Pet food manufacturers and veterinary leaders help provide needed information!

Chagrin Falls, Ohio-July 16, 2008 - With the health of their pets on the line, pet owners have shown an increased awareness and concern for how commercial pet foods are produced. Many are choosing alternative sources when providing nutrition for their pets.

There are more than 15,000 brands of pet food offered in the United States and the responsibility for insuring the safety of those foods lies with the FDA, the USDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Consumers have choices ranging from dry kibble that provides convenience and a long shelf life to canned and semi moist foods that look good enough for humans to eat.

Through a combination of quality ingredient selection, proper compounding, and a cooking process that destroys harmful microorganisms and enzymes, pet food manufacturers help to insure the safety of the pet’s food. The benefits derived from this attention to detail are evident in the extended longevity of our dogs and cats over the last few decades.

Home cooked meals have provided a strengthening of the human-animal bond for some pet owners, but veterinary experts agree that people should take time to discuss the possible concerns of this type of diet with their veterinarian. Nutritional deficiencies can be easily avoided with a balanced vitamin mineral supplement like PAAWS or VitaLife when feeding meals prepared at home. Whether discussing the merits of a particular diet or trying to decide which commercial food is best for your pet, veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne offers several recipes for dogs and cats and is available for consultation toll free at 1-866-372-2765, to help you make an informed choice.
For more information and ideas on keeping your pet in tip top shape visit: www.DrCarol.com.

Canine Hypertension numbers may be increasing due to better screening.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio- July 19. 2008 - For people, avoiding high blood pressure entails eating right, getting enough exercise, avoiding high risk activities such as smoking and drinking, and hopefully getting the right combination of genes. Since our dogs rarely indulge in any high risk activities, why are veterinarians concerned about hypertension in our pets?

Measuring blood pressure is a standard practice in most human doctors’ offices and has been for many years. It is also a fairly simple and straightforward procedure, ultimately giving the M.D. an accurate and repeatable vital sign. For our pets, however, the measurement is not as easy. First, for many years, there has not been a good, reliable, non-invasive method of measuring blood pressure in pets. Second, the body shape of our dogs and cats make it more difficult to get accurate, reproducible readings, and finally, it has historically not been an important enough vital sign to worry about in pets.

Recent research is now showing that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is much more common in pets than previously thought. Some studies have shown that up to 93% of dogs with kidney problems also suffer from an increased blood pressure. Luckily, primary hypertension, which is very common in people, is less common in pets. The good thing about this is that treating the underlying problem can often help alleviate the blood pressure increases. However, high blood pressure in our pets rarely shows any outward signs. A dog that suddenly loses his vision is perhaps the most common clinical sign of hypertension.

As technology has advanced, devices for easily taking a blood pressure reading on our pets have also advanced. Now, many veterinarians keep a Doppler, non-invasive blood pressure monitor as part of their standard equipment. Although the skills for measuring blood pressure increase every year, it is important to remember that a single blood pressure measurement should never be used to determine if your pet has high blood pressure. Veterinarians will take into account the stress of the visit as well as other factors to help you determine what steps to take to protect your pet.
If your pet is over 9 years old, ask your veterinarian about measuring his or her blood pressure. Visit veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne online at www.carolonpets.com or call her toll free: 1-866-372-2765 to learn about how blood pressure measurements have advanced in veterinary medicine.

Recent surveys of pet owners have shown that more than 70% of them agree that their pet is part of the family. And, just like human family members, today’s advice on healthcare, discipline, and rearing comes from many different sources, including the Internet. Can you trust everything you read on the Web?

We live in an age of almost instantaneous information. 24-hour news stations, talk radio, and, of course, the Internet, have revolutionized the way we think and educate ourselves. It is easier than ever to research a topic and make decisions about almost any subject, even the medical care of our families and our pets. But is all that advice good? How do we filter what we find? How do we decide what is the best advice on caring for our four legged family members?

With the pet market expected to top more than $41 billion this year, many businesses have turned to the Internet to reach more pet owners and broaden their markets. Searching for pet related items on the Web will find everything from pet psychics to pet pharmacies to training aids and toys. With this explosion of information, many people might ask: “Are there Internet pet sites that you can trust?”

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It’s a talent to make the most productive sword swallower jealous. Our dogs have an uncanny ability to swallow dangerous objects, such as knives and sticks, and still act as if nothing was wrong. What drives these canine daredevils to eat such risky items?

The Labrador retriever mix trotted through the door of the hospital wagging her tail and generally happy to see everyone. Her owners were concerned because she had a brief history of productive and non-productive vomiting and had recently stopped eating. The pictures below show what the veterinarian was able to retrieve from her throat. Believe it or not, this pup walked out of the hospital the next morning, still wagging her tail.

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Chagrin Falls, Ohio-July 16, 2008 Avian flu is in the news, but did you know that dogs also have a new flu virus and it is spreading rapidly.

It all began in January 2004 with a sudden outbreak of respiratory disease among 22 racing greyhounds at a Florida racetrack. Most of the dogs developed a mild fever followed by a cough that lasted about 14 days, and then recovered. But slightly more than one third of the dogs died after developing hemorrhaging in the lungs. Within six months, the virus turned up in other racing greyhounds at tracks in six other states- then at 20 tracks in 11 states, and now the new virus has affected pet dogs in over 20 states.

The canine flu virus actually mutated from a virus that has affected horses for over forty years. And since there has never been a case of the equine virus affecting humans, experts are fairly certain that the canine virus will not infect humans either. But with the recent news and hype about avian flu strains that may infect humans, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is watching closely.

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Most owners, the return of spring is a joyous occasion. The opportunity to spend quality time with your pet outdoors can be an exhilarating experience. Just be sure to watch out for some sneaky critters waiting to feast on your pet’s blood!

Everyone is well aware of the irritation that fleas can cause our pets, as well as pesky mosquitoes spreading heartworm disease. But another problem parasite that shows up in the spring and stays until about October is the tick – and they can cause serious problems, some of them deadly.

There are over 850 known species of ticks in the world and these relatives of spiders can be found as parasites on mammals, birds, and even reptiles. Here in the United States, dog and cat owners have less than a dozen species to deal with, but all of these ticks can harbor a variety of serious diseases, such as tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme Disease.

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Dr. Carol,

I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful products that I have my little dog, Brownie use. A few months ago she was having trouble getting up and going up steps. After being on the joint and hip supplements for only about 2 months she now has no hesitation getting upland she also runs up the steps’ have had her on the PAAWS for about 3 years and her health is very good. She is about 13 years old and gets around as good as she did when she was a lot younger. I can’t thank you enough for the great products and the compassion you have for our little pets. I will always have her use your products as they are the best in my opinion. Anyone who truly cares about their pets should look at your products.

Brownie says thanks too.

Sincerely, Tom O.  
Smyrna, TN

Just wanted to pass along we fed our 3 chihuahuas Waggin Train Jerky Tenders and one of the dogs has become seriously ill. The vet suspects the tenders and so do we, as that was the only new variable in their routine. Of course, the mfg has responded and said they all test negative ‘blah, blah, blah’. These were purchased a couple of weeks ago at Target. Target has not responded to my complaint.

I have been researching these treats and found several dog owners with similar experiences. Some of the pets have died. I tried to give them something I thought was healthy and save a couple of bucks at the same time. Our dog has not recovered at this time and is still on medication. I have spend 100s of times what I saved.

No more products from China.

Rae
Atlanta, GA

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As summertime temperatures soar, heat related deaths of dogs increase as well!

Chagrin Falls, Ohio- July 7, 2008- Hot dogs may be a popular summertime treat for baseball fans and backyard cookouts, but allowing our canine friends to overheat is a potential fatal disaster!  Keeping our pets cool as the temperatures heat up doesn’t have to be a challenge if you keep a few easy facts in mind.

Dogs don’t sweat like people do; therefore, they rely on panting to cool themselves down during a warm day.  Even just a few hours in the hot sun can spell tragedy for the pet and the owner.  Everyone has heard about the horrors of dogs left in cars during summer days, but many of our pets can overheat easily in their own backyard.

Dogs need access to plenty of cool water and shade if they are going to be left outside for any extended period of time during warm weather.  Even the seasoned “outdoor dogs” can succumb to higher temperatures if adequate shade and water are not provided.   Short faced breeds, like Boxers and Bulldogs, are at higher risk because of their inability to pant effectively.

Signs that your pet may be experiencing heat stroke include:  an inability to stand, weakness while standing, vigorous panting, thick ropy saliva, and occasionally, bright red mucous membranes.

This situation is a medical emergency!!  Your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian without delay.  Immediately bring your pet to a cooler area out of the sun and apply cool, but not cold, water to the extremities.  A fan is often very helpful as well.  As soon as you can, load your dog into the car and go to your veterinarian.   Elevated body temperatures can be fatal to your pet in a matter of minutes!

Don’t let a preventable pet emergency spoil your summertime fun!  Ask your veterinarian about warm weather tips that will help your dog safe during the “dog days” of summer.

Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest updates on pet health. For more information call veterinarian Dr. Carol Osborne toll free at 1-866-372-2765.

Campaign against canine cancers expects eradication of disease within 10 to 20 years!

Chagrin Falls, Ohio- June 27, 2008- More than half of the dog-owning households in North America will experience the pain and distress of learning their beloved pet has cancer.  But now, thanks to the efforts of the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) and their Canine Cancer Campaign, our pets may have an opportunity to beat this disease.   Even better news is that this campaign may end up helping people in their own battle against cancer!

The Morris Animal Foundation has spent 60 years promoting and protecting animals through their funding of humane animal health studies and, more importantly, sharing the information from those crucial initiatives.  Their current Canine Cancer Campaign hopes to raise $30 million in five years in order to cure and eliminate this canine killer.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two.  In fact, one dog out of every four will die from this dreaded disease.  Owners of purebred dogs face even greater risk - estimates from the Golden Retriever Foundation show that about 60% of this breed suffers from cancer.

Working in conjunction with leading scientists, veterinary schools and pharmaceutical companies, MAF eventually hopes to involve all of the 44 million dog-owning households in their fund raising efforts.  Their aggressive main goal is to eradicate canine cancer within ten to twenty years. 

But, MAF also hopes to more fully educate dog owners about their options if their pet is diagnosed with any sort of growth, malignant or benign.  Already, early funding and collaboration has sponsored a tissue bank as well as multiple studies and an initiative to offer free cancer consultations for pet owners.

This campaign may also have far-reaching benefits.  Since humans and dogs share many types of cancer, research into treatments and prevention of the disease may help us to understand and win our own battles with cancer. 

Hope is available for dogs and their owners.  With a little luck and a lot of effort, we may defeat cancer by the time your new puppy reaches old age!

Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest pet health updates. Veterinarian and author Dr. Carol Osborne offers cancer consultations and natural treatments for dogs and cats. To make an appointment for your dog or cat or to talk with Dr. Osborne call Toll Free 1-866-372-2765.