Datasets:

houck2040

/

vet_news

like 0

picking a pet july 17 2009 whether you are a college student with the new found freedom to have your own pet the parent of a child pleading for a furry addition to the family or a veteran pet owner looking to add a different species to your family; choosing the right pet for your lifestyle requires thought and planning pets are a long-term commitment so impulse purchases or adoptions should be avoided to avoid getting into troublesome pet situations dr bonnie beaver professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences recommends answering four important questions before choosing to get a pet: 1) do you have the time to devote to a pet pets require more than just food and water evaluate your lifestyle and try to choose an animal that you know you will be able to care for said dr beaver if a dog or cat seems to be too much for you to handle there are other pet options however most pets will still need to be fed daily; if you travel often and do not have someone else that can look after your animal you should probably not have a pet 2) pets need food grooming toys and veterinary care- can you fit that into your budget it is important to think about the monthly cost of your pet be realistic in your budgeting and make sure that you can handle the added expense dr beaver states food is the largest expense for animals most people tend to think that the veterinary bill would be the most expensive part of owning a pet because the bill comes in one lump sum something to keep in mind while choosing a pet is the general rule that the larger the pet the larger the expenses 3) is my living arrangement conducive to the type of pet i am thinking about people who are looking for a pet need to take into account multiple issues relating to their home life find out if there are restrictions to the type of pet you can have because of zoning laws in your area and if your lease will allow you to have a pet will you have a pet deposit and if so does it fit in your budget if you live in an apartment a big dog is probably not going to be the best pet choice likewise a person who keeps an immaculate house may not do well with pets that shed often 4) do i have health concerns that rule out certain pets or place special requirements on having a pet dr beaver advises people who have allergies or weak immune systems should be mindful of the effects certain animals can have on their health you should talk with your doctor and a veterinarian if you have questions about your health and what animals could have an effect on your condition if you can answer those questions with no red flags you are probably ready for a pet choose a pet you like and can manage the internet is a great resource to find information about different animals and specific breeds also talking with a veterinarian before choosing a pet can help you to make the right decision for your lifestyle dr beaver reminds us that all animals require attention and upkeep-they are not pet rocks however if you are ready for a pet the experience can be rewarding and fulfilling pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

beware the skunks july 13 2009 with the fall season in sight many of us will venture to the great outdoors and go camping all kinds of fascinating creatures can be found in the great outdoors but when your pet is roaming around beware the skunks! puppies especially can become curious when they come across these foreign creatures but skunks are startled easily and have no mercy the skunk odor which is actually a poison can sometimes take years to remove from a dogs fur skunks have an incredible talent for spraying with accuracy they also have the ability to spray multiple times in a row reaching up to ten feet away the spray that a skunk emits is a type of oil accompanied by a horrific odor that will seep deeply into a dogs fur thankfully there are multiple options for getting rid of the odor most people believe that tomato juice is the best remedy for getting rid of a skunks odor but this is in fact false tomato juice is not very effective on animals and will sometimes stain a light-haired animals fur tomato juice is also very acidic and is thought to be harmful to cats but it is not known for certain just how harmful better options include hydrogen peroxide lemon juice dishwasher detergent or a variety of commercial products that are available at local pet stores or from your veterinarian while commercial products are more costly than home remedies they are often more successful at removing the odor on the first try dr alice blue-mclendon a veterinarian at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at texas a&m university cautions pet owners to always wash their pet outside if it has been sprayed by a skunk she also warned pet owners to be sure pets do not get loose on the way to the bath tub because the odor-causing oil will stick to anything it touches there are no toxins in skunk spray so it will not harm your pet however it could become uncomfortable for them if your pet was sprayed in the face make sure to clean it properly said dr blue-mclendon wash the eyes out with a saline solution and clean out the nostrils with a damp paper towel or cotton balls the smelly skunk spray should not be the only concern to pet owners skunks carry rabies without showing signs of the symptoms one bite from a skunk and your pet could become infected with the rabies disease; his life in danger if there is a chance your pet has been bitten by a skunk dr blue-mclendon stressed that you should take your pet to see a veterinarian immediately if there is even a chance it has been bitten by a skunk skunks like to hide in dark places so it is a good idea to train your pet not to go under houses or decks and always have them updated on their rabies vaccinations if you own fruit bearing plants remove the fallen fruit quickly to reduce food sources that may keep skunks coming back to your property said blue-mclendon there is no way to train your pet to stay away from skunks noted blue-mclendon most pets will keep their distance after being sprayed once but some pets never learn their lesson and continue to be sprayed by the paranoid skunks pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

animal-assisted therapy june 25 2009 depression loneliness stress and anxiety threaten the health of our society oftentimes old age and rehabilitation foster the negative emotional psychological and physical ailments that can take a damaging toll on our well-being prescription medications and psychiatrists work hard to provide the suffering with help but sometimes a sloppy wet kiss from a furry friend makes for good medicine as well while not considered to be a conventional healing method animal-assisted therapy has proven to increase the health of those in agony and bring comfort to those in need the delta society defines animal-assisted therapy as a goal-directed intervention in which an animal meets specific criteria as an integral part of the treatment process says kit darling the infection control coordinator for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and owner of a certified therapy dog animal-assisted therapy provides multiple benefits including fine and gross motor skills; verbal tactile and auditory stimulation; ambulation and equilibrium; decision making and instruction following; memory recall; and extended and concentrated attention span with all of their abilities it is clear that animals can provide an excellent service to humans but how are these services positively affecting our health people can benefit from human-animal interaction socially psychologically and physically elaborates darling animals encourage social interaction with others increase activity levels strengthen motivation and restore a sense of well-being they also have the ability to decrease stress anxiety and blood pressure levels animals are used in many settings and with many different people to better the health of hurting individuals kit darling describes exactly how pets provide encouragement animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy may be used in physical occupational recreational and speech therapy settings explains darling animals do not judge people by their looks or disabilities they simply want our attention the pets that perform animal-assisted activities and therapy are anxious to meet people and bring a smile to someones face their attempts to please help create a sense of well-being in humans pets in these programs often relieve loneliness for the elderly who have lost a spouse or whose children have moved away pets can help the elderly by being companions comments darling caring for a pet may help one feel a sense of purpose and increase activity oftentimes helping with loneliness receiving a visit from a pet can support social contact not only with the animal but also with the person bringing the pet for a visit but these furry companions are helping more than just the elderly animals can encourage the terminally ill and those recovering from extensive surgeries and rehabilitation programs pets can be comforting and calming decreasing loneliness that may be felt throughout these difficult situations notes darling animal-assisted therapy is useful in increasing fine and gross motor skills verbal and tactile stimulation and ambulation aiding the rehabilitation process sometimes patients will respond to animals even when they are not responding to humans the miracles of pet therapy on human health are evident and real perhaps this is why darling and her own pet actively participate in her local animal-assistance non-profit organization aggieland pets with a purpose i have been a volunteer since the organizations formation and my dog dexter was in the first group of animals evaluated boasts darling dexter is a long-haired dachshund that has touched many lives through animal-assisted therapy he has helped school children autistic children the elderly and those recovering from strokes and trauma i have seen several children talk to him about their problems and both adults and children talk to him when they were not talking very much to other humans i thank dexter that he allows me to go along and watch him work animal-assisted therapy and activity programs are providing support and increasing the health of those in need pets like dexter provide unconditional love that can better our lives when it seems like nothing else can pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

born to be wild june 11 2009 there is perhaps one moment in almost everyones life when they come across a baby raccoon squirrel or even deer fawn which seems to be helpless and alone we tend to think that the only way these cute little animals will survive is with our tender loving care other times our culture considers it trendy to own a wild animal as a pet what people often do not realize is that taking in wildlife animals as pets will actually hinder and hurt them more than it will help dr alice blue-mclendon veterinary clinical associate professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences strongly discourages the practice of capturing wildlife as pets wildlife animals are defined as native non-domestic animals and they are protected by the state of texas said dr blue-mclendon anyone wanting to capture one of these creatures must have a permit contrary to what may be believed these permits are not easily obtained in order to obtain a permit one must be an animal rehabilitator or be using the animal for some sort of educational purpose even then those who have permits do not usually intend to keep the animal for the rest of its life there are several major health concerns associated with having wildlife animals as pets the biggest concern according to dr blue-mclendon is rabies rabies is most prevalent in raccoons skunks and foxes the animals can harbor the disease for weeks without showing signs said blue-mclendon yet they are can still spread the disease to the humans holding them captive there is no vaccine against rabies that is approved for use in wildlife therefore it is impossible to prevent a wildlife animal from either getting the disease or passing it on to humans another concern is improper food and housing provided to the animals while in human captivity they may not be getting certain nutrients they need nor live in an environmental setting that is appropriate for healthy growth even though baby wild animals may at first seem to be quite fine in a domestic environment do not be fooled when they are young some seem to adapt noted blue-mclendon but as they get older and hit puberty they become aggressive and bite inflicting serious wounds in humans they do not make good pets she also said that some wild animals can be tamed or so it seems in reality some may be seemingly tame until some type of stress occurs causing them to regress to their wild instincts a wild baby animal found helpless in the woods by young children may be an intriguing and sometimes trendy option to have as a pet added blue-mclendon but be advised that the best type of pet for a young child is a small pocket pet such as a hamster mouse gerbil or anything that is adapted to a cage-type environment wild animals grow up and often become too great of a burden for any unskilled person to handle the majority of animals who have been captured are handicapped by human care and therefore unable to function in their natural habitat sadly many people cannot control their once helpless little pet and end up turning them loose only to die in a habitat they would have thrived in if left alone pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

pet hygiene june 5 2009 looking neat and smelling clean are crucial aspects of social interaction for most people while we also like our pets to smell and look nice there are many other important reasons to maintain their hygiene bathing and grooming your pets is helpful for their appearance but even more so for their health and well-being explains dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences matted hair cracked nails and rotting teeth can all lead to very painful conditions down the road bathing your pets regularly and brushing their hair a couple times a week helps to disperse the skins natural oils through it and keeps it soft and healthy its also important to bathe your pets for your own well being the cleaner your pets are the less allergens there are floating around your house states stickney while many people are tempted to use their own shampoo on their animals stickney points out that they make pet shampoo for a reason dogs skin has a different ph than humans if you use your shampoo on your pet it is likely to make them itchy and cause their hair to be brittle warns stickney indoor pets also need to have their nails trimmed regularly to avoid snagging and tearing its important to note that the longer nails grow and the longer interval between trimmings the longer the blood vessels and nerves grow if you let nails go too long the nerves and blood vessels what we call the quick will keep growing with them this means that when you do trim them they will most likely bleed and it will hurt your pet notes stickney if this does happen you want to trim just a little and next week trim a little more this will cause the quick to regress if bathing grooming and trimming your pets nails sounds like a little more than you would like to do on your own you can always take them to a local groomer one additional advantage to this is that a groomer may find a bump or mass on your pet that you might not have noticed adds stickney in order to get your dogs ready for grooming stickney suggest that you acclimate them from a young age i recommend that as soon as you get a puppy that you start regularly playing with their ears and their paws suggest stickney this will make it easier for both you and a groomer to work with your pet and will ease its anxiety regular bathing and grooming is required for most pets however there are some types and breeds that will need to be groomed more often than others larger breed dogs and short haired dogs will not need to be groomed as often as long haired dogs and small or toy breed dogs remarks stickney also if they are active outdoor dogs they will wear down their nails naturally so you shouldnt have to clip them as often while all dogs will need to occasionally be groomed and bathed stickney notes that most cats are able to keep clean and work out mats on their own its also good to note that pocket pets like hamsters and lizards also do not need baths states stickney you are really just going to upset them if you try even though not all pets need regular baths it is important to know that there are aspects of hygiene and maintenance that are required for all pets keeping your pets clean and healthy throughout their lives will enhance their quality of life and the time you spend with them 5 general tips for pet hygiene: keep fur brushed and free of matsbrush teeth every daybath regularly as neededexercise regularlyfeed a high quality diet for healthy skin and hair pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

ear care for pets may 29 2009 hot humid days are rapidly approaching as summer slowly begins the season means finally diving into the neighborhood swimming pool children on summer vacation running through the streets and grass lawns growing at seemingly breakneck speeds but summer could also mean painful ear infections for your pet heat moisture and even grass clippings could cause serious problems for your furry friends ear canals allergic skin disease affecting the ears and the ear pinnaes ear mites foreign bodies such as plant material like a grass awn or ectoparasites such as a tick are all probable causes of ear infections explains dr ma crist a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences hair can grow deep in the ear canals causing the build-up of wax and moisture leading to bacterial growth and infection the causes range from a variety of factors but one fact seems to remain the same our pets often contract ear infections on a regular basis crist explains why our pets are so susceptible to contracting these problems the basic anatomy of the cat and dog ear canal has a vertical and horizontal section that predisposes them to ear infections waxy debris must work its way upward and outward instead of just straight out says crist irritation to the ear usually results in overproduction of waxy debris an ear infection can sometimes go unnoticed as our pets cannot always tell us when something is wrong fortunately there are a few warning signs that can let pet owners know when an ear infection might be present early signs that your pet may be developing an ear infection may include them scratching at their ears shaking their head redness of the ears holding one ear flap slightly dropped to one side or the animal may exhibit signs that ear or ears are painful when you pet or touch around the area notes crist debris or a discharge might be noted in the ear canal and an odor from the ears may become noticeable if symptoms go untreated ear infections could become very painful and cause the animal to have more severe clinical signs sometimes requiring the pet to be sedated or put under general anesthesia to have the ears examined severe infections of the middle ear can lead to facial nerve paralysis which gives a ‘droopy jaw appearance on the affected side of the face describes crist another complication is an aural hematoma and needs to be corrected surgically if you suspect that your pet has an ear infection it is important to visit your veterinarian to receive a full examination and diagnosis if a pet owner believes their animal to have an ear infection it is recommended that they visit a veterinarian for a general dermatological history and full examination complete with a thorough physical examination of the ear otoscopy and cytologic examination says crist a sample of the discharge will be obtained examined and identified once a diagnosis has been made medications are selected and home treatment is usually continued for several weeks the ears need to be rechecked to make sure the infection has been resolved fortunately there are several preventative measures that can be taken to keep your pet free from pain and your wallet from becoming empty prevention is key urges crist heat and moisture are enemies of the ear canal and allow bacteria and yeast to flourish keeping the animals ears clean and dry is important it is also important to check your pets ears regularly as part of their regular grooming routine to avoid ear infections giving their ears a quick glance daily could help prevent ear problems from arising while it sounds simple enough many pet owners are uninformed of the proper methods of ear care and some ignore ear care entirely routine ear cleaning is a simple method of providing ear therapy notes crist a variety of ear cleaners are available and your veterinarian will prescribe the most appropriate ear cleanser for your pet to use during their regular grooming routine the frequency of cleaning will also be determined by your vet ear cleaning is easy and can prevent major problems down the road and save your pet from extensive damage to their hearing abilities you want to begin an ear care regimen before your pet keeps you up at night shaking their head scratching at their ears or before the smell of their ears reaches you before your pet does emphasizes crist every moment that your animals ears are inflamed and infected causes damage to the ear canal it is important to seek veterinary care right away and to follow through with the treatment regimen dont let an ear infection put a damper on your summer fun following a few preventative measures and being aware of the warning signs will help ensure that your furry friends are both happy and healthy pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

animal influenza may 21 2009 the recent emergence and spread of the swine flu virus also known as h1n1 has affected people throughout the world from school closings to cancelled vacations the swine flu has caused a lot of concern these concerns have led many to take extended precautions for themselves their spouses and their children but what if any precautions should be taken for the furry members of our families the h1n1 strain may not affect our animals in the way that it does humans but similar type a influenza viruses can affect our pets in 2005 the first cases of the canine influenza virus were reported in florida and have since spread throughout the country the virus is a mutant of the h3n8 equine influenza virus and is a contagious respiratory disease that may mirror signs of kennel cough including sneezing coughing and fever nearly one-hundred percent of dogs that come in contact with the virus become infected regardless of age or vaccination history because the virus is new to them says dr deb zoran an associate professor and chief of small animal internal medicine at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) of those infected an estimated twenty percent of dogs will show no signs of the disease of the eighty percent of dogs that exhibit clinical signs the majority will have only mild signs of respiratory illness explains zoran in most dogs the clinical signs include a low-grade fever nasal discharge and a persistent cough that could last up to three weeks in dogs that develop severe signs of illness the clinical signs include a high fever increased respiratory rates with difficulty breathing and other indications of viral pneumonia the testing results for the virus cannot be obtained quickly as the diagnosis of canine influenza is made by sending samples for testing to a laboratory at cornell university for pcr of the virus as a result your veterinarian may suggest that your dog be quarantined away from other dogs to prevent the possible spread of this respiratory virus to other canines fortunately most cases can be treated with symptomatic or supportive care including fluid support antiviral therapy bronchodilators and if needed oxygen if you believe your pet has contracted the virus it is important to contact your veterinarian as is the case in any viral infection antibiotics are not helpful unless the infection is so severe that secondary bacterial pneumonia is suspected notes zoran fortunately treatment even in the most severely affected dogs has been successful in about ninety-five percent of cases the key is early diagnosis and treatment so if your canine is showing signs of illness such as a decreased appetite lethargy fever or a cough it is important to contact your veterinarian for further evaluation your veterinarian is best qualified to make a diagnosis and to provide advice for caring for any dogs affected with the virus there is currently no vaccine for this virus and the disease continues to affect dogs throughout the country the best method of protection is to keep your animal companion away from infected dogs cat owners have fewer flu concerns as felines appear not to be susceptible to the class type a flu viruses and do not develop classic flu symptoms cats have their own versions of respiratory viruses but these viruses are not influenza viruses however the same cannot be said for birds which can be just as susceptible to contracting influenza as our canine friends avian influenza is a contagious bird disease says dr sharman hoppes an avian specialist at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences it is usually only infectious to birds but can occasionally infect pigs and people the disease is most common in waterfowl and is often an asymptomatic infection in ducks similar to the canine influenza virus there are two levels of severity observed in the avian flu there are two main forms of disease: a low virulence form and a high virulence form explains hoppes the low pathogenic form may manifest as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production the high pathogenic form can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal signs and sometimes lead to death while uncommon it is possible for avian influenza to spread to people however this usually occurs only if the individual is in very close contact with an infected bird if an individual is infected with avian influenza he or she can actually become quite sick and the disease can often progress to pneumonia or death cautions hoppes avian influenza is much more serious when it crosses over to humans because most people do not have immunity to the disease fortunately avian flu has not been transmitted from person to person like the swine flu however one of the concerns of avian influenza is that it will mutate and develop into a disease that could transmit from person to person at this time it is highly unlikely that your pet bird will contract avian influenza but in the event that your feathered-friend becomes sick care is available while unlikely that your pet parrot will develop avian influenza it could be possible if you have pet poultry or waterfowl as they are more likely to contract the disease says hoppes if your pet bird does get sick it is more likely to be the low pathogenic form and supportive care is available the best way to prevent your bird from contracting avian influenza is to minimize their contact with waterfowl and poultry both the canine influenza virus and the avian influenza disease can cause detrimental health problems in your pet but knowing the warning signs and taking proper precautions could save both you and your companion the worries of influenza pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

adopting a pet april 30 2009 his pudgy nose tiny paws and sloppy wet kisses melted your heart in an instant but after giving in to desire and surprising the family with a new furry friend you found that caring for a new puppy was not exactly what you expected adopting a pet can be rewarding but certain steps must be made before both you and your pet can be ready for the transition its important to avoid impulse adopting emphasizes dr snowden an associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences pets are a life-long commitment dogs and cats can live ten to fifteen years while parrots and turtles will live much longer so how do you know if you are ready to adopt a pet snowden believes the first step of the process is to evaluate your needs and lifestyle before adopting a pet a potential owner needs to consider the amount of space in the home available to accommodate the pet says snowden evaluating the amount of time and care that can be spent with the animal as well as the activity level of both owner and pet is important too fish are not as demanding as a dog that needs jogging everyday and therefore may be a more suitable choice for a relatively inactive or time-pressed individual once you have decided which type of pet to adopt it is time to choose where to search for your affectionate friend some great places to find a dog or cat are the local shelters or breeders notes snowden there are fewer sources for reptiles and birds however many can be found at local breeders or rescue groups as well as at local pet stores but just finding the number for the local shelter in the yellow pages is not enough when searching for a new pet you must research and ask questions when looking for a new dog or cat its important to find out how much socialization the animal has been exposed to the more social interaction the animal has had the more likely it will be happy and exhibit good behavior adds snowden if you decide to purchase a pet from a pet store its a good idea to find out where the animal came from and ask questions such as ‘do the stores breed and raise the animals themselves or ‘are the pets coming from a variety of sources asking questions can give you an idea of how much socialization the animal has experienced if after asking the appropriate questions you decide to adopt from a local shelter there are several services that you can expect to be provided texas state law requires all animals in shelters to be vaccinated for rabies and be either spayed or neutered states snowden most shelter animals have been de-wormed and given a flea treatment or prevention medication in addition to these services most shelters and veterinarians offer microchipping at a reasonable cost an invaluable resource in the event that your adopted pet goes missing overall shelters hope to provide owners with healthy social pets with little initial expense even though some may choose to adopt a pet from a shelter many often refuse common misconceptions about shelters can unfortunately prevent affectionate pets from finding new homes there is a widespread assumption that shelter animals are unhealthy muts explains snowden this mistaken belief is not representative of many shelter populations in fact about one- fourth to one-third of dogs in shelters across the country are an easily identifiable breed once you have chosen what type of pet suits you best and where to find your loving companion the next step is to prepare your home for your new pet dogs need adequate food water appropriate dishes a collar and leash a plan for where he or she will spend most of their time and bedding or a crate for the animal to adopt as his or her ‘safe or ‘resting place notes snowden cats require similar items and you will need to decide whether or not the animal will be staying primarily indoors or outdoors if you decide to keep the cat indoors find a place for the litter box with daily sanitation in mind after preparing your home for your new arrival it is finally time to bring home your new friend however challenges often arise as your pet strives to figure out his strange new home when you bring home your pet it is necessary to begin a routine urges snowden establish when he or she will have time for play and exercise implement a regular feeding schedule that coincides with your daily agenda with a consistent routine in place your pet will rapidly adapt to his or her new environment adopting a pet can be a rewarding experience with proper research and appropriate care you and your new friend could develop a happy life-long relationship pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

springtime yard hazards for pets april 23 2009 springtime is garden time spring is when we plant new plants and get our yards ready to shine while you are preparing your outdoor areas for your family to enjoy just make sure you take the steps to ensure that it is safe for your pets to enjoy as well and free of yard hazards when planting your garden it is important to note that there are numerous house and garden plants which can be toxic to animals warns dr murl bailey professor of toxicology at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences several that come to mind initially are brunfelsia lilies cycads kolanchoe and oleander brunfelsia more commonly known as the yesterday today & tomorrow plant causes convulsive seizures in dogs that resemble strychnine poisoning we havent seen any problems in cats from brunfelsia as of this date notes bailey while this plant is mostly a house plant it could be in sheltered gardens in the southern part of texas cycads low growing palm trees which are used both indoors and outdoors are another type of plant that is toxic to dogs as they tend to chew on the roots the cycad has a toxin in the root and stems that is toxic to the liver when the liver is affected the dogs body stops producing the normal endogenous clotting factors and the dogs start bleeding excessively–to the extent that they can bleed to death explains bailey while brunfelsia and cycads may not be known to cause problems in cats lilies are especially harmful to them once cats ingest lilies they develop nausea and vomiting then they get depressed and stop eating why cats like to eat them i dont know probably boredom but once they do these cats must be treated by a veterinarian preferably within 24 hours and not later than 48 hours states bailey we do not know which toxin(s) are present in the lilies but they are very toxic to the kidneys kolanchoe is a type of house plant that is known to be toxic this plant contains a chemical which is similar to the human heart medication digoxin the garden plant oleander also contains digoxin-like compounds both kolanchoe and oleander can be toxic to all animals including dogs and cats if ingested says bailey while spring is a time to plant beautiful flowers in your yard it also brings pesky insects out in numbers because of this another potential yard hazard to pets this time of year is pesticides all pesticides can cause problems in dogs and cats if the chemicals are stored incorrectly and misused warns bailey bailey stresses that labels on all chemicals should be read very carefully and followed especially when used around pets he notes that animals do not have to eat the toxin; they can also become exposed through the skin and in the case of volatile agents can be exposed just by breathing the contaminated air if a pesticide is not specifically labeled to be used on dogs and/or cats the pesticide can cause toxicities bailey states some insecticides are labeled specifically for dogs and not for cats so it is important to read the labels thoroughly while there are more and more products out there that claim to be environmentally safe or green bailey is not entirely convinced of their worth many alternative and so-called environmentally safe compounds are usually not very effective in controlling fleas flies and ticks the best thing for an animal owner to do is follow the labeled instructions he adds spring is a great time to enhance and enjoy the outdoors taking the time to make sure that everything you put in and on your yard is safe for your furry friends will ensure this time is special for the entire family pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

first aid tips for pet owners april 2 2009 its the middle of the night and your phone rings your dog has gotten out and was hit by a car what do you do when our kids or our significant other gets sick or hurt we have a pretty good idea of how to take care of them unfortunately most people are not prepared to handle these occurrences in our pets to help pet owners deal with emergency situations april has been designated as national pet first aid awareness month dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences says that one of the most important things that you can do for your pets safety is to have a relationship with your veterinarian it is absolutely necessary to know if your veterinarian has an after hour emergency service and if not who they recommend calling in case of an emergency explains stickney its also imperative that you can call your veterinarian for advice on what to do to help your pet until you can get it to the clinic the two most common emergency situations that a pet owner should be prepared for are poisoning and trauma if you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic contact your veterinarian they may tell you to make it vomit by feeding it hydrogen peroxide states stickney while hydrogen peroxide is generally harmless there are some poisons that will actually make things worse if the pet vomits so it is important that you contact your veterinarian first as spring and summer approach more and more pets will need first aid for snake bites dogs are especially curious and tend to get bitten the most on their noses faces and front legs the area where the pet was bitten will swell up very quickly states stickney just because there is no visible puncture wound does not mean that your pet did not get bitten if you think your pet was bitten by a snake stay calm and take it to the vet immediately do not put a tourniquet on the pet as this will limit the blood flow too much and cause more harm than good if you are able to kill the snake take it to the veterinarian with you if they can identify the snake they will have a better idea of how harmful the bite is recommends stickney its not uncommon that a dog or cat will suffer a traumatic event such as getting hit by a car bike or other vehicle while the animal might look ok it is good to have it checked out by the veterinarian anyway trauma can be very deceiving most of the time it looks better than it actually is and there is usually a lot of damaged tissue on the inside explains stickney the first thing to do if your pet has been injured and is bleeding is to put pressure on the area to slow the blood flow hurt dogs tend to bite so it is a good idea to have a muzzle on hand to use in this type of situation your pet might be your best friend but when dogs are hurt they may not remember that notes stickney if you have a big dog i would also recommend that you have a dog stretcher they make it much easier to move large injured animals less severe incidences such as minor cuts and scrapes are fairly common and can be handled much like you would treat yourself make sure that the cut is as clean as possible states stickney i would not recommend putting antibiotic cream anywhere your pet can lick it off this just causes more germs to get in the wound if the cut is on an area they cant lick than something like neosporin will be fine while there are a lot of ways that you can help your pet with simple first aid techniques you will probably never have to use cpr the reality is that the chance that cpr will help your pet is very low says stickney the good news is that this means there is very little reason you would have to put your dogs face in your mouth pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

so you want a pet bird march 5 2009 now more than ever americans are constantly on the go long days at the office coupled with the demanding extra-curricular activities for kids leaves little time spent at home so before adding another member to the family it is important to consider the responsibilities of caring for and choosing your pet bird there are several factors to consider before purchasing a pet bird explains dr sharman hoppes an avian specialist at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences space cost time family and life longevity must be taken into consideration before introducing a pet bird into your family the size of your home must be evaluated the cage can take up a considerable amount of space especially for large birds in addition to having a cage all pet birds should have a play gym to encourage exercise says dr hoppes because of their eating habits birds regularly require their owners to clean up around the cage owners must also be able to handle their noisy demeanor pet birds tend to be very messy they pick at food and leave crumbs everywhere often spewing their messes outside of their cage comments hoppes birds can also be loud so take neighbors into consideration especially if living in an apartment or duplex purchasing a bird can often be an impulse buy; however it is important to think about all of the annual costs before obtaining a new feathered friend a large cage toys and the appropriate food can become costly especially for large birds veterinary costs should also be considered as it is especially important to check for hidden illnesses notes hoppes for example parrots are prey animals and hide signs of illness or disease chlamydophila a zoonotic disease transferred not only from bird to bird but bird to person can be found in some birds and makes it absolutely necessary for pet birds to be initially examined by a veterinarian in addition to space and cost it is essential that the amount of time the bird will spend alone in the house be considered birds are flock animals and need a lot of socialization so sitting alone all day in a cage can be very stressful continues hoppes birds are also very intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation they should receive lots of interaction with humans preferably outside of their cage for a minimum of a couple of hours each day considering the rest of the family is also important before purchasing a pet bird be careful if you have small children birds can bite and large birds can bite even harder a small child must be monitored very closely around pet birds comments hoppes it is also important to note that some birds live much longer than a dog or cat and owners must be prepared for a life-long friend a cockatiel can live for up to 25 years and a macaw or cockatoo can live for 60 years people have to be prepared for a very long-lived pet states hoppes if after considering all of the above a family decides to obtain a pet bird it is time to determine which type of bird best suits their needs budgerigars (budgies or parakeets) and cockatiels are the most common types of pet birds they are reasonably priced fairly quiet and do not require a large cage they can also be quite entertaining if hand-raised and interacted with frequently says hoppes when it comes to larger birds the african gray parrot and the yellow-naped or yellow-headed amazon are very popular because of their unique talking abilities the large macaws talk some but not as well as the amazon or african gray; however their large size and beauty make them popular with many routine care and veterinary visits are necessary for the health of a pet bird birds need to be seen by a veterinarian yearly or more frequently if they have health issues their wings and nails need to be trimmed two to three times a year notes hoppes their water and papers should be changed daily and a pelleted bird diet mixed with healthy fruits and vegetables should be maintained even though caring for a pet bird may seem overwhelming at first birds can be fun entertaining additions to the family parrots are amazing wonderful pets but people need to realize that they are loud messy and expensive to appropriately maintain i have seven and wouldnt give them up for anything! hoppes lovingly concludes with appropriate consideration and proper care pet birds make excellent companions and can become life-long friends pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

best pets for people with allergies february 27 2009 the asthma and allergy foundation of america estimates that one in five americans suffers from all types of allergies and of these between 15 and 30 percent have allergic reactions to cats and dogs with so many people affected by allergies it has become a growing trend to market pets as hypo-allergenic or suitable for people with allergies dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences discusses the causes of these allergies and how to keep them at bay while enjoying the companionship of a cherished pet while there are dogs and cats that are marketed as hypoallergenic there is really no such thing notes stickney people can be allergic to anything and it varies by person the most common causes of pet allergies from dogs are flaking skin called dander and seasonal allergies can be caused by pollen spores that have attached to a dogs fur and brought into a house the kinds of dogs that are probably less likely to cause allergies are those with short hair and those that are less-likely to shed these include terriers such as yorkies and westies poodles and schnauzers there are really no breeds of cats that are better for people with cat allergies because these allergies are usually caused by the cats saliva states stickney when a cat grooms itself the saliva dries on its fur and is then transferred to the pet owner there are some breeds of pets such as the chinese crested dog and sphinx cat that are mostly or completely hairless these pets may be less likely to cause allergies as the fur will not hold onto allergens while hairless pets may be an option for people with allergies these types of animals come with their own problems warns stickney hairless dogs have to be washed very often as they tend to have very oily skin and other skin problems there also alternative pet options for people with allergies if they are willing to be a little adventurous reptiles birds rats guinea pigs and fish are among the possibilities it may take some experimentation to find the right pet as different people are allergic to different kinds of animals but reptiles and fish should be safe for just about anybody says stickney however if one has their heart set on owning a dog or cat there are a few steps that they can take to alleviate some of the allergy risks bathing your pet once a week and vacuuming your house often are two precautions you can take to cut down on the allergens attached to your pets and floating around your house notes stickney if possible grooming should be left to someone who is not allergic as to minimize your contact with the pets fur and dander owning a pet is a fulfilling experience and something that many of us could not bear to live without while allergies may dictate the breed or type of animal one can live with everyone should be able to find a pet that they can love and that doesnt make them sneeze pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

dental care for your four legged friend february 20 2009 the american dental association recommends that we brush our teeth twice a day floss daily and visit our dentist regularly to have teeth cleanings and oral exams keeping our teeth clean is vital to our oral health and well being why should our pets be any different when was the last time you brushed your pets teeth or had them professionally cleaned for many people the answer could be never this seemingly slight overlook of your pets dental care could be causing serious problems in your poochs mouth according to the veterinary oral health council website periodontal disease (gum disease) is the most common disease occurring in pets and dogs gum disease is an infection resulting from the build-up of soft dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums the bacteria in dental plaque irritate the gum tissue if allowed to accumulate which can often lead to infection in the bone surrounding the teeth after plaque has formed hard dental tartar which consists of calcium salts from saliva that has been deposited on plaque begins to grow if the surface of the tooth does not stay clean tartar begins to form within a few days the un-brushed tooth provides a surface that boosts further plaque accumulation if allowed to accumulate tartar is difficult to remove without dental instruments for our pets gum disease means bad breath painful irritated gums that can lead to bleeding and loss of appetite and the loss of teeth if the roots have been affected there is also the possibility that the bacteria surrounding the root of the tooth gains access to the bloodstream which can lead to microscopic damage of the heart liver and kidney as the severity of the gum disease increases so does the damage the best way to ward off periodontal disease in your pet is prevention keeping your pets teeth clean can help prevent oral health problems ideally you should brush your pets teeth daily states dr johnathon dodd a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences make sure you are using special toothpaste that is made for pets and is safe for them to swallow they cannot spit or rinse like we do therefore our pets need specific kinds of toothpaste that is not harmful if ingested your veterinarian and local pet retail stores should carry toothbrushes and toothpaste for your pets different flavors of toothpastes are available for dog and cats in addition to brushing your pets teeth daily it is also important for pets to have their teeth cleaned and examined by a professional your pet needs to get their teeth cleaned yearly notes dodd most veterinary clinics should offer dental cleaning services but if they do not they can refer you to someone who does to help ward off gum diseases and keep bad breath at bay there are products you can feed your pet that help improve and promote oral health there are certain dog treats that help promote good dental health explains dodd the right kind of treat should crumble be easily crushed and contain chlorhexadine or a hydrogen peroxide-type additive that can help with the bacteria count in the animals mouth balancing this bacteria count can help prevent and get rid of bad breath a helpful guide to go by when considering your pets oral health is the veterinary oral health council website they have compiled a list of products that are intended to help reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth of animals and created the vohc seal of approval pet products approved by the veterinary oral health council can be recognized by the vohc seal on the packaging to see the full list of vohc approved products visit wwwvohcorg brushing your pets teeth taking them for a yearly visit to the dentist and giving them vohc approved products are all ways that you can help make sure your pet has a clean and healthy mouth pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

how cold is too cold february 12 2009 heaters are on and blankets seem to have taken over our homes as we bundle up to wait out the winter season luckily we are able to add more layers or turn up the thermostat if we start to feel uncomfortably cold our outdoor pets and livestock are not so fortunate so it is our responsibility to make sure they have adequate shelter from the harsh winter weather and temperatures animals should be able to get out of the elements notes dr ma crist a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences determining what temperature is too cold for your pet can depend on many different factors from fur thickness and length to body mass this makes it hard to determine an exact temperature that could be dangerous to your pets health explains crist however it is clinically accepted that indoor pets that are not acclimated to cold weather should not be left outside when the average daily temperature is below 45 degrees fahrenheit cats even if acclimated to outdoor temperatures should always have access to warm shelters kittens cats advanced in age or sick should never be kept outdoors when the temperature is below 45 degrees fahrenheit if pets are kept outdoors during winter weather dr crist recommends making sure the animal has a well insulated structure that is large enough to allow the animal to curl up and maintain its body heat the dog house or structure should contain a wind-block to protect it from northern winter blasts advises crist outdoor pets in colder climates should have an outdoor rated heating pad also adding blankets or dry straw in the structure can give the animal a place to bed down and keep warm just make sure the bedding stays clean and dry and remember to change it out frequently along with a well insulated structure animals kept outside need plenty of fresh unfrozen water heated water buckets are available to make sure your animals stay hydrated during the winter months outdoor pets need a significant number of calories to help keep them warm adds crist this increase in caloric intake needs to be maintained throughout the season food is the fuel our animals need to maintain their body heat sweaters can also help to keep pets warm; however there are a few guidelines that need to be followed to ensure your animals safety it is important to make sure the article of clothing fits the animal correctly notes crist the sweater should not be large enough to hang loosely or produce gaps that can prevent the animal from keeping warm on the other hand you do not want a sweater that is too tight and can cause circulation problems or irritation to the animals skin if you choose to provide your pet with clothing it is important to remember to never leave the animal unattended pets clothing can get caught on numerous things outside and that can injure the animal explains crist another worry is that the pet might catch the sweater on something and pull it off which means the animal will again be unprotected against the cold crist also suggests a few other guidelines that can help protect your pet from harm this winter: before getting into and starting your vehicle thump the hood of the car with your hand to make sure a cat seeking refuge from the cold has not crawled up into the engineif you are using antifreeze be careful to clean up any spills pets like the taste of antifreeze and it is deadly if ingested even in very small amountsproducts used to help ice melt can be very irritating to the skin and mouth these products can cause your pet to drool and vomitthe use of poison increases in the winter because rats mice and other small creatures are often trying to invade our homes to seek shelter during the winter if you are using poisons around the house make sure they are inaccessible to your pet if your pet ingests any type of poison and you need assistance or you are unsure if a product is safe for use around your animal talk with your veterinarian helpful information can also be found in the pet care section of the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals website wwwaspcaorg with the temperature dropping and an abundance of hazardous materials in use winter weather means its time to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of you your family and your pets pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

joint health february 6 2009 as the winter season settles in the chill of the cold air often make us more aware of our joint health problems- the same goes for your pet though commonly bothersome in the winter joint discomfort can be a year round-pain that affects your pets quality of life joints are areas where bones come together explains dr sharon kerwin an associate professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences they are a combination of bone ligaments cartilage and the joint capsule and fluid if anything damages the cartilage or another structure in the joint then arthritis or deterioration results unfortunately at this point in time there is no cure for arthritis symptoms can be treated but arthritis is often progressive and gets worse with time though no cure has been found yet there are ways to prevent or postpone the onset of your pets joint problems while genetics do play a role in the development of some joint issues weight control and proper diet are essential in both prevention and treatment notes kerwin keeping a young dog particularly large breeds on a diet that does not have too much energy from carbohydrates and fat is essential to keeping them from growing too quickly this is important because if they grow too quickly it can result in both excessive fat and the formation of a mismatch between bone growth and muscle development which can lead to excessive stress on cartilage the specific ingredients in your pets food and the amounts of each ingredient can have astounding affects on your pets joint growth and health one of the main ways diet can be a contributing factor for joint health issue is if there is an imbalance in the ratio of calcium to phosphorous explains dr dan bauer a professor of animal nutrition at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science for growing animals an imbalance in this ratio can result in metabolic bone diseases which greatly affect joint health making sure your pet is getting a complete and balanced diet can help to prevent joint problems in younger pets or ease joint health problems for older animals large dog breeds such as german shepherds golden retrievers labrador retrievers and irish setters are especially susceptible to joint health problems such as hip dysplasia getting your pet the proper nutrition at an early age can potentially help avoid such problems dietary supplements such as glucosamine and omega 3 fatty acids can also help ease your pets joint pain recent research has shown that the dietary supplement glucosamine which is an important dietary adjunct that supports joint health increases mobility and decreases pain adds bauer it is not a cure and more research needs to be done but many people believe it might be able to slow down progression of joint health problems omega 3 fatty acids can also help ease joint pain by reducing inflammation when joints rub together it creates inflammation the omega 3 fatty acids potentially can alleviate some of that notes bauer human grades of these dietary supplements can be used on animals and are worth a try if your pet is in pain however it is important to first talk to your veterinarian about dosages and specifics regarding your animal if joint health problems are plaguing your pet dr kerwin suggests keeping your pet slim and trim as good body condition is important in maintaining your pets health muscle mass should be promoted by moderate low -impact exercise like swimming and walking if your pet has more severe joint problems and more drastic medical attention is needed there are a variety of treatment options available specific problems such as cruciate ligament (acl) tears in the stifle (knee) joint can be treated by stabilizing the joint to decrease the wear and tear on the cartilage explains kerwin arthritic hip joints can be replaced surgically as is done in humans and medical management of joint problems can include pain management with medications such as nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs joint supplements and physical rehabilitation if your pet is at risk for or suffers from joint health problems talk with your veterinarian to make sure they are receiving the proper nutrition and medications if needed pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

dog dementia january 23 2009 as we age we notice our bodies and minds may not be as quick as they once were luckily for humans we are able to voice problems and pains and seek the medical attention we need; our dogs are not so lucky while doggie dementia or canine cognitive disease does exist dr daniel hicks a veterinary neurologist and clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences says the changes in your dogs behavior may be explained by other medical conditions many times what is thought to be dementia is actually connected to a larger scale problem such as a tumor infection or stroke explains hicks hicks states that subtle signs such as the loss of potty training deviation from normal behavioral patterns and changes in food preferences appetite or sleep patterns might be the result of an underlying neurological disorder an example of behavioral pattern changes in dogs could be that you have let your dog out the back door for the past 10 years and all the sudden they are going to the front door instead explains hicks changes in food preferences and signs that they are eating and sleeping much more or less can potentially be caused by a problem in their nervous system these subtle signs may be early indicators of illnesses that can be difficult to recognize for pet owners often dogs are brought to us after displaying obvious signs such as seizures circling a term that refers to when animals pace in circles vision deficits such as running into walls and head pressing which is when an animal presses their head against a wall or an object for no apparent reason notes hicks it is important to remember that not all dogs will display all the signs but if you notice your pet behaving oddly take them to your veterinarian for an evaluation they can look for common disorders that might help explain what is going on with your pet preliminary evaluations and routine testing can often find obvious problems states hicks routine testing can include a physical examination blood work and urine samples and help to diagnose diseases such as diabetes thyroid problems arthritis some forms of cancer or infections if initial test results do not explain the cause for your pets abnormal behavior or if the results suggest additional information is required the next step may be to see a specialist your veterinarian can refer you to a veterinary neurologist who can help determine what the problem is a focused neurological examination begins with another hands-on assessment explains hicks if there is concern that the problem stems from the brain we can sample spinal fluid test for various diseases and get a mri scan to get a better look at the problem magnetic resonance images commonly known as mris allow veterinary neurologist to classify various diseases of the brain including cancer strokes and hydrocpehalus the most important thing to remember when dealing with a pets problem is to be aware of options advises hicks knowing that advanced diagnostic tests and treatments are available helps guide people regarding the most appropriate level of care for their pet depending on the test results and ultimately the diagnosis there can be many different treatment options the symptoms can be the same for a large number of diseases hicks suggests that pursuing a diagnosis early on in the course of illness usually aids in more successful treatment outcomes some diseases once thought to be untreatable may now be very treatable notes hicks this includes some forms of cancer strokes and head trauma for instance cancer therapy has evolved to include sophisticated chemotherapy radiation and surgery which has lead to higher survival rates while some behavioral changes will be explained by the various tests performed not all illnesses including dog dementia have a specific reliable test currently since there is no single test for ‘doggie dementia we must rule out other diseases in other words the diagnosis comes by way of excluding other possibilities states hicks whether your pet is suffering from a known illness or a case of doggie dementia it is important to have them evaluated so appropriate therapy may be instituted pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

a resolution fit for you and your best friend january 8 2009 as 2009 opens a year of promise we all start pondering our new years resolutions for many people the top of that list includes weight loss and exercise while most people could benefit from this resolution so could most pets obesity occurs in up to 40 percent in our pet dogs and cats and it has many causes but inactivity is a major contributor animals require exercise to maintain a healthy weight just as people do states j david sessum registered veterinary technician at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at texas a&m university the difference between animals and people is that for the most part it is easier for pets to lose weight because the owner is the one who regulates their diet pets that have a recommended diet from a veterinary professional usually maintain a healthy weight because they are fed the correct amount of kilocalories in their diet that is suited for their level of activity i do believe that owners play a huge role in helping their pet lose and maintain a healthy weight notes sessum how easy would it be for humans to lose weight if we were only given two cups of a reduced calorie diet twice daily just as owners regulate their pets food intake another resolution can be to make sure their animals get enough exercise animals that exercise on a regular basis maintain a healthy body weight due to the fact that they metabolize their food during exercise says sessum a sedentary or inactive lifestyle helps promote an unhealthy weight just as it does in people as our pets inactivity increases their weight increases recent research in human and animals have shown that adipose tissue (fat cells) actually functions more as an endocrine organ like your pancreas adipose tissue actually releases inflammatory mediators that can make diseases like osteoarthritis much worse for obese patients in the clinic you can see dogs that may have orthopedic diseases such as hip dysplasia (a joint malformation) but are only diagnosed as incidental findings on radiographs because the dog is a healthy weight and remains active the owner never even noticed a change in the dogs level of activity explains sessum as far as osteoarthritis and existing orthopedic conditions are concerned an obese patient places extra strain on joints that are already unhealthy and weight loss or management can help reduce the load placed on diseased painful joints exercise is important for all pets but if you arent sure what level of exercise your pet requires when making your new years resolution a veterinarian or veterinary professional can assess your animals weight status by using a body condition score once a pets body condition is scored it is a helpful tool in developing an exercise program for pets notes sessum a pet with a healthy body condition score can maintain their normal daily activity and amount of food they currently receive as a pet ages its body condition score can be assessed and the amount of exercise and amount of food can be regulated to help ensure a healthy body weight exercises to maintain a healthy weight for dogs can include regular leash walks and normal activity such as fetching or swimming states sessum all of these activities can be done with the owner so helping your pet get exercise can also help you for dogs that are obese exercise is usually not tolerated very well due to their previous level of inactivity these patients must be monitored at all times during exercise for signs of fatigue or distress especially during summer months when extreme temperatures are encountered other exercises that owners can do with their pets include anything that will help with strengthening and improving cardiovascular fitness explains sessum walks up hills or inclines stepping over obstacles or walking through tall grass to increase range of motion in joints will all help to reduce obesity and maintain a healthy weight in both pets and humans it is important to remember that rest and recovery is as important sometimes as the exercise themselves to help prevent soreness and excess fatigue it is also necessary to avoid the weekend warrior mentality pets that have a sedentary lifestyle will not respond to exercise well if they are suddenly introduced into a strenuous workout program concludes sessum just like people if we lie around on the couch all week and then try to run a marathon it could lead to serious health problems our pets exercise regimen should be introduced in the same manner we would approach a new exercise program including a visit to the doctor! by following these guidelines and sticking to these resolutions both you and your pet can have a healthy and prosperous new year pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

gift ideas december 18 2008 sure santa claus is coming to town with gifts for little sammy and sue but what about your pet if your pet has been good this year it is time to reward them with a holiday gift pet stores sell all kinds of holiday presents for our animals states dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor and director of general surgery services at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences however not all those presents are good choices for your pet added holiday pounds are not just a worry for us; our pets can be at risk as well dr stickney recommends keeping a few things in mind if you are planning on purchasing edible presents for your animals too many sweets can make pets sick notes stickney it is also important to factor in the added calories from the treats so overfeeding can be avoided if you are planning on buying your pet an edible chew toy stickney recommends getting them one that will soften as they chew it such as rawhide things such as pigs feet and horse hoofs do not soften and can crack a dogs teeth in terms of toys stickney has a few suggestions when it comes to what to get your pet for dogs dont get them a toy that resembles anything they are not allowed to chew on a toy shoe or newspaper could be confusing and give the animal the wrong idea about what is or is not ok for them to chew on explains stickney also make sure the toy you get the dog is sturdy dont get your pet anything they could shred or destroy they might eat part of it which can potentially cause gastrointestinal obstructions comments stickney make sure to get a toy that is appropriate for the breed and age of your dog there is a great rubber dog toy called a kong these rubber toys have a hole in the center that can be filled with a treat which the dog works to get which is both fun and stimulating for the animal kongs are a great toy idea for any dog because they are virtually indestructible come in various sizes and provide hours of entertainment for your pet stickney also recommends avoiding toys that encourage tug of war games never encourage your dog to resist giving you things they have in their mouths when it comes to buying gifts for cats they will like anything that crinkles or moves unexpectedly states stickney beware of things that have strings they can swallow or bells they might choke on if you give your pet a toy that requires interaction on your part such as cat fishing poles that have long strings in which your cat can become entangled make sure the toy is put away when you are not playing with your pet birds and ferrets like anything new and novel comments stickney just know that birds will ultimately destroy anything that is put in their cages and ferrets often swallow things so make sure what you give them is strong enough to resist being pulled apart or chewed up if your pet is of the scaly nature they may not appreciate their present snakes and lizards wont really notice if they get a present notes stickney these animals like stability in their environments so adding something new may not excite them as it would other pets no matter what kind of pets you have on your list make sure you get them safe and appropriate gifts this holiday season pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

cancer and your pets: what you need to know december 4 2008 almost everyone has known a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer while cancer in humans is definitely prevalent our pets are also afflicted with this disease according to dr heather wilson assistant professor of oncology at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences 50 percent of all dogs and 30 percent of all cats over the age of 10 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer types of cancers most common in dogs include: lymphoma (tumor of the lymph nodes) mast cell tumors (skin tumors) and osteosarcoma (tumor of the bones) some common types of cancer in cats are: lymphoma squamous cell carcinoma (which affects the head neck and mouth) and vaccine associated sarcomas cats are not nearly as prone to cancer as dogs but one of the most common cancers in cats comes from vaccine injection sites notes wilson while you can pick and choose some vaccinations rabies vaccinations are required by law however there is a non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine for cats that is less irritating thus less likely to cause cancer and is available at most veterinary clinics the type of cancer your pet has can also be closely associated with its breed in dogs lymphoma is most common in golden retrievers boxers and labs mast cell tumors are common in dogs with short noses such as boxers pugs and bulldogs large breed dogs such as rottweilers and great danes are more prone to osteosarcoma there is very little distinction across breeds when it comes to cancer in cats states wilson however cancer most commonly affects the siamese breed of cats once your veterinarian has diagnosed your pet with cancer you will then want to find a veterinary oncologist in your area that specializes in your pets specific cancer there are veterinary oncologists that specialize in medical oncology and radiation oncology there are also surgeons that specialize in surgical oncology explains wilson the best way to find a medical oncologist in your area is to go to the american college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) website at wwwacvimorg treatment options range from chemotherapy surgery radiation therapy and immunotherapy and are administered depending on the type and severity of the cancer chemotherapy is the number one treatment option for animals with lymphoma says wilsonwhile cure rates in dogs vary greatly with the type of cancer overall response rates for dogs with lymphoma treated with the chop chemotherapy protocol (a multidrug protocol given weekly over 19 weeks) is greater than 80 percent response rates for dogs with mast cell tumors varies depending on the grade but with complete surgical excision plus radiation for low grade tumors the control rates is often greater than 80 percent at three years unfortunately the majority of dogs with osteosarcoma and metastatic disease do not achieve a cure states wilson also most cancers in cats are also very hard to cure when we do achieve remission in cats with vaccine associated sarcomas they often live 18-24 months before they have a recurrence cost is another important thing to consider when deciding on the treatment of an animal for cancer while costs range widely the average cost for a surgery is $2 000-$3000; chemotherapy regimen is $1 200-$3 000 and radiation averages $3 000 as cost is prohibitive to some families a good option may be to enter your pet into a clinical trial if possible notes wilson many of these trials have a financial incentive such as a free treatment regimen and they also help with future research for both veterinary and human oncology for more information on clinical trials at texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine go to vetmedtamuedu/clinical-trials while cancer in pets can be extremely stressful for owners the good news is that with the amount of resources and specialists that are now available to treat cancer in pets owners now have the power to make informed and responsible decisions to get their beloved pets through this illness pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

cat food for thought december 1 2008 anyone who owns a dog or a cat knows that they will typically eat anything they can get their paws on while it is not harmful for a dog to eat a cats food it can be potentially hazardous for a cat to eat a dogs food in moderation a cat eating a dogs food is probably safe but if the cat is only eating fidos dinner they are probably not getting the nutrients that are essential to their specific health needs cats nutrition requirements are different than dogs they have unique needs explains dr john bauer a professor of animal nutrition at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine &biomedical science your cat is not going to get ill from eating the occasional pieces of dog food but if they are only eating dog food then they are not getting nutrients they need for a healthy life if you have a cat that prefers to feast on their canine pals dinner it is important to know that there are five main nutrients essential to feline health that are not balanced properly for proper feline nutrition first cats require a higher protein to calorie ratio than dogs notes bauer cats eat less than dogs therefore they need to be getting the protein needed from a smaller amount of food by contrast dogs will eat a larger amount of food thus getting the proper balance of protein to calories also cats are not able to make their own vitamin a which has to be added to their food and is essential to their health dogs are able to make vitamin a from beta-carotene explains bauer since their bodies can create this vitamin it is not necessary for it to be in their food per se a dog could live with only small amounts of vitamin a added into their food as long as they are also getting beta-carotene a cat cannot thirdly bauer explains that cats are not able to make the amino acid taurine according to the iams website taurine is important to maintain proper feline heart function vision and reproduction it is also needed to form bile that helps with digestion a lack of taurine can lead to the weakening of the heart muscles which in turn can cause heart failure in addition to maintaining cardiac health this amino acid is also necessary for the proper development and function of the retina cells in cats eyes a taurine deficiency can lead to the cells dying which can cause impaired vision and blindness taurine also effects reproduction to ensure proper structural development of a kitten both the mother and the baby must maintain proper levels of taurine dogs are able to make taurine meaning it does not have to be a specific ingredient in their food notes bauer cats eating lots of dog food will not be getting the necessary amount of taurine they need to maintain their health bauer also states that dog food does not need to have arachidonic acid a fatty acid essential to feline nutrition according to the article special nutrition needs of cats found on peteducationcom arachidonic acid is necessary to produce an inflammatory response that helps the body protect itself it is necessary for proper blood clotting aids in regulating skin growth and is necessary for the functioning of reproductive and gastrointestinal systems again arachidonic acid is something that unlike dogs cats are not able to manufacture therefore it is found in food for cats but is not necessary in dog foods adds bauer bauer says the fifth nutrient cats need is niacin a b vitamin as stated by peteducationcom niacin deficiencies can cause loss of appetite inflamed gums weight loss and hemorrhagic diarrhea cats cant make niacin they need to ingest this nutrient from their food comments bauer cats and dogs require different levels and sources for nutrients they need to maintain their health if they are not getting proper amounts it can lead to health problems if your cat sneaks dog food once in a while it is not going to compromise its health notes bauer but if they are only eating dog food then they are not going to be getting nutrients needed to maintain their health it is important your animal is eating food designed for its specific nutritional needs likewise a dog that eats cat food wont be in danger of a lack of needed nutrients but that doesnt mean it is healthy animal foods are made specifically for that species states bauer its all about ratios; cats eat smaller amounts of food so their food contains higher amounts of nutrients per piece even if dog food had the proper nutrients for felines the cat would have to eat larger amounts of the dog food to get the same nutrients they would receive from a serving of cat food pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

communication is key in picking the right veterinarian november 14 2008 as our pets become more and more an extension of our human families their healthcare and who is providing it is increasingly important dr dan posey clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences explains that picking the right veterinarian is a serious decision and numerous factors should be considered the first would be if the veterinarian is a good communicator states posey i believe this varies with the clients needs large animal vs food animal vs small animal but all clients desire regardless of species or business relation a veterinarian that strives to have good client rapport although most pet owners may not know much about the actual medical procedures performed it is usually apparent if the veterinarian is compelled to serve and fulfill their clients needs and if this is a person that loves being a veterinarian the veterinarian should be both passionate about their profession and empathetic and compassionate towards their clients as seen through their professional service says posey while there should not be many differences in competency between a large animal veterinarian and a small animal veterinarian most do have specific interests competency is hard to assess even by the most discerning clients desire is not notes posey asking questions about their interest should help one learn about the mission and vision of the practices or veterinarians that they are trying to select exotic pet owners also have to make sure that their small animal practitioner can handle these less-common animals most private practices clearly state available services in exotic care some but not all small animal practices have veterinarians that are passionate about exotics and can easily handle routine needs of the pocket pet reptile and bird you will find other practices that have veterinarians that can go well beyond routine exotic care because of their desire and training says posey if your veterinarian does not offer or specialize in these services all private practices have the ability to offer referral services for the care of their patients and clients although their communications skills and interests play a vital role in picking the right veterinarian what makes them a medical expert is their training and education while all private veterinary practitioners have to earn a doctor of veterinary medicine pass a national licensing exam and receive a license through their state board veterinarians are life-long learners and are continually advancing their knowledge base through self study continuing education experiences and colleague interaction they also can advance their professional development and education through a variety of specialty training this could be internships certification programs residencies and different specialty board certifications states posey these are very important aspects of veterinary training and could be important depending of the needs of the patient when choosing a veterinarian reputation is important as well start by inquiring with family friends and co-workers about their veterinarians ask them if they have heard any complaints or recommendations regarding local practitioners i wouldnt take one opinion but a variety so that you can make a decision i then would set up an initial visit so that you can express your expectations and you can meet the staff and see the facility and make an informed decision advises posey problems and complaints occur in all practices they derive from a variety of situations from not meeting a desired outcome or expectation to the rare negligence case but it is important that clients understand the basis of the complaint if you are concerned about complains you have heard regarding a local veterinarian contact the state licensing board to confirm the accuracy of the complaints adds posey while there are so many things to consider when making this important decision the key to picking the right veterinarian is to communicate with them and make sure that they are committed to serving both their patients and clients well pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

exotic pets and children november 6 2008 depending on your familys lifestyle the responsibility of taking care of a cat or dog may be too time consuming left with the desire for a pet but time constraints that arent conducive to a cat or dog some people think that getting a pocket pet reptile or another exotic animal might seem like the right solution unfortunately if you have small children exotic pets can be dangerous to your familys health pocket pets are small animals often rodents that can fit into your pocket such as: hamsters hedgehogs mice rats and gerbils though they are slight larger guinea pigs also fall under the pocket pet category other exotic pets that people often turn to for companionship include baby chickens baby ducks and reptiles such as lizards snakes iguanas and turtles if you have kids under the age of 5 you should be extremely careful if you elect to have exotic pets in your home states dr sharman hoppes an assistant clinical professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences reptiles ‘pocket pets baby chicks and ducks are not always in the best health when we acquire them making these animals more prone to be shedding salmonella according to the department of human healths website salmonella is a bacteria that is passed from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhea fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after exposure in severe cases the infected individual may be hospitalized for dehydration furthermore if the infection spreads from the intestines into the blood stream and is not treated properly salmonella can cause death as adults we tend to be more hygienic then children meaning we are less likely to contract salmonella from exotic pets notes hoppes children however are constantly putting their hands in their mouths and often do not was their hands after handling these animals which puts them at greater risk for infection in addition to lacking the proper hygiene practices of adults kids are also more likely to get scratched or bitten by exotic pets this is primarily due to the fact that children often do not know how to properly handle exotic pets not using the proper handling techniques for these animals can cause them stress making them more likely to bite or scratch these wounds create a point of entry for bacteria explains hoppes because of the risk of contracting a salmonella infection from an exotic pet it is important to make sure our animals are healthy when we get them and that we maintain our pets health anyone adopting exotic pets should take the animal to a qualified veterinarian for a wellness examination advises hoppes make sure your animal is healthy and not under stress from lack of proper care and poor nutrition stressed animals are more prone to bacterial infections not all veterinarians are equipped to treat exotic pets adds hoppes if your veterinarian is not able to care for your pet ask for a referral to one who can once you find a veterinarian that treats exotic animals hoppes recommends asking them about the proper husbandry and nutrition for your pet animal husbandry refers to the proper way to take care of your species of animal animal husbandry includes how to house your pet properly and special needs they may have as far as temperature humidity and lighting proper nutrition includes type of food or diet how frequently to feed and the amount that should be fed explains hoppes making sure your pet maintains good health and employing proper animal husbandry and nutrition can help reduce the risk of the animal carrying an infection and thus lessen you and your familys chances of contracting an illness from your exotic pet to further reduce the chance of infection from exotic pets hoppes recommends the following: always wash your hands and your childs hands after handling an animalchildren handling pets should be under constant supervisionkeep the animals out of your kitchen and bathroom (dont let your iguana soak in the sink or bathtub)do not let your exotic pet have free roam of your house; this is dangerous for both you and themteach your children to avoid approaching exotic animals outdoors and avoid bringing exotic animals found outdoors into your home if you have young children under five years of age having exotic pets can be risky to your childs health if you choose to have an exotic pet make sure your animal maintains good health and that you employ the proper precautions to reduce the risk of infection pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

protect your pets from food hazards during the holidays october 30 2008 sweet treats and family meals are a hallmark of the holidays but for many of our furry friends these same indulgences can be dangerous dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences tells us how we can keep our pets safe from toxic foods while enjoying the holiday season one of the major food dangers to our pets during the holidays and beyond is chocolate eating chocolate especially dark chocolate can cause toxicity in dogs and cats which can result in death while chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats we see chocolate toxicity much more often in dogs this is simply because dogs are much more likely to eat it however it is important to keep it away from all pets just in case notes stickney although chocolate has long been a known toxin for dogs other foods and vegetation can also be very harmful few people know this but both grapes and raisins can cause renal failure in dogs states stickney another thing to note is that easter lilies or really any flower from the lily family can cause kidney failure in cats while these foods are especially dangerous feeding any table scraps to your pets can cause them harm in the long-run because of this stickney stresses the importance of keeping your pets diet regular year-round during the holidays it is common for friends and family members to slip your pets food under the table while they think they are giving them a nice treat the high fat content of most table scraps can not only cause weight control problems but can also cause pancreatitis says stickney in order to avoid these situations stickney suggests that you ask any guests to avoid the temptation of feeding your dogs table scraps and explain to them the risks associated most people are more than willing to respect your wishes especially when they know the health concerns stickney notes of course children are another story the only thing you can do is watch them like a hawk even if they are not given food pets can sometimes find it themselves it is not uncommon in the commotion and food preparation of the holidays to find your animal knee-deep in your trash can its important to remember to always keep you trash closed with a lid or put somewhere your animal cannot reach it states stickney if they do get into it you may have a sick animal on your hands and no way of knowing what and how much they ate while it is best to keep your animals on their regular diet stickney does say that there are some foods that are safe for pets to eat if you absolutely have to give them something off of your plate hand them a green bean says stickney plain vegetables and unbuttered unsalted popcorn are both pretty harmless since they are mostly fiber and dont contain a lot of extra calories although toxic food is a major concern for your pets during the holiday season other common substances and smells can also harm them during this time birds are very sensitive to anything they can inhale during the holidays people like to burn smelly candles and our guests may want to smoke but these types of irritants can give our winged companions the bird version of a cold states stickney another thing to keep in mind as the weather gets colder and you start changing your anti-freeze to keep your dogs away from it anti-freeze has a sweet taste to it that dogs seem to like unfortunately it is extremely toxic and can cause renal failure notes stickney the important thing to remember is that your pets are part of your family by keeping an eye out for toxic foods and avoiding over-feeding pets you can make sure the entire family is enjoying the season pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

make sure pet costumes are a treat october 23 2008 as the weather turns colder and the holidays approach many pet owners start thinking of the adorable halloween costumes and cozy sweaters they can put on their pets while these outfits can be fun and festive the wrong outfit can cause harm to your animal dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine veterinary medical teaching hospital shares some tips and insight on how to protect your pet while celebrating the season while dr stickney agrees that costumes and clothes are a fun way to interact with your animals he emphasizes that the most important thing to remember when dressing your pet is to monitor them cute little costumes are fun to put on your animals while trick-or-treating but when you are not watching your animals make sure to take them off said dr stickney he also stresses that this also goes for sweaters jackets or any other clothing you may put on your pet while you may think your pets need clothes to stay warm they can do more harm than good if the animal is not monitored dr stickney states more than likely your animal does not need to keep clothing on to stay warm even in the winter if you have a house pet that only goes outside for 15-20 minutes to go to the bathroom they will be more than fine without the clothing although it is important to watch your pets while they are dressed it is also important to make sure the outfits you buy them fit correctly anything that can wrap around your pets neck paws or legs can cause them to panic and seriously injure themselves this is especially common in small or young dogs as many costumes may not fit them correctly because of their size states dr stickney the best way to select pet costumes or clothing is to buy them at a pet store where you can take your pet with you and try the outfit on them that way you will know for sure that it not only fits correctly but that it also looks as adorable as you hoped other things dr stickney says to avoid in pet clothing are dangly pieces of fabric bells or other small objects that can be chewed off and swallowed by your pet these things can cause your animal to choke cause blockages in their intestinal track or worse ribbons and bows are especially dangerous for cats these are things cats love to play with and chew on but if they swallow them it causes what is called a ‘linear foreign body this requires emergency surgery to remove or it can ‘saw a hole in the intestines warns dr stickney one other minor problem that pets may experience when wearing costumes is that they may be allergic to the clothing materials or the detergent in which it has been washed dr stickney states if your dog is allergic to a costume or clothing they may develop an itchy red rash the best thing to do is to take the outfit off of the pet and retire it there is no reason to cause your pet pain and discomfort by keeping your pets safety and comfort in mind you can make sure this holiday season is a fun treat for you and your animal pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

pet wellness october 16 2008 taking care of our pets is a year round commitment however caring for our animals is more than simply making sure they have food water and shelter each day making sure pets visit their veterinarian for regular check-ups is vital to their overall wellness as well october is national pet wellness month sponsored by the american veterinary medical association and fort dodge animal health national pet wellness month is intended to promote awareness about the pet aging process disease prevention and the importance of pet wellness exams many people adopt the misguided belief that unless your pet is clearly ill or injured there is no reason to take them to the veterinarian just because your pet is not displaying discomfort does not mean it is healthy visiting your pets veterinarian for wellness exams can potentially prevent health problems lead to early detection of health issues that could become problematic and find existing problems that may be corrected make sure your pets see their veterinarian at least once a year once your animals reach their senior years they should be getting wellness exams every six months explains dr mark stickney the director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicines teaching hospital of course what is considered senior for pets is drastically different from that of humans stickney explains that senior is defined differently for different animals average sized dogs and cats usually are considered to be senior pets once they turn seven large breeds of dogs are classified as senior after their fifth birthday our pets age faster than we do therefore diseases develop faster in them for example an illness that could take years to affect a human can develop in dogs in a few months states stickney our pets cannot tell us when something is wrong with them; scheduling regular wellness exams can help detect and treat illnesses early according to stickney during a wellness exam the veterinarian is checking: the pets body condition(not too fat or skinny) the muscular skeletal system to make sure there is no muscle wasting that could mean they are not using certain muscles because it is painful if the heart and lung functions sound normal the abdomen and organs to make sure they are normal in size and not causing the animal pain the lymph nodes are normal sized and symmetrical the condition of the eyes ears and teeth no unexpected lumps or bumps and no skin or internal parasites it is important to tell your veterinarian if your pet has been displaying any abnormal behavior changes in sleeping patterns eating habits obedience and displays of aggression can be signs of a bigger problem though some illnesses are unavoidable there are some diseases that we can prevent our pets from contracting by simply getting them immunized though rabies is the only vaccination required by law veterinarians recommend a few other vaccinations for our cats and dogs notes stickney common vaccinations for dogs include parvovirus distemper parainfluenza and adenovirus cats should be vaccinated for feline herpes calicivirus and panleukopenia according to stickney series of vaccinations generally begin when a puppy or kitten is between eight and twelve weeks old these series are scheduled about three weeks apart until they are around twenty weeks old at one year old pets should go in for booster shots because there are no set rules for when and what to immunize your pet for it is best to talk with your veterinarian about creating and maintaining a vaccination plan that works best for your pet we are able to treat more illness in animals than ever before states stickney taking your pet in for their wellness exams can give them longer better and happier lives yearly visits to the veterinarian are a small price to pay for our pets companionship pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

pet health insurance october 10 2008 in the past few years veterinary medicine has made leaps and bounds in the types of procedures that are available for animals pet medical histories are beginning to resemble that of their owners cancer treatments pacemakers and other surgical procedures are becoming more accessible and common for our furry friends with the rising costs and variety of pet procedures being offered pet insurance policies are becoming more logical than ever and opting for these policies can be beneficial pet insurance policies like all insurance allow you to plan for the event of a major medical condition states dr dan posey a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences there is no doubt that veterinarians and pet owners have had to make tough health care decisions sometime in their pets life and with pet insurance it makes these decisions easier before opting for health insurance for your pet it is critical that you research what each companys plans cover and what is the best policy for you start with the basics talk with your veterinarian and research which policy suits your needs best there are numerous pet health insurance companies to choose from and the internet is a great place to start your research most pet insurance companies offer a variety of plans some common options are solely accident coverage accident and illness and plans that incorporate routine wellness exams there are differences between each companys policies and one should thoroughly understand what the insurance will and will not cover states posey pet insurance is similar to our own health insurance in the fact that most companies usually will not cover pre-existing conditions hereditary conditions are also commonly excluded from pet health insurance if the breed of your animals is susceptible to developing certain conditions chances are those health problems will not be covered a person should look for a pet insurance that does not have ‘per incident limits recommends dr ma crist a veterinarian at texas a&m university dr crist explains that often a person does not really understand what per incident actually covers if your animal has an accident and requires extensive surgery a person with pet health insurance usually opts for the surgery thinking it will be covered by their policy notes crist only later they find out that their insurance may not cover all of the expenses of the procedure or will only pay up to a certain amount for that surgery leaving the policy holder to pay the remaining amount crist also explains that if a complication arises from the surgery or the animal has follow up appointments or procedures stemming from that surgery the per incident policy will usually not cover those i would choose an insurance company that has a single level coverage which usually covers only accident and illness states crist this means no routine health care no per incident limits does not have a deductible and the premiums do not increase as the pet ages also find a company that pays the claims within 24 hours of receiving the paperwork it is important to completely understand your policy know the procedures it will cover and what percentage your insurance company will pay for each there is no doubt that veterinary medicine is advancing on a daily basis states posey the diagnostic medical and surgical procedures that were once only available in regional referral centers are now becoming more available in private practices with increased access to such procedures pet insurance can help make medical care more affordable pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

evacuating with your pets october 2 2008 hurricane season isnt over yet in the wake of hurricane ikes wrath we are again reminded of the stress and chaos that can come from evacuations though a difficult time for everyone pet owners have the added responsibility of making sure their furry (or scaly) friends are safe first and foremost do not leave your pets behind if the situation is not safe for you it is not safe for them there is no way of knowing how long the evacuation will last or what damage your home might experience saving the whole family a brochure in the american veterinary medical associations disaster preparedness series recommends planning ahead create a disaster kit that you can grab on your way out of course making sure your pet has food and water is the most important necessity for their survival but there are a few very important less obvious things you need as well the american veterinary medical association recommends having these essentials in your disaster kit: identification- make sure your pet has on id whether it is a collar tag microchip temporary neckband or tattoo your animals identification needs to be visible to others in case they get lost if they do not wear identification on a daily basis have a form of id in your disaster kit that is ready to be placed on your pet transportation/housing- have carriers for all your animals it is important to have a place to keep your animals in case you are not able to let them roam free once you get to your destination even if you are taking your pets to a friend or family members house says dr debra zoran a veterinarian at texas a&m university having a crate to keep your pet in is important to give them a sense of security as well as a place of refuge in the event there are problems between pets on the premises when dealing with cats zoran recommends having a crate large enough to hold their bed and litter box the bigger the crate the better the more the cat can move around the more comfortable it will be zoran adds veterinary records-make photocopies of vaccination records and medical history and take them along keep the list of vaccinations your pet has received and the dates on which they were given also make sure to have a copy of their rabies certificate in their medical history the avma suggests having important test results on file as well as a list of medical conditions emergency contact list-this list should be prepared before an evacuation situation some basic numbers to include are your personal phone numbers the number of someone that can be contacted in case you are not available your veterinarians name address and phone number a the information of a veterinarian where you will be evacuating to if you are evacuating with pets to a shelter proof of ownerships is essential get photocopies of registration information adoption papers proof of purchase and microchip information to keep with you have a list of each animals species breed age sex color and distinguishable characteristics it is also important to have current photos of your pets and pictures of you and your pet in case there is a dispute of ownership for more detailed information on these essentials as well as extensive lists for pet disaster kits view the saving the whole family brochure found at the american veterinary medical associations disaster relief website having a disaster kit ready can help you be prepared for an evacuation but the evacuation itself can be incredibly stressful on our pets if you get stuck in traffic dr zoran recommends letting your pets out frequently but have them on a leash at all times put the leash on your pet before you open the door it is best to keep cats in their crates but if you plan to let the cat out make sure you have a harness for it to wear suggests zoran if a cat is stressed and not in its crate when you open the car door it can easily escape evacuating can be just as stressful for your pet as it is for you dr zoran suggests having their favorite toys and comfort items on hand can give them a sense of normalcy in the situation prepare ahead of time for evacuations having a pet disaster kit ready to go at a moments notice can help make a stressful situation a little less traumatizing for you and your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

prevention the key to eliminating rabies september 25 2008 sunday (sept 28) is world rabies day a global effort to raise awareness in support of animal and human rabies prevention this day was set aside to educate people around the globe about the impact of rabies how it can be prevented and how to eliminate the sources that contribute to the death of 55 000 humans from rabies worldwide in support of this effort dr leon russell a professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences shares some background on rabies and ways to prevent your pets and yourself from infection rabies in the usa is most common in the wildlife population and some of the more common hosts include skunks raccoons foxes and bats says russell in other parts of the world however especially in developing countries dogs are the major host for rabies because of inadequate vaccination programs to protect them there are different variants of rabies virus that are maintained by different wildlife hosts and they tend to be located in different parts of the country while raccoons are the major hosts in the atlantic coast states skunks dominate in the midwestern states while rabid bats are found throughout the us all of these wildlife hosts can and do transmit rabies to domestic animals especially dogs cats and cattle notes russell that is why it is so important to have your pets currently vaccinated because dogs and cats can transmit rabies from wildlife to people if the pets are not protected because of the risk of infection and transmission there are usda licensed vaccines available to protect horses dogs cats cattle sheep and ferrets to help with rabies prevention russell also notes that in the past 15 years there has been more rabies in cats than dogs because fewer pet owners have their cats vaccinated keeping your pets away from wildlife exposure year-round is also important rabies in wildlife does tend to follow seasonal peaks but it still occurs throughout the year for example raccoon rabies tends to peak in early spring skunk rabies is more frequent late spring and early summer and bat rabies peaks in late summer these seasonal trends are most likely related to the population density and mating season in terrestrial animals and the ‘swarming of bats related to their seasonal migration states russell if you do see an animal that may be rabid there are some behaviors you can observe there are three stages of clinical rabies in the first stage animals may wander and change their usual behavior for example in the first stage it not uncommon for shy dogs to become very friendly and wild animals may lose their fear of humans dogs may also ingest strange things like rocks says russell in the second stage animals will attack just about anything sometimes breaking their teeth in biting the third stage of rabies is characterized by partial paralysis usually involving the muscles of the jaw so the animals may have a dropped jaw along with a glazed look in their eyes russell adds that the animals may also have difficulty in walking which sometimes gives skunks a wobbling gait or prevents cats from climbing trees unfortunately regardless of the clinical signs the rabid animal will die in a few days or even a few hours if you see these signs in your animal contact your veterinarian immediately if it is not your animal you can contact the local animal control agency or the local health department the good news russell explains is that post-exposure treatment is very effective and safe in people however it must be prompt the treatment starts with prompt first aid which includes flushing the bite wounds out with liquid soap or detergent or just running water people should contact their physicians as soon as possible post-exposure treatment is safe but expensive and consists of a rabies injection plus a series of rabies five vaccine injections over the next four weeks however once clinical signs begin there is currently no effective treatment for rabies notes russell there is also a procedure for handling dogs and cats exposed to rabid animals so you should promptly consult your veterinarian about any potentially exposed pets he adds that the key is to remember is that prevention is the only way to keep rabies from spreading making sure that your animals vaccinations are current and keeping them away from wildlife can save them and you from the deadly disease pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

giving your pet pills august 14 2008 medicines are intended to enhance and protect the health of our pets but giving oral medication to companion animals can be a trying process have no fear pet caregivers there are proven techniques that will make pilling your pet a more pleasant experience for everyone involved choking and poisoning should be the first line of protection for pets taking medication and your veterinarians instructions should be followed to the letter states ms patty hug veterinary technician iii veterinary teaching hospital college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university pet caregivers should take precaution to avoid pet choking by administering pills when the pet is in a sternal or standing position never while lying down also hug suggests that if in doubt write the medication instructions down prior to leaving your veterinarians office this will help prevent over medicating pills may be given by hand but a safer technique utilizes a pet piller this instrument is made of durable washable hard plastic that has a rubber tip on which the pill is placed ever so gently place the pill end of the piller at the side of the mouth; the pet may open its mouth then the piller can be placed at the back of the tongue and the pill dispensed by ‘injecting it into the pets mouth hug says that it is important not to gag the patient with the piller also close the pets mouth and hold its snout until there is evidence that the pill has been swallowed gently stroking the pets throat or blowing on its nose generally makes the pet swallow the pill more quickly additionally be sure to offer your pet a drink of water for the pill to fully go down the esophagus; this is especially true for cats hug suggests another method to administer pet medication that involves ‘hiding your pets medication some pets need to have oral medicine hidden in a piece of bread extremely low fat cream cheese squeeze cheese (sharp cheddar is most popular) or canned food hiding oral medicine in a food item entices your pet to eat the ‘treat while diminishing the smell and taste of the medicine before it is swallowed hug also recommends a popular pill-taking enhancer called ‘pill pockets these are specifically formed for various pill sizes and are flavored to appeal to the most finicky medication-evading pet notes hug pill pocket flavors include beef salmon and chicken; they can be obtained at your veterinarians office oral medication should not be given if the pet vomits or shows any type of stress; never proceed thinking that the pet is just being difficult notes hug pets let us know when something is not right so consult your veterinarian if you are not able to pill your pet due to adverse circumstances follow your veterinarians oral instructions and the instructions as they are indicated on the medicine bottle some medications are labeled with a sticker that states give with food and this instruction should be followed so that your pet does not get an upset stomach while taking the medication never self-medicate pets with human medications advises hug only your veterinarian is qualified and knowledgeable to recommend or prescribe ‘human medications for your pet your veterinarian knows how the medicine will affect your pet in its current physiological state hug says crushing pills is only reserved for the veterinarian or the pharmacist to compound the medication into a substance that will support a ‘crushed pill if your veterinarian did not state to crush the medicine then dont many medications work in different ways and disrupting the actual pill may cause the medication to be of no benefit or diminish the effectiveness of the medication hug notes that capsules and pills in foil packets should never be crushed your pets health and well being may be dependent on medicines prescribed by your veterinarian but your pet depends on you to administer the medication learning pet pilling techniques will keep you safe and also protect the health of your pet and remember once your pet does take its oral medicine (and a gulp of water) offer it a pat on the head for comforting reassurance that all is well pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

cataracts may 29 2008 if your spot is seeing spots cataracts could be to blame as people age they often develop vision problems including cataracts the same holds true for your aging pet bumping into objects and failing to retrieve toys may be signs of vision loss these are especially significant if they occur within the pets normal environment but vision loss can be attributed to various eye diseases or conditions including cataracts cataracts are any opacity – a cloudiness of the eyes lens explains dr joan dziezyc a veterinary ophthalmologist in texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences opacities may be quite small and interfere little with vision or they may involve the entire lens causing blindness dziezyc says that cataracts may develop because of an inherited defect or they can be caused by inflammation trauma and diabetes the lens does become harder with age and thus appears grayer causing many people to mistake this change for a cataract this normal aging process does not impair vision other than making focusing on close objects more difficult diet does not seem to affect cataract development but heredity does certain animal breeds are afflicted with hereditary cataracts this is especially true in dogs dziezyc adds miniature schnauzer american cocker spaniel bichon frise all poodles labrador retriever golden retriever boston terrier siberian husky lhasa apso and australian shepherd are breeds that are prone to develop cataracts dogs and horses are most often diagnosed with cataracts but all animals are susceptible to the ailment dziezyc notes cataracts also can be a symptom of another disease such as diabetes inner eye inflammation or other conditions and thats why it is important to have the primary disease treated as long as a cataract does not impair vision no treatment is necessary but when vision is poor surgical removal may be considered dziezyc says that cataract surgery is delicate and after-surgery care combined with cooperation from the patient and treatments administered by the owner are essential for success modern cataract surgery employs ultrasound and lens replacement dziezyc explains a needle that is attached to an ultrasonic hand piece allows the cataract to be broken up (emulsified) and aspirated from the eye through a tiny incision intraocular lenses can be placed in the lens capsule inside the eye after removal of the cataract this lens allows images to focus on the retina and the patient has pre-cataract vision restored dziezyc says that eyeglasses arent an option for pets and without intraocular lenses images will not be completely in focus pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

safe toys for pets october 24 2007 it is never desirable to leave a pet at home alone but when it is necessary it is nice to know the pet will be entertained but the price of entertainment can be high when the pet is left with inappropriate toys; some toys may cause choking or even require surgery to eliminate the problem buying safe toys for your pet is a must in order to keep them safe from harm the problem is that most people are not aware of the potential hazards that pet toys may cause their animal fortunately there are people like dr mark stickney veterinarian at the college of veterinary medicine biomedical sciences to lend their expertise when looking for a toy for a dog stickney recommends dont buy anything too soft where the dog could bite off pieces and swallow them stickney warns that the dog could choke on these pieces or even swallow them if the dog was to swallow the pieces surgery may be needed in order to remove them toys that may be too soft are toys made of soft plastic or rubber; these materials are easy for dogs to bite through stickney also recommends that toys not be too hard he strongly suggests that dogs not be given animal bones bones are too hard leading the dog to chip or even break its teeth stickney advocates the use of raw hide chews he believes that dogs enjoy playing with them and that they are the safest material for the dog he also urges pet owners to buy toys that are appropriate for the size of their dog if the dog is smaller naturally the toy should be smaller; and the same holds true for larger dogs stickney proposes that a safe toy is one that the dog can easily hold in its mouth without its teeth puncturing the toy yet the toy should not be small enough to fit down the dogs throat the best toys in stickneys opinion are called ‘kongs they are tubes that are filled with treats in the center they come in a variety of different sizes for different dogs and are hard enough that the dog cannot chew through them the tubes even have weight recommendations on their boxes signifying the most appropriate tube for the weight of the dog cats are a bit different with their toy preferences than dogs they tend to like toys that move and are stimulating to the eye stickney admits that cats tend to like toys that are free such as playing with small aluminum and paper balls any toy that a cat can place under its paws and the toy springs out cats will often love stickney cautions that cat owners should not give their cats toys that have long strings the cat may swallow the string causing choking cats preferences on toys tend to be more varied than dogs but most prefer round toys that move the best places to purchase these safe pet toys are places with a wide selection of pet toys such as petco and petsmart these places usually have a large variety and if a toy has proven to be harmful they are good about taking it off the shelves pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

risks of shock collars and fences october 18 2007 there are many options available for new pet owners when it comes to training the new member of the family the most controversial method of training is the use of shock collars or shock fences many stories and photos have surfaced in the media recently showing animals who have been harmed by these devices the main reason some pet owners have chosen to use shock collars is to stop their dog from barking there are two types of shock collars commercially available one type is remotely controlled by the owner and the other is activated by a bark shock fences are a little more technical and are used to keep the dog inside a designated boundary the pet owner buries wires in the yard that mark the boundary the pet can encompass if the pet crosses this boundary the collar located on its neck will deliver a shock according to dr bonnie beaver veterinarian at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences in theory they provide an instant punishment for a bark (the bark activated shock collars) or for a wrong move (remote controlled ones) when training a dog however the potential for over use and abuse of these devices far outweighs the benefit there are many instances where shock collars and fences do not work beaver offers this example in reference to shock fences strong instincts to chase (a running deer a jogger a stray dog) may cause a trained dog to chase through the boundary some dogs do not respect the shock and will run through the ‘boundary suffering the shock as they do this has been found in many cases rendering the shock to be unsuccessful many people have found shock collars and fences to be not only ineffective but also inhumane these devices [shock collars and fences] can provide an excessive punishment to the point that the dog is terrorized said beaver they can be ineffective because the amount of shock is too little (poor contact too much hair weak battery) they can be used out of context (remote control) because the owner is mad at the dog and ‘zaps at an inappropriate time out of anger it can also do significant psychological damage to a dog that does not connect the shock with the reason for the shock the shock is generally considered to be inhumane there are many more humane methods for training that have been found to be more effective than shock collars and fences beaver suggests collars for barking dogs that squirt a citrus smell and make a hissing sound that have actually been proven to be more effective than the shock collars and of course there are real fences for yards that are safer and more effective than the shock fences pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

the importance of supplements for your pets march 23 2007 we all want our pets to live long happy and healthy lives in order to achieve this we take them for their annual veterinary appointments make sure they get plenty of exercise and feed them the best pet food we can afford some of us even go so far as to give our pets vitamins or supplements to add an extra degree of protection but are these supplements necessary healthy animals with complete and balanced diets should not need supplements and therefore they are not necessarily recommended states dr john bauer professor of small animal medicine & faculty of nutrition at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences just as a healthy diet should provide people with their essential vitamins and nutrients the same is true for our pets pet food companies use a vitamin pre-mix for the particular species to which it is marketed says bauer for this reason a good quality food should already meet the nutritional needs of your pet if you formulate your own pet food at home there are easy and affordable options to make sure your pet is getting these vitamins as well when i formulate home diets for patients i have the owner add a human multi-vitamin explains bauer the amount will vary based on the size and breed of your dog so if you are formulating your own diet make sure to check with your veterinarian before for dosage guidelines while most pets do not require an additional vitamin for general health bauer does add that there is the rare exception one example i can think of is vitamin c production in cats and dogs under normal conditions both cats and dogs can produce their own vitamin c notes bauer however under times of stress it has been found that they may not make enough and may need to be supplemented bauer explains that the problem with supplements in general is that although we know what the minimal recommended amounts are there is little scientific data regarding what the optimal level of a particular nutrient is therefore it is difficult to address whether supplements beyond the recommended allowance are of additional benefit for normal healthy pets while i wouldnt suggest throwing a lot of vitamins at healthy pets there are a few that are commonly prescribed by veterinarians because there is some evidence that they have positive effects states bauer these supplements namely glucosamine fish oil and antioxidants may have a place in consultation with a veterinarian but there is no proof they will be effective in preventing ailments in a healthy animal although extra vitamins may not be proven to cure or prevent disease in a healthy animal because there is some evidence that a few may either put off or lessen the effects of some ailments in pets there are owners who may want to give them just in case while supplements can add up monetarily it is possible that they might save you some vet bills in the long run by slowing down the effects of some subclinical problems advises bauer its important to remember however that there is a safe upper-limit to any vitamin so if an owner wants to supplement their pets diet they need to consult with a veterinarian the difference between a food and a poison is the dosage explains bauer safety is always subjective based on the individual so its imperative that you check with your veterinarian and you can even consult with the supplement manufacturer as pet owners we want what is best for our animals and while its impossible to say right now if supplements will help its safe to say that they will not hurt if they are within the guidelines prescribed by your veterinarian because of this lack of absolute proof and the fact that these supplements can be costly its up to every pet owner to weigh the facts and decide whats best for their furry family member pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print