Thinking of a Gift for your Pet for Christmas?

When considering a fun and safe gift for your pet, don’t forget good quality time. Pets love a good cuddle, a walk, lounging on the couch with you, and just spending time with their family. Cats love toys that dangle or crinkle. Dogs like squeaky toys and toys that hide treats.

Safety tips:
• Avoid rich Christmas food including roast turkey, chocolate, nuts, garlic, or onions
• Avoid cooked bones
• Keep Christmas decorations safely away from pets

Will Cat Food Hurt My Dog?

Cat food is not harmful to dogs. However, a cat’s diet does have different nutritional requirements to that of a dog’s diet. The richness of a cat’s diet can cause problems for dogs such as stomach upsets (vomiting and diarrhea) and even obesity.

On the other hand, dog food does not contain the necessary nutrients for cats. And therefore, cats cannot achieve a healthy balanced diet from dog food. It’s always best to keep the cat food for cats and the dog food for dogs.

Salmon Poisoning

Salmon poisoning actually refers to the fatal disease when dogs ingest salmon that is carrying a tiny parasite. Well-cleaned and cooked salmon is unlikely to cause a problem. However, care must be taken in feeding fish of any kind to your pet as bones can cause harm to your pet’s digestive tract.

Is it Ok to Give My Dog Milk?

Many dogs are actually lactose intolerant which means that they lack the enzyme necessary to break down the lactose within the milk. These affected dogs can become ill with vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort, when fed milk.

Whilst many dogs are lactose intolerant, some dogs are not. If you are unsure, only give small amounts of milk at a time and dilute with water.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are a common problem in our pets.

Common food allergies
Dogs: Beef, Cow’s milk, chicken, eggs, wheat, soy, corn
Cats: Fish, chicken, beef

Problems food allergies causes include gastro and itchy skin.

Elimination diets whereby you remove these common problems for at least 8-12 weeks can help determine if food allergies are really a problem. Otherwise, veterinary prescription diets can also be used for this time.

Improved responses can be seen 1-9 weeks of the changed diet if you are dealing with a food allergy.

Weight Loss Plan

Obesity is a major health issue in the world. And unfortunately for our pets, they follow in our footsteps of overindulgence and poor activity. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, it is estimated that:
• 7.2 million dogs are obese
• 26 million dogs are overweight
• 15.7 million cats are obese
• 35 million cats are overweight
• Over half of these pets are older than 7 years of age.

Signs that suggest your pet may be overweight:
• the collar is getting too tight
• you cannot feel your pet's ribs
• your pet has no waist
• your pet has a broad flat back

Obesity can cause many other unwanted problems such as
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Liver disease
• Heart problems

Overweight pets can be expensive pets: a diabetic emergency can cost up to $1500 for one visit, and a cruciate ligament repair can cost up to $5000 for surgery.

Tips to Weight Loss
• Feed your pet only at meal times i.e. once or twice daily
• Do not use treats for training unless they are healthy e.g. carrots;
• Reward with hugs and positive attention
• Do not vary the diet too much as this encourages fussiness
• Do not allow for ‘begging’ behaviour
• Allocate feeding to one household member to avoid your pet being fed twice
• Measure or weigh your pet’s food
• Consider veterinary recommended weight loss diets
• Keep the food in a secure, out-of-reach area
• Do not feed table scraps
• Increase your pet’s exercise

Your veterinarian can help you calculate the amount of calories your pets need a day and also advise you on the types of exercise that is right for your pet.

Soft Rawhide Reduces Calculus

A recent study looked at the use of soft rawhide given daily to dogs to help reduce dental calculus. Calculus is the hard tartar found on teeth and is made up of bacteria, saliva minerals, and food. Brushing teeth is considered the gold standard in veterinary medicine to help reduce plaque and tartar build up. It’s important to do this daily as within minutes new bacteria start to build up on the teeth. Within 3 days, plaque can solidify into tartar making it very difficult to remove.

Unfortunately, some dogs will not allow their teeth to be brushed and some pet owners cannot brush their pets daily (although highly recommended!). So, based on this one study, it appears that feeding a soft rawhide can actually help reduce dental calculus by nearly 30% within a month and may actually be beneficial between teeth brushing.

Source: J Vet Dent 26(2); 82-85, 2009

Can Diet Increase the Life of Our Cats?

Nestle-Purina recently undertook a study to determine whether diet could in fact increase the life of a cat. They looked 3 different diets:
1. complete and balanced senior diet
2. complete and balanced senior diet + antioxidants
3. complete and balanced senior diet + antioxidants + oils + prebiotic

Results showed that diet 3:
• improved the quality of life,
• showed fewer decreases in lean muscle,
• improve clinical blood measurements,
• increased the life span, decreased disease incidences,
• improved body weight.




Cupp CJ, Philippe C, Wendell WK, et al. Effect of nutritional interventions on longevity of senior cats. Intl J Appl Res Vet Med 2006;4:34-50.
Cupp CJ, Kerr WW, Jean-Philippe C, et al. The role of nutritional interventions in the longevity and maintenance of long-term health in aging cats. Intl J Appl Res Vet Med 2008;6:69-81.

Weight gain after neutering

Having your pet spayed or castrated is indisputably beneficial to your pet as it can control pet populations and help prevent disease. However, studies have shown that within 48 hours of surgery, appetite can increase and metabolism can slow in cats. This can ultimately lead to weight gain and diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and urinary tract problems.

This highlights the importance of nutritional changes and exercise modification following neutering. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate diet and exercise regime for your pet.

ASK THE VET: Why Do Dogs Eat Poo?

The medical term for this behaviour is Coprophagia. Although the cause is unknown, puppies tend to grow out of the behaviour. Faeces can be bad source of disease including worms and other parasites.

Tips to prevent your puppy from eating its stools:
• Clean up all dog stools immediately
• Have your veterinarian examine your pet for any health problems
• Feed your puppy a fully balanced diet. Ensure the diet you are using has the terms "complete and balanced" on the package
• When your dog goes to eat any feces, firmly say ‘No’
• Use bitter tasting agents to discourage your pet from eating stools.


This week the 'Ask the Vet' question came from Melinda.

Home Cooked Diets

Recent problems with commercial diets in the US, have stimulated an increase in home cooked diets and raw diets for our pets. There are definitely advantages to home cooked meals, but they do not outweigh the disadvantages unless the diet has been put together specifically for your pet by a qualified veterinary nutritionist.

Advantages:
• Increased palatability
• High digestibility
• Ability to control ingredients

Disadvantages:
• Expensive
• Poorly balanced i.e. lack the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins & minerals
• Bacterial contamination of raw ingredients that can affect both pets and humans
• Bones can cause gastrointestinal obstructions, break teeth and tear the intestines

Unless you have specific recipes that have been formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, commercial diets should be considered. All reputable veterinary nutritional companies must follow strict dietary requirements to ensure the diets are balanced and nutritionally beneficial.

Seek veterinary assistance in determining which diet is best for your pet.

Easter Warning for Pets

Whilst enjoying the Easter break, it is important that we prevent our pets from eating chocolate. Unfortunately, most deaths occur when our dogs steal the chocolate from our homes.

A typical easter egg of 150g (5 oz) can be life threatening for a 12 kg (25 lb) dog. Unsweetened bakers chocolate is 10x more toxic.

Chocolate contains Theobromine which over stimulates the heart and nervous system causing signs such as:
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• restlessness
• increased drinking and urinating
• tremors
• seizures
• Death as quick as 18 hours later if not treated

If you are concerned that your pet may have eaten chocolate, seek veterinary care immediately.

Pet Food Recalls - PEANUT BUTTER

The salmonella-contaminated peanut butter scare continues in the US. But, what about pet food?

Check your kitchen for the following contaminated products.

FDA Pet Food Product Recalls
Aggieville USA, Mountain Grove, MO
Alaska Canine Cookies
American Health Kennels, Inc.
American Nutrition, Inc.
Breadfarm
Carolina Prime
Carolina Prime Pet
Farm Style
Grreat Choice
Happy Tails
Healthy Hide
Healthy-hide Deli-wrap
Hill Country Fare
Integrity
Mill Creek
Morning Melodies
Morning Song
Next Gen Pet Products
Northwest Royal
Premium
Royal Wing
Salix
Scotts
Shoppers Valu
Springfield Prize
Vita Bone Flavors
Vita Snacks
Western Family Biscuits
Western Trade Group, Inc.
Yeaster

Check back here for daily updates.

Salmonellosis

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal infections in people (Salmonellosis). Clinical signs include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever and cast last up to 4-7 days. It is usually contracted through the ingestion of food contaminated with animal feces. Birds and reptiles (such as turtles, snakes and lizards) naturally carry salmonella and therefore should be handled with care.

Illness can be prevented with simple hygiene practice:
1. Wash hands with soap before eating;
2. Cook all meat;
3. Do not use raw eggs;
4. Wash kitchen surfaces and utensils with detergent;
5. Wash hands after handling reptiles or birds especially after coming into contact with their droppings

Further details about Salmonellosis at CDC

Poisonous Pet Foods

Care must be taken when feeding pets from our kitchen. Certain food items can be poisonous to our pets. When giving treats, always given in moderation and avoid high fat and high sugar foods. The following is a list of foods that can be poisonous to our pets:
Alcohol
Caffeine
Chocolate
Garlic
Grapes
Onion
Raisins
Tomato leaves or stems

This is not the full list. For further details, check out http://webvet.com

Pet Food Recalls

Since the major pet food recall in 2007, there has been heightened public awareness of pet food safety. In 2007 there was a global recall of many dog and cat food brands due to melamine contamination being linked to kidney failure in pets. In 2008, peanuts were under scrutiny for the salmonella contamination.

It’s no wonder that our natural instinct would be to blame food companies and seek home made diets. However, special care is required in order to ensure safe food handling at home. No matter what food you give to your pets, you should consult your local veterinarian to make sure that the diet is fully balanced and safe for your pet.

It’s important that we are all aware of the current food safety issues and that we monitor our pets closely. Any problems experienced with a particular food or product should be reported immediately by seeking veterinary attention.

The AVMA and the FDA provide regular updates on food recalls.

FDA Peanut Butter Recall List (USA only)
www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm