Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital P-LLC
July 2010 Newsletter
Happy 4th of July. Have a safe and fun filled weekend. It is a
great time to spend with friends and family. Picnics and barbecues are always a
good way to celebrate. If a vacation is in the future for this month, be sure
that you have all the necessary information to take to your kennel or with you.
If you have a pet sitter it is a good idea to call your veterinarian and let
them know how long you will be gone, who is watching your pets and give them
permission to have the pets treated if the need arises.
Taste This
Unlike humans, both cats and dogs lack
a keen sense of taste. Humans have 9,000 taste buds compared to 473 in cats and
1706 in dogs. Cats and dogs rely more on their keen sense of smell and less on
their sense of taste to identify and differentiate food items. Canine and
feline taste buds are able to detect the difference between sweet, sour, salty
and bitter foods.
Studies show that flavors introduced to dogs and cats very early in life tend to
be preferred later in life. Habit, adaption and survival instincts probably
play a role in the types of food accepted by dogs and cats. A strong avoidance
of bitter tastes likely reflects the common presence of bitter tastes in decayed
and potentially poisonous substances. Undesirable tastes can also develop if a
dog or cat gets ill (especially nauseated) within hours of eating. Animals
learn quickly to avoid potentially unsafe food items.
Feeding your Felines
A recent study shows a large
discrepancy between the owners and the felines perceptions of feeding habits.
This survey was performed by 9Lives a division of Del Monte Foods Co.
(Pittsburgh). Approximately 94% of American cat owners believe they are feeding
their felines a nutritious meal according to the Pet Parent Purrception Survey
conducted by Kelton Research in December 2009. However, 48 percent also feed
their cats table food about 7 times a month. Many people feed their cats foods
that they think are healthy such as root vegetables (73%), green tomatoes (54%)
and raw potatoes (50%). One in four respondents (23%) said a vegetarian diet is
a wholesome choice for cats. Most veterinarians and leading animal
welfare/protection groups do not recommend vegan or vegetarian diets for cats.
Most cats are lactose intolerant but only 30% of respondents knew milk was not a
wholesome choice for cats. Nutritional and value go hand in hand to most cat
owners and 75% believe that nutritious foods are more expensive. Nine out of ten
people polled said they would be willing to switch foods if they knew it would
improve their cat's health and add years to it's life. This survey was sent to
1,001 American cat owners age 18 and older and the marginal room for error was
plus or minus 3.1%.
Inner Peace
If you can start the day without
caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then you are probably.........
The family dog!!!
Heat Stroke
The Nashville area can
be very hot during the months of June, July, August, and September. These are
the times when the threats of heat strokes in pets most often occur. The cause
of a heat stroke is the pet's inability to withstand the heat building up in
it's body. Most pets pant when they are hot, but many times the panting can't
control the rise in temperature and the body will overheat.
If you suspect that your pet is having a heatstroke, it is a veterinary
emergency. A pet's symptoms are as follows: excessive panting, increased
salivation, glazed eyes or staring, anxiety or restlessness, gums and tongue
that appear bright red. confusion, trouble standing or walking, collapse, and
vomiting. If these symptoms are noted, you should cover the pet with cool
towels, or put it in a tub of cool water. Do not use ice or ice water because
you do not want the pet to be cooled down too quickly. Call your
veterinarian immediately.
Leaving you pet in a car, even on cooler days, may result in heatstroke. More
common ways are walking or playing with your pet outside on a hot day. Pets may
also have a heatstroke while swimming. It is good to remember that if it is 85
degrees outside and the humidity is 89 percent, it will feel as if it is 101
degrees.
Make sure your pet has fresh water and shade at all times, limit physical
activity in the early morning or late in the afternoon. Remember that heat
strokes can occur any time of the day.
More tidbits from pet.webmd.com
Staying Independent: Specially trained dogs can
perform tasks that let people with Parkinson's disease maintain their
independence. They can pick up dropped items or fetch requested ones. They can
provide balance support, open and close doors, and turn lights on with their
paws. They can also sense when someone with Parkinson's is "freezing" and touch
the foot to let the person keep walking. Groups like the Delta Society can help
you find a good service dog.
Help for Lowering Cholesterol: To manage cholesterol, doctors still recommend
that you follow guidelines regarding diet, exercise, and medication. Owning a
pet has the potential of making it easier to avoid the dangers of cholesterol.
Researchers have noted lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people
who own pets compared to people who don't. However, this could be attributed to
lifestyle factors of pet owners.
Fewer Strokes Among Cat Owners: Researchers aren't sure why but cat owners have
fewer strokes than people who don't own cats. It's partly due to the effects
owning a pet can have on a person's circulation. Researchers speculate that
cats may have a more calming effect on their owners than other animals do. It
may also have something to do with the personality of a cat owner. Cats often
become the focus of their owner's interest which diverts them from other
stressful worries.
Breeders Targeted
Changes are taking place in state
laws regarding the operations of dog kennels. Pennsylvania, "puppy mill capital
of the east", has struggled to improve it's image by passing laws that crack
down on irresponsible breeding and kennel operations. So far 125 of the state's
300 kennels have been shut down which may result in an onslaught of dumped
dogs. The new law requires class C kennels, those that breed 60 dogs per year
and sell an ship to dealers or pet stores to improve their facilities. They
must double the minimum floor space, provide outside exercise areas, keep kennel
temperatures above 50 degrees, provide water at all times, remove all wire
flooring from canine living quarters, stop stacking cages upon each other and
have the dogs checked by a veterinarian twice each year. Many breeders and
kennels tried to change these laws but were shot down by a federal judge. Many
other states are adopting the same laws and the result may mean the closing of
more kennels. This in turn will result in a flood of dogs going into shelters
and humane societies. Kennels and breeders are trying to get rid of some of
their dogs to get below the 60 dog kennel classification. Many breeders have
elected to euthanize their dogs rather than sending them to shelters. When a
"puppy mill" puppy is adopted, it is often hard to socialize it and many of them
die after they are adopted due to parasites and other diseases.
Whenever you adopt a puppy, it is best to make sure that there is a guarantee,
and take the puppy and a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian for an exam.
This could save you heartache and problems later on. The sooner any issues are
diagnosed the better the chance of survival and recovery.
Clinic News and
Recaps
1. Remember to get your
supply of Advantage Multi and Advantix before August 31st to take advantage of
the free dose specials.
2. With summer here it is advised to have your pet's stools checked twice a
year for parasites.
3. Make sure your outside pets have plenty of shade and fresh water.
4. Take all your pet's pertinent information with you when you travel
5. Keep you pets vaccines up to date. Remember parvo virus spreads more
easily in the hot weather.
6. All pets inside and out should be on heartworm and flea/tick prevention.
7. With the 4th of July comes fireworks and storms are common at this time of
year, so safe guard your pets and if they need tranquilization during this time,
contact your veterinarian.
8. During BBQs and family gatherings, be sure your pets are some where they
can't escape due to doors and fences being opened and closed by guests.
9. Call your boarding kennel far in advance for reservations. Summer months
are busy with vacations being planned.
10. Heartworm tests should be performed every other year, even if the pet is on
preventative year round. If you have missed any of the monthly doses the test
should be done annually.
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