Salmonella can cause infections in Pets, children, frail or elderly people as well as others with weakened immune systems. Pets with Salmonella infection may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some Pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Pets can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other Pets or humans. Salmonella infection can be shed in the feces and may pose a zoonotic risk to associates and Pet owners. Proper hygiene should be practiced when handling fecal samples or ill Pets.

If you suspect your Pet has a Salmonella infection, please visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Back in Australia (he’s a well-travelled cat) he was an indoor-outdoor kitty but he got into so many fights that when we moved here he became an indoor kitty. He still yowled if he managed to escape at night, 5am outside the bedroom window, but we had a room we could keep him in that blockedmost of the noise. In our current place, we can’t do that because the only areas that aren’t carpeted are the kitchen (no doors to shut and I wouldn’t keep him there anyway) and the bathrooms (too small and they echo a lot).

We’ve tried everything and I’m almost at my wit’s end. Cats yowl for a variety of reasons, such as when they’re unwell, hungry or in need of attention. If you have a cat that’s yowling, get your vet to check him out first to rule possible medical reasons.. My parent’s older cat often yowls because of hyperthyroidism; the changes that the disease cause are often attributed to “old age.”.

Not for Jake, though. He’s had a clean bill of health on multiple occasions. He yowls when he gets bored or hungry.. If your cat yowls for attention during the day, the best thing to do is ignore it, then reward your cat with play or cuddles when he or she is quiet. If your cat is yowling at night, have playtime before bedtime so your cat goes to bed tired. Putting your cat to bed with a little food (make sure it’s not extra to their main meal, to avoid weight problems) can help with the hunger problem.

I’ve done all this. Jake still yowls. The only things that have worked are locking him in a room with Jackson, the Kelpie/Husky cross (on the very first day that Jackson came home, there were some loud noises but we’d had enough of the yowling so we didn’t care. They’re best friends now) and clomicalm. We tried a feliway diffuser, it worked for maybe a week. The clomicalm works well, but it turns him into a vegetable during the day so we didn’t use it for long. The experts say you should never yell, but I have to admit caving in. I can hit a moving target with a cushion from 20 feet as well. It’s so frustrating that I even started to look into bark-stopping collars for dogs that emit small electric shocks. I can hear the chorus of “oh, that’s terrible” and I agree, but sleep deprivation does funny things to you.

My point is, don’t give up. A friend of mine recommended a timed feeder and a “food toy” (a plastic bottle with some holes in the side and some kibble in it), so I’m going to give that a try. Hopefully, the feeder will be able to give him breakfast nice and early and the food toy will keep him busy during the day. The best-case scenario is that he’s fed nice and early and kept busy during the day so that he gets some exercise and is nice and tired at night. Fingers crossed…

Our routines become so commonplace that eventually we don’t pay much attention to them. This got me thinking about Emerson and his scratching, rubbing and licking consistently on his skin—particularly during the spring and summer months. The itching doesn’t seem to occur only in the morning, but at different times throughout the day. I began to take notice. Have I missed something? Could his scratching indicate a need for further attention? 

Since I always wanted to be a detective on some level, I began to do some investigating, noting the time of day (and season) Emerson was itching, as well as the location of his scratching. I also changed his shampoo, spoke with my Banfield veterinarinan and modified his diet a bit because of some food allergies. Fortunately, Emerson’s itching began to subside.

Dogs shouldn’t itch all the time. And if they do, I would suggest consulting your veterinarian, as your daily sidekick could have a condition that needs to be treated medically. Keep a close eye on how often your Pet indulges in scratching and whether it is localized to one particular area. Also part your Pet’s hair and check regularly for any skin abnormality or discomfort when these areas are touched.

As for Emerson, it seems my detective evaluation gives me nothing further to worry about. His skin and coat looks better than ever and he continues to greet me each morning with long stretches and deep yawns—and yes, a lick and scratch or two. But now the licks are only on my face. Not a bad way to start each day!

Nevertheless, it took quiet some effort, including the help of an external pest control agent to get rid of those fleas out of that apartment.  Fortunately, although he too had clearly been bitten by fleas, Jesse was not exceptionally sensitive and did not develop any of the classic flea allergy signs.  Since that time as a young veterinarian, I well and truly learnt my lesson.  Never again have I moved into a home without first evaluating the environment for flea infestation, and as my furry family has grown quiet considerably since then, I have maintained strict and rigid flea control on my pets.  It’s not just the anxiety and stress of them being bitten by fleas that bothers me, but fleas are also the carrier of diseases such as tapeworms.  I have also seen many poor unfortunate homeless or poorly cared for Pets that have extreme flea invasion.  Such infestations can cause severe and life-threatening anemia, especially in puppies and kittens.  Some Pets can also develop an allergy to the flea bite, which triggers a vicious cycle of scratching and itching, ultimately leading to skin wounds and infection of those wounds with bacteria and other organisms.

The internet is full of suggestions from well-meaning authors on a number of nutraceutical or herbal remedies to control fleas.  Unfortunately, there has been little scientific research into the efficiency of such remedies to effectively control fleas.  There are however, some important areas where nutrition can help manage the skin damage caused by the fleas.  The skin is a really large organ and it needs a lot of protein and some other key nutrients to heal.  So you should ensure your Pet is on a good quality complete and balanced diet, ideally one formulated for skin disease.  There are also several other nutrients that are particularly beneficial for promoting skin healing, helping to reduce the inflammation and the itching associated with the skin disease.  These include some of the b-vitamins, some amino acids, some fatty acids such as linoleic acid, and the EPA and DHA in fish oil are particularly beneficial for helping to control the inflammation.

Flea control is actually a lot more complex that a lot of us would like to think. As you know there are a huge range of flea “control” products out there. So many choices, in fact, that sometimes it becomes overwhelming. The challenge is that there isn’t a single product out there that is perfect – if you define perfect as “kills 100% of fleas on my Pet, in the environment, is very safe for my Pet and is cheap”. So let’s try to tackle each of these things a little at a time.

Kills 100% of fleas on my Pet – there isn’t any product that kills 100% of fleas, no matter what ads may tell you. That is why flea control isn’t something you do one month and can then forget for the rest of the year. Flea control is a constant, or almost constant, battle depending on which region of the country in which you happen to live. Fleas are remarkably resistant little critters and, as such, they survive in a multitude of environments, and can withstand changes in temperature and moisture. The best information for when you should be using protection comes from your veterinarian. Taking their advice will ensure that you keep fleas to such a low level that you never see them on your Pet.

Kills 100% of fleas in the environment – topical flea control products are mostly designed to keep fleas off your Pet and, as such have little environmental control per se. FirstShield®, for example, does include an insect growth regulator which drops into the environment thus actually helping to control fleas there too. This means that it will be more effective at keeping your Pet flea-free than products that don’t have this feature.

Pet safety – one of my biggest concerns with the recent changes is safety. Certain flea control products should never be used on cats and should be used very cautiously on small dogs. Permethrin, for example, one of the commonly used active ingredients, is highly toxic to certain Pets. Especially where safety is concerned, you really need to make sure you read the labels carefully, follow instructions to the tee, and, ideally, consult with a veterinarian to get the most up to date advice.

Cost – where cost is concerned, the old adage certainly applies: “you get what you pay for”. Unfortunately, things that work just cost more money. However, I for one, would rather pay for the product that actually keeps fleas at bay, rather than skimp and have to run through the gamut of products trying to find the effective one, and actually end up spending more in the process.

Bottom line, my biggest concern is this: skin problems, including fleas, are complex and require veterinary involvement. By making well-known products available over the counter, we unfortunately opened ourselves up to decreasing the meaningful conversations that clients and veterinarians have regarding the best medical decisions for Pets, as well as increased the probability that Pets might be harmed by products meant to protect them. So please, keep your veterinarian in the loop and continue having those conversations that allow you to make the best decision for you and you furry friends.

To understand the requirements of cats, it is useful to remember their heritage.  Cats evolved as solitary hunters.  Their days were full of short periods of brief high energy activity interspersed with much needed sleep, grooming and marking.  Hunting is a time consuming activity that takes between six and eight hours a day; only 1 in 15 hunting expeditions is successful.  Now that we have removed this need to seek and capture prey, and we have more compact streamlined homes, we have seen an increase in stress related behaviors.  To minimize stress there are a few absolute requirements that all cats need. 

• Personal Space: places to hide, places to explore, places to sleep, and places to observe – perches and cat trees are great! 
• Litter boxes: one more than the number of cats in the house, located somewhere quiet, always kept scooped and clean. 
• Separate food and water bowls, absolutely nowhere near the litter boxes.  Try getting a large dog size water bowl for your cat and keep it full with clean fresh water, you may be surprised at how much your cat appreciates drinking from a large bowl. 
• Scratching and climbing posts: scratching is a natural behavior to mark territories and to sharpen nails.  If you do not provide the right equipment, cats will improvise, usually on your newest, most expensive acquisition. 
• Toys: to replicate the hunting behavior and encourage exercise. 

By fulfilling a few needs, we can easily make our cats indoor lifestyles fabulous.

High resolution Logo with website

Pet Poison Helpline, an animal poison control based out of Minneapolis, looked into the EPA’s investigation of spot-on flea/tick preventive products. After compiling, reviewing and analyzing much of the data provided to the EPA, Pet Poison Helpline experts concur with the EPA’s assessment that when used correctly, the incidence of severe fatal effects resulting from the application of flea and tick products is extremely low as compared to the number of applications that Pet owners apply each year. And when serious events occur, it is commonly a result of misuse. For example, when dog products are applied to cats or when owners misread, misuse or miscalculate the dose or product that is appropriate for their Pet.

“Data can [portray] a disproportionate view of the issue, since the majority of reported incidents represent minor or non life-threatening events,” said Dr. Rick Kingston, president of regulatory and scientific affairs for SafetyCall International and Pet Poison Helpline. “Owners may think that serious adverse reactions are common and expected, but fortunately, the data does not show that animals are being seriously injured when flea and tick products are being applied properly.”

However, Pet Poison Helpline does think there are a few things you should keep in mind. For instance, treatment with a fast-acting topical flea and tick medication on a Pet can cause itching or brief irritation at the application site as the product does its job and kills pests, possibly causing the Pet to fidget or scratch.

In addition, for some flea and tick products, a small proportion of treated animals may also develop a side effect called paresthesia – a tingling sensation at the application site. Fortunately, in the majority of cases it is a mild and self-limiting effect, but it does account for a large number of the reported incidents, and small breed dogs are commonly involved. Still, the occurrence of any adverse effect for any treated animal with a Spot-On product remains low across the board. Adverse reactions in dogs and cats resulting from misapplication can include skin effects such as irritation or redness; gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or diarrhea; or more serious effects to the nervous system such as trembling, appearing depressed or seizures.

Lynn Hovda, DVM, DACVIM, director of veterinary services for Pet Poison Helpline, recommends the following tips when applying spot-on treatments:

• Read and follow the directions on the product.
• Know the exact size and weight of your animal and use the correct dose amount. Don’t guess.
• Use a product for the animal in which the product was intended, i.e., do not use a dog product on a cat.
• Consult a veterinarian before using flea and tick products on weak, aged, sick, pregnant or nursing pets.

Always monitor your Pet for signs of adverse reactions, especially when using products for the first time. When in doubt, consult a veterinarian, the manufacturer (most offer emergency medical information numbers on the label), or call the Pet Poison Helpline for treatment recommendations and general assistance.

If you suspect your Pet has been poisoned, it is best to immediately take your Pet to your Banfield veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian. In the event that you are unable to do that, you can contact Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 for initial information about the potential toxin your Pet may have been exposed to. Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for Pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. You can also find additional information on poisonings at http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/.

I use FirstShield™ Trio, a monthly flea and tick control product on my 3-year-old Lhasa Apso, Emerson. My Banfield veterinarian recommended it as the safest way to keep him protected. I have to remind myself to apply it to Emerson monthly, but it’s worth the extra step. I remember the one (and only) time he got fleas. It was right after I adopted him. I’ll admit—at first, I had a lot to learn about owning a dog. In fact, there was a time when I completely underestimated the importance of preventing Emerson against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. He wrestled with other dogs, we went to dog parks, we took long walks through woodsy areas—all the while, Emerson was entirely unprotected. Lying on the couch with him one evening in the midst of all this, I saw the unthinkable: a black, pepper-sized bug that jumped three feet off his belly and onto the floor. The late-night process of ridding both Emerson and my house of the fleas included an 11:30 p.m. trip to get flea shampoo. Two years later, I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was a fiasco I do not want to repeat.

I now take his monthly topical treatment very seriously. Emerson now is protected against fleas, ticks—which can carry Lyme disease—and mosquitoes. Because just one mosquito bite can lead to heartworm disease, I am especially reassured that his preventive includes a mosquito repellant. I am committed to making sure that Emerson is flea-, tick- and parasite-free throughout his life.

More and more people are coming to realize, and maybe more importantly are coming to accept, that animals feel pain in much the same way that we do. Thus we can quite safely assume that things causing us to experience pain will also cause pain in an animal. When we become veterinarians we swear to adhere to an oath which includes “the relief of animal suffering”, a clear edict to include pain management in our practice.                     

Pain has its benefits. After all without pain we wouldn’t know to take our hand out of a fire. However, when pain becomes too great or when it goes on for too long, it actually becomes detrimental and has been shown to slow healing and cause problems in other organ systems. Not to mention diminishing quality of life.

However, how do we recognize pain? Animals tend to hide their pain. Research has shown that this stoic nature is more common when animals are in front of others. So with them being such great dissimulators, the assumption that their pain would be the same as mine in a similar situation is made more complicated. Even on a human level, a medical doctor would quickly dissipate this train of thought since they will point out that pain in people is a very individual experience, with human pain thresholds varying greatly. In my experience this individual nature of pain also translates to the Pet world. Since we know they feel pain and that pain varies by individual, how can we pick the best pain management for each of our patients?

Some pain is easy to anticipate. Pain caused by surgery, dental extractions or trauma (such as that following an accident). However, other pain is more covert, especially chronic pain and pain experienced by older Pets with osteoarthritis or a “toothache”. It is in cases such as these that the Pet parent plays a key role in not only helping detect their Pet’s pain, but also in assisting the veterinarian in treating and assessing the appropriate level of pain management required. No one knows their Pet better than you. Your bond with your Pet and your knowledge of their daily routine gives you the best tools with which to evaluate your Pet’s pain or lack thereof. Subtle changes, such as hiding, slowing down, reluctance to eat or reluctance to eat certain foods, decreased levels of play or changes in temperament can indicate your Pet being in pain. More obvious clues could include constantly licking of a certain body part, such as a paw, stiff gait or vocalizing. All of these clues should prompt you to seek veterinary assistance so that, as a team, you and your veterinarian can find the cause of your pet’s pain, and start treatment.

Treatment for pain if often multi-modal, encompassing a number of different tools at our disposal. Medical management, using pills or liquids, is often warranted but the ideal pain management system, especially for chronic pain like osteoarthritis, should include other pain control modalities. Other things your veterinarian may consider include: weight management, diet and diet supplements, moderate exercise, massage, acupuncture and muscle or bone manipulation. This multi-modal approach will ensure that the optimal pain control is achieved with the smallest amount of damage to other systems in your Pet’s body. Once a plan of action has been tailored to your Pet, make sure you discuss any potential changes with your veterinarian. For example, do not change the dosing of your Pet’s medication without checking with the veterinarian, as these changes could be harmful to your Pet. Also make sure that you never give any human pain medication to a Pet without your veterinarian’s approval, since common human pain control is often poisonous to Pets.

Remember, our Pets have become experts at minimizing the outward appearance of pain. However, by paying close attention to them, we can uncover their secrets and by treating that pain, we can once again enjoy their “joie de vivre”.

If you are like many, one of things on the list that may be due or overdue is a trip to the veterinarian for a tip-of-the-nose to tip-of-the-tail checkup. This is no different than the yearly physical examination recommendation made to you by your own physician. The purpose of regularly scheduled physical exams, even in the face of looking good and feeling well, is to make sure no evidence of hidden or early disease is lurking. Because Pet’s bodies and internal systems age six to ten times as quickly as our own, Pets need comprehensive physical examinations on a twice yearly basis. The focus of veterinary medicine has shifted from crisis care and management to preventive care. Preventing disease, early detection and treatment are less stressful, less expensive and have much better outcomes then waiting until a disease gets bad enough that few or potentially no options exist. Even though veterinarians have a wide array of specialized and advanced diagnostics test capabilities, the most important one is a thorough hands-on physical examination, some basic testing, depending on breed, age and environment, along with a good history and discussion of any changes that have occurred since the Pet’s last physical exam.

Our Pets are our best friends, part of our family and those who love us unconditionally no matter what.

We want them healthy, happy and with us for as long as possible. Remember that although our dogs and cats are domesticated they still maintain some vestiges of their wild ancestors. In the wild, to show illness or weakness was, in most cases, a death sentence. So not surprisingly Pets, especially cats, tend to hide illness, especially chronic diseases like oral kidney and even heart disease. Even small changes in appetite, body weight, water consumption or mobility, may go unnoticed. Veterinarians know the right questions to ask and how to go about checking for subtle changes that may have significant impact on quality and length of life.

No different than for people, regular preventive care which changes as we age, is the foundation for a long and healthy life. Your Pet(s) depend on the team of you and your veterinarian to provide a long healthy and happy life. It seems little to ask for the amount of joy, love and well-being they give us in return.

Spring is here! and It’s time to call your veterinarian and schedule a comprehensive examination. Time passes by quickly. Don’t wait!!! You Pet will thank you for it.