Fireworks Safety

Independence Day and all of its loud festivities can present certain anxieties for our canine companions.  Dogs with noise phobias need to be tended during the days surrounding July 4 in order to prevent them from harming themselves or running away.

Signs of noise phobias and storm phobias can be the same.  They include trembling, salivation, defecation, urination, destruction, escape, panting and/or vocalization.  Not all dogs exhibit all of these signs or with equal intensity.  

 

There are certain things that you should NOT do when your pet exhibits these signs in response to noise or storms:

·         Most dogs associate the word “OK” with a behavior that is encouraged and rewarded.  Telling them it’s OK when it’s not will confuse the dog, elevating its anxiety levels.

·         Also, to a dog, petting is a reward.  When owners pet fearful dogs, they are inadvertently rewarding the anxious behavior.  Instead, owners can put gently continuous pressure, either with an arm or the whole body, on the dog. If permitted by the dog, you can lean on or against the dog.  If this helps, and it often does, you will feel the dog exhale and its muscles begin to relax.  Obviously this is not a good plan if the dog becomes even more frantic.

·         Crates may help some dogs that already like their crates and voluntarily go there as a place to relax.  However, if a pet has not been crated in the past, now is NOT the time to introduce him to the crate.  It can create a negative association between the crate and the anxiety.

·         Placing dogs in an outside dog run during the fireworks or storm, while keeping them confined and unable to run away, will only increase their anxiety because they cannot escape the situation.

So, what can be done?  There are actually several suggestions, ranging from behavior modification to medication.  Here are a few :

·         We offer an all natural product called “Mellow Out,” which is a blend of calming herbs.  This may work for your pet IF it is given early enough.  Once the anxiety begins, there are very few products that will completely calm the pet throughout the event.  We recommend testing this product out on your pet prior to the July 4^th festivities to see how your pet responds.

·         Several of our clients have tried, and recommend, anxiety wraps.  These wraps put a gentle, constant physical pressure on the dog.  Two examples of these are the Anxiety Wrap and the more common Thunder Shirt.  Once again, though, these wraps must be placed on the dog before or as soon as the anxiety begins in order to be fully effective.

·         There are also calming medications that can be discussed with the veterinarian.  Some dogs get so worked up during fireworks and storms that medications are the only answer.

·         In addition to all of these suggestions, dogs that are this anxious tend to want to RUN.  Having your dog microchipped or otherwise identified is always the best case scenario.  That way, you have a much better chance of getting your pet back home, where he/she belongs.

Dogs don’t understand fireworks.  Helping them cope with this unknown anxiety is always in your pet’s best interest.  Please call our office at 913-649-0440 if you wish further information.

When To Bring Your Dog to the ER

Alright, raise your hand if you don’t mind getting up at 2 A.M. to bring your dog in to the emergency veterinarian.

Didn’t think so. 

Often times, as a pet owner, it’s hard to know whether your dog’s condition is a true medical emergency or not… or more importantly, if it warrants getting up in the middle of the night to seek medical attention from a veterinary professional you don’t know.

As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I’ll be honest in saying that some emergencies can wait to see your regular veterinarian the following morning (like diarrhea, midnight health certificates, itchy skin, urinary tract infections, etc.). However, there are certain situations where it is imperative that your dog go in to the animal ER, as sometimes it can be a potentially fatal problem without treatment.

I’ve seen a lot of emergencies that could have waited, but the pet owners were concerned enough that they didn’t mind the 2 A.M. visit, as it gave them peace of mind. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen some sad cases where pet owners waited too long, only to have animals die as they are being wheeled into the ER. It’s not worth chancing that you wake up to find your dog deceased in the middle of the night. In fact, no dog or cat should ever die at home, but that’s a whole other blog that I’ll elaborate on in the future.

Some signs that warrant you getting up in the middle of the night and getting to an emergency vet ASAP include:

• Difficulty breathing, which may be manifested as blue gums, coughing of foamy, pink frothy liquid, panting constantly, or stretching the head and neck out while breathing
• Constant coughing and inability to rest through the night
• A distended, “bloated” abdomen
• Non-productive retching (which is classic for gastric-dilitation volvulus or “GDV”)
• Anxiety or restlessness (often a sign of pain or a GDV)
• Pale gums (which is often seen with internal bleeding or anemia)
• An elevated heart rate (> 160 beats per minute at home)
• A respiratory rate of > 60 breaths per minute at home while resting
• Crying out in pain
• Jaundiced (yellow gums)
• Not being able to move or walk or dragging of the back legs
• Extreme lethargy
• Any significant amounts of bleeding
• Any trauma
• Any poisoning or toxin ingestion
• Vomiting more than two or three times
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Abnormal odor from your dog
• Fever
• Squinting, bulging, or painful eyeballs
• Straining to urinate, making multiple trips to urinate, squatting to urinate without producing any urine
• Collapse
• Anything that makes you worried
• Tremors or seizures
• Any abnormal behavior that you’re worried about (e.g., acting aloof or particularly clingy)

(Fear not, cat owners, I’ll have a different list for you soon!)
  
While this list isn’t all-inclusive, it gives you a good general idea to work with. When in doubt, call your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian, as the receptionist or veterinary technician may be able to help guide you and “phone triage” you (although they are obviously always going to bear on the side of caution).  Also, keep in mind that the sooner you diagnose and treat a problem, the less expensive it often is.

If you do bring your dog in to the ER, make sure to bring a book or computer; just like a human ER, there is often a several hour wait to be seen, and at 2 a.m., some of your fellow humans are going to be less than appealing conversationalists.

When in doubt, if you’re concerned, bring ‘em in, because you know your dog the best.  The time is a small sacrifice for your dog’s health and your piece of mind.

Originally published on Pet Health Network.

ASPCA Offers Summer Pet Safety Tips

“Summertime is a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and enjoy themselves, often with a beloved pet by their side,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Midwest office. “However, it’s important to consider the hidden (and sometimes not-so-hidden) dangers that can harm our favorite furry companions.”

Hansen suggested these ways to help keep cats and dogs cool during summer heat and safe during summer activities:

• Keep pets away from summer barbecues. The food and drinks served at summer parties can be poisonous to pets. “Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression, comas or even death,” Hansen said. “Similarly, remember that the snacks you serve your friends should not be a treat for your pet.”
• Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water. Cats and dogs can become dehydrated quickly, so provide access to water, especially when it is hot outdoors.
• Provide shade on sunny days. Make sure your pet has a place to get out of the sun, and keep your cat or dog indoors on extremely hot days. Above all, never leave your pet in a parked car. “On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time,” said Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. “Heatstroke can develop, which is potentially fatal.”
• Keep your pet pest-free. Be sure to use products specifically manufactured for your pet, as products for dogs and cats differ in their chemical composition. Read directions carefully before applying these products.
• Be safe around water. Do not leave your pet unsupervised around pools, lakes and beaches. Do not let your pet drink pool water, as the chlorine and other chemicals can cause stomach upset.
• Beware of “high-rise syndrome.” Pet owners that live in residences with upper floor windows and doors need to keep window screens tightly secured and keep doors closed. “During warmer months, we see an increase in injured animals as a result of high-rise syndrome, which occurs when pets fall out of windows or doors and are seriously or fatally injured,” Murray said.
• Keep pets away from fireworks. “While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets, even unused fireworks are hazardous,” Hansen said. “Many types of fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other heavy metals.”
  
  

Article originally published by The Cat Channel.

Pet First Aid 101

Did you know that this month is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month? When it comes to caring for your dog or cat, prevention is the best medicine.
So, how do we prevent accidents and emergencies from happening in the first place? Simple steps of prevention like:

• Keeping your dog on a leash or under strict verbal control (to prevent being hit by a car, etc.)
• Keeping your cat indoors (to prevent being attacked by the neighborhood dog, etc.)
• Pet-proofing your house to make sure accidental poisoning doesn’t occur
• Appropriately crate training of your dog
• Making sure your pets are appropriately collared (at all times) and microchipped

Most importantly, monitor your dog or cat carefully for signs of illness. Prevent an emergency situation before it occurs: be aware of any changes in your pet’s health or behavior. If your pet exhibits any of the following signs, seek veterinary attention immediately! As we discussed in a previous blog, the sooner your veterinarian can diagnose the problem, the better your pet’s prognosis is (and the less expensive it is!).

• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Collapse
• Persistent coughing
• Dilated pupils
• Lethargy/weakness
• Blue or pale gums
• Restlessness and panting
• Unproductive retching
• Difficulty breathing
• Abnormal heart rate
• Pain
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination

Stop. Assess. Act.
If your dog or cat does require first aid, the first thing to do is to stop and remain calm. It’s important that you keep calm so you can properly assess the situation and communicate clearly with your veterinarian, emergency veterinarian, or Pet Poison Helpline.

1. Put safety first. Before rushing in to aid an injured pet, take a moment to ensure that it’s safe for you to enter the area.
2. Check the ABCDs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability. Clear your pet’s airway, check for breathing and pulse and assess his level of injury.
3. Administer first aid. Control bleeding, flush burns, immobilize broken limbs, etc.
4. Get to a veterinary hospital ASAP. Program into your cell phone the numbers of your veterinarian, an emergency veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680). Call the veterinary hospital to alert them that you are on the way, so they can be prepared.

Next week, we’ll take about basic vitals that you should know for your dog – so you know what an elevated heart rate is and when it’s abnormal. Stay tuned so you’re prepared!


Originally published by Pet Health Network.