Last year nearly 150,000 cases of pet poisoning and pet toxicities were reported for dogs and cats. To help ensure pets and their people enjoy a safe, healthy holiday this New Year here are a few safety tips to boost your pet health holiday IQ.

Plants and Medications to avoid with Dogs and Cats.

Holiday Plants are actually more of a problem with cats than with dogs, although curious puppies often enjoy a nibble.

Dr. Carol’s TIP: place plants up out of paw reach or consider safe alternatives like artificial arrangements made from silk.

Lilly’s are lovely but many varieties: Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats

Poinsettia’s are often talked about, but are very overrated. At worst they can cause an upset stomach in dogs and cats.
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Each year in the United States, thousands of people lose their lives to fire. Tens of thousands are injured and the financial costs can reach into the billions of dollars. Almost forgotten in these tragedies are the hundreds of thousands of family pets who suffer death or injury as well.

Fires are very scary! We use controlled fires to heat our water, cook our meals and power our cities, but for most people, fire is a wild, ravaging beast. And, despite educational programs that start in pre-school, every year more than three thousand people die in house fires. Sadly, those who survive a house fire often lose cherished four-legged family members to the smoke and flames.

According to the US Fire Administration’s website more than 1.7 million uncontrolled fires occur annually in the US. The Fire Administration does not keep tally, but other groups have estimated that more than 500,000 pets are killed by house fires each year. Why we are so good at saving human lives, yet our pets seem to perish?

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Over the last decade advances in veterinary medicine have nearly doubled the canine life span. The technological innovations we now offer for pets, parallel those available for people, reaching far beyond our previous expectations. What are the factors limiting longevity in pets? What impact do anti-oxidant supplementation and dietary intervention have on lengthening healthy life spans for pets? Successful techniques for rejuvenating the body and lengthening life spans in people have been documented. Would similar strategies prove effective for dogs?

George, a 7 year old Dalmatian not only suffered from severe arthritis, he was also paralyzed, due to a spinal injury. Surgery cost was estimated at $4000, with no guarantee of success and little hope of him ever walking again. George’s owners, Don and Pam Brennan were devastated and sadly carried George out of the office that day on a stretcher. He couldn’t even stand up to go to the bathroom. With tears streaming down their faces, they knew it was the end. They spent that night together saying their final goodbyes.

The next morning a friend told them about ongoing clinical trials of an anti-aging pet product. This was their last chance. They had nothing to lose, so they gave it a try. Within 30 days, George was out in the front yard playing with the other dogs. He was back to the way he used to be, playful like a puppy. George enjoyed several healthy, happy years thereafter. Pam and Don were thrilled-they got their dog back!

Anti-Aging medicine, although not yet formally recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, is the newest clinical medical specialty offered to human physicians. So, why wouldn’t this be applicable for veterinarians as well?
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We trust that medications for our families and our pets are made with the highest regard for purity and safety. But, several recent high profile cases have unnerved many people and created a negative spotlight for compounding pharmacies. So, can you trust the medications your veterinarian orders for your pet?

From the very first time our ancient ancestors mixed certain tree barks with water to create a pain-deadening tea, the art and science of pharmacology have flourished. Through great civilizations like Rome, into the Middle Ages and straight through to modern times, the pharmacist (or “chemist”) has been an integral part of patient care in both human and veterinary practices.

Most people do not realize there are two types of pharmacies. Compounding pharmacies are those that actually make, mix or “compound” therapeutic medications “in-house” as compared to those that simply count and dispense prepared medications.

This concept is not new…in fact, for most of this profession’s history, pharmacists used their knowledge of chemicals and base ingredients to create the appropriate drug ordered by the doctor. It has only been within the last 50 years that pharmacists have moved from being compounders of medicines to dispensers of pre-made drugs.

But even the modernization and convenience of prepared pharmaceutical drugs did not remove the need for many special or out of production drugs to be made on site. Some patients have allergies to ingredients in the medications. Others, especially children and veterinary patients, require unique flavorings to help disguise bitter drugs and improve compliance. And, as the age old joke describes, giving a pill to a cat can be a hair-raising experience!

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PETS AND their PEOPLE

How Much Exercise Do Dogs Need? Dogs needs at least 20 minutes of exercise twice a day. The exact amount varies with age, breed, weight and physical condition.

Veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, says,” Don’t jump off the sofa one minute and take a ten mile hike the next, dogs, like people, need to get in shape gradually a little bit each day.” Try starting with a couple of ten minute walks and you can both build up from there. And if your pet hasn’t taken much exercise recently get the vet to check him/her out before you begin the program.

One hour of exercise increases your dog’s lifespan by 4 days. Devise a fitness program for your dog and you may find that you get as much out of it, if not more, than your dog.

Exercise Is Fun With Your Dog!

Exercise is integral to life. Not only is it essential for optimal health, it also improves circulation, stimulates vital organs, facilitates digestion and helps eliminate harmful toxins from the body. Exercise provides aerobic activity that stimulates your dog mentally and physically. And exercising with pets is fun. It is a great way to bond, and it is as good for you as it is for your dog. Most owners end up looking forward to this “special time” as much as their dog does.

Some enlightened fitness centers open their doors to people and pets – use it or lose it doesn’t just apply to people.

Exercise Goals
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Kids and pets are nothing out of the ordinary that is until you meet Riley, an 8 year old girl from Colorado who’s allergic to peanuts. Riley’s dog “Rock’O, a Portuguese Water Dog has been trained to protect her from peanuts, to which she has a life threatening allergy.

Riley’s mom is relieved that her daughter’s constant companion and playmate is a true lifesaver.
Riley’s allergy to peanuts is so severe that if she even touches something with peanut residue she will end up in the hospital because it only takes 6 minutes before her body would go into shock. According to her doctor her case is about as bad as they come.

Rock’O represents one of only six dogs in the country trained to detect the presence of peanuts and protect their owners from serious allergic reactions. Training a peanut allergy dog to sniff out peanuts is similar to teaching them to sniff out narcotics and/or bombs. In this case it’s just a different scent.

Most schools are aware of peanut allergies in children but the severity of Riley’s case brought new challenges. She used to have to wear gloves in class just in case; now she feels a little more like the other kids because Rock’O never leaves her side. He’s with her 24/7 at home and at school.

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Heartworm disease cases in dogs increase; owners blame preventives for failing pets!

Every month, lots of dog owners, give their pets some form of heartworm prevention. But recent studies are showing increasing numbers of heartworm positive pets across the country. Some people believe the worms now have the upper hand. Has our trusted protection failed us?

Dog owners understand that once -a-month heartworm preventives keep their pets safe from a very serious disease affecting the heart and lungs of dogs. Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite carried by mosquito’s and is transmitted to pets by a mosquito bite. Despite consistent use of preventive medications, a significant number of dogs are testing positive for heartworms, especially in the mosquito heavy Southeastern US. Are we seeing the beginnings of a resistance movement?

In some cases, careful questioning of the clients reveals some monthly doses of medication were not given, opening the door for potential infection. In other cases, medical records and client compliance appear to be complete, yet the pet is positive on the annual heartworm blood test.

Heartworm preventives works by killing immature heartworm larvae that are spread by mosquitoes. In theory, a pet who receives medication each month should be protected and never have a positive heartworm test. Why then, do some dogs test positive?
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With Spring in the air, many homeowners and gardeners are sure to be outside getting their hands dirty. But veterinarians say cocoa mulch made by Hershey’s has a sweet-smell attractive to pets but also may be deadly to dogs and cats if ingested.

“Cocoa mulch is a risk, especially to dogs,” said Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM of American Pet Institute in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Available at most home garden centers, cocoa mulch is known for its fine texture and the sweet smell the fresh mulch gives off. What’s unusual is that, it smells like a chocolate Pop Tart. That’s the best way to describe it. It really does have a chocolate scent. Aside from the odor, cocoa mulch can be dangerous if a dog or cat decides to eat it. It contains two key ingredients found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. Similar to eating chocolate, pets that eat just a few ounces of cocoa mulch may starting having stomach problems, which become worse as more is ingested.

“Pets may become restless and excited. With time tremors and seriously seizures can develop which can be life threatening and in some cases fatal,” Osborne explained. “Puppies are naturally curious and many are attracted to various things around the yard. It seems to be more severe for small dog breeds and toxicity is dose dependant,” Osborne said. For pet owners it’s best to just avoid using cocoa mulch in your yard and/or garden.
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Fido and Fluffy Blood Donors…Are They the Right Type?

Animal blood banks provide essential service for veterinarians and their patients! Through natural disasters, wars and even terrorist attacks, victims have always counted on blood banks to provide these lifesaving fluids. Countless human lives have been saved, but what about our pets? If your dog needs blood, is your veterinarian prepared? Will your cat need a “kitty blood drive”?

Smokey didn’t appear nervous at all. He remained still as the nurse stuck a needle into his vein and continued to calmly lie there as his blood flowed into the collection bag. It was as if he knew his donation could potentially save a life. When his contribution was complete, the nurse helped him off the table and Smokey ran to his owner, tail wagging the whole way!

Historically, Smokey’s gift of life would be used at his own veterinarian’s office, likely to save a dog who suffered a severe traumatic accident. Many veterinarians kept a clinic cat or used their own dogs for blood transfusions. But now, Smokey’s blood could make it across town or even across country.

Companies like the Animal Blood Bank in Dixon, California now warehouse critically needed blood products for dogs, cats, and even livestock. These services allow veterinarians access to critically needed blood without the need to stockpile it in their hospitals. The demand for blood products for our pets has continually increased as more owners consider life-saving measures for critically ill or injured pets.

Additionally, since some blood products have short shelf lives, busy animal doctors don’t have to worry about expired product when an emergency arrives. Finally, these companies can help insure that your pet receives the right blood type and help avoid any serious transfusion reaction.

Like humans, individual dogs and cats have different blood types. For our feline friends, it is pretty straightforward. Most cats are type A with a small percentage type B and a very few cats are the rare type AB.
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Join veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM Today: February 25, at 4pm PST/7pm EST

Everyone wants their pets to live as long as possible. Just as with people, there are many natural ways to promote optimal health and wellness as you pets age. Whether your dog is large or small, they can live up to 30 years long by following a few simple guidelines. Come and join us. PET CHAT LIVE!