Some People Remove Their Cats’ Claws: One State May Soon Call That Animal Cruelty

In 1952, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a letter to the editor from a Chicago veterinarian named A.G. Misener, who described a surgery his practice had been performing on cats: the removal of their front claws.

“This is a relatively simple surgical procedure,” Misener wrote, “and, we believe, a practical measure.”

That letter was the genesis of what Minnesota veterinarian Ron Gaskin, who considers himself a historian of cat declawing, calls a “Chicago urban legend” — a surgery that was dreamed up in one clinic and ended up being adopted by practitioners across the United States.

“It was never investigated for long-term safety, or whether it generated pain later on in life,” Gaskin said of declawing’s origins. “It was never researched that way.”

To read more on this story, click here: Some People Remove Their Cats Claws One State May Soon Call That Animal Cruelty


FOLLOW US!

Meet Samson, the Largest Cat in New York City

This is Samson, the largest cat in New York City. Dr. Lisa Lippman, a Manhattan veterinarian, said he is by far the biggest cat she has ever heard of!

Samson, a Maine coon, is four feet long and weighs 28 pounds! For perspective, an average cat weighs between 8-10 lbs and is about 2 feet long! It is not unusual, however, for Maine Coon cats to weigh between 15 to 20 lbs.

According to his dad, Splurt Zillionz, Samson is a tender, sweet, but tough guy. Samson likes to wrestle and loves to cuddle – only when no one is watching! Samson is now 4 years old and has been living with his dad in New York since November 2013.

Even though the apartment in NYC are small, Samson always finds a place to hang out. Samson also loves to go for rides in his green cat stroller.

Every few months, Samson gets a $120 grooming session to keep himself looking lush and fluffy! Samson eats six cans of wet food a day and uses four pounds of litter a week.

Samson’s groomer, Carolyn Ayala said he is long, broad, strong, and heavy – he is not fat. He is well-proportioned. She called him a gentle giant.

Because of his size, Samson has been getting a lot of attention. He is big news in New York and all around the world! Samson has over 34,000 followers on Instagram, his account is called @catstradamus.

But, in typical cat fashion, Samson pretends he doesn’t care at all!

FOLLOW US!

Screwworm Infecting Key Deer Also Found in Some Sick Pets

It’s not just the Key deer being ravaged by a flesh-eating worm in the Florida Keys. Pets are also starting to turn up with gruesome infections.

While wildlife managers have focused largely on the endangered herd and the 107 deer killed since August, vets say they have treated at least nine suspected cases in dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs and a tortoise. Two feral cats had to be euthanized, said Marathon Veterinary Hospital’s Doug Mader. Those numbers are higher than the three reported by the Florida Department of Agriculture, which only counts cases confirmed in lab tests, largely because of the confirmation process.

“That’s the tough part about this whole thing. You look at them and it walks like a duck, but you have to have confirmation that it’s a duck,” said Keys Animal Hospital veterinarian Kyle Maddox, who treated an infected dog earlier this month.

The discrepancy in numbers, and expanded war on the screwworm that now covers eight islands and this week drew a new team of volunteers fanning out with medicated bread to feed deer, has only increased anxiety among pet owners. Vets, however, stress the risk to pets remains far lower than the peril posed to the wild deer.

To read more on this story, click here: Screwworm Infecting Key Deer Also Found in Some Sick Pets


FOLLOW US!

Kristen Lindsey, The Austin Veterinarian Who Bragged on Social Media After Killing a Feral Cat Has Had Her License Suspended for a Year

Austin, Texas - A veterinarian who used a bow and arrow to kill a feral cat has lost her license for now.

Kristen Lindsey, the Austin veterinarian who bragged on social media after shooting and killing a feral cat with a bow and arrow, has had her license suspended for a year. She'll also be on a probationary period for four years. During that probation she is to have a board-approved supervising veterinarian to watch over Lindsey and submit quarterly reports to the board. In addition, Lindsey will have to take continuing education classes in animal welfare.

In the Facebook post, Lindsey is seen holding a dead cat by an arrow lodged in its head. "My first bow kill. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head," she allegedly wrote.

After the post surfaced, Lindsey was fired from her job at a Brenham animal hospital, which faced heavy public backlash.

"Those actions don't any way portray what we're here for at Washington Animal Hospital," the hospital's Dr. Bruce Buenger told abc13 at the time. "We put our heart and soul in this place."

Lindsey's attorney issued the following statement:

"Dr. Lindsey and I are disappointed that the Board ordered suspension of Dr. Lindsey's license based on an action that had nothing to do with the practice of veterinary medicine. We are also disappointed that the Board has, for all intents and purposes, chosen to take sides in the culture war between the animal rescues zealots - who have campaigned to destroy Dr. Lindsey and her family - versus rural property owners who have the right to protect their property and their own animals from feral animals who are destroying their property and threatening their own animals. Dr. Lindsey did what she did to protect her property and her own cat from an animal that was trespassing on her property, damaging her property, and endangering her domestic cat and her horse. It is also disingenuous - if not absurd - that the individual who now claims she owned the cat didn't care enough about the cat at the time to give it a collar and tag - or any evidence of ownership, or to get the animal vaccinated for rabies (in an area where rabies was pervasive), or to prevent the animal from roaming wild in an environment where it was likely to be eaten by coyotes or otherwise suffer and perish. It should be very troubling to regular people that the State of Texas is spending precious tax dollars on the prosecution of someone who killed was simply protecting her property from a free-roaming feral animal, and that this Board doesn't have the integrity that the District Attorney in Austin County had to stand up to an irrational - but loud - lynch mob of zealots. We will be appealing the Board's decision to the District Court and we are confident that common sense and justice will prevail."





You may be interested in reading:

A Veterinarian Has Been Fired From Her Clinic After She Posted a Horrifying Image of Her Holding a Cat She Had Killed by Firing an Arrow Into its Head

Veterinarian Shown in a Facebook Post Bragging About Killing a Cat with a Bow and Arrow, Can Not Be Charged Until Investigation Determines if the Picture is Genuine

FOLLOW US!

Coast Guard Rescues an 800 Pound Pregnant Manatee: She Will Be Temporarily Housed at SeaWorld

A complex rescue effort involving a Coast Guard plane is helping return a pregnant manatee to the wild. The 800-pound marine mammal was rescued in September off the coast of Massachusetts.

Less than a month later, veterinarians gave the go-ahead to make the journey from a base in Groton, Connecticut back to Florida, where the manatee is beginning the next phase of her recovery, reports CBS News correspondent David Begnaud. 

The manatee – named Washburn for the island where she was rescued – returned to the Sunshine State after a 1,300-mile flight aboard a Coast Guard transport plane.

Escorted by police, a slow procession moved through the streets of Orlando to her temporary new home at SeaWorld.

There, a crane hoisted Washburn into a private rehab tank. You could almost see the relief as she hit the water.

The once anonymous manatee became a summer celebrity. She was spotted bobbing in the choppy waters off Cape Cod in late August. Conservationists with the International Fund for Animal Welfare sprang into action, capturing Washburn three weeks later, and taking her to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. 

When Washburn arrived there, it became clear that this rescue operation was even more important than first thought. Veterinarians discovered this manatee was a mom-to-be.

“It’s not only one manatee but it’s two so the stakes are pretty high,” said Dr. Jen Flower, a veterinarian at Mystic Aquarium.

Manatees, also known as “sea cows,” can weigh over 3,000 pounds, eating a diet comprised mainly of sea grass. The animals, native to Florida, spent nearly 50 years on the endangered species list, but the population is recovering. 

Sea World veterinarian Lara Croft accompanied Washburn on the flight south. She said just saving one has proven to be worth the extraordinary effort.

“We did have one orphan calf that was hand-reared, returned to the wild and she gave birth to nine calves,” Croft said. “And who knows how many calves that those calves had. One manatee can have a huge effect on the population.”

Now that Washburn is back home in Florida, the staff at SeaWorld is working hard to prepare her return to the wild, where she’s expected to give birth in about four to six months. SeaWorld has released 17 manatees back into the wild thus far.


FOLLOW US!

Man Launches Grassroots Movement Aimed at Changing New York Law: Dogs Should Be Claimed as Sentient Beings, Not Property

On a beautiful afternoon this past June, Soho resident Yves-Claude Arbour, 73, was walking up Broome Street with his 5-year-old Havanese, Sammie, and his friend Sabrina Michals. As they crossed Lafayette Street, a woman in a jeep started inching forward in anticipation of the light change, and hit the fluffy little dog, pinning her underneath the front of the car.

People on the street began to yell and pound on the jeep’s windows, urging the woman to stop, but, seemingly oblivious, she continued to inch forward, moving over the animal, who was caught between the two wheels. When the light changed, she sped off, running all the way over the poor dog. Luckily, the only part of her body that was actually hit by the wheel was a paw.

“If she had been [all the way] under one of [the wheels], she would be dead,” Michals said. “She drove right over her.”

She grabbed the pup while Arbour dashed off in pursuit of the jeep.

They rushed Sammie to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital on 15th Street, and called the police. Officers arrived at the hospital, but said they couldn’t figure out how to file a report, and three subsequent visits to different precincts revealed the same issue.

In New York state, dogs are legally considered property rather than sentient beings. Leaving the scene after injuring an animal is punishable by a fine of not more than $100 for a first offense, and not more than $150 for a repeat offender. By comparison, fines for a repeat littering offense can be $350. In 2015, France and New Zealand changed their laws to recognize dogs as feeling beings, and this past summer an Oregon court did the same.

After learning this, Arbour decided not to go after the woman who’d hit his beloved dog.

“I realized there was no real point in chasing the driver other than to confront her,’’ he said. “If I took her to small claims court, they would only give me the value of replacing her, like replacing a toaster.’’

Instead, Arbour has launched a grassroots movement aimed at changing New York law, and formed a nonprofit organization called Dogs Are Not Toasters (DANT). He’s started a petition, which already has nearly 500 signatures, and will soon launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to hire lobbyists and lawyers.

Charles Mirisola, a Manhattan-based negligence attorney not associated with Arbour, agrees the law needs to change.

“Unfortunately, even though so many people now consider their dogs family members, under New York state law they are simply property,’’ he said. “Even if a dog is hurt by a car, or viciously attacked by another dog, the owner can’t sue for pain and suffering to the animal or himself . . . You can try to collect on veterinary bills but it would be difficult finding an attorney to take the case. I get calls about this all the time, and I have to give people the bad news.’’

After four days in the hospital, six weeks in a cast and $11,000 in medical bills, Sammie is now back to his old cuddly self, but Arbour says his crusade goes far beyond the love he has for his own pet.

“If dogs were recognized as sentient beings, they would be protected from a number of modern day issues, such as puppy mills, grooming injuries or deaths, improper medical care, inhumane scientific studies, and vehicle hit-and-runs,” Arbour said. “This is not about Sammie. It’s about changing the law.’’

FOLLOW US!

Is Declawing Cat an Amputation? Vet Weighs In

Q: The veterinarian I just saw refuses to declaw my cats. She says it’s considered unethical, but I’ve had cats forever and never got this memo. I think it’s unconscionable to leave cats outdoors, and that’s what would happen if I didn’t declaw my cats. (My hands and my furniture require it!) Is this a real rule among veterinarians or is my vet being dramatic?

A: Here’s the memo: The procedure we commonly refer to as a “declaw” is one an increasing number of veterinarians refuse to perform. Many of us consider it unethical and immoral to amputate the first knuckle of a cat’s digits just because it makes our lives easier and keeps our furniture healthy.

I mean, if destruction and injury were the concern, why would we stop at the claws? Why not take out all their teeth, too?

Clearly, neither de-teething or declawing cats offers a realistic solution to the problem of cats being cats. From time to time they will still behave in ways that are inconvenient to us. But that doesn’t mean we have to suffer unduly.

We can all learn to manage our cats’ unwanted behaviors by understanding how and why they use their claws, teeth and other potentially problematic parts. In the case of claws, here are some key points to keep in mind:

1: Cats who have their claws removed are still capable of inflicting damage to humans and their property. Further, veterinary behaviorists recognize that declawed cats may use their teeth more often during aggressive encounters (with cats and humans). And teeth typically inflict more damage than claws do.

To read more on this story, click here: Is Declawing Cat an Amputation? Vet Weighs In

FOLLOW US!

Why US Troops Risked Their Lives in WWII to Rescue Horses Kidnapped by Nazis

 “Get them. Make it fast.”

In the chaotic last days of the Second World War, Gen. George Patton’s terse command set off a remarkable secret mission to save a group of priceless stallions and brood mares kidnapped on the orders of Adolf Hitler.

The directive might have appeared foolhardy and risky to an outsider but not to the small group of American and German soldiers who put their hostilities aside, desperate to save the world’s most valuable equine prisoners of war, which were being held deep inside enemy lines in occupied Czechoslovakia.

Minutes after Patton’s order, Hank Reed, a Virginia horseman who was the commanding officer of the Second Cavalry in Europe, dispatched one of his soldiers, an accomplished rider from Tennessee, to team up with a Nazi veterinarian. Under cover of darkness, they trekked miles through dense forests and battle-scarred villages to capture the horses and place them under American protection — before the arrival of advancing Russian troops.

The valuable Lipizzaner horses — snow-white and blue-black, many of them Olympic dressage champions — had been stolen from the countries that the Nazis occupied during the war. In addition to gold, jewelry and artwork, the Nazis seized the valuable horses from Poland, Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria.

The Nazis’ goal, according to author Elizabeth Letts in her new book “The Perfect Horse” (Ballantine), was to breed the Lipizzaner with German horses in order to create an equine specimen that was worthy of the German master race.

Horses were central to the Nazi propaganda effort, and Hitler was often shown as “the man who put Germany back in the saddle,” according to Letts. In fact, as soon as he ordered the invasion of Poland in September 1939 and unleashed the grisly chain of events that plunged the world into war, Hitler had important plans for the country’s horses. As Letts writes, “In the blueprint forged for its occupation, a plan was put into place for the ‘rebuilding of Poland’s horse-breeding industry’ for the ‘interest of the German nation.’ ”

To read more on this story, click here: Why US troops risked their lives in WWII to rescue horses kidnapped by Nazis

FOLLOW US!

Why Do So Many Veterinarians Commit Suicide?

It’s hard to think of many people in our lives more important, more integral, or more venerated than our veterinarians. To those of us who love animals, veterinary medicine is one of the world’s noblest professions.

So it was with shock and dismay that I learned that veterinarians suffer alarmingly high rates of depression and suicide.

“It’s a big problem,” says Stephanie Kube, a veterinary neurologist and pain pathologist at Veterinary Neurology and Pain Management Center of New England in Walpole. “The profession is truly plagued.”

A 2014 federal Centers for Disease Control online survey of 10,000 practicing veterinarians published last year found that more than one in six American veterinarians has considered suicide. Veterinarians suffer from feelings of hopelessness, depression, and other psychiatric disorders two to three times more often than the general population. Two studies published in the British Veterinarian Association’s journal, The Veterinary Record, found suicide rates are double or more those of dentists and doctors, and four to six times higher than the general population.

To read more on this story, click here:  Why Do So Many Veterinarians Commit Suicide?


FOLLOW US!

Many Strays Are Lost Pets Who Were Not Kept Properly Indoors or Provided with Identification

“Many strays are lost pets who were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.”

We hope it never happens to you, but every year, many dogs get away from even the most attentive and loving owners. Prevention is key to avoiding this heartbreaking scenario. Read on to learn the most common reasons dogs run away, and how to keep your own beloved pet safe.




Easy Dog Escape Routes

Not every dog is a runner, but genetically, our four-legged friends are built to roam. According to veterinarian Sharon Crowell-Davis of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia,  “As a species, the majority of dogs are curious and want to be active and explore and discover” (source). And a too-low fence, broken gate, or open window makes it especially easy for a curious dog to set off exploring.

“As a species, the majority of dogs are curious and want to be active and explore and discover.”

Of course, on a lovely spring day, it’s nice to fling open the windows and doors and let in the cross-breeze. Just make sure those windows have secure screens or security bars, and put up a baby gate or barrier to keep your dog from springing out the open door.

It’s also a good idea to supervise your dog in the yard, and periodically check the fence for holes or weak spots.


On the Chase

Some dogs could care less about running after potential prey, but if your dog likes to chase, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep him safe. No matter how diligent we are as owners, a prey drive is hardwired, so prevention and appropriate tools can go a long way to keeping your dog by your side (and keeping smaller neighborhood mammals safe).





Nature Call

Reproductive drive is a powerful thing, and intact male dogs especially are driven to roam in search of a mate. Even the most sensible, well-trained dog can be overwhelmed by, ahem, natural urges. If the neighbor’s un-spayed Lady is hanging out on the sidewalk, and your un-neutered Tramp catches a whiff, the urge to mate could lead them straight through the fence and down the road together in search of conjugal bliss.

Of course, supervision and secure fencing can prevent a runaway hound. But the easiest “fix” of all is to have your dog spayed or neutered ASAP! According to the Dumb Friends League, “Studies show that neutering will decrease sexual roaming in about 90 percent of the cases.” Once your dog’s hormones chill out, they’ll be far less likely to go chasing neighborhood tail.

“Studies show that neutering will decrease sexual roaming in about 90 percent of the cases.”

The timeline for having your dog fixed is somewhat flexible; most vets agree that dogs can be spayed or neutered as early as eight weeks, but some recommend waiting until a dog is six months or older to allow for full development. Learn more here, and if you make the decision to hold off on having your puppy fixed, you’ll want to be extra-careful about letting them roam unsupervised.

Boredom

It’s not just nature that calls dogs out of the yard; some hit the road out of sheer boredom. You can help calm your dog’s exploratory instincts by providing “the three E’s”:

Exercise. At least one good walk during the day (the duration and intensity of a “good walk” will vary depending on your dog’s age and activity level) can help calm your dog and set them up to relax while you’re out of the house.

Enrichment. Give your dog’s brain a workout with puzzle toys and games.
Entertainment. A lonely dog is more likely to become bored and seek greener pastures. Keep your dog active and engaged with lots of socialization. For some dogs, this may simply mean spending some quality couch time together at the end of the day. If you have a higher-energy pup, consider doggy playdates or trips to the park to burn off the blahs.

A note of caution about yard time: of course, a yard can be a great tool for exercising, enriching, and entertaining your dog! Just remember to limit yard time to when you’re home and can supervise your dog (and double-check those gate latches).


Scary Sights and Sounds

According to a report released by PetAmberAlert.com, “animal control officials across the country see a 30-60% increase in lost pets each year between July 4th and 6th.”

The main culprit? Fireworks!

Loud noises, bright lights, and big crowds can frighten even the happiest dog. Of course, you should go ahead and celebrate holidays with family and friends. But for your dog’s safety, consider keeping them securely indoors at home while the party rages elsewhere.

Scary sounds and sights aren’t limited to holidays. Thunder, gunfire, and car accidents can all send a scared dog running. If your dog spooks easily, there are several simple things you can do to keep them secure throughout the year:

When outdoors, secure your dog with a well-fitted collar and leash (you may even want to use a back-up collar or harness if you anticipate being in an environment with potential fear triggers). Scared dogs can back out of loose collars, which explains why so many strays are found without collars.

Work on recall training every chance you get! A panicked dog may not respond to her name, but the more you can make her recall reaction instinctual, the easier it will be to call her back.

Create a “safe space” or den for your dog at home (a crate or room with a closing door is perfect). Keep your dog indoors during thunderstorms and loud celebrations, and be sure doors and windows are secure and locked.

Try a ThunderShirt or other calming device to help soothe your dog in stressful times.

As curious as dogs can be, they’re also social animals who love to stick by their people. With a little foresight and prevention, you can keep your dog safe at home.

If the unimaginable happens and your dog does run away, don’t panic. As the ASPCA notes, over 500,000 lost dogs are reunited with their families each year. Keep your dog’s ID tags and microchip information up-to-date, and consider investing in new technology to track missing pets.

A little preparation can go a long way towards a happy ending for you and your four-legged best friend.

FOLLOW US!

The Miracle of Animal Life: Incredible Footage Inside A Dog’s Womb

You have never seen footage quite like this, and it’s stunning. A puppy in the womb. She’s got a long way to go and yet she’s already strangely, delicately beautiful. Look at those little toes.




FOLLOW US!

Do You Know What Reverse Sneezing is in Dogs? Would You Know What to Do?

Reverse sneezing is a condition that affects all types of dogs, but more commonly smaller dogs such as miniatures, Terriers, and brachycephalic breeds. It is a "paroxysmal" respiratory response, meaning that it comes in spasm-like episodes.

What Is Reverse Sneezing in Dogs?

Reverse sneezing is a fairly common respiratory event in dogs, but is rarely seen in cats. It is suspected to be caused by irritation or inflammation of the nasal, pharyngeal, or sinus passages. It may be a way for the dog to attempt to remove foreign particles such as dust, powder or other irritants or allergens from its upper airways. It is also seen after periods of over-excitement.

Reverse sneezing is characterized by sudden, rapid and repeated inhalations through the nose, followed by snorting or gagging sounds. It can be alarming to an owner, but is not known to be harmful to dogs without any underlying conditions (such as heart disease), and most dogs are completely normal before and after a reverse sneezing episode. In dogs that exhibit reverse sneezing, it is not uncommon for them to have repeat episodes of reverse sneezing throughout their lives.

What Happens When A Dog Reverse Sneezes?

During a reverse sneeze, the dog will suddenly stand still, extend its head and neck, and produce a loud snorting sound.

This condition should be differentiated from a tracheal collapse (often seen in toy breeds), which is characterized by a loud "honking" sound.

A tracheal collapse is of a more serious nature than a reverse sneeze.

What Should I Do If My Dog Reverse Sneezes?

A common remedy is to hold the dog's nostrils closed for a second and lightly massage its throat to calm him. Lightly blowing in his face may also help. This should cause the dog to swallow a couple of times, which will usually stop the spasm of the reverse sneeze. Getting the dog in a cool area or outside with fresh air while trying to verbally calm him can also be useful.

Most dogs do not require medication, however, some veterinarians recommend antihistamines if the problem is serious, chronic, and allergy-related. An evaluation of the environment would also be helpful in determining possible causes of these events. Perfumes, carpet cleaners, etc. are often cited in these dogs' histories.




FOLLOW US!

A Cat, Named Batman, Who Was Born with Four Ears Has Found a New Home After He Was Brought Into a Shelter

The black feline with a rarely seen genetic mutation was cared for by the Humane Society in Western Pennsylvania for a month before his new owner adopted him.

The three-year-old cat with an extra set of ears is not the first of its kind.

The genetic mutation has been documented as far back as 1938 in Ashtabula, Ohio, with a four-eared cat named Toots.

“The mutation has been studied and is argued to be a recessive gene mutation needed from both parents in order to produce four ears,” the charity said.

Batman was unavailable for adoption when he first came into the shelter because he was being treated for an upper respiratory infection.

But on Tuesday, the shelter posted a video advert of him on Facebook.

“Batman would do well in a house with or without animals as he came from a house with several animals. He is a very friendly and love cheek rubs,” Hala Nuemah, managing director of the Western PA Humane Society, wrote.

Shelter veterinarian Dr Todd Blauvelt told CBS News: “He's a really cool cat. He's really nice. Really affectionate.

He has a very rare congenital defect. It doesn't really affect his hearing. He can hear just fine,” he explained.

Within a few hours he was snapped up by a young girl and her mother who gave him a permanent home.

“It was perfect because the little girl liked superheroes,” Caitlin Lasky, marketing communications manager for the Humane Society, told ABC News.

Three-year-old cat Batman has an extra set of ears due to a rare genetic mutation. Shelter veterinarian, Dr. Todd Blauvelt commented “it doesn't really affect his hearing.”

Batman was adopted after he was brought into the Humane Society by an owner who had several cats. Dr Todd Blauvelt said the cat (pictured) has “two little ear tufts behind his ears.”

FOLLOW US!

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs

Mushroom poisoning occurs as a result of ingesting toxic mushrooms, which is a common hazard for dogs because of the amount of time they spend outdoors or in wooded areas, particularly in the summer and fall. Toxic mushrooms are classified into four categories (A, B, C, D), based on the clinical signs and their time of onset, and into seven groups (1-7) on the basis of the toxin they contain. However, because it is sometimes difficult to identify what type of mushroom your dog has consumed, you should always bring the suspected mushroom with you when you take your dog to the veterinarian.

Symptoms and Types
Symptoms vary greatly depending on the type of mushroom ingested. Category A mushrooms, for example, are the most toxic and cause the destruction of cells, especially liver and kidney cells. Category B and C mushrooms, meanwhile, affect nervous system, and category D mushrooms cause gastrointestinal irritation. The following are some of the more common symptoms associated with mushroom poisoning:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Weakness
Lethargy
Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
Uncoordinated movements
Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
Seizures
Coma

Causes
Ingestion of toxic mushroom(s).

Diagnosis
You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health to your veterinarian, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the complications. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination as well as a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis -- the  results of which may reveal may reveal abnormally low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) and abnormally high levels of liver enzymes due to liver damage. Your veterinarian will also typically take a sample from the stomach to identify the type of mushroom.

Treatment
Mushroom poisoning is an emergency that will require immediate hospitalization. Often, activated charcoal is given by mouth to bind the toxins present in the stomach and intestines. The dog also undergoes fluid therapy to stabilize fluid levels and enhance urination, which helps in the elimination of toxins. Depending on the type of mushroom and severity of the complications, a veterinarian may even choose to induce vomiting.

Living and Management
With treatment, overall prognosis is typically good, especially if stomach washing is initiated hours within ingestion. However, it ultimately depends on the amount of mushrooms ingested and the toxicity of the mushroom. For example, group I mushrooms are severely toxic.

In addition, some symptoms associated with mushroom toxicity are only seen later when liver and kidney complications occur. Your veterinarian will typically evaluate the liver and kidney functions through laboratory testing every 24 or 48 hours. You should nevertheless inform him or her if you should observe any untoward symptoms in the dog.




FOLLOW US!

What To Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Heat Stroke

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from heat stroke to the following:

1.  Get your dog out of direct heat

2.  Check for shock. Signs include: collapse, body temperature 104° F+, bloody diarrhea or vomit, depression stupor, seizures or coma, excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, salivation.

3.  Take your dog’s temperature.

4.  Spray your dog with cool water then retake temperature.

5.  Place water-soaked towels on the dog’s head, neck feet, chest and abdomen, turn on a fan and point it in your dog’s direction, rub Isopropyl alcohol (70%) on the dog’s foot pads to help cool him but don’t use large quantities.

6.  Take your dog to the nearest veterinary hospital.

During a heat crisis, the goal is always to decrease the dog’s body temperature to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes. Once 103° F is reached, you must stop the cooling process because the body temperature will continue to decrease and can plummet dangerously low if you continue to cool the dog for too long.

Even if you successfully cool your pet down to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes, you must take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible because consequences of heat stroke will not show up for hours or even days. Potential problems include abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, neurological problems and respiratory arrest.

It is important to know if your pet is predisposed to dog heat stroke, which is true of dogs with short snouts such as bulldogs, pugs and many other breeds. Other common causes of heat stroke include: a previous episode of heat stroke, leaving a dog in a parked car, excessive exercise in hot, humid weather (this may be exercise that your dog can usually handle but not in warmer weather), lack of appropriate shelter outdoors, thicker-coated dogs in warm weather and underlying disease such as upper airway, heart of lung disease.


FOLLOW US!

Medal of Honor Recipient’s Needs Your Help: His Service Dog Has to Have Surgery

Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the 2009 battle at COP Keating in Afghanistan, the same battle described by fellow MoH recipient Clinton Romesha in his best-selling book Red Platoon.

Nala is Carter’s service dog and she’s essential to his efforts to deal with post-traumatic stress. The veterinarians tell Ty that Nala has a herniated disc that’s almost severing her spinal cord. If she doesn’t have surgery, she’ll lose her ability to walk.

The government doesn’t recognize service dogs as a treatment for PTSD, or at least not a form that it’s willing to pay for.

There’s a GoFundMe page to help pay for Nala’s surgery. That’s sure to be covered soon. Any of our readers with the influence to get service dogs covered by the government should get on that right away as well.

FOLLOW US!

Starting from Scratch: CSU Veterinarian Searches for Answers to Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats

Like many cat owners, Dr. Jessica Quimby spends a lot of time worrying about feline health. With six cats of her own, this veterinarian knows the odds are that at least one will develop chronic kidney disease. In fact, her cat Sophie already has the highly common and incurable disease.

“I’m really surprised when a cat in its mid-teens doesn’t have kidney disease. It’s so common that it is more abnormal for an older cat to have normal kidney function,” said Quimby, an assistant professor and board-certified internal medicine specialist in the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Veterinarians estimate that up to half of cats over 15 years old will develop renal failure. That’s 2 million cats in the United States.

Chronic kidney disease is irreversible, so treatment focuses on treating complications through changes in diet, medicating high blood pressure, and keeping the cat hydrated. Quimby is a cat crusader, doggedly pursuing these and other treatments that will make life better for ailing cats and their humans.

“As an internal medicine specialist, I work with both cats and dogs, but I always had the goal of working with cats – elderly cats, complicated cats. I grew up with cats on a farm and saw them suffering from various diseases, so I came to CSU so I could have the power to do studies and learn new things to help them,” said Quimby, whose office in the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital is decorated with photos and paintings of feline friends.

Does your cat have chronic kidney disease?

To read more on this story, click here: Starting from Scratch: CSU Veterinarian Searches for Answers to Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats


FOLLOW US!

New Legislation Passed Recently Makes Ohio One of the First States to Protect First Responders Who Administer Lifesaving Aid to Pets

Columbus, Ohio - Until a new law was passed this spring, it was against the law in Ohio, along with many other states, for firefighters or paramedics to provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations. Only licensed veterinarians could do that.

The legislation passed recently makes Ohio one of the first states to protect first responders who administer lifesaving aid to pets, companion animals or police dogs in crisis. Animal advocates say they hope the statute, which they liken to laws protecting good Samaritans who come to the aid of injured humans, removes hesitation for first responders who might have concerns about tending to injured pets.

The law will allow first responders to, without fear of liability, provide oxygen, perform mouth-to-snout resuscitation, try to stem bleeding, bandage and even administer the overdose antidote naloxone to dogs or cats that have ingested opiates. Liability has been a concern because owners of pets have sued first responders who treated animals that ended up dying.

"It's another layer of protection for the good guys," said Cory Smith, director of public policy for companion animals at The Humane Society of the United States.

Ohio's law, which follows a similar action by Colorado in 2014, came about after Bob Swickard, the director of an EMS service in a small town in northeastern Ohio, contacted state Republican Rep. Tim Ginter with concerns about a recent rash of on-duty injuries to police dogs. In seeking guidance from a veterinarian on first aid for dogs, Swickard said he found "a missed loophole" — it was clearly illegal for EMTs to treat animals. He and Ginter were especially concerned that paramedics couldn't administer naloxone to police dogs that came in contact with prescription pain pills or heroin.

"There is the possibility that a dog could get a snout full of something and go down," Ginter said. "The best that they could do before this law was to call either a veterinarian to come to the scene or call for transport."

Dr. Ed Cooper, head of emergency and critical care at Ohio State University's Veterinary Medical Center, said that as a result of the law, which takes effect Aug. 31, some veterinarians are reaching out to first responders to provide basic training, and first responders are beginning to seek it out.

"The hope in having this law passed is really just to give first responders the opportunity and extend the option without the potential for recourse to assist pets as well as people in these kinds of crisis situations," Cooper said. "So (veterinarians) certainly see it as a positive thing."

What the law doesn't do is require first responders to treat animals, nor does it now make it OK for people to call 911 when their pets get injured or sick. People should still call emergency animal hospitals in these situations.

Smith noted that with two-thirds of American households having at least one pet, it stands to reason that first responders are going to encounter injured animals on the job.

"Really, it's just about building humane communities," she said. "I think when first-response agencies and local governments and especially state governments plan around the fact that animals are such a huge part of our lives, it can only lead to good things."

In this Dec. 9, 2010, file photo, Amira Bichara, right, gasps in relief when a golden retriever rescued from a house fire begins breathing normally, as a firefighter and resident administer oxygen in Kettering, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 

In this Oct. 24, 2008, file photo, Perkins Township, Ohio, firefighters administer oxygen to a dog rescued from a house fire in Sandusky, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 

In this June 24, 2008, file photo, fire paramedic Kelsey Ward administers oxygen to a pet cat that suffered smoke inhalation before it was rescued from an apartment fire in Enon, Ohio. Under a new Ohio law taking effect Aug. 31, 2016, firefighters and EMTs can provide basic first aid to dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations, treatment that only licensed veterinarians could legally provide under existing law. 


FOLLOW US!

Truth About Pet Food

The latest Pet Food privilege announced by the FDA is regarding prescription cat and dog food. All pet food consumers and veterinarians should take note of this recent FDA Compliance Policy.

For decades the FDA has strictly enforced their idea that drugs are the only cure or treatment for illness – refusing to allow any food to make health or wellness claims. A claim such as ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is forbidden.

But in the FDA’s infinite collusion with Big Industry, the agency allows pet food the same privilege of a drug (to claim it can cure or treat disease) without any of the requirements of a drug. Pet food is allowed to claim it can cure or treat disease without having to prove the effectiveness or even the safety of the pet food.

Kidney Function Canine Formula Dry/Kibble. This dog food, sold through a veterinarian, is allowed to make the claim of treating kidney disease in dogs.

Ingredients (bold added for emphasis): “Whole grain corn, brewers rice, dried egg product, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), sugar, dried whey, sodium caseinate, animal digest, calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, fish oil, salt, potassium citrate, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.”

To read more on this story, click here: Truth About Pet Food

FOLLOW US!