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

Take This!!!! (You Dirty Rat.)

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

Rat poisons have for many years been relatively easy for DVM’s to deal with, since they cause bleeding, and they take about two days to cause symptoms. They have a good antidote and are almost always curable if we have any ideas that are present. What’s not to like?

 

In the past few years, the bleeding type rat baits (warfarin or coumadin types) are being replaced by products that affect the animal much more quickly with much more severe symptoms, including sudden death. There are some reasons given why this is occurring, but I do not really understand them.

 

So, a few words to consider:

1- Be extremely careful with any rat poison, but especially with newer ones that are not “warfarin” type or “coumadin” type. If your pet ingests much of the newer type, he will be at severe risk of death.

2- If your pet ingests rat poison, or ANY poison for that matter, call the ER or your DVM NOW with the active ingredients. In many cases, vomiting is important and vomiting within an hour of ingestion may save a life. So have your container with label out when you call, and bring it with you to us.

3- An Animal Poison Control, which is current on all animal poisons, is available to us for a fee. Be prepared to allow us to use it if we need it.

 

As I always advocate, use good basic common sense in these situations, and you will often save the day.

 

 

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

Peanut Butter Poisoning?

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

You may have seen in the news that some peanut butters may be toxic to dogs because they contain the sweetener Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is fine for people and is most often found in sugar-free gums.

But, in dogs, the product radically lowers the blood sugar to a point that could even be fatal. (This would be similar to a diabetic having an overdose of insulin) Do understand that the severity of the problem is usually related to just how much your dog got. That is, a tiny amount may be zero problems but a large amount may be a big problem.

So, if, like many pet owners, you give your pet pills in peanut butter, avoid any that are sweetened with Xylitol.

Some brands that use xylitol include: “Go Nuts,” “Hank’s Protein Plus Peanut Butter,” “Krush Nutrition,” “Nuts n More,” and “P28.”

There are several other names used for xylitol that include anhydroxylitol, birch bark extract, xylite, xylitylglucoside, and zylatol.

We have seen xylitol poisonings at the ER related to ingesting sugar-free gums, but so far no peanut butter problems.

As always, preventing problems with superior knowledge and planning trumps treating problems every time!

And finally,” Choosy Mothers Choose Non-xylitol-sweetened Peanut Butters.” So true!

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

Splish Splash

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers, 

Since summer has mostly arrived and we are all looking for ways to cool off, decided that a summary of common sense “pet pool rules” may be helpful to you. (This summary paraphrased from the latest issue of “Dogster” magazine.

1) Teach your dog to enter and exit the pool. Dogs have drowned when unable to figure this simple thing out. 
2) Swimming dogs need a lifeguard- you!
3) Be especially careful about the very short-legged breeds such as dachshunds and bulldogs at the swim. Be sure your dog can physically do it. 
4) Use a doggie lifevest, no matter how well your dog can apparently swim.
5) Be aware of sunburn, especially with white breeds. Use a sunscreen rated for dogs if needed. 
6) Stop the water session before your dog becomes overtired. 
7) Take a pet first aid class for the best safety. 
So, there you have it. Common sense rules for pet safety around swimming pools from Dogster magazine.

If your pet has a medical problem, 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