By Dr Nina Mantione

Okay, I have to admit, in this very public blog, that my five-pound Chihuahua got into the chocolate we bought at the beach – while we were still on vacation. (He’s small enough that he gets to go pretty much everywhere with us.) While I handle toxin ingestions on a regular basis at work, it is a different story to handle it in my own dog away from home.   I induced vomiting and up came the chocolate – no harm done and crisis averted, but I realized that it was an experience worthy of a blog.

Toxin ingestion is a very, very common occurrence in the pet population.  Pets eat toxic plants, their owners’ medications, toxic foods, anti-freeze and rat poison – to name a few.  Usually, like in my case, owners discover the ingestion right away, but sometimes it goes unnoticed until symptoms start to occur.

So what can you do when your cat or dog eats something it shouldn’t?  Ideally, you should go straight to your veterinarian as soon as possible.  If it is early enough, we can induce vomiting (if it is safe to do so), and hopefully bring up as much of the toxic substance as possible.  We can also administer activated charcoal, which is useful in decreasing the absorption of toxins.  Your veterinarian may do blood work to monitor for systemic effects of certain toxins, and then base further treatment on those results.

But what if, say, you are on vacation with your pet? I would recommend that you try to find a nearby emergency clinic, and go there as quickly as possible – it is better to be safe than sorry.  If getting to a veterinarian is difficult, fortunately, there is a very useful website and phone number every pet owner should know.  

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline is very similar to the human Poison Control.  A phone call to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control isn’t free, but it is well worth the $65 fee that they charge for their services. Their website is www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/  and the hotline number is 888-426-4435. A call to the hotline will let you know how to treat toxin ingestion, and help you understand just how concerned you need to be.

Hopefully, you will never need the services of your veterinarian, or the Poison Control hotline for a toxin ingestion, but it is good to be prepared.  And, I would recommend that you bring that information with you when you travel – just in case.

Dr Nina Mantione

“I hear a heart murmur. ”

This phrase always provokes a look of fear and concern from pet owners.  More than once I have seen it produce tears.  But I am quick to point out that a heart murmur is not necessarily the sign of a major health concern.

A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound that can be heard with a stethoscope.  Instead of the normal “lub-dub lub-dub” we hear something like “lub-woosh”.  That woosh sound means that blood flow in the heart is abnormally turbulent, either due to blood flowing in the wrong direction or through too small of an opening.  Sometimes the underlying cause of a murmur is very serious, sometimes it is benign, but mostly it is somewhere in the middle – a problem that needs to be monitored, but isn’t an emergency.

This abnormal blood flow is caused by changes to the normal structure of the heart, and can either be congenital (something the pet was born with) or acquired (something that has occurred over time). 

Heart murmurs are graded on how loud they are. A grade 1 murmur is very soft, while a grade 5 or 6 is so pronounced that the animal’s chest will actually vibrate with each heart beat.  Some of the time the loudness of the murmur correlates with severity of disease, but we can’t reliably use loudness to predict whether or not a murmur is the sign of something more serious.

The only way to have a heart murmur adequately evaluated is to have an ultrasound, or echosonography done of the heart.  This test is great because it is noninvasive and gives us a great deal of information about the inner workings of the heart.  I personally try to refer my clients to a veterinary cardiologist to have a heart murmur evaluated.  These veterinarians have devoted their careers to understanding the heart, and I am most comfortable consulting them for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

So…if your veterinarian someday says to you “I hear a heart murmur,”  don’t panic.  Take a deep breath, and ask any questions you may have, have it further evaluated, and take heart (I couldn’t resist the pun – sorry!), it most likely isn’t as scary as it sounds.

By Dr Nina Mantione

I love summer, but as much as I love the endless summer nights, I hate the endless  itching! In my area, it seems like every other patient I see this time of year is an itchy, scratchy mess. And my patients’ pet parents are bleary eyed from being kept up half the night by the thumping and licking of a scratching pet.  By the time they come to see me, or a veterinarian like me, things are usually a little desperate.

Summer (actually late spring through mid-fall) is the season for allergic dermatitis, aka: atopy; seasonal allergies; or allergic skin disease. These are the very same allergies that give people hay fever.  Allergies to pollens from grass and trees manifest more commonly with skin symptoms in dogs and cats, rather than the respiratory symptoms typically experienced by people.  And – sadly – for those of you hoping for a magic pill, as the billion dollar antihistamine industry can attest to – there is no cure for allergies. 

I feel for my itchy patients.  I see little white dogs whose feet are pink from licking, and Labradors with secondary ear infections stinky enough to stop you in your tracks.  My affected cats seem to be able to lick themselves half bald without their owners ever seeing them actually grooming.  Having once been the victim of a horrible case of poison ivy, I can sympathize with the torment of a summer full of enough itchiness to make your skin bleed.  I do my best to hold the symptoms at bay.  Pet owners leave the office with loads of antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics and expensive shampoos, but the relief these provide is often temporary.  More expensive therapies are available, and, while they better (and are covered by Petplan pet insurance) they too are not 100% guaranteed to be effective.  I probably make more referrals to the veterinary dermatologist in the months of July and August than I do in all of the other months combined.

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do, short of moving to Antarctica (I’m fairly sure that all of that ice will lower the pollen counts), to get rid of the seasonal allergies altogether.  We just have to buckle down, ensure there isn’t an underlying food allergy, control the symptoms, fight the itching and wait for the first frost to come.

Playing ball in the backyard? Catching Frisbees in the fields? Chasing a puck in the pasture? (Enough alliteration yet?) Regular exercise for you and your pet is a must, but be aware that your canine quarterback can suffer from sports-related injuries in much the same ways as human athletes. In fact, the most common orthopedic injury in our dogs is directly analogous to one of the most well-known professional sports injuries – the dreaded ACL tear. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the supportive ligaments in the knee joint. Complete or partial tears of the ACL cause pain, swelling and often instability of the joint. In animals, because of a difference in anatomical terminology, we tend to use the term cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) more commonly, but the two terms are often used interchangeably.

So, how do these injuries occur in pets? Well, it usually takes a severe twisting or jarring motion to cause the CCL ligament to rupture, but studies suggest that around 75% of pets that suffer CCL tears have a degree of predisposition due to genetics, obesity, age or concurrent disease. Additionally, when one knee has suffered an injury, there’s a much increased chance of the other knee also suffering a tear within the next 12-28 months.

Fortunately, medical advances and better post-operative care mean that there’s never been a better chance of getting your superstar back on all four feet in record time. However, advanced surgical techniques like tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and then after-care like hydrotherapy can come with a hefty price tag – surgery alone can top $5,000. When you consider that Americans spend over $1.2 billion dollars per year on CCL repairs alone, you can see why more pet owners are looking to pet insurance to help manage the financial trauma.

So, as head coach for your pooch:

-          Make sure they spend as little time on the bench as possible, make sure your pets stay lean and fit.

-          Look out for anyone that needs to go on the injury report; keep a keen watch out for any limping after exercise and contact your vet immediately.

-          Preparation before any big game is key; get a pet insurance policy in place BEFORE your pet runs into a problem.

by Dr. Nina Mantione

I love my shelter cats.  That is not to say I am immune to the blue-eyed charms of the beautiful Himalayan I saw in my office for her wellness visit a couple of weeks ago, but my cats from the “wrong side of the tracks” have a charm all their own.

Last September, our sweet 17-year-old cat, Lillith, passed away from kidney failure.  A month after we lost her, I read an article about how crowded our local shelter was becoming.  Still missing my Lillith, the article reminded me that 17-years-ago my husband and I chose her after she thrust her skinny little kitten leg through the bars of the cage at a shelter and beckoned us over.  This memory, along with the troubling article, prompted me to drag one patient husband and four excited kids to the overcrowded shelter to find a new feline addition to our family.  A shelter volunteer us  told us they had over 600 cats in need of homes!  I wanted to teach my children about animal shelters and adoption, so naturally we couldn’t leave empty-handed.  And even though we went there for just one cat, we couldn’t help but fall in love with two!

A week later we returned to pick up our two newly spayed and neutered young adult cats.  Shelter rules stipulate that no animal leaves if not spayed or neutered – even when the adopter is a veterinarian! This rule ensures that there are no “accidental” litters finding their way back to the shelter, and saves the adopting family the full cost of a spay or neuter.

When you consider the health benefits of spaying and neutering, as well as the fact that spayed and neutered pets receive a discount on their pet insurance, adopting a cat is a bargain that is hard to resist.  The adoption fee covers all of the medical care the pets have had while in the shelter, and any additional amount allows the shelter to help other animals in need. 

So, while they may not have the stunning beauty of a purebred, my scrappy duo is a charming pair.  Sookie, short and stocky, has an opinion about everything and has appointed herself “spokescat” for the household.  Godric’s Roman nose gives him character as he sprawls on our bed, looking  around as if he can scarcely believe his good fortune to have gone from a two foot square cage to a fluffy, clean, down comforter. 

Best of all is our family’s good fortune to have been able to provide homes for these two very grateful (and now somewhat spoiled) alley cats. Almost every day one of my children will say to me, “These cats are sure lucky we picked them!”  But I tell them that we are the lucky ones.

So, as I tell my clients all the time – do yourself a favor and visit your local shelter.  Find your own grateful new addition, and you may find yourself feeling equally as smitten!

Every Monday here at Petplan, I receive a list of the week’s more unusual pet insurance claims. This week, two of these jumped out at me because they were for a relatively unusual breed: the Vizsla. It’s not uncommon for a couple of our “I-ate-a-spatula-with-cake-mix-on-it” or “running-full-speed-into-the-tv-because-there-was-a-rabbit-on-it” claims to be for Golden Retrievers or Labradors, but it was surprising to see Vizslas featured twice.

For those unfamiliar with the breed, they’re a sporting dog originating over 1,000 years ago in Hungary as companions and working dogs of the Magyar tribes. Fancy heritage, no? As you can see from the picture, they’re easy on the eye, too!

My experiences with Vizslas in a clinical setting has been pretty wide and varied but speaks volumes of the breed. A couple of examples are below:

-          Severe chest lacerations – As with many sporting breeds, if a Vizsla spots a small, running animal (if they’re not on the leash) they can be off like a shot. In a recent case we saw, a rabbit caught the attention of our brave hunter but then a barbed wire fence made the hunter the hunted! Fortunately, the lacerations healed well but required several minor operations. Cost? Around $1,500.

-          Diabetic chocolate ingestion – Intelligent, curious, hungry. Not a good combination when Dad’s special valentine chocolates have been left lying around. Now, chocolate is bad news for dogs and ingestion of a mixed box of milk and dark chocolate can be tough to treat. However, in this case the bad news was compounded by the fact that diabetic chocolates tend to use the artificial sweeteners mannitol or xylitol. Unfortunately, xylitol can be highly toxic and, since the confectioner was closed, we had to treat this as a worst-case scenario and treat aggressively. Fortunately, everything worked out well but the bill topped $2,000.

-          Routine blood draws – One of the reasons vets and techs love athletic breeds like Vizslas, Weimeraners and Greyhounds is that their veins are fantastically easy to draw blood from! There’s nothing better than having a nice, plump vein to draw blood for annual heartworm and blood tests. The drawback? Being on the smart side, they often know something’s awry and the “blood-draw- 3-legged-dance” with a vet or tech hanging onto the other foot is not uncommon!

These days, Vizslas are becoming increasingly popular as pets because of their incredibly sweet nature, impressive athleticism and generally high level of intelligence – making them ideal dogs for young, active families.

A common question asked of me (and I suspect all vets) by friends, family and complete and utter strangers is, “What breed of dog would you get, if you had a choice?” Now, my normal answer is a Border Collie-mix. The inevitable next question? “Why?” OK, so, in today’s blog, by popular demand, I’ll try and justify my seemingly arbitrary choice with a melding of breed information, risk analysis and a little lesson in genetics.

Firstly, why a Border Collie? Having worked for a decent amount of time with trained sheep dogs, I have great respect for the breed. For my money, they’re the smartest kids in the game. On top of that, they are also one of the healthiest pure-bred breeds with a lower incidence of serious genetic disease than almost any other dog.

So, why not choose a pure-bred Border Collie? Well, the mixed-breed part is a little more complex. Essentially, using the law of averages and the basic tenets of genetics, while a sheepdog may be healthy, a mixed breed should be even healthier.

OK, so “mix breeds are healthier,” right? Why should that be the case? Well, in all animals, there’s evidence that mixing blood lines results in a healthier individual – a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor.” A higher variation in genes means less chance of negative genetic traits in the offspring. Simple as that! (Of course, the same is true for pure-bred dogs – avoiding breeding within the same bloodline just makes good genetic sense.)

And the punchline? Just because a mutt doesn’t have designer “genes” doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve the best pet insurance available!

It is a shocking fact, but one in three pets will get lost during their lifetime. Without identification, 90% of them will not return home. In fact, according to The Humane Society of the United States, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their way back to their original owners.  
 
There are different types of chips available from different manufacturers; your vet will be able to advise you on which chip is best for your pet. An added bonus to getting your pet microchipped is that you will be able to receive a 10% discount off any Petplan insurance policy! 
 
Though there are many identification systems available to pet owners, microchipping and tattooing are the only real forms of permanent identification. The “microchips” used for pet identification are actually a tiny transponder encased in a special type of plastic or surgical glass. The microchip can be implanted at your veterinarian’s office. The standard site for implantation is underneath the skin between the shoulder blades. This procedure does not require anesthesia, but many young pets are chipped while undergoing their spay or neuter procedure.
 
Most of the microchips are active for at least 25 years. The chips are detected by special scanner that pick up a unique combination of numbers and letters that can be traced back to your pet. In order for this trace process to be successful, make sure that any microchipped pet has been properly registered with the chip manufacturer. And be sure to update the information if your address changes!

The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and chances are, every time you are out in the garden, your dog is right there beside you, putting all four of his green paws to work on your flower beds.

Over the past year, Petplan has paid out numerous claims to pet owners whose dogs and cats have helped themselves to the fruits (and nuts, and mushrooms) of their labor. And the reasons range from accidentally breaking a plant pot with one’s head (vet bills totaling $250), to swallowing too many cypress nuts (with vet bills totaling more than $1,200).

To avoid an unexpected, and costly, trip to the veterinarian this spring, keep these top 10 tips at hand. Of course, if you do end up at the vet, at least you’ll have Petplan to help defray the costs!

10) Gardening organically is good for the planet, and your pets. The herbacides and pesticides used in some popular gardening products can potentially make your dog sick. If you do choose to use these products in your garden, try to prevent your dog from digging-in/eating/licking the treated areas. 

9)  If you have especially curious dogs, consider planting raised beds to protect your garden from the ever-popular ‘what’s under the soil’ game. Funnily enough, that game isn’t as much fun for you as it is for your dog.  A raised bed could do wonders for helping you enjoy spending time in the garden with your ‘inquisitive’ pets.

8)  Avoid planting too much around the perimeter of your yard. Dogs instinctively (and repeatedly) check out fence lines and boundaries. Keeping an area clear for your dog will help keep both your stress levels down!

7) Copper barrier tape, which deters snails and slugs from crossing into your garden by emitting a tiny positive electric charge, is a good alternative to snail bait. A lot of snail bait contains metaldehyde, which is highly poisonous to dogs and cats.

6) Know your onions! When dogs eat large amounts of onions, they may suffer red blood cell destruction. Try to keep your dog away from any onions, including chives, you are growing in your garden.

5) Rhubarb leaves are toxic for you and your pets! They contain oxalic acid and in quantity, the acid damages kidneys. Rhubarb stalks are delicious (mmm, rhubarb pie!) – but are better enjoyed by you, not your pets.

4) Avoid trees with toxic bark, such as cherry (contains cyanide-like components). And, be careful around trees that yield stone fruits (apricots, plums). If your dog gobbles up some fallen fruit, their pits could cause an obstruction, landing you with an unexpected trip to the vet.  

3) Tannin is a canine toxin, and almond and walnut hulls (found in great quantity near the base of walnut and almond trees) contain lots of tannins. Watch out for moldy walnuts as well, as they are also problematic for dogs.

2) Be sure to put a fence or other barrier around plants of the nightshade family –which includes common plants like eggplant, tomato and potato.  Their foliage and stems contain dangerous alkaloids that can actually kill a dog, if too much is ingested. Also, flowers such as Foxglove, Belladonna and Larkspur can have toxic effects on the heart and circulation.  

1) Avoid cocoa bean mulches. Their chocolaty smell is very enticing to your puppy or dog, but just like chocolate, cocoa bean mulches contain theobromine, which is toxic for dogs.

By keeping these simple tips in mind, you can help your pet stay safe this summer. Happy gardening!

Similar to hay fever in humans, pets can suffer from seasonal allergies too. Whether it is to a certain type of pollen or something in the leaf litter, the common signs are licking and chewing at paws or skin, increased scratching at ears and sometimes obvious reddening or scabbing of the skin. While many pets may require medications to help them through these tough times, there are some steps you can take to help lessen the signs:

If your pet chews at their paws, make sure to gently clean them when they come in from playing or walking outside. Using even just plain warm water, or adding a little bit of a gentle pet shampoo can help to remove some surface allergens.

Add fish oils to their diet. Using Omega-3 oils (e.g. cod liver oil or salmon oil) can help to increase the overall health of their skin.

Use a hydrating shampoo. Ask your vet their advice on gentle hydrating shampoos to increase their skin’s natural resistance to irritation.

Despite these simple steps, many allergic pets will continue to have signs; consult with your vet on what they feel is the most appropriate form of treatment long-term.

From time-to-time, you may have leftover medications following a treatment for your pet’s illness or injury.  While it is sometimes appropriate to keep leftover medication for possible future use (always consult your veterinarian first!) usually, it is best to just throw away old medicines. Question is; what is the best, safest way to throw old medications out?

At one time, most people assumed the safest method of disposal was to simply flush unused medications down the toilet.  It was believed that flushing old, unused medications protected both children and pets from accidental ingestion, as well as decreased the chance of the medication being misused.

It turns out that flushing the medications down the toilet isn’t such a great idea. Improvements in technology have made it possible to detect very low concentrations of chemical wastes. Studies have shown that municipal wastewater treatment facilities do not remove all pharmaceutical wastes and by-products. This means that our nation’s rivers, streams, and even our drinking water have trace amounts of our pets (and our own!) pharmaceutical by-products in them.

Better safe than sorry.

Studies have shown that these trace pharmaceutical elements have no appreciable risk on human health. However, to help further  mitigate any potential risk to our environment, wildlife and ourselves, for that matter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America have created The SMAR_XT DISPOSAL Campaign to educate consumers about how to dispose of medicines in a safe and environmentally protective manner.

The SMARXT DISPOSAL Campaign gives straightforward, easy-to-follow advice on how to properly deal with and dispose of unused medications:

DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain. *

Be Proactive and Dispose of Unused Medication In Household Trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:

a) Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), crush it or add water to dissolve it.

b) Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.

c) Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash. 

d) Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.

Check for Approved State and Local Collection Programs. Another option is to check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy or other location for disposal.

Consult your pharmacist with any questions.

For further information, or to watch an instructional video on the correct disposal of medication, visit the Smarxt Disposal campaign website.

The first rule of being a pet parent is that it’s never wrong to call or bring your pet in to see the vet if you feel something is wrong. Remember, you’re the one who knows your pet best; if you feel something is awry, it’s up to you to do something about it.

However, here are some situations which Dr Ken Drobatz, Director of Emergency Service at University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital considers genuine emergencies and which should not wait until the morning. His list includes:

·         Difficulty Breathing

·         Altered Mental State

·         Weakness/Extreme Lethargy

·         Protracted Vomiting or Diarrhea (more than 24 hours)

·         Toxin Ingestion

·         Inability to Walk

·         Rapidly Distending Abdomen

·         Inability to Pass Urine, Despite Straining

·         Severe Trauma

·         Excessive Bleeding/Bruising

·         Passing out or Seizures

Any of these signs could indicate an emergency condition and you should seek immediate veterinary attention.

On a doggy wish-list, after a bottomless bowl of filet mignon or a fair shot at the next door neighbor’s pesky cat, your dog probably wishes for opposable thumbs. And, let’s face it, dew claws are no substitute. Not only are they worthless at opening treat bags and refrigerator doors, but they’re prone to painful tears, too. In fact, many vets recommend that dew claws be removed at spay or neuter to prevent future injuries, especially if they are particularly loose.

If your dog is already fixed, don’t fear, you can help to prevent tears or pulls by making sure that your pup’s nails are nice and short. If your dog does happen to get a dew claw injury, don’t worry too much; although it may bleed a lot, it’s a relatively minor injury your vet can fix right up. If this happens repeatedly, the dew claw can still be surgically removed in adult dogs.

P.S. Don't forget to celebrate "What if cats and dogs had opposable thumbs day?" on March 3rd!

How could anything so tiny and cute get into so much trouble? Kittens can be high-maintenance, but they’re well worth the investment of your time and love. “That’s all well can good,” you say,” but how can I keep this little furball safe when I’m at work?” For a fast, easy kitten-proofing plan, follow along:

Electric personalities: Protect your kitten from the dangers of domestic electricity by securing cords with pet-safe cord protectors and by using socket covers.

Delicates cycle: To kittens, an open laundry dryer looks like a warm, cozy place to nap. Be sure to keep the dryer door closed at all times.

Oh! de toilette: Thirsty kittens might try to sip from the toilet and lose their balance. To prevent missteps, keep you kitten’s water bowl filled and the toilet seat down.

Falling for you: Petplan receives heartbreaking pet insurance claims for kittens who get seriously hurt after falling from open windows, or even internal balconies. Keep all windows closed or well-screened and open balcony railings blocked off.

Curtain call: Kittens live to bat at strings, cords, anything hanging in reach. Help prevent falls and even strangulation by keeping window blind cords and curtains off limits to kitty.

Your pet, of course! It’s not always easy being green, but at Petplan, we believe it’s definitely worth it. We’re committed to helping animals and the earth by reducing our carbon paw prints. From less paper at the office to more natural care for our pets, Petplan’s green initiatives continue to spark media interest. The latest report, published on the AMEX openforum gets our culture right; we’re a Lean, Green Pet Insurance Machine.

And nobody knows this better than our pets. Whether they’re visiting our pet-friendly office or living it up at the dog park, we’ve got our pets living greener than ever. Move over plastic scoop bags, the green machine’s got something better. Check it out!

Bulk Up.  Fresh, local, nutritious foods and treats not only protect your pet’s health, but the earth as well.  Find a local resource you trust and buy in bulk to cut down on packaging and gas emissions on your way to the store.

Get in Gear.  Organic fabrics bring cozy comfort to your pet’s accessories and bedding. Choose top quality products made from recycled or sustainable fibers for a greener getup.

Mr. Green. Whether it’s your pet himself, or the mess he makes, let’s face it, you’re doing a lot of cleaning. Why not try earth and pet-safe products for all the dirty jobs? Pick grooming products made from natural ingredients without perfumes or additives that may bother your pet’s senses. And when it comes to cleaning, pass on the sulfates, phosphates or chemicals in favor of earth-safe alternatives.

The Poop on Scoop Bags. If it’s plastic, it’s landfill, no matter what’s inside. Join the pet care revolution. Choose bio-degradable bags to scoop responsibly.

Litterific! Now your kitty can spare the landfill last week’s litter with a flushable alternative featuring highly absorbent proteins and fibers made from natural corn. The finished product is an odor-controlling, clumping, dust-free litter box experience modestly called the World’s Best Cat Litter.

For even more tips on greener pet care, stop by Planet Green.

Petplan welcomes guest blogger and One Nation Under Dog author Michael Schaffer for his personal insights on America’s changing relationship with our pets. 

The Culture Clash
Why Does Dog-Fighting Persist in a Pet-Loving Country? Inside the Culture Clash over America’s Animals.
By Michael Schaffer

For pet lovers, the 21st century can seem like the best of times and the worst of times.

On the one hand, Americans are on track to spend $45 billion on their pets this year—a total that seems to be growing even though the recession has consumers tightening their own belts. For many people, pets have become full-fledged members of the family, meaning their care, feeding, and company get the same consideration that’s given to the nurturing of two-legged offspring. The phenomenon has given rise to whole new industries catering to those who want the best for their pet: Organic pet food, doggie day spas, space-age veterinary medicine, and pet-friendly airlines, among other things that not so long ago might have seemed improbable.

And you only have to glance at the array of media reports about America’s puppy love to know that some pet people take their devotion a step further: Ours is the age of pet chauffeurs, pet lawyers, and New York’s annual Pet Fashion Week.

On the other hand, there’s a drumbeat of more troubling news about pets in America. The age of the pet fashionista is also a time of shocking cruelty to animals. We’ve learned that many of the beloved pets people buy from stores were actually bred in horrific rural puppy mills, where animals are churned out as if they were bushels of tomatoes, the imperfect specimens killed off without a thought. We’ve seen catastrophic consequences of a pet-food market whose safety standards couldn’t cope with a mass poisoning. We’ve been buffeted by revelations about dog-fighting rings where animals are bred to fight to the death.

The financial crisis, too, has taken its toll: Even as pet spending remains remarkably resilient, there has been increase in abandonments, many of them by people who’ve been foreclosed.

How is it that one sector of the population can pay more attention to their pet’s nutrition than to their own, while another can see their death-matches as amusement? For those of us who live in Philadelphia, it can sometimes feel like we’re at the center of this national divide. On the one hand, the city is home to Petplan, a firm who’s very business—veterinary insurance—speaks to our growing devotion to pets. On the other hand, the city is also now the home to Michael Vick—the convicted dogfighter, NFL star, and walking, talking reminder of man’s capacity for viciousness towards animals.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years pondering our four-legged schizophrenia. I spent most of that time researching a book about Americans and their pets. The book, One Nation Under Dog, is a mostly happy story—a tale of how, over a generation or so, pets had wormed their way into a new place in America’s homes, hearts, and wallets. I came to the conclusion that the way we treat pets is a pretty good window into our national soul. The rise of ultra-premium dog food, professionalized dog training, and specialty veterinary surgeries is really a reflection of our evolving attitudes towards two-legged subjects like nurturing, education, and health. Walk the aisles of a pet superstore and you won’t just learn about pets; you’ll figure out all sorts of truths about us humans, too.

Some people seem to think there’s something creepy about all this: I can’t tell you how many people I met who seemed downright unhinged about how our allegedly spoiled pets are a sign that society is going down the drain. But I came to think of the new world of American pets as a mostly good thing. Pets make us happy. Pets teach us love. And, besides, we’d probably spend our money on useless electronic gadgets if Fido and Fluffy weren’t around.

As I did my research, though, I was always aware of a grim undercurrent—and I made it my business to seek out pet-lovers who had decided it wasn’t enough to simply protect their own animal. In humane organizations working to reduce pet abandonments, in political campaigns taking on puppy mills, and in outreach efforts teaching kids that dog-fighting is never OK, there’s a good deal of firepower aimed at overcoming various forms of pet cruelty. The fact that these campaigns get so much attention is evidence about how far we’ve come. (Could you imagine Senators from the 1950s holding hearings about dog food?).

All the same, the cluelessness of some of the bad actors—the puppy mill operators who don’t see anything wrong with keeping a breeding animal in a cage for her entire life, the guys claiming to be “too busy” to care for the pets they dump at an overcrowded shelter, and especially the dog-fighters who insist they “love” the animals whose lives they’re endangering—shows how far we still have to go.

Ultimately, what’s going on here is a culture clash, the same sort of thing that so passionately divides people about gay marriage or corporal punishment. Some people, and I’m one of them, think taking a pet on vacation is perfectly normal; other people think it’s bizarre. And if even I can say that’s a subject where reasonable folks can disagree, there are other places where it’s harder to find common ground. There are some people who think it’s perfectly OK to use your dog to show off your macho toughness, either by fighting them in a ring (which is illegal) or just intentionally training them to be fierce, loveless creatures who snarl at passersby (which isn’t). On the other side of the pet divide, the one that treats pets as family member, turning your pooch into a weapon is about as kosher as turning your five-year-old into one.

My hunch is that history is blowing our way. Not so long ago, making your pets sleep outdoors was common, too. Today, as behaviorists tell us that dogs need to be with their people, most people report that they at least keep pets inside, if not at the foot of the owner’s own bed. (When was the last time you saw a working doghouse?) From the spread of doggie day-cares to the number of governments that now permit people to provide for their pets in their wills, there’s a slow but steady shift towards a culture where a loving family attitude towards pets is normal.

But that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t try to hustle up those on the wrong side of this culture clash, especially the dog-fighters.

One October day in Harlem, I watched a particularly interesting effort to do just that. In tough neighborhoods across the country, a program called Training Wheels stages weight-pulling contests for dogs and their owners. It’s not much to look at: Competing dogs pull plastic sleds laden with bags of kibble; the much-advertised cash prizes are puny. That’s not the point: Staged in areas where casual, street-corner dog-fighting remains prevalent, the series of contests shows off another way to have some good, athletics alongside your dog—without hurting any animals or breaking the law. Owners whose dogs have fighting scars can’t win prizes, but everyone is welcome. The idea is to spread the word.

Based at an animal shelter in New York’s Hudson Valley, the Training Wheels program began with a fairly simple notion: If fewer people give up their animals, fewer animals face euthanasia at the pound. With maximum diplomacy and minimal judgment, volunteers would set out for high-abandonment areas looking for signs of pets who might face trouble—a dog chained up in a back yard, say. The idea was to initiate conversations where outreach workers could explain some of the concepts that are no-brainers elsewhere: Proper nutrition, spaying and neutering, accessing inexpensive training for snappish dogs. Access to such things would reduce abandonments. But it would also bridge some our lingering pet culture clashes.

The anti-fighting outreach, with its weight-pulling contests, came later. But after Michael Vick put that particular underworld on national display, the contests got significant attention, including an award-winning documentary on ESPN. They weren’t alone. Since the football star’s 2007 arrest, anti-fighting efforts have gotten a burst of energy. Tactics range from lobbying for more aggressive policing of animal-cruelty complaints to advocating legal changes that would throw the book at dog-fighters.

The most difficult part, though, remains the culture clash: How to reach out to those last, lingering, unconvinced people who think a little fighting is A-OK. Back in Philadelphia, Vick, of all people, has now joined this effort, speaking to school groups about his regrets. But the jury is still out on whether the kids see him as genuine or just someone trying to weasel his way back into respectable society.

One person who’s watching closely as the drama plays out is Jen Utley, perhaps the city’s best-known pet activist. Married to a star second baseman for the Phillies, Utley can also thank professional sports for her high public profile. But that’s about the only thing she shares with Vick. A board member of the state’s SPCA, Utley’s not content to stand pat with humane laws that have been toughened over the years. “The laws need to be stronger,” Utley says. “There need to not be warnings. There needs to be jail time. Remember, Michael Vick didn’t serve one day for dog-fighting. It was racketeering.” Today, now that Vick is back in football, Utley fears some people will celebrate his having “beat the system.”

Utley notes that prosecutions like the Vick case may become trickier as fighting rings morph into less formal, if equally cruel, phenomena. “The dog-fighting rings have changed. It used to be very, very structured. They have their own magazines, the people who do the rankings. It was a functioning business.” As those businesses—which represented a big, fat bulls-eye for law enforcement—go further underground, winning the culture clash is even more important. Until people stop wanting to stage dog-fights, no amount of police firepower can completely eradicate them.

On that front, Utley says, the attention brings with it a hint of progress. “I think it’s more socially unacceptable just because people know about it now. I’ve had so many people come up to me and say I cannot believe that it happens in Philadelphia,” she says. “There’s a strong level of education that we’re trying to re-ignite.”

Summer may be out but fleas and ticks are still in (and possibly on your pets). Many pet owners tend to forget about these irritating little creatures once the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change color, assuming that fleas and ticks are only a problem during the warm weather months. The misconception is that they are “summertime risks” for your dogs and cats. The truth is, your pets can be exposed to these parasitic critters throughout the entire year. Our pets’ natural curiosity, proximity to ground-level and love of exploration make fleas and ticks (not to mention the diseases they spread!) an important issue.

Ticks - When it comes to keeping an eye out for ticks, remember that they can be found not just in wooded areas and meadows but also in backyards and urban parks, especially if they are in proximity to woodlands. Although tall grass and the woods tend to be higher risk areas, city and suburban areas also harbor ticks. The key points in preventing tick-borne disease are: 

      1) Finding and removing these aggravating arthropods immediately. Check your pet regularly, especially after a romp in the park or a day spent outdoors. Ticks can make their way onto your pet even after a routine trip to your own backyard so PetPlan vets recommend checking for ticks daily.

      3) Follow your vet’s advice on appropriate vaccines and testing. Vets avoid over-vaccination whenever possible, so when they recommend a vaccine to protect your pet, it’s usually for good reason. I routinely recommend Lyme vaccine to many of my clients here in south-east Pennsylvania and have had excellent results when combining this with the two points above. However, even with the best intentions, no preventive or vaccine is 100% effective and it’s important to perform annual testing for tick-borne diseases like Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. Based on your geographic location and the relative risk to your pet, the best strategy is to be guided by your veterinarian in matters of testing and treatment.

Fleas - The word alone spreads fear into the hearts of pet parents everywhere. The last thing anyone wants is a flea infestation taking over your home and attacking everyone inside, canine, feline and human, alike. The most common problem associated with fleas in our pets is flea allergic dermatitis (FAD). This disease is routinely seen in cats and dogs and is caused by your pet’s reaction, not to the actual flea bite, but to the saliva that is injected into the skin. While many pets can harbor fleas and show minimal scratching, FAD-affected individuals only need one or two bites to set them itching and scratching like a wild thing.

To make things even worse, fleas don’t just cause itching and irritation, they can actually carry and transmit bacteria and other parasites. Specifically, fleas can spread the bacteria that causes cat-scratch disease (CSD) in people as well as carry tapeworm eggs that they can spread to our pets.

The key to flea-free living comes down staying current with the prevention regime your vet recommends. Fleas can easily jump from host to host, which is how they spread so easily from an infected pup to your unsuspecting pooch. Because of their rapid life-cycle and the hardiness of flea eggs, an infestation can be very difficult to get rid of; in the words of Ben Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

To keep your pets healthy, happy and parasite-free, be informed and smart about appropriate prevention measures and don’t hesitate to ask your vet about increased risks that might be local to your area.

Cat do their own thing. That’s one of the reasons we like them so much. However, this can also mean that we’re not quite as aware of their habits as we are of their canine compadres. Some subtle changes can be tough to pick up, especially if you have more than one cat. In fact, the majority of cats that I diagnose with diabetes are not initially seen for any specific reason. Nope, they come in for ADR. ADR, you ask? Yup, “Ain’t Doin’ Right”!

Most cat parents just feel that their feline friend is just a little “off” or “not feeling himself.” Probing questions from your vet may show that you notice more than you think: “yes, he does seem to be drinking more water” or “you know, the litter is a lot more sodden than usual.” Based on what your vet sees, a simple blood and urine test confirms that your pet’s glucose regulation is awry; a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

While this can be shocking news, believe me, diabetes is not the worst thing that could happen. Yes, it will involve fairly extensive testing during the regulation period, and yes, it requires lifelong treatment but the silver lining is that it is eminently treatable. Diabetes is certainly a serious disease but the good news is that we have the tools and the expertise to manage this condition effectively for the life of your pet. Petplan vets can help. Read on for their handy information on the disease, symptoms and treatment.

Believe it
Diabetes isn’t just for people, fuzzy little kitties get it too. The root of the problem is insulin, a hormone that helps the cells in our bodies to utilize glucose from the bloodstream. When the pancreas stops producing insulin or when a cat becomes resistant to it, cells are no longer able to accept the required amount of glucose. In short, insulin is the key to getting essential glucose into a cell. Without the key, cells aren’t able to do their job due to lack of fuel.

Spot it
You know your cat better than anyone. By keeping a close eye on his habits you’re more likely to spot the signs of diabetes (or even just ADR) in the early stages. While obese cats, elderly cats and neutered male cats are all at increased risk for diabetes, it is possible for any cat to contract diabetes at any point in his or her life.  The most common signs are:
- Increased thirst - Spending more time in front of the water bowl or seeking water from unusual sources like the toilet or bath.
- Increased and more frequent urination - An increase in the amount of urine in the litter box or even “accidents” around the house. The urine tends to be very diluted and is not usually strong smelling.
- Increased appetite – Your cat’s body is telling him that it’s not getting enough food; this can result in what seems to be an unreasonably large appetite despite sometimes losing weight.
- Walking low on their back legs – An abnormality caused by the way that hyperglycemia affects connective tissue can cause your cat to place a greater portion of their back leg on the floor while walking. Look for your cat walking on more than just their back foot; often the entire portion of the lower leg up to the hock will be placed on the floor.

As cells call out for glucose, the body starts to mobilize fat stores and even muscle tissue despite the fact that there is an excess of glucose in the blood. In advanced, untreated diabetes, this can lead to weakness, depression, rapid breathing, coma and even death. Needless to say, if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get your cat to his veterinarian immediately for blood work and a complete diagnostic exam.

Treat It
The cornerstones of diabetic treatment are insulin therapy and diet. The goal of a change in diet is two-fold:
1) To maintain (or achieve) a healthy weight that encourages good glucose regulation. Most of the prescription diets made for this purpose are low in calories to ensure that your furry diabetic can stay lean.
2) To use a food that is relatively high in fiber so that it encourages a steadier release of glucose into the bloodstream. A high-fiber food helps to avoid “spikes” in glucose that can hinder glucose regulation.
Your veterinarian should be able to give you samples of wet and dry foods for your pet to try.

The part of treatment that most pet owners dread is the insulin injection. Almost all of my clients are shocked at how easy this becomes; most of their cats don’t even realize they’re getting a shot. The hardest part of giving insulin injections is adjusting schedules so that there is always someone there to give the insulin. Commitment is key: your cat will most likely need injections every 12 hours for the rest of his life.

While this may all seem very daunting, most diabetics do very well once they are through the stabilization period (usually one to three months of weekly or monthly testing) and often thrive on the attention. For help along the way, take the time to ask your vet for educational resources and advice for caring for your furry friend.

January gets all the credit. It may be the official start of the calendar year, but for most of us, September marks a new beginning. With the kids off to school and social calendars gearing up for fall, September ushers in new routines for everyone, especially your dog. After months of your good company, furry family members are left to wonder: “Where’d everybody go?” With best friends away all day and shorter sunlight hours for outdoor play, the change of season can lead to separation anxiety, stress and shoe-chewing, rug-peeing boredom. To help ease your pup through this tough transition (and spare your furnishings,) occupy those idle paws with these pup-proven boredom busters.

Pup Puzzlers.  One part delicious treat, one part toy, the food puzzler is a doggie dream.  To keep your dog happy and engaged long after the morning rush, pack peanut butter or pumpkin puree inside a Kong toy and freeze it. Or, for cooler days, just fill the Kong with a mix of kibble and wet dog food for an extra special treat. Then, present the food puzzle to your dog just before leaving each day.  He’ll be so busy figuring out how to get the goodies out, he won’t have time to whine or cry at the door. Some of Petplan policyholders also like to tune in to TV or special DVDs designed just for pets. The background noise and engaging images keep them company until their people come home.

Mid-Day Dash.  You know it’s true. Well-exercised dogs are well-behaved dogs. Go too long between walks and your dog will release his energy onto anything in paw’s reach (think: your bed pillows!). Even if the pooch has outdoor access while you’re away, a mid-day walk or run makes life much easier for everyone involved. If you can’t make it home mid-day yourself, maybe consider hiring a dog walker to dash your dog. It’s good for everybody. Your dog gets exercise, fresh air and good human company, and you come back to a home that looks much like the one you left.

Predictable Plans.  Just like kids, dogs do best with routines. To help minimize stress during transition times, try to keep your dog’s eating, exercising and snoozing schedules as predictable as possible.  With a little planning, you’ll help your dog flow from season to season, wagging all the while.

Your dog’s toys are worth every penny. Day in and day out, these virtually pup-proof products stand up to tug-of-war, backyard fetch-a-thons and super slobber. But even the toughest toys need maintenance from time to time. To keep your dog’s top toys in fighting shape and safe for play, Petplan vets recommend an occasional toy box audit.

It’s easy. Just take a closer look at your dog’s toys.  Is that stuffed squirrel losing its tail? Has the mouse toy lost its squeak? And what’s that dried junk on the rope toy? By taking the time to clean (or toss) your dog’s toys you can help prevent all sorts of unsavory situations from choking accidents to bacterial infections. Here’s how to get started:

Dishwasher:  After your dog finishes her Kong toy or other food puzzle, rinse it out and scrub the inside with a toothbrush to loosen stuck-on food. Then pop it the dishwasher along with any other rubber, nylon and plastic toys and run it on the hot cycle without detergent. One cycle will wash off all the nasty germs.

Every puppy parent experiences it. Suddenly, you’re the most popular person in the world. Strangers stop you on the street to pet your puppy. The neighbor you never met just happens to stop by to welcome your new “fur baby.” Puppies bring out the best in everybody. So the temptation to parade your new puppy around the dog park is understandable. But, as any veterinarian will tell you, it’s best to restrict your puppy from public outdoor areas until he’s at least four months old and has received his full canine parvovirus vaccination regime.  That’s because canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), more commonly called “parvo” is a highly contagious and often fatal virus that attacks dividing cells (mainly in the bone marrow and intestines) of puppies and dogs who are not vaccinated.

Since the virus has been around for such a long time and because it’s so hardy, the safest assumption to make is that it can be everywhere outside of areas that you can clean and disinfect yourself. That means pet stores, sidewalks, puppy training classes and even other dogs are potential risks for young or unvaccinated puppies. Obviously, infected dogs are the most virulent source of infection but this resilient virus can live for long periods of time in conditions from extreme heat to freezing cold. Thus it’s important to wash clothes and shoes that may have been exposed to the virus to prevent contaminating new environments (i.e. your house!).

Most vets will take the time to inform new pet parents about the dangers and symptoms of parvo virus for their new puppies. Considering that the majority of deaths from parvo occurs in just 48-72 hours from the first sign of symptoms, immediate veterinary care is essential to save a dog’s life.  Common parvo symptons include:

-          Lethargic

-          Refusing to eat

-          Fever

-          Vomiting

-          Severe bloody diarrhea

-          Dehydration

If you suspect that your puppy has parvo, your veterinarian will likely confirm the diagnosis with a specialized fecal test. To date no mainstream medications exist to combat the virus directly, so your vet will give supportive care to treat against the two main risks: dehydration and systemic bacterial infection. The mainstays of parvo treatment are intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics, both of which can be required for many days. To avoid the risk of exposing other dogs to the virus, infected pets are held in an isolation unit during treatment. Infected dogs should also have their toys, bowls, bedding and accessories disinfected with a bleach mixture (1 part bleach to 30 parts water).

Every year, Petplan receives claims for puppies and dogs who were infected with parvovirus and became gravely ill or have even died. Timely vaccination is key in preventing parvovirus infection. Work with your veterinarian and their team to make sure that any dog that you adopt or buy has had the appropriate vaccines and is scheduled to receive the their boosters. Responsible breeders and shelters will have records of all of the vaccines that pets have received while in their care. Once your pet is vaccinated, ensure that you boost your pets vaccines (usually every three years for pets two years and older) or perform annual titers to test that your pet has adequate immunity to parvovirus.

For more information on preventing and treating parvo, ask your vet or check out the helpful content available at the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Your dog gets the best of everything. High-quality food, fresh air, exercise, and of course, loves -- what more could she need?   Other than comprehensive pet insurance, dogs really benefit from the nutritional boost of vitamin supplements to help keep them healthy.  And supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin can actually prevent and manage joint pain. But with so many supplements to choose from, how can you decide what’s best for your pet?

Petplan veterinarians encourage you to ask your vet before offering any vitamin or minerals supplements to your pet. She’ll likely consider your pet’s age, breed, diet and medical conditions before recommending supplements she trusts.  Your vet’s recommendation is also important because pet supplements are not reviewed or approved by the FDA and have absolutely no manufacture restrictions requiring consistent formulations. Ultimately, by heeding your vet’s advice, you can avoid choosing poor-quality pet supplements with improper ingredient levels or even heavy metals and pesticides. 

To help your vet select safe, reliable veterinary supplements, they learn to follow the ACCLAIM system below.  Check it out.  It can really come in handy when reviewing any products for your pet.

A = A name you recognize. Choose an established company that provides educational materials for veterinarians and other consumers. Is it a company that is well established?

C = Clinical experience. Companies that support clinical research and have their products used in clinical trials that are published in peer-reviewed journals to which veterinarians have access are more likely to have a quality product.

C = Contents. All ingredients should be clearly indicated on the product label.

L = Label claims. Label claims that sound too good to be true likely are. Choose products with realistic label claims.

A = Administration recommendations.  Dosing instructions should be accurate and easy to follow. It should be easy to calculate the amount of active ingredient administered per dose per day.

I = Identification of lot. A lot identification number indicates that a surveillance system exists to ensure product quality.

M = Manufacturer information. Basic company information should be clearly stated on the label including a website (that is up and running) or some other means of contacting customer support.

Where’s your bagel? Look no further than the furry breakfast bandit hiding under the table. Dogs will stop at nothing to savor the delicacies of people food. But many “table scraps” are not safe for pets. In fact, in 2007 alone, 130,000 calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center involved poisoning from common human foods and household items. Most dog people know about the dangers of chocolate poisoning, but what about other foods? Petplan vets line up the top toxic table foods to keep out of paw’s reach.

Raisin’ Hell. So sweet and delicious, it’s a shame we can’t share grapes and raisins with our furry friends. But even a small amount can cause kidney failure and even death for some dogs. In fact, just recently a Brittany Spaniel covered under Petplan racked up a $1,600 vet bill after devouring an entire canister of raisins. Thanks to excellent vet care, she’s back in action. Read her story here. http://www.petinsurancereview.com/petplanUS.asp

Not Nuts about Nuts. Many varieties of nuts can have a devastating effect on a dog’s nervous system. Walnuts and macadamia nuts especially are highly toxic to dogs, causing a range of symptoms from vomiting to paralysis to death.

Hold the Onions. Dogs generally aren’t big fans of onions, but if they just so happen to be on top of a delicious hamburger, they’ll likely make an exception. Unfortunately, repeated ingestion of onions can wreck havoc on a dog’s red blood cells causing anemia, and difficulty breathing.

Skip the Gauc. Avocados contain persin, a component that’s safe for people but often very dangerous to dogs. Ingestion of avocados in any form can cause heart, lung and/or tissue damage in dogs.

Candy Culprits. Many candy and gum products contain Xylitol, a common sweetener (often found in diet products) that can cause a major drop in a dog’s blood sugar. Dogs can experience seizures, loss of coordination and even long-term liver damage after eating certain candies and chewing gum products.

The Buzz on Caffeine.  Caffeine is a definite no no for dogs.  Not only will it them make restless and anxious, but can cause heart palpitations and damage to their central nervous systems.

Fortunately, most people foods won’t hurt your dog. But since certain ingredients are problematic (not to mention high in calories), it’s best not to sneak treats to your dog directly from the table. In the meantime, remember not to leave your meals unattended and to keep telephone numbers for your regular veterinarian, the nearest 24-hour vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number (888) 426-4435 close at hand. This way, if your dog does manage to nab a whole box of brownies from your kitchen table, help is as close as your phone.

Gazing into your pet’s eyes -- it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. As a pet parent, it’s one of your top priorities. After all, regular home eye exams are the first step in keeping your pet’s eyes healthy. And there’s no better way to bond with your pet. So take the time to look closely at your pet’s beautiful eyes to pick up on signs of infection or injury. Here’s what to look for:

Perfect Pupils.  Some pets’ left and right eyes have slightly different sized pupils. But if you notice one pupil changing in size, it may be an indication of infection, trauma or neurological disease that needs your vet’s attention. 

Bright Eyes.  Look closely at the tear production and color of your pet’s eye. Some tear production is normal. However, if your pet’s eyes tear profusely, it could be a sign of a disease process like an allergic reaction or even a foreign body in the eye that could damage the cornea. Excessive redness of the eyelid or eye itself can also tip off your vet to conjunctivitis, allergies or other conditions of the eyes that can often be treated with prescription eye medications.

Clear Views. One of the most obvious changes you might see in your pet’s eye is a change to their lenses. Like humans, pets are prone to diseases like cataracts and glaucoma and a change in the clarity of eye is often the primary sign of these diseases. If you notice graying of any part of the eye underneath the surface (or “cornea”), have your pet seen by their veterinarian.

Smooth Surfaces.  Even a slight scratch to your pet’s eye can be extremely painful. Often, your vet will need to stain the eye to see any cuts or areas of ulceration so if your pet’s eye seems sore (rubbing at the eye or squinting can be signs of this), seek veterinary care immediately to prevent further damage.  Don’t worry about the bills. Just stay current on your Petplan pet insurance, and all veterinary costs for injuries are covered in full.

So go ahead, gaze away. It’s not only a healthy habit, but the highlight of your pet’s day.

Today marks the inaugural Pet Fire Safety Day.  The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announced that it partnered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and ADT Security Services in an effort to help reduce the number of pets affected in home fires every year. It is estimated that currently over 500,000 are pets affected in home fires each year. The main objective of this new coalition is to alert the public of the importance of pet fire safety and to remind people to include pets in their emergency plans.

At Petplan pet insurance we have seen our fair share of fire related claims, which is why we introduced the first ever customizable pet rescue alert poster. Since launching the poster 3 months ago thousands of pet parents across the country have uploaded their pet’s photos to create their custom alert posters. These posters are hanging on windows and doors to let fire crews know not only that there are pets inside the house but also what those pets look like and what they are called therefore aiding rescue efforts.

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Once again we were inundated with entries to our Healthy Paws contest. As ever we were so impressed and inspired by the lengths that so many of our pet parents go to, to ensure that their four legged family members stay happy and healthy. We hope that by sharing these 5 winning entries you will be as inspired as we were!

Winning entry #1 – A healthy “tee”

All winter long, about every other day a group of us "old Timers" golf; about 7 or 8 of us with our dogs all running and wrestling for 18 holes of golf. Some of us bring more than one dog. After such a great workout all the dogs sleep well…and so do we!

James

Winning entry #2 – Spoiled? We refer to it as loved!

Our Golden Retriever, Casie is the light of our lives as she came into our house just 1 week after the loss of our beloved Golden, Reiley.  She fit in immediately and because Reiley passed away of liver disease, we are EXTRA vigilant with the health of our new puppy.  She gets fed an organic homemade diet with beef, tuna, rice, broccoli & sweet potatoes along with organic probiotics, digestive enzymes and bottled water.  She gets daily swims in our pool (the dogs get more use out of it than we do!) for 1-2 hours and she and I participate in a weekly agility class.  We also are members of a dock jumping club in our area which provides a LOT of running, jumping and mental exercise as well.  In the cooler months here in the desert we also go on daily walks in our neighborhood and weekly hikes in the mountain preserve.  We know she is spoiled but she deserves it all for the happiness she provides to us and our 3 year old daughter!

Lisa & Casie

Winning entry #3 – A balanced life = a healthy life

My Cody is only 7 mos. old,  but I’ve learned a lot about caring for a pet after having an Affenpincher for 12+ years. It’s the little things that add up that make a long term difference in their health leading into old age. Cody drinks only filtered or bottled water. My last pet (Annie) didn’t and constantly had GI upsets with an unknown etiology. Cody is bathed in natural shampoos with no added  chemicals. We feed him NUTRISH, made by Rachael Ray, and he is allowed no human food except occasional organic rice cakes. He loves them!!!

He gets plenty of exercise and sunshine daily. He sees his Dr. as ordered. And he gets his teeth brushed every night before bedtime.

And last but not at all least; he gets constant love and attention that includes training him to have manners as well as learning lots of new tricks.

BALANCE is what I’m trying to say here.  That’s what it takes to keep my Cody healthy; all things naturally good for him that will give him a long and full life.

Thanks from us both,

Cali and Cody

Winning entry #4 – From rescue to royalty

Both my dogs get special but practical care.  The get 2 checkups a year and baths and nails cut or ground every 3 months. In addition, they are fed BLUE, because it is a natural product, with no by-products, additives or preservatives.

They have regular dental cleaning and they have fun playing together in my yard with each other or other dogs we invite to join them, or taking daily walks with me.  I also carry Petplan pet insurance to cover major problems should they arise. Every day they get Synovi G3 and 2 fish oil capsules.

Most of all they get hugs and kisses, plus all the love I have to give.

Gypsy and Kona were both adopted; Gypsy at 13 weeks from a breeder. Kona was one and a half years old when she was rescued from a garbage dump.  They thrive on being together and they kiss each other all the time.  I give them the same care I gave my children growing up; besides, now they are the only children living at home!

Winning entry #5 – A healthy “couch potato”

Our dog Chocolate Lab Sam is spoiled rotten!  In addition to a raw diet,prime roast beef from the farmers market, weekends at the beach, total access to the couch, toys/bones all over the house, - well you get the

picture - It's a Dog's Life! 

We try to keep Sam as healthy and as happy as possible, but I worry about the time he is left alone while we are at work.  Recently, I checked into a few Doggie Day Cares in the area, but since Sam has not been neutered he wasn't welcome. I have started leaving Animal Planet on TV while we are at work and he seems to really like it!   When he watches TV, he thinks it's another window to the outside. I know this because when we were watching the Kentucky Derby, he kept looking out the other windows in our den for the horses.  I also feel some small comfort knowing that maybe sometimes during the day when he hears the people taking on TV, he

doesn't feel so alone as he would in a totally quiet house.   

Diane & Sam

At Petplan Pet Insurance we have always been a pet friendly office and encourage team members to bring their pets in regularly. Every day there are at least half a dozen dogs playing fetch in the corridors, snoozing on one of the many Crypton beds, or devouring healthy low cal treats from one of the treat jars that can be found at pretty much every desk.

However there are considerations with having a pet friendly policy. First of all office environments are not usually laid out with pets in mind (unless you are Petplan of course. In our case the offices were laid out around the pets)!

With “Take your dog to work day" upon us again here are a few hazards that you will want be mindful of to ensure that work is a fun and safe place for your pet:

Human food (including the ubiquitous candy that seems to mushroom in just about every office environment I have ever worked in). Dogs that are regulars to the office are often spoiled and people can’t help but share their lunches with the best four legged beggars. However in addition to piling on the pounds this practice can also be dangerous. Though dogs are omnivores certain foods can be poisonous to them such as grapes, onions and chocolate. For a full list of dangerous foods visit  the ASPCA Poison Control website.

 Foreign Objects  Tacks, pins, paperclips, erasers, ink; a veritable feast for dogs with peculiar tastes. If you have a dog that will not refrain from eating everything within reach make sure to puppy proof your office before you bring them in.

Straying  Office environments can be conducive to straying. With people coming and going the danger of your pet straying is very real. If your pet has a tendency to stray make sure that they are contained to an area where they cannot escape unnoticed. If you are going to bring them into the office make sure that they are tagged and micro chipped.

Other Dogs Believe it or not one of the greatest hazards to your pet are other dogs in the office especially ones that are nervous with being in a foreign environment. Make sure to introduce each new dog to the office carefully. Allow the dogs space to interact and if hackles are raised don’t force the issue. Keep the dogs separate for a few hours and try again later when the excitement of being in a new environment has worn off.

To ensure your pet’s comfort throughout the day don’t forget to bring their favorite toy, food and water and a bed. With a little forward planning you can ensure that your pet enjoys their day at work. Who knows they may enjoy it so much that they want to come in every day!

Pets have no concept of money; they do however know when you’re stressed out (they’re quite intuitive). So keep them happy and find some relief for yourself with these cost cutting tips:

Our 5 cost-saving tips for pet health care are:
1. When planning your family vacation this year, why pay for kennels or a house sitter? If you have pets that are tolerant of car or even air travel, plan a vacation that includes pet-friendly hotels: many major hotel chains and lots of independent hotels feature pet friendly accommodations (http://www.petswelcome.com/milkbone/framelist.html)

2. It may seem counter-intuitive to spend money to save it but DON’T skip your annual vet visits or preventive care. Routine treatments such as dental cleaning and heartworm prevention are incredibly important and can help you avoid a huge bill (not to mention suffering for your pet). In addition, your annual visit is the best chance for your vet to catch disease early and hopefully avoid expensive “critical” situations. For the unexpected veterinary expenses, pet insurance is a great idea www.gopetplan.com

3. Get smart with their food. Feeding according to the back of the packet is usually giving far too much. Talk to your vet about appropriate food intake (especially if Fido is a little overweight!) then measure food carefully; you’ll be surprised how much further a bag of food goes. If you have friends with similar type pets, why not buy pet food in bulk and split the cost?

4. Increasing the number of activities you and your family do with your pet is not only free but is also good for everyone’s health. In fact, if you can incorporate your dog into your workout (especially jogging) maybe you can cancel that gym membership?

5. Try and cut those extra expenses like grooming and bathing your pet by learning how to do it at home. Take notice of the type of “cut” your pet gets and buy a decent set of clippers (something not to skimp on; poor quality clippers are frustrating to use and often a waste of money) to do it at home. The same applies to routine things like trimming nails and cleaning ears. In fact, keeping on top of these things and making them a “rewarding” activity for your pet will help keep them happy and healthy too!

Announcing the winners of the May Healthy Paws newsletter. Hoping that they will inspire you to find new ways of keeping your pets healthy!

Winning entry #1 - A play date a day

It’s Spring, which means it’s time to get out the spade, the shovel and the gardening gloves. A quick trip to the store for bulbs, seeds, and mulch and you’re on your way.

Just one thing though…when you buy mulch, read the ingredients. If it has Theobromine in it, put it down and back away slowly. Yes, it’s true, mulch with Theobromine, like “Cocoa Mulch”, is good for many reasons - it’s light weight, easy to spread, deters slugs and snails, looks nice and smells like chocolate.  But it’s bad for one – it can harm your pet. If eaten by a cat or dog it can lead to illness  and in extreme cases, death.

Keep your pets safe with alternatives to Cocoa Mulch like cedar chips and straw. They’re less toxic and they don’t smell quite as delicious. But, because not all accidents can be avoided (if they could, they wouldn’t be called accidents) there’s Petplan pet insurance.

"Pet owners should avoid (the) use of cocoa bean mulch in landscaping around dogs with indiscriminate eating habits," (Labrador retreiver anyone?) said the ASPCA in it’s “Cocoa Mulch Report.”

Cocoa Mulch Poisoning Facts from the ASPCA:

•50% of cases report vomiting.

•33% of cases report tremors. This was cause when the amount ingested was “large or significant”.

•17% of cases reported a rapid heart rate, hyperactivity, or diarrhea.

•Muscle tremors, seizures, and death can be caused when large amounts are consumed.

For more information on Theobromine poisoning call the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

First thing’s First:

Show your new pet where his food and water bowl is. If it’s a pooch, show him where he’ll need to go “out” and if it’s a cat show him is litter box. (White House lawn anyone?)

Food:

Odds are your new pet has already been eating a certain kind of food, so to make his transition easier - continue with it. If you’d like to change it, make the change gradual as to not cause any stomach upset. (And perhaps let the White House chef know that scraps aren’t in order just yet.)

Sleep:

Often puppies feel safer in smaller spaces, so a crate with a blanket over it can be the most comforting. Adding a blanket or towel that has some of his mothers scent makes him feel even more at home. If you’re bringing home an older dog or a cat, then a nice new bed is in order. (Right in the middle of the Obama daughter’s room please. Thank you.)

Play:

Make sure that there are plenty of things to chew on and scratch on before bringing your furry friend home, so they’re content and, well, so are you. Also, exercising them regularly whether it be chasing a ball or going to the park, you’ll bond and they’ll have less energy to get their paws into trouble. (Yes, nobody wants chew marks in the Oval Office.)

Safety:

A fenced in yard to ensure he doesn’t wander off is always a good thing. But should your dog roam or your cat decide to check out the neighborhood, make sure that they can be identified with a microchip. (Because odds are that the Secret Service isn’t going to have an eye on Bo at all times.)

Health:

Start off on the right foot with a visit to a veterinarian. And to ensure good health and happiness for a lifetime, there’s Petplan pet insurance. The only pet insurance that covers all accidents and illnesses, even hereditary ones. (Of which, Portuguese Water Dog’s are no exception. Unfortunately.)

Welcome to your new home Bo. We here at Petplan hope that the transition is as easy as rollin’ around in the sun.

Until the next time,

Woof! (wag) Meow!

In an office where pet photos cover the walls it’s easy to see how important every tail and whisker is to Petplan. Our customers are our friends and our family, even if we’ve never met (though there is nothing we enjoy more than a visit from our policyholders, four legged and otherwise) them. And, luckily, our policy holders feel the same way about us, as you can see on Pet Insurance Review (a third party pet insurance review website). So when someone loses a pet, due to illness or accident, Petplan feels it. Like in June 2008 when a Philadelphia row home caught fire taking with it the home next door and the dog that lived in that home. The firemen couldn’t get to Perky* in time and he died of smoke inhalation. Fortunately, his brother Petey*, with minor burns, survived. His treatment for minor burns and smoke inhalation at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital was over $1,800 and Petplan pet insurance picked up the whole bill.

Working in practice, pet insurance claims forms are becoming increasingly familiar to vets. And, while no-one likes additional paperwork, there are some definite benefits to having insured patients. While many of us have concerns about the pet insurance industry at large (everyone’s out to make a dollar, right?) there are some good policies available that make my life in practice easier.

Many pet insurance companies have used ‘economic euthanasia’ as one of the underpinning reasons for having pet insurance. In short, economic euthanasia describes a situation where costs of diagnosis or treatment start to rise above a threshold figure (studies indicate around $500) where many people have to elect to euthanize their pet on a purely financial basis. While this is obviously every pet-owner’s nightmare I think the value of pet insurance is even more basic than this. Any of you that have had a sick pet in the last few years will know that $500 doesn’t go very far any more at the vet’s office. I can name a handful of common illnesses that would cost above that figure to properly diagnose and treat appropriately for one day; foreign body ingestion, severe diarrhea or vomiting, poisoning (and that includes chocolate!), broken bones…. And these are common, everyday illnesses! We haven’t even started getting into chronic diseases (diabetes, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease) or those requiring advanced diagnostics (MRIs for intervertebral disc disease, endoscopy for gastrointestinal disorders, etc).

I guess what it boils down to is that when I have someone in my examining room and offer them the options on Fido or Fluffy’s diagnostics and treatment, I want them to be able to make a decision independent of whether this means they have to dip into savings or college funds or rack up credit card debt. I’m tired of watching people make decisions based on finances. I’m tired of not being able to give the best care available. So, from a purely selfish point of view and for your vet’s sake, take the time to look carefully at pet insurance and get the best health care for your pet.