Although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, we urge you not to share your holiday meal leftovers with your pet. Table scraps, including Thanksgiving turkey, are unhealthy for pets. Turkey bones or spoiled meat could be especially dangerous to your pet's health.
Turkey bones, like other bird bones, are hollow and therefore break easily and splinter into sharp pieces. Most dogs and cats will not chew the bone thoroughly and sharp pieces can cause blockage and perforate the intestinal tract.
A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system may not show any symptoms for 1 to 2 days. When symptoms do occur, they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed.
Another common ailment in pets who eat leftover turkey is salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. The cooking process usually destroys all the organisms, making the turkey safe to eat. Occasionally, the center of the turkey may be undercooked, especially if it's large or full of stuffing. If the meat sits out at room temperature for too long, the salmonella organisms can multiply and cause contamination. Pets may become poisoned if they eat any of the turkey that has been sitting out.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite, and listlessness.
Another problem that can occur if your pet overeats a large amount of fatty foods on Thanksgiving is pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.
Symptoms of pancreatitis are variable. Vomiting and abdominal pain are the most common symptoms of pancreatitis. Trembling, panting and a hunched-up abdomen indicate pain in a dog. Diarrhea, often tinted with blood, fever, and weakness are also very common.
Acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency. Dogs experiencing acute pancreatitis are usually in severe pain.
Pets should not be allowed to eat table scraps, even on Thanksgiving. If your pet sneaks some turkey or other food from the table and begins showing any of the signs listed in this article, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Hurricane Season continues through the beginning of November
If you live in a flood zone plan now to have your pets housed safely if a hurricane strikes. Harmony Animal Hospital is one in a series of Red Cross Pet Shelters. If you can't take your pet with you to safety, (pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters for people) bring him or her here. Some pointers:
- Be sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and have proof available.
- Have your pet wear a collar with identification; a microchip I.D. is great too.
- Bring your pet's medications and enough food
and bottled water to last for at least three days.
Read our complete article, "Don't Let Rover Blow Over".
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Halloween Tips
Going trick-or-treating with your pet? Be sure both of you wear reflectors for safety. Watch your pet for signs of stress (heavy panting and anxious expression). And be kind: don't share your Halloween candy with your pet. An upset stomach can occur, or even worse, your pet can get poisoned from too much chocolate.
Other than that, have a howlin' good time!
We have a great assortment of Halloween costumes for your pet available every October.
Check them out.
Heartworm Disease
If you're just moving down to this area, or are just now getting your first dog or cat, you need to know about heartworm disease and prevention. In South Florida all dogs and cats should be on preventative all year long. Heartworms, a potentially deadly problem, are spread by the pesky mosquito, and you know we have plenty of those! You have a choice of either a daily medication, or a monthly. There're even products that combine monthly heartworm prevention with monthly flea prevention (Sentinel, a tablet; or Revolution, a topical).
Ask us to test your pet today and then start on prevention right away. It's the least you can do for a friend.
Read the complete article on Heartworm Disease.
Click here for information about heartworm disease in cats.
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Bufo Toads
Bufo toads are six to nine inches in length, brown to a grayish brown with a creamy white belly. In response to squeezing or threats, they secrete a toxic substance from special glands along the toad's back. If your dog is unfortunate enough to grab one of these guys you may notice him shaking his head, drooling, or even rubbing his head along the floor. This is just the start of symptoms that can progress to seizures, heartbeat irregularities, and even death. Quick thinking and actions are key. Wash your pet's mouth, especially along the gums, using a hose.
Then alert your veterinarian you're coming and get him in right away. (While almost any toad may cause salivation - I guess they all taste pretty bad!- it can't hurt to wash your pet's mouth out, and it may even save his life!) For more info about Bufo toads and other problems, call us.
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Getting the Jump on Fleas
Choose between monthly flea products that work and are easy to use
The constant jangling of the tags as your pet scratches and chews keeps you up at night. Throwing a pillow at him certainly hasn't helped. 
Yelling doesn't succeed either. His skin is red and irritated. What the heck is going on? It's flea season! Wait a sec, you say. I've never seen one flea on my pet. And anyway, I keep my house clean. How dare you!
Well guess what? Fleas can easily be brought in from outside after a nice walk. They can come in on your clothing or on your pet. Their eggs are so tiny, you probably will never spot one. They can live in the smallest dust ball in the smallest crack or under the furthest reaches of your furniture. And for the poor dog or cat that is allergic to the bite of a flea, it only takes one to set off an allergic chain reaction of biting and chewing.
You've tried all the powders, sprays and shampoos you say? Well, technology has caught up in the war on fleas and there are three products you'll want to compare and try. You use them once a month! How's that for easy!
The one that's been out longer is called PROGRAM. It is an oral drug that affects only the flea, not your pet, so it's very safe. It works by sterilizing the flea so that no more young are produced. Since flea larvae make up over 50% of the flea population, this is very effective at breaking the flea life cycle. But be prepared to continue to use household sprays and treatments for 60 to 90 days. That's how long it will take for PROGRAM to reach maximum effectiveness. Also, be sure to give it with a meal for it to be absorbed properly. You can also give PROGRAM in a single monthly tablet combined with heartworm prevention; it's called SENTINEL.
Other weapons in our flea arsenal are ADVANTAGE and FRONTLINE. Both of them are topical products that are placed on the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. They then spread over your pet's body and will paralyze and then kill any flea coming in contact with the product. These flea products are especially useful for those poor pets that are flea allergic; a flea does not have to bite to die! And FRONTLINE is also labeled for tick control as well. They both should continue to work even if your dog swims. It's ideal to bathe before applying, and FRONTLINE should not be applied within two days of the bath. Some clients use PROGRAM year round and then add ADVANTAGE or FRONTLINE during the worst of the flea seasons (usually Spring and Fall).
The newest flea product that also protects against heartworms is REVOLUTION. This is a topical product for dogs and cats that is applied to the skin once a month. This is a totally new route for heartworm protection. It's easy and it's effective. It also controls hookworms and roundworms in cats, as well as ear mites and mange mites. Ask us for more complete information about Revolution.
So now there are no more reasons not to get that good night's sleep. What? You say your spouse snores? Sorry, but we can't help you with that problem!
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