Archive for the ‘Bonded’ Category
Friends keep each other warm
Snoopy's White Christmas
Playtime in the snow!
On Thursday, November 18th, the last meeting of 2010 of the Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters (GNPP) had us celebrating the year in retrospect, sharing some great snacks, and thanking the outgoing Board Members Mike Howell of Two Dads Pet Services (former Vice President, coming back in 2011 as President) and Eindy Ramsey of The Pet Shepherd (outgoing President and incoming 2011 Marketing Director) for their work in the past year.
Outgoing Vice President and President
In keeping with the “pet†theme, Eindy was presented with a “Litter Box Cake†for all her hard work as President.
Doesn’t this look realistic?
Most of us love cute little puppies and kittens. And often we find ones that seem homeless that we want to help. The problem is that when we find one we don’t know where it has been or what this little bundle of it has been exposed to in the past. We never think that this little bundle of fur can potentially be life threatening. Check out this posting in a local paper regarding a people we would consider as wonderful for help[ing a little kitten. The problem is, this small act of kindness could have been life threatening. The kitten above was found in Ontario and when taken to animal control was identified, tested, and confirmed as rabid. It looks cute, and the hidden danger was identified, but not before this bundle of fur bit two children and a parent who had to undergo post exposure rabies treatments.
The article below was in in the Pickens County Progress this year.
Rescued†kitten exposed Cherokee County family and vet assistant to rabies
Canton (GA) June 24, 2010 ~ Cherokee County Environmental Health officials reported that a stray kitten picked up by a family residing on Lake Circle near the Cherokee/Cobb County line recently tested positive for rabies. Members of the family and a worker at a Cobb County veterinarian clinic were exposed to the kitten prior to rabies testing.
Officials said the kitten had been “rescued†by the Cherokee County family on June 2, 2010, and it seemed sickly, so they took it to a nearby animal clinic in Cobb County on June 3. While being treated at the clinic that day, the kitten scratched a veterinarian technical assistant.
“Due to the kitten’s illness, it was euthanized, and I was called about shipping the head to the [Georgia state] lab,†stated Glen Gordy of Cherokee County Environmental Health. “However, the bite occurred to a person in Cobb County; therefore, I advised the veterinarian’s office to call Cobb County Animal Control.
“I was then notified on June 8 by Cherokee County Animal Control that the test on the kitten came back positive for rabies, and it was at that time I learned that the family from Cherokee County had been exposed to the kitten. All people exposed are seeking rabies treatment at a Cobb County hospital and residents in the Lake Circle area were notified to contact us if they believe they were exposed.â€
To avoid rabies exposure, residents are urged to stay away from unfamiliar animals and to make certain all pets and livestock are current on their rabies vaccinations.
The recommendation for a possible rabid animal bite is to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and then seek immediate medical attention with the following information on hand:
· The geographic location of the incident
· The type of animal that was involved
· How the exposure occurred (provoked or unprovoked)
· The vaccination status of any pets involved
· Whether the biting animal can be safely captured and tested for rabies
For more information about rabies and its prevention, call Cherokee County Environmental Health at (770) 479-0444 or log onto www.cdc.gov.
(http://pickensprogress.com/articleinfo.asp?Link=2207)
There are other stories like this as well. Check out the one below.
Please use caution and think abbout the potential consequences before handling a stray animal whether it is cute or not. If you have a pet be sure to get it vaccinated for your safety, your family’s safety, and the safety of your pet sitter.
Declare Independence from Missing or Injured Pets
Los Angeles, CA – Firework displays and parties are American traditions on the Fourth of July, but pets can sometimes be startled by all the commotion of visitors and loud noises. Every Independence Day shelters fill with lost and injured pets. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Los Angeles (spcaLA) recommends taking these simple precautions to keep your pet happy and safe this July 4th:
- Dogs and cats should be microchipped and wear current ID tags at all times. This is the best way to ensure a happy reunion if your pet goes missing.
- Keep pets safe and secure inside your home. Loud noises from fireworks, can cause a dog to jump a fence and run away from home or a cat to hide for days. Keeping your pet indoors and secure will also keep them from dangerous roadways.
- If you’re hosting a party, keep your pets in a cool, well-ventilated room with a radio playing softly in the background. Include your pet’s favorite toys and pet bed for comfort. Do this as well if you are going out but your pet is staying in.
- Do not tie your dog up outside to keep him/her from escaping. The loud noise from the fireworks can frighten your pet making them more likely to attempt to flee. Dogs can seriously injure themselves, or even die, trying to escape.
- Educate children to not scare pets with firecrackers or sparklers.
Backyard barbeques are fun for the family, but dangers lurk for curious pets. Keep alcoholic beverages, lighter fluids, matches, and insect repellents like citronella candles away from your pets; each can be toxic or deadly when ingested or inhaled. If your pet requires sun protection, only use sunscreens intended for animals. Some foods are toxic for dogs like chocolate, onions, tomatoes, avocadoes and grapes. Cooked bones can splinter and be fatal.
Follow these precautions for a festive Fourth of July!
(http://spcala.com/newsreleases/2010/julyfourth.shtml)
By: Irreverent Vet
(http://www.petplace.com/dogs/the-irreverent-vet-speaks-out-on-dog-breeds-that-are-bad-with-cats/page1.aspx)
Our customer service department gets a lot of email from dog lovers about every type of question you can imagine about dogs.
Recently, they forwarded some emails they thought were suited to me, the Irreverent Veterinarian. They knew that I would speak the truth regardless if pet owners or other veterinarians liked it or not.
Greyhound
The email that I’ll address today is…
Dear PetPlace – I am a cat lover and my husband loves dogs. We have two cats that we adore and he really wants to add a dog to our family. My neighbor has a dog that recently killed a neighborhood cat that just makes me sick. I’ve asked a few people about which breeds are bad around cats and have not gotten a good answer. Can you give me your thoughts?
So…What dog breeds are especially bad or aggressive to cats?
To be honest, any dog has the potential to be good or bad around cats.
The dogs that are best around cats are dogs that are not predatory and were raised around cats. Especially, dogs raised and socialized around lots of different cats, including your cats.
Many dogs will be good around cats that they know. If a dog is raised with YOUR cats, they are often good with YOUR cats.
However, (this is important!) many dogs they have learned to accept and are good with your cats may be TERRIBLE around other cats. I know of several dogs that live with cats and are considered great with them that have killed other cats that come into their yards. I’m not sure if they don’t recognize these new animals as cats or they see them as prey to kill (especially when the cat runs).
If you adopt a puppy, you can socialize him around your cats and he will learn to live peacefully with them in most circumstances. It is always best to slowly introduce cats and dogs and do it while supervised. As you train your new dog and you encounter a new or different cat, carefully supervise the interaction and praise him when he behaves well.
If you choose an adult dog – many times their history may make it difficult to know how they are with cats. Some dogs chase anything that runs.
Which breeds are associated with being particularly bad?
- Greyhounds are particularly bad with cats. I suppose their training to chase the rabbit and then seeing a running cat makes it a difficult temptation. They have big mouths and long sharp teeth that can be lethal. This does not mean that ALL greyhounds are bad with cats but their instincts are generally not an ideal choice in a cat-loving household.
- Pit Bulls can be very bad with cats. I know they can be great dogs but I have probably seen more cats killed or seriously injured by pit bills than any other breed. I just talked to a friend that is an emergency veterinarian and asked him his opinion on dog breeds that are aggressive to cats. He said in the past month – he saw three critically injured cats (two of which died)– all from pill bulls.
- Jack Russell Terriers (recently their name has been changed to Parson Russell Terriers) seem to “enjoy” the chase and have injured or killed many cats.My Final ThoughtsAny dog can be good or bad around cats. Introduce any new dogs to your cat-loving household slowly and while supervised. Always ensure your cats have an “out” or a place to be safe and get away from the dog.That’s my opinion and that’s all I’ll say.
Feel free to disagree or give me your thoughts. Email me, I’m curious about what you think.
This article prompted several emails from dog and cat owners. To be balanced, I’d like to share some of those comments with you. To read these comments, go to: Owners Comments About Dog Breeds Bad with Cats.
Disclaimer
The Irreverent Vet is a columnist that regularly contributes to PetPlace.com. The goal is to add a balanced and alternative view of some controversial pet issues. As happens with all of us, veterinarians can’t say what they really think without offending some clients. This commentary allows vets to say what they think and give you, the pet owner, and the opportunity to consider another view. All opinions are those of the Politically Incorrect Vet and not the views of PetPlace.com and are not endorsed by PetPlace.com.