The Best Snacks for pets

Every pet loves a snack, but are they always getting the healthiest snacks? 
If we give our fur babies a bite of this and bite of that, we aren't thinking about if the treat is healthy. 
This article by, ASPCA is a list of snacks that are healthy and better for our pets. 
Take a look. 

ASPCA

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 54% of dogs and 58% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese. For many pets, a combination of increased activity and decreased calories in their daily diet can help shed those excess pounds.

An Apple a Day…

Some commercially produced pet treats are deceptively high in calories, and a couple of treats can actually decrease or stop weight loss. Try substituting safe fruits and vegetables into your pet’s diet.

Green beans are very low in calories and have a satisfying crunch. They can be a great green snack for your dog or cat. In addition, most dogs love baby carrots, and at about four calories each they make a great weight loss snack. Also, carrots are gentle on the tummy and don’t usually make dogs gassy—a common complaint with other veggies. If you’re a cat person, you can also try peas, frozen corn, broccoli florets, and of course, cat nip! Cat nip and cat grass can actually be beneficial for your cat’s health and are kind of like wheat or oats.

Raspberries and apples (without the core and seeds) are low in calories, and are a good source of fiber, which will help your dog feel full and satisfied.

It’s important to note that not all fruits and vegetables are safe for animals. Be sure to avoid garlic, onions, raisins and grapes, as they can be toxic to your pet. 

Top 5 Most Deadly Horse Diseases

Most Deadly Horse Diseases

Infectious horse diseases are those that horses can get from each other, or via a transmitter such as a mosquito or tick, which may transmit the disease from horse to horse. Knowledge is key to prevention. Here are some of the most common horse diseases: 

Potomac Horse Fever

This disease is most often seen in spring, summer, and early fall and is associated with pastures bordering water sources such as creeks or rivers. PHF is an acute enterocolitis syndrome producing mild colic, fever, and diarrhea in horses of all ages, as well as abortion in pregnant mares.

The bacterium responsible for the disease, Neorickettsia risticii, has been identified in flatworms that develop in aquatic snails (who knew!). When the water warms up, infected immature flatworms are released from the snail into the aquatic environment. These immature flatworms can be ingested by horses drinking the water, but more commonly they are picked up by aquatic insects. Infected insects (such as mayflies) will hatch in mass and might carry the organism to horses to ingest as they graze (thehorse.com).

Signs Of PHF 

• loss of appetite
• fever
• depression
• decreased intestinal sounds
• diarrhea
• mild colic

Affected horses might also develop signs of laminitis. PHF can be mild to life-threatening, so if you think your horse is showing signs of PHF you should contact your veterinarian immediately. PHF can be diagnosed by laboratory identification of the organism in a blood or manure sample from the horse by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If caught early, it can be treated successfully with oxytetracycline.

Prevention: Several vaccines are commercially available. These might not completely prevent illness, but they may reduce its severity if the horse is exposed to the organism. Consult with your veterinarian to decide the best course of action.

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)/Rhinopneumonitis

With recent outbreaks of EHV in 2015, horse owners are somewhat aware of the dangers of this highly contageious virus. EHV is characterized by respiratory infections, paralysis, abortions, inflammation of the spinal cord, and occasionally death in young horses. EHV is extremely contagious, spreading through nasal secretions, contact with infected horses, and contaminated feed and water utensils. Type 1 (EHV1) and Type 4 (EHV4) are the most clinically important.

Signs of EHV:

• Nasal discharge
• In coordination
• Hind limb weakness
• Loss of tail tone
• Lethargy
• Urine dribbling
• Head tilt
• Leaning against a fence or wall to maintain balance
• Inability to rise

If you think your horse may have been exposed to the virus (while traveling or at a show) start isolation procedures immediately to prevent it from spreading through your whole herd. Check temps of all horse on your farm several times a day, if fever is detected check for EVH-1 and consult with your equine veterinarian for further guidance.

Prevention: There are two things you can do to help prevent an EVH outbreak on your farm:

1. Vaccinate: While there are several vaccines available, unfortunately there is no licensed vaccine that has a claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus (EHM). Consult with your veterinarian for further guidance.
2. Implement Biosecurity Practices on your farm. This includes quarantining any new animals on the farm, or those that have traveled recently before introducing them to your herd, and washing instruments such as grooming supplies between use on each animal.

Equine Influenza (Flu)

Equine influenza,  is one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract of horses. This is a highly contagious virus that can be contracted through direct contact with an infected horse or indirectly by contaminated environment. Infected horses incubate the disease for 1-3 days before displaying symptoms, which is why outbreaks can spread so rapidly.  Unfortunately influenza is endemic in the US, which means it circulates continuously in the equine population.

Signs of Equine Influenza 

• Fever
• A harsh, dry cough of sudden onset that persists for 2-3 weeks or more
• Clear nasal discharge progressing to thick, green-yellow discharge
• Lethargy/depression
• Loss of appetite

Prevention: 

Implementing good biosecurity practices including quarantining of newly arrived or traveling horses for at least 14 days. There are also vaccinations available that can be used before exposure. Consult with your veterinarian regarding vaccinating your horse.

Streptococcus equi (Strangles)

Strangles is an infectious horse disease characterized by abscessation of the lymphoid tissue of the upper respiratory tract. Streptococcus equi equi, is the bacterium which causes the disease, and is transmitted by direct contact with infected horses or sub-clinical shedders, or indirectly by contact with: water troughs, hoses, feed bunks, pastures, stalls, trailers, tack, grooming equipment, nose wipe cloths or sponges, attendants’ hands and clothing, or insects contaminated with nasal discharge or pus draining from lymph nodes of infected horses.

Signs of Strangles:

• Fever (103°–106°F)
• Nasal discharge
• Depression
• Difficulty swallowing
• Respiratory noise
• Extended head and neck
• Swollen lymph nodes

In some outbreaks and in a small percentage of cases, these abscesses spread to other parts of the body (a condition known as ‘bastard’ strangles) which is nearly always fatal. As with the other diseases above, contact your vet if you think your horse is showing signs of strangles for treatment. Due to being so contagious, affected horses should be separated, and cared for by separate caretakers wearing protective clothing.

Prevention: 

Vaccination is often the best preventive measure for Strangles. Contact your veterinarian for guidance.

Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetanii which can be found in soil and manure. This bacteria is found in just about every environment, and can survive for long periods of time. Wound contamination is generally what leads to infection; a clean wound is not as likely to result in tetanus.

The tetanus bacteria do not need oxygen  and multiply rapidly in the damaged tissues.  They produce a toxin (tetanus toxin) and it is this neurotoxin that causes the classical signs of tetanus. 

Tetanus proves deadly in 50-75% of cases.

Signs of Tetanus:

• Muscular stiffness and spasms
• Difficulty moving and eating
• Tail often held straight out
• Development of an anxious expression due to facial spasms 
• Sweating 
• In advanced cases the horse will collapse with spasms, convulsions and death from respiratory failure

Prevention: 

Tetanus is a preventable disease, and vaccination is key to prevention. Good first aid practices are also important which include keeping wounds clean and ensuring your turn out areas are safe, clean, and clear of dangerous items that could cause injury. Consult with your veterinarian to ensure you are taking the necessary prevention measures on your farm.

Source: MannaPro 

What To Do If Your Cat Is Choking

Technically, choking is when something lodges in the larynx or trachea, preventing air flow. This can be nearly anything, even a small object such as a pen cap, bell, or thimble. Fortunately, choking is a rare occurrence in cats.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Pawing at the mouth, drooling
• Coughing or gagging
• Anxiety or panic
• Labored breathing
• Fainting, unconsciousness, or, if air flow is completely blocked, an inability to breathe
• Bad breath, loss of appetite, listlessness (if something has been lodged in the mouth for a while)

PRIMARY CAUSE

Pieces of cat toys like small pompons or bells, splintered bits of bone, and other foreign objects can potentially get stuck in the larynx and cause choking.

IMMEDIATE CARE

If your cat is conscious and not too upset, you can try looking in his mouth for any foreign object. Remove it if you can, but in most cases you will probably not be able to do so safely. However, if your cat is too upset for safe handling, wrap him in a towel or put him in a carrier for transport to the veterinarian.

If your cat is unconscious and not breathing, or breathing with great difficulty, do the following:

• Open the mouth and pull the tongue forward. If you see a foreign object, try to grab it with your finger or tweezers.
• If that doesn’t work, try the Heimlich maneuver:
  
  
  1. Lay the cat on his side.
  2. Put one hand along his back.
  3. Put the other hand on his belly, just below the ribs.
  4. With the hand on the belly, give several sharp pushes in and up.
  5. Check the mouth for foreign objects and remove them, then close the mouth and give a couple of small breaths through the nose.
  6. Repeat these steps until you are confident there is no foreign object present in the airway.
  7. If the cat is still not breathing after the foreign object has been removed, check for a heartbeat or pulse. If none can be found, begin CPR and/or artificial respiration as needed and take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

A note about strings: If you find a string (thread, tinsel, etc.) in your cat’s mouth, the temptation is to pull it out. Unless it slides out like a wet spaghetti noodle, DO NOT pull it. It is likely stuck somewhere inside and pulling will only make things a lot worse.

VETERINARY CARE

Diagnosis

Diagnosis will be based on examination of your cat and your description of what happened. X-rays of the head, neck, and chest may be necessary to locate the foreign object. Sedation may be required for the examination and X-rays.

Treatment

Your cat will most likely be sedated or anesthetized in order to remove the foreign object. The removal may be as simple as pulling it out of the mouth, or it may require a complicated surgery on the neck. The foreign object may cause damage that may require suturing or antibiotics, especially if the object has been lodged for a while.

LIVING AND MANAGEMENT

Once the foreign object has been removed, healing usually proceeds without a problem. If there was severe damage from the object, or if surgery was required, laryngeal paralysis is a possible complication. Scarring could cause strictures (narrowing of a passageway) to form, which could make breathing or swallowing difficult.

If your cat was without oxygen for an extended period of time, that could also cause problems, usually of a neurologic nature, such as blindness or mental dullness.

PREVENTION

Just as with small children, you need to be aware of potential choking hazards in your cat’s environment. In addition, something labeled as a cat toy is not necessarily safe for your cat, especially after your cat has chewed on it extensively.

Source: PetMD 

Homemade Pet Diets: What You Should Know

Homemade Pet Diets: What You Should Know

I often hear from pet owners who want to start preparing homemade food for their pets. Their motivations vary; in some cases, they have been spooked by news stories about pet food recalls and want more control over the ingredients in their pets' food. Other times, they are concerned because their animal won’t eat the special diet prescribed for a medical condition, and they want to know if there’s something tastier they can make themselves.

People have been feeding dogs table scraps (or sometimes the best from their own larders) for centuries. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was known to feed his Greyhound, Eos, a diet that included regular servings of pâté de foie gras. Talk about rich!

We know much more now than we did a century ago about the dietary needs of our pets. There’s a multitude of commercial pet diets that are complete and balanced for different life stages or made to help treat certain health conditions, such as kidney disease, urinary stones or food allergies, to name just a few, as well as foods that contain organic ingredients.

Nonetheless, you may be thinking about feeding a homemade diet. I’ve always said that if you can make food for a human infant, you can make food for a dog or cat. That said, pets, especially cats, do have specific nutritional requirements — it’s not just a matter of mixing up some hamburger meat, rice and veggies and plopping the blend into your pet's bowl. I talked to my friend and colleague, Dr. Tony Buffington, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, about the pros and cons of a homemade diet and some common-sense guidelines if that’s what you want to feed.

Is a Homemade Diet Right for Your Pet?

A homemade diet can be suitable for a healthy adult dog, but it’s riskier for a puppy. Growing pups are still developing bone and muscle, and nutritional excesses of certain minerals can cause serious orthopedic problems. Until your veterinarian tells you it’s time to transition your dog off puppy food, stick to a commercial food formulated for puppy growth or for all life stages.

A homemade diet can also be riskier for a pet with a health problem, especially if diet is an integral part of management or treatment. Sometimes, however, those animals turn up their noses at commercially available veterinary foods. If that happens, especially if the animal is very old or very sick, Dr. Buffington says that having him eat anything is better than nothing.

Before you start your pet on a homemade diet, start with a trip to the veterinarian to rule out any hidden health issues. Your pet should have a thorough exam, a blood panel and possibly other diagnostic tests to make sure he’s in sparkling good health. Once you make the switch to homemade food, the physical exam and test results can serve as a baseline against which you and your veterinarian can judge how well your pet is doing on the diet. 

While you're in the office, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about why you want to feed a homemade diet. She may be able to draw on her experience with other clients — or even her own pets — to advise you about the best way to proceed.

What Should You Feed?

Your veterinarian may not be able to formulate a complete and balanced diet for you, but she can refer you to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a service like Balance IT, either of which can help to construct a custom homemade diet for your pet that takes into account factors such as size, age, gender and body condition (underweight, overweight or just right), as well as the ingredients you want to use. In addition to providing appropriate recipes, a nutrition service may sell vitamin and mineral supplements that help ensure the recipe provides complete nutrition.

Depending on which route you take, you may pay a fee to the nutritionist or service for formulating one or more recipes, or the recipes may be free, but there may be a charge for supplements. Don't balk at the bills: Pet food companies build the costs of their research into the price of the food, but whether you buy prepared food or make it yourself, you are paying for the expertise to ensure that your pet eats right.

A nutritionist or service will help you formulate a balanced diet for your pet. The biggest mistake people make is feeding only a single ingredient, such as chicken breast, because “that’s all he’ll eat.” That’s not a balanced diet. But be cautious about mixing it up too much: When you cook for yourself, you probably enjoy experimenting with your recipes and adding new ingredients, but doing so with your pet’s food can unbalance the recipe and cause problems for your pet. Instead of tweaking individual recipes, gather an assortment of recipes based on different ingredients, so you can rotate your pet's menu and offer him a variety of appropriate, healthy choices. 

Another mistake pet owners make is trying to force pets to conform to their own philosophical beliefs. It’s fine for you to be a vegetarian or vegan, but for your cat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must have meat in their diets to survive and thrive. 

How Much Is Enough?

When you look at a bag or can of pet food, there’s usually a recommended daily amount based on a pet’s weight. But these standard serving sizes don't work for every pet. Each animal is different, even if they are the same breed, size or age. Your individual pet may need more or less than the recommended amount of food, and sometimes you have to fiddle with how much you give before you find that “just right” amount. The same is true with homemade diets.

“The starting point is going to be plus or minus as much as 50 percent for any individual animal,” Dr. Buffington says. “If the calculated amount per day is 400 calories, for example, you can have animals who might eatonly 200calories a day or animals that are really active, who eat 600 calories a day. No one can tell that without feeding the animal and looking at his body condition.”

When it comes to body condition, you should be able to feel (but not see) your pet’s ribs and backbone as you’re petting him, he should have a visible waist when viewed from above, and the abdomen should tuck up behind his rib cage and in front of his hind legs when viewed from the side.

To make sure your pet is thriving on your home cooking, repeat the exam and diagnostic tests in six months to see if he is doing the same, better or worse. “It’s just a little bit of insurance that if something is going wrong, you can pick it up as quickly as possible,” Dr. Buffington says. “If everything is still normal, that’s another level of confidence that everything is going well.”

Source: VetStreet

BY DR. MARTY BECKER DVM | OCTOBER 12, 2015  

What To Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic

What To Do If Your Pet 

Eats Something Toxic

In the wild dogs are scavengers, meaning they’ll eat
whatever they can find.Some pet dogs are the same
and will eat anything they find lying around.

There are lots of foods, items and substances in the
house and environment that can poison dogs or block
their guts.

Treatment and outcome varies a lot depending on
what it is your dog has chosen to eat.

Contact your vet immediately if your dog has eaten
something harmful. Acting fast could
save your dog's life!

Toxins, poisons and harmful items for dogs

There are many substances that are toxic, poisonous or harmful to dogs in the house, 
garden and environment, such as cleaning products, human medicines, poisonous plants,
antifreeze and foods (e.g. chocolate, grapes and onions).

Dogs also love to eat strange items which can cause gut blockages. Bones, rubber toys,
stones, socks, underwear and baby’s dummies are just a few examples. The list is endless!

Gut blockages are very serious and can kill a dog if not treated quickly.

Contact your vet immediately if you think your dog has eaten something harmful.

Symptoms

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Twitching
• Sleeping more or being quieter than usual
• Not wanting to eat
• Standing with a hunched back or adopting a ‘bowing’ or ‘prayer’ position due to tummy pain
• Straining and not being able to poo (constipation).

Some dogs will vomit but the vast majority won’t show any signs immediately after eating something
they shouldn’t have. It usually takes a day or two for symptoms to develop (depending on what they’ve
eaten).

If you think that your dog may have eaten something harmful contact your vet immediately for
an emergency appointment.

Should I try to make my dog vomit?

No, never try to make your dog vomit unless your vet specifically asks you to do so. It can make
the situation much worse and you may end up harming your dog.

When to contact your vet

Contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment if your dog has eaten something
they shouldn’t have. Never wait to see if a problem develops - your dog could become very ill or
even die without treatment. Acting fast could save your dog's life.

You know your dog best. Even if you’re unsure whether or not they have eaten something that
may harm them, if they’re not themselves or you are concerned it’s always best to contact your vet.

Treatment options

Treatment depends entirely on what your dog has eaten, and may include:

• Making your dog vomit (when instructed by vet)
• Activated charcoal in a meal (a liquid that helps absorb any remaining toxins, excess gas & fluids)
• Keeping them overnight on a drip to give them fluids
• Blood tests
• A medication to help reverse or prevent the effects of the toxin your dog has eaten
• X-rays
• An ultrasound scan of their tummy
• An emergency operation to remove a blockage.

Outlook

Toxins and poisons

• The outcome depends entirely on what your pet ingested and whether they get proper treatment.
• Most dogs that receive veterinary treatment quickly make a good recovery.
• Unfortunately some animals, even with correct treatment, develop health problems. 
• Health problems vary depending on what your dog has eaten.

Gut blockages

• Having a gut blockage is a very serious condition that can be fatal if left without treatment. 
• Often your dog will need an emergency operation to remove the item.
• Unfortunately, even with correct treatment, it's common for animals to develop complications.

Gut blockages can lead to serious complications

Why do dogs eat things they shouldn't?

Curiosity

Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Sometimes they can accidentally swallow the things they
pick up out of curiosity.

Boredom

Dogs are very intelligent animals and they can get bored easily. They might fill their time by chewing
on or tearing up things in your house, swallowing something they shouldn’t in the process.

Lack of nutrients

Some dogs have a taste for things that we don’t think of as food, such as poo. This can be a sign that
they’re missing out on important nutrients. Speak to your vet for advice.

Stress

If your dog is stressed out, they might comfort themselves by chewing on something they shouldn’t.

Attention

Did they get a lot of fuss and attention last time they ate something they shouldn’t have? Your dog
might have learnt that eating a toy or chowing down on your slippers makes them the center of attention!

How can I stop my dog eating things 

they shouldn’t?

Read our tips for keeping your dog safe by helping to stop them eating things they shouldn't.



Source: PSDA June 2018.