I know many people have heard of  WebMD, or even stopped by their site,  it’s a great place to get your health care questions answered.  What you may not know, they now have a section devoted to pets. The WebMD Healthy Pets section covers everything from behavior to preventative care.

They also feature top stories, today’s is about the controversy over pet vaccines.

WebMD Pet Health Feature by Bill Hendrick

Reviewed by Katherine Snyder, DVM, Dip ACVIM

Many pet owners and some animal scientists believe that we are over vaccinating our pets. They also think that some shots may be doing more harm than good. One type of cancer in cats, for example, is known to be caused by injections. In addition, vaccines can cause allergic reactions.

Because reports and rumors of side effects have become so widespread, pet owners increasingly are asking their vets about shots. Andy Smith, DVM, a long-time Atlanta veterinarian, says he has “this conversation with a client twice a week. It’s clear there’s a lot of confusion and concern.” So WebMD went to some top veterinary experts to find answers you can use in sorting out your own concerns.

Go visit WebMD to read the full article and find out why dogs need vaccines, if you should vaccinate, and can they cause cancer.

*Thanks Bella for barking this to me.

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I posted a warning about cocoa mulch last year, but recently I have been receiving a lot of emails about the dangers of this product.  Since today is the first day of spring, meaning mulch season is right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time for a repost.

Over the weekend one of our friends experienced a tragedy with one of their dogs and wanted me to pass a special message along to all of our dog loving friends and family. Please tell every dog owner you know.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog, Calypso, decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn’t acting lethargic in any way. The next day Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company’s website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats. Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey’s, and they claim that ‘It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won’t eat it.’

Read the rest of this entry »

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Leptospirosis is a dangerous dog disease and is on the rise. An article from Tampa Bay, FL states that a disease vets rarely saw five or ten years ago is making a come back.

Gary Oswald, an internal medicine specialist, said instances of leptospirosis have increased in recent years.

“We’ve seen new strains of leptospirosis much more pathogenic,” or capable of causing disease,” he said. “They’ll shut liver and kidneys down and sometimes [cause] death in animals, so I think the word is finally out there that this is a new re-emergent disease.”

The disease, caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium, spreads through the urine of infected animals. It can get into water or soil and survive for weeks or months.

Oswald said dogs are more inclined to contract the disease if they spend time in wooded areas or near freshwater ponds.

Oswald went on to say that dogs in urban areas are also susceptible to the disease in certain places, such as dog parks.

In milder strains of leptospirosis, a dog may appear to have flu-like symptoms such as fever, refusal to eat and weakness. In more serious strains, if not treated with antibiotics, the disease can attack an animal’s kidneys, liver and brain within a week or two.

New vaccines on the market can protect dogs against four of the new strains of leptospirosis.Oswald suggested dog owners ask their veterinarians if their pet is at risk.

Lisa and I walk the dogs at the local park where there is a creek, as well as at a nearby lake, they drink out of both.  We will definitely be checking with our vet about this and asking her advice on the vaccine.

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Winter is in full force, this is a great tip from our friends at Sunbear Squad.

Week of Feb. 15:

Watch for bloody dog and cat tracks caused by cracked and frozen pads. Find the pets and help them get shelter.

Last month I did a post, Protecting Your Pup From Winter’s Freeze, and one of the suggestions to keep your dog’s paws safe was to use cooking spray.

PAD PROTECTION: When leaving her home, she sprays her dogs’ paws with cooking spray. This prevents ice balls from building up between their pads and gives them some protection from the rock salt, too. When she gets home she rinses off her dogs’ paws.

Don’t forget, it’s not too late to get your FREE Neighborhood Watch Kit so you can be a good Samaritan to animals.  Join the pack to stop animal cruelty, you can make a difference.

Also, if you would like to post Sunbear Squad’s tip of the week on your site please contact Anna at info@sunbearsquad.org.

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I love watching my parents make New Year’s Resolutions. Why? Because when they inevitably break them, I’m there to make them feel better.

You may know the drill already, but here’s how it works in the Hoefinger household.

January 2nd…Resolution #1 – the thought of working out regularly finds rainbow bridge quickly. I sit at their feet, waiting for treats to come my way. And they do.

January 15th – Resolution #2 – eating more veggies is tossed aside by the buffalo wings eat-a-thon. I sit at their feet, waiting for treats to come my way. And they do.

February 1st – Resolution #3 – keeping track of family finances goes the way of my mother’s left slipper. I sit at their feet, waiting for treats to come my way. And they do.

The more they fail, the better off I am.

I’m glad I’m not owned by Warren Buffet or Bill Gates.

But I do see the need for goals. And below are some valuable links to help you get out of the new year whatever it is that you want.  Just keep reading to find out how.

HEALTH
You know the old saying, “You ain’t got nothing if you don’t have your health.”

Well, if you don’t have peanut butter treats on a regular basis, you really have nothing either, but I get the point. Literally.

You see, for me it starts with an acupuncture needle jammed in the middle of my forehead. Once it’s in there, I feel a whole lot better.

You may have different ideas about staying healthy, and you’d be well served to check out the most valuable canine health tips known to dog, or man for that matter. No better place to turn than to Dogster.

If you’d like to know what problems you’re likely to encounter, check out breed specific health related issues at:

• Potentially Major Health Issues In Dogs

Like the human touch of a trained vet? One that you don’t have to feel self conscious about when taking your fur suit off? Then check out the things to look for when selecting your very own healer…

• Tips: Selecting A Veterinarian For Your Dog

Even if you have a great vet, make sure you don’t forget to check on the latest trends in canine healthcare. Remember, an informed dog, is a happy dog. You’ll be informed and happy at:

• Dog Health

Even after doing research, you may still be perplexed about a health issue, or just need more info on a dog related question. That’s where Dogster’s very own vet extraordinaire, Dr. Barchas comes in. Don’t worry, he has a special translator that understands what you type with your paws. And yes, that is his real name. I guess it was inevitable he’d be a vet.

If I were a people doctor, you know what my name would be? Dr. Bo. Did you really expect me to say something like Dr. Speakus? You can check in with the good doc here:

• Ask The Vet Blog

LOVE

Who was it that said, “It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all”? Yeah, I’m not sure either, but let me tell you, they never met Squeekers. Read the rest of this entry »

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