Pain medication

Pets are often prescribed pain medication (anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs) to help relieve the pain following surgery, dentals or long term for pets with chronic conditions such as arthritis. These products can provide very effective pain relief, but are not advised for pets with kidney, liver, or stomach issues. Your veterinarian can run tests to help choose the right pain medication for your pet.

If your pet has been prescribed anti-inflammatories, it is important to monitor your pet closely for any side effects such as:
- vomiting
- diarrhea (with or without blood)
- inappetence
- tense abdomen
- black stools
- drinking a lot
- urinating a lot
- pale gums

Notify your veterinary hospital immediately if you notice any of these signs.

NEVER:
- use human NSAIDs on your pets
- increase the dose without consultation with your vet – more medication does not necessarily mean more pain relief and can often increase the chance of side effects

Choosing the Right Dog Toy

There are many different types of toys to choose for our pet. It's important to choose the right toy for the right situation and the right size of dog or cat.

Training Toys: used to teach your dog what is ok to chew on.

Interactive Toys: toys that can be enjoyed by owner and dog i.e. tug of war or fetch

Durable Play Toys: toys that can be safely chewed on by your pet all day

Comfort Soft Toys: toys that your pet can bond with or sleep with i.e. plush toy

Treat-dispenser Toys: toys that provide mental stimulation for your pet i.e. KONGs that allow you to put food in the center

If your unsure, ask your vet to recommend the right toy for your pet.

Common Household Medications

It’s never easy watching your pet suffer. Unfortunately, looking to our own medicine cabinet is not a good idea. Drugs commonly used for human ailments can be poisonous to pets.

If a pet is unwell, it is important that you seek veterinary attention immediately. Human medications such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatories should not be used on pets.

Common Household Medicines that can be poisonous to our pets:
- acetaminophen (PARACETAMOL, TYLENOL),
- aspirin,
- ibuprofen,
- naproxen

If your pet accidentally ingests these products, seek veterinary care immediately.

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