Courtesy of Pet Talk
With the rapid growth of urbanization these days, people are coming into contact with wild animals more frequently than ever. This means that our domesticated animals are coming into contact with them as well, which can sometimes pose a dangerous situation.
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Q:
Our little yorkie dog, Bamboo, has had a cough for a while now. He’s overweight for his age (11) and he isn’t very active. He feels fine, other than the cough. But now it sounds like a loud honk when he coughs.
Courtesy of Pet Talk
2010 has been the hottest year on record in the United States so far. The sweltering heat mixed with the wet summer days has increased mosquito activity. As mosquito season is still lurking, there are some important diseases associated with mosquitoes that can be transmitted to humans and pets that everyone needs to be aware of.
Heartworm disease most commonly affects dogs, however cats and humans are sometimes affected. Heartworm disease is caused by heartworms, which live in the blood vessel connecting the heart to the lungs. It is a life-threatening disease for dogs. Individuals are infected with the worm through the bite of a mosquito carrying the larvae of the worm. It can be prevented in dogs and cats with monthly pills or topical treatments. Once an individual is infected, treatment is very difficult and is risky.
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Courtesy of Pet Talk
Cool as a cucumber … but what if you are a horse! Summer heat and humidity can be a dangerous combination for active horses.
“Heat and humidity affect the horse, and with intense exercising, the excess heat has difficulty dissipating,” notes Dr. Glennon Mays, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
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By Pete Keesling
Q:
Our older cat, Futz, came home with a bloody eye. When I looked at it more closely, I saw that there is actually blood inside the eye, not on the outside like I first thought. He seems fine otherwise. He’s eating normally and he doesn’t seem to have any pain or discomfort from this. I know you can’t make a diagnosis based on what I see. But what could cause this to happen? I’m guessing that he was injured in a fight.
Courtesy of Pet Talk
People have a special bond with animals because animals provide unconditional love throughout their lifetime. Therefore it can be very hard to cope after the loss of a pet. It is very common for people to experience grief as a response, and everyone grieves in different ways.
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Courtesy of Pet Talk
Summer is here and most people seem to flock toward water whether it be the swimming pool out back or the beach. These activities go hand and hand with the importance to stay hydrated with clean and fresh water. Our dogs however, don’t know the difference between a Dasani and a toilet bowl.
Courtesy of Pet Talk
If an area is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pet. Remember those words when preparing for any emergency evacuation with your pet.
“I never advise that you or your companion animal stay at home if an evacuation is ordered,” explains Dr. Wesley Bissett, assistant professor at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and lead faculty member for the newly formed Veterinary Emergency Team (V.E.T.). “If you are disabled or can-not afford to leave, there is always help provided during these situations so you can get out of harm’s way. If you stay, you put your life and the life of your pet at risk.”
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Janet Rosenberg, a real estate broker in Santa Cruz County, used the technique of doing chest compressions and breathing into the animal’s nose to bring it back from the brink of death.
“I ran screaming to the car,” Rosenberg said, about seeing Pearl, her Italian greyhound, hanging by the neck on a tether that was supposed to keep her secure inside the car.
Courtesy of Pet Talk
We all know that a happy pet makes for a happy home, so for dog owners it is our job to make sure that the home is a safe and comfortable living space. From big ranches to one bedroom flats our dogs are forced to adapt to the homes that we have chosen. The best thing you can do for a dog is to keep their needs in mind the same way that you keep your own every day.
Q:
Our 1-year-old kitten, Charlie, has a swollen cheek. It’s been like this for a few days now. This is the same problem he had a few weeks ago, but we thought it went away. Our neighbor seems to think it’s probably a bad tooth, but can a kitten have dental problems?
by Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
A word of caution to flower and vegetable gardeners: We recently heard from a person who was checking the sticky whitefly strips she had hung out to control the insect pests and was startled to find all of a hummingbird’s tail feathers inadvertently stuck on it, too. The hummingbird may have been eating the whiteflies for a protein-filled meal and/or may have been sipping nectar from the flowers that were infested with the pests. Hummingbirds are truly a gardener’s best friend, providing a natural method of pest control while gifting us with their iridescent beauty.
by Brigid Wasson
Is there room in your heart and home for another pet? Special needs animals can make wonderful companions, leading full lives despite blindness, lameness, or other problems. These animals are often passed over at shelters because adopters fear big vet bills. Some people are simply uncomfortable with disability and don’t want a pet who is “different.” We have several special needs pets currently up for adoption at the shelter. We invite you to come down and visit them and consider making them part of your family.
Sam and Frodo are inseparable brothers in need of a loving special home. They came to the animal shelter as kittens with a rare condition called congenital myotonia. They are disabled but do very well: they can clean themselves, eat and drink, and use the litter box. Their condition will not get any worse and they will not need any special medical treatment. They can walk, but their mobility is limited, so they should live indoors. Please help us find a forever home for our beloved “Funny Boys!”
Ranger is a big love bug of a dog. He is vision impaired but gets around very well and has great social skills with other dogs. He loves to play and to be pet. Because of his vision, he should be kept on a leash or in an enclosed area, but other than that he can lead a normal life. Consider making this special dog a part of your family!
Brigid Wasson is the supervisor of the South County Animal Shelter in San Martin. Check out adoptable pets at www.southcountypets.com or contact the shelter directly at (408) 686-3900.
by Brigid Wasson
Social media is sweeping the nation. Imagine what our ancestors - for whom news took weeks or months to be delivered - would think of the immediate posting of stories, photos, and even videos from computers and cell phones.
Facebook has been a great tool for promotion of our shelter. We post pictures of available animals and of events, and our adopters post “happy endings” pictures of their new pets. Our site has 117 fans and gets 300-400 hits per week. We invite you to visit our site and become a fan. Let’s see if we can reach 500 fans!
http://www.facebook.com/SouthCountyPets
Brigid Wasson is the supervisor of the South County Animal Shelter in San Martin. Check out adoptable pets at www.southcountypets.com or contact the shelter directly at (408) 686-3900.
Courtesy of Pet Talk
Dogs, cats, and other pets are a special blessing to the lives of humans. Pets are sometimes provided to the sick and dying to provide comfort, and trained to assist the elderly and disabled in their daily activities. Pets clearly fill the role for companionship and positive emotions in humans.
They also provide an opportunity to teach children about responsibility, and give people an excuse to exercise by walking their dog or playing with their cat. Scientific evidence shows that petting an animal will lower your blood pressure and calm your body. However, at least some people perceive pets as a potential household hazard.