Whipworms are nasty parasites that can that can live in a dog’s large intestine and feed on his blood. Some dogs with whipworm show no symptoms at all but many have diaherrea and lose weight. In severe cases, the they may develop anemia. Because infected whipworm eggs are passed in an infected animal’s feces, they can contaminate water and soil. Healthy dogs then contract whipworm by ingesting the eggs. To prevent problems, keep your yard free of droppings and bring a fecal sample in when you take your dog for is routine examination. Your veterinarian will perform a fecal test to check for whipworm. He will prescribe a pet medication like a canine de-wormer if the test is positive.

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I recently took my older cat Molly to the vet for her annual checkup. I did notice slight weight loss before I took her. I wasn’t really concerned. After her examination, the vet said that the blood test for her thyroid  showed her  thyroid to be slightly overactive. She lost about one and a half pounds since her last visit which was two years ago. I have to take her back to be re-weighed in July. They’ll do another blood test for her thyroid and if she loses more weight and the test still shows a high reading, she will go on medication to slow the thyroid down.

Weight loss in cats could be caused by many things and should never be ignored.

Like owner, like pussy. I also have an overactive thyroid and my doctor said that my latest blood test showed a slightly high reading. I also have to go back to my own doctor in July for another blood test. Molly and I a alike…..in many ways!

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You’re about to leave on a much needed vacation. You are taking your dog along with you because you can’t think of leaving him in a strange kennel all by himself for a week or longer. You put him in his crate, fill his dog bowl with cool water and put him in the back of your SUV. When it comes to car travel, special precautions should be taken. Dogs do not do well in hot weather. You must be concerned with dehydration and stroke. I see this all the time – dogs in a car at a rest stop on a hot day with the windows basically closed. Last year, while coming back from my weekend place in Delaware, I stopped at a rest stop on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. In the car parked right next to me was a poor dog, crying. The windows were closed, it was a hot day and the owners were nowhere to be found. My heart was breaking for this poor animal. What were his selfish or stupid owners thinking?? After about ten minutes, I went back inside the rest stop and had the owners paged. I waited there until they came out. I could see that the dog was panting in the terrific heat. They seemed concerned but it could have been too late. That dog could have died. I stress – NEVER not for one second leave your dog in the car in the hot summer!!!!! That couple could have taken turns going into the rest stop. One could have stayed with the dog in the car with the air conditioner on.

Typically, owners may think it is ok to leave a dog in a parked car for a few seconds with the window slightly cracked open. They may not be aware that the car will become an oven! Temperatures will reach 120 degrees or higher in a few minutes. Bring lots of water and offer it to your dog at regular intervals. Dogs get distracted during trips and will forget to drink.

I would recommend to make sure that your car is air conditioned. Keep it running at all times while your are traveling with your dog. If possible, take along another person on the trip so that when you stop, have the other person sit with the dog in the car with the air conditioner on. Take turns going into the rest stop. This way your furry friend is cool and will not be frightened by being left alone. If it’s impossible to take someone else along, get the car real cool before you stop. Make sure that you park in the shade. If there is no shade, move on to another rest stop until you find shade! Crank the windows open and make your stop real quick. I mean no more than 3 minutes!!

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Most pet owners would agree that cats and dogs require entirely different levels of human commitment. For one thing, dogs require much more attention than cats, and they need to be outdoors to get a regular dose of exercise. It’s unfortunate, then, that a busy owner’s work schedule can come into conflict with these doggie demands. The typical dog can grow bored while sitting in solitary indoor confinement.

On the other hand, the outside world presents dogs with plenty of unique sights and smells. By setting up a dog exercise pen in the backyard you can ensure that your four-legged friend gets plenty of stimulation. Just be sure to stock the pen with plenty of food and water. When you get home, your dog will be slightly less hyper and more willing to practice some patience before insisting on going for a walk.

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One of the more common problems that present at the animal hospital is a bloody stool. Don’t take this lightly. Anytime you see blood in your pets stool, it’s time to take him to the vet right away for an evaluation. Bloody stools can range from a serious illness to gastrointestinal parasites,colonic irritation, irritable bowel syndrome to cancer. An important thing to remember is you must determine if your pet is passing digested blood or frank blood. Digested blood occurs in the upper gastrointestinal tract and it is a black tar color when it’s passed. This is called Melena. Frank blood is a bright red and indicates bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. In general melena is more serious than frank blood. In either situation a veterinarian must evaluate the seriousness of the situation.

A frequent condition often seen in smaller dogs is hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, or HGE. This is when dogs a voluminous amounts of bloody stools usually along with vomiting. This stool is characterized as frank blood. HGE can be life threatening and often requires the pet to be admitted to the hospital.

Any blood seen in your pets stool must be analyzed by your vet.

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It’s May and the plants and flowers are beginning to bloom in the garden. This is a good time to examine your yard for pet hazards. We may not realize it, but we plant flowers that are poisonous to our pets. Here’s a list compiled by the Blue Buffalo Dog Food company.

• Sago Palm – It has leaves and seeds that can be deadly to pets.
• Oleander – This outdoor shrub has leaves and flowers that can be extremely toxic and even deadly if ingested by dogs and cats.
• Azalea/Rhododendron– If your dog eats just a few of the leaves, he will vomit and have diarrhea and excessive drooling.
• Tulips – The bulbs of these plants are highly toxic to pets, more so than the leaves and flowers. The bulbs are the perfect target for dogs who like to dig.
• Crocus – If consumed, they can cause gastrointestinal problems.
• Cyclamen – The roots of this plant can be deadly if ingested by pets.
• Daffodils – The outer layer of it’s bulbs have crystals that can irritate a pets mouth. Eating the stems and roots can also be toxic.

Being that May is national pet month, lets all do our best to keep our pets safe.

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Molly the best pet I ever had……..and she’s a black cat!!

According to a UC Berkeley study, black cats are unfairly stereotyped and far less likely than their fair-haired, blue-eyed cousins to be adopted at animal shelters. Siamese and orange cats usually get adopted within a day or two while black cats can wait months to get adopted. That’s if they get adopted at all. Many of them wind up being euthanized. Why? I’ll tell you because people have stupid superstitions. They think a black cat will bring bad luck or that may have a bad temperament. This is all untrue and ridiculous.

I’ve had my cat Molly for almost sixteen years and I’ll tell you. She has been the best pet I’ve ever had. She is loyal and loving. She keeps me calm and happy and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. So get rid of your ridiculous superstitions and face reality. Black cats are kind, loving creatures. Get off your butt and adopt a black cat today!!

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