Angel Paws Pugs n' Buggs

Saint Francis of Assisi

For all animals:

Blessed are you, Lord God,
maker of all living creatures.
You called forth fish in the sea,
birds in the air and animals on the land.
You inspired St. Francis to call all animals
his brothers and sisters.
We ask you to bless this animal.
By the power of your love,
enable it to live according to your plan.
May we always praise you
for all your beauty in creation.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

SEASONAL HEALTH TIPS FOR SUMMER

I NEVER MIND ANSWERING HEALTH, BEHAVIOR OR TRAINING QUESTIONS-PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT: vetzpets@verizon.net

 

WATCH VIDEOS ON TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR DOG COOL & LEAVING YOUR DOG IN A PARKED CAR THIS SUMMER! (LINK BELOW)

 

Recently with the humid weather & thunderstorms I've noticed a crop of mushrooms of various (unknown) varieties sprouting up in the back yard, some are so small they literally hide under blades of grass! If your dogs like to graze like mine do they could be at risk of mushroom poisoning, I don't know enough about identifing one mushroom from another, and even experts can be fooled by toxic look alikes so I always give the dogs activated charcoal caps (I give at least 2 each to the dogs over 100 lbs) when they come in the house to be safe. The activated charcoal will absorb any irritants, toxins or gas they might have, also from plant ingestion where there can be a lot of plants that are also toxic or irritants. I almost lost a dog to mushrooms a couple summers ago & do not take any chances. If you know your dog actually ate a toxic mushroom give the activated charcoal & call your vet, make sure you tell them you gave the charcoal only because it can also absorb oral medications for 45 min to up to 2 hours. Your vet will have injectable medications they can give instead of orals and will use injectables in most cases of GI problems anyway so you're always safer giving the activated charcoal as soon as possible. I always recommend keeping a box handy in your house & car!

Note: Keep in mind Activated Charcoal works by absorbing toxins or irritants and it does a fantastic job however it will also absorb medications given orally-so if your dog is taking medication for anything the Activated Charcoal will not have any contraindications with any medications however it will absorb them & your dog will not benefit from them if given close together-wait approx. 2 hours after giving Activated Charcoal before giving your dog's medication that way you know your dog will get full benefit from their medication!

The worst thing charcoal does is color the stools black for up to 48 hours after giving it, otherwise black colored stool (if you haven't given charcoal or Pepto-Pepto will do the same thing) then it could be a sign of GI bleeding & your dog should be seen by your vet as soon as possible, always bring a stool sample with you because Hook & Whip worms are common culprits.

Here's an article about mushrooms although they will vary geographically.

Many Wags,

Suzan

	Cool It! Summer's Heat Can Be Deadly for Your Pet

Americans have a love affair with their cars—and their pets. During the summer months, however, the combination can be deadly.

Heatstroke might have killed a litter of kittens if Kim Intino, manager of HSUS's Animal Services Consultation Program, hadn't noticed their frantic movements while walking through a mall parking lot in upstate New York. The kittens, trapped inside a parked car on a hot, humid summer afternoon, were "literally throwing themselves against the car doors trying to get out." Their open-mouth panting and desperate attempts to escape the vehicle were signals to Intino, at the time an animal caretaker at a veterinary office, that the kittens were in real danger.

Intino immediately contacted mall security to have the owner of the vehicle paged. But before the owner arrived, Intino convinced a security guard to force the locks on the vehicle open, possibly saving the cats' lives. "Their bodies were very limp, and they were gasping for air when we got them out," she says.

The kittens were lucky. They survived. Many pets aren't so fortunate.

The Dog Days of Summer

Common sense tells most people that leaving their pet inside a parked vehicle on a hot, summer day could be dangerous after an extended period of time. But most people don't realize that the temperature can skyrocket after just a few minutes. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate this pressure cooker.

On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle, and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke. On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal.

A recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that temperatures inside cars can rise dramatically even on mild days. With outside temperatures as low as 72 degrees, researchers found that a car's interior temperature can heat up by an average of 40 degrees within an hour, with 80% of that increase in the first 30 minutes. A cracked window provides little relief from this oven effect. The Stanford researchers found that a cracked window had an insignificant effect on both the rate of heating and the final temperature after an hour.

Pets, more so than humans, are susceptible to overheating. While people can roll down windows, turn on the air conditioner or exit the vehicle when they become too hot, pets cannot. And pets are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are.

Dogs, for example, are designed to conserve heat. Their sweat glands, which exist on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days. Panting and drinking water helps cool them, but if they only have overheated air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes. Short-nosed breeds, like pugs and bulldogs, young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.

Pets on the Move

While it used to be that our animals stayed home to guard the couch, increasingly dogs, cats and other pets are going along for the ride, whether tagging along during errands or putting in major mileage during the family vacation. The high number of animals on the road means that awareness and vigilance are essential for protecting pets from parking-lot peril. Help spread the word by following these tips:

• Remind friends to keep their pets at home during the summer months if they'll be going anywhere pets are not allowed.
• Educate others by distributing posters or by leaving brochures on windshields. The HSUS has posters, available for a nominal fee ($3 for 10/ $5 for 25), that store managers can post inside their windows to remind shoppers that "Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car Can Be a Deadly Mistake." Similar, 4" x 9" hot car flyers are also available (50 for $3) at the address below. For a sample brochure, send a SASE to HSUS/Hot Cars, 2100 L St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20037.
• Get involved. If you see a pet in a parked car during a summer day, go to the nearest store and have the owner paged. Enlist the help of a local police officer or security guard or call the local police department and animal control office.

Deb Antoniades, of Monroe County, New York is an animal lover who not only keeps her own pets at home when the temperatures rise, but who is vigilant about keeping other animals safe as well. "I keep a stack of photocopies in my glove compartment of an article about the dangers of leaving a dog in your car in the summer—even with the windows open. I leave [the articles] under the windshield wiper of any car I notice with a dog left inside. I've called 911 a couple of times as well."

Taking Action

In case of an emergency, it's important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. Check the animal for signs of heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.

If the animal shows symptoms of heatstroke, take steps to gradually lower her body temperature immediately. Follow these tips, and it could save her life:

• Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
• Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or immerse her in cool (not cold) water.
• Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
• Take her directly to a veterinarian.

In many states, it's against the law to leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle in a manner than endangers the health or safety of the animal. Despite these laws, not to mention a basic common sense that should guide most pet owners during the summer, companion animals die every year from heatstroke. The worst part is knowing that each death was preventable. That's why sharing this information is so important. Summers, after all, are truly supposed to be carefree.

Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pets

Coping with the Bites and Stings of Nature’s Creatures

The welcome months of spring and summer bring lush green lawns, warm days and pleasant nights, fragrant flowers and thoughts of relaxing vacations.  Unfortunately, they also bring those ever-present and annoying insects and creatures of all kinds.  We humans are used to shielding ourselves from insects and reptiles in a variety of ways, to avoid being stung or bitten. Our pets, however, are unaware that these unwelcome pests can become a source of danger.

Defense Strategies

When the weather begins to warm up, out come fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, yellow jackets, fire ants and snakes – sometimes armies of them.  They are all ready to attack us and animals, infest our homes and cause itching, illness or even death in some situations. The best way to combat these pests is to prevent or avoid them in the first place.  Discuss with your veterinarian the safest products or procedures to use toward preventing these unwanted guests. Some common preventive methods include:

• Use flea, tick and heartworm prevention; some flea and tick preventives also contain a mosquito repellant. Eliminate standing pools of water and keep water bowls fresh, to avoid mosquitoes.
• Don’t use ‘human’ mosquito repellants, especially those containing the ingredient DEET, on animals, as they can cause neurological problems.
• Learn about ways to attract birds to inhabit your area, since many of these species eagerly feed on mosquitoes.
• Keep your dog leashed on walks and stay on open pathways where snakes can be visible.  Watch for fire ant nests on the ground.
• Don’t allow your dog to explore in holes in the ground, or dig under logs or other objects where snakes or yellow jacket nests might be hidden.
• Keep nighttime walks to a minimum, as some rattlesnakes and some other snake species are nocturnal for much of the year.
• After your dog has been in an area you suspect is populated by ticks, thoroughly comb him within four to six hours to help prevent ticks from attaching.
• Avoid long walks at dawn and dusk, when many insects are most active.
• Watch for spiders in basements, garages, woodpiles and brush.

Be on the Alert for Stings

If you suspect that your pet has been stung or bitten by an insect, it’s always best to call your veterinarian immediately for advice on what to do. 

Dogs are most often stung on their face or paws and these stings can be extremely painful -- sometimes you can’t immediately tell what is wrong.  A dog that has been stung will often become agitated, run around shaking his head or pawing at his muzzle.  If stung in or around his mouth or throat, swelling can constrict your dog’s airway and be life-threatening. Multiple stings can also cause major problems, such as anaphylactic shock.  Signs of shock can vary but may include depression, breathing problems, pale gums and a weak pulse.

If your dog is stung by fire ants, remove him from the area and brush off any ants remaining on him.  Don’t spray them off with water, as they will hang on with their jaws and continue to sting.

Spider bites can be quite dangerous to dogs.  Although generally harmless, there are several varieties of spiders that can cause severe problems. Some spider venom contains digestive enzymes that can damage skin tissue, causing a wound to grow quickly with a secondary infection.

Be certain to inspect your dog often for ticks (cousins to spiders) that can also pose a threat to your dog’s good health.  They can also carry and spread blood-borne diseases, such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tick Paralysis. 

These kinds of injuries are covered under the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan. The costs of treatment can quickly add up, especially if your dog has had a life-threatening situation. PetPartners paid a claim of over $2,200 for the hospitalization of Piano, a dog in California, after she was attacked by a swarm of bees in her backyard.  After several days in intensive care and three blood transfusions, Piano amazed everyone and survived this potentially fatal attack.

Things That Slither and Bite

Treatment for a snake bite can be quite expensive and vials of antivenom can cost as much as $750 or more.  We see many claims for snake bites; some recent claims included, $2,783 for a German Shepherd Dog bitten by a snake, $1,895 for a Labrador Retriever bitten by a Rattlesnake and $1,262 for another Labrador Retriever bitten by a snake.

Snakes are beneficial to our environment because they control the rodent population, among many other reasons.  In general, they prefer to be left alone and avoid conflict.  If your dog is bitten by a snake, try to identify it, without getting bitten yourself, as identification is important in determining treatment.  Notice the snake’s head shape (triangular vs. oval), coloration, markings, size, and whether or not it has a rattle at the end of its tail.  Keep your dog as quiet as possible, since movement spreads snake venom.  If you’re out on a hike, carry or walk your dog to the car at a normal pace and do not let your dog run.  Snakebites are very painful, so be careful -- even a loving dog may bite when it’s in pain. 

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Planning ahead for unforeseen medical emergencies can help make them more manageable when they occur, with better outcomes.  Pet healthcare insurance can significantly help you manage the cost of veterinary care and preventive measures and save you money in the long run. 

The range of AKC Pet Healthcare Plans* offers quality and affordable coverage for as little as 68 cents a day, far less than the cost of a soft drink at a fast food restaurant.  You can choose the Essential Plan that covers unexpected illnesses or injuries up to $11,000 for treatment costs per year, at $20.75 a month, or higher levels of protection with Essential Plus (for a higher cost).  You may be interested in plans that, in addition to accident and illness coverage, also offer reimbursement towards those wellness measures that can add up to $500 or more a year. The Wellness Plans are designed to provide coverage up to $13,000 for treatment costs a year, and this includes flea, tick and heartworm prevention, as well as an annual physical exam, annual dental cleaning and prescribed vaccinations. The Wellness Plus option also offers additional coverage for spaying/neutering.   

Seeking a veterinarian’s advice first is important if you have any questions about your dog’s health.  If you program your veterinarian’s emergency phone number into your cell phone, you’ll have it close at hand if something happens to your dog and you’re away from home.

If a friend or sitting service is caring for your dog during your absence, discuss in advance your dog’s health history and potential health emergencies, as well as any medications they are taking.  Make certain your veterinarian’s contact information -- and the phone number for the closest emergency veterinary room -- are clearly posted.  Be prepared and be safe – not sorry.

TOXINS THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF:

Despite the huge number of hazardous plants and materials out there, I have noticed that three of them seem to be more commonly ingested by pets than the others. So, although I encourage you to be proactive about protecting your pet from all potential poisons, please be especially aware of these three.

Chocolate. Toxicity depends on the size of the pet, the type of chocolate consumed (darker chocolate is more dangerous than lighter chocolate), and the amount of chocolate that is eaten. Severe intoxication with chocolate can lead to irregular heart rhythms and death. Many dogs seem to find chocolate just as delicious as we humans do. Sadly, for dogs chocolate can be much worse than a guilty pleasure.

Rat and mouse poisons (rodenticides). Even small amounts of rodenticide can be deadly to cats and dogs. The most commonly used rodenticides cause internal bleeding. There is an antidote, but it must be administered rapidly to prevent severe illness or death.

Chewing gum. This is a relatively new player in the world of pet poisons. Not all chewing gum is toxic. However, several popular brands contain a sweetener called Xylitol.. Xylitol can cause dangerously low blood sugar in dogs. It also has been linked to liver damage.

I recommend that pets never be allowed access to any poisons. However, please be especially careful with the three listed above. Dogs are more likely than cats to be exposed to each of these poisons because they are less selective about what they eat.

If you suspect that your pet has consumed any poisonous product, contact a veterinarian immediately. Acting quickly can help to prevent serious consequences.

If possible, always bring the packaging from the product that was consumed, as well as any remaining product to the veterinarian’s office when you seek treatment. This will help the vet to positively identify the type and amount of toxin consumed.

Remember, however, that the best way to keep your pet safe from poisons is to make sure he or she does not have access to them in the first place.

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Seasonal Health Tips for Fall

Autumn is a great time of the year for Pugs & Buggs or any other short muzzled breed. Because these dogs do not do well in temperatures over 78-80 degrees or temperatures under 38 degrees. This time of the year is great for your dog to accompany you on a little longer than normal walk (still bring along a sports bottle of water for your Pug or Bugg! Pugs n' Buggs have a very short hair coat so they get chilly in the extreme cold; in the heat they have difficulty because of their muzzle size. These breeds have very short muzzles (pug nose).
The muzzle is the dogs air-conditioning system. Humans have the ability to sweat from glands all over our bodies, this is our cooling system. Pugs n' Buggs (as well as all dogs) do not have sweat glands on their body (with the exception of their foot pads) dogs use their nose to cool off through panting. The longer the muzzle (nose) of a dog the better able they are to cool off. But all dogs are MUCH more susceptible to brain damage and death from heat exposure than humans are so if you're not too hot that does not mean that your dog isn't!!
Fall is a time that we get ready for the long cold winters, here in the North East. Often times that includes putting antifreeze in our cars. Be extremely careful with antifreeze (I never keep it at the house, or put it in the car at the house).
Antifreeze is EXTREMELY TOXIC, DEADLY!!! Dogs will willingly drink it because it tastes sweet. There is a chance of saving them (an antidote) if you get them to the vets ASAP!! But if it's been awhile since they drank it, most likely they are not going to make it. It is not a swift death from antifreeze (Ethyleneglychol) but can take 1-3 days to cause death by organ failure. If you are not sure if your dog may have drank antifreeze (and it doesn't take much, just a lick will be toxic!!) take him/her to your vets right away, they can check their urine to tell if they have ingested it or not. NEVER WAIT if you even suspect they may have been exposed to antifreeze! Enough to be deadly to a cat is just for them to walk through some in the driveway and wash themselves later! It is really nasty stuff....so be safe and keep your pets away!!!
***There is a non-toxic antifreeze available now, but will usually void the warrantee on most cars (but I use it anyway!)
The other fairly common poison that dogs will get into is DECON (rat or rodent poison) or like products containing WARFARIN. Many people will use these products in the fall to avoid rodents coming into to their home via cellar or attic to avoid the cold. Keep it well away from you pets!! DECON or most other rodent poisons work by causing massive bleeding without clotting factor. They bleed to death is how it kills rodents, and can also kill your pets the same way! There is an antidote for WARFARIN poisoning, injectable Vitamin K. You must take your pet to your veterinarian right away if you suspect they have eaten any of these pellets, don't wait until they get a nose bleed, because it may be too late!!
One thing is Bullmastiffs are big, and it would take a good amount of pellets to be fatal for them, but even if you suspect they have eaten even a pellet or two, take them to the vets anyway!
These pellets must taste good and they will attract dogs & sometimes cats just like they attract rodents. So KEEP OUT OF REACH OF YOUR PETS!
Another season related issue is mushrooms, they grow when it is damp out and will flourish in fallen damp leaves, pets will frequently eat these mushrooms if given a chance, although rarely fatal, they can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal problems. So keep an eye out for mushrooms and rake away when ever you find them.
Another common problem in the fall is allergies; leaf molds seem to be one of the biggest offenders for dogs who have allergies. If your dog is suffering and itchy all the time he/she may have this problem. They will be itchy all the time, sometimes even a light touch to their body will cause them to frantically scratch at themselves!
Their hair coat may be dry or brittle with dead skin flakes. They may even experience hair loss.
If your dog is very itchy and experiencing effects of allergies, first check him for fleas, just one flea bite on dog that is allergic can cause a lot of skin problems. To check to see if your dog has fleas or not get a flea comb, and comb the hair (down to the skin) at the base of the neck and on the rump (over hips) if you collect little back specks that resembles pepper in with the hair your dog most likely has fleas, take the paper towel and wet it. Rinse out the excess water and put the black specks onto the damp paper towel, rub in. If it turns a red color then it is positive for fleas. The black specks are digested blood from the dog, since that is what fleas feed on.
I like Front Line to prevent fleas & ticks, but there are several other products on the market.
Always be careful and read the directions when using a flea product!
The other thing you can do is change their diet to a good name brand lamb & rice food (what a difference getting them off beef makes!!) Gradually change their diet to the lamb, turkey, chicken, buffalo or even Kangeroo diets (I have been feeding my Natural Balance but at $60.00 a bag boy it adds up!) There are lost of other good foods like Purina ONE, Purina Selects, Iams, Eukanuba, just make sure there is a label that says AAFCO on the bag because that means it's been inspected! To change your dog's diet gradually increase the new food amount while decreasing the old food amount until they have completely switched over to a new food! This will save you and your dog from possible gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. You may also add a 1/2 teaspoon of Canola oil to their food once a day. A good multi-vitamin like Pet Tabs is always a good idea too. I also give 3-V Caps and Glucasamine to my dogs.

If the itching continues for more than just a day or so, take them to your vet to be checked out, he may want to give them an injection of steroids.

On a much lighter note...shedding is common in the spring and in the fall, you might try giving your dog (about 1/2 a teaspoon) of Canola Oil in their food once a day, and have them on a multivitamin. This will help condition their skin and hair coat....don't give baths in the cold weather..this will just dry their coat out more! And watch the Halloween candy...the chocolate especially...for a small dog  it wouldn't take a large amount of chocolate to be toxic (chocolate is toxic in dogs) one of those mini candy bars wouldn't be enough to hurt them, but if they ate a bag of chocolate..that could dark chocolate is the most dangerous (if you would like a list of toxic household foods & substances just email me & I'd be happy to email it to you! Also...since I seem to be on the subject of ingesting toxic substances...Tylenol (I never use the stuff myself!) But Tylenol is EXTREAMLY dangerous in dogs & cats...causes liver failure and ultimately death! If you drop one...make sure you find it...not all medications that are ok for humans are ok for dogs...we metabolize things differently. You can give you dog aspirin; buffered aspirin is the best..make sure it is PLAIN aspirin. Call your vet for recommended amount for your dog’s weight. Ok..that's all folks...at least for now...keep checking I will continue to update these health tips! One more tip before I go....If you own a black cat...keep them INDOORS for several weeks before Halloween, I know a lot of our clients will tell us their black cats end up missing before Halloween...I don't even want to think of what happens to them, but if you own a black cat...keep them indoors to be safe!! For Thanksgiving keep the Turkey bones well out of your dogs reach! If they do get into turkey bones (this also works for any possible ingested sharp objects like: sticks, glass, plastic, etc) for a Pug or Bugg slightly pull apart 1-2 'real' cotton balls & mix with a little gravy or broth (anything that will flavor the cotton balls) and feed it to them (if you KNOW they ate something sharp force feed it to them if they won't take it on their own) How this works is the same way the sharp edges of one of your rings would pick up fibers from cloth or cotton, the cotton balls that you feed your dog will wrap around the sharp edges of the bones or other sharp objects letting them pass through the intestines without causing damage. So the sooner you feed the cotton balls the better chance they will have to work! It will not hurt your dog in any way to feed them the cotton balls if your not sure they did eat something sharp, so better to be safe than sorry!   To the right is a magnified picture of the actual microchip ID that is transplanted between the subcutaneous layers of skin, placed just over the shoulder blades and below the base of the neck. The name brand is: Home Again, the dog's information is sent to AKC who runs the 24 hour 7 day a week data base. ***This picture is magnified; the actual size of the microchip ID is about the size of a grain of rice!   CAR (Companion Animal Recovery) AKC: Enrollments: 1,941,818 * Recoveries: 157,488 Companion Animal Recovery is run by AKC (The American Kennel Club): 5580 Centerview Dr., Suite 250 Raleigh, NC 27606-3389 CALL: 800-252-7894 FAX: 919-233-1290 Web: www.akccar.org                                                       Email: questions-updates found@akc.org Schedule a microchip clinic: chipclinic@akc.org AKC requires that your dog have a permanent form of ID, either a tattoo or a microchip implant.