I’m glad it’s not me saying it this time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just issued a statement warning us about the dangers for dogs to chew on bones. Bones can ... [Read more]]]>

I’m glad it’s not me saying it this time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just issued a statement warning us about the dangers for dogs to chew on bones. Bones can cause serious injury.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death.”

Dispose of bones in a way your dog can’t get to them, such as taking the trash out right away or putting the bones out of your dog’s reach until you have a chance to throw them away properly.

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Here are ten reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone, according to the FDA:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.

2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to your veterinarian.

3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.

4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.

5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately.

6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.

7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.

8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.

9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.

10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

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Alternatives

Offer your dog alternatives to bones. There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on. One great resource is Nylabone’s web site. I buy their edible bones all the time and keep a couple of Nylabone Pro Action Advanced Dentals around for my dogs to chew on during the day. It helps clean their teeth and I replace them when knuckle ends are worn down.

No rawhide

Do not replace bones for rawhide, which can be as life threatening as bones. Read more about it here. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your dog while he’s playing with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn’t had before.

Something safe for when you are away

If you want something safe to entertain your dog while you are away, classic Kong toys filled with peanut butter are a great option. But please supervise your dog with the Kong toy for the first several times you give it to him, so you make sure it’s safe.

I have received no compensation to recommend any of those products. I recommend only what I have tested at home and approved.

If you buy the products through the links available on this post, you will help The Daily Tail keep going. Thank you for your support!

I encourage you to use flea and tick control products on your pet if your veterinarian determines it’s safe. These meds are great for protecting pets and people. Fleas and ticks can transmit ... [Read more]]]>

I encourage you to use flea and tick control products on your pet if your veterinarian determines it’s safe. These meds are great for protecting pets and people. Fleas and ticks can transmit diseases to animals and humans.

But please, carefully read and follow all label instructions before exposing your pet to them. Flea and tick products are very toxic. They are pesticides.

Here are some tips I adapted from The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to handle these meds and how to report incidents if you see any changes on your pet’s appearance or mood. (Read here information on possible signs of adverse reactions).

How to decide if your pet should get tick & flea meds

• Ask your veterinarian about the best way to protect your pet from fleas and ticks and if pesticides are even needed.

• Be extra careful when using them on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant or nursing pets.

• Do not apply spot-ons to pets known to be sensitive to pesticide products.

• Carefully read and follow the product label before applying the product.

• Use flea and tick control products only on the animal specified by the product label – for example, dog products for dogs only and cat products for cats.

• Apply only the amount indicated for the size of the animal being treated.

• Do not apply to kittens or puppies unless the product label specifically allows this treatment. Pay attention to the age restrictions for puppies and kittens on the label.

• Monitor your pet for side effects or signs of sensitivity after applying the product, particularly when using the product for the first time.

• If your pet experiences an adverse reaction, immediately bathe the pet with mild soap and rinse with large amounts of water.

• Keep the package AND the product container (the applicator tubes) after applying it, in case you see adverse effects. You will want to have the instructions at hand as well as contact information for the manufacturer.

How to report an incident

• Identify the EPA registration number and contact information for the manufacturer on the package and product container (the applicator tubes).

• Report all adverse effects to the manufacturer, who is required by law to report it to EPA. You may also want to report the incident to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), 1-800-858-7378.

• Encourage your vet to do the same at the NPIC’s Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal.

• Tell EPA, by forwarding the information in the agency’s “ask a question” site.
  • Go to the Pesticides Frequent Questions page
  • Select “flea and tick” in the drop-down box
  • Check instruction on the first question, about reporting an incident.

You can read more information on pet products and safety tips here.

Usually, they laugh when I answer, “Me, of course!”

I smile back and listen to their remarks about ... [Read more]]]> When I walk my three goofy dogs at the park, people often ask me, “Who’s in charge?”

Usually, they laugh when I answer, “Me, of course!”

I smile back and listen to their remarks about how funny I am for thinking I could be in control. Then I remember all the dangerous situations my dogs have been in when I was not the alpha — no laughing matter, for sure.

Frieda in the backyard. (Daniela Caride photo)

Frieda has fallen into a hole at a frozen pond because she left her pack to go play nearby. More than once, Geppetto has had to fend off an angry dog by himself because I didn’t step in before the tension escalated. And Lola on several occasions has wandered too close to traffic, following the aroma from the donut shop across the street instead of following me.

I have gone through a lot with my cats, too. Crosby and Bo like to ambush Gaijin, the smallest one, because she runs away, screaming. To them, she’s a living squeaky toy. But to her, it’s a stressful, unhappy situation.

I don’t cherish any of those memories, but I’ve learned a lot from them. My dogs and cats have become much more obedient after I’ve begun testing techniques I find in books, DVDs and blogs.

I’m still not an expert in cat or dog behavior. But I’m someone with four cats and three dogs who loves to help other people. And, as a pet blogger and journalist, I want to share what I learn with you.

That’s why I’ve decided to launch a column called “Dear alpha.” Tell me about your dog and cat problems, and I’ll tell you what I know. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll research it. And, chances are, one of my thousands of readers may also come up with a solution.

Generally, behavioral problems happen for any number of reasons, and I don’t believe interactions between animals can be solved with formulas. Sometimes we think our pets should change, and we find out we’re the ones who need to act differently.

Whatever it is that you’re going through, I’m willing to bring it to discussion. Please click here to submit your questions, observations and suggestions to “Dear alpha,” or press “Contact” on the upper menu.

I look forward to hearing from you!

The company compiled information based on over a ... [Read more]]]> Here are the top ten medical conditions that drew pet owners to the vet in 2009, according to VPI, the nation’s largest pet health insurance provider.

The company compiled information based on over a million claims filed along the year for treatment of cats and dogs.

A few of the top 10 dog and cat conditions can be associated with an animal’s natural aging process. But several others can occur in any pet, no matter the age or breed.

The best way to keep your pet healthy is to monitor your pet (see how you can do it here), so you’ll be able to find abnormal behaviors that might indicate an injury or illness.

Also, it’s always good to take your pet to annual vet visits for a health check up. This way, the vet may spot a problem before it turns into something more serious and more expensive to treat.

Read the entire VPI press release here.

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Cassady, lounging on her bed. (Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner)

Fluffy the Destroyer (Photo courtesy of the Feline Adoption & Rescue Society)

Many cats aren’t destructive. Two of my cats are veritable angels. But Fluffy is the Genghis Khan of the ... [Read more]]]> By DeVona Dors*

Fluffy the Destroyer (Photo courtesy of the Feline Adoption & Rescue Society)

Many cats aren’t destructive. Two of my cats are veritable angels. But Fluffy is the Genghis Khan of the cat kingdom. I feel it’s impossible to have cats and keep your furnishings intact, but there are many things you can do to make them last longer.

• Get a scratching post

Cats need to exercise their claws, so a sturdy scratching post that doesn’t move is a must. Cats avoid scratching wobbly objects. That’s why sofas are so inviting.

Fluffy’s vet suggested a rope-covered scratching post because it’s a lot to expect a cat to differentiate between the carpet covering a scratching post and the one covering the floor. The scratching post must be as tall as the cat when she’s stretching.

• Trim nails weekly

The vet also recommended weekly claw trimming to diminish Fluffy’s need to scratch.

• Beware of inviting upholstery

A cat claw objects with an inviting “paw feel.” Upholstery fabrics with a “good paw feel” include those with a nubby texture, a high-and-low relief texture and an open weave, which means she can easily sink in her claws and pull them out. Suede and textured leather can also invite a good scratch from a cat with needle-sharp claws.

Upholstery fabrics that discourage clawing have a boring paw feel. Those fabrics typically aren’t textured and are so tightly woven that a cat can’t hook her claws in them for a good shredding.

For example, tightly woven polished cotton, satin, close-cropped velvet and hard-finished highly polished leather don’t offer clawing satisfaction. Fluffy the Destroyer ignores those types of upholstery.

If you are considering purchasing upholstered furniture, first buy a fabric sample and staple it to a heavy, immovable object. If your cat ignores it, that’s a good choice.

• Hardwood floor, then rugs, then carpet

Carpet with loops, nubs or a loose weave invites a “Let’s shred it now!” response. I have hand-woven Oriental rugs over hardwood floors, and even Fluffy the Destroyer leaves them alone. The carpeting in the family room has not fared so well. I ended up covering most of it with an Oriental carpet. Hardwood floors are always a safe bet for flooring. The slick finish doesn’t have “good paw feel.”

• Blind and shutters instead of draperies

Likewise, blinds and shutters are better than draperies, which may encourage a cat to shred and climb.

Before Fluffy entered our lives, we had bought a new sofa, chair and ottoman with a flat-finish tightly-woven fabric. Our two cats ignored the furniture, but Fluffy clawed the sofa vigorously. Think “The Terminator with fur,” and you’ve got the picture. Fluffy’s vet said that once a cat starts scratching a piece of furniture, he’ll go back to the same spot. She suggested several solutions.

• Consider Soft Paws

One solution was a product called Soft Paws. It’s a glue-on claw covering with rounded tips. It comes in a variety of fetching colors. The downside is that the coverings must be replaced as the cat’s claws grow out, and some cats resist to having something glued on their claws. Putting them on can be a frustrating struggle of flying glue and flailing paws.

Keep in mind that claws are one of cat’s most powerful defense weapons during a fight and an important tool to keep balance when jumping. The cat sinks the claws when she feels she will fall to adhere to a surface. So if you have an outdoor cat, this product might not be recommended.

• Try repellents

A second solution was to spray a repellent on the furniture. Supposedly, cats hate the scent of citrus, a component used in many sprays. Fluffy the Destroyer didn’t mind it at all.

• Consider Sticky Paws

A third solution was to put a double-sided sticky tape called Sticky Paws on the scratched area. Cats avoid sticky surfaces because they have “bad paw feel.” Fluffy hated the tape and avoided scratching the sofa. Problem solved. The tape is somewhat invisible, but it yellows with time and catches loose cat hair, so it must be replaced once in a while.

• Cover the furniture

Then Fluffy discovered an old hide-a-bed in the guest room with loosely woven upholstery. He began clawing it, and soon my other two cats were doing the same. (Perhaps there’s some base in reality for the word “copycat.”) A tie-on cover proved to be the simplest remedy. And that was the end of our problems with Fluffy the Destroyer.

* Daniela Caride, The Daily Tail’s publisher, contributed to this post. A shorter version of this story was published in the Feline Adoption & Rescue Society‘s newsletter, Cat Chat, which Daniela edits.

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Frieda ready to celebrate. (Daniela Caride photo)

What to do

• Before ... [Read more]]]> The key for a happy Thanksgiving with your pet is to plan ahead. Here is a list of things you should look into.

Frieda ready to celebrate. (Daniela Caride photo)

What to do

• Before the event, tell your guests about your pet’s size and personality.

• Tell your guests not to feed your pet and why — people may be more careful if they know many of the ingredients and foods being served are poisonous to pets.

• Keep your pet’s treats handy for your guests. It may prevent them from feeding your pet table scraps.

• Teach your guests how to approach your pet and how he likes to be petted. Make sure children are accompanied by an adult when around your pet.

• Keep your pet on his regular diet. Even a Thanksgiving meal with no poisonous ingredients may threaten your pet’s health. It can upset his stomach, cause diarrhea and even pancreatitis (canine and feline).

• Dispose aluminum foil and plastic wrap properly. Your pet may try to eat them because of the food taste, which may poison him (because of spices and fatty ingredients) and/or cause an intestinal obstruction.

• Be careful with holiday plants and decorations. Hollies and lilies are dangerous to pets (more about toxic plants). Glass ornaments can shatter, and candles can cause a fire or get your pet burned.

• If your pet is not comfortable in noisy, mobbed places or tries to bolt outside every time the door is opened, confine him to a quiet room with food, water, a bed or crate and safe toys.

• Take your dog for his walks as scheduled. You can also walk him once more or go for a longer walk before the party, so he will be tired and calmer when guests arrive.

• Make sure your dog is wearing his collar with current ID tags.

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Foods to avoid

• Turkey – If you decide to give your pet a bit of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria. Avoid giving him turkey skin, which can be fatty (particularly on Thanksgiving, when it’s prepared with butter, oils and spices) and hard to digest.

• Sage – Hide sage from your pet. It contains essential oils and resins that can cause stomach upset and central nervous system depression if eaten in large amounts.

• Raw bread dough can be life threatening to pets. It rises in the pet’s stomach, causing terrible abdominal pain, vomit and even bloat.

• Bones – Do not give any bones to your dog. A cooked bone can splinter, causing serious health problems if ingested, such as stomach perforation.

• Cake Batter – Keep cake batter out of reach of your pet, especially if it contains raw eggs, which may contain salmonella.

• Gravy and buttery side dishes – Fatty foods may cause stomach upset, vomit, diarrhea and pancreatitis on your pet.

• Remember onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate and alcohol are also toxic to your pet.

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It’s better to be on the safe side than spoiling the party because of accidents that could have been avoided. By preparing yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving next to your loved ones without surprises.

Happy Thanksgiving!