Cats

The AVMA, or American Veterinary Medicine Association, is supporting a bipartisan effort to introduce a bill to combat zoonotic diseases. The Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act (One Health Act for short) is designed to focus on the prevention of zoonotic diseases and to coordinate efforts between the departments that deal with them.

What Is a Zoonotic Disease?

A zoonotic disease is any disease that is shared between humans and animals. It can be a disease that spreads from animals to humans or vice versa. Some commonly known zoonotic diseases are:

• Lyme disease
• Rabies
• Swine flu
• Bubonic plague

What Zoonotic Diseases Are Most Common in the USA?

Not all of the diseases listed above are currently a major risk to humans. However, up to 60% of infectious diseases are actually zoonotic in nature. The CDC has compiled a list of the eight zoonotic diseases that are of greatest risk to humans in the United States:

• Salmonellosis
• Lyme disease
• Rabies
• Zoonotic influenza
• Plague
• Emerging coronaviruses
• West Nile virus
• Brucellosis

What Would the One Health Bill Do?

The One Health bill has the following three goals:

• Workforce development pertaining to the prevention of and response to zoonotic disease outbreaks in both humans and animals
• Increased coordination between the different federal agencies that study the environment and the health of animals and humans
• Improved scientific understanding of the health connections between the environment, animals, and humans

The bill aims to ensure that the relevant federal agencies are better equipped to handle diseases. With more resources, the federal agencies involved with handling zoonotic diseases can better prevent the spread of diseases.

Who Introduced the Bill to Congress?

The One Health bill was reintroduced to both the Senate and the House of Representatives by a bipartisan team. In the House of Representatives, the bill was reintroduced by Republican Representative Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Representative Kurt Schrader, a Democratic representative from Oregon, who is also a veterinarian. In the Senate, the bill was reintroduced by Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.

Many dogs have behavioral problems related to fearfulness.

These can include:

• Fear of loud noises
• New situations
• Heights
• Slippery surfaces

A study at the University of Helsinki in Finland examined the behaviors of 14,000 dogs and found that a more active lifestyle can help to reduce fearfulness in dogs, resolving many behavioral problems that result.

Fearfulness in dogs and behavioral problems that can result are stressful for both the dogs and their owners. So how can physical exercise help to reduce fearfulness in dogs?

How Does Physical Exercise Improve Dogs’ Mood?

In humans, exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which reduce stress levels and boost a good mood. Physical activity can therefore help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depressed moods as well as improve self-esteem. The same is actually true for dogs as well. Physical exercise can help improve a dog’s mood. Plus, dogs are generally social animals and enjoy activities done with their owners.

How Does Socialization Help Reduce Fearfulness?

Dogs that aren’t well socialized may have greater fears of unknown situations and people or other dogs. Properly socializing dogs can help to introduce them to new situations, people, and other dogs and give them the skills they need to face new situations. Physical activity may help with socialization as well when done outside. Taking a dog for a walk may introduce the dog to new situations and surroundings. Taking a dog to a dog park could encourage socialization with other dogs and people.

What Factors Influence Fearfulness in Dogs?

Physical activity or lack thereof isn’t the only factor that determines whether or not a dog will be fearful. A more physical lifestyle in dogs won’t necessarily eliminate fearfulness although it can help reduce the effects. Breed and environmental factors can also influence fearfulness in dogs. For example, smaller dogs were found to be more likely to be fearful than larger dogs.

Factors that can affect fearfulness include:

• Breed
• Whether the owner is a first-time owner
• Gender
• Whether the dog has been neutered
• Environment
• Socialization
• Size

The fact that breed can affect fearfulness indicates that some amount of fearfulness may be hereditary.

How Does Environment Affect Dogs’Fearfulness?

The University of Helsinki study also found that the environment has an impact on whether or not a dog is fearful. Dogs living in urban areas are more likely to be fearful than those living in rural areas. The researchers in the University of Helsinki study suggested that an urban environment had a higher population density of both humans and other dogs and that the urban environment was much more hectic.

We spend a lot of time on our smartphones, and for good reason. They can do practically everything, from browsing the Internet and playing videos to making phone calls and texting. And to top it all off, there’s an app for practically everything as well. Fortunately for pet owners, there are also a plethora of apps available to help do everything from finding pet sitters and dog parks to monitoring your pet’s health.

There are so many apps out there for pet owners that it’s important to research the best ones ahead of time. Otherwise, you’d fill up the hard drive space on your phone with them all. But which ones are the best?

Rover

Rover connects dog owners with pet services, including:

• Pet boarding
• House sitting
• Drop-in visits
• Doggy day care
• Dog walking

Rover offers these services for both dog and cat owners. If you’re in need of a cat sitter, a dog walker, or to board your pet, Rover can help you find someone to take care of your furry family member. The app has its own Rover Guarantee for its services, offers 24/7 support, and protection for any reservations you make. Plus, you can even receive photo updates of your pet while you’re gone so you can rest assured your pet is doing well. Rover is available both online and via mobile app.

Pet First Aid

Pet First Aid is an app offered by the Red Cross that helps pet owners find the veterinarian advice that they need. Vet visits can cost money and there are plenty of pet ailments that can be treated at home. Pet First Aid can help you determine whether you can care for your pet yourself or whether the condition is serious enough to warrant a visit to the veterinarian. Plus, it can help you learn what to do in an emergency as well as more about everyday care for your pet. Of course, if you’re concerned for your pet’s safety or health, it’s still a good idea to contact your vet.

MyPet Reminders

Keeping track of everything your pet needs, from vaccinations to vet appointments, can be difficult. MyPet Reminders is an app that helps you keep your pet’s schedule organized. You can set up a profile for each pet, so if you have multiple pets, you can still keep track of everything you need to know. This way, you’ll never forget your pet’s medication or vaccination appointment again.

Chewy

Chewy’s app is a handy way to get all of the pet supplies you need. Instead of having to go to the website, you can just download the app so you can order pet food, toys, and more easily. You can even set up recurring shipments if there’s something, like pet food, that you regularly purchase.

Animal Poison

The Animal Poison app by the ASPCA is a free and easy way to identify whether something your pet has eating is poisonous. Offering information about 300 different potential poisons for owners of dogs, cats, birds, and horses, if you think your pet has eaten something it shouldn’t, you can quickly check the app. The app won’t just let you know whether something is toxic to your pet, but also how severe the situation is and what your next steps should be.

PetParents

PetParents connects other pet owners with each other and with a wider community of pet owners. This includes services for pets, such as grooming and dog parks. Pet owners can use the app to set up play dates with other pets as well as find pet-friendly businesses.

DogSync

DogSync makes it easy to keep track of your pet’s everyday needs. It’s especially useful if you own more than one pet or if there is more than one person taking care of your pet(s). With DogSync, you can track whether or not your pet has been fed, walked, watered, and more. No more pets tricking their owners into feeding them multiple meals by pretending that they haven’t yet eaten.

PetRescuers

PetRescuers is an app that connects thousands of participating clinics and shelters into one database. The app can send you detailed information about any missing pets in your area. This can help you to reunite lost pets with their owners and can help reunite you with yours if they should ever go missing. Other pet owners using the app can keep an eye out for any animals they see matching your missing pet’s description.

Growing up in the United States, we learned from a young age that 911 is who to call for emergencies. Parents hiring a babysitter make sure to leave important phone numbers for where they can be reached as well as emergency contact numbers if need be. Modern smartphones allow users to program in emergency contacts and dial emergency numbers without even needing to log into the device.

But all of those features are for emergencies involving humans. What about emergencies affecting pets? Knowing the right numbers to call is just as important for the furry members of your family as it is for the rest. These are the phone numbers pet owners should know.

Your Veterinarian’s Phone Number

Perhaps the most important phone number for you to know is your vet’s number. If there’s a medical emergency involving your pet, you’ll want to have your vet’s number on hand so you can easily call. Not all vets offer emergency care, however.

If your regular vet doesn’t offer emergency services, then ensure you have the phone number of a vet who does. They are your go-to backup in case of an emergency that happens outside of normal office hours.

At Dr. Phillip’s Animal Hospital, our safe and affordable veterinary services are available seven days a week, with extended emergency hours. Feel free to call us at (407) 352-2579.

The Poison Control Phone Number

No matter how hard you try, the minute you turn your head, your pet could eat something they shouldn’t.

While the majority of what a pet may eat may be harmless, some foods and plants can be toxic to certain animals. In such cases, you should call poison control at (888) 426-4435. You can also arrange a consultation with a toxicologist. This will cost about $65.

The Emergency Disaster Information Phone Number

The American Humane Association has an emergency information phone number for disasters at (800) 227-4645. You can call this number for information and support if a natural disaster has occurred where you live.

It’s not an official hotline, but you’ll reach a live person who can provide you with information and provide directions for where to go or what to do next.

The Spay/Neuter Helpline Phone Number

It is important your pets are spayed or neutered. This is because there is a surplus of animals in shelters waiting to be adopted.

Unless you’re planning to responsibly breed your pets, it’s best to have them spayed or neutered to protect the animals in shelters.

There is a national referral service you can contact at (800) 248-7729. They will help you find free or inexpensive spay and neuter services.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Phone Number

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization that can help you with legal questions regarding your pets.

These questions can include those regarding pets in your will, custody of pets in the event of a divorce, animal abuse or neglect, landlord pet requirements, and more. The ALDF’s phone number is (707) 795-2533.

The Pet Travel Hotline Phone Number

The Pet Travel Hotline is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, at (800) 545 USDA.

It can help you to ensure that you’ve got all of your bases covered when you travel with your pets. This hotline can help you find resources for traveling with your pets, connecting you with licensed pet transporters, and assisting you if you suspect your pet was treated inhumanely by a travel organization (such as an airline).

The ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline Phone Number

Pets are members of our families. Unfortunately, pet owners will have to face the loss of their pets at some point. The ASPCE offers a Pet Loss Hotline at (877) 474-3310 that can help pet owners deal with grief and loss.

The Animal Behavior Hotline Phone Number

Although we consider our pets to be family members, they don’t speak the same language we do and it can be difficult to know if something is wrong with your pet.

If you have questions about your pet’s behavior, call (312) 644-8338 about anything from aggressive behavior and chewing to separation anxiety.

When you think of the dangers of tick bites, the first thing the comes to mind is probably Lyme disease. Lyme disease can affect humans and animals alike. But it’s also not the only disease borne by ticks that can cause dangers to animals. Tick bites can also cause tick paralysis in animals. But what, exactly, is tick paralysis, and how is it dangerous to your pets?

What Causes Tick Paralysis?

Tick paralysis occurs when a tick bites an animal. When a tick bites a dog, cat, or another animal, it releases a powerful toxin through its saliva. This toxin enters the animal’s bloodstream. From there, the toxin makes its way into the animal’s nervous system.

What Is Tick Paralysis?

Tick paralysis is, as its name suggests, a form of paralysis caused by the toxins released into the bloodstream by a tick’s saliva after a tick bite. The toxin paralyzes the cat or dog’s lower motor neurons, which control the muscles. With these neurons paralyzed, muscles will be in an apparent constant state of relaxation. This results in the animal being unable to move—hence paralysis.

Tick paralysis more commonly affects dogs than cats but can affect both animals.

What Are the Symptoms of Tick Paralysis?

Symptoms of tick paralysis usually begin to appear between 6 and 9 days following the tick bite. Symptoms can come on gradually. If your dog or cat has recently been in a wooded area, then you’ll want to keep an eye out for the following symptoms of tick paralysis:

• Unsteadiness
• Regurgitation
• Vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Fast heart rhythm
• High blood pressure
• Loss of movement in the muscles (either partial or complete)
• Muscle weakness, especially occurring in the hind legs
• Voice disorder
• Trouble eating
• Reduced reflexes
• Complete loss of reflexes
• Drooling to an excessive degree
• Asphyxiation (caused by paralyzed respiratory muscles)
• Dilated pupils in the eyes
• Decreased muscle tone
• Enlargement of the esophagus

What Are the Dangers Associated With Tick Paralysis?

If a cat or dog has tick paralysis and the symptoms progress to an advanced stage, it can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Tick paralysis can prevent an animal from moving, even to eat or to breathe.

If you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick, or if it’s exhibiting any symptoms of tick paralysis, it’s important to seek medical attention with your veterinarian as quickly as possible. The later stages of tick paralysis constitute a medical emergency.

How Is Tick Paralysis Treated?

It’s vital to take your pet to the vet at the first sign of tick paralysis. Sometimes, pets can die from it, even with timely intervention.

Can You Treat Tick Paralysis at Home?

The first step in treating tick paralysis is to check your dog or cat for ticks and remove all that you find. This will prevent even more toxins from being released into your pet’s bloodstream. Even if you find no ticks, it’s a good idea to bathe your pet with insecticidal shampoo.

In less severe cases, these two steps may be the only steps required. It’s always a good idea to take your dog or cat to the vet, however, to ensure that they’ll be fine.

Is Hospitalization Required to Treat Tick Paralysis?

In more severe cases of tick paralysis, emergency medical attention may be needed. Your pet may need hospitalization so that the vet can provide emergency intensive care. This is especially important if your pet is experiencing respiratory failure because of tick paralysis. In this case, the vet may need to provide your pet with supplemental oxygen.

How Can You Help Your Pet Recover from Tick Paralysis?

Once your pet has been released from the vet and is starting to recover, you can help your dog or cat by encouraging them to rest. Too much exercise can inhibit recovery. Your pet needs to stay cool and not do anything that will raise their temperature. If your pet has difficulty eating, your vet will advise you on how best to feed your pet as they recover. You shouldn’t feed them normal food during the recovery period.

According to Benjamin Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And so it is with fleas. The best treatment for fleas is to prevent them in the first place. However, that’s not always possible. Despite your best efforts, your cat or dog may end up with fleas. So how do you get rid of fleas once your pet already has them?

How to Know If Your Dog or Cat Has Fleas?

Fleas are small and may not be easily visible because they can hide within your pet’s fur. This is especially true if your pet has darker fur. However, there are other signs you can look for to determine whether or not your cat or dog has fleas:

• Movement in your pet’s fur
• Scratching
• Dark spots (called flea dirt) found on your pet or in areas your pet frequents
• White ovals (these can be flea or tapeworm eggs)

Do You Need to Give Your Cat or Dog Flea Medication?

Once you’ve discovered that your cat or dog has fleas, the first step is to consult your vet. Your vet can prescribe medication for your pet as well as make recommendations for treatments that you can do at home.

Do You Need to Give Your Dog or Cat a Flea Bath?

The first step in treating fleas on your cat or dog at home is to give your pet a bath. Your vet may be able to recommend a special shampoo to use that can help with the fleas. It’s important to speak with your vet first before using a flea shampoo. There are chemicals in flea products that can irritate your pet’s skin if they are allergic to fleas. Your pet’s skin may also become irritated if their skin is sensitive or raw because of the fleas. You may just need to use mild soap instead.

It’s okay to skip this step if your pet won’t react well to it. Some dogs and cats aren’t keen on being bathed and while a bath can help, it isn’t necessary if it will unduly stress your pet. If you do choose to bathe your pet, make sure to use lukewarm water. You can also use a mild soap, but it’s not required.

How to Comb Fleas out of Your Dog or Cat’s Fur?

There are special flea combs designed to remove fleas from your pet’s fur. On a flea comb, the teeth are spaced out so that they can trap fleas while at the same time allowing your pet’s fur to pass through the teeth. The flea comb can trap both fleas and flea dirt, which can be either flea poop or dried blood from where fleas bit your pet.

How to Kill Fleas on Your Pet?

It’s important to kill the fleas that you find on your dog or cat. However, don’t try to squish them. Fleas can be quick and jump away. This makes them very difficult to kill manually. Instead, try to catch the fleas on a flea comb. Then, dunk the comb into soapy hot water. This will kill the fleas.

How Often Do You Need to Comb for Fleas?

How often you need to comb your cat or dog for fleas depends on your pet. If your pet is prone to getting fleas, then you should regularly check your pet for fleas. Using a flea comb can help you to find the fleas. If your pet doesn’t regularly get fleas, then you should check for fleas if your pet is scratching or displaying other symptoms of having fleas. It can still be a good idea to check for fleas on a regular basis, just in case.

Pets are like members of our families. Any pet owner wants to make sure their pets are well-cared for. But sometimes, pets get loose. A cat can escape the house if someone leaves the door open. Dogs are expert diggers and may escape by digging under a backyard fence. That means that pet owners need to take extra steps to ensure their pets’ safety should they get lost.

Microchips have greatly improved the odds that lost pets are reunited with their owners. Microchipped pets have been found thousands of miles away from home and returned successfully to their families. But how do pet microchips work?

What Is a Pet Microchip?

A microchip is a transponder that uses radio frequencies to report a unique identification number. The microchip is implanted into the pet. Some types of microchips bond with the tissue underneath the pet’s skin so the chip doesn’t move from where it’s implanted. The microchip is a passive device that has only one function: to report the unique identification number when scanned.

Do I Need to Microchip My Pet?

Having a microchip can greatly increase the chance of a lost pet being found. Only about 5 percent of lost pets are ever found when they’re not microchipped. If you want to have the best chance of finding your pet if it gets lost, a microchip can be the way to go. There’s no guarantee that a microchip will find a lost pet, but the chances are much better.

What Kinds of Pet Microchips Are There?

All pet microchips are passive. This means that they have no internal source of power. The chip rests inside the pet, inert, until it’s activated by a scanner. There are three different frequencies used by microchips in the U.S. and not all of them are recognized by all microchip scanners. Some vets and shelters have global scanners that can handle all three frequencies, but not all do.

134kHz Microchip

The 134kHz microchip has been available in the United States since its introduction in 2004. Chips using this frequency follow standards set by the International Standards Organization. 134kHz microchips are considered the global standard and are the most commonly used frequency for microchips across the rest of the world when it comes to pet microchipping.

125kHz Microchip

The 125kHz microchip used to be the most common frequency in the United States. Chips using the 125kHz frequency are readable by most scanners across the United States.

128kHz Microchip

This third microchip frequency, the 128kHz frequency microchip, was first introduce in 2007. It’s not as commonly used as either the 134kHz or the 125kHz microchip. It’s readable by most scanners, but not all of them.

Choosing a Microchip

The most important thing to consider when choosing a microchip is ensuring the greatest chance that the microchip is scannable should your pet get lost. Not all scanners can read the 128kHz frequency microchips, for example. Depending on where you live, it may not be the best choice. Plus, lost animals can end up really far from home. You want your pet to have the best chance possible of being identified.

Your veterinarian can make a recommendation for which microchip is best for your pet. However, many experts from the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association recommend the 134kHz microchip.

Traveling Internationally With a Pet

If you travel internationally and take your pet with you, you may want to consider the 134kHz microchip. This is the global standard for microchips, so there’s a greater chance that your pet will be found wherever you are. Plus, some countries may require a microchip for pets. If it’s not the 134kHz ISO microchip, you may be required to provide your own scanner.

Can a Pet Be Microchipped More Than Once?

It’s not recommended for a pet to have more than one microchip. This is because the microchips could interfere with each other when they’re scanned. The reading the scanner picks up may not be accurate if there’s more than one microchip.

How Does a Microchip Work?

A pet microchip is a small device that stores a unique identification number. Once the microchip has been implanted into your pet, the next step is to register that number. Registering the microchip will connect the unique ID number to your own contact information so that if your pet is found and the microchip scanned, the vet or shelter that scanned the chip can let you know they have your pet.

Scanning the Microchip

When a vet or a shelter scans the microchip, the only thing the scanner does is display the unique ID number. That ID number has to be registered with a database in order for the vet or shelter to look it up and find your contact information.

Registering a Microchip

The company that manufactured the microchip will include paperwork for you to fill out. Some may allow you to do the registration online. The downside of the registration process is that each company runs its own database. Some microchip companies will allow registrations from chips made by different companies, however.

Plus, the American Microchip Advisory Council is in the process of developing a network of the different microchip registration databases. By uniting the different registries as much as possible, they hope to streamline the process of reuniting lost pets with their families.

Can a Microchip Replace a Collar?

A microchip should be used in conjunction with your pet’s collar and tags. It shouldn’t replace it. Microchips aren’t infallible. It’s possible for them to fail, just as it’s possible for a pet to lost its collar. The more ways a vet or shelter has to identify a lost pet, the better your chances of a reunion.

What Do I Need to Do if I Move?

If you’ve moved, you’ll need to update your contact information wherever your pet’s microchip is registered. This includes and change of contact information, from an updated phone number or email address to a new address. Making sure the microchip number is registered with the latest contact information will greatly increase your chances of reuniting with a lost pet.

What if I Adopt a Pet That Has Already Been Microchipped?

If you adopt a pet and your new furry family member already has a microchip, you’ll need to update the registration. You vet should be able to scan the chip for the number and let you know what kind of chip it is.