomplished purebred dogs if they have conformation championships, all health testing appropriate for the breed, are over two years of age, in top physical condition, display no behavioral problems (shyness, aggression, reactivity), if the breeder is prepared to spend a LOT of time and money whelping and socializing the litter, carefully interviewing potential adopters and educating them on the breed. Breeding should be left to those with a good working knowledge of canine genetics, the history of the breed and their goals for improving the breed.


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Friday, September 11, 2020

Determining the Best Age at Which to Spay or Neuter a Dog


In many parts of the world, due to cultural or economic prohibitions, bitches and dogs are not spayed or castrated unless they have reproductive tract disease. However, in the United States, virtually all bitches and dogs are rendered sterile by surgery at some point in their life. This better allows for reproduction control in animals no longer capable of or not considered desirable for breeding, and eliminates behaviors and physical changes related to presence of reproductive hormones that dog owners find objectionable. The surgeries most commonly performed are ovariohysterectomy (removal of the uterus and both ovaries), commonly called spaying, and castration (removal of both testes and the associated epididymes). Castration is commonly also called neutering, although that term most correctly can be used for surgery of either gender. Collectively, these surgeries can be referred to as gonadectomy, removal of the gonads or reproductive organs.

Removal of the ovaries eliminates secretion of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Removal of the testes eliminates secretion of the hormone testosterone. Elimination of these hormones obviously leads to decreases in behaviors and physical changes associated with their secretion, such as heat behavior, swelling of the vulva, and estrous bleeding in bitches, and mounting and roaming in dogs. However, reproductive hormones have effects on other tissues in the body and removal of those hormones may inadvertently impact those systems negatively. Other, less obvious, hormone changes also occur after gonadectomy, including persistent elevation in hormones that control the secretion of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Whether these other hormone changes affect other systems positively or negatively often is unclear.

To read more on this story, click here: Determining the Best Age at Which to Spay or Neuter a Dog






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Sunday, August 9, 2020

Feral Cats: The Neighbors You May Never See


It is estimated that the feral cats living on the streets of the United States number in the tens of millions. What are feral cats? They are distinct from stray cats—“domesticated pet cats who have been raised among humans but became lost or were abandoned. These stray cats are accustomed to, and in many senses depend upon, human society; they therefore can and should be returned to their owners or adopted into a new home.

Feral cats, on the other hand, are cats of the domesticated species who have been raised apart from humans or separated too long from human company and have returned to “wild” ways. They cannot be socialized and are not adoptable as pets, although kittens born to feral cats, if taken before about the age of eight to 10 weeks, can be socialized and adopted. Some people attempt to “tame” feral cats in order to make them adoptable, but this has been shown to be virtually impossible, as a feral cat’s nature is to live independently among other cats and to range freely outdoors, avoiding strangers and escaping from confinement. A feral cat may rarely learn to accept human companionship and live inside a house, but it is not the cat’s natural home, and the situation is far more stressful for the cat than living outside in its colony. Further, the amount of resources spent on trying to make a few feral cats adoptable could be better used in other ways, such as spay and neuter services.

To read more on this story, click here: Feral Cats: The Neighbors You May Never See


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Thursday, October 25, 2018

Unspayed Pets Susceptible to Potentially Fatal Infections, Massive Swelling


At the ASPCA, we encourage all pet parents to spay/neuter their pets. There are so many benefits associated with these procedures, but many pet parents may not be aware that it can be dangerous to not spay their pets until it’s almost too late.

One day last spring, Sandra R. noticed that her eight-year-old cat, Petra, wasn’t eating. Her belly distended, she vomited and was lethargic—far from her normal self. Sandra decided to bring Petra to the ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH).

Petra was suffering from a pyometra, an infection of the uterus that that can be fatal in cats and dogs.  Pyometra usually occurs in older females, with about 25 percent of them suffering from pyometra before the age of 10. Radiographs showed Petra’s distended belly containing a greatly enlarged uterus filled with pus. Once removed by Dr. Maren Krafchik, the uterus weighed almost three lbs.—a third of Petra’s total weight. Fortunately, Petra has since made a full recovery.

Dogs are equally susceptible to pyometra infection.  Gershon C., a retired sanitation worker who lives in Queens, took notice when his 10-year-old Rottweiler, Princess, had not eaten for several days and was drinking water excessively.

He brought her to the ASPCA, where veterinarian Dr. Marisa Altieri suspected a pyometra.  Her diagnosis was spot on, and an ultrasound showed that Princess’s uterus had ruptured in two places. Dr. Altieri set about surgery immediately, removing the uterus, which weighed 20 lbs.

To read more on this story, click here: Unspayed Pets Susceptible to Potentially Fatal Infections, Massive Swelling

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Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Important Rabbit Facts That All Owners and Potential Owners of Pet Rabbits Should Be Aware of


If you are considering buying your first pet rabbit, or even if you have owned one before and are thinking of getting another, it is important to do plenty of research, both into rabbits as a species, and the particular needs and concerns attached to each different rabbit breed.

While rabbits have been a popular and very commonly owned pet for centuries, our knowledge of rabbits and what they really need to be happy and healthy is information that has come on in great leaps in recent years, and what used to be viewed as a fairly simple, low maintenance pet is now understood and respected as a much more delicate and complex creature than they were historically.

Rabbits are social animals that should not be kept on their own without a companion, or they will be lonely and unhappy and not thrive. This means that spaying and neutering of rabbits is important, particularly if you keep males and females together, for obvious reasons!  A female rabbit can produce a new litter every thirty days, and you will soon find yourself with more baby bunnies than you can handle! Even if you keep your rabbits in same-sex groups, spaying can help to protect female rabbits from cancer of the uterus, which is a common cancer of mature female rabbits.

You should choose the material that you use for your rabbit’s bedding carefully, as not all products are suitable for use with them. Scented products that have artificial or natural aromas are a bad idea for rabbits in particular.  Aromatic cedar or pine wood shavings are particularly to be avoided, as both of these fragrant woods release oils that can be harmful to your pet, and even cause long term liver damage.

Rabbits can be taught to use a litter tray, just like cats can, and this is an essential factor of life with a house rabbit! However, again, you should choose the litter that you use carefully to avoid causing health problems. Clay cat litter or other products that form clumps can be ingested and block up your rabbit’s digestive system, and any litter that is dusty may affect your rabbit’s respiratory system.

It is important that you rabbit-proof your home and garden, and any areas that your rabbit will have access to. Rabbits need to chew on things in order to keep their teeth at a comfortable length, and for some reason, articles such as electrical wires and loose carpet are particularly appealing to them! View your home and garden from your rabbit’s viewpoint, and ensure that everything that they may be able to reach is safe for them.

When people think about buying rabbit food, they usually imagine ready mixed, rabbit-suitable pellet food, and perhaps the occasional piece of fruit or veg. However, the bulk of the rabbit’s diet should be grass or hay, and your rabbit should have free access to one or both of these things at all times. In order to stay healthy, the digestive system of the rabbit should be constantly moving, and if it stops due to having no more food to eat, getting it restarted again is difficult, and may need veterinary help.  Suitable hay for rabbits include timothy hay, orchard grass and various others, and you should feed lots of it when your rabbit does not have access to grass.
If your rabbit isn’t very tame or even becomes aggressive, never punish them by smacking them or speaking harshly to them. Rabbits are sensitive animals that do not understand cause and effect in the same way that we do, and responding angrily will not help.

Rabbits are viewed as exotic pets within veterinary surgeries, and while most clinics will see a reasonable amount of rabbits and be able to diagnose and treat minor health issues, and perform standard procedures such as spay and neuter, for more complex problems, your rabbit might need to see a specialist vet. Find out about the provision for veterinary care for rabbits at your local clinic, and work out where you would need to go if they were unable to treat your pet.

A loss of appetite or watery stools are conditions that in most pets (and people) tend to be minor issues that will resolve themselves within a day or so. However, both problems can be a veterinary emergency for rabbits, and so if your rabbit is off color with either of these symptoms, contact your vet right away.

It is a good idea to gain a basic understanding of rabbit health, and learn how to recognize some of the most common problems that can potentially afflict rabbits. These include problems with the teeth, which may require attention from your vet, and a range of other issues including ear mites, digestive issues, and flystrike. Some serious problems can be prevented with vaccination, such as myxomatosis, and so your rabbit should be vaccinated as soon as they are old enough.

Children should not be permitted to handle rabbits unsupervised, and rabbits do not make a good pet for young children. Rabbits are very delicate and fragile animals that can easily be harmed or frightened, and so only older children who are experienced with rabbits should be in charge of their full time care.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Washington, DC - Humane Rescue Alliance: We Are Building Our Development Department and Have Several Open Vacancies


Washington, DC - We are building our development department in anticipation of our new facility campaign, and the planned expansion of our community and medical programs. If you know a passionate, capable and seasoned fund raiser who would like to have a work life that is immersed in service to our cause, and wants to really make their mark in fund raising, animal welfare and social enterprise (regionally and beyond), please send them to this link: Careers

Website: Humane Rescue Alliance 





My Pet for Today! Meet Sweet Pria:


Seven-year-old Pria is the sweetest girl! She came to the Humane Rescue Alliance last week when her owner could no longer afford to care for her. She's a big girl at almost 80 pounds, but she's an independent lady who enjoys sniffing and exploring the places she's in. Though she's independent, Pria does love petting! If you're looking for a pup who's the best of both worlds, meet her at our New York Avenue adoption center today! humanerescuealliance.org/adopt #AdoptHRA




About the Humane Rescue Alliance: 
The Humane Rescue Alliance (formerly the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League) has protected and served the animals of the community for more than 145 years and serves more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care and control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others. The organization is dedicated to ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals, bringing people and animals together, and working with all communities to support these relationships. HRA is based in Washington, DC, the only major urban area in the country that has all of its animal protection programs and services unified in one organization, making the Humane Rescue Alliance a model for the nation.

Please Share! 


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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Dog and Cat Overpopulation


As ISAR’s many supporters know, addressing the scourge of dog and cat overpopulation is one of our major programs. We have been fighting that problem for decades, and although ISAR and other organizations have been making some progress—mandatory spay/neuter, prohibitions on retail sales, crackdowns on puppy mills—still the cycle of birth-suffering-death goes on unabated: too many shelters do an incompetent job of obtaining adoptions; spay/neuter programs, if they exist at all, are ridden with exemptions; dogs and cats continue to breed (and be bred!). And as they multiply endlessly, the dead bodies of their predecessors go up in smoke, literally.

It has been estimated that at least 70,000 puppies and kitties are born in the United States every day. Many are born into households whose members cannot provide for them, or mistakenly believe they can but later learn otherwise and relinquish the animals. For decades most shelters have been at capacity, with routine ever-ending euthanasia the rule rather than the exception. Indeed, the Humane Society of the United States has reported that between six and eight million dogs and cats enter shelters each year, and over half of them are euthanized.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog and Cat Overpopulation



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Monday, March 7, 2016

Manchester Woman Wants Answers After Kitten Emerges from Surgery with Medical Conditions


Manchester, Connecticut - A Manchester pet owner said she brought her kitten to a local veterinarian to get spayed but wasn’t prepared for what happened when she picked her up from surgery.

Cherie Nevins said little Elvis is now lifeless and she wants answers about what happened.

Eyewitness News found that Nevins’ complaint against the Banfield Pet Hospital in Manchester was not the first. Hundreds of others like hers were uncovered.

Nevins said Elvis is now nearly 5 months old, but she’s very different.

“The cat was doing circles to the right constantly, bumping into walls, not responding to any of our voices,” she said.

Medical records show Nevins took Elvis to the vet to get spayed. The pet hospitals are located inside of Petsmart stores nationwide. There are seven in Connecticut.

The hospitals offer wellness plans for pets.

Nevins said she bought one for $40 a month.

When she picked up Elvis last week, she noticed something wasn’t right.

“They called me at 1:30 p.m. and said the cat was waking up from anesthesia and she's perfectly fine,” she said. “[I] got there at 3 p.m. and [they] handed me the cat and she was foaming at the mouth and under major distress.”

Eyewitness News called the Banfield Pet Hospital and Dr. Ari Zabell, a client advocate, provided this statement:

At Banfield Pet Hospital, we care greatly about our responsibility to providing the best care possible to our patients. Upon review of Elvis’ medical records both by us as well as by an independent specialist caring for him, it appears that Elvis experienced rare adverse effects from anesthesia during recovery. All appropriate precautions were taken with regard to Elvis’ anesthesia including proper use of drugs, monitoring, and screening for anesthesia and it appears that this adverse event was something we were not able to either predict or prevent from occurring. Our local leadership is currently working with Elvis’ family to ensure that Elvis gets the best care possible and we are hopeful that he will continue along a path towards a full recovery.

Nevins said Elvis can neither see nor hear. She has seizures and doesn’t know when she needs to go to the bathroom. She also has to be fed by hand.

“She can't eat hard food anymore, she doesn't know how to chew it,” Nevins said.

Nevins has to do that three times a day.

“I have to put the food into the bowl and put it in her mouth and constantly turn it,” Nevins said. “She can't see it.”

Not satisfied with Banfield’s explanation, Nevins said she took Elvis for a second opinion from a vet in West Hartford.

That vet told Eyewitness News that “something happened during surgery. It could have been a stroke, blood clot or lack of oxygen to the brain.”

Medical records also show that Elvis was given a leukemia shot. While some vets said that is acceptable, others don’t recommend giving the vaccine while a cat is under anesthesia.

Looking at Banfield Pet Hospital’s history, the Better Business Bureau said it had an A+ rating.

However, Eyewitness News also found more than 700 complaints from pet owners nationwide.

"My Yorkie was brought to Banfield lethargic and not feeling well,” one pet owner from Alabama wrote. “They vaccinated her with a Lyme disease vaccine. By the time we got home she was having seizures and almost died. Two weeks later she is still in the hospital..."

Nevins said she had advice for pet owners.

“They should really research their veterinarian hard before you bring them,” she said. “That's for sure.”

It’s so others don’t go through what she did.

“She ain't that cat no more,” Nevins said. “She's like a vegetable, she doesn't play.”

For information about filing a complaint against an animal hospital, users can fill out a form online here or call the state Department of Public Health.







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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Why Bringing Home a Feral Cat May Not Be a Good Idea


Every winter we see articles reminding us to bring our pets in from the cold and to make sure that outdoor animals are given the care needed to survive the elements. If you have feral cats in your neighborhood, you may even be tempted to take one home with you. While this instinct may come from a good place, doing so might not be the best thing for these wild cats.

Since many people who care for cats keep them pampered indoors, it is hard to see these furry friends living outdoors. But in fact, feral cats are often just as safe and healthy as our own house cats. It’s been shown that feral cats have equally low rates of disease as indoor cats. The lean physique of some feral cats sometimes leads people to believe that they are starving or ill, but studies find that feral cats have healthy body weights and fat distribution. After all, keep in mind that outdoor cats tend to live much more active lives than the house cats who sleep at the side of our beds.

You might be asking, but wouldn’t all cats prefer to live in an apartment and sleep next to you at night? In the case of feral cats, the answer is no. The fact is, cats that have spent their lives in the wild rarely enjoy the confines of your walls. The ASPCA currently estimates that there about 20 million free-roaming cats in this country. That figure includes a mix of truly feral cats, semi-socialized cats, and lost or abandoned cats. These cats can adapt and thrive outdoors, but when temperatures drop below freezing, there are some things that you can do to help them stay warm – without bringing them inside.

How Can You Help Feral Cats?

Volunteer

One of the best ways to help cats is volunteer with a rescue organization that helps manage feral cat colonies. Colonies are groups of cats that live in the same area and form a sort of family bond. Some volunteer groups work to provide shelter and food for colonies to help them get by. Although feral cats are usually very wary of  people, they can come to trust volunteers – or at least, trust them enough to happily accept much-needed supplies.

Make a Shelter

You can even build a feral cat shelter yourself by constructing insulated shelter boxes to help to keep them warm and dry even on the coldest and snowiest days. The video tutorial below will walk you through the necessary steps. Smaller shelters work best, as they help to recirculate cats’ own body heat. Also, be sure that cats don’t become snowed into their shelters by keeping doorways free of blowing snow and drifts.



Trap-Neuter-Release

Another way to help your community cats is to participate in Trap-Neuter-Release, or TNR, programs during the warmer months. This will help keep their populations under control in the winter. Experts debate whether TNR should be done in the winter since it requires a portion of a cat’s winter coat to be shaved and the trapping process may expose the cats to the winter elements. If TNR is attempted in the winter months, be sure that adequate shelter is provided through each step of the trapping and recovery processes.

What to Know if You Do Bring an Outdoor Cat Home

Since there are literally millions of homeless cats on the street, it can be difficult to be sure which ones are truly feral, and which ones are abandoned house cats. If you do decide to bring an outdoor cat into your home, know that introducing him or her to home life can be a lot of work, and stressful for the both of you. Cats are generally timid about being put into a new home, even if they have already lived indoors their whole lives. So imagine what it’s like to go from a life of freedom to one of walls.

If you bring a cat home, it’s very important that you make visiting a vet the first stop. Have your vet check for worms and parasites (fleas and ticks), test for ringworm and lice, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, rabies and common parasites, and of course, be sure to spay or neuter as soon as possible. Most importantly, make sure that you do plenty of research beforehand. Making your cat feel comfortable can happen over a week or over a month. If your gut is telling you to bring an animal in then be prepared to put in the work.

Otherwise, keep in mind that you can help even more cats by organizing a group of volunteers to aid feral cats, while allowing them to keep their freedom.


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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Spay and Neuter: Frequently Asked Questions


Should my female have a litter before she is spayed?

No. Females dogs and should be spayed before the first heat which usually occurs at 5-6 months of age for dogs and 4 months of age for cats. We stress BEFORE, since a female can become pregnant at that age and she is in no way ready for it. Pregnancy will place a great strain on the system, often resulting in birth defects, and she may not be able to nurse, resulting in seriously malnourished offspring. In addition, early spaying prevents later problems, including mammary tumors, uterine infections, and uterine tumors. If a female is allowed to go through a heat before spaying, those problems may still arise later in life because estrogen is stored in the system as a result of the heat.


How old should my pet be before the surgery?

Pets as young as three months old can have the surgery with no ill effects. If females are spayed before their first heat (which usually occurs when they are four to six months old), breast cancer can be almost completely prevented. Younger pets also recover more quickly from the surgery and experience less pain following surgery than older pets. In short – the sooner the better.

  
Will my animal’s behavior be changed by surgery?

Behavior changes as a result of sterilization surgery are positive. Male cats reduce territorial spraying. Neutered animals fight less and do not wander in search of a mate.

  
Will my animal gain weight after this surgery?

Weight gain is more a product of exercise, nutrition and aging, not neutering.

  
Why neuter my male animal?

Males can impregnate many females, many times during the year. Neutered males experience a decreased risk to reproductive organ cancers.

  
Is the procedure painful?

Surgical sterilization is performed under general anesthesia by licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The animal is asleep during the procedure, and may experience mild discomfort after surgery. Most animals feel well enough to return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours, but you must continue to limit their activity level for 10 days.


Can you spay an animal in heat or when pregnant?

Sterilization procedures are performed when the female dog or cat is in heat or pregnant. This procedure will terminate the pregnancy.  Client must be informed of the increased risk that lies in having an in-heat or pregnant animal spayed.  In the event of a late term pregnancy that requires the use of Euthasol for the fetus’s there will usually be an additional fee for the Euthasol drug.  In late term pregnancy or when in heat, the DVM on duty may deem it necessary to administer SQ fluids to compensate fluid loss during surgery.  There is an additional fee for the administration of SQ fluids.

  
My animal just gave birth, how long should she wait for surgery?

Females can be spayed 2 weeks after weaning her litter..  After spaying of a post-partum mother it is imperative that you separate the kittens from the mother until she is fully healed.

  
It is very cold (hot) outside, is it OK to do surgery?

The anesthetics used in the surgical process tend to disturb the animal’s natural ability to regulate body temperature. Animals must remain indoors for seven days after surgery, in a temperature-controlled environment suitable for their human companions. Clients bringing animals for surgery on days when the local temperature is predicated to drop below freezing, and who cannot keep the animal in the heated house, will be rescheduled.

  
Do cats need special litter boxes after surgery?

Male cats should use shredded newspaper instead of litter to 3 to 4 days after surgery. This helps prevent irritation to the surgical incisions from the clay litter dust particles.


What does the tattoo look like and where is it on my pet?

The tattoo is 1/2 to 1 inch long, straight line in green ink located right by the surgical incision. It will fade a little after the skin heals.

  
Can’t veterinarians tell if my pet is spayed or neutered without the tattoo?

Sometimes not. Of course this would only be an issue if your pet were lost or in a shelter without it’s medical history. With newer dissolvable suture materials, there are no stitches to feel in a female’s belly to indicate she was already spayed and if they have surgery at a young age, there is no scar to see. In male dogs, if you can’t see or feel a scar, there is a possibility that the dog still has testicles but they never dropped into the scrotal sac (cryptorchid). The doctor would open the male dog up like a spay to look for those testicles, a painful and unnecessary surgery that could have been prevented with a permanent identifying mark.


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Friday, January 8, 2016

A Detroit Animal Shelter Will Soon be Offering a Fairly Unusual Pet for Adoption: A Rare Hermaphrodite Dog


Detroit, Michigan, - A dog shelter will soon be offering a fairly unusual pet for adoption: a hermaphrodite dog, which the shelter’s director hopes might provide therapy for transgender residents.

“In my experience I’ve never seen it before,” said Kristina Rinaldi, the executive director of the shelter, Detroit Dog Rescue.

The dog is a silvery-gray pit bull mix named Cody, who arrived at the Detroit-based rescue shelter Tuesday. The dog was listed as a male, but upon inspection Cody turned out to have both sex organs.

Cody also arrived from the city’s animal control facility with a serious case of pneumonia, and was soon moved to an animal hospital for treatment.

The name “Cody” was already assigned to the dog upon arrival. Rinaldi has asked Detroit Animal Control to ask about the dog’s history but hasn’t heard back yet.

Cody is not yet available for adoption, and will have to pass a behavioral test to see whether more training is needed before finding an owner.

And while the dog has both sex organs for now, the adoption process usually involves spaying or neutering a pet beforehand. In Cody’s case both may happen, but Rinaldi said that staff is checking with specialists at Michigan State University to seek further advice.

According to WWJ-TV in Detroit, Rinaldi didn't know of any statistics involving the incidences of hermaphrodite dogs.

The TV station said another case of a hermaphrodite dog was reported in 2013. A Florida woman paid $1,000 for a cockapoo. After buying the dog, she learned that it had both male and female genitalia.

Prior to spaying or neutering, Rinaldi said she would be willing to use Cody at events or in speeches for transgender residents in the hope that the dog could provide any kind of support.

“Cody is still going to live  ... life out like a completely normal dog,” Rinaldi said. “Cody’s going to be a great pet for somebody.”


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Monday, January 4, 2016

The Benefits of Spaying/Neutering Your Dog


Many folks hesitate to spay or neuter their pet, fearing that it’s painful and wondering what the actual benefits are. Here is a discussion of the procedure and why you should consider it for your dog.

What is it?

Spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles.

Both operations are performed while the dog is under anesthesia. Your veterinarian may want to keep your dog under observation for anywhere from a few hours to several days. The length of the stay is dependent on your dog’s age, size, and health. Do not leave your dog overnight at the vet’s office if they do not have techs in attendance.

Certain procedures will require that you bring the dog back in a week to ten days for suture removal. Your veterinarian will be glad to answer any questions you may have about spay or neuter procedures, as well as help you determine the best age at which you should sterilize your dog.

Spaying or neutering is good for your dog

  • Spaying and neutering helps your dog live a longer, healthier life.

  • Spaying and neutering reduces, or can eliminate, a number of health problems that are difficult and/or expensive to treat.

  • Spaying greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer, especially if your dog is spayed before her first estrous cycle, and also eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.

  • Neutering will decrease the possibility of prostate disease and eliminates testicular cancer.

Spaying and neutering offers benefits for you too

  • Spaying and neutering makes your dog a better, more affectionate companion.

  • Neutering dogs makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.

  • Spaying a dog eliminates her heat cycle, which lasts an average of six to 12 days, twice a year. Females in heat can get blood on your furniture, exhibit nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male dogs to your home.

  • Dogs that are not sterilized often have more behavior and temperament problems than dogs that have been spayed or neutered.

  • Spaying and neutering can make digs friendlier, less likely to bite.

  • Neutering makes dogs less likely to wander looking for females or get into fights.

Spaying and neutering are good for your community

  • Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted dogs.

  • Irresponsible breeding is the root cause of most vicious dog bites and attacks.

  • Animal shelters around the country are overburdened with surplus dogs.

  • Stray and homeless dogs get into trash containers, urinate and defecate on private lawns and/or public property, and frighten or anger people who do not understand their misery or needs.

  • Some stray dogs scare away or kill wildlife and birds.

The cost to spay or neuter your dog is relatively low if you consider all the benefits you and your dog will reap over his lifetime, as well as the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to prevent the birth of even more unwanted animals.





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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Washington Humane Society: The Importance of Having Your Pet Microchipped – ‘Stolen Pet Reunited with Owner’


Washington, DC - The day before Thanksgiving, our Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officers found a severely neglected Shih Tzu in a locked crate next to a dumpster. His hair was matted and his toe nails were so long that they had curled under his feet and impeded his ability to walk.

Luckily, he was microchipped and it led us to his original owner, Jason Brandon. He told us that Polo had been stolen from him in Miami two years ago, never to be found... Until now. This morning, Jason and Polo were reunited! After getting the phone call about Polo's discovery, Jason drove down from New York, where he is currently living, to take him home.

"This is just unbelievable," said Jason. "It's something you see on CNN!"

This amazing reunion would not have been possible if Jason had not microchipped his furry friend. To get your pet microchipped, visit our Spay & Neuter Clinic in Southeast, DC: Walk-in Vaccination Clinic






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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

D.C.'s Department of Energy and Environment Ignores Public Outcry, Retains Plan to Target Outdoor Cats


Despite opposition from more than 12,000 animal welfare advocates, Washington, D.C.'s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) continues its witch-hunt against outdoor cats. According to the agency's recently released 2015 Wildlife Action Plan, trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs in the District "will be revisited and reassessed."

It was DOEE's similarly euphemistic language that triggered intense public outcry to the draft version of the Plan earlier this year, in part because of the long history of TNR efforts in our nation's capitol.

For more than 25 years now, advocates in the District have been humanely trapping unowned, free-roaming cats, having them spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian, ear-tipped (the universal indicator of a sterilized community cat), vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and then (following recovery) returned to the location from which they were trapped.

Also contributing to the pushback prompted by the earlier draft was the fact that the one published paper DOEE was using to justify its plans is, as I pointed out to the agency, nothing more than agenda-driven pseudoscience (paid for by American taxpayers).



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Friday, November 13, 2015

At 103-Years-Old, Woman Takes in Abandoned Cats


When Fannie finds a hungry stray cat meowing at her door, she doesn’t hesitate to help. Though Fannie is 103 years old, she takes a lively interest in caring for animals. Over the years, she’s taken in five cats- Lance, Sunny, Crybaby, Fluffy, and Honey.
  
Fannie lives in a rural area- cats who have been dumped or don’t have humans to care for them wander up to her home, where she feeds and cares for them. Her big heart knows no bounds- all are welcome at Fannie’s house.

This photo of Fannie and Lance says it all. “Having cats to care for gives me purpose,” says Fannie. “They are my best friends.”
  
Lance spent many happy years at Fannie’s, but is sadly no longer with us. At the end of his journey, Fannie asked a nun from her local church to say a prayer over Lance and give him a blessing as he lay in her lap. She asked her vet if he thought that was silly- he told her it was one of the sweetest things he’d ever seen. Throughout their lives, Fannie is dedicated to caring for her cats like family.
  
Emancipet helps keep families like Fannie’s healthy, happy, and safe through efforts like the Meals on Wheels and More PALS program (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors). The PALS/Emancipet collaboration provides assistance with transportation and preventive veterinary care like free spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchipping for cherished companion animals like Fannie’s.


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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

I Rejected The Perfect Pet Adoption Family For The Wrong Reasons


I read an interesting post today on my social media page. It said:

"I continue to see rescues treat people in a way that will sadly keep irresponsible breeders and pet stores in business."

Before you judge that statement, this person is heavily into rescue. I'm involved with rescue and I have more friends than I can count in rescue. I am a fan of tons of rescues and individual animals. However, I totally get her post and there are many who agree.

Of course, this statement is not about all rescues. I do believe we must take a step back every so often and do a reset, much like a dog shaking it off. I attended an animal shelter worker seminar years ago and the speaker asked us to raise our hands while he asked several questions. These questions were yes or no questions with no room for offering explanation. As we responded, the speaker would choose specific people to put their hands down based on their response. We were asked if we had a fenced in yard, if we let our cats go outside, if we had kids, if we had other animals, if we lived in apartments, if our animals were home alone for more than four hours, if every one of our animals was up to date on vaccinations, had a recent fecal screening, were on heartworm preventives, flea control and so on. At the end of the questioning, only a few people had their hands still raised. He then revealed he was reading from a collection of adoption applications and only those with their hands still raised would qualify to adopt. Eye opening to say the very least.

He wanted us to see how we unintentionally narrow the chances for animals to find a home. He also read off some adoption fees from rescue groups that ranged from $100 to $500. The adoption fees for shelters ranged from $0 to $200. I have personally experienced interaction with rescue groups who seemed uninterested in my desire to volunteer, adopt or foster. I have also been the person reviewing adoption applications.

I turned down an adoption application because the other dog in the house, who was ten years old, was not neutered. I was adamant I was doing the right thing; downright adamant. The people had fallen in love with a dog at the shelter. They had been to the shelter several times meeting with the dog and discussing their decision. When I turned them down the wife started to cry. She told me they didn't know that neutering their dog meant they were responsible pet owners but I made sure to correct her. She expressed that considering the dog's veterinarian monitored health issues, neuter was considered risky at that point. She also advised me he'd never sired any puppies and was a stray when he joined their family as a young dog. Still, I said no. A few weeks later they came back to the shelter. I smugly thought they had their dog neutered because of me and I could now approve them. They actually came to show me their new puppy. A puppy they purchased from a pet store because they didn't have to meet any qualifications to buy him. I had just played a part in supporting a puppy mill.

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