Having a Happy Thanksgiving with Pets

Reposted from Dr. Brita Kiffney, DVM, DABVP

Thanksgiving stress and how to avoid having to go to the veterinarian the day after!

We all know spending time with family during the holidays can be stressful. Arguments break out over the smallest things. Fights erupt over deep-seated issues. It's hard to remember the topics not to discuss; there are the obvious ones like religion and politics, but don't forget your aunt just divorced, (maybe best not to speak of men?) or your step sister hates her new haircut...

It is easy to spoil your pets in response to all this stress- hey, they don't argue about politics or care about the tattoos your son has acquired!
Just remembers that some treats can lead to injury or illness for our pets. The following are some tips for a happy holiday with you pet. 

1. Fatty Foods:  Foods high in fat can give your pet pancreatitis or gastroentertitis. Avoid feeding your dog or cat turkey drippings, turkey skin, bacon, or other high fat foods
2.  Alcohol: Cats and dogs are very susceptible to alcohol toxicity- they don't just get drunk , they can die from alcohol ingestion. All poisoning problems boil down to the amount (dosage) of alcohol ingested compared to weight. Most of our pets are much smaller than a typical adult human. Within 30 minutes of a pet drinking alcohol, symptoms can appear: staggering , depression, and stumbling. Keep alcoholic beverages and medications out of your pets reach during the holidays. 
3. Bones:  Bones can lacerate or obstruct your pets' insides. Save the bones for soup - not your dog. 
4. Onions:  Onions and onion powder can cause destroy your dog or cat's red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. 
5. Grapes and Raisins:  Grapes and raisins  can cause kidney damage to both dogs and cats.
6. Chocolate:  Death by chocolate- it can actually happen to  your dog or cat; so keep the sweets  out of reach.
7. Fresh Water:  When there are a large number of people in the house, there's a good chance to bump into the water bowl leaving your pet dry. 
8. Quiet Time:  Cats and dogs need to have a place to escape from all the holiday festivities. Make sure there is a quiet room, crate or other location they can escape the curious grandchildren, or drunken adults!
9. Garbage:  The garbage is sure tempting to your pet during thanksgiving. Its full of food wrappers (that can cause a gastrointestinal blockage if eaten) , high fat foods like grease, corn on the cob (can cause obstructions) and spoiled items. All of which could lead to vomiting, diarrhea and a trip to your veterinarians office.
10. Bread dough:  Some dogs will  ingest raw bread dough. The yeast added to bread dough converts the carbohydrates to alcohol and in the process, carbon dioxide is released which makes the dough rise. This same reaction occurs in the stomach once the bread dough is swallowed. Not only can this result in alcohol overload (see above) but the stomach distension can cause serious breathing and heart problems

Happy Cats

We all want our cats to be happy but they are sometimes a perplexing species.   As I write this, my cat, Mango, is happily climbing into the paper recycling bin in my office.  Somehow, that is logical to him.  More to the point, when our cats are unhappy, or stressed, they may do things that make our lives more difficult such as inappropriately urinate.  Thank you to the AAFP for sharing the following information
Behavioral problems are the number one reason cats are surrendered or euthanized.  When we understand cat behavior we enhance their health and well being and even save lives.  They have environmental and social needs just like everyone else.  In considering these needs, remember that cats are:

1. Solitary hunters that need to protect themselves from danger.
2. Cats use vocalization, posturing, and scent to communicate their stress if they feel threatened
3. Cats are territorial and will feel threatened if that they perceive that territory is challenged.
4. They have a very strong sense of smell and hearing and may be threatened by smells and sounds that we don't think are significant.
5. Cats are social animals but don't really like living with other cats, unless they are siblings.  Cats often don't live in a three cat household.  If a dwelling has three cats, they actually live in a three cat apartment building with distinct regions for each and that can create stress.

To meet the environmental needs of your cat

1. Provide a safe environment.  Cats prefer to rest alone in an enclosed space with several avenues for exit. 
2. Provide separated and plentiful key environmental resources.  All cats need access to litterboxes, food and water without the threat of challenge.  This usually means one of each resource per cat plus one (ie, a 3 cat household would have 4 litter boxes).
3. Provide play and predatory opportunities.  Use of interactive toys like feathers and strings pulled across the floor trigger necessary activity
4. Provide positive and predictable human to cat social interactions.  Each cat has an individualized amount of interaction it needs regularly.
5. Provide an appropriate environment for their sense of smell.  Keep odors to a minimum but avoid harsh detergents and over sterilization of their environment.  They mark their world with their face and body.  If that is removed when a new cat is in the environment they may find that stressful.  Feliway, or other synthetic pheromones may be calming.

A happy cat equals a happy owner.

Timothy R Kraabel, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline Practice)

Outreach Chairman, American Board of VeterinaryPractitioners

Pet Vehicle Safety

I was driving the other day and saw an all too common sight.   A lady in a big truck was in the left hand turn lane and her dogs were in the passenger seat of her truck wandering loose.  Those dogs have little chance of survival in a significant accident.

Dogs in loose in vehicles today remind me of vehicle safety for kids in the 1970's.  My mom tells of my first car seat.  It was a platform that hung over the front seat giving a mom a place to set the baby while driving.  It was essentially a springboard that ensured a clear path to the windshield with sudden changes in force.  Our family went on many drives to the Oregon coast with my brothers and I loose in the back of the family station wagon (you know the one - Faux wooden paneling on the sides) with our comic books, pillows, and blankets.  Cars had seat belts but no one used them.  Only the dorky parents made their kids wear them.

Things have changed though.  No one would leave their child unbuckled anymore.  Childhood is a progression though a series of the appropriate car seats.  Yet, the dogs are wandering about the car.  If they are up front, airbag deployment can be lethal.  Loose anywhere and they can become a projectile in an accident and be thrown around the car and may injure others in the car.  There are number of commercial harnesses available.   While they are a good start and a good idea, little to no independent testing has been done on them.  Alarmingly, the Center for Pet Safety reports a high failure in crash test simulations they have performed on common brands.  Their website does have one brand they certified.  Crates are commonly thought of as a safe option.  They can collapse in an accident though and their structural stability has rarely been tested.

So, many questions remain about how to achieve safe car travel for pets but following some basic principles can be lifesaving.

1. No pet should ever be in the front seat.
2. Small dogs and cats may be kept in carriers.  The carriers should be placed in the back seat on the floor behind the front seats.  Do not belt these to back seat seat belt.  The carriers may collapse under force.  
3. Do not use booster seats.
4. The safest place for a dog is in the back seat in a Center for Pet Safety approved harness, properly attached to the seat belt system.  Do not attach tethers.
5. Without the harness system, larger dogs are safest further back in caged cargo area systems as shown.  A carrier in the back is the next best option.

Timothy R Kraabel, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline Practice)

Outreach Chairman, American Board of VeterinaryPractitioners