Pet First Aid: Asthma Attacks

Dogs don’t often have asthma problems; asthma is more commonly seen in cats. Siamese are especially susceptible to asthma attacks! You may not notice the first few attacks. Signs of an asthma attack: Coughing Crouching low and extending head and elbows — this is the animal trying to make more space for the lungs to expand Straining to breathe Gasping A lack of oxygen will cause the gums to turn purple If your pet is having an asthma attack, she needs the veterinarian as soon as possible. Call your vet and get moving. Before you reach the vet’s, there are … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid Awareness Month

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time of year for it, because the weather’s nicer, we’re outside more –as are our pets most likely–and there’s lots to get into. Some of it can be harmful, even fatal, to your dog or cat, but with awareness you can avoid trouble. Below is a list of some of those things. Where applicable, related Families.com articles are referenced for further information. Dangers Lurking in the Garden Lawn and garden care is on many people’s minds this time of year. If your pet’s going to help you, here’s some things … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Hypothermia

Pets that are outdoors in the cold — especially in temperatures below freezing — can develop hypothermia. Hypothermia is an abnormal lowering of the body’s temperature. It can lead to unconsciousness, shock, and even death. A pet that shows signs of frostbite (including shivering, ice on the fur or body, and discoloration of skin at the extremities) may also be experiencing hypothermia. However, hypothermia can occur without frostbite present. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, weakness, and a low body temperature. Take your pet’s temperature rectally to be certain. The most important thing you can do is get your pet warm! … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Frostbite

Just because dogs and cats have fur doesn’t mean pets can withstand cold winter temperatures and nasty weather. Leaving your dog or cat out in the cold could have some serious health risks. Exposure to extreme freezing temperatures for long periods of time can result in frostbite. Frostbite is damage or death to tissues in the extremities — tips of the ears, the tail, around the face, on the genitalia, and on the foot pads. Frostbite comes on in stages: When a pet is exposed to cold temperatures, the airs stand on end to trap air near the body. The … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Fading

Puppies and kittens can quickly go from active, squiggling babies to seriously ill. Within a matter of hours, viruses or parasites can cause a healthy puppy or kitten to “fade”. Other causes include maternal neglect, blood compatibility, hypothermia, dehydration, and hypoglycemia. Fading can be a serious concern for puppies and kittens under eight weeks old. Regardless of cause, vomiting and diarrhea can quickly dehydrate a young puppy or kitten. Dehydration leads to weakness, and a weak puppy or kitten won’t move around as much. They will quickly lose body heat. If they are too weak to nurse, the puppy or … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Bee and Wasp Stings

If your pet has a run-in with an angry nest of bees or wasps, you may find that he’s mainly been stung on and around his face. A pet’s fur protects the majority of the body; you may see other stings on the flanks, legs, and belly. Most of the time, a bee or wasp sting isn’t a serious injury. You may see redness or swelling; your dog may itch at the spot or experience pain. The first thing to do is remove the stinger. Scrape a stinger free with the blunt edge of a knife, a credit card, or … Continue reading →

When Is Vomiting An Emergency?

One truth of pet ownership: you’re going to have to deal with barf. And poop. And sometimes both. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sound of a hairball in progress, or a beloved pet yakking up her latest meal. Most times, vomiting or diarrhea isn’t an emergency. Sometimes pets just eat something that doesn’t sit right, or eat too fast, or just get too excited or nervous. Moose tends to get diarrhea after spending an afternoon running around with the energetic puppy Casey. All that play is just too much for his system to handle! Lally will sometimes … Continue reading →

FLUTD – Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

The name FLUTD – feline lower urinary tract disease — covers a number of conditions that affect the urinary tract in cats. In the simplest terms, FLUTD affects the cat’s urinary bladder and sometimes the urethra. FLUTD can be a serious disease resulting in death if not treated. General signs of urinary tract issues can include: Prolonged squatting or straining in the litter box (or out of the litter box) — some owners confuse this with constipation Straining in the litter box but not producing urine, or only producing a small amount Frequent urination or attempted urination Pain while urinating, … Continue reading →

What Is A Luxating Patella?

The patella is the bone we know more familiarly as the knee cap. In a normal knee, the patella glides up and down as the knee joint is bent back and forth. The knee cap protects the knee joint and guides the action of muscles in the lower leg. Two bony ridges on the thigh bone guide the patella as it slides up and down. The entire knee system runs smoothly thanks to joint fluid. A patella may become luxated — jumps out of the guiding grooves on the thigh bone — for different reasons. The ridges may not be … Continue reading →

Flea Allergies

Flea bite allergy, also known as flea allergy dermatitis or bite hypersensitivity, is a seasonal allergy. The worst times of year for dogs and cats with flea bite allergies is the summer and fall — peak flea times. Even in temperate areas, summer and fall seem to be worse than the rest of the year for flea bite allergies. Flea saliva contains more than fifteen different potential allergens. Any or all of these can cause an allergic reaction in a sensitive dog or cat. Once a pet develops a sensitivity to flea bites, it is rare for them to stop … Continue reading →