PetDocks Veterinary Hospital: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

The 10 best animal videos of 2009 | EW.com

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Reducing Environmental Allergens for Pets

Environmental allergies are an extremely common problem seen in dogs and cats (as well as other animals) in our area. While diagnosis can be difficult, there are some simple things that pet owners can do at home to help reduce their pets’ exposure to certain types of allergens. Some of the more common offending allergens that we see in our area include allergies to house dust mites, storage mites, molds, grasses, pollens, and insect bites. While the following steps may not eliminate or even reduce your pet’s allergic skin symptoms, they are simple and inexpensive steps that can be take prior to more advanced and costlier diagnostic testing or pharmaceutical interventions.

Avoidance is the ideal method of managing allergies. Measures to lessen exposure to pollens include limiting time outdoors, using central air conditioning with HEPA filters, and keeping windows closed. Pets should be bathed or rinsed (especially their paws) when coming inside after outdoor exposure. This should be done for all animals in the household to avoid having nonallergy pets serve as carriers for the allergens.

Exposure to dander can be minimized by keeping pets out of bedrooms and restricting cats to one room of the house. Permethrin and other insect repellants may help to lessen bites by mosquitoes. Molds can be a year-round problem. Molds in pet foods can be minimized by freezing kibble. Owners should be encouraged to use exhaust fans in their bathrooms and kitchens and to wipe down damp surfaces regularly with products that kill molds.

Garbage should be removed from the house daily. Water pans below refrigerators should be cleaned monthly. Pet food and water bowls should be scrubbed weekly. Pets should have limited access to areas with compost, leaves, grass clippings, etc. and should not be allowed to dig in soil. Housedust mites can be minimized by using hypoallergenic coverings on mattresses, pillows, and furniture and washing bedding (human and pet) weekly. HEPA filters can help as well as the use of dehumidifiers (be sure to clean these regularly to prevent mold growth). Chemical control of housedust mites with boric acid or tannic acid containing products is controversial. Freezing of dog food is helpful in curtailing the growth of storage mites.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Max, Bella are 2009's top pet names - Boston.com

Monday, December 28, 2009

H1N1 found at pig farms - Local/State - NewsObserver.com

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Woman's Christmas gift is special cat lost 12 years ago | citizen-times.com | Asheville Citizen-Times

Another example of the importance of microchipping!!

Woman's Christmas gift is special cat lost 12 years ago | citizen-times.com | Asheville Citizen-Times

Spay-neuter clinic puts Perdue to work 121909 - The Augusta Chronicle

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Old dog learns new trick: How to read!

New York dog recognizes written commands.
Nov 24, 2009
By: Liz Nartowicz

Dogs are highly intelligent creatures, but are they capable of becoming literate? New York dog trainer Lyssa Howells thinks so. Her 12-year-old English terrier mix, Willow, recognizes written commands, such as sit up and wave. She even plays dead when Howells silently holds up a flashcard with the word bang written on it. Whether Willow can actually read or has just matched the shape of letters to a command is debatable in the veterinary community. But there’s no argument that after six weeks of practice, Willow’s new trick is impressive.

Howells began teaching Willow how to read after accepting a bet from a friend. With a free trip to Mexico at stake, Howells initially used voice and hand signals when working with Willow—a dog that already knew 250 tricks. Once Willow recognized and followed the written commands without help, she and Howells celebrated in Baja on her friend’s dime.

Click here to see Willow and Howells.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Dognapping on the Rise: How to Keep Your Pets Safe - ABC News

ABC News
Dognapping on the Rise: How to Keep Your Pets Safe
Experts Say Many Pet Owners Are Unknowingly Putting Dogs at Risk
By GARY WYNN and SARAH NETTER

Dec. 22, 2009—

A quick trip inside the post office to mail a package. A dash into the coffee shop for a latte.

Pet owners often don't think twice about leaving their dogs outside while they run a quick errand, but experts say pet thefts are a rising trend and owners need to take more precautions.

"The American Kennel Club has been tracking pet thefts for over two years," Lisa Peterson, director of communications for the American Kennel Club, told "Good Morning America."

"We have seen a dramatic increase in this type of crime. In fact, the FBI National Crime Information Center tracks stolen pets and pet owners don't know that if their dog is stolen and has a microchip that they can file a police report to help them get their pet back."

The number of U.S. pet thefts has risen 30 percent in the past year alone, Peterson said.

"Good Morning America" safety and security expert Bill Stanton said that it's not hard to remove a dog from a car parked with the window open or to untie the animal from outside a cafe.

Gretchen Dirks let Stanton prove how easy it is to steal a dog by leaving her standard poodle Brando in a Colorado store parking lot and walking away.

Within minutes, Stanton was prowling around her car, telling passersby he was thinking of taking the dog and no one batted an eye.

He even asked women walking by if Brando was their dog, telling them, "It's a beautiful dog. It's just ripe for the taking. I'm thinking about taking him."

The women simply continued on their way and Stanton made off with Brando minutes later.

"I feel really bad," one of the women, Christy Loudon, told "Good Morning America.

"If it was a real situation, the dog would be gone, obviously. You need to pay more attention to things around you."

Experts say many owners believe their dogs will be safe for the few minutes they are out of sight, but that's all it takes for a thief to move in.

"I think pet owners need to be informed and aware that when they do tie their dog up outside a coffee shop or if they leave their dog in the car to run a few errands that they are making their pet a potential target for crime," the Kennel Club's Peterson said. "And that is when a number of these pet thefts do occur."

How to Keep Your Pets Safe

Here are a few tips to keep your pets safe:

Don't leave your dog unattended. If you need to run an errand, leave the dog at home or make sure someone you know is keeping an eye on the dog while you are gone.

Don't leave your dog unattended out in the backyard. Dognappers will notice if a pet is outside on his own and take advantage of that.

Have your pet outfitted with a microchip. The chip is inserted between the dog's shoulder blades and can hold the owner's personal information, including address and phone number. If a stolen dog is found, the chip can help authorities determine the owner. Most vets and shelters have equipment to scan a dog for microchips.

Keep your dog on a leash. Off-leash dogs are more likely to wander off and into the hands of a thief.

Consider the AKC's Lost Pet Alert if your pet is stolen or missing. The service works like an Amber Alert for pets and sends out an e-mail notification to veterinarians, shelters and animal control agencies within a 50-mile radius asking them to be on the lookout.

"Many people look at their dogs as priceless or their children," Stanton said. "Treat them as such."

Copyright © 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

Alert: 2009 H1N1 influenza-infected dog in New York

A dog from the Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, New York, has tested positive for the H1N1 virus on the IDEXX H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR™ Test.

A 13-year-old dog had a several-day history of not feeling or eating well, a dry cough and a fever on presentation to its veterinarian. The dog was treated for pneumonia and improved with hospitalization and supportive care. The dog tested positive on the IDEXX H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test. A more detailed case description is available.

Background

In the United States, the H1N1 influenza virus has been confirmed recently as the cause of respiratory disease in several ferrets and cats resulting in more than one death in each of these species. These infections were believed to have been contracted from infected owners. There was an unconfirmed report of dogs infected in China in late November. The case described here is what is believed to be the first reported case of a dog infected with the H1N1 influenza virus in the United States. The dog’s owner had also recently tested positive for H1N1 influenza virus. The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed independently that the influenza strain is the new pandemic strain circulating in the human population and not a swine-specific H1N1 strain.

For up-to-date news on the 2009 H1N1 flu virus outbreak and FAQs from the American Veterinary Medical Association go to http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/default.asp

Clinical Signs

The clinical signs of H1N1 virus infection are likely to resemble those of other common respiratory infections. However, more severe respiratory disease, including pneumonia, may be possible. Clinical signs may include:

* Coughing, sneezing and oculonasal discharge
* Fever, lethargy and loss of appetite
* Dyspnea and tachypnea

Because the clinical signs of H1N1 virus infection resemble those of other respiratory infections, IDEXX has included the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR™ Test in the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease (URD) and Canine Respiratory Disease (CRD) RealPCR™ panels at no additional cost. These panels include PCR tests for the more common feline and canine pathogens, which are still more likely causes of respiratory disease in patients. The H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test also can be ordered as a stand-alone test.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Ask the vet's pets: Pet trust provides for animal after owner's death

Berks County, PA - Dear Daisy Dog: I am getting ready to write my will, and I want to provide for my pets.

I know that whenever I die, some of my dogs and cats will outlive me and require care for the remainder of their lives. Can I include them in my will?

Daisy responds: You are wise to think about your pets' care after your death. Approximately 500,000 pets are euthanized every year because their humans die without making provisions for their guardianship.

Talk with your attorney about a pet trust, which can provide for your animals if you become incapacitated and after you die. Pet trusts have been established by an estimated 20 to 25 percent of people who live with companion animals in the U.S.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pet trusts are recognized in all states except Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

If you live in one of the other 42 states, start by asking one or more people to care for your pets. Ensure that you have the agreement of at least one alternate caregiver for each pet, a trustee and an alternate trustee.

Give your attorney their names as well as details of the standards of care you wish for your pets and instructions about the disposition of their bodies after they die.

Fund the trust with sufficient resources to cover each pet's needs, including food, routine and unexpected veterinary care, grooming and related expenses. Think about whether you'd like to compensate the caregiver(s) for housing and tending your pets.

Finally, as your trust will likely contain residual funds when your last pet dies, specify an animal welfare organization or other pet charity to receive the remaining money.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Your family dog may be smarter than your toddler

Story Highlights
Professor: Dogs "closer to humans than we thought"
Most dogs can understand 165 words and count to five
Average dog is on par with 2-year-olds, "super breeds" with 2½ years
Border collies at the head of the class; Afghan hounds bring up the rear

By Doug Gross
CNN

(CNN) -- Your dog may not actually be smarter than somebody's honor student -- popular bumper stickers aside. But your canine companion might well be smarter than their toddler, according to a growing body of research on how dogs think.

Using adapted tests designed for human children, psychologists have learned that average dogs can count, reason and recognize words and gestures on par with a human 2 -year-old.

"They may not be Einsteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought," said Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and leading researcher on dog behavior.

Coren planned to present his research Saturday at the American Psychological Association's annual convention in Toronto, Canada.

He said the average dog can understand about 165 words, including signs, signals and gestures. They can also count to about 5, he said.

"I mean, we're not going to make them an accountant or something," Coren said in an interview with CNN Radio.

The smartest dogs, he calls them the "super breeds," are on par with a 2½-year-old, recognizing up to 250 words.

And, no, not all breeds are created equally.

For his book "The Intelligence of Dogs," Coren asked more than 200 dog-obedience judges to rank 110 breeds based on their intelligence. Border collies, poodles, retrievers, German shepherds and Doberman pinschers were among the dogs at the head of the class.

The intellectual runts of the litter? The borzoi, chow chow, bulldog, basenji and -- finishing dead last -- the Afghan hound.

The dividing line, Coren said, tends to be the age of the breed. More recent breeds, like the collies and retrievers, have been bred for years to do what humans want them to do.

"We've been wiring into dogs the ability to communicate with us," said Coren, author of several books on dogs' thinking, most recently "The Modern Dog." "If you will, we've been manipulating their intelligence."

Meanwhile, breeds like hounds naturally did what humans wanted -- i.e. chase tasty animals -- and didn't need to be fine-tuned, he said.

"They did the work all by themselves," Coren said. "They didn't have to cooperate with the human being, and all the human had to do was get there before the dogs ate it all."

Included in the number of "words" dogs are believed to know are hand gestures, like pointing, and nonverbal sounds, like the whistles used to direct sheep dogs and retrievers.

Counting ability is tested in drills such as one in which treats are dropped, one at a time, behind a screen. When the researcher either sneaks away one of the treats or stealthily adds an extra before raising the screen, the dog will wait longer -- appearing to puzzle over the bad math -- before eating the treats.

That's the same way toddlers respond when faced with a similar switch, said Coren.

Aubrey Fine, a psychologist and faculty member at California State Polytechnic University, said research like Coren's could help dog owners better relate to their animals.

"Too often, many people look at dogs as four-legged people," said Fine, who specializes in the use of dogs in treating patients with developmental disorders and other mental-health conditions. "We need to recognize what dogs cue in to. Once you understand better how to interact, it causes a better coexistence with your pet companion."

Coren said the findings on dog intelligence showed they have more sense than some scientists may have thought, but that some in the general public may be surprised for different reasons that span a wide range of thought.

"There are some people who think that dogs are just little human beings running around in fur coats and there are other people who sort of think that they're unfeeling biological mechanisms," he said. "The truth of the matter is really that dogs are neither extreme."

CNN Radio's Matt Cherry contributed to this report.

What do cats do home alone? Cat cams have answers

By SUE MANNING (AP) – Dec 3, 2009

LOS ANGELES — What do cats do when their owners are away? There was one way to find out — "cat cams."

Fifty house cats were given collar cameras that took a photo every 15 minutes. The results put a digital dent in some human theories about catnapping.

Based on the photos, about 22 percent of the cats' time was spent looking out of windows, 12 percent was used to interact with other family pets and 8 percent was spent climbing on chairs or kitty condos. Just 6 percent of their hours were spent sleeping.

"What surprised me was how active the cats were. I believed my three cats were sleeping during the day," said Jill Villarreal, an animal behavior scientist who collected the data for Nestle Purina PetCare's Friskies brand of cat food.

The 777 photos studied by Villarreal showed the cats looking at a television, computer, DVDs or other media 6 percent of the time and hiding under tables 6 percent of the time.

Coming in at 5 percent was playing with toys; eating or looking at food finished at 4 percent.

Will the cats get movie cameras next? "We are in the think tank now," Villarreal said.

On the Net:

http://www.friskies.com/scratchingtonpost

Pet frogs source of salmonella outbreak

(12-07) 15:36 PST ATLANTA, (AP) --

Pet frogs are being blamed for a national salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 48 people.

The illnesses occurred from June through November, with reports coming in from 25 states. Health officials investigating the illnesses found that many of the people said they'd been in contact with frogs such as the African dwarf frog. The salmonella strain was found in aquariums with frogs in three homes where illnesses occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the outbreak Monday.

Pet reptiles have been fingered as a source of salmonella infection before. At least 107 people were sickened in a recent outbreak blamed on turtles.

___

On the Net:

The CDC report: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/