The Little Book For Pets A Practical Guide for All Pet Owners
Table of Contents
Microchipping
1
Leashes + Collars
2
Common Health Problems
3
Heartworm Prevention
5
Deworming Options
6
Toxic Foods and Unsafe Toys
7
Spaying and Neutering
8
Microchips Microchips are the only true permanent method of pet identification Microchipping offers the best chance of your pet returning to you after going missing. The procedure is quick and similar to vaccination. Microchips lasts the lifetime of your pet and are very inexpensive to register for service. Contact your veterinarian today if interested or order them online to administer yourself.
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Gentle leaders are an effective head control. This device almost instantly eliminates pulling.
Be cautious of elastic collars. They can become caught in the pet’s mouth.
This harness changes to point of pressure caused from the lead.
Always use break away collars on cats. Shown above, this collar with snap open under pressure.
When used correctly, pinch collars can potentially eliminate pulling.
Soft, meshes like the above can be used safely on cats and small dogs.
Leashes and Collars
There are various methods of control for your pet. Always use the most gentle devices first, and then move up in levels of severity based on your pet’s bevaior. Any training device can be abused when use correctly, such as choke chains and pronged collars. Remember, training shouldn’t hurt! When used correctly, devices are effective and safe. Education is the key to picking out a training device–use the tools you know the most about. Pets should always have an up to date rabies tag and an ID tag with current contact information on their collar.
Electric collars can be precise training tool when used correctly.
2
Common Health Problems in Cats & Dogs Canine
CANINE DISTEMPER: Highly contagious + resistant disease with no known cure. Can survive for in the environment for long periods, also resistant to cold. Distemper is airborne + can be inhaled, transmitted by direct contact, or by contact with contaminated items (toys, objects, ect.) Possibly transmitted by fleas. Symptoms include but are not limited to: coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, nasal + ocular discharge, anorexia, hyperkeratosis of the nasal planum + foot pads. Central nervous system (CNS) signs may follow above clinical signs (MA Dep. of Natural Resources, MDNP). BORDETELLA: (also known as Kennel Cough), Highly infectious Tracheobronchitis. Symptoms: mild coughing to severe coughing spells (which may lead to vomiting + gagging), nasal discharge, ocular discharge, lethargy, lack of appetite. Treatment: Antibiotics, fluid therapy if necessary. A bland, nutritious to encourage eating.
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PARVO VIRUS: Highly contagious + highly resistant virus that is transmitted through contact with feces. Virus is most common in puppies + rarely seen in adults. Symptoms: no signs or mild signs of lethargy + appetite loss in early stages, varying degrees of vomiting, foul smelling diarrhea that can be very bloody, loss of appetite, fever, weakness, depression + dehydration or possible death. No known cure. Treated with IV or SQ fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics, + other supportive care. Prognosis is poor with untreated pets (ASPCA).
Feline FELINE DISTEMPER: See also: canine distemper. Symptoms: usually begins suddenly with a high fever. Some animals may die pre-acutely at this stage with a minimum of gross lesions. More commonly, the high fever is followed by depression, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, + a profound leukopenia (MDNP).
IDIOPATHIC FELINE LOWER URINARY TRACT DISEASE (IFLUTD): general term for disorders characterized by blood in the urine, difficult or painful urination, abnormal, frequent passage of urine, urinating in inappropriate locations (ie., bath tub), + partial or complete blockage of the urethra. Treatment: if the urethra is not blocked, at home care may be prescribed: oral medications, dietary changes, + pain medications. A blocked urethra requires hospitalization (Hills Pets). FELINE IMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV): Feline AIDS. No known cure. Supportive care is given to prolong life of cat. Symptoms: weight loss, poor coat condition, anemia, gastroenteritis, gingivitis & stomatitis, diarrhea, chronic or recurrent infections, cancer (CatWorld). UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE: (a.k.a. Cat flu), a general term used to describe common set of symptoms of the upper respiratory tract. Cat flu is caused several pathogens: Feline herpes virus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Feline Reovirus, Bordetella Bronchiseptica & Feline Chlamydophila. Symptotms: sneezing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, mouth ulcers, eye ulcers, fever, loss of appetite. Treatment: antibiotics, lysine supplement, high quality diet, fluid therapy if necessary, ocular antibiotics and ointment (Cat World).
Common Health Problems for Multi-Species RABIES: Zoonotic. Rabies virus infects the CNS, causing disease in the brain + death. The virus is divided into 3 stages: prodromal, furious (or excitative) + paralytic. Prodromal: fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, changes in behavior, tone of bark change, + chewing at the bite site. Furious: extremely mean + aggressive, totally uncontrollable, break it own teeth by biting objects, constant growling, biting, dilated pupils, restless, disorientation, seizures. Paralytic: choking, dropping of the lower jaw, unable to swallow any food, foaming at the mouth, paralysis of jaw, throat and chewing muscles. After paralytic stage: Coma + death (CDC). LEPTOSPIROSIS: Zoonotic. Bacterial disease common in adult dogs. Transmitted through contaminated water + contact with infected urine. Symptoms: fever, joint or muscle pain (may manifest as reluctance to move), decreased appetite, weakness, vomiting,
diarrhea, discharge from nose/eyes, frequent urination (may be followed by lack of urination), jaundice. Treated with antibiotics, IV fluids, anti-emetics. Treatment not always successful when organ failure is present (VetMedicine.com). ALLERGIC DERMATITIS: Allergic response to environmental or food allergens. Less common allergens: drug reactions, hormonal allergies, bacterial allergies, allergies to parasites. Symptoms: scratching, licking or biting the skin, feet or ears, redness of skin, bumps, crusts or pus filled vesicles, hives, skin pigmentation, thickened skin, hair loss, salivary staining, head shaking. Chronic ear infections + secondary bacterial infections can occur. Treatment: avoidance of allergen if possible, medicated shampoos, topical anti-inflammatory, antihistamines, fatty acid supplements, antibiotics to treat secondary infections (Hills Pets).
Symptoms: intense scratching, hair loss, reddened skin, body sores + scabs. Commonly affected areas: ears, elbows, face, legs, or entire body. Secondary infections common. Treatment: antiparasitic medications, medication to ease itching, inflammation + secondary skin infections. Demodectic mange: caused by excessive amount of naturally occurring mites in skin. Symptoms: hair loss, bald spots, scabbing + sores. Lesions can be generalized or localized. Secondary bacterial infections often occur. Treatment: anti-parasitic medications + medication to treat secondary skin infection if necessary. * Other zoonotic risk include: fungal infections (ringworm), bacterial (cat scratch fever or MRSA, parasitic infections (fleas, ticks (lyme disease)), hookworms, round worms, protozoal infections: cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, + toxoplasmosis, + viral infections such as influenza.
MANGE: Sarcoptic mange: zoonotic, a.k.a. “scabies;� demodectic mange, a.k.a. demodex. Sarcoptic mange: caused by microscopic mites that are easily transferred from host to host.
4
Heartworm Disease by Region
Heartworm disease and Prevention Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of several mammal species. Heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. While treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is possible, it is a complicated and expensive process, taking weeks for infected animals to recover. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken for cats.
5
Deworming Options for Dogs
Ingredients Pyrantel Pamoate
Roundworms Hookworms Tapeworms Whipworms Heartworms Yes
Yes
Praziquantel
Yes
Fenbendazole
Yes
Yes
Yes
Ivermectin
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mibemycin Oxime
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Selamectin
Yes
Yes
Yes
Imidacloprid Moxidectin
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
*Contact your veterinarian for dosage instructions. Amounts may vary by weight.
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Toxic & Unsafe Foods for Pets M
ost ingredients meant for human consumption are unhealthy and even deadly to pets. The foods listed are TOXIC to animals with often fatal results. While some foods may not be listed, many ingredients can cause severe health problems in animals such as pancreatitis, mild to severe colitis, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity, joint problems and an enlarged heart or heart failure. Alcohol
Grapes
Bones
Avocado
Raisins
Xylitol
Chocolate
Yeast
Onions
Coffee
Dough
Garlic
Caffeine
Raw Meat
Chives
Nuts
Eggs
Milk
Safe Toys
Unsafe Toys
• Stuffing free chew toys
• Chicken bones or items that splinter, including sticks
• Kong, Nylabone, or other hard plastic products that can not be broken down by chewing • Greenie Dental Chews or any other enzymatic Dental Chew
• Long pieces of string, rope or clothing
• Large, dog specific toy ropes
• Toys that easily break down and can be swallowed
• Toys that encourage mental stimulation (such as slow feeding toys with hidden treats) 7
• Anything small that may cause choking or an abdominal obstruction
• Items with stuffing • Squeaking devices inside toys if accessed
Why you should Spay and Neuter Your Pet
Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra and breast cancer. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50% of female dogs and in 90% of female cats. A spayed female equals no heat cycles. There are major health benefits for males, too. Neutering your male dog or cat helps prevent cancer if done before sexual maturity. Your male pet won’t run away from home...an intact male in search of a mate will do just about anything to get one! Once he’s free to roam, he risks getting hit by a car and fights with other males. Spaying and neutering is also highly cost effective. The cost of your pet’s spay or neuter is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch against overpopulation. Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unwanted, unplanned litter’s that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.
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Emergency References for your Pet: Poison Control Pet Hotline: 1 - (800) - 213 - 6680
Tollfree Legal Support: 1 - (800) - 555 - 6517
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 1 - (888) - 478 - 7574
National Pet Recovery: 1 - (800) - 984 - 8638
Emergency Disaster Hotline: Spay Help Line: 1 - (800) - 227 - 4645 1 - (800) - 248 - SPAY
Pictured: “Skunky,” as he is affectionately called by his people, was adopted from his local Humane Society and rescued from imminent death. Thousands of animals die each year because no one came to claim them. ADOPT, DON’T shop! Contact your local shelter today!