Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Safety Tips For Pets


Please follow these important precautions to ensure that you and your your pets have a safe and happy holiday!

1) Keep candy (chocolate is toxic) away from pesky paws! Many of our pets display amazing dexterity to reach those delicious sweet treats. Gum and diet candies are also toxic if they contain Xylitol. Xylitol can have fast, fatal consequences because it can cause a precipitous drop in blood sugar (acute hypoglycemia) and/or liver failure. It is easy to leave a pack of gum sitting out on the counter or on the car seat. Doublecheck before bedtime to make sure that the candy and gum has been stored in a secure cabinet in all rooms!

2) Watch out for Jack O'Lanterns and burning candles. Pets can easily knock them over, starting a fire. Electrical cords can be fun for a puppy to chew on. Be extra vigilant about keeping an eye out for your pet's location and activities.

3) Keep all cats (particularly black cats) and shy, nervous dogs safely inside a room away from the noise. Doorbells and excited trick-or-treaters can be very scary to them.

4) If your dog is happy greeting guests (and may even like to dress up!), then be sure to hold your dog firmly on a leash when you open the door. Masks and costumes can be very confusing to pets. Even a very calm dog might snap if a scary figure in a dark costume rapidly approaches them and the dog feels threatened.

5) Be sure all pets are fed and walked before trick-or-treaters arrive.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Feeding Pets Twice A Day Helps Their Digestion and Blood Sugar Regulation

For optimal health, it’s best to feed pets at least twice a day in portioned meals. This helps to regulate their blood sugar, improve digestion and overall health. If you free-feed, especially in a multiple pet household, there is a possibility that one pet may eat more than another which can lead to obesity. With a little time and patience, pets will get accustomed to a regular feeding schedule. Leaving out a few snacks or a small amount of dry food during the day while you are gone is ok, but save the larger portion of food for regular feeding schedules.

If your cat or dog has diabetes, it is important to feed them a high protein diet. Using Lypozyme and Power Probiotic will help improve digestion and metabolism. The Power Probiotic is very important because pets with diabetes are especially prone to urinary infections.
Monday, October 10, 2011

Labratory Tests (Blood and Urine) Are Essential to Pet Health

Have you brought your pet into the veterinarian for an annual check-up? Plan ahead before the holiday rush and bring your pet in for annual blood and laboratory tests as well as a complete health and dental exam. A visit to the vet is not just for vaccinations. Also, be sure to request a fecal exam too. Many pets can have worms, parasites and giardia without symptoms. These are highly contagious to other pets.

Before the holidays come upon us, be sure to have your pet completely checked out. Disease sets in long before you see the symptoms. For example, kidney disease doesn't even show up as abnormal on your pet's blood test (values are Creatitine, BUN and phosphorous) until your pet has lost 75% kidney function. Discovering problems at their initial stages is the key to keeping your pets happy and healthy. Be proactive about your pet's good health. Early detection of common health problems such as elevated liver enzymes, kidney disease, and diabetes will help ensure you will have lots of extra time to spend with your beloved pet.
Thursday, October 6, 2011

Warning Signs: When To Take Your Cat or Dog To the Veterinarian

Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian
VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital
Lake Forest, CA





Many times a phone call to the veterinarian is all that is needed. However, these warning signs warrant an immediate visit. If your cat or dog shows any of the following, please take your pet to the veterinarian right away.

· Any eye trauma

· Blood in urine or stool

· Vomiting or diarrhea--more than 1 instance

· Pet is lethargic, listless

· Insect bites (a small bite can cause a severe reaction)

· Limping

· Swollen stomach

· Punctures and abrasions (fur can hide a much deeper wound)

· Snake bites

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Puppy with Demodex Mange Gets New "Leash" on Life






















Annie was in big trouble. She was at the Orange County Animal Care Center, which is a high-kill shelter in Orange, California. Annie was being kept in isolation because she had tested positive for Demodectic Mange. All dogs have demodectic mange, but their healthy immune systems keep it under control.

Annie's immune system was compromised because of the stress of having to survive on the streets. She was four months old when she was brought to the shelter. The shelter had her listed as a male, and they had named her "Comet". She was not up for adoption to the general public. She had fur loss on her face and on her front legs.

Ariel Rescue saw that she needed our help! An Ariel Rescue volunteer was allowed to visit with "him". The kennel attendant had been told not to touch the dog and only to let the Ariel Rescue volunteer go into the kennel to visit with "him". The volunteer saw that "Comet" was just a sweet puppy, so the volunteer went to adopt "him". The volunteer was told that "Comet" could not stay at the shelter to be neutered; "he" had to be removed from the shelter immediately.

The volunteer took "Comet" to the vet to be examined. Imagine the volunteer's surprise when they found out that "Comet" was a female! New name -- "Annie". The vet said that they should wait a few weeks before Annie could be spayed, to give Annie's immune system a chance to improve.

Meanwhile Annie was being fostered by an Ariel Rescue volunteer. Annie was given very healthy food to eat. Susan Davis, the nutritionist of AskAriel.com, recommended that Annie be given the supplements Amazing Omegas, Power Probiotic and NotaSAN capsules, to help boost her immune system and get her skin and coat back into good condition.

What a difference a month makes! Annie's skin and coat have improved dramatically. Annie was able to be spayed and she bounced back nicely from the surgery. Annie, now named Lexi, got to go to her "forever home"! Instead of her life being in danger at the high-kill shelter, she is now safe, completely healthly and most of all, well-loved, living with her new "brother", and her new mom. Lexi is now the happy little puppy that she deserves to be!