Treats! Treats! (The Wonderful Fruit.)

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

As many of you have learned, I am not a big pet treat fan for several reasons, but I do understand that many of you are.

 

You may remember the discussions about Chicken Jerky treats causing real problems up to death in thousands of dogs since 2006. The problems occurred most often in treats that, though from American companies, were actually produced in China. To this day, we do not know the entire problem with the treats.

 

A recent report indicated that the problem with chicken jerky treats for dogs has reduced dramatically, though there still are cases. Not all the cases were from Chinese product, and, again, we never totally discovered the cause of the problem.

 

So, I recommend that you never feed chicken jerky treats to your canine friends in any case.

 

If you are a real pet treater, and feel you must treat…

 

– Use a product, preferably one made in the US that is known to be safe.

– Do not feed large quantities of treats, as they are often rich and cause upset stomach and sometimes diarrhea.

– Avoid “tipping,” meaning giving your dog a treat every time he does what he is supposed to anyway.

– Use lots of attention and petting and talking to in lieu of large amounts of treats, and your dog will be happier and lighter.

 

So, there you have it. My take on treats….

 

See? Something CAN be done about preventing pet illness.

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Here I Come…. Rock Me Like A Hurricane

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

We recently observed the 10-year anniversary of Rita, the “forgotten” hurricane.

In the past, I had rather smugly concluded that our area responded to Rita in a far superior way to New Orleans’s response to Katrina, which occurred just a few weeks prior.

And I suppose that is true. But the idea that Calcasieu people were just hardier and more self-sufficient than those from New Orleans may need re-thinking.

I believe that we responded better to Rita because we were PREPARED and ready after watching what had occurred in New Orleans.

Katrina in New Orleans made us all at least consider what we would do “if,” and we were better for it.

So, what is my point?

It is this: Make some sort of plan for disaster. Whether it be a hurricane, fire, or flood remember your pets. Have a “go kit” for your pets that may include proof of vaccination, possibly a small supply of food and water, medicine if appropriate, carriers for evacuation, etc. … etc.

You get the idea.

ANY plan, no matter how simple and unsophisticated, is far superior to nothing.

So … right now! Create your pet emergency plan. (And maybe a human one too!)

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

WHAT’S THE BEST PET??? SURVEY SAYS!!!!!? …

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,
I often am asked what is the very best possible pet. (This is similar to being asked what is the best car, best spouse ,the best whatever). There is only ONE correct answer. It DEPENDS.
It really depends on what your needs are. And it also depends on what your WANTS are.
I so often see people with pets (and with cars and with other things) that I believe are impractical and may not make sense for them. But they have the pet and are happy, so why should I criticize ?
When you are getting a pet, it is very smart to get one that suits your lifestyle as well as your wants. For example, having a Great Dane and a Mastiff inside a small apartment when your work schedule involves 18 hour shifts would not make sense. Maybe a cat or smaller dog with a pet sitter would.
Some people get a breed to achieve a certain “look.” The avid young sportsman may feel that a Labrador helps with the right look, and it may be the right pet. But the young sportsman should be aware that Labradors (great breed) are energetic, need lots of exercise, and can be a handful if they are not well-trained.
Many people just love the English Bulldog breed and want to have one as a family pet. Yes, Bulldogs are wonderful, friendly, goofy pets that will make you laugh out loud. But they are also fragile animals that are cursed with many health problems. The potential owner should be prepared for all of this and for sometimes costly medical bills.
When the Chinese Shar-Pei first became popular in the 1980’s everybody wanted one of those “hairless, wrinkled, dogs. ” But the breed at first had severe medical problems and sometimes personality problems, making them a difficult pet. Good to know ahead of time.

So, what am I saying?

1- Make sure that you are able to physically house the type of pet that you are interested in. (Pretty basic)

2- Make sure that you are aware of the possible medical problems this type pet may get. Can you deal with the expense and the heartache that sometimes occurs?

3- Make sure how getting a certain breed will affect your homeowners insurance. Many breeds that are considered aggressive will cause a large increase in premiums or in some cases cancellation of your insurance. (I am not addressing whether these dogs in fact really deserve this; rather just what does happen.)

4- Be sure that you are able to spend time with your pet. This is more important than anything else. When you spend the needed amount of time, your pet can become a dream. And when you cannot, it may be a nightmare.

5- Consider the cost of medical care, high quality food, heartworm prevention, etc. which are in addition to the purchase price, if any. Does it fit your budget?

In my career, I have seen many people who could scrounge together $2000 to $3000 to purchase a fancy pet, but then they became frustrated because they could not afford the ongoing maintenance of such a pet. Consider adopting from the shelter, where, for a pretty low price, your new pet is updated on preventive care and not very costly. Now your $2000 can go a pretty long way towards pet maintenance.

Whatever happens, and whatever pet you choose, consult your DVM. For preliminary advice and for medical matters. And if these medical matters occur after hours, call Pet Emergency Clinic at 337-562-0400.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

When Dogs Get a “Football” Injury

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers, 

How do dogs get “football” injuries? They really don’t, but they can get an injury that happens to many human football players, a damaged ACL.

ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Anterior- forward in the knee, Cruciate- crossed- a ligament that crosses another in the knee, Ligament- a firm fibrous structure that attaches bones usually)

So the Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a very important ligament within the knee that is prone to injury in football players and in fat, large breed dogs, usually.

When your pet injures his ACL, you will usually see a sudden onset of holding up the rear leg that is affected. The triggering activity may or not have been strenuous. If the ligament is torn, surgery is often required to repair it.

In football players, this is usually a healthy ligament that gets overstressed and injured. In dogs, it is usually a degeneration of the ligament, making it weak and prone to fail in normal activities. 

We diagnose an ACL injury by finding a “drawer sign, ” in which the bottom part of the knee slides out like a drawer. (usually the DVM will need a sedated exam, along with X rays to rule out other things)

How to prevent?
In some cases, it will happen no matter what you do. But one important prevention is to not let your dog get overweight. Even if he has the weakened ligament, it may not fail if it does not have excessive strain put on it. 

Moderate exercise every day is one of the best things you can do for your dog, and for yourself, I suppose.

What to do if your pet suddenly becomes lame on a rear leg?
Get the pet seen right away. It is important to determine what the cause is. Things that look like an ACL include fractures, dislocations, and other orthopedic conditions. It is possible that your dog has a condition in which time is a huge factor, so get it seen right away. 

If you see a sudden lameness in your dog,  call your DVM. And if after hours, call PetER. 337-562-0400.

You CAN do something about pet illness.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic