Newsletter

Health Benefits Associated With Spays & Neuters

Spaying or neutering pets is a common procedure, and most pet owners have probably had some experience with having the procedure done on animals they have owned.

Aside from the inconvenience of heat cycles and/or roaming tom cats, there are medical benefits associated to having your pet spayed or neutered. The direct health benefits of spaying or neutering are significant for the pet. If female pets are spayed before their first heat cycle, the risk of developing mammary tumors (breast cancer) is significantly reduced.

Spaying female pets eliminates the risk of pyometra, an infection of the uterus. This disease can be very serious, even fatal, in female pets. Male pets can also benefit. Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate disease.

Spay and Neuter Stamps Issued by the U.S. Postal Service

Spaying or neutering can indirectly help prolong a pet's life as well. When pets are spayed or neutered, their tendencies to roam or fight are greatly reduced. This prevents the pets from getting lost, stolen, hit by cars, or contracting a contagious disease.

Cats that fight are at risk of contracting a serious disease called feline leukemia. This disease, which affects the immune system of the cat, can be passed from feline to feline through saliva or blood. Cats also run the risk of contracting feline immune deficiency virus when they fight. This disease is very similar to human HIV. It can lie dormant in the cat for quite a while, and when activated, can cause the cat's immune system to function improperly.

Spaying or neutering dogs can help keep them under control. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are more likely to wander away from home. While running loose, they have a chance of being hit by a car, getting lost, stolen, or taken to the animal shelter.

Even though spays and neuters are considered routine surgery, there is nothing routine about any abdominal surgery performed under general anesthesia. Most veterinarians consider spays and neuters to be major surgery, especially when spaying older animals that have had several heat cycles or have had litters.

Veterinarians and humane societies advise pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered. The medical advantages have been proven. Complications resulting from these procedures are rare and pets recover from surgery very quickly. Often the day after surgery, animals are bright and alert, sometimes seeming as if nothing had ever happened.

The cost of the procedure varies depending upon the species, sex, size, and age of the pet.

Whether you are new to living with cats or a seasoned cat owner, our feline friends insist on presenting an air of mystery. Some of the following tips may be old hat, but others may help you provide an even better home for your cat.

General Tips

• When traveling with your cat, keep him in a carrier. Letting your cat wander free in your car can be dangerous for both of you.
• Feed your cat in a quiet area where he is unlikely to be disturbed. Cats often feel vulnerable while they're eating and appreciate the safety of peace and quiet.
• A timid cat will generally be more social if he is aware of a safe hiding place in every room. A covered cat bed or kitty tent placed in a quiet corner will help him spend less time under the bed and more time out and about.
• The aroma of catnip loses potency over time. To keep your kitty's catnip toys fresh, store them in a plastic container and take them out for a special treat two or three times a week.
• Cats are naturally nocturnal, so training them to sleep when you do may take time. Help your cat learn faster by having a lively, interactive play session right before you go to bed.
• Avoid scratched up furniture by putting double-sided tape on the corners of sofas and chairs. This helps deter your cat from using your furniture as a scratching post.
• Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the kitchen counter or any place you don't want your cat to go. Most cats hate walking on foil and your cat will soon learn which places are off limits.
• Be consistent with house rules right from the start. It makes things much more difficult if you let your kitten jump up on the kitchen table, but expect her to stay off when she grows up.
• Make sure to change your cat's water at least once a day. You don't like to drink water with hair and dust in it, and neither does your cat.
• Cats lose weight the same way we do: eating less and exercising more. Try to spend more time playing with your tubby tabby to help him lose unwanted pounds.
• If your cat is ignoring her scratching post, it may be too short. Cats like to be able to reach up above their heads and anchor their claws for a good stretch, as well as a good scratch.
• Always support your cat's hindquarters when you pick him up. Holding your cat with his paws on your shoulder and your hand under his rump is generally comfortable and safe for both of you.
• Many cats like to picked up and snuggled. Some only like it for a short time though. The instant your cat begins to fuss or struggle, put him down.

Health and Safety

• Cats can get colds, but they are often called upper respiratory bacterial or viral infections. If your cat is coughing, wheezing, or has persistent discharge from her eyes or nose, take her to the veterinarian for a check-up.
• Cats are tough and will often hide signs of illness. If your cat suddenly looks ill, she may have been sick for awhile. Take her to the veterinarian immediately.
• Christmas trees provide hours of fun for cats, but can also cause serious harm. Artificial trees with steel poles provide the safest Christmas tree for cat owners because cats are unable to sink their claws into the steel, making it hard for them to climb.
• House plants can sometimes be toxic. If your cat likes to chew on your plants, grow a pot of grass for him instead! "Cat Grass" kits are available at most pet supply stores.
• Sudden loss of appetite, sudden aggression, excessive thirst or urination, excessive licking, and sudden refusal to use the litter box can all be signs of illness. If you observe any of these symptoms in your cat, see your veterinarian immediately.
• Always check your washer and dryer before you turn them on. Some cats like the warmth and quiet of the dryer and may hop in for a nap.
• Never let your cat drink from the toilet bowl. Even if you don't use "drop-in" cleaners, residue from toilet cleaning products can still make your cat sick. Make a habit of keeping the lid down.
• Clipping your cat's nails regularly is just as good for your cat as it is for your furniture. Excessively long nails can make it difficult for your cat to walk properly and may even grow back into the paw pads, causing discomfort and pain.
• If your cat suddenly starts urinating or defecating outside the litter box, call your veterinarian. Health problems often cause inappropriate elimination.
• A simple way to control hair balls is to brush your cat frequently. The more cat hair on the brush, the less your cat will swallow while grooming.
• Strings, yarn and ribbon may be fun for your cat to play with, but they can be extremely hazardous if swallowed. If left unattended, your cat could become seriously entangled as well. If you enjoy playing with your cat using yarn or string, make sure you have a safe and secure place to store it when you are done.
• Believe it or not, cats can get acne. If you see little pimples on your cat's chin, he may be reacting to plastic dishes. Switch any plastic dishes to stainless steel or ceramic and dab the acne daily with a cotton ball soaked with peroxide until the acne disappears.

Litter Box

• Never put your cat's food near his litter box. Cats like to eliminate far from where they eat. You may find that your cat will alert you to this situation by eliminating in places other than his litter box.
• If you keep your cat's litter box in the bathroom, the steam from showers can make the litter damp. Keep the box uncovered so the litter can dry out quickly.
• The number of litter boxes needed is directly related to the number of cats in the house. A general rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than the number of cats, if space permits. Some cats do not like to share litter boxes; this can cause problems in multiple cat households.
• Once you have found a combination your cats like, do not change it. Cats are creatures of habit and dislike change. Finding a location, litter type, box size is important. Once you find what your cats like, the right combination can keep your cats happy and healthy.

The keen olfactory senses of man's best friend have been used by humans ever since dogs were first domesticated. From hunting and tracking game and assisting the disabled to ferreting out criminals and finding illegal drugs, dogs are adept at picking up subtle scents and signs that human senses cannot register. However, a dog's nose may be more important than has ever been realized. Scientists are finding increasing evidence that dogs may have the ability to detect cancer in humans simply by using their sense of smell.

A study published in the March 2006 edition of the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies, researchers Michael McCulloch of the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, Calif. and Tadeusz Jezierski of the Polish Academy of Sciences, presented research that suggests dogs can detect the presence of lung or breast cancer by sniffing the breath of cancer patients. Five dogs trained during a three-week period sniffed the breath of 86 cancer patients and 83 healthy patients. Dogs were trained to identify the presence of cancer on a patient's breath by sitting or lying down in front of the test subject. According to the study, the dogs had a success rate between 88 and 97 percent. Though dogs probably will not take the place of MRI, mammograms and other cancer screening tools, medical researchers continue to examine the link between a dogs' sense of smell and human illness.

Already, dogs' excellent sense of smell is already used by people with type 1 diabetes to detect impending episodes of hypoglycemia. Organizations like Dogs For Diabetics and Heaven Scent Paws train dogs to recognize the scent of chemicals emitted by diabetics before hypoglycemia sets in. The dog alerts his or her handler, who can then administer insulin in order to prevent a diabetic episode. Dogs can also be trained to alert people with epilepsy of impending seizures, giving them time to stop what they're doing and move to a safe place. It is still unclear how exactly dogs can detect the onset of a seizure, though many researchers believe a dog's olfactory and other senses play a large role.

How are dogs able to detect these scents? Both dogs and humans have organs inside their noses called turbinates. When a dog or a human inhales, air passes over the turbinates, which contain a spongy membrane that houses scent-detecting cells and the nerves that send scent-signals to the brain. In humans, the area around the turbinates is small, containing roughly 5 million scent receptors. In dogs, the turbinates contain hundreds of millions of scent receptors, depending on the breed. For example, the dachshund has 125 million scent receptors, while scent-hounds like the bloodhound have 300 million receptors. These receptors are what make it possible for dogs to do everything from tracking a fox through a forest to picking up the scents emitted by a diabetic when his or her blood sugar is low.

Curious canine noses can also be trained for other activities. Dogs are being used in increasing numbers to hunt for truffles, underground fungi that are highly sought-after culinary delicacies. Hogs have been the traditional truffle-hunting agent in Europe: a hog's keen sense of smell, coupled with the similarity between a truffle's odor and a pheromone found in boar saliva, make swine innate truffle hunters. But pigs are difficult to train and will quickly dig up and eat the truffles they were sent to find if a handler isn't close by. That is why many truffle seekers are using trained dogs (especially Labradors) to find—and not eat—the fungi.

People have a wide range of attitudes about getting older, from optimism to pessimism. But when it comes to pets, people tend to have a negative attitude about aging. The tragedy of getting old is that we attribute the problems pets face to old age, and don't bring them to the veterinarian. Most owners think that pets can't be helped if it's just old age.

Senior Dog

There are a series of physical changes affecting aging pets' bodies. These may include graying of the muzzle, thinning of the coat, brittle toenails, arthritis and lameness, whitening of eyes (cataracts), difficulty hearing and dental problems.

Pets entering their golden years face two types of changes--those that can be relieved with the help of a veterinarian, and those that cannot. Veterinarians can prescribe medication to ease the pain of arthritis and even perform surgery to replace painful hips. Veterinarians don't have means to treat deafness; however, surgery can cure cataracts. There is also medication that can be prescribed to alter mental status, making older pets act less senile.

With aging, there are also behavioral and mental changes that take place. Older animals have more difficulty getting around. They lose self-confidence and tend to stay close to their owners and close to home. Fear of strangers and new surroundings may be more pronounced in an older pet.

Older dogs and cats usually sleep more, pay less attention and don't tolerate the cold weather as well as they did when they were young. The aging process begins and ends differently for each animal. It's just like humans. There are people in their 70s that appear young and there are people in their 60s that appear old. On the average, though, small dogs and cats begin to exhibit signs of aging at 9 to 10 years old, while large dog breeds begin to age at about 7 years of age.

Sleeping Elderly Cat

Owners need to prepare themselves mentally as their pets undergo the aging process. Emphasis should be placed on quality of life. This means that owners should have their older pets examined by a veterinarian. Annual (or even semi-annual) veterinary examinations are recommended. This way, a potentially serious problem can be diagnosed (when it is still minor) and a treatment can be provided that may slow the progression of the ailment and, if possible, cure it. When we age, we know when or when not to exercise, but with pets, it's not that simple.

Some pet owners try to avoid the fact, but a pet won't be around forever. As a pet ages, it's best to accept the process and try to provide him (or her) with a good quality of life. Accept the fact that your pet may die, or you won't be able to let go when it's time.

When a pet is very old and has severe medical problems, an owner must confront the decision of putting him (or her) to sleep. Many owners have a common misconception on this topic. People always hope their pets will die peacefully in their sleep, but this rarely happens. Very often owners wait too long and the pet incurs too much pain and suffering. When an animal loses bowel control or can't move its legs, owners should interpret these signs and make the appropriate choice.

Making the decision to euthanize a pet that has been a member of the family is never easy. Owners need to know that it is the final step in the human - pet relationship. Putting an animal to sleep is the last act of love from a good owner.

There is no doubt that when times are tough, families bond together to make the best of the situation. And, sometimes a new cute and fuzzy four legged family member can help make rough times more bearable! Whether you choose a purebred kitten from a breeder or an adorable mixed breed puppy from a rescue group, there are a few things you will want to know to keep your new friend happy and healthy. Watch this video to learn how our furry companions actually relieve stress and bring joy to their homes!

Avian influenza, though a recent concern, has appeared from time to time in regions all over the world, including in the United States. Avian flu spreads easily among wild birds, but can also infect domesticated birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pet birds. Humans and a variety of other mammals are also affected. Because it is highly pathogenic and viral, avian influenza can devastate entire flocks of poultry, though it is uncommon in most commercial poultry and most identified with poultry raised outdoors.

Most often spread via direct contact between healthy birds and infected birds, avian flu may be spread indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and materials. The virus is found in secretions from the nares (nostrils), mouth, and eyes of infected birds and is also excreted in their feces. Contact with contaminated fecal matter is the most common means of bird-to-bird transmission, though airborne secretions are another major means of transmission within poultry houses.

The most virulent form of avian flu can be spread from birds to people as a result of extensive direct contact with infected birds (i.e. de-feathering during home slaughter of poultry). Fortunately; however, transmission of the flu to humans is rare. Because the virus is found in the droppings, nasal secretions, and saliva of infected birds, bird-to-human transmission most commonly occurs when particles from contaminated feces are inhaled. Inhalation and contamination of mucous membranes such as eyelids are the most common routes of infection for humans. Currently, the risk of contracting avian flu for anyone who does not have close contact with infected poultry is quite low. Although human-to-human transmission is theoretically possible, so far, there are only a few cases where human-to-human transmission is thought to have occurred.

Although dogs and cats are not usually susceptible to influenza type infections, there have been cases of cats contracting avian flu. In each case, however, the cat either consumed raw meat from an infected bird or lived in an animal shelter in close proximity to infected chickens. Since the dangerous strain of avian flu that has been circulating in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe has not yet been identified in the United States, the risk of a cat contacting the disease in this country is currently very low. Preliminary recommendations for cat owners living in high risk areas include keeping domestic cats indoors, avoiding contact with semi-domestic and feral cats and refrain from feeding raw poultry to cats. Owners are also encouraged to have their cats examined by a veterinarian if they have been exposed to sick or dead birds.

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us and you're inside worrying about a burned out bulb?

2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

3. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that lamp!

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

7. German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

8. Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!

10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

11. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or, "We don't need no light bulb."

12. Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

13. Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

14. Poodle: I'll just blow in the border collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

How Many Cats Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?

Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is:

"How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?"

ALL OF WHICH PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF!