Should My Pet Lose Weight? Is It Really That Dangerous?

Some of us struggle with weight loss more than others and our pets may as well; so what can we do to help?  Well we should probably read our pet food label like we do our own and talking to the vet or a nutritionist is part of that process.  This will give you a myriad of answers depending on the person you talk to but I am confident one thing will be the same...lower caloric intake and increase exercise.  Seems to be the baseline for humans as well. 

One thing that is acceptable by a wide variety of vets to do is lower your pet's food consumption and substitute green beans for the remaining amount they are used to getting.  So if they are used to getting 3 cups of food at a time then give them 1.5 cups of pet food and 1.5 cups of green beans.  The beans have no calories at all but will give them the substance they are used to having and will help fill them up.

Feeding high protein, high moisture is important but the type of protein is just as important.  If you're feeding a higher fat protein then it's unlikely your pet will lose weight.  Lower proteins like turkey would be better for weight loss. 

Another trick, if it's within your schedule, is to feed them several small meals a day to keep them full, their insulin levels steady and they do not feel like they have to eat as if their next meal isn't coming for several hours.  This will also help their metabolism as well which is a key to helping their weight loss as well.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/03/03/weight-loss-for-fat-cats.aspx

http://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/evr_ct_obesity_in_cats_and_what_to_do_about_an_overweight_cat#.UZTlpaAYGCo

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_Obesity#.UZTmLKAYGCo

So what can cause obesity in animals other than the obvious?  There are actually medical conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes and believe it or not the spay/neuter of your pet can contribute to it as well.  This is not to say you shouldn't get your pet spayed/neutered but merely something to take note of and keep an eye on your pet's weight.

If putting your pet on a diet doesn't work then you may want to take him/her to the vet and have some blood work done to make sure there is no medical reason for the weight gain.

This is a chart that happens to be dogs that will show you how to tell if your dog is overweight.  It is the same for cats as well.  I try to make sure my dog has a waist (an indent toward the back legs) and if that starts going away then I know I am feeding him too much and I need to back off of his food or we need to start exercising more. 

I hope you will take this information to heart because obesity in animals is just as bad or worse for animals as it is for humans.  Diabetes, heart disease, and joint pain, are just some of the issues that can be created by extra weight in animals. 

Let us know if you have any comments or questions and by all means ask your vet about anything you have seen in this blog.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and now Flipbook!  Your family and friends might be interested in knowing about us too so don't forget to tell them about us too.  As always, thanks for reading!

What Information Should You Trust When Looking Online? What Information Is Reliable?

Since we're all searching for answers on the internet nowadays I thought I would address what we should all be doing as pet parents when searching for answers.  The 'world wide web' is a fascinating place and full of great information and resources for us to gleen insight and answers. However, should we really be trusting this information and treating our pets ourselves?

My answer to that is no because there is no substitute for medical professional insight.  I am a person who will admittedly research things prior to calling people but I have experience in medical problems with both animals and humans.  While I will never know everything (nobody ever does) I feel I have the ability to recognize a true emergency and will rush my animal or myself or other family member to an emergency room in a heartbeat if I feel it's necessary.

My personal cat Joleigh

So how do we know what's helpful and what is random information someone made up?  That is the harder part.  I personally look for things that come from vets themselves who have experience, trainers, behaviorists, etc.  I look for the length of time they have been in their specific business.  I look at the actual experience they have in the field in which I'm researching.

I try to stay away from sites such as wikipedia because if universities do not allow it as a reliable resource then I won't trust it for information I'm looking for regarding the health of my furry and non-furry family members.  Wikipedia is also a site others can add information to which may or may not be verified by someone in that field.

Our society is so '.com' oriented that researching information isn't all that uncommon.  When we get into trouble when we start trusting all of the information we come across.  If we are uncertain so to what to do after looking at information and our pet is eating and drinking and not acting in immediate danger then I personally just call the vet and tell them what is going on and let them tell me what to do.  Often vets will tell you to bring your pet in because they can't make a diagnosis over the phone; however, giving the vet as much information as possible (yes, including things like feces and urine output, consistency, etc.) will help him/her tremendously.  I do that with a vet our animal rescue organization uses frequently.  I will send her an email sometimes including pictures to give her the best idea possible as to what is going on.  Sometimes a phone call is necessary as well.  If I do have to take the pet in then it will also save the vet time in asking unnecessary questions because he/she already knows some of the history.

I will never tell anyone not to go see their vet if it makes them feel better.  Ultimately that is the person who, besides you, knows your pet best.  If you just don't feel right about their condition or know that something "just isn't right" then you should always go with your gut feeling because that is usually right.  I have learned that the hard way through my years working with rescue animals.

My personal cat Blackberry

We all have our pets' best interest in mind and they are family members, but like our children we can't run them to the doctor every time they sneeze once and in my opinion you shouldn't.  Some things are just normal.  It's okay not to be paranoid but I would not disregard any gut feelings you have either.

Just use common sense when researching information and when all else fails and you still aren't sure what to do or where to go then call your vet.  They would rather you call and it be an easy question or nothing at all than to not call and it be something serious.

As always, thank you for reading and if you have any questions, comments or concerns please let us know.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!  We also have a magazine on Flipbook you can subscribe to as well!  Tell you family and friends about us.

Should I Give My Pet People Food?

We've all done it when our pet gives us the sad eyes we will give up a little piece of meat or cheese because "they're just so cute" or "a little won't hurt them".  Well that little bit turns into "why won't they stop begging" or "why won't they eat their own food now; I haven't changed anything".  Should we as pet parents be giving our pets people food?  Does it really hurt anything to give them that "treat"?  I personally believe it does.

Physically it is okay once in a while to do this and give them some people food here and there, but in the long run all this behavior does is create a begging animal that thinks every time you have a plate of food part of it is for them.  This should not be the case.  If you have people at your home for dinner you do not want fido or fluffy (or even worse, both) staring at your guests for food.  Not only is it awkward for your guests, you end up continually telling your pet(s) to go away which is not good either because you cannot enjoy your time with friends.

So what do you do?  Well if you have a puppy you are already training then you should make this part of your training.  Have one place you have the puppy lay down during meal times.  Give him/her

something to chew on like a bully stick or an interactive toy.  Being occupied is the goal in this case so you and your family can enjoy meal time together.  If you already have a dog you have been giving food to then treat the dog like the puppy and train them to go lay down in one spot with their item to occupy them.  Do not give up and do not give them the option to do anything else but stay in that one spot.  You may even want to say something like "place" or "mat" so they will begin learning a command.  Praise them when they stay there throughout the whole meal.  That will help them learn that staying there the whole time is what you want them to do.  Eventually you will be able to use your command word and things will be smooth.  You can NOT give them people food ever again though.  That will ruin what training you have done and you will have to start over again.  If you want to give your dog a treat then get them their own treats and keep them separate from your food.

This is particularly important if you have infants and small children.  If your dog is used to getting people food and your child has food then the dog may go after the food and accidentally hurt the child.  None of us wants that so it's best just to keep human and pet food separate.

If you just can't give up on giving fido or fluffy their human food because you feel they just can't live without it then at least give them their own separate place to eat.  This will save you in the long run once they learn they can't eat from the table or that you aren't going to give them food from your plate.  You will be able to have dinner guests without worrying if your pet is going to beg them for food as if you don't feed them.

If you have any comments or questions please feel free to let us know.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and please tell your family and friends about us.  As always, thanks for reading!

How To Potty Train Your Puppy...

Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog that needs house training there is a lot of work and time that goes into that process.  It is also important to remember if you have rescued an animal that they may or may not have had the best history with humans so positive reinforcement is especially important with these animals.

So how does the process work?  Well there are several things to remember when doing this for your dog.  Having a crate can work to your benefit because dogs don't like to "go" where they sleep.  Get a crate that is just big enough for them to stand up and turn around in so they don't have enough room to go to the back and do their business.  While this won't guarantee a puppy won't mess up their crate it should help tremendously.  Adult dogs should be able to hold it all day, however.  Timing is also key when house training.  Puppies should be taken out frequently and especially after they have eaten or drank water.  They should be taken to the same area and when they do go potty then they should be praised so they know that was a positive action.  Watching adult dogs in the house while training is important because they tend to circle when looking for a spot.  When you see this happen, take your pet outside for a potty break and when they potty then praise them for that action just as you would a puppy.

http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/Potty%20Training%20Basics.htm

Teaching a word for going potty is also good as well.  I personally use "outside" for my dogs.  They go crazy when I say it whether they have to potty or not and will at least try to potty when they do get in the backyard.  They know it's playtime and mom time when they get out there as well so all positive things for them.  If it's morning and I know they haven't finished everything when they want to go inside I will say "no, go potty" and point to the same area every time.  It does usually work the first time but sometimes takes a couple of times.

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/house-training-your-puppy

So what is going on with your dog if these things don't work?  Well your dog may have a medical issue such as a urinary tract infection that will cause him/her to urinate inappropriately.  Animals do things like this to tell us something is wrong.  Either they are not happy, they don't feel good or are uneasy about something.  Separation anxiety will also cause a myriad of problems and inappropriate elimination is one of them.  If you have recently changed your pet's food then s/he may have some gastrointestinal upset that is not pleasant for you or your pet. 

Please do not punish your pet for these actions because they do not like for these things to happen.  They simply want to please you and by doing these things they are telling you something is wrong.  They can't talk so this is the only way they know how to tell us when they don't feel good.  Take your pet to the vet or talk to a behaviorist or both.  There is always a reason for the action; that I can promise you.  I have worked with animals too long not to know this statement is true.

If you have any comments or questions we do welcome them.  Tell us any topic you'd like to see discussed and don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!  Tell your family and friends about us and as always thanks for reading.

Time For A Poll!

So we've been doing this blog for almost two months now and we'd like to get your input!  What topics do you want to see here?  What do you want to see discussed on any blog?  What do you research the most?  What is most concerning to you?

Let us know what YOU want to talk about.  After all, you are the reason we do this in the first place.  You and your pet are important to us.  We just want to get the information out there to everyone and educate people. 

I've been in animal rescue for going on 7 years and I have seen and done a lot of things.  People can be very, very cruel or they can be very, very giving.  There has been one constant, though...the animals.  They are the ones who are 99.9% of the time forgiving and the ones who aren't can't help it because of emotional damage that is irreparable.

A friend and I even stopped and picked up a rabbit that had been hit by a car when we were on the way to our vet to see if it could be saved.  That is the kind of people animal rescuers are.  They want to save the ones that others drive by and think "oh that poor animal". 

But I digress.  We can talk about anything you want to read about.  If we don't know the answer then chances are someone we know will know.  We know the experts. 

Send us an email, tweet, message on Facebook or just leave us a note here!  Doesn't matter how you get it here, just tell us about it!

We love to talk about our animals and I know you do too.  We research everything our pets do and I know you do too so why not have one stop shopping.  Why not let us do the research for you?

Whatever it is please let us know.  Doesn't matter if it's medical, physical, mental, social, behavioral, etc.  Give it your best!

We look forward to hearing from all you regardless of where you're from.  Thanks for continuing to read and we appreciate each and every one of you.

How Dangerous Are Fleas and Ticks, Really?

As some of us get into warmer weather the threat of ticks and fleas comes to the forefront of our vets' minds.  Here in my area of the US people have started getting outside more with their pets.  I personally have found 2 ticks on me personally from one outing!  So ultimately how diligent should we as pet parents be with the flea and tick prevention?  Very diligent!  There are so many diseases these little creatures can pass along and it is so easy to prevent.  What are the diseases?  Well here are a few:  flea allergies, fur loss from the itching, if the fleas are in large numbers then anemia can occur which can be deadly, ticks carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, can cause Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme Disease.  Tapeworms are also extremely common when there is a flea issue.  Tapeworms occur when a flea is ingested by your pet (dog or cat).  They are not contagious but definitely need to be treated and you will need to treat all of your pets and your home and potentially your yard for fleas.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=318

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/ticks-and-fleas-on-cats

A picture of flea dirt

So how do you know if your pet has fleas?  Well something called "flea dirt" is the best way to tell.  What does "flea dirt" look like?  Below is a picture of flea dirt in fur.  It literally looks like dirt; however, it is not dirt.  It is actually flea feces which is really gross to think about.  In order to help keep this from happening we can put the monthly flea prevention on our pets to keep them safe from this type of thing.  It can be dangerous and life threatening if it is not take care of in a timely fashion.  I have personally seen cats whose gums and paw pads were white from anemia due to flea infestation.  It is not a fun situation for them or you.

So what about ticks?  Are there ticks that are more dangerous than others?  All ticks should be repelled regardless as they can all spread a disease.  So my answer is no, there is no tick more dangerous than another since we should treat all ticks the same.  I've included some links below to common ticks to two areas and a link to the CDC regarding ticks in the US and abroad.  Just because you live or travel outside of the US does not mean you do not have to worry about bringing ticks back with you.

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/ticks

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/ticks.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/abroad.html

If you find a tick on you and it is crawling, then just get it off you.  If it is attached to you then precautions should be taken and there are lots of ways to remove the tick whole which is what you want to do.  Do not use anything other than what is listed here on the CDC website and the suggestions from either the Drs. Fosters and Smith or your vet.  There are a number of things you don't want to have happen and having the tick deposit more of it's diseased saliva into you or your pet is one of them.  Just try not to panic first if you see one.

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62

The most important thing to do for you and your pet is prevention.  Flea, tick and heartworm prevention is key for your dog and flea and tick prevention for your cat.  Use Deet products on yourself while you're outside.  This way everyone will have a great time and the bugs can stay where they were meant to be...outside.

As always, feel free to leave your comments, questions and topics you'd like to see discussed here.  We like hearing from you.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and be sure to tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks for reading!

Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?

We've all seen our dogs and cats chew on grass and I'm sure wondered "why do they do that, they're just going to vomit it back up".  Well there are lots of potential reasons for this behavior and they range from "just because" to legitimate medical issues.  All of the reasons, while fairly benign, need to be watched because if your pet exhibits signs and/or symptoms that are new then you may want to put a call into the vet to see if it is something that bears a visit.  So what are the reasons?

Well, the first reason I found is literally because they can and it might just taste good.  If they are just chewing on the blades once in a while and not vomiting then really there is no need to be concerned.  Some animals just like the taste and want some extra fiber.  As long as there are no chemicals or pesticides to  worry about then let them graze.

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/why-do-dogs-eat-grass

Another reason is their tummies are upset so they actually eat the grass to make themselves vomit so

they feel better.  If your pet seems to be less than him/herself lately and this is a new behavior then you will want to consider a call to your vet to discuss the behavior and a potential visit.  Sometimes once is enough for them but if this behavior continues several times over the course of a week then I would definitely consider a visit to make sure nothing is wrong.  Better safe than sorry, in my opinion.

http://www.vetlive.com/2011/02/21/online-vet-answers-why-do-dogs-eat-grass/

Dogs, unlike cats, are not carnivores and actually need roughage so when your dog eats grass it is really completely normal.  While cats are carnivores they still need the nutrition that comes from plants in their diet as well.  This is why nutrition is so very important for your pet.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/nutritioninformation/f/FAQ_eatgrass.htm

http://pets.thenest.com/dog-eat-grass-vomit-4440.html

So what do we, as parents, do about this behavior?  Well, I have admit the answer to that is as long as your pet is acting normally and eating and drinking properly then we do nothing because it is very normal behavior.  Maybe grow some for your pet to chew on inside if you are concerned about chemicals and pesticides.

 If their behavior changes, vomiting continues for 24 hours or more or they are not eating or drinking that is the time to seek medical advice.

Any change in your pet's behavior should indicate something is wrong even if it is slight.  They will always give us clues and indications they do not feel good so make sure you know your pet and his/her behaviors so you will know when something is not right.

As always we welcome comments, questions and any topic you'd like to see discussed here.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and Google+!  Tell your family and friends about us and thanks so very much for reading.