For Pets Sake

For Pets Sake

Prevention is certainly better than treatment both from a humane and economical standpoint. The following guidelines are provided for prevention of common accidents and illnesses seen frequently by practicing veterinarians. They are not difficult to follow and are recommended.

Never give medications to your pet without first checking with your veterinarian. Many drugs that are safe for humans are dangerous for pets. Examples include Tylenol which causes very serious liver injury in cats, and NoDoz which may cause convulsions in both cats and dogs. Drugs applied on the skin can also be dangerous. Never treat a pet with Benzocaine, a topical anesthetic frequently found in preparations used to treat sunburn and itching in humans. Other drugs may be safe for some pets but not for others. As a rule, never treat your pet with drugs without consulting your veterinarian.

Always have control of your pet outdoors. This usually means keeping your pet on a leash if it is not trained to respond to voice commands. Pets should never be allowed to run free in areas where the environment places them at high risk. Injury from accidental poisoning, being struck by a car, attacked by other animals or even shot by an irate property owner is also possible and unfortunately is not uncommon.
Never leave your pet in a closed car in warm weather. When keeping your pet in a car or small enclosed space in the summer or anytime it is warm make sure you provide good ventilation and plenty of water to drink. Pets can suffer from heat stroke and die in a very short period of time. They normally cool themselves by panting, which becomes inefficient in extreme heat, poor ventilation or when there is a lack of moisture on the tongue (dehydration). In the summer temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the car within 30 minutes and the animal's body temperature can reach 110 degrees! At this temperature, irreversible brain injury occurs rapidly.

Be careful when transporting your pet. Never transport dogs or cats in the back of open pickup trucks. Dogs should be double tied while riding in the bed of a pickup truck. Riding in a car with the animal’s head out of the window may cause very serious eye or throat injuries, or the animal may fall out.

Prevent falls. Falls from elevated places within the home or from trees or high-rise multi-story buildings, can lead to severe injuries. They can often be prevented by controlling the animal's activity while indoors and keeping the windows of high-rise buildings closed or screened whenever cats, in particular, are present.
Store electrical cords away from pets. Lamp and other electric appliance cords should be stored so that they are inaccessible to pets, particularly young pets that have a tendency to chew on things. Very serious burns in the mouth and life threatening lung damage can occur if they bite the cord.
Beware of poisoning and choking hazards in the home. Medications, string and yarn, household plants, socks, rubber bands, bones, garbage, gristle, chocolate, small toys and balls, and other small "tasty" or glittery items should be kept up and away from pets. All of these items are very common causes of poisonings or foreign-body blockages or injuries in the esophagus, stomach or intestine. There are many poisons associated with the holidays (i.e. Christmas tree tinsel, mistletoe, poinsettias, candles, turkey bones, left over fat. Spilled antifreeze is a favorite poison of pets). Pets that are allowed to roam free frequently get into garbage or other poison.
See your veterinarian regularly. Pets should be seen by their veterinarian yearly for examination, vaccination, and dental check-ups and teeth cleaning. Prevention of infectious diseases including Rabies, Distemper and Rhinotrachetis can be done effectively with good vaccination programs. Dental disease is common and can lead to diseases affecting the heart, kidneys, liver, and other organs (through the spread of bacteria in the bloodstream) if oral hygiene practices are not followed. As pets get older frequent examinations will allow early detection of serious diseases such as cancer and this will provide the best opportunity for successful treatment.
Contact your veterinarian at the first sign of illness. If there is any question as to the seriousness of the problem at least a telephone call to your veterinarian should be made. The earlier any serious injury or illness is treated the better the chances of recovery with the least expense and complications.
Be careful with your pet's diet. Only feed your animal commercial pet foods or food recommended by your veterinarian. Do not feed table scraps, especially those high in fat. Obesity, dental disease, heart disease and pancreatitis are common in animals allowed to eat table scraps. Do not overfeed or allow pets to ingest their entire daily ration at one feeding. It is generally recommended to feed at least twice daily. Keep plenty of fresh water available at all times. Do not allow pets to have very vigorous activity right after meals, as vigorous activity after eating can lead to life-threatening diseases like gastric dilation and volvulus. Very young and older pets are susceptible to dehydration and kidney failure when deprived of water even for a short time.
You may be giving your pet(s) too many vaccines. If you have been taking your dog or cat for yearly shots, you may be causing him more harm than good. Recent studies have linked excessive vaccines to a range of medical problems from allergies to cancer between the shoulders (where the shots are administered). Most vaccine shots last at least three years. Many veterinarians have already cut back to a three year rabies, distemper and parvovirus in dogs and panleukopenia in cats. If you feel your pet is over vaccinated, talk to your vet. However, do not forget your best friend needs to go to the veterinarian at least once per year for his/her annual check up. The vet may not administer any shots but can make sure your furry companion is in good physical health.


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