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Name: DogWatch of North Alabama
Address: Huntsville, Alabama
Telephone: 256-880-1888

Category: pet health

November 14, 2019

Thanksgiving: What You Need to Know About How It Relates to Your Pet

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. Can you believe we are so close to the end of 2019? Where did this year go? As we are entering possibly the busiest season for most people, I want to leave you with a few reminders to make sure you keep your pets safe this Thanksgiving.

Picture this: you’re gathered around the table with all of your favorite family members—and maybe some you could have stood to go another year without seeing—whatever your situation may be, and your sweet fur baby sticks his or her head on the table and shamelessly stares at the turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole – the list goes on and on. What can he or she safely eat and what do you need to make sure is out of reach?

What are the no-nos of thanksgiving foods for my pet?

You need to avoid bread dough or dessert mixes, especially if they contain raw eggs due to the risk of salmonella. It’s best to avoid dessert altogether since many desserts contain things that are poisonous to pets, such as grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Also, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can be toxic to pets. For the full list of foods to avoid for your pets, click here.

What’s Safe?

There’s no need for your pet to miss out on the feast you get to enjoy. You just want to make sure you’re giving them food that’s prepared for their system to be able to handle. Turkey is probably the safest bet BUT only in small amounts. You also want to make sure the pieces you’re giving your pet are free of bones and skin. The skin on turkey is very fattening and can cause pancreatitis in pets, and bones present a choking risk. Consider pulling some plain sweet potatoes out before making your famous sweet potato casserole or plain mashed potatoes before adding butter, milk, and whatever else you add to make them the way you like them.

Other Concerns

There are other concerns for any pet surrounding the holidays. Some decorations and plants can be toxic to both cats and dogs. The ASPCA offers lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats, but the safest route is simply to keep your pets away from all plants and table decorations.

Remember to keep a close eye on your pets while guests are at your home. Many pets can easily slip out of an opened door unnoticed. – And while we are on that, make sure your pets have identification tags or they’re microchipped. And make sure your yard is properly secured, ideally, with a DogWatch Hidden Fence. —You also want to make sure your guests understand not to feed your animals table scraps. Don’t allow anyone other than yourself to give them what you choose and deem is appropriate for their system.

If you do find yourself in an emergency this thanksgiving (or anytime for that matter), you can call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435. There are also multiple pet emergency facilities for days just like this. You can find the one closest to you by searching online for “24/7 pet emergency”.

Remember, your pets can enjoy the holidays just as you can. By following a few simple steps and taking the time to prepare yourself and your home for the festivities, you can ensure that you and your furbaby are able to enjoy the day with everyone else.

Sources:

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/thanksgiving-pet-safety.aspx

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/thanksgiving-safety-tips

August 22, 2019

August is National Immunization Month

Hello August! Some of our favorite things begin in August, things such as football and cooler weather. August is also National Immunization Month. There’s a lot of hype surrounding immunizations in our children. Although we aren’t going to weigh in on that topic, immunizations in pets are important and should be taken seriously. Immunizations help prevent diseases that in the long run can cost you a lot of money and your pet his or her life or quality of life.

What immunizations does my pet need?

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, cats should be given immunizations, every three years, for core diseases such as:
• Rhinotracheitis
• Calivirus
• Rabies
• distemper

Dogs should be given immunizations for core diseases every one to three years:
• distemper
• rabies
• adenovirus
• Bordetella (parvovirus)

There are other vaccines that can be given and recommended depending on the pet.

Why does my pet need these immunizations?

Of course, the biggest concern that prompts one to give immunizations is to keep your pet (and your family) healthy, but there are other reasons to take into consideration.

One reason it’s important to keep immunizations up to date is boarding. Most, if not all, boarders are going to require you to provide proof of immunizations. They want to know that the pets they are keeping aren’t going to get each other sick.

Another reason is if for any reason you come in contact with animal control, you want those vaccinations up to date. No one ever thinks their pet will be one that animal control is called on. But it happens. For example, if someone’s dog bites someone else and animal control is contacted, the dog is typically put into quarantine for a number of days. The owner must show proof that the dog is up to date on their rabies shot. If not, the owner of the dog can be cited. If so and the dog checks out ok during quarantine, typically you’re able to go back to your everyday life.

Immunizations in pets can keep them healthy and keep your family healthy. They can also help the owner avoid high vet bills for preventable diseases. They can help avoid not being able to board his or her dog and help avoid costly fines if his or her dog encounters animal control for any reason. Take note and remember that vaccines are a lot less costly than the ramifications that can come from not having your pet vaccinated.

May 25, 2019

Pet Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. It’s important to know how common it is, what to look for, and how to proceed if you think your pet may have cancer. Cancer in pets is more common than one might think, and with advances in veterinary medicine, treatment and survival is more possible than ever before.

One in four dogs will develop neoplasia, an abnormal growth of cells and almost half of dogs over 10 will develop cancer. There are limited known facts regarding cancer in cats.

Cancer in a pet is diagnosed much like in humans. Many times, it is found through a physical exam or bloodwork. From there a sample of cells or a biopsy is performed to confirm diagnosis and can help determine if a tumor cancerous or not. If the biopsy does show cancer, further biopsies may be performed to determine how much it has spread.

Also, much like human diagnosis and testing, CT scans and PET scans are performed to give the veterinarian a better idea of the location and treatment options.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, possible signs of neoplasia includes the following:

Abdominal swelling
Bleeding from the mouth, nose or other body openings
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty eating
Lumps, bumps or discolored skin
Non-healing wounds
Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
Sudden changes in weight
Unexplained swelling, heat, pain or lameness
Visible mass/tumor

Although these symptoms do not always mean a tumor or cancer, they should receive prompt veterinary care. Early diagnosis is key to treating and beating cancer in pets.

Many of the treatments for cancer in pets is just the same as humans including surgery, freezing, chemo, radiation, and many others. There’s no clear-cut treatment for cancer in general. Treatment will be tailored to the type and stage that your pet is in.

The key to a good outcome is early detection and treatment. If your pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms above, please see medical advice for them as soon as possible. You can learn more by visiting the link below.

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Cancer-in-Pets.aspx

May 1, 2019

Lyme Disease: How do I protect my pet?

I’m sure at some point, all pet owners and even non pet owners have been affected by the tick population. May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month. With pets being outside a lot, and being in the south, our pets are very susceptible to tick borne illness, one of which is Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease can affect humans and animals alike, and the good news is, there are ways to prevent your pets from becoming infected.

Lyme Disease can be prevented by using a reliable tick-prevention product. It’s a good idea to try to avoid areas of tall grass and wooded areas since ticks are commonly found here. Keeping your own yard maintained (cutting the grass consistently, weed eating, trimming shrubbery) can aid in keep the population of ticks down. Also, it’s important to check your pets (and yourself) once you are inside. Ticks tend to like areas where they may be easily hidden like under the legs, between toes, and in the ears.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in pets include fever, loss of appetite, swelling of the joints, decreased activity, and difficulty walking. These symptoms could not show until months after a bite. Lyme disease can mimic other illness so it can go undetected at times. Luckily, antibiotics have been developed to treat Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease is only passed through tick bites so it is not something that can be passed from animal to animal, human to animal, or animal to human; however, if you or your pet is diagnosed with Lyme disease, it is recommended that the other be tested since you live in a shared environment.

Lyme Disease can be a deadly disease but with prevention and early detection, the prognosis can be good for pets and humans. The first place you want to start is by reaching out to your veterinarian regarding getting your pet started on tick prevention. If you do not have a vet, please contact us. We have several local vets that we are able to recommend with the confidence that they will provide you and your pet with exceptional service.