allergies Archives | Towne Center Animal Hospital | Veterinarian in Sanford, FL Wed, 21 Jun 2017 06:41:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Nutrition for your pets. https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/nutrition-for-your-pets/ https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/nutrition-for-your-pets/#respond Sun, 03 Jan 2016 08:09:11 +0000 http://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/?p=11522 Proper dietary nutrition is one of the keys to good health and longevity for our pets. In this article, you’ll learn about the nutritional requirements for both dogs and cats. Then, we’ll discuss how to provide your pet with a balanced diet, including how to choose the right type of food, if you should

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Proper dietary nutrition is one of the keys to good health and longevity for our pets. In this article, you’ll learn about the nutritional requirements for both dogs and cats. Then, we’ll discuss how to provide your pet with a balanced diet, including how to choose the right type of food, if you should feed them homemade food, and what not to feed your pet.

Table of contents

The basics of nutrition

When choosing the right diet for your pet, nutrition is one of the most important factors for you to consider. Nutrition is the interaction between nutrients and the health of an animal. Nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and water. Every animal requires a different balance of nutrients in their diet. This balance is based on their species, age, overall health, lifestyle, and other variables. 

For example, the nutritional needs of a young kitten are different from those for an adult cat. Kittens and puppies should eat specially formulated food until about 10-12 months of age, because they require extra DHA and Vitamin E to build strong immune systems and develop healthy neural functions. In another example, the nutritional needs of an adult dog that leads an active lifestyle are different from those for an adult dog that only goes on a daily walk–more active dogs require a higher percentage of fat in their diet compared to less active dogs. Seniors pets, categorized as cats and dogs over the age of 7 years, also require specific formulations of nutrients in their food to promote the best health possible.

Fat and carbohydrates are the primary sources of energy for dogs and cats. Fat has an extra role besides energy, because it is necessary for absorption of Vitamins A, D, E, and K in your pet’s body. Protein is required for growth and development. It has a role in cellular maintanence and robustness of the immune system. Protein can also provide energy to your pet, but not as effectively as fat and carbohydrates–this is why “high protein” food doesn’t mean “high energy” food. See the table below to learn more about some of the important nutrients that your pets need to thrive.

Quick definitions

Nutrient What It Does Other Details
Vitamin A Supports healthy vision, skin, and immune system. While dogs can digest a form of Vitamin A found in plants, cats cannot and so they must receive Vitamin A from animal liver. Puppies especially need Vitamin A to have healthy vision, muscles, and skin.
Vitamin D Builds teeth and bones. Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot make sufficient quantities of Vitamin D in their skin. Kittens and puppies need Vitamin D supplementation in their diet to avoid rickets and other complications. Adult pets need supplementation too, but less than younger pets.
Vitamin E Keeps the immune system strong. Kittens and puppies especially need Vitamin E to develop a strong immune system. It’s also a potent antioxidant.
Vitamin C Keeps the immune system strong. Cats and dogs can meet their own Vitamin C needs by metabolizing glucose or natural production of Vitamin C by the liver. However, Vitamin C supplements might still have antioxidant benefits for pets.
Calcium Supports strong teeth and bones. Involved in muscle function and blood clotting. Large breed puppies should have less calcium to prevent bone abnormalities. Adult and senior animals should also have less calcium in their diet.
Phosphorus Supports strong teeth and bones. Involved in muscle function. Adult and senior pets need less to preserve kidney health.
Sodium Maintains correct hydration levels and required for cell functioning. Adult and senior pets need less to preserve heart and kidney health.
Protein Builds strong cells. Puppies and kittens need more protein in their diet than adult and senior animals.
Carbohydrates Provides energy to cells quickly. Dogs and cats from all lifestages can utilize carbohydrates as an energy source. Cats should eat less carbohydrates than dogs, however, because they are carnivores.
Fats Provides energy that can be stored for cells later when they need it. Young animals need more fat than adult animals overall, but large breed puppies specifically should not have an excess of fat in their diet to prevent bone abnormalities.
Omega 3, Omega 6 Supports healthy skin and coat. Senior pets with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis might benefit from Omega 3 fatty acids.
DHA Necessary for neural functioning. Kittens and puppies need DHA to build proper neural functioning.
Fiber Promotes digestive health. Senior animals need more fiber in their diets.
Taurine An essential amino acid, necessary for cats to live. All cats require taurine and seniors require a food with added taurine.

Another factor to consider in choosing the right diet for your pet is the ingredients that go into a pet food. Ingredients should be chosen based on their nutritional content and their digestibility–which is how much of that nutritional content is actually absorbed by the animal’s body. For example, the graph below shows the percentage of starch in various grain flours that is digestible by dogs.

Digestibility of various flours in dry dog foods

Corn 85%
Rice 84%
Wheat 84%
Barley 83%
Sorghum 80%

Source: Murray SM, Fahey GC, Merchen RN, et al. Evaluation of selected high-starch fl ours as ingredients in canine diets. J Anim Sci. 1999;77:2180-2186.

Nutrition for cats

Cats are carnivores and require a high amount of protein in their diet. In fact, kittens need about 50% more protein in their diet than puppies, and adult cats need 200% more protein in their diet than adult dogs.

Cats require a three essential amino acids: taurine, arginine, and methionine. Taurine is required to have a healthy heart, good vision, and functioning reproductive systems. Arginine is required for a cat’s liver to function properly and filter out harmful byproducts from their body. In fact, eating a single meal deficient in arginine can make a cat ill from ammonia toxicity. Methionine plays a role in many different proteins in a cat’s body and deficiencies can affect a cat’s coat, skin, eyes, and heart health. All of these amino acid are only found in meat, so all cats need meat-based diets to maintain their health.

That being said, cats do have enzymes in their digestive tract that can digest carbohydrates, so the starches found in many cat foods can be digested for energy. For growing and active animals, this can be an effective source of energy. But these starches should only make up a small portion of the cat’s food, about 35% max.

For a cat, vegetarian diets are absolutely out of the question. Not even nutritional supplements can allow a cat to eat vegetarian or vegan, because some of their essential nutrients are only obtainable from animal products. For example, sources of Vitamin A can come from plants, as carotene, or from animal livers, as retinyl palmitate. Cats lack the enzymes to convert carotene to Vitamin A–they can only convert retinyl palmitate from animal livers to Vitamin A. So, they necessarily need to consume animal products to survive.

Finally, we’ll discuss the most important nutrient for cats: water. Keeping your cat well-hydrated is vital in preventing diseases associated with the urinary tract. Wild cats receive most of their hydration from the prey they eat, so sometimes it can be a little tricky to keep your house cat hydrated. Here are a few tips:

  • Cats with sensitive whiskers might prefer to drink from a wide, shallow bowl.
  • Some cats prefer a source of running water, so investing in a cat fountain might encourage your cat to drink more water.
  • Change your cat’s water supply frequently, wiping away any residue on the bowl.
  • Aim to keep your cat’s bowl as clean as your own glassware, even occasionally running it through the dishwasher.
  • Some cats will not drink water that is placed next to their food source or litter box, so try moving their water bowl to another area.
  • Milk is not a replacement for water, and can actually give your cat serious digestive issues.
  • Wet food can help supplement your cat’s hydration, but only giving your cat wet food can lead to dental health issues.

Nutrition for dogs

Dogs are omnivores, which may come as a surprise to some dog owners. Although wolves are primarily carnivores, during the process of domestication, dogs gained the ability to effectively digest starches. In fact, dogs have about four to thirty copies of a gene that produces an enzyme for digesting starches in their bodies. In contrast, wolves only have two copies.

This provides evidence that a raw meat diet is not the best choice for our canine companions, because their bodies have adapted to digesting starches and using them for energy. In fact, a raw meat diet can have harmful effects, because it contains too much protein, not enough carbohydrates, and can be difficult on a dog’s kidneys. It’s interesting to note that even wolves will graze on grasses and eat the stomach contents of herbivorous prey to supplement their primarily meat-based diet with carbohydrates.

Think of it this way: if a raw meat diet isn’t nutritionally complete enough for a wolf, it will definitely pose problems for a dog, whose species has over many generations adapted to eat grains and vegetables while coexisting with human society.

On the other hand, dogs do require some proteins that are only available in animal products, so switching your dog to a vegetarian diet can pose issues as well. Although it is possible for dogs to survive on both of these specialized diets with the right supplementation and guidance from a veterinary nutritionist, a dog will only thrive when it eats as an omnivore, because its body is adapted to an omnivorous diet.

Let’s not forget the most important nutrient for dogs: water! Make sure that your dog always has access to clean, fresh water, especially after work or exercise. Change the water in your dog’s bowl at least once a day and be sure to wipe away any build-up on the inside of the bowl when you do this. Aim to keep your dog’s water bowl as clean as your other glassware to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Picking the right food for your pet

When choosing what type of pet food to buy your pet, there are a few questions to consider:

  • “What is the current life stage of my pet?” Depending on whether your pet is growing, an adult, a senior, or pregnant, they will require different formulations of food.
  • “Does my pet have any health factors that I need to consider?” If your pet has a health condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or is overweight, they may require a special formulation of food. Consult your veterinarian to find the right type of food for your pet’s medical status.
  • “Should I feed my pet wet food or dry food?” While dry food is better for dental health, wet food has added hydration, which can benefit pets that are predisposed to kidney problems, like senior cats, or pets who are diabetic. Most pets will be fine eating either food.

And finally, how can we be sure that a manufacturer’s pet food is high quality? One of the best ways is by making sure they have an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Nutritional Adequacy Statement on the packaging. If a pet food does not have an AAFCO statement on its packaging, there is no way to ensure that its claims of being “complete and balanced” are true.

There are two different ways that AAFCO verifies that food is nutritionally complete and balanced.

Formulation method

AAFCO has a set of nutritional profiles for dogs and cats in every age group that include what quantities of nutrients should be present in a particular type of pet food. Pet food manufacturers can use these profiles as guidelines to formulate their pet food and then use a laboratory analysis to substantiate their nutritional content. This method is less expensive for pet food manufacturers and can be done more quickly than the feeding trial method. However, because this method means the food has not been tested on animals, there is no guarantee that the food will effectively supply nutrients to the pet, due to factors like digestibility.

An AAFCO statement that guarantees nutritional completeness using the formulation method would look like this:

“ABC Brand Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.”

Feeding trial method

Pet food formulated using this method also follows AAFCO nutritional profiles and undergoes laboratory analysis. Additionally, the pet food will undergo a feeding trial, which means that the food will be given to a group of pets for a minimum of twenty six weeks in order to ensure that they can use it as a sole source of nutrition, per AAFCO feeding trial protocols. This method is more expensive and takes more time to complete, but it ensures that pets can use the food as their only source of nutrition. The feeding trial method is preferred, because it guarantees palatability and digestibility.

An AAFCO statement that guarantees nutritional completeness using the feeding trial method would look like this:

“Animal feeding trials using AAFCO procedures substantiate that XYZ Brand Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs.”

AAFCO naming guidelines

Pet food name Example Percentage of ingredient in food
Ingredient name without any qualifiers Beef, chicken, seafood, turkey, lamb, etc. 95%
Dinner, meal, plate, entree, feast, etc. of ingredient name Beef dinner, turkey meal, seafood plate, chicken feast, etc. 25%
With ingredient name With chicken, with beef, with fish, etc. 3%
Flavor of ingredient name Bacon flavor, flavor of chicken, beef flavor, etc. Does not need to contain any percentage of ingredient, but the source of the flavor must be listed in the ingredients list.
  • Organic: Must be produced using USDA organic standards. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation and genetic engineering may not be used on plant products. All animal products must be sourced from animals “raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.”
  • Natural: Pet food that is derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources with no synthetic additives or chemical processing.
  • Light, Lite or Low-Calorie: Legally defined as a pet food that is formulated to contain a nutritionally-significant reduction in calories compared to a standard product. It must also have feeding directions that that would result in a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use. There is a maximum amount of calories that food using this label may have.

    This label is the best standard for buying a weight-loss product for your pet.

  • Lean or Low-Fat: A pet food with fat content at or below a level prescribed by AAFCO regulations. The guaranteed analysis must include a maximum crude fat percentage.

  • Less or Reduced Calorie: Pet food that has fewer calories compared to another product. This term may be misleading, because it can be used to label a food even though the degree of caloric reduction may not be as nutritionally significant as in a lite or low-calorie products. It only means there are less/reduced calories compared to some other product.
  • Less or Reduced-Fat: This food has less fat than another product it is being compared to. This may be misleading, because having less/reduced fat compared to another pet food does not mean the less/reduced fat pet food is healthy.
  • Holistic: There is currently no legal definition for this term. Any pet food manufacturer can claim that their food is “holistic.”
  • Human-grade: There is currently no legal definition for this term. Any pet food manufacturer can claim that their food is “human-grade.”

What not to feed your pets

Do not feed your cats…

  • Alcohol
  • Apple seeds
  • Apricot pits
  • Artificial sweetener (xylitol)
  • Baby food
  • Bones
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee, tea, and anything containing caffeine
  • Fat trimmings
  • Grapes, raisins, and currants
  • Green potatoes
  • Green tomatoes
  • Human vitamins
  • Large quantities of salt
  • Large quantities of sugar
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Milk and dairy products
  • Spoiled food
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions, onion powder, chives, and garlic
  • Persimmons
  • Raw egg whites
  • Raw meat
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Star fruit
  • Tobacco
  • Tuna (as their only food source)
  • Tylenol (acetaminophen)
  • Yeast dough

Feeding your cat these substances will cause illness and, in some cases, death.

Do not feed your dogs…

  • Alcohol
  • Apricot pits
  • Artificial sweetener (xylitol)
  • Avocado
  • Bones
  • Coffee, tea, or anything containing caffeine
  • Chocolate
  • Fat trimmings
  • Fish (to excess, occasional fish is fine)
  • Grapes, raisins, currants
  • Green potatoes
  • Green tomatoes
  • Hops
  • Human vitamins
  • Large quantities of salt
  • Large quantities of sugar
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Milk and dairy
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions, chives, and garlic
  • Persimmons
  • Raw eggs
  • Raw meat
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Spoiled food
  • Star fruit
  • Tobacco
  • Tylenol (acetaminophen)
  • Yeast dough

Feeding your dog these substances will cause illness and, in some cases, death.

Frequently asked questions about pet diets

Are grains just filler in pet food?

Fillers are ingredients that provide no nutrients and may be used as a source of dietary fiber, which is required for digestive health. For example, cellulose does not provide nutrients to cats, dogs, or humans, and may be used as filler in certain foods to add to the dietary fiber content. Grains provide carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals in pet food, so they are not considered filler. Let’s take corn as an example. It provides 10% of all required proteins and contains beta-carotene (precursor to Vitamin A), Vitamin E, lutein, fatty acids such as linoleic acid, and carbohydrates. Of course, your pet cannot survive on only grains, but that doesn’t mean it’s filler.

Should I feed my pet treats?

Think of treats as the animal equivalent of a slice of cake. You can definitely give your pet treats, but you should give them to your pet with moderation. Treats should represent less than 5% of a cat’s or dog’s diet.

Is home-cooking better for my pets?

In a study done by Stockman, Fascetti, Kass, and Larsen (2013), 95% of homemade pet food recipes were found to be nutritionally incomplete for pets. This underlines the difficulty of making a nutritionally complete meal for your pets from scratch. While it is certainly possible (5% recipes examined in the study were nutritionally complete, after all), for the average pet owner, it is time-consuming and expensive, with no way of testing the nutritional quality of the food besides sending it off to a laboratory. We would recommend buying AAFCO approved pet food to guarantee nutritional completeness and balance for your pet’s diet. For pet owners who are still interested in home-cooking for their pet, it is recommended that you consult a veterinarian who can guide you through nutritional planning for your pet.

What are meat by-products and are they bad for my pet?

According to regulatory guidelines, by-products include parts of an animal such as the heart, lungs, liver, neck, kidneys, stomach, gizzard, brain, feet, back, and other tissues. They specifically exclude feathers, hair, hide, hooves, manure, and stomach contents. These by-products are all safe to consume and nutritionally indistinguishable from regular meats. In fact, some of these parts, known as giblets, are used in human foods like hot dogs and bologna.

There is also something called “by-product meal” in pet foods. By-product meal is produced when by-products are rendered. In the rendering process:

  • By-products are cooked in what is basically a stew
  • The water is cooked away
  • The remaining fat is skimmed
  • The residue is baked into “by-product meal”

This is a protein-rich powder that is added back into pet food.

There are legal guidelines for what by-product meal can contain depending on how it’s labeled. If by-product meal is labeled as “beef by-product meal,” “poultry by-product meal,” “chicken by-product meal,” or “turkey by-product meal,” it legally cannot contain any other type of tissue than what is advertised.

However, “animal by-product meal” and “meat by-product meal” can contain by-products from any animal, even roadkill or dead-on-arrival animals. This is where questions about the quality and safety of by-products have come from. Rest assured, major pet food companies do not use this type of by-product meal and they stay in contact with suppliers to assure the consistent quality of their ingredients.

Can the additives in pet foods harm my pets?

Most pet foods contain additives such as food coloring and preservatives. The most common additives used have been tested by the FDA and approved as safe to use in both animal and human foods. For example, some common preservatives used in dry pet foods include antioxidants such as Vitamin E or BHT. These are also used in foods for human consumption. Other additives include vitamins and minerals that are meant to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet. Sometimes, these safe, nutritional additives can have confusing names–for example, pyridoxine hydrochloride, l-ascorbic acid,  calcifediol, and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are actually the chemical names for Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B9, respectively.

What does the pet food ingredient called “animal digest” contain?

Digest (such as poultry digest) is an ingredient that is produced by incubating animal tissues with digestive enzymes that break down the tissue. This is similar to what occurs in the stomach and small intestine, except that the meat or tissue is not totally digested by the process. This creates a mixture of peptides, proteins, and amino acids that is highly digestible and tastes very good to dogs and cats. Tastiness, or palatability, is quite important in the formulation of pet food–after all, even if a food is perfectly nutritionally balanced, that doesn’t mean anything if your pet doesn’t want to eat it!

Is it true that some cheap pet food contains euthanized cats and dogs?

Major pet food companies are supplied with animal products from USDA-inspected plants and rendering facilities. While euthanized dogs and cats are sometimes disposed at rendering plants to produce livestock and poultry feed or non-edible products like fertilizer and soap, these are not USDA-inspected plants, so they have no connection to your pet food. Due to public concern, the USDA has looked for dog and cat tissue in randomly selected pet foods using DNA tests–all tests were negative.

Do carbohydrates cause diabetes in cats?

There is no evidence to support this. Studies have been done that show carbohydrates have a negligible effect on blood sugar level. Obesity and old age are the biggest risk factors for diabetes in cats.

I heard that grains can cause food allergies in dogs and cats. Is this true? Should I buy gluten-free?

Grain allergies make up only 1% of skin diseases and 10-15% of all allergic skin diseases. The most common culprits of food allergies in dogs are beef, chicken, milk, eggs, corn, wheat, and soy. An allergy to one type of grain doesn’t necessarily mean your pet will be allergic to all grains, because different grains contain different types of proteins, which is what triggers the allergic reaction. Allergies to wheat gluten have been found in some Irish Setters, but they are extremely rare in other breeds. So, for most dogs, buying gluten-free food probably won’t prevent any food allergies or improve your dog’s quality of life–it’s pure marketing. In fact, wheat gluten contains 75% of necessary proteins, so it can be an important source of protein in your pet’s diet.

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]]> https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/nutrition-for-your-pets/feed/ 0 The essential guide to holiday pet safety. https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/essential-guide-holiday-pet-safety/ https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/essential-guide-holiday-pet-safety/#respond Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:41:38 +0000 http://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/?p=11087 The holiday season has arrived. For many people, this means bringing out festive decorations and hosting get-togethers with loved ones. Unfortunately, some of our time-honored holiday traditions carry certain risks for our furry friends. The following guide will examine the most common safety concerns for dogs and cats during this time of year and offer

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]]> The holiday season has arrived. For many people, this means bringing out festive decorations and hosting get-togethers with loved ones. Unfortunately, some of our time-honored holiday traditions carry certain risks for our furry friends. The following guide will examine the most common safety concerns for dogs and cats during this time of year and offer some simple precautions you can take to avoid expensive emergency trips to the veterinarian.

Dangerous Decorations

Tinsel, Garlands and Ribbons

Cats love playing with these shiny, stringy decorations. Both cats and dogs are especially attracted to ones that have food on them, like popcorn garlands. These ornaments can become deadly when ingested, because they can obstruct a pet’s intestines, requiring live-saving surgery to remove. You can prevent this from happening by hanging these decorations out of the reach of your pets, or choosing to use other types of decorations that are less dangerous for your pets. We highly recommend that you avoid hanging up garlands and other decorations with food on them all together, because they are entirely too tempting for your pets to leave alone.

Candles 

Many holiday traditions use candles in their celebrations—for example, you can find candles in the menorah used during Hanukkah and the kinara used during Kwanzaa. If you find yourself lighting candles during the holidays, make sure that you do not leave open flames unattended and be mindful to place them out of the reach of curious cats and dogs. Not only can knocking over candles cause serious burns to your pet, but they could also start a destructive house fire.

Ornaments and Displays

Whether they’re bulbs hanging from a tree, or ceramic displays sitting on your counter, these decorations can shatter and cause serious health complications for your pets. Not only can pets accidentally cut themselves on broken glass, plastic, and ceramic decorations, but they can also consume them, causing dangerous conditions like choking, intestinal obstructions, and even internal bleeding. Again, be aware of these concerns when you decorate your home and try to keep decorations out of reach from playful paws. Make sure to secure your decorations as well, so they don’t accidentally fall and create a safety hazard for your pets.

Lights

If you use lights in your holiday displays, such as those on a Christmas tree, there are several risks that you should be aware of. First of all, lights that stay on for long periods of time can heat up to dangerous temperatures, which can burn your pets on contact. Some pets might also be tempted to chew through the cord connecting your lights, which can cause electric shock. The light bulbs can pose a risk if they shatter or are chewed. Avoid hanging lights in the reach of your pets—for example, do not hang them on the lower branches of a Christmas tree, but start higher up. You also may wish to invest in chew-proof extension cords or a bitter spray like Chew Stop that will ward off curious mouths.

Costumes

Dressing up your dog as a reindeer or putting them in a little Santa outfit is incredibly cute–we’re not going to argue with that! But some outfits can pose a health hazard to your pets, even if they’re marketed as being pet-safe. When buying seasonal outfits for your pet, make sure that they are not too tight around the chest or neck, that your pet can comfortably breathe in them, that they can easily be released or torn case they become caught on something (like break-away collars), and that they don’t have small parts like buttons or ribbons that your pet and tear off and eat.

Unsafe Foods

Chocolate

This sweet treat is highly toxic to both dogs and cats because of a substance found in the cocoa (or cacao) bean, which chocolate is made from. Avoid leaving chocolate in the reach of your pets. Even if the chocolate is still in its wrapper, with their sensitive noses, cats and dogs will be tempted by the smell. If your pet ingests chocolate, seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible. Symptoms include restlessness, vomiting, elevated heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, and collapse.

Poultry bones

Chicken and turkey bones are hollow and splinter easily. This means they can get lodged in a pet’s gastro-intestinal tract and even cause tearing throughout the stomach and intestines. Because of this, we emphasize that you should not give your pet poultry bones under any circumstances. Rawhides and other bones sold at the pet store are a safe alternative if you want to give your dog a special treat over the holidays.

Fatty foods and seasoning

Fatty foods like gravy and turkey skins can cause stomach irritation and diarrhea when eaten by cats and dogs. In some cases, this can escalate to a condition known as pancreatitis, which requires hospitalization. Seasoned foods can also irritate your pet’s stomach. Because of this, we suggest that you avoid feeding your pets table scraps all together.

Alcohol

Do not give your pets alcohol. According to the ASPCA, “Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.”

Dough

Any type of dough containing yeast is unsafe for animals, because the dough can rise and release gas when eaten. This can result in their stomachs or intestines rupturing–a life-threatening condition. Do not feed these to your pets under any circumstances.

Grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts

These treats are healthy for humans, but quite dangerous for animals. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets, while macadamia nuts damage the nervous system and muscles. Keep any cornucopia or fruit and nut bowls out of reach from your pets to avoid any accidental ingestion.

Sweets

There is an artificial sweetener known as xylitol that you can find in breath mints, candies, and gum. Xylitol is highly toxic for dogs and can cause death in as little as thirty minutes when eaten. Because of this, you should take precautions to place any candy dishes or candy canes out of the reach of your canine companions. If you think your pet has consumed xylitol, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Symptoms include weakness, lethargy, collapse, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and coma.

Perilous Plants

Holly

When ingested, the toxic red berries and spiny leaves on this seasonal plant cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and lethargy in both dogs and cats. If you think your pet has eaten holly, contact your veterinarian for treatment recommendations.

Mistletoe

Toxicity from this plant can range from mild to severe depending on the amount that has been consumed. Both dogs and cats will suffer from stomach irritation in small amounts and abnormal heart rate, seizures, collapse, and even death when large amounts have been eaten. If your pet has eaten mistletoe, contact your veterinarian immediately for a consultation. They will let you know what actions you should take depending on the symptoms.

Poinsettia

This plant is mildly toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea when eaten, and skin irritation if your pet is exposed to the sap. Generally, exposure to the poinsettia plant does not require immediate medical attention. That being said, it’s still not a pleasant experience for your pets, so you should keep these plants out of the reach of curious snouts.

Christmas trees

Pine needles are not poisonous, but they can puncture your pet’s gastro-intestinal tract. Make sure that you tidy up any pine needles that might fall around your Christmas tree to avoid an emergency trip to the veterinarian. You should also be aware that Christmas tree water is toxic for pets. Not only does it contain poisonous fertilizers, but it’s also a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria that can cause your pet to become seriously ill. Try to block access to the water at the base of your tree by covering it with some sort of barrier, like a tarp.

Lilies

These plants are highly toxic to cats. Even eating one or two petals can be potentially fatal for cats, because it can cause severe kidney failure. If you think your cat has ingested a piece of a lily plant, immediately rush your cat to a veterinarian for emergency medical care.

Amaryllis

This lovely red flowering plant is moderately toxic for dogs and cats. It can cause drooling, vomiting, low blood pressure, and respiratory distress if the flowers, stems, or bulbs are eaten. If you think your pet has consumed amaryllis, contact your veterinarian for a treatment recommendation.

Daffodils

Ingestion of the bulb, stems, leaves, or flowers of the daffodil can cause mild to moderate symptoms in both dogs and cats. Symptoms include vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias, and respiratory depression. If you suspect your pet has eaten any part of a daffodil, contact your veterinarian for a treatment recommendation.

Alarming Noises

The last aspect of holiday safety that we’re going to touch upon concerns loud noises. Fireworks, party poppers, music, and even crowds of people can cause a great deal of stress for some animals. Your pet cannot control their reaction to these loud noises, but there are some precautions you can take to reduce their stress and improve their comfort during the holidays.

If you plan on hosting a holiday party, set aside a room for your pet that guests will not intrude upon. Furnish this quiet, familiar place with a blanket, bed, or crate and a bowl of water for their comfort. Consider leaving on a fan or recording of white noise to block startling sounds. Designing a comfort-zone like this is also an excellent precaution to take for pets that are scared of fireworks and party poppers.

If you expect fireworks or party poppers to make an appearance during your celebrations, make sure your pet is safely inside your home. Not only can the noise from these items damage your pet’s sensitive hearing, but they can also cause your pet to flee from terror—in fact, shelters experience an influx of lost pets every year around New Years and the Fourth of July because of this.

Consider taking your pet out for a long walk or giving them a vigorous play session to tire them out before the festivities begin. If you pet is tired, they will also be less anxious. Never give your pets sleeping aids or sedatives to calm them down, unless they have been directly prescribed by your veterinarian for that purpose.

Remember that you should never punish your animals for being stressed out—they can’t help it, and it will only make their fear worse for next time. Instead, comfort your animals when they are stressed. Pet them, speak softly to them, and provide them with treats if they have an appetite. This will teach them that there’s nothing to fear about parties or fireworks, and greatly reduce their anxiety.

We hope this guide has given you some useful strategies to protect your pets during this festive season. Happy Holidays!

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]]> https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/essential-guide-holiday-pet-safety/feed/ 0 Itchy dog? It could be flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/itchy-dog-it-could-be-flea-allergy-dermatitis-fad/ https://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/itchy-dog-it-could-be-flea-allergy-dermatitis-fad/#respond Wed, 17 Sep 2014 05:43:38 +0000 http://www.townecenteranimalhospital.com/?p=10962 Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the leading cause of itching in dogs. In this post, we're going to explore how it works, how we diagnose it, and how we can prevent and treat it to keep your pets itch-free. What is FAD? As in any allergic reaction, the immune system is overreactive and produces antibodies

The post Itchy dog? It could be flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). appeared first on Towne Center Animal Hospital | Veterinarian in Sanford, FL.

]]> Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the leading cause of itching in dogs. In this post, we’re going to explore how it works, how we diagnose it, and how we can prevent and treat it to keep your pets itch-free.

What is FAD?

As in any allergic reaction, the immune system is overreactive and produces antibodies to a substance that it would normally tolerate (in this case, the saliva of fleas). Adult fleas require a blood meal in order to reproduce. However, they do not usually remain on the dog except when they are feeding. When they feed, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin. Proteins in the saliva cause an intensely itchy response to sensitive dogs.

“A single fleabite can cause itching for days.”

Dogs with FAD do not have to be infested with fleas to be itchy. In fact, a single fleabite can cause itching for days.

Are only certain dogs allergic to fleas?

FAD can affect any adult dog although some breeds appear to be more prone than others are.

How is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?

Clinical signs often give the first clue that your pet may suffer from FAD. Itching and hair loss in the region from the middle of the back to the tail base and down the rear legs (the “flea triangle”) is often associated with FAD. Intradermal allergy tests (skin tests) or specialized blood tests (IgE blood tests) can confirm a flea allergy in your dog.

What does treatment involve?

Since the injection of flea saliva causes the allergic response, it is important to prevent fleas from biting your dog. Strict flea control is essential. Even if you have not seen fleas on your dog, it is important that you continue rigorous flea treatment and maintain environmental control. Outdoor dogs pose a particular challenge.

What about desensitization?

Desensitization or administering “allergy injections” involves injecting increasing doses of a diluted flea antigen over a prolonged period. In some cases, these allergy injections may be required for the pet’s life. Desensitization therapy is successful in approximately half of FAD cases.

What about steroids or other drugs?

Corticosteroids, “cortisone” or “steroids” are widely used to treat FAD. They often bring about miraculous relief from the itching. However, there are significant potential side effects to steroid use. The long-term use of corticosteroids can ultimately result in more harm than good. Steroids can be safely used for short-term relief while flea control is being implemented. Combining corticosteroids with antihistamines and/or Omega fatty acid supplements is an ideal regimen for many patients. The goal is to use the lowest dosage of corticosteroids as possible, as infrequently as possible, preferably on an alternating-day basis. If your dog has developed a secondary bacterial skin infection because of the scratching, antibiotics may also be necessary.

We will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of the various treatments for FAD with you during your pet’s examination, and will recommend the safest and most effective treatment plan for your pet’s individual needs.

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