THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING PET HAZARDS

Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday season. There are some hazards that we have to be mindful of when preparing food we feed our guests. Not hosting for Thanksgiving? We have some helpful travel information for you as well.

Turkey 

This can cause a condition called pancreatitis. Dog’s bodies can’t digest greasy, fatty foods. Many dogs can vomit, stop eating and become dehydrated.

Deserts

Chocolate can be harmful for pets, even though many dogs find it tempting and will sniff it out and eat it. The artificial sweetener called xylitol – commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods – also can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats.

Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.

Garbage

A turkey carcass sitting out on the carving table, or left in a trash container that is open or easily opened, could be deadly to your family pet. Dispose of turkey carcasses and bones – and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as strings, bags and packaging – in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed, locked door).

Hosting family or friends

Visitors can upset your pets. Some pets are shy or excitable around new people or in crowds, and Thanksgiving often means many visitors at once and higher-than-usual noise and activity levels. If you know your dog or cat is nervous when people visit your home, put him/her in another room or a crate with a favorite toy. This will reduce the emotional stress on your pet and protect your guests from possible injury. If your pet is particularly upset by house guests, talk to your veterinarian about possible solutions to this common problem.

Watch the exits. Even if your pets are comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely, especially when people are entering or leaving your home. While you’re welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, a four-legged family member may make a break for it out the door and become lost.

Identification tags and microchips reunite families. Make sure your pet has proper identification with your current contact information – particularly a microchip with up-to-date, registered information. That way, if they do sneak out, they’re more likely to be returned to you. If your pet isn’t already microchipped, talk to your veterinarian about the benefits of this simple procedure.

Traveling with your pet

Your pet needs a health certificate from your veterinarian if you’re traveling across state lines or international borders, whether by air or car.  Learn the requirements for any states you will visit or pass through, and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get the needed certificate within the time frames required by those states.

Never leave pets alone in vehicles, even for a short time, regardless of the weather.

Pets should always be safely restrained in vehicles. This means using a secure harness or a carrier, placed in a location clear of airbags. This helps protect your pets if you brake or swerve suddenly, or get in an accident; keeps them away from potentially poisonous food or other items you are transporting; prevents them from causing dangerous distractions for the driver; and can prevent small animals from getting trapped in small spaces. Never transport your pet in the bed of a truck.

Pack for your pet as well as yourself if you’re going to travel together. In addition to your pet’s food and medications, this includes bringing medical records, information to help identify your pet if it becomes lost, first aid supplies, and other items.

Information proved by AVMA.

Fall And Your Pets

Fall is the perfect time of year. The smell of the leaves changing, sweatshirt and jean weather! 

Unfortunatley, for some of our furry friends this can be a miserable time of year. There are other hazards pets can encounter. 

Our pets can have allergies just like we can. While we may become conjested, they will itch/lick their paws, belly, armpits and ears. 

Allergies can be difficult to diagnose or treat. Often times, it requires medications, food change and/or even bathing. Here are some of the ways our doctors may treat your pet:

• Food trial: Our doctorsmay put them on hydrolized protein source (something the body doesn't recognize as an allergy). This is a food that highly restricted in the type of proteins so that the body doesn't recognize it, therefore we hope they would not be allergiv to it. This is to be fed by itself with out treats. 
• Cytopoint injection: This is a 4 week injectable medication that works with your pets immune system to fight the allergens. The antibodies within the Cytopoint injection are designed to specifically target and neutrolize one of the main proteins that sends itch signals to the brain. 
• Apoquel: This tablet works at the source of the allergic itch to give relief regardless of the allergen. This can be used long term with laboratory monitoring. 
• Allergy injections: We utilize Spectrum Laboratory which test your pets blood to see what they are allergic to. Depending on what allergens come up on the test, there are injections that you can give on a schedule they provide for you to target those specific allergens. 
• Steriods: These can be used to stop the itch on a short term basis. This does not treat the source of the allergen. 

Rodenticide toxicity can be prominent this time of year due to the number of mice that are coming in our houses to get out of the cold. These items inhibit the enzyme vitamin K which is responsible for allowing the blood to clot. It can also cause nervous system problems and kidney disease. Some signs of rodenticide toxicity are:

• Pale gums
• Bruising
• Bleeding from the mouth or nose
• Seizures
• Increased drinking or urination

Treatment may include either outpatient therapy or hospitalization, depending on the typed of rodenticide injested. 

Tick bourne diseases are of high concern also. Ticks are out if there is no snow cover and the temperature is 35 degrees or warmer. Both Lyme and Anaplasma are high on the list of tick diseases we see in this area. 

• Lyme disease can cause stiffness of the joints, inappetence, and if severe enough, kidney failure. 
• Anaplasma can call inappetence and the bodies inability to clot as it attacks the platelets. 

This is why we recommend year round flea and tick prevention.

Even though this time of year is beautiful, there are still hazards looming that you need to be aware of for your pets. Whether it's as simple as allergies or as devstating as rodenticide injestion. 

We hope you have a wonderful fall season!!!!!