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Senior Pet Care

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NEW COLUMNS! Dog Training Tips, and For the Birds!

We know how much you care...
...so we continue to keep our standards high. Harmony Animal Hospital has just achieved a renewal of our accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) for four more years. To maintain and upgrade our accreditation, we voluntarily participate in a rigorous, comprehensive quality assessment evaluation and inspection of our facility, equipment, practice methods, and pet health care management. We're very proud to say that we are one of fewer than 12% of animal hospitals nationwide that have achieved accreditation. We think your pet deserves the finest possible health care so we do everything possible to assure that he gets it.

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Life's an itch!
Is an itch just an itch, or is it an allergy?
"Max", the schnauzer next door begins to wheeze, scratch and chew at himself at the first sign of Spring. "Kitty", the sweet tabby across the street gets an upset tummy whenever she eats a particular food. And "Ginger", your very own lovable mutt, scratches herself raw anytime she's bitten by even one flea. She even keeps you up at night with the constant scratching and collar jingling!

There are countless diseases that can cause pets to scratch including mange, fungal infections, ringworm, some bacteria, and even shampoo residue left on the pet's skin after bathing. But the poor, uncomfortable pets mentioned above suffer from an affliction called allergies.

An allergy is the body's reaction to a substance it can't tolerate well. When the body comes in contact with an allergen (allergy-causing substance), either through physical contact, through something eaten, or by inhaling the substance, it produces antibodies and is called an allergic reaction. Common contact allergens include house dust, pollen, feathers, flea saliva, wandering Jew plants, ragweed, staph bacteria, and grass.

In pets, the allergic reaction can cause various symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problem; respiratory problems; a runny nose and runny eyes; or itchy skin. Allergic pets will often lick their paws, scratch or rub their faces, or have watery eyes. Repeatedly red, or infected ears can also be a result of an allergic reaction. The constant scratching can produce bacterial skin infections and hair loss.

Flea allergy is the most common allergic reaction. Signs include intense itching, red skin, and the appearance of small, hard, red bumps called papules. The most common sites are the base of the tail (a common area for fleas), along the spine, and on the pet's inner thighs and abdomen.

Inhalant allergy (called atopy) is the second most common allergic skin disease, mostly in dogs. At first, the condition is seasonal, but may become almost constant as the dog ages.

Sensitivity to foods, rawhide chews, medications, and other ingested items, can occur. Food allergies are often diagnosed by blood testing, and by feeding an affected pet a hypoallergenic diet for several months. To complicate the allergy picture, a pet may have multiple allergy problems. So a pet with food allergies, for example, may also have atopy or flea allergy.

Diagnostic tests often done to accurately determine the cause of allergies. Intradermal skin testing for contact dermatitis and atopy, and blood testing for most allergies, are two methods used for diagnosis. Treatment may consist of trials of various antihistamines, as well as nutraceuticals (nutritional medications that assist the body's natural defenses), steroids, or hyposensitization therapy, which is a series of injections to reduce the sensitivity to allergens. Antibiotics are often indicated when the constant scratching has caused a bacterial infection.

While there are no cures, pets can lead much happier, stress free lives when the allergens are identified, avoided and the symptoms eased through different treatments. Early detection can help prevent more serious problems from developing.

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Plants and Foods Toxic to Pets
Here is a quick reference guide to the more common house and garden plants and foods (and other substanced) that are toxic to most all animals. If you have these plants or foods, you need not dispose of them--just keep them away from your pets (and your children). Although it is impossible to list all possible poisons, these guidelines may help you begin to remove or place out of reach most potential problems.

Post close at hand your veterinarian's number, the number of an emergency clinic, and the number for the National Animal Poison Control Center. Before you call, note the time your pet was exposed to the toxin, the type of product ingested, the manufacturer's name and any ingredients you can find listed on packaging. To reach the National Poison Control Center call (800) 548-2423. If you need to speak to a veterinarian there, this service will be billed to a credit card. An alternate number is (900) 680-0000. A veterinarian's services on this line will cost a flat fee for the first five minutes, and an additional fee per minute for each additional minute. These charges will be billed to your phone bill. (Call them for current pricing.)

Also check out the bird article, Household Dangers.

* Indicates that a substance is especially dangerous and can be fatal.

Alcohol (all beverages, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl) Almonds* Amaryllis bulb* Anthuriaum* Apricot* Autumn crocus (Colchicum Autumnale)* Avocado (leaves, seeds, stem, skin)*     (fatal to birds) Azalea (entire rhododendron family) Begonia* Bird of Paradise Bittersweet Bleeding heart* Boxwood Bracken fern Buckeye Buttercup (Ranunculus) Caffeine Caladium* Calla lily* Castor bean* (can be fatal if chewed) Cherry Chinese sacred or heavenly bamboo* Chocolate Choke cherry, unripe berries* Chrysanthemum     (a natural source of pyrethrins) Clematis Crocus bulb Croton (Codiaeum sp.) Delphinium, larkspur, monkshood* Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)* Elderberry, unripe berries* English ivy (All Hedera species of ivy) Fig (Ficus) Four-o'clocks (Mirabilis)	Foxglove (Digitalis)* Garlic* Grapes/raisins in large amounts Hyacinth bulbs Hydrangea* Holly berries Iris corms Jack-in-the-pulpit* Jimson weed* Kalanchoe* Lantana* Lily (bulbs of most species) Lily-of-the-valley* Lupine species Marijuana or hemp (Cannabis) Milkweed* Mistletoe berries* Morning glory* Mountain laurel Narcissus, daffodil (Narcissus) Oak* (remove bark for use as a bird perch) Oleander* Onions* Peaches* Pencil cactus/plant* (Euphorbia sp.) Philodendron (all species)* Poinsettia (many hybrids, avoid them all) Potato (leaves & stem) Rhubarb leaves* Rosary Pea (Arbus sp.) (can be fatal if chewed) Scheffelera (umbrella plant)* Shamrock (Oxalis sp.)* Spurge (Euphorbia sp.) Tomatoes (leaves & stem) Yew*
Other substances that are very harmful include (but are not limited to):
Household cleansers and disinfectants Lead Bleach Acetone Antifreeze Drain Cleaners Insecticides Wood preservatives and shellac Rodent poison Mercury Chocolate	Laundry supplies Cigarettes and other nicotine products and smoke fabric softeners Suntan lotion Crayons (dangerous for birds) Cosmetics Rust (keep birds away) Fumes are dangerous to birds: smoke-filled air, insecticide spray, deodorizers, spray cleaners, fumes from fresh paint, gas, and overheated Teflon (very deadly).

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We sure do love our family pets!

Move over Fido, Fluffy, and Rover. According to the most recent survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association of over 1,200 pet owners, 51 percent are giving their pet a human name. When asked who they rely on most for affection, 47 percent said their pet, even over their spouse and child! And, when asked if they were marooned on an island and could have only one companion, 42 percent picked a dog -- a close second to the 46 percent who chose a human!

Here's some other responses to the survey about their animal friends.

How do you regularly pamper your pet?
Buy premium pet food	75%
Take it on a hike	34%
Take it in the car on errands	48%
Frequent visits to the groomer	21%
Set up its own bed in the house	45%
Buy it a special collar	36%
If you were in distress, would you expect your pet to come to your rescue?
Yes	58%
Does your pet ever travel or vacation with you?
Yes	53%
Do you include news about your pet in family correspondence such as holiday cards?
Yes	64%

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Top Ten Dog and Cat Names

         

1. Molly 6. Max 2. Sam/Sammy 7. Abby 3. Bear 8. Buddy 4. Brandy 9. Fluffy 5. Ann/Annie 10. Jessie