ePetDrugs Blog

My neighbour went to the state fair this past week and brought back the traditional gifts for my children: cotton candy and every freebie he could get his hands on.  Organizations ranging from the Red Cross to local colleges to wineries give away bookmarks, refrigerator magnets, balsa wood gliders, calendars, whistles…and flying discs.  We once gave the plastic flying discs to our dog but quickly learned that what is a great toy for a human isn’t always a great toy for a dog.  It wasn’t that she didn’t love them—she did.  But the discs were shredded after just a few play sessions and we always wondered if those pieces of plastic were ending up in Maggie’s stomach.  We switched to discs made of a unrippable material but recently found a rubbery disc that is easier on Maggie’s teeth and doesn’t shred: Zogoflex Discs.  They also carry Huck and Tux—wacky shaped balls that are unpredictable when they bounce which just adds to the fun.  Best of all, especially at our house that includes a large pond, they float.

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Jodi Webb

With colder weather approaching in the Northern climates that eternal question—Should my dog wear clothes?—is rearing it’s head once again. Before you go out and buy your furry friend a cable knit sweater ask yourself a few question:

1. What breed is he? Dogs like Labradors or Collies have so much fur clothing would quickly overheat them. Dogs with short hair(Great Danes) or accustomed to warm climates(Chihuahuas) might need some extra warmth.

2. What climate is my individual dog used to? If your Chihuahua has lived in the frozen tundra of the Maine all his life he may have adjusted to cooler weather. If your Cocker Spaniel has lived in Fort Lauderdale all his life, a Christmas visit to family in Minnesota may make him chillier than if he lived in Minnesota. He might need a sweater for the visit.

3. Does he like clothes? Some dogs don’t like clothes, period. They’d rather find an alternative way to warm up such as walking faster when outside or burrowing under a blanket indoors. Dogs that don’t like clothes are more likely to try to get out of them and more likely to end up with them tangled around their neck or face.

4. Does he still need the clothes? A dog’s need for clothes can change from year to year and hour to hour. As a small puppy he might not have been able to keep warm but as a full grown dog he can brave the winter weather. He may need a sweater for an outdoors walk or even your chilly home but in a friend’s warm home or a party where a crowd of people raises the temperature he may be overheated. Once you put clothes on a dog monitor his comfort level frequently.

5. Are these clothes for me or my dog? Sometimes, we think those little sweater and hats are so adorable we buy them without even considering our dog. When you look at those little outfits in the pet store stop to think about what your dog wants and needs.

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Jodi Webb

On Saturday, October 4 you may notice a few more attendees at your favorite house of worship. Saturday is the traditional day for the Blessing of the Animals. This unusual religious holiday takes place on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals. One of Francis’s writings was a Canticle of the Creatures that included the verse “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” Although St. Francis is a saint of the Catholic religion the tradition of the blessing of animals has been adopted by many religions. If your house of worship is considering inviting the animals this year(blessings are normally outdoors) here’s the prayer many religious leaders use:

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

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Jodi Webb

Pennsylvania, my home state has long been called the Puppy Mill State.  Commercial kennels, many run by the Amish community, churn out hundreds of dogs for sale to pet stores in sub-par conditions with little vet care.  House Bill 2525 is attempting to change the lives of dogs where 26 or more dogs are bred for sale each year by distinguishing between the treatment of livestock and dogs, that are seen as companion animals.  The bill will address exercise for the animals, regulation of the environment(temperature, lighting, ventilation, stacking of cages), veterinary care, and fire safety precautions.  It will also increase the fines for disregarding laws about commercial kennels.

HB 2525 is not just an attempt of dog lovers to ensure that dogs are happier.  It will also significantly affect the health of many dogs—many conditions that will be outlawed encouraged fighting among the dogs and many dogs suffered health problems because of their treatment.  If you want to let your legislator or newspaper editor know where you stand on the issue check out the following Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website:

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/doglawaction/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=148991

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Jodi Webb

Your actions could make your pet(and you)sick but if you’re causing it you can often take steps not to do it. Let’s start with cigarettes. Humans aren’t the only ones affected by secondhand smoke. Yet another reason to slap on that nicotine patch. Not just human smoking but also coal and kerosene heater can affect a pet’s health. Make sure your furnaces are properly vented and cleaned annually to reduce the effect and send the human chimneys outdoors to light up.

Sometimes contaminants don’t originate from your pet’s home. Instead owners can bring it home from work with them. If you use chemicals on the job such as specifically insecticides 2,4-D, paints, asbestos or solvents they can also affect your pet’s health. It helps if you discard your “work clothes” at your work place or immediately upon returning home and following up with a shower. That means no sitting on the sofa to go through the mail in your work clothes or leaving the work clothes lying on the bed or floor. Designate a covered hamper for work clothes to limit exposure to your animals.

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The green community wants us to shed a lot of household contaminants we don’t even realize are filling our homes such as the flame retardant chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in our furniture, carpets, and mattress as well as in many plastics.

PBDEs fill the air with a dust that we(and our pets)inhale. Since our pets are so much smaller and closer to the floor(where this dust eventually lands) as well as self-groomers, their levels of the contaminant are a lot higher. Being an indoor animal, constantly exposed to the dust also leads to a higher level in your pet’s system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believes exposure to this household dust can be linked to cat diseases affecting the thyroid, liver, and nerves. Many manufacturers are halting use of PBDEs—to find out what is PBDE free check out www.ewg.org/pbdefree .

Jodi Webb

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Jodi Webb

Is your pet shaking his head at you in that cute way? Hold on, it might not be so much cuteness as ear mites. Ear mites are a common problem with animals and easily spread from one animal to another so chances are you’ll be dealing with it eventually.

What Are They—Tiny crab-like parasites that live in the outer ear canal(usually) and eat tissue fluid.

What Will I Notice—Ear scratching, head shaking, increase in ear wax, strange odor around the ears and/or a dark crustiness in the ears(think coffee grounds).

What Should I Do—It’s time to consult the vet(just in case it isn’t ear mites). If it is ear mites he’ll probably clean your pet’s ears and prescribe a topical medication for ear mites. You should probably have other animals in the household checked and treated since ear mites spread quickly from one animal to another.

Apply the Medication–Apply it to the ear using a cotton ball—not a cotton swab. And here’s a funny thing: you should treat your pet’s tail since they often sleep with their tail curled around them—right near their ear—and ear mites can migrate from the ear to the tail.

Prevention—Dry your pet’s ears thoroughly after swimming or bathing. Consider a drying agent such as Epi Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser or Vet Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution. Check your pet’s ear frequently, especially if they have droopy ears such as a Bassett Hound.

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Jodi Webb

We all know why we take our dogs for walks—physical activity. Just like we need daily exercise so does our dog. And a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Sure, exercise contributes to a dog’s behavior but there’s another part to the equation—mental activity. Because a bored dog is much more likely to misbehave. So what is mental activity for a dog?

Well, walks can be one kind of mental activity. All that sniffing, wandering, and other exploring he does as he make your way down the road wishing he’d just WALK IN A STRAIGHT LINE? That’s him thinking. “Oh, a dog was here…someone dropped food here…what’s that weird smell.” But don’t rely solely on walks to get your dog thinking. Learning tricks, new toys, games, even just sitting watching a busy street can rev up his brain. Just remember, if you take time to play that old favorite “Find the Hidden Treat”, he has less time to create his own games “Chew the Shoe”, “Knock the Box of Cereal to the Floor(and Eat it), or “Destroy the Sofa Cushions”.

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Jodi Webb

Last time we talked about preparations to make at home for traveling with your pet. Now it’s time to consider preparations to make for when you arrive at your vacation spot.

Let’s Pack – Of course you know to bring your pet’s favorite toys, and food bowls. Also consider taking enough of his regular food—there’s no guarantee the local grocery store will stock his favorite food and treats. What about the weather? If it might be much hotter or cooler don’t forget a blanket or a Super Soaker(a lab I know swears by them in the hot weather).

Having Fun – You’ll run on the beach, eat at outdoor cafes, shop out the craft fair…or will you? While you’re finding a animal friendly hotel check on what activities are animal friendly. Consider the disaster if you head you the beach only to discover that animals aren’t allowed on the beach until the weekend after Labor Day. Also check on any local ordinances about animals. And bring your pooper scooper! Even if the hotel owner swears there isn’t a scooper ordinance many tourist destinations often have their own scooper rules.

Pet Sitter – Yes, you’re going on vacation with your pet—you don’t want a pet sitter. You say that now. But what if you decide you want to hike up a mountain and your poodle isn’t keen on the idea? Instead of scrambling for a pet sitter/walker at the last minute get the name and contact info for one before you even arrive. Talk to your hotel owner.

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Jodi Webb

If you’ve spent any time standing in line at the grocery store lately, perusing the headlines of the magazines on the racks you’d know that sleep deprivation is a big problem for many Americans. While the Center for Disease Control(CDC) recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep for adults, many of us our getting by on 5 or 6. Why? Second jobs, worries, a partner’s snoring…a pet’s snoring.

John Shephard MD of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center found that 22% of the people who come to the center with sleeping problems have a pet sleep with them. Sure, drifting off to sleep with a furry friend lying next to you seems comforting but what happens next? Does your pet snore, wander around, or get up for a 3 am bathroom break? Does she hog the bed, make the room too warm, or wake you at the crack of dawn? If he disturbs the quality or quantity of your sleep, it may be time to think about new sleeping arrangements. Your pet may protest at first but ask yourself, “Is it more important for him to have me lying next to him at night or to have an energetic owner during the day?” Chances are, eventually he’ll prefer the new arrangements. After all, YOUR snoring may have been disturbing his sleep.

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Jodi Webb

At my last doctor’s visit he prodded me about my vitamins. What vitamins? Seems I’m the last one to jump on the vitamin bandwagon(my husband’s been pestering me to start taking them for years). Seems the older you get the more important vitamin supplements become—we’re eating less, losing calcium, taking medication that inhibits our body’s ability to absorb vitamins, even exercising increases our need for things like Iron.

As I take my huge horse pill multi-vitamin(thankfully it’s chewable), I wonder about Simon who definitely falls into the “older” category. Turns out pets, just like humans, have an increased need for vitamins. As they get older and fatter they’re often eating less(not by their choice of course—it’s those pesky diets we put them on), they have more medical issues, they aren’t feeling as energetic. Often vitamins can make a difference. Many are easy to administer to even the most difficult pet. Simon’s is a Natural Salmon Oil that gets sprayed onto his regular food. Whoever thought that up deserves a great big kiss!

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Worms—it’s something most pet owners don’t like to think about. It seems like something only a feral or unclean animal would get, right? Not true. Worms can be passed on to a cat or dog through their mother’s milk, swallowing an infected flea while grooming themselves, or if they (especially cats) have the unfortunate habit of hunting.

So it’s key to have your dogs and cats dewormed and have the vet test periodically for worms. Don’t forget—certain worms can be passed to humans. Although sometimes worms remain dormant and the animal doesn’t give any sign of distress there are normally certain signs—

1. Worms in the feces or vomit.

2. Loss of appetite or weight.

3. Diarrhea

4. Dryness of the fur

Pet owners should always keep their loved ones safe from worms by using deworming medication.

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Jodi Webb

Some people are saying the California law concerning pets riding in cars has gone too far. The law is an attempt to outlaw distractions including live animals on the driver’s lap or in her arm/s. “Here comes Big Brother” is the shout being heard from many.

“I can handle driving and holding my dog.”

“My pet is very well-behaved in the car.”

I say take a moment to stop thinking about your driving abilities and your pet’s behavior and start thinking about the other guy on the road. Can he handle his dog? Does his pet sit quietly in the passenger seat or bounce from window to window? Could he end up hitting my mini-van when he’s distracted by his animal? My mini-van holds my most precious cargo—my kids. I want everyone–me, the guy next to me, the lady six cars ahead of me—driving at their best and not dealing with any distractions. I agreed when people suggested outlawing cell phones on the road and I’m going to have to agree with the ban on drivers holding animals.

If you’re still bristling about the law encroaching on your freedoms think about your pet. I have a friend who’s an EMT. According to him, pets don’t survive car accidents. When there’s an accident the police, the fire truck and the EMT are automatically sent out. They’re there for the humans. No one sends out a vet. If your animal goes flying through the windshield, or even just bouncing around inside the car no one will be looking out for him afterwards. Chances are even you will forget about him in the shock from the accident. If you love your pet you won’t take him for a ride. You’ll leave him home(or buy him a vehicle restraint).

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Jodi Webb

Our 13 year old has always been a good one to take Maggie for a walk or a romp in the back yard but she isn’t our go-to girl for the less-fun aspects of having a pet—baths, teeth brushing, pill time. So my husband and I were surprised to come home from the grocery store to a clean, non-smelly dog. Sniff, sniff. Is that the aroma of strawberries? Oh, no. For her surprise good deed she bathed Maggie with her own HUMAN shampoo. Nothing against humans but like a lot of dogs, Maggie gets the itchies from human shampoo—not to mention that the smells we all think are so delightful drive her crazy. I guess no self-respecting dog wants to smell like strawberries. Maybe the other dogs make fun of her. Tomorrow John’s going to re-bathe Maggie in her own shampoo while I show our daughter where we keep the dog shampoo(and the dog toothpaste)in case she feels industrious any time soon.

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Jodi Webb

I just had an old chair from my grandmother’s house reupholstered—it was an incredibly ugly orange velour. Really! Everyone loves the new blue and white striped chair. Including Simon. Throughout the years Simon has chosen a succession of sleeping spots we haven’t agreed on. The baby’s bassinet, the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, the top of the toilet(a bit disconcerting for those middle of the night trips), and now my new/old chair. My husband tries to redirect Simon’s sleeping choices with an arsenal of aluminum foil, stacks of books, and cat-proof locks. I, on the other hand, go shopping. Simon’s had a wide variety of beds: furry, hammock, mini-sofa, even one with a heating pad. This time we’re trying a cave-like cubby with a tiny door opening. It’s impossible to predict if he’ll like it or how long he’ll agree to use it. I’ve become convinced that it isn’t the bed so much as where it’s located. Lately he’s been tending toward high spots in quiet rooms of the house. So his new bed is going to start out on an unused ottoman in the corner of my daughter’s bedroom. Because of her big window it’s even in a sunny spot most of the afternoon. What cat could ask for more?

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