Tag: pets

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.

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.

Pet Poison Safety Tips: Is Your Home Really Poison-Proof?

Posted on March 12, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A small white dog sitting behind grapes, chocolate and other common foods that may be poisonous to your pet.

Pets have a way of getting into things they shouldn’t. The chocolate bar that fell between the sofa cushions. The bottle of aspirin you left on the kitchen table. Or that slug bait on the garage floor. Since next week is Poison Prevention Week, we thought everyone could use a few safety tips on how to poison-proof your house.

Here are some of the top toxins that pets can typically find around the house:

  • Houseplants — While households with cats should avoid many types of lilies, other plants, such as sago palms and dieffenbachia, can be problematic for pets, too. But don’t worry if you’re really into houseplants. There are plenty that are generally safe for pets. These include spider plants, Boston ferns, African violets, Christmas cacti, Swedish ivy, lipstick plants, moth orchids and some succulents such as Haworthia, Peperomia and burro’s tail.
  • Human over-the-counter medications — Drug toxicity is a top claim at Nationwide Pet Insurance because people intentionally give their pets medications intended for humans. Just because some over-the-counter drugs like pain relievers, cold medications and herbal supplements don’t need a prescription doesn’t mean they’re OK for pets. Play it safe: Never give your dog or cat a human medication unless you have been directed to do so by your veterinarian.
  • Human and pet prescription medications — Think you have trouble getting into those child-proof bottles? Some pets can make quick work of them, getting into potentially dangerous drugs like ADHD medications, antidepressants, and heart medications. Some prescription medications for pets often contain meat flavoring, which may entice pets to down a month’s worth of doses at once.
  • People food — You’re probably well aware that some foods, such as grapes, chocolate and onions, can be dangerous for pets. But never forget that a determined pet can knock over the garbage and swallow chicken bones, coffee grounds, wrappers, moldy food and items that may be toxic, lead to pancreatitis, or require emergency surgery to remove them.
  • All things that require batteries — Most dog owners have probably had to replace a TV remote or two. But leaving any battery-operated devices, such as toys and smartphones, lying around can lead to a trip to the emergency clinic with your pet. And power cords, while not toxic, can lead to electric shock or worse if your pet chews on them. Keep all these items out of your pet’s reach.
  • Medical or recreational marijuana — Today’s marijuana often contains significantly more THC than in years past. Dogs and cats can become poisoned by exposure to marijuana smoke as well as eating pot plants or cookies, brownies or candies made with this ingredient.

That’s just a short list of what your dog or cat might find in your house.  Want more details? Here’s a room-by-room checklist of possible pet toxins.

Of course, if you suspect that your pet may have gotten into a toxin, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately.