Pet Diabetes Month: Monitoring Blood Glucose at Home

Posted on November 5, 2020 - 4:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

When you live with a diabetic pet, controlling blood sugar, or glucose, can be a bit of a balancing act. If the glucose dips too low, your pet may show signs of weakness, confusion, seizures and even loss of consciousness, requiring emergency veterinary care. When it’s too high, pets often drink and urinate more than usual and potentially develop other complications.

To arrive at “just the right” insulin dose that keeps your pet’s diabetes controlled, periodic blood glucose monitoring is usually required. In the past, pets would typically spend a day at the veterinary clinic for a blood glucose curve. During that time, the veterinary staff would take blood glucose samples every two hours for up to 12 hours.

The trouble with in-clinic glucose testing is that pets often become stressed in the unfamiliar environment, which can artificially raise blood glucose levels. That’s why the American Animal Hospital Association recommends at-home glucose testing, when possible. Pets are usually less stressed at home, which means results will be more accurate. At-home testing can save you money. It can also help identify a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) event, so your pet gets treatment faster.

While at-home glucose testing may not be for every owner or pet, many are finding the procedure relatively simple.

First, team up with your veterinarian

Work with your veterinarian to decide the best approach for you and your pet.

If you decide to try in-home testing, your veterinarian will help you learn the correct procedure and provide detailed instructions on information you should send back to the clinic. He or she will use this information to decide if adjustments need to be made to the type or dose of your pet’s insulin. You should never make insulin dose adjustments on your own, without consulting your veterinarian.

Sampling blood glucose at home

Your veterinarian may recommend using a hand-held glucometer at home, much like human patients with diabetes may do. Ideally, you’ll use one that’s calibrated for dogs and cats, for the most accurate results.

The doctor can show you how, using a lancet, to obtain a tiny drop of blood from a range of locations, such as your pet’s ear or foot pad. With a little practice, it can be a quick and relatively painless procedure. Add praise and treats, and it’s all the better for your pet.

The drop of blood is then applied to a test strip inserted into the glucometer. Within a few seconds, the blood glucose reading is displayed.

To obtain a blood glucose curve, your veterinarian will typically ask you to take a blood glucose reading every two hours for 10 to 12 hours. This information is then sent back to your veterinarian for review and dose adjustments, as needed.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems

Recently, continuous glucose monitoring systems have become available that are less invasive and easier for owners and pets because they don’t require any blood sampling. Currently, the most common system prescribed by veterinarians is the FreeStyle Libre, which is designed for humans, but can also be used in pets.

The system consists of a small, circular glucose sensor with a tiny tube that’s adhered to the pet’s skin.  The sensor, which is about the size of two stacked quarters, measures the glucose in the fluid under the skin once a minute for up to 14 days. A handheld reader can wirelessly scan the sensor and save the glucose readings (with an app, your smart phone can serve as a reader).

The amount of glucose in this fluid is slightly different than what’s in the blood, but it’s fine for general monitoring. For pets that are showing signs of hypoglycemia, however, a blood sample and glucometer should be used.

Implanting the sensor is a quick, simple and typically painless procedure that usually doesn’t require anesthesia. The veterinarian shaves and cleans a patch of skin on your pet and presses the sensor into the skin. Your pet may need to wear a shirt or bandage to help prevent the sensor from becoming dislodged. The doctor will explain how to transfer the data to the clinic. After two weeks, the sensor should be disposed of properly.

Watch your pets for signs

Even with all this blood glucose data, you should still watch your pet for signs that diabetes may be out of control. It helps to keep a daily diary that lists information such as food and water consumption, insulin dose administered and general amount/frequency of urination. If possible, weigh your pet periodically. Changes in weight, appetite, thirst, urination and even energy level should spark a call to your veterinarian.

Black Cats: Gods, Charms and Superstitions

Posted on October 29, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Black cats are plagued with superstitions. But where did they get such reputations, both good and bad? The answers span great lengths of time and place.

Rightly or wrongly, black cats are plagued with superstitions.

Harbingers of bad luck

In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church declared that cats were friends of the devil. As such, many believed a black cat could be a witch in disguise, a witch’s pet sent to keep tabs on humans or a witch’s “familiar,” a channel enabling witches to speak to the spiritual world. Black cats became forever entwined with witchcraft and were even killed with perceived witches during the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts.

Cats were also associated with death. Italians used to believe that if a black cat sat on your sickbed, it was a sign of imminent death. In North America, if a black cat crosses your path, it’s believed you’re in for bad luck (although the opposite is true in England, Ireland and Asia).

Bearers of good luck

Ancient Egyptians worshipped all cats, but perhaps black cats most of all because they resembled the deity Bastet, the goddess of the home, fertility and childbirth who often protected the home from disease and evil spirits.

Years later, British sailors believed having a black cat on board a ship would bring good luck and ensure safe passage (not to mention keeping the mice population to a minimum). Blackie, a mostly black cat aboard the HMS Prince of Wales, a Royal Navy battleship during World War II, gained fame when Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaned down to give the cat a rub. The cat was later renamed Churchill.

In some cultures, owning a black cat can bring you luck or love. Good luck is thought to come your way if you dream about a black cat, see one walking toward you or find a white hair on its black coat. A black cat who curls up on your porch is thought to bring you prosperity.

Many Asian countries, such as China and Japan, post maneki nekos — cat figurines with waving paws — outside restaurants and shops to bring good fortune. If the left paw is raised, the cat beckons people to enter. A raised right paw invites money, and both paws raised attracts customers and good fortune. If the mankei neko is black, even better — it’s thought to ward away evil, as well.

Overcoming superstitions

Although some people think black cats might have trouble being adopted because people cling to superstitions, it’s just not so, according to a study by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). After reviewing 14 regions of the U.S, with about 300,000 adoptable dogs and cats, black cats had the highest adoption numbers, coming in at 31 percent of all feline adoptions, compared with 20 percent for gray cats and 18 percent for brown cats.

At the same time, shelters often take in more black cats than any other color, according to Emily Weiss, PhD, at the ASPCA. One reason is that the gene for black coat color is dominant, so there tend to be more black cats in the world. Another reason is that 22 different breeds of cats can have solid black coats, according to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

As it turns out, black cats may have another thing going for them. It’s possible that the mutation that causes black coat coloring may be associated with the gene that gives humans resistance to viral infections like HIV. While it’s yet to be proven, that may mean black cats may be more resistant to certain diseases. What could be luckier than that?

When the Leaves Change Color, Can Your Pets See It?

Posted on October 22, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Autumn plays with all your senses, but none so much as your sense of sight, as deciduous trees burst into shades of brilliant red, vibrant orange and buttery yellow. This vivid array is enough to make you wonder: Does my dog or cat enjoy these colors like I do?

For decades, many people believed that dogs and cats were colorblind, or could only see shades of black, white and gray.  The truth is, they do see colors, but not in the way we do.

Your dog’s true colors

For people and pets, color perception begins at the retina, or the tissue lining the back of the eye. The retina contains two kinds of photoreceptor cells: rods, which perceive low and shifting light, and cones, which discern colors.

Humans have three kinds of cones, which can pick up red, blue and green wavelengths. Dogs only have two kinds of cones: those that are sensitive to blue and those that pick up yellow-green. That means dogs can’t see the full range of colors, or the richness or intensity, that humans do. Their world is essentially limited to shades of blue, yellow and gray.

Putting dogs to the test

To determine how dogs see colors, scientist Jay Neitz at the University of California, Santa Barbara, performed a unique test. Dogs were shown three panels of light, two of which were the same color. Dogs were rewarded with a treat when they touched their noses to the panel with the different color.

In this way, Neitz found the hues dogs could distinguish ranged from dark and light blue to dark and light yellow and shades of gray.

How about cats?

Cats, like humans, have three types of cones in their retinas but fewer cones overall. So they may see a similar range of colors that you do, but the colors tend to be less vibrant. Within that spectrum of colors, cats tend to see blue, violet, yellow and green better than red.

Seeing the light

While dogs and cats may have fewer cones than humans, they make up for it with more rods, helping them to see better in the dark than humans. Dogs can have up to three times the rods as humans, according to Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know. Cats are even more suited to nocturnal wandering, with as many as eight times the rods as humans.

Dogs and cats can also see the type B ultraviolet (UVB) spectrum, meaning some colors, such as white, may fluoresce and be disturbing for animals.

Work with your pet’s color spectrum

How can you use this color knowledge to your advantage? First, understand that a red or orange toy may appear gray, brown or black to your pet, or just doesn’t “pop” from the environment like it does for you. A blue toy may capture your pet’s attention better.

If you want to create a soothing environment for your pet at home, again, work with your dog or cat’s visible spectrum. Choose wall paints, pillows and blankets in the blue, green or violet range of the spectrum, rather than oranges and reds. Avoid bright white when possible because it might light up or flare for your pet more than it does for you.

But what about all those red and orange leaves piled in your backyard? Your pet may not appreciate the colors, but he or she can certainly have fun leaping and rolling in all of them with you.

Exercise and the Overweight Pet: A Common-Sense Approach

Posted on October 8, 2020 - 10:34 pm by
An overweight cat standing in the grass on a sunny day.

Has your pet ever been fat shamed? Maybe it was a casual dig at the dog park. Or an insensitive remark on social media. It can be easy to underestimate how many extra pounds your pet may be carrying because, frankly, pet obesity has become the new normal. That is why we’re pointing out that tomorrow is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Pet obesity is nothing to take lightly!

About 59.5 percent of cats and 55.8 percent of dogs are considered overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). Obesity can contribute to diabetes, joint problems such as arthritis, difficulty breathing and even a shorter life span.

If you’ve got a pet who needs to take care of their weight, you’ll likely need to change their diet — including feeding them fewer human food treats. But increasing the exercise is equally important because you want your pet to lose fat while retaining or building muscle mass. How much exercise is healthy? Here are some tips to help your pet drop those unwanted pounds and earn the praise and admiration he or she deserves.

First stop: your veterinary clinic

Your veterinarian will weigh your pet and show you how to objectively determine your pet’s ideal weight. Together, you can make a plan on how to approach your pet’s weight loss. Your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic weight loss diet or determine the right quantity of your current food to help your pet lose weight while still receiving all the nutrition they need.

The doctor will also check to see if your pet has any underlying conditions, such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) in dogs, which, when treated, can help with weight loss. He or she will also examine your pet for underlying heart or orthopedic conditions that may impact your pet’s exercise plan.

Gradual weight loss is best

Your pet shouldn’t lose weight too fast. As a general rule, a dog can lose about 1 to 3 percent of their body weight per month, while a cat can lose 0.5 to 2 percent per month, according to APOP. But this may vary depending on your pet’s breed and weight. Overweight cats who lose weight too fast and go off their food are prone to fatty liver disease, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. If your cat doesn’t eat for a day or two, contact your veterinarian.

Begin exercise gradually, too

Your veterinarian will typically recommend short exercise sessions, then gradually extend the length of these sessions as your pet loses weight. For overweight or arthritic dogs, low-impact exercises like walking and swimming are good because they put less stress on the joints than running and jumping. If your pet has arthritis, ask your veterinarian about medications to help your dog exercise pain free.

Start with short walks on flat terrain, gradually extending the walk and adding hills. Let your dog warm up and do their business, then gently increase the speed of your walk so your dog is getting some heart-pounding aerobic exercise. If your dog starts panting too much or lagging behind, that’s your cue to slow down a bit. Dogs that are overweight, especially those that are brachycephalic, or flat-faced, can have trouble breathing and become overheated easily. It’s best to walk these dogs in the cool of the morning or evening.

Depending on your dog’s health status, your veterinarian may recommend an exercise regimen of perhaps 30-minute walks five times a week. Each week, you can gradually increase the amount of aerobic time during the walk. If your dog tolerates that well, you can build up to twice-a-day walks or jogging.

Another alternative is to schedule regular appointments at canine rehabilitation clinics, where they can put your dog through the paces on regular or underwater treadmills. You can even make use of digital pet activity monitors to help monitor your pet’s daily efforts.

Cat fitness

Cats can be slightly more challenging to exercise, but you can start with 5-minute play sessions, chasing a laser pointer or feather toy. A cat tree can encourage your cat to climb and stretch its muscles. Food puzzles make your cat work for their meals and provide mental stimulation. Another alternative is to hide kibble in different parts of the house so your cat has to “hunt” for their meal.

Monitor progress with monthly weigh-ins

Whether you weigh your pet at the veterinary office or on your own scale, it’s important to make sure your pet is making weight-loss progress. Too much or too little weight loss suggests a call to your veterinarian, who can make adjustments in diet or exercise to keep your pet on track.

World Rabies Day: 10 Things You Need to Know

Posted on September 24, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

For dogs and cats, infection with the rabies virus is inevitably fatal. But the good news is, it’s entirely preventable with regular rabies vaccinations. Protecting your pet’s health is an important way to safeguard your family, since infected animals can spread the virus to people, too. As part of World Rabies Day on September 28, we’re offering 10 things you should know to help keep all your loved ones safe.

  1. The rabies virus is transmitted by exposure to the saliva of an infected animal. This usually occurs through a bite, although, less commonly, saliva can enter a scratch or open wound. Most pets that fall victim to rabies are unvaccinated and are infected by wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks or foxes. That’s why you shouldn’t allow your pet to chase or fight wildlife.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 60 to 70 dogs and more than 250 cats in the U.S. die of rabies each year. Thanks to pet vaccinations, human deaths in the U.S. are relatively low, averaging about two people per year. The same can’t be said for rabies infections worldwide: Approximately 59,000 human deaths occur each year, in many cases from the bite of a rabid dog.

  2. Rabies occurs in 49 states, with Hawaii being the exception. The disease is especially prevalent on the East Coast from Maine to Florida and along the Mexican border.
  3. There’s no cure for rabies in pets. Once animals show signs of disease, they typically die in less than 10 days. And there’s no way to diagnose the disease in a live animal — it can only be done by examining brain tissue after an animal passes away.
  4. Animals can only transmit the virus after they show signs of disease. In the early stages, infected dogs and cats may appear nervous, aggressive or more friendly than normal. In time, they can become overly sensitive to light and sound. They may have seizures and lash out at others. Finally, they may drool excessively and experience a paralysis that first affects the head and neck before moving down the body, eventually paralyzing the muscles of the chest so they’re no longer able to breathe.
  5. Most states have laws that require rabies vaccinations for pets. Check with your veterinarian and know the state and local ordinances to make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination always stays current.
  6. Unvaccinated pets that bite a human or another pet usually require a 10-day quarantine. Infected animals can’t transmit the virus until they’re showing signs, and they usually die within 10 days after that. If the animal survives the 10 days, it means it wasn’t shedding the virus at the time of the bite.
  7. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal or another pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. Ask the owner of the other pet for proof of rabies vaccination. If they don’t have it or it was a wild animal, contact animal control to determine appropriate action. If your pet’s rabies vaccination is current, your veterinarian may recommend a booster vaccine.

    If your pet’s rabies vaccine has expired, the state may require a 6-month quarantine in an approved animal care center. Because the incubation period, or the time between the bite and the start of signs, is typically less than six months, this allows time to observe the pet and make sure it doesn’t show signs of infection before it is exposed to other pets and humans.

  8. Contact your veterinarian if your pet bites another pet or a person. You will need to provide proof of a rabies vaccination. As rabies laws vary regionally, your veterinarian can advise you as to what steps need to be taken in your state.
  9. Teach children to be gentle and respectful when handling pets. This helps reduce the risk of animal bites. Children should also ask the owner permission before petting other dogs or cats, for the same reason.
  10. If you or someone you are with is bitten by a potentially rabid animal, wash the wound with soap and water and call a physician or emergency room immediately. The doctor will treat the wound and decide if post-exposure prophylaxis, or an injection of plasma followed by a series of rabies vaccinations is needed.

By keeping your pet’s rabies vaccination current, limiting your pet’s exposure to wildlife and teaching children how to handle pets appropriately, you can minimize the risk of rabies infection for everyone in your household.

The One Candidate Everyone Can Agree On: A Dog

Posted on September 17, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A gray dog looking up and wearing a patriotic bow around its neck.

With the presidential race now running full throttle, it’s understandable that you may pine for a kinder, gentler political campaign. One in which there’s no mudslinging, no partisan squabbling and no overblown claims requiring fact-checking. That’s why we’re happy to share this special edition of Dogs at Work featuring pet politicians who have held political offices.

Tai, President of Whangamomona, New Zealand — This standard poodle became the world’s first canine president in 2003, as a way for the residents to thumb their noses at a redistricting effort. Disgruntled by the new boundaries that put their town in a different region, residents renamed it the Republic of Whangamomona, where they could elect their own president each year. Preceded by Billy Gumboot the Goat and Murtle the Turtle, Tai held the office for months but resigned early, after a scandalous tussle with another dog over a bone.

Other animals have mounted unsuccessful campaigns for president in the United States, including a boar hog named “Pigasus the Immortal” in 1968 and a dachshund called Molly in 2008. During the 2016 election, a Kentucky resident by the name of Limberbutt McCubbins, a candidate of the feline persuasion, joined the presidential race as well.

While there’s only been one successful canine president, many cities have elected dog mayors:

Bosco, Mayor of Sunol, California — How can you lose with a campaign slogan like “a bone in every dish, a cat in every tree and a fire hydrant on every corner”? Running on the “Re-pup-lican” ticket, a Rottweiler-Labrador retriever mix beat out two human opponents in 1981 to become honorary mayor of the rural town of under 1,000 constituents. Bosco made international news when a Chinese newspaper denounced the election as an example of the failure of democracy. After a 13-year tenure, Bosco passed away. Today, a bronze statue, complete with a bandana around his neck, commemorates his years of service.

Lucy Lou, the First Female Canine Mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky — Following male canine mayors Junior and Goofy, this border collie bested 15 other candidates including a cat, an opossum and a human to win the seat in 2008. She served until 2016 when she stepped down to make an unsuccessful attempt at the U.S. presidency. She was succeeded by a pit bull named Brynneth Pawltro, who beat a donkey and a cat to win the mayoral seat.

Duke, Mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota — First elected in 2014, the Great Pyrenees has been so popular, he was reelected three times. Citizens pay one dollar to cast a vote, and the proceeds go to various projects around the village. As part of his duties, Duke appears in parades and hangs out at the local pub, for which he receives a year’s worth of dog food from a local pet food store as his salary.

Pa Kettle, Mayor of Divide, Colorado — It was a tight 2014 race, but in the end, the bloodhound triumphed over his opponents: a hedgehog, cat, donkey, wolf and several other dogs. Pa Kettle served until 2016 when a wolf named Shunka took over the post. Today, a Swiss mountain dog named Piper holds the esteemed office.

Stubbs, Mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska — Apparently the citizens of this city didn’t mind a leader who slept on the job because Stubbs the cat held this honorary office for 20 years. Dubbed Stubbs because he was born without a tail, the cat held office hours at Nagley’s General Store, where he was known to lap water infused with catnip from a wine glass.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Pet Pain Relief

Posted on September 3, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Maybe your pup roughhoused at the dog park and is now favoring a leg. Or your cat drops food from her mouth as if it’s painful to chew. What’s the harm in exploring your medicine cabinet for a little pain relief? After all, over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin are relatively harmless for people, so the same goes for pets, right?

Unfortunately, that kind of well-meaning thinking has led to potentially serious health problems for both cats and dogs. Since pets don’t metabolize these drugs like people do, medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen can be harmful or even deadly to your dog or cat.

As part of Animal Pain Awareness Month, we’re sharing some tips on pet pain relief to help keep your beloved ones safe.

Human NSAIDs and pets

Medications such as aspirin (Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) are considered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, but human NSAIDs, especially in high doses, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney failure, liver failure, bleeding problems and even neurological issues in pets. Cats are even more sensitive to NSAIDs than dogs. Signs of potential toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, black/tarry stools, pale or yellow gums, changes in amount or frequency of urination, collapse and seizures.

While acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a pain reliever and fever reducer, it has no anti-inflammatory properties, so it is not considered an NSAID. It may be combined with aspirin in products such as Excedrin. While acetaminophen can be toxic to dogs, it’s often fatal for cats. Ingestion can lead to liver damage and a condition called methemoglobinemia, in which red blood cells cannot carry necessary oxygen to the body. In these cases, the blood may actually appear brown rather than the healthy red color of oxygenated blood. Signs include increased respiratory rate, pale or muddy gums, vomiting, swelling of the face or extremities and collapse.

If you see these signs after inadvertently giving your pet over-the-counter human pain relievers, or after your pet accidentally chewed through the bottle of pain relievers in your purse or backpack, contact your veterinarian immediately or call the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

Pain relief dos and don’ts

So how can you help a pet that you suspect may be in pain?

  • DO schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Depending on the cause, the doctor may prescribe a veterinary NSAID for your pup that has been shown to be safe and effective in dogs. While there are no NSAIDs approved for long-term use in cats, your veterinarian may prescribe other medications for pain relief.
  • DON’T give your pet any over-the-counter pain medication without consulting your veterinarian first. Wouldn’t you rather ask now than end up at the emergency clinic later?
  • DON’T give your pet a veterinary NSAID that was prescribed for another pet. You may accidentally give the wrong dose, or this pet may have an underlying health condition or be on medications that aren’t compatible with the NSAID.
  • DO let your vet know what other medications your pet is taking. In particular, if they are already taking steroids such as prednisone or prednisolone, they shouldn’t start taking NSAIDs.
  • DON’T administer any additional NSAIDs if your pet is already taking a veterinary NSAID.
  • DO monitor them for potential side effects, if your dog is currently taking a veterinary NSAID. Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy are warning signs. Your veterinarian may also recommend periodic blood tests to make sure your dog’s liver and kidney values remain normal while on the medication.

When in doubt, your veterinarian is always your best resource for safeguarding your pet’s health.

Take the Stress Out of Vet Visits for Your Cat

Posted on August 20, 2020 - 3:09 pm by
Taste of the Wild

“White coat syndrome” is a very real phenomena. For people who suffer from this disorder, the mere sight of a doctor — usually clad in a white lab coat — is enough to send their blood pressure skyrocketing. A similar thing can happen to cats (and dogs), too. The stress of a trip to the vet can lead to caterwauling during the car ride and the uncanny ability to brace their paws inside the carrier, defying extrication.

Maybe that’s why 52 percent of cat owners claim their cats hate going to the veterinarian. And 38 percent of cat owners claim that just thinking about their cat at the vet made them feel stressed.

The result of these fears? Cats often don’t get the important health care they need. That’s why, as part of National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22, we’re sharing tips to help make vet visits less stressful for you and your cat.

Start preparing weeks before the appointment

It’s simply safer for you and your cat if they are in a carrier for the trip to and from the clinic. The carrier should be large enough to allow your cat to stand up and turn around inside. Ideally, the carrier should have a removable top, whether it’s a hard-plastic model that can be unscrewed or a soft-sided carrier with a zipper at the top.

If you already have a carrier, there’s a good chance that the sight of it is a cue for your cat to bolt under the bed — especially if your cat only associates negative experiences with it, such as trips to the veterinarian or the groomer. But now’s your chance to change that.

Make the carrier hard to resist

About a month before your appointment, start associating all things positive with the carrier.

Remove or open the top and place your cat’s favorite blanket inside, or an article of your clothing that carries your scent. Cat pheromones, which can make cats feel calmer, are another option for spraying on the blanket. Then place the lower portion of the carrier in a room the cat frequents, and leave it there so the cat can explore it at their leisure.

Scatter treats, catnip or toys in the carrier to make it even more enticing. You can also start to feed your cat outside the carrier and gradually, over the course of a few days, move the food bowl inside.

After your cat is comfortable being in the bottom part of the carrier, add the top, or zip the top closed, but leave the door open so your cat can come and go. Once your cat is comfortable with that, try closing the door for short periods of time and drop high-value treats inside so your cat associates awesome things with the carrier.

Help your cat become accustomed to the car

Now that your cat is comfortable in the carrier with the door closed, pick up the crate and carry it a few feet so your cat gets used to that feeling. Gradually increase the distance until you can place the carrier in the car.

Secure the carrier with a seat belt or other means so it doesn’t slide around. Drop a few treats in the carrier and start the car, let it idle for a short period, then stop. For some cats, it helps to drape a light blanket or towel over the carrier, so they aren’t scared by unfamiliar sights. The next day, take a trial drive around the block and gradually increase the length of your drive.

Schedule happy veterinary visits

Call your veterinary clinic and see if you can schedule a few “happy” visits for your cat. These are five- or ten-minute visits during which clinic staff brings your kitty into an exam room and delivers treats in a calm setting. This will help your cat adjust to the sights and smells of the clinic and associate positive feelings with it.

When it comes time for your cat’s actual appointment, rest assured that many clinics have “cat only” exam rooms, or spray cat-friendly pheromones in rooms, and know stress-free handling techniques to make your cat more copacetic with the visit. Depending on your cat’s medical condition, your veterinarian may be able to follow up with you over the phone or by video conference.

Finally, if your cat is still severely stressed, ask your veterinarian for a sedative medication that can be given to your cat a few hours before the appointment. Or you can consider working with a veterinarian who does house calls.

With a little help, your cat can learn that a veterinary visit doesn’t have to be scary. That, of course, can make your life a lot easier, too. And you can feel gratified that you’re providing your cat with the health care that could enhance and even extend his or her life.

Does Your Pet Need to See a Veterinary Nutritionist?

Posted on August 13, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A close-up of a white dog looking into the camera.

The food bowl is the center of the universe for most pets. The whir of a can opener or the clatter of kibble tumbling onto a plate is enough to rouse any dog or cat from a dead sleep and send them bounding into the kitchen. When you think about it, does anything impact your pet’s health more, on a daily basis, than the food you feed it?

While the majority of dogs and cats do just fine when fed a complete and balanced commercial diet, there are some cases where you may want to seek the specialized advice of a pet nutritionist.

What is a veterinary nutritionist?

Just as human doctors specialize in particular types of medicine, from dermatology to surgery, these veterinarians select nutrition as their specialty. While your eyes may glaze over when you read about carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids and other dietary ingredients, these doctors are fascinated by these topics.

After finishing 4 years of veterinary school, doctors must complete 1 year of general clinical experience and then an additional 2- to 3-year residency where they focus on the nutritional management of healthy pets and those with single or multiple diseases. To become board-certified, they must publish peer-reviewed research, write up detailed case reports and pass a grueling, 2-day written test.  At that point, they can add another title after their names: DACVN, which stands for Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.

Why consult a nutrition specialist?

There are several reasons why your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary nutritionist or you might seek a specialist’s advice on your own.

Your pet needs a therapeutic diet. Certain medical conditions, such as kidney or cardiac disease, benefit from a specialized, therapeutic diet. In some cases, there may be a commercial diet available by prescription but your pet does not like the taste. If no commercial diet is available for your pet’s particular condition, a board-certified nutritionist can tailor one to your pet’s needs.

Your pet has multiple medical conditions. Perhaps your pet has food allergies and chronic kidney disease, for example. Again, a nutritionist can develop a specially formulated diet to address both conditions.

Your pet needs to be fed through a tube. Some conditions, such as fatty liver disease in cats, may require a special liquid diet devised for a feeding tube.

You prefer a homemade diet. While there may be recipes for homemade diets on the internet, many of them are “generic” formulas that aren’t tailored to your pet and can be deficient in necessary nutrients. For the health of your pet, any homemade diet should be developed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Your pet is carrying a few extra pounds. A nutritionist can develop a personalized weight loss plan that helps your pet lose the weight and keep it off.

You want to know more about your pet’s nutrition. If you’d like an expert to identify your pet’s specific nutritional needs and recommend an individualized feeding plan, a veterinary nutritionist is your best resource.

Interested in a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist? Just ask your veterinarian for a referral or consult the Diplomate Directory at www.acvn.org.

Disabled Dogs Get by With a Little Help

Posted on August 6, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

In a world of designer dogs, there’s a special beauty to those who are, well, less than perfect. That includes the dogs with visible disabilities, who may have lost a limb or an eye, as well as those with less obvious impairments, such as deafness, anxiety or phobias.

Time and again, these dogs show us how to rise in the face of adversity and eschew self-pity as they clear off every item on the coffee table with one sweep of their happy tails. Thankfully, veterinarians and other animal health specialists are hard at work to help these dogs maintain mobility and live their fullest lives.

Canine prosthetics

Dogs may lose a limb for any number of reasons. With some types of cancer or leg fractures that are beyond repair, limb amputation can be life saving. Other dogs may simply be dealt the short stick genetically, resulting in birth defects that make walking a challenge. Still others, unfortunately, suffer from neglect by their owners.

In one instance, neighbors in South Carolina called the police to report that the Great Dane next door was tied up outdoors and emaciated. When the police arrived, they discovered the dog had chewed off the lower portion of his right rear leg to try to get away. After treatment and care from a local animal rescue organization, the dog regained strength but had trouble walking.

Enter Animal Ortho Care, a company in Sterling, Virginia, that creates custom-made thermoplastic prosthetics. Although many dogs adapt to three legs without a prosthetic, the company has created braces or prosthetic limbs for 20,000 animals, from dogs and cats to horses, sheep, birds and elephants, since it began in 2004.

Have wheels, will travel

Some dogs lose the use of their legs because of spinal cord injuries, degenerative conditions or other problems. In these cases, smaller dogs can be carried in modified infant slings or backpacks or even pulled in a wagon. If the dog has lost use of its rear limbs, the back end can be supported with portable slings or wheelchairs to help maintain mobility.

No sight or hearing? No problem

Pets may lose their eyesight because of trauma, cataracts or other conditions such as glaucoma (high eye pressure). Most adapt quite well, as long as you don’t move the furniture too often and don’t leave them unsupervised around stairs. Blind pets may be trained to follow sounds such as claps, clicks or whistles.

Loss of hearing is common in older dogs but may occur earlier from chronic ear infections and other causes. These dogs can also learn to follow hand signals in lieu of verbal commands.

With the help of dedicated health care professionals and patient owners, dogs with disabilities can maintain their mobility and live long, satisfying lives.