February 2012

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Question of the week: Is pet insurance a good idea?

February 18, 2012 in Question of the week by Lisa

We get asked this question a lot at the clinic. It doesn’t seem that long ago pet insurance didn’t even exist. Today there are many different agencies that provide insurance coverage for pets. The options are overwhelming.

While we can’t tell you that pet insurance is the way to go it is certainly worth serious consideration. We have found that more and more of our clients are using pet insurance.

Our animals can incur hefty financial expense. Whether you opt for insurance or not, it’s important to be prepared for all eventualities. One night in the emergency clinic can set you back thousands of dollars. It’s not something we as pet owners like to think about, but it’s always a possibility. Through no fault of your own a dog or cat can get seriously ill or suffer traumatic injuries.

We don’t aim to scare you with what may or may not happen to your furry pals. We simply urge you to be as prepared financially as you can for what may or may not come. Take some time to research insurance companies. Ask your friends if they have insurance and what their experience is.

If insurance isn’t for you, perhaps keep some savings available for unseen unfortunate events! We hope you’ll never need to use it’s but better safe than sorry.

Question of the Week: Why does my dog eat grass?

February 11, 2012 in Client Education, Question of the week by Lisa

Many dogs have a taste for leafy greens in the form of lawns and grassy plants. A lot of owners wonder if this is normal behavior or indicative of an underlying problem.

Dogs are naturally omnivores and so eat both plant and animal. Ancestors of our modern day canines ate fruits and berries in the wild. Today’s domesticated ubanites have easier access to lawns and grasses. Dogs are also opportunistic and if an alternative “food source” is available may opt to take advantage of it. Prior to domestication, dogs would eat other animals as well as the contents of their stomachs, often containing botanical material. What we see as a pristine botanical garden, Fido may recognize as a buffet. More often than not we are simply witnessing instinctual behavior.

Alternatively, your dog may be experiencing gastric upset. It is unclear why dogs eat grass to ease their discomfort. Grass contains essential nutrients that the dog may crave and there is little harm in eating it unless it’s been treated with pesticides and the like. If eating grass is atypical for your dog, consider consulting with the vet to see if there is an underlying issue.

Valentine’s Day Dangers

February 10, 2012 in Client Education by Lisa

ChocolatesAs Valentine’s Day approaches so does the threat of potential hazards to our pets. Listed below are the major culprits to be aware of:

Roses

The main risk to pets from these lovely blooms are the same threats they pose to us. Thorns can traumatize mouths and paws which in turn can lead to infection. There is a chance of obstruction to the gastro intenstinal tract if a rose head or stem is ingested. Look for signs of vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if you suspect your pet dined on your Valentine’s Day arrangement.

Lillies

Lillies are another lovely flower that makes the rounds on Valentine’s Day. This is a bloom that is highly toxic if ingested, particularly in cats who are liable to suffer kidney failure as a result. If you suspect your cat has ingested any part of the flower, call the clinic right away. Symptoms associated with lilly ingestion include salivation, vomiting and inappetance.

Chocolate and Cocoa

A box of chocolates, while a treat for us humans, is no such thing to a four-legged critter. The offending ingredient that causes our pets problems is called theobromine. As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine  is contained in it. The severity of toxicity is dependent on the percentage of theobromine, the weight of your dog and the amount eaten. In the event that your dog eats chocolate, get on the phone with your veterinarian with details of exactly how much and what kind of chocolate was ingested. Some of the signs to look for with chocolate toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures.

 

Question of the week: Why does my dog hump?

February 4, 2012 in Client Education, Question of the week by Lisa

A lot of dog owners are left red-faced when they have a pooch that shows enthusiasm for “humping.” It be can be quite frustrating when your dog mounts everything in sight whether it be other dogs, people or even stationary objects such as pillows and toys. This behavior is often attributed to sexual instinct. This may be the case in some situations but you may be surprised to learn there are several other reasons this may be happening.

Dog owners often hope these behaviors stop once their dog is neutered. While testosterone levels do drop, the ability or motivation to continue to hump can remain. There is never a guarantee that getting “fixed” will fix your problem.

So what else can cause your dog to mount? A commonly cited reason is to display dominance. This is often seen in dog groups and is in fact a normal behavior. Just as the dog may be seen pouncing, barking or stalking other dogs humping is a “social” activity. It is a dynamic set between two individuals (versus inanimate objects) and this dominance behavior is always between animals.

Something else that can provide the impetus for humping is high levels of anxiety. In the dog behavior world this is termed “displacement behavior.” Often when dogs experience internal emotional conflict they express this through “out of context” behavior. This will be observed in relation to inanimate objects or people.  A number of things can trigger this such as a new toy, person or some kind of abrupt change in the environment.

So what can be done about changing this behavior? The first step is to determine why it’s happening. Here are some points to be aware of:

  • Rule out possible physical causes (call the clinic to make an appointment)
  • Is it an occasional behavior? If so it may be something you can get used to as a part of normal dog behavior
  • Avoid placing the dog in situations that trigger the activity
  • If your dog isn’t neutered talk to your vet about whether it may be a good option for your pet. According to Clinician’s Brief, neutering  may reduce mounting by 50% in almost 70% of dogs regardless of age.

This week’s question provided a long answer to an often asked question. We may not have covered everything, but as always our doctors and staff are happy to talk with you further about this issue. Call us at 510-549-1252.