Animals Unfolded

Several weeks ago, I highlighted the topic of vestibular disease in dogs after a diagnosis with one of my charges. And while it’s not a life-limiting diagnosis, the accompanying symptoms can most definitely diminish a pet’s overall well-being and ability to cope until it resolves. That takes a goodly amount of patience, environmental management and supportive care to get there. The supportive care part is par for the course with most diagnoses, and how that’s carried out can take a bit of creativity.  The source of the vestibular issues with the pet referenced previously took a little time to sort out, which isn’t unusual with some diagnoses. And so, symptoms that initially got better for them but then intensified by week’s end found the family back at their primary vet clinic to get things under control.  After the vet’s assessment of a middle ear infection, they discussed what would be indicated to provide that supportive care that was critical for the pet’s comfort. And as...

I recall one of the things that Harold Rhee and I chatted about during one segment of the Pawprint Animal Rescue Podcast were the challenges that families face in medicating pets who are in fragile health or receiving palliative or hospice care. Whether it's pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals or supplements, what is meant to provide comfort care, pain or anxiety relief or even treatment for a disease can be a source of struggle for both pet and human.  Having had plenty of personal experience with that, I use what I learned during that period and beyond to administer what is prescribed by way of the most humane, safe methods possible and to get the most cooperation from pets. Though I'm not Fear Free Certified yet (still waiting on that to become available), I have participated in Fear Free training , which built on my previous experience and existing philosophy: interact with pets in the most safe and humane ways while getting their permission. I use these skills and tea...

Each year at this time, just as many other people here in Michigan, I delight in the arrival of the extended daylight hours; the warmer weather; not worrying about ice-covered roads; outdoor gatherings. Fireworks isn’t included on that list, and though I can appreciate other’s enthusiasm for them, they are the bane of those who share life with pets. The noise is the chief offender when it comes to frightening pets, but I've no doubt that if the light and smell resulting from them are within a detectable distance of a pet, they’re contributors, too. It’s understandable; the loud pops and bangs are confusing and occur without any sense of place. Though it need not be a precursor, for a pet that already has some level of anxiety or fearfulness, the things that make fireworks enjoyable to humans only feed the behaviors that signal to us that our pet is having even more trouble coping.  Over the years, I’ve had more companion animals in my care that find themselves in this situ...

One of the most common tasks that I need to ensure gets done when caring for my charges is giving any medication. Though a few meds are dispensed as a suspension, as a transdermal gel or even by injection (something that I had to begin recently with both of my pets), pills or capsules are the most common mode of delivery. This doesn't make most animals feel especially cooperative, as many a pet owner can attest -- especially when it comes to the latter. Their size and shape can make things a bit more challenging. There's a bit of an art to making the task of taking meds stress-free for dogs and cats, and as a caregiver to many four-legged charges, I've figured out a couple of tricks to facilitate this. Dogs can be pretty easygoing when it comes to administering pills, as they are food motivated and believe me — I take full advantage of that. For most dogs, pill pockets work well, though some dogs get wise to the tactic so mixing things up a bit and employing a steal...

Heartworm (HW) infection is caused by a filarial (worm-like) organism, Dirofilaria immiti. The carriers are nearly 70 species of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes hosts the worm in it's larval stage , where it then may transmit it to it's wild or companion animal victim. Ferrets and dogs are highly susceptible; cats are somewhat resistant (but not entirely immune). Long story short, the larvae incubates in the mammalian host - and present themselves in the pulmonary arteries, typically. The chambers of the heart become impaired, affecting overall function. Symptoms include weight loss, shortness of breath, weakness, respiratory dysfunction (including cough) and death, possibly. Only your vet can diagnose heartworm. An antigen test , which is the most effective way to diagnose heartworm, is administered in your vet's office via a blood sample. Test results are usually quick. (Tests are done in-office in my experience.) Treatment options can only be determined by ...