Help Your Fat Cat Slim Down

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ASPCA KEEP VACATIONING PETS SAFE WITH OUR AIR & ROAD TRAVEL TIPS

Your summer vacation’s almost here—and for some pet parents, traveling’s no fun if the four-legged members of the family can’t come along. But without thoughtful preparation, going on the road or flying can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions. Before you embark on your journey, the ASPCA would like to offer a few helpful hints.

* Please visit your veterinarian before traveling to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and has all the medications he needs. Also ask about parasites or other health risks native to your destination.
* Your pet should always wear a collar and ID tag clearly stating an address or phone number where you can be reached—that includes cell phone number and destination info.
* Always bring plenty of plastic jugs filled with bottled or tap water from home. Drinking water she’s not used to could upset your pet’s stomach. If flying, freeze water in a bowl the night before. It won’t spill during loading and it’ll melt by the time she’s thirsty.
* Fly your pet in a USDA-approved shipping crate large enough for her to comfortably stand, sit and turn around in. Write “Live Animal” in large letters on at least two sides of the crate, and draw arrows indicating the crate’s upright position. (Of course you should ask the airline if small animals can fly with you in the cabin.)
* If driving, never leave your pet in a parked automobile. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a stationary vehicle can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop.

To ensure your trip is a good one, please read our complete air and road travel tips. Wanna get off to a safe and stylish start? Check out the ASPCA’s special line of travel gear for pets. Bon voyage!

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Eddies Wheels for pets

Daisy, queen of dachshunds, overlooking her

If you ever need a wheel chair for a dog- visit Eddie.

These people are amazing.

When their own dog, Buddha, lost her mobility due to disc disease, they built her a dogcart to help her get around. After so many years of faithful service, she deserved a chance to rehabilitate and enjoy life while she healed. That meant a cart designed to allow her to explore the woods, wade in the river, and play with other dogs, as she had always done. After several months in her cart, she gradually, miraculously, regained her ability to walk on her own again. She proved to us that given time and care, dogs with disabilities can not only survive, sometimes they can heal. And they have learned from the hundreds of disabled pets we have built carts for since then, that even those with permanent disabilities can enjoy life in their wheels.

The business has now blossomed and they make dog wheels for dogs all over the world.
They have been featured on the Today Show as well.

Eddie's Wheels for Pets
140 State Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Toll-free: 888-211-2700
Local Phone: 413-625-0033
Fax: 413-625-8428

http://www.eddieswheels.com/html/our_story.html

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Allergic to your pet?

When you have a pet allergy, you may exhibit the signs and symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis).

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof or mouth or throat
• Postnasal drip
• Rash/Itching
  

If you have asthma, you may also experience increased signs and symptoms of asthma, such as:

• Lung congestion
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Cough

Signs and symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to pet dander or saliva. If your sensitivity to the allergen is low, however, signs and symptoms may not appear until hours after contact.The tiny dander particles on your pet are sticky.

The most effective treatment for pet allergy is to avoid exposure to animals.

If your allergy is mild and you'd like to keep your pet, prevention measures may help minimize your exposure to pet dander and the resulting allergic reactions.

Medications
When you can't control your allergic reactions to pet dander with prevention measures, your doctor may recommend or prescribe allergy medications. These may include:

• Nonprescription medications. To counter the signs and symptoms of allergy-induced hay fever, short-acting antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, others), decongestants (Sudafed, Chlor-Trimeton, others) or a nasal spray containing cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom) may help.
• Prescription hay fever medications.
  

mayoclinic

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Leptospirosis : Do you think that letting your pet drink rain water is okay?

Do you think that letting your pet drink rain water is okay?
Think again.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals.

Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases. Leptospirosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a blood or urine sample. Most of the time, animals catch Lepto by drinking from puddles or streams that contain urine from rodents. Rain water can spread the disease.

In pets, Leptospirosis can cause mild symptoms such as reduced energy, or a weak appetite, but it can lead to fever, vomiting and in some cases death.

If you notice your dog suffering from any of the symptoms, take him to the vet immediately.

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