Does Your Dog or Cat Have Allergies That Last All Year Long? - They May Have a Food Allergy

Just as in humans, dogs and cats can have certain allergies to a specific type of food.  In fact, food allergies account for about 10% of all the allergies seen in dogs and cats. It is the third most common cause after flea bite allergies. Food allergies affect both males and females and can show up as early as five months and as late as twelve years of age.  Food allergies in dogs and cats can be cured with a little time, effort and change in diet.

The difference between food allergies and intolerance to food
There is a difference between food allergies and food intolerance. Food allergies are true allergies and show the characteristic symptoms of allergies such as itching and skin problems associated with canine and feline allergies. Food intolerances can result in diarrhea or vomiting and do not create a typical allergic response. Food intolerances in cats or dogs would be similar to people who get an upset stomach from eating spicy foods or sometimes dairy. Fortunately, both food intolerances and allergies can be eliminated with a diet free from whatever food it is that is causing the allergy.

The most common food that causes allergies
Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause food allergies than others. The most common food that causes allergies in dogs and cats are beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat, and soy. Unfortunately, the most common offenders are the most common ingredients in dog and cat food. While some proteins might be slightly more allergy inducing than others, many proteins are similar and therefore the allergic reactions are associated with the amount of each in the food.

Symptoms of food allergies in cats and dogs
The symptoms of food allergies are similar to those of most allergies seen in dogs and cats. The most common symptom is itchy skin affecting primarily the face, feet, ears, forelegs, armpits and the area around the anus. Symptoms may also include chronic ear infections, hair loss, excessive scratching, hot spots, and skin infections that respond to antibiotics but reoccur after antibiotics are discontinued.  It is sometimes difficult to distinguish food allergies from the more common allergies. One sign is if the allergies last all year round, it is probably a food allergy.

Diagnosis for food allergies in cats and dogs
The diagnosis for food allergies is very straightforward. But due to the fact that many other problems can cause similar symptoms and that many times animals are suffering from more problems than just food allergies, it is very important that all other problems are properly identified and treated prior to undergoing diagnosis for food allergies.  Your vet can determine if your dog or cat is just have a normal skin allergy.

Try to feed your dog or cat a new source of protein
A way to get rid of a food allergy is to feed your dog or cat a new food source of protein and carbohydrate for at least twelve weeks i.e. a protein and carbohydrate that your dog or cat has never eaten before. Examples would include be rabbit and rice, or venison and potato. There are a number of such commercial diets available on the market. In addition, there are specialized diets that have the proteins and carbohydrates broken down into such small sizes that they no longer would trigger an allergic response. Regardless of the diet route you choose, the particular food needs to be the only thing that your dog or cat eats for 12 weeks. This means no treats, no flavored medications, no rawhide, cat nip, only the special food and water.

Treatment for food allergies in dogs and cats
The treatment for food allergies is avoidance. Once you have been identified the offending food through a food trial, then they can be eliminated from the diet. Short-term relief may be gained with fatty acids, antihistamines, and steroids, but elimination of the products from the diet is the only long-term solution. .

If you choose to feed your dog or cat a homemade diet, then you can periodically change the ingredients off your food and determine which ingredients are causing the food allergy. For example, if your dog or cat’s symptoms subsided on a diet of rabbit and potatoes, then you can add beef to the diet for two weeks.

If your dog or cat still showed no symptoms, then you can add chicken for two weeks. If your beloved dog or cat now has symptoms, then chicken is clearly one of the things your dog or cat was allergic to. The chicken could be withdrawn and after the symptoms cleared up, a different ingredient could be added and so on until all of the offending ingredients were identified. A diet could then be formulated that was free of the offending food sources.

You can also you the same principal with very pure pet foods that are on the market and are chicken or beef based, and then add or switch accordingly.

As with all diets, make sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure that they agree with your basic diet and that all other allergies have been ruled out.




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Study Shows that Pets Accidentally Ingesting Medical Marijuana and Going to the Emergency Room has Quadrupled Since 2005

Northwest Portland residents Ginger McCarthy and her husband, Michael, spent what they thought was a perfect day at Mill Pond Park on Sunday with their standard poodle, Coco.

That is, until after a few hours after they returned home and Coco began to act strangely. The dog looked dazed, her movements were jerky and she had trouble walking. “She looked like she was having a seizure,” McCarthy says.

At DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital that evening, McCarthy was shocked to discover that her show-quality poodle was exhibiting the classic signs of marijuana ingestion – especially after Coco released her bladder on the lobby floor.

Oregon and Washington veterinarians recognize those distinctive symptoms with increasingly frequency, as marijuana ingestion becomes more common at their clinics.

DoveLewis has seen marijuana-related toxicity cases increase from about 11 percent of all toxicity cases in 2011 to nearly 20 percent in 2012 and the first few months of 2013, says communications director Kate Goudschaal. The hospital treated eight cases last month.

At Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency, Dr. Shawn Thomas estimates he treats at least one to two cases each weekend and about 20 or 30 cases in the last two years – and that’s likely a low estimate.

“There are very specific clinical signs,” says DoveLewis staff veterinarian Dr. MeiMei Welker. “They’ll walk in, and we can almost diagnose it by the way that they look. They’re having trouble walking, almost like they’re drunk, and they’re really sensitive to any kind of stimulation.”

Dribbling urine is also a telltale sign.

Dogs can get sick from ingesting it in any form, Welker says, from marijuana leaves (which are less potent) to “bud butter.”

McCarthy isn’t sure exactly what Coco ingested at the park; all she saw were breadcrumbs, so she suspects Coco consumed either the remains of marijuana-infused baked goods or cigarette butts.

Treatment

Typical treatment involves inducing vomiting, if the dog arrives to the hospital soon enough after ingestion, to remove as much of the substance from the dog’s system as possible.

Veterinarians may then treat with intravenous fluids and activated charcoal, which binds to the THC and helps prevent further absorption.

Complications can arise if a dog consumes enough marijuana to make it vomit, Welker says. If it’s sedated, it runs the risk of suffering from aspiration pneumonia, which happens when vomit is inhaled into the lungs.

“Most of the patients are going to do pretty well, even with minimal treatment, but we do get patients that come in nearly comatose and with a low heart rate,” says Dr. Jonathan Wisniewski, a relief veterinarian at Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin.

The severity of the reaction is generally dose-dependent, he says.

Wisniewski, who is also an associate veterinarian at the Emergency Veterinary Hospital and Animal Urgent Care in Eugene, has done extensive research on a relatively new therapy for treating severe marijuana toxicity called intravenous lipid emulsion therapy.

The treatment involves injecting fat droplets that bind to the fat-soluble THC and help leach it out of the bloodstream, allowing the animal to excrete it more quickly.

Marijuana toxicity in Washington

Even before Washington voters legalized the possession of marijuana in November, pot has been among the top toxins at Olympia Pet Emergency in Olympia, Wash., says medical director Dr. Blair Burggren.

“I would say it’s safe to assume we get at least one call a day on a dog that either ingested or potentially ingested it,” he says.

Since it was legalized for recreational use, he has noticed a slight increase, primarily in the ingestion of products containing marijuana or THC, such as baked goods.

Statewide, the legalization doesn’t seem to have had a huge impact – yet – on pot ingestion in pets.

“I do anticipate it coming down the pike,” says Dr. Donna Mensching, veterinary medical director of Veterinary Poison Emergency Treatment Services, a service of the Washington Poison Center.

She believes it will become more of an issue once the substance is legal to sell.

Mensching is concerned about the impact of “medibles” – the cannabis-containing foods that might seem very tempting to dogs. They may consume higher amounts of the substance because it’s in a tasty treat, and the food may contain additional toxins, such as chocolate.

“The thing about dogs is that they have no stop button,” she says. “They will eat as much as they can of something and as quickly as possible.”

She also worries that once marijuana is sold legally, it might open the market for higher-end versions of the drug, which will likely contain higher contents of THC.

If there is an upside to the legalization, Mensching hopes that it will remove the fear or embarrassment people may have to admitting that their dog ingested pot.

Veterinarians say it’s much better to be forthright so they can treat your pet properly.

There are other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as neurological disease or brain tumors, so disclosing that information may save expensive diagnostics such as blood work or an MRI.

“We only want to know for medical reasons. We don’t report them,” Welker says (adding that they won’t judge, either). “It can really simplify things if they come forward with that information.”

If you do suspect that your pet has ingested marijuana, you should have a veterinarian check it out just to be safe.

And like any toxin, please keep it out of reach of pets.

“Just because the voters of Washington agreed that marijuana is now legalized and acceptable does not mean that it’s safe for your pet,” Burggren says. “Make sure you’re careful and keep it locked up.”

Tips:

• If you suspect your pet ingested pot, don’t try to induce vomiting at home. The hydrogen peroxide people sometimes use to cause vomiting can irritate the stomach lining and cause even more vomiting, putting your pet at risk for gastroenteritis.

• Keep any medical marijuana in a drawer or somewhere out of reach of pets.

• If you do suspect your pet has induced marijuana, call a veterinarian.

     Dogs that get into their owner's medical marijuana stash can become very sick — even die, vets say.

                          Marijuana-enhanced baked goods can be a danger to pets.

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Small Pets, Big Love: The Big Guide For Small Pet Lovers

The big guide for small pet lovers and everyone who loves little nose twitches, big floppy ears, or soft furry feet.

Small pet fun facts, a printable daily care checklist, and everything you need to know about how to love and care for: 

Rabbits, Guinea pig, Gerbil, Hamster, Rat, Mice
Specialty Pets, like Chinchillas, Hedgehogs, and Ferrets

To get your copy, click here: Big Guide For Small Pet Lovers

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Do You Know What To Do When Your Pet Has Died at Home?

Do you know what to do when your pet has died at home? A recent incident that happened in the Dale City area of Northern Virginia has prompted me to share this story with you.

In February, 2011, I allowed my little Shih Tzu, Domino, who had cancer to die at home. I was with him when he crossed over. I had already made preparations because I knew his time was near. The animal hospital a few miles away had told me that if he passed and they were closed (they close at 6:00 p.m.) that I should take him to a 24 hour animal hospital immediately.

Domino passed about 4:00 p.m. My husband wrapped him in a blanket and we took him to the animal hospital, where they immediately took him to the back to prepare him. I had already planned for cremation. I received his urn a week later, and his urn now sits in my curio cabinet next to his sister, Sugar.

Cremation for a pet can be very expensive, especially if the pet is big. Domino was down to about 8 pounds when he passed. His sister, Sugar crossed over in 2008, she was about 12 pounds so of course, it cost me more to have her cremated.

Everyone can not afford pet cremations…and some don’t choose to do so. Some bury them in their backyards.

In the case in Northern Virginia, the pet owner tried to cremate his dog himself in his yard and set his house on fire.

Firefighters say Charles Harris was trying to cremate his 11-year-old Rottweiler in the backyard of his Dale City home. Authorities said he used gasoline to get the fire going, but it quickly spread to his home.

The Associate Press reports that the man tried to get several animal shelters to help him dispose of his dog’s body, but they all told him the Rottweiler was too large.

Firefighters have not said how extensively the home was damaged. No injuries were reported.

If you have this situation, please do not try and cremate your pet in your yard. Consider contacting your Vet, animal control, animal hospitals and animal shelters.

Please have this conversation with your Vet while your pet is alive to get an idea of what you should do when the time comes, especially if you have big pets. Also, for more information on what to do, click here: What to Do if Your Dog Dies at Home  or What do you do if your cat dies in your house? What do you do with the body? 


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Did You Know That Some Hairballs Become Too Big for a Cat’s Digestive Tract and Cause Blockage that Can Be Life Threatening

Hairballs are the butt of many a cat joke, even though the telltale hack-hack-hacking may seem commonplace to most feline owners. Cats are fastidious self-groomers, so it’s this habit that causes hairballs -- swallowed loose fur that is not completely digested. The problem usually warrants no cause for alarm, but in some cases, hairballs become too big for a cat’s digestive tract and cause blockage that can be life-threatening. It’s important for any cat owner to know why hairballs form, why they’re so common and when they can be dangerous.

Harmful Hairballs

“Most cats will either vomit the hair or pass it in their stool,” explains Tami Groger, DVM, associate veterinarian at Bay Hill Cat Hospital in Orlando, Fla. The feline digestive system is designed to handle hairballs (called trichobezoars by doctors) but only up to a certain size. “We had a long-haired kitty who stopped eating for three days and just did not look comfortable,” recalls Bernadine Cruz, DVM, of Laguna Hills Animal Hospital in California. “Everything seemed normal, but when I [felt] her abdomen, there was something there under the rib cage. We took an X-ray and saw this big thing. We did surgery to remove one huge hairball -- at a cost of $2000.”

The kitty recovered fully, but the owner may still be recovering from that bill.

Another problem caused by hairballs is that sometimes their symptoms appear similar to respiratory problems, such as asthma, which also require a veterinarian’s attention. Keeping hairballs to a minimum will therefore help your veterinarian diagnose asthma more quickly, should your cat develop it.

All cats get hairballs, says Dr. Groger, but “they are more prevalent in the long-haired breeds -- Persians, Himalayans, Maine Coons and domestic long hairs.” She adds, however, that she has “seen problems with short-haired cats, as well.”

Hazardous Hairball Warning Signs     

Three key symptoms can distinguish a not-so-worrisome hairball from one that may require immediate medical attention. These are:

• Continued retching that does not culminate with the expulsion of a hairball

• Frequent diarrhea

• Loss of appetite following repeated hairball episodes

All three of these symptoms could mean that your cat’s throat, stomach or intestines are blocked by a hairball obstruction. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, schedule a visit to your veterinarian’s office as soon as possible.

How to Prevent Hairballs

The best defense against hairballs, dangerous or not, is to keep your cat from getting them in the first place or to make sure they can be digested. Here are some tips recommended by veterinarians.

Brush your kitty “You really need to get down to the skin to loosen some of the fur,” says Dr. Cruz, who recommends using a soft rubbery brush for the task. Follow up with gentle combing using a fine-tooth comb. Older cats especially need this care, she says, as their digestive systems slow down with age and they’re less able to get rid of hairballs.

Feed your cat a specially formulated hairball care food Look for foods with beet pulp, carbohydrate blends and a fruit and vegetable extract known as FOS, which promotes healthy stomach bacteria. This combination of ingredients not only helps reduce fur balls, but it also enhances your cat's ability to absorb nutrients, provides bulk to move food through the intestines, promotes colon health and reduces waste and litter box odors.

For repeat hackers, increase their fiber intake Increasing fiber in your cat’s diet can help. The fiber will help hold onto hair and aid it in passing through the digestive track. Dr. Cruz suggests adding bits of asparagus, small amounts of canned pumpkin or oat grass to your cat’s hairball care commercial diet.

Offer a little oil You might also add a very small amount -- around half a teaspoon -- of petroleum jelly, olive oil or butter to your cat’s food. This too will help push through fur in the digestive system.

Purchase a commercial hairball remedy Commercial hairball remedies often contain similar fiber and oil ingredients combined with flavor enhancers to tempt your cat. Look for them at your local pet store. Just be sure to follow the enclosed listed directions carefully.

Keep a clean house Don’t allow your kitty access to pieces of string or thread around the house. If ingested, these can get wrapped up with swallowed fur and cause an obstruction.

Hairballs are an unpleasant side effect of your kitty’s natural inclination to stay clean and beautiful. Our job as cat owners is to allow that self-grooming but take responsible steps to make sure it doesn’t result in a dangerous, albeit hairy, health hazard.




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Did You Know That Red-Eared SliderTurtles Are Considered Exotic, And Can Live Over 40 Years?

The scientific name for the Red-eared Slider is Chrysemys scripta elegans (formerly Trachemys scripta elegans), and it belongs to the Emydidae family. It is an aquatic turtle, a strong swimmer, and in the wild, will commonly be seen basking on rocks, logs, or other surfaces above the water. Turtles are reptiles, and cold-blooded, so they must rely on external heat sources for warmth. They will bask in sunlight, and in the wild, burrow down into the earth to hibernate in winter. The three main concerns in keeping a Red-eared Slider healthy are warmth, clean water, and proper diet.

Caring for Red-eared sliders requires more than just a shallow bowl with a little water and a rock. Aquatic turtles need more in the way of housing and lighting than is often thought. Take a look at the requirements before acquiring a turtle and you and your new reptile will both be happier.

Turtles can make lovely pets -- but you have to know what you are getting into. Those cute little hatchlings you see for sale will grow into large, long-lived and somewhat messy turtles. Here are 6 things you should know about red eared sliders before deciding on getting one as a pet.

1. Red Eared Sliders Get Big
Don't be fooled by those delicate-looking, cute hatchlings -- red eared sliders grow to an adult size of up to 12 inches. It will take them a few years to get to their full adult size. The significance of this relates to the size of tank your turtle will need: count on 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Your adult turtle will need a very large tank (or other suitable housing such as a pond).

2. Red Eared Sliders Should Live a Long Time
A well cared for, captive red eared slider can be expected to live up to 40 years or so. If you decide to get a turtle, you are making a commitment to care for that turtle over its whole life span (and remember, you should never release your turtle into the wild when it gets older).

3. Red Eared Sliders Cannot Be Kept in Little Plastic Bowls
Fortunately, fewer stores seem to be selling red eared sliders with little plastic bowls, but the practice is not dead. No matter what a seller tells you, your hatchling turtle will not thrive in a small plastic bowl. Get an aquarium, even for the smallest hatchlings; start with a 10 gallon if you must (I recommend a minimum of 20 gallons, though), but be aware your turtle will grow, and need a larger tank, quickly. In addition, you will need to provide UV lighting, a basking light, water heater, and a swimming area and a basking area. Housing a red eared slider is not cheap!

4. Red Eared Sliders can Carry Salmonella
It has been known for years that turtles (and other reptiles, and other animals) can carry salmonella and other bacteria. This shouldn't necessarily stop you from getting a turtle (unless perhaps you have very small children or immunocompromised members of your household), but you should be aware of the risks and take hygiene measures to prevent infections. Incidentally, the sale of turtles less than 4 inches long is prohibited in the US due to the risk of Salmonella infections.

5. Red Eared Sliders are Messy
Like all turtles, red eared sliders can be be pretty messy. Let's just say that they make a lot of waste. Plan on having a filter that is rater for 2-3 times the amount of water you have in your tank -- this will go a long way to helping keep the tank clean. Feeding red eared sliders in a container of water outside the tank can help keep the tank clean, too. Even then tank cleaning is something you will need to stay on top of, or the tank can get smelly or grow lots of algae.

6. Red Eared Sliders Will Beg for Food
Once your turtle figures out you bring the food, he or she may be quite excited to see you. And if you don't have food, they sometimes swim back and forth frantically, and manage to look like are starving and need food -- now! Don't let them fool you, though, because obesity can be a big problem in turtles.

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Would You Give Up Your Dog to a New Home if He Bit Your Child?

Rehoming my Pug was a hard decision, but the right one; finding the right family was a struggle.

He moved so fast that I saw the gash on her eye before I even realized what had happened. My Pug had bitten my daughter, again.

Moments earlier I had been sitting on the couch, seven months pregnant, watching my dog chewing on a bone at one end of the carpet and my daughter playing with her tea set on the other side.Wow, I thought. What a nice, quiet evening.

Suddenly the toy teapot made a whistling noise and before I knew it my Pug had leapt up from his resting place, run across the carpet, and bit her on the face.

She cried, I cried, and in that moment I knew: It was time.

Our dog was the first baby of my husband and I. Adopted while we were still dating, he quickly became the fur kid at the center of our relationship. I was that momma who put a coat on him in the winter, dressed him up for Halloween, and even tucked him into his little bed at night. I attended Pug party events, threw him a birthday party, volunteered at a Pug rescue, and took great pride in this fur child of ours.

I loved him with all my heart, yet now my fur baby was injuring my human baby — for the third time.

To read more on this story, click here: Would You Give Up Your Dog to a New Home if He Bit Your Child?

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Drunken Veterinary Technician Gives His Sick Girlfriend a Drug Prescribed for Her Dog

A Florida Veterinary Technician has been arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license after he allegedly gave his sick girlfriend a drug meant for her dog.

Cedrik Claude Merlet, 40, from Bradenton, was taken into custody Tuesday in connection to an incident that took place back in February.

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Mr Merlet, a Veterinary Emergency Technician at a Bradenton clinic, hooked up his girlfriend to an IV during what he believed was an asthma attack.

Sheriff's deputies responded to Merlet's home in Bradenton just after midnight February 1 after receiving a report about a domestic incident.

The officers noted that the 40-year-old man smelled of alcohol and had slightly glassy and bloodshot eyes, according to Miami Herald.

Merlet, a French national, told the deputies that his girlfriend got extremely drunk during an alcohol-fueled party and began throwing up.

Merlet, who had worked as a paramedic in New Jersey before moving to Florida in 2006, apparently came to the conclusion that the woman was having an acute asthma attack.

In an effort to help her, the veterinary technician injected saline into his girlfriend, according to officials.

Merlet admitted to the deputies that he administered 2 milligrams of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, which was left over from a prescription for the girlfriend’s dog.

The drug is a corticosteroid used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions in cats and dogs, as well as certain cancers and Addison’s disease.

A version of the drug can also be prescribed to human patients suffering from severe allergic reactions, arthritis, blood disease, internal, eye and skin disorders, as well as breathing problems.

Merlet's girlfriend, who is not being named, has told sheriff's investigators she only vaguely remembered being injected with something.

According to deputies, Mr Merlet did not seek medical help for his girlfriend and failed to mention that he injected her with a corticosteroid when he called 911 to report a domestic incident.

Merlet, who has a young son, was arrested Tuesday morning and taken to Manatee County Jail. He was released the same day without a bond.

According to his profile on the website of his employer, Veterinary Emergency Center in Bradenton, Merlet is a native of France, where he served in the military and graduated from college with a bachelor’s' degree in biology before emigrating to the US.

After settling in NJ, Merlet worked as a rescue diver paramedic and the as a first responder for the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

For man and beast: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate can be prescribed to human patients suffering from severe allergic reactions, arthritis, blood disease, internal, eye and skin disorders.

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Puppy in Boston Police Department Bulletproof Vest Melts Internet

A photo of a budding member of the Boston Police Department’s K-9 force sent a shockwave of ‘awws’ across the Internet Monday.

The photo, which was posted to Reddit, is from Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, a non-profit that helps provide bulletproof vests, essential equipment, training, and purchase of dogs for police and law enforcement K-9 programs throughout the state.

“As K-9s are trained to give up their lives to protect their partners and all of us, we believe it is every bit as important to protect them,” according to www.mavestadog.org.

Boston Magazine reported that the German Shepherd puppy’s name is Tuco, named for the volatile “Breaking Bad” character named Tuco Salamanca.

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What to Do if Your Dog Ate Chocolate

If your dog ate chocolate, we'll tell you what can happen, and when to call your vet. Take a look at this video.

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What You Should Know About Online Pet Medication Scams

What you don’t know about the Internet could make your dog sick and you broke.

Last year, Americans spent nearly $56 billion on their pets — an all-time high — and are expected to spend $60 billion this year . Plenty of that went to veterinary care, which includes prescription medication, as well as over-the-counter meds. In aggregate, Americans spend more than $14 billion a year at the vet and more than $13 billion on supplies and over-the-counter medication. This means that some pet owners must shell out hundreds, even thousands, for medications for their pets each year.

Thanks in part to these high costs, more pet owners are turning online for their pet’s medication. “Consumers realize that pets often require medicine that is absurdly expensive when compared to the human drug equivalent, because of the veterinary markup over wholesale and dispensing fees charged at many vet offices,” says Laura Nativo, pet expert from Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” show. “With the growing number of Internet pharmacies, savvy pet parents realize that shopping online can amount to lower prices, added convenience.”

But that convenience and cost savings can come with a serious downside: the risk of scams. SiteJabber , a website where customers can review online businesses, has seen a 60% year-over-year increase in the number of consumer complaints over businesses selling pet medications online. “It’s one of the fastest-growing areas of complaints on the site,” says Jeremy Gin, the founder of SiteJabber.

SiteJabber analyzed more than 1,000 consumer complaints about online pet medication companies to determine the most-complained about issues. Here are three.

1. Automatic shipments that won’t stop (and you keep paying for)
More than 15% of the customer complaints about online pet medication businesses involved auto-shipments, according to the SiteJabber analysis. Here’s what often happens: A pet owner sets up an auto-shipment of certain medications because her pet has a recurring condition that needs regular medication. But when she tries to cancel the auto-shipments, she finds it nearly impossible to do so — and keeps getting charged for medications she no longer needs.

What consumers can do: Gin recommends that right after consumers call the pet med company to cancel auto-payment of their medications, they also call their credit card company to let them know that they should not authorize any more automatic payments from that company.

2. Shipments that take forever — or never come
One in five pet owners who bought pet medication online complained about pet medication shipments that took far longer than promised or never even came, the SiteJabber data revealed. This may be a particularly acute problem if you order from a company based abroad, as customs may be an issue, he says.

Not only is this annoying, but it can be harmful to your pet’s health if they aren’t getting the medication they need.

What consumers can do: Have a backup pharmacy in town that you know will have the medication (call to make sure they have it in stock) — even if it will cost more, says Gin. That’s because even if you call the company to confirm the delivery date of your medication — or even if they have a guaranteed delivery date — the company may still not get it to you on time. To try to get your money back if they don’t deliver when promised, request it both in writing and verbally; that may not work though, in which case, you may have to go through your credit card company, says Gin.

3. Fake pharmacies that send fake medications
“Many online pharmacies are not safe,” says Amber Anderson, a veterinarian based in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; and indeed, of the 420 online pet pharmacies reviewed on SiteJabber, more than one in three were identified as non-legitimate pharmacies, meaning that they likely violated laws or regulations around the sale of drugs. These pharmacies may give you medication that isn’t what you asked for (and thus does not help your pet), sugar pills or other fake pills, diluted versions of the medication, medication with additives that may be bad for your pet, and more.

What consumers can do: Consumers need to verify that the pharmacy they are using is legitimate, and because there are so many that aren’t, this isn’t an easy process. The FDA recommends that you only order from a website that is designated Vet-VIPPS, which stands for the Veterinary-Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites; this is given by the National Association of

Boards of Pharmacy to online pet med pharmacies who comply with NABP’s criteria, including licensing and inspection requirements, quality and validity of prescription orders. Gin says that you should make sure the site is verified by LegitScripts.com, and Nativo recommends looking at online TopConsumerReviews.com as well as searching for the company online and through social media to see what other customers are saying.

Steve McFarland, the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, says that you should also ask your vet how to get less expensive medication that is safe or ask friends for referrals. And Nativo says she likes sites like PetCareRx.com , DrsFosterSmith.com and even Costco.com .

Finally, “many online pharmacies touting too-good-to-be true advertising such as ‘Discount pet drugs! No RX required!’ are not regulated, but may seem legitimate, which causes unfair confusion for consumers,” says Nativo. “Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is — and saving money is not worth potentially short changing your pet’s wellness.”

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Obesity In Cats - Is Your Cat Overweight?

Sometimes you will hear people say, "He’s just a little chubby," or "He really doesn’t eat that much … and besides, he’s cute!" Yes, he is a cutie, but is he overweight?

We sit down to eat ... and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your cat? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your cat fat, which can cause health problems.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.  You can read their views on Overweight Cats.

Cats and Carbohydrates
Did you know that cats, unlike most mammals, do not have a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme called amylase in their saliva? Humans and dogs do, and begin the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. In our intestines, amylase secreted from the pancreas breaks down large carbohydrate molecules into absorbable smaller units of glucose.

Cats generally have less amylase activity than humans or dogs. For this reason it is very important that you do not give your cat certain human foods! Cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals.

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Did You Know that Meowing is Not Part of Natural Cat Language, it was Developed Almost Exclusively for Humans?

Did you know that cats meow to people, but not to other cats?

Adult cats, living apart from humans, have very clear communication with one another.

Cat language is spoken mostly through scent, then through facial expression, complex body language and touch.

Cat sounds for vocal communication involve caterwauls for mating, chattering upon spotting prey, hissing to ward off an intruder or shrieking when hurt or terrified. Meowing is not part of natural cat language, it was developed almost exclusively for humans.

The only meowing in cat language is done between a mother cat and her kittens. A kitten’s tiny “mew” is a cute, endearing sound, used to solicit attention and care from mom cat. Once the kittens are grown, the mews and meows would stop, if not for communicating with humans.

So why do cats meow to people? Because meowing is what works. Your cat is dependent on you and quickly learns that you are clearly not picking up the scent messages she leaves on your belongings or the body language she is attempting to use.

The meows and mews are what get you to do what she wants. So the meowing develops into a second language to communicate to you.

Some scientists would go so far as to say that cats have refined their meows specifically to manipulate people. And we have to admit, it works!

Cat people know cat language

Dr. Nicholas Nicastro, Ph.D., did his thesis on humans’ ability to understand meows. He recorded hundreds of meows cats used in real settings with their owners. He had people listen to the meows, then asked what they thought the cats were communicating. Part of the experiment asked general interpretations (Does the cat sound angry or pleasant?) and part were more specific translations (Is this cat asking for food or does he want you to go away?).

Not surprisingly, the more experience the people had with cats, the better they were at understanding meows. People who owned cats could correctly translate 40% of the meows. That’s pretty remarkable considering the respondents did not have the benefit of seeing the cat. Normally, when a cat meows, we get more clues to the meaning from the context—including location (by the door, near a dirty litterbox) time of day and body language.

Different meows. Different meanings.

There are dozens of meows that cats can use, they vary in pitch, length and volume. Most cat owners learn the language easily. A short, high-pitched meow is a standard “Hello!” Several of those strung together can communicate excitement,“You’re home! YAY!”

Cats use pleasant meow sounds to solicit you for food, to go outside or to simply get attention. Your cat learns which meow is going to get the results she wants.

Cats use unpleasant, harsher, louder meows for demands, reprimands or to express annoyance. These meows have a lower pitch.



Even though there is a distinct “demand meow,” for example, your cat may have separate variations for each of her regular demands. Generally, the following meows have these meanings:

• Short meow or mew: Standard greeting. “Hello!”
• Multiple meows or mews: Excited greeting. “Great to see you!”
• Mid-pitch meow: Plea for something. “I’d like to eat.”
• Drawn-out mrrroooow: Demand for something. “Open the door. NOW.”
• Low-pitch MRRRooooowww: Complaint of a wrong you have done. “Hey—why’s my bowl still empty?”
• High-pitch RRRROWW!: Anger or pain. “That’s my TAIL you just stepped on!”

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Is Your Pet as Healthy as It Could Be? Take the Test

Answer a few questions, and you'll get:
Information about health topics that affect your pet
Expert tips for handling your pet's specific behavior problems
A personalized list of articles to help you learn more about your pet

To take the test, click here: Is Your Pet as Healthy as It Could Be?

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Have You Ever Lost a Pet? Then You Know The Stress of Looking for Them: Download and Place This Door Hanger with Your Pet's Picture on All Neighbors' Doors

If you have ever lost a pet, you know the stress of trying to make up posters. I am sharing a handy template, from the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Place these door hangers with your pet's picture on all of your neighbors' doors.

Search your neighborhood. Talk with neighbors, local veterinarians, delivery drivers and postal carriers. Don't forget about newspaper deliverers that work early in the morning.

Printout Here:
To open Pdf download, click here: Lost Pet Door Hanger

This is what the door hanger looks like:

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How to Prevent Cat Scratching

Cats were born to scratch, and they have the tools to do it with too. The best first step is to keep your cat's claws trimmed. I do not support declawing cats, but I am a big proponent of good grooming, starting with regular nail trims every few weeks or as needed. Kitties sometimes get their claws stuck in things (including your favorite furniture), so trimming your pet's nails is good for your pet as well.

Provide your cat with a good scratcher, be it a simple cardboard one, a small flat sisal board or a larger kitty tower. Some of the latter are really beautiful these days, coming in furniture-grade wood that will enhance your home's decor while making your cat happy.

Sometimes, however, cats just get in a bad habit. If your cat is set on scratching a certain favorite item, here are some of the latest types of no-scratch products that are available:

Cat-scratch prevention tape with medical-grade adhesive: Prevention tape has been around for a long time, but manufacturers are coming up with improved adhesives that really adhere to furniture and annoy cats. They usually won't harm fabrics and more delicate materials.

Cardboard scratchers combined with mazes: The simple cardboard scratcher, found even in many large grocery stores, has received a makeover. Some manufacturers have added a maze game to the bottom of it, making it doubly satisfying for your cat.

Scratchers in cat-friendly shapes: Some new scratchers are shaped like waves, bridges and even beds, providing your pet with something to climb on, explore and scratch.

Automated cat-deterrents: My favorite new gizmos are automated cat-deterrents, which have motion detectors. Once they detect that your cat is nearby, they automatically spray a harmless, nontoxic spray that most cats abhor. You just set up the device and forget about it until the spray runs out. Refills are then available. These can be used to prevent cats from urinating on carpeting and from doing other unwanted things.

Lastly, buy furniture with your cat in mind. Microfiber and some other materials are not as easy for cats to dig their claws into. And if you often hold your cat, it will no doubt prefer to knead on you. Sometimes needy cats are more kneady on furniture, so give your cat the attention it craves, and better behavior often results.

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14 Signs You Love Your Labrador…Too Much

Labradors are one of the most loyal of dog breeds, making them quite loveable. But is it possible you love your Lab just a little too much?

1. Do you buy your English Lab puppy at least three toys a day? May be a bit much…

2. If you let your Labrador drink the last of your Australian shiraz, you may love them a wee too much.

3. This guy is in complete control at all times, sometimes rendering his parents useless.


4. Building a resort for Labrador puppies also may be a sign you love these dogs too much.

5. This Labrador’s dad gave him a nicer jersey than even he has!

To read more on this story, click here: 14 Signs You Love Your Labrador…Too Much

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How Rickets Affect Your Dog - Why Do Animals Get Rickets?

Do you know why animals get rickets? Rickets is a deficiency of vitamin D. They get it from not having enough vitamin D in their diet. It could also be a deficiency in phosphorus, calcium or simply that the animal is not getting enough sunlight.

Rickets have the same causes in dogs as they do in humans. Diet is very important to your pet. Try adding Cod Liver Oil to meals daily and make sure your dog gets plenty of sunshine. There are cases where this treatment helped tremendously!

If you dog has rickets they must be under a veterinarian's care immediately and receive treatment to prevent permanent bone deformities.

For more information on rickets, please read: How to Treat Rickets in Dogs

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