Sick Dog or Cat? Steps For At Home Veterinary Care

By Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

If your pet is sick, there are several reasons why you should care for him at home. If your dog or cat is in serious distress, or has not eaten or consumed water in 24 hours, then you should first have a veterinary exam. But if you are unable to afford a veterinary exam, or you are more willing to be involved in your dog or cats care, then consider the following suggestions.

Why care for your dog or cat at home? Your home is comfortable for your pet, and free of the stress and anxiety of being in a veterinary clinic. Barking dogs, strange people, and unusual smells are not conducive to healing.

At times you can provide superior nursing care to what is offered in veterinary clinics. They are busy places, and your veterinarian can only spend so much time with your pet. You can offer a range of treatments not usually available at a veterinarian. You can give natural and alternate forms of treatment. You will often save money - in some cases, this can mean hundreds of dollars. And perhaps most importantly, you can avoid the serious side effects of many of the traditional medications.You and your pet both win. You will heal your pet at home, and in doing so you will greatly increase the bond you have with your pet. This deeper emotional connection will make your life more enjoyable and help keep your pet healthy.

Nursing Care
 Comfortable Bedding
Every sick pet needs to be comfortable. Ensure that big dogs have lots of padding, especially if they have difficulty moving.

Quiet environment, but not Too quiet
All sick pets need a quiet area. Place their bed out of the main traffic area, but not so far away that they are isolated. They need regular contact.

Keep the area clean
Your pet may have difficulty getting up and going to the bathroom, and may soil himself. Change the blankets or towels frequently.

Eating
Eating problems
Most sick pets will not eat for 24 hours, and that should not be a concern. If your pet has still not eaten after 24 hours, that is a serious cause for concern - especially in cats.
There are many simple things that you can do to stimulate your pet's appetite.

Hand feeding
The simple act of feeding with your hand - this will often work.

Warm up the food
When the food is warmer, it is more appetizing, and it is easier for your dog or cat to smell it. If it smells good, they will often eat.

Pet your pet
The simple act of stroking your pet will stimulate positive feelings in your pet and often cause them to begin eating.

If your pet has gone more than 48 hours without eating, he may need force feeding, and you have a few options. You can pick up high calorie liquid nutrition such as 'Hills Prescription Diet a/d' or 'Eukanuba Maximum-Calorie'. You can also make your own high calorie food. I have included an example of a diet below.

Home Pet Nutrition Booster
1/2 cup cooked turkey or chicken
1/4 cup of whole milk
1/4 cup of rice
400 mg calcium
1 One-A-Day Multivitamin
1 tbsp flax oil
Mix this well in a blender or food processor.
Feed 1/2 to 1 cup per day to small pets, and increase proportionally. In some cases, you will have to syringe feed - give frequent, small amounts.

Drinking / Dehydration
It is of utmost importance for your pet not to become dehydrated.

The Skin
The first test for dehydration is 'tenting' the skin. Pinch the skin between your pet's shoulder blades and see how quickly it springs back. It should go back in less than 5 seconds. If the skin tent is prolonged, then your pet is dehydrated.

The Eyes
Your pet's eyes will be sunken into their head. Specifically, the eyes recede into the eye socket. It is often seen with dehydrated cats.

Capillary Refill
Your pet's gums are the best indicator of dehydration. Lift your pet's lips to expose the gums (pink tissue above the teeth). Place your index finger on the gums and press your finger flat to the gum. This temporarily squeezes blood in that spot out of the small blood vessels (capillaries). When you lift your finger, the blood should return in less than 2 seconds. This response will be delayed in a dehydrated pet.

Gum moisture
The gums often feel dry and tacky in a dehydrated pet. When you pull your index finger away from the gums, it should feel wet, and easily slide away. In a dehydrated pet, your finger will stick to the gums.

Possible solutions
Ice Cubes
Some dogs will readily lick ice cubes when they are dehydrated, even if they are reluctant to drink water. Float the ice in their water bowl.

Rehydration with a Syringe
Pets that are more severely dehydrated will benefit from additional electrolytes. 'Pedialyte' is an oral electrolyte re-hydration supplement for children. A needle-less syringe or a turkey baster works well. Insert the tip into the center of your pet's mouth. Tilt his head back, hold his mouth closed and squirt in the fluid.

A safe rule of thumb is to give 30 ml (2 tablespoons) per 10 lbs of weight every hour.

Bathing and Cleaning
Bathing
You do not want to subject a very ill pet to unnecessary baths, but when they become fouled with vomit or diarrhea, they will feel much better after a bath.
I would advise using a mild oatmeal-based shampoo, drying well with a towel to ensure that he does not get cold, and a blow dryer.

Cleaning
Many diseases will cause discharge from the various body openings:

The Nose
Keep the nose clear of plugs or secretions. Compress the end of the nose with a warm cloth to loosen up the secretions before you try and wipe them. It helps to keep the secretions off by covering the end of the nose with Vaseline.

The Eyes
Crusts and secretions often form in the corner of the eyes. Apply a warm cloth compress to loosen the secretions and make it easier to remove. Often this is secondary to eye infections, and you may find the best result using infusions of 'Eyebright'. This is discussed in detail under the section on Eye Infections.

The Ears
They are often infected in dogs, less commonly in cats. The easiest way to keep debris from building up is to clean the ears once weekly - one way is a homemade vinegar solution. Instill it directly into the ear canal, massage the base of the ear to allow the solution to work its way in, then wipe the excess out with a cotton ball.

Gently pull the ear flap over the head and drop the vinegar solution into the lowest opening of the ear canal. Gently massage the ear area to help work the solution deeper into the ear canal. If there is enough medication in the ear, you will just begin to hear a 'squishing' noise as you massage.
If the ears are very inflamed, then it's best to apply a soothing topical lotion first. Calendula and Aloe Vera are both effective in decreasing the inflammation.

Having a sick dog or cat is especially concerning, and if you are at all concerned I always urge you to first have a veterinary exam. If you lack the funds to see your veterinarian though, there are a number of things that you can do at home for your pet. You can provide nutrition in the way of force feeding and you can syringe in water to stave off dehydration. You can keep your pet comfortable with proper bathing and cleaning, ultimately helping them heal at home.

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Holidays From Our Pets' Perspective: Insights For Keeping This Time Enjoyable For Everyone

By Corinna M Murray, DVM, CPC

The holidays are upon us, and as we all know, they can be hectic and add stress to our days and home lives. Our pets are highly sensitive to this and often react to this activity in undesirable ways. Considering the experience from your pet's perspective can be very helpful for everyone because OUR PETS ARE EXCELLENT MIRRORS TO OUR BEHAVIORS, MOODS AND STATES OF MIND. This is especially true when they are in new or potentially stressful situations with their owners. The key to understanding their reality and then, subsequently their behavior, is that animals live and experience life in the present moment. They react to whatever is happening NOW. Their perceptions are not cluttered with distracting thoughts; although they may experience distracting illness or pain, their thoughts are in the present moment, every moment. Our pets notice and respond to subtle, as well as, dramatic cues in their surroundings. They use all of their senses and perceive many sounds, smells and visual signals that we either over look or are incapable of sensing. Our domesticated pets, especially dogs, have evolved alongside man for thousands of years and their survival has depended on this connection to us. It has shaped their traits and characteristics, but most importantly, it has shaped their ability to "read" people, our nonverbal cues in particular. As an example, have you ever noticed that when you get excited, or upset, about a sports game or a show on TV, that they get excited too, or nuzzle you with concern if you are upset? On the other hand, have you noticed when you want your pet to do something that you think will be unpleasant to them, like go in the car to the vet vs. the park, or take medication vs. a treat, that they seem to catch on, to somehow read your mind, your intention? They are reading you, and reflecting back to you what they are understanding/observing/experiencing. Mirrors.

Keep this in mind over the holidays when there can be a lot of activity, as well as guests, in your home. Relax and be yourself. Enjoy the hub-bub, and your company, and trust that your pets will enjoy the experience as well. Peace, Love and Joy are the traditional themes, for the holidays and are powerful emotions to focus on and embrace. By being conscious of your emotions, and actively connecting to the more positive ones (like peace, love and joy), not only will you feel good, but everyone around you will feel the effect of it too... ESPECIALLY your pets.

If you have timid pets, another thing to keep in mind, particularly with dogs, is that they can often become overwhelmed and self-conscious if they become the center of attention from strangers. Having your guests ignore them will help. Dogs typically just wants to be a part of the group and will take your behavior as their cue on how to behave. If you are anxious, they will be too. The more upset you become about their behavior, the more it will feed their anxiety. You will actually be reinforcing their interpretation that there IS a reason to be upset. Your pet may even interpret the situation as a threat to you and escalate their behavior by becoming aggressive in their attempt to protect you or themselves.

The take home message here is: Be the way you would like your pets to be, enjoy the moments as they come, and have FUN.
Happy Holiday!!!!!!!

For more information, questions or suggestions for future articles, contact Corinna Murray cmurray@vetcarenav.com or visit http://www.veterinarycarenavigation.com

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Christmas Safety With Pets

By Mellie Miller

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, many of us are looking forward to Christmas and all the things we enjoy about the holiday season. But this can be a dangerous time for our pets. So as pet owners, let's take a few precautions to make sure our pets have a good holiday as well.

One of the icons of Christmas is the tree, decorated and lovely. For your pet's sake, make sure it is anchored securely. Kitties climbing or dogs burrowing underneath could topple it and hurt a child or your pet. Also, make sure your pets cannot drink the water under the tree, as it may contain substances which will make them ill.

Cats love to play with things that flutter, so tinsel is an exciting toy. One of my cats loved to eat anything which resembled ribbon or string. So to avoid injuries such as an obstructed digestive tract or vomiting, please avoid using tinsel on your tree. Bright shiny ornaments can be quite an attraction for curious pets. Make sure your ornaments are unbreakable, as shards of broken ornaments will cut your pet's paws, or cause severe damage if swallowed.

While live plants are beautiful in the middle of winter, many are poisonous to our animals friends including mistletoe, holly, poinsettias, and many types of lilies. So if you have pets indoors, consider other options for decorations to prevent accidental poisoning. Silk flowers is one good option and they can be used year after year.

If you're like me, you want to share your holiday feast with your pets. But please, give them a feast of their own rather than food from your table, which can be dangerous for our four-footed friends. 

Bones, heavily spiced foods and sweets, especially chocolate, are bad for our furry companions.
Instead, consider buying them special treats or an extra special food for their holiday meal. Save yourself the vet bills and your pet's health by being considerate to them. Many stores now carry Christmas stockings especially for your pet, with pet appropriate toys and treats.

If you are serving alcoholic beverages, keep an eye on them or put your pets in a drinks free area, as alcohol can make them weak, put them in a coma, or cause death due to respiratory failure. They might be attracted to the eggnog in your cup, but please don't share.

Some animals, for whatever reason, love to chew on cords. But when the cord is plugged into the wall outlet, your pet can be killed from the electrical current. Even if your pet survives, he could have burns in his mouth which will need medical attention. Check to make sure your wiring is not accessible to your pets.

Christmastime is great for getting together with family and friends, but the unaccustomed strangers in the house and the higher noise levels can upset our pets. Consider making a 'safe room' for them when you have a houseful of guests. Make them a comfortable place with food, water and a cozy place to sleep. They will be happier in a private place, and guests won't get nipped or scratched by nervous pets.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday this year, for both you and your pets. For more tips on keeping your home pet safe, please visit:

I wish you all a wonderful holiday this year, for both you and your pets. For more tips on keeping your home pet safe, please visit:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/holiday-safety-tips.aspx

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Cat Urine Trivia - 5 Facts About The Odor And 3 Solutions For It

By Debbie Davis

There are over 80 million household cats in the United States alone, so it comes as no surprise that cat urine odor is high on the list of most searched-for terms. If you are struggling with this issue, here are 5 facts that may help understand and ultimately triumph over the odor.

1. It contains ammonia. And breathing these fumes can cause acute flare-ups for those who suffer with allergies and asthma.

2. It has a higher acid content than that of many other animals. This was designed to ward off predators, and for cats that are still allowed outdoors to find food, this is a huge aid in self-defense.

3. It glows under a black light. This happy fact makes it easier to find the offending spot and neutralize it.

4. It contains 95% water.

5. Urine contains the protein Fel D1 like dander and can also cause a skin reaction for those who are sensitive to it.

So now that you know all of these interesting facts, you're probably still wondering how something that is mostly water can literally cause such a stink, and how you can deal with the odor effectively. Here are 3 steps to take to literally clear your air.

Find and Neutralize The Spot---Finding the spot is sometimes the hardest part. What you can't see can hurt you and as you are probably now aware from personal experience, it can smell really bad. Sometimes the stain is evident, and sometimes you feel the wet spot under your feet--Yuk.

If you are having trouble finding it, use your nose particularly if you think it's on the furniture or the bed. You can also use number 3 above and shine the black light.

Neutralizing the spot will mean that your cat will be less likely to come back and repeat the inappropriate behavior, at least in the same place. There are all kinds of products on the market that are designed to remove the odor. One of the most natural is a solution of white vinegar as immediately after the accident has occurred as is possible.

Keep The Litter Box Clean---As discriminating as we might think our noses are cats have an even keener sense of smell. So keeping the litter box absolutely pristine will encourage your feline friend to go where it's supposed to go when it feels the urge.

Filter the Air---Even the best odor remover can sometimes not prevent a faint smell from continuing to occur especially if there is moisture introduced to the air. As cat lovers it is easy for our noses to turn a deaf ear to the smell because we are around it so much. Relatives and friends are less likely to ignore the smell so continually filtering the air is an effective and low maintenance way to keep the air smelling fresh.

An effective cleaner will not only need a carbon filter, but the carbon will need an additive that is specifically designed to remove the ammonia. A motor that allows 24 hours cleaning, as well as various sized filter for the wide range of particles cats can produce is a good idea as well.

Manage your allergies and enjoy your cat more with the Cat Dander Air Purifier from PurerAir.com See it now at http://purerair.com/cat_dander_air_purifier.html

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