HOLIDAY ALERT

FOR CAT GUARDIANS 

The stores are blooming with holiday bouquets, and for cat owners it’s time to be extremely alert about greenery and flowers in the home.

Chrysanthemums, a holiday favorite, are among the popular seasonal plants that are toxic to cats if nibbled.

Lilies are found in many bouquets, but all members of the lily family can cause lethal kidney failure for cats if even a small part of the plant is nibbled.

Amaryllis, Iris, Diffenbachia, and Philodendrum are also on the toxic list. So is Pothous ivy, the popular indoor potted plant with heart-shaped leaves.

Many pet lovers already know that mistletoe and poinsettia are toxic if ingested by pets.

The problem is that cats are highly attracted to greenery and flowers, and will readily nibble them.

So ban toxic bouquets and plants from the house, but treat cats frequently to healthy pet grass from the pet supply store.

For complete listings and valuable insight about toxic foods and plants, visit the ASPCA at www.aspca.org and click on the link to their Animal Poison Control Center. – Frances Goodman

New program matches

seniors with seniors at

Peggy Adams ARL

 Senior pets five years or older may be adopted free by senior citizens, through a new program underway at the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

Mature pets at the shelter are often overlooked, while kittens and puppies are adopted out more quickly. However, healthy mature pets can be an easier match for seniors who wish to adopt, according to the league’s director Joan Radabaugh.

“Many of these mature pets are here because of foreclosures, or their owners have died, and they’re perfectly wonderful animals. The nice thing is they’re housetrained and used to being indoors,” Radabaugh said.

The Senior-to-Senior adoption program is aimed at a compatible match for both the adult pet and the senior citizen.

 Previous Articles:

TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE...

Should you give them

a shave down?

Additional signs may include weight loss, bad breath or excessive face rubbing. Routine dental checkups are important to prevent and treat dental disorders and related pain.

Arthritis pain may also cause pets to gain weight, while their eating habits remain the same, due to lack of exercise.

Clue 3 – The pet avoids affection or handling. This may be the sign of a progressive disease such as osteoarthritis or intervertebral disc disease.

Although your pet may appear to be normal before petting or handling, the added pressure applied to its body may expose sensitive and painful areas.

Less Active

Clue 4 -- Decreased movement and exercise. Arthritis and degenerative joint disease are the most common causes of pain. Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down the stairs, exercise, or play.

Weight and joint injuries can also go hand-in-hand. Losing unnecessary pounds will help overweight pets decrease pressure on sore joints and reduce pain.

Clue 5 – “Accidents.” Pet owners often believe that “accidents” are a result of behavioral issues. However, going to the bathroom in inappropriate places also may be caused by pain.

Pets with sore joints or arthritis may not make it to a convenient location due to painful obstacles like stairs. Urinary tract infections also may cause a messy situation.

In addition to having “accidents,” symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include, lethargy, fever, tender lower abdomen and difficulty urinating. (Our note: For cats this would include straining in the litter box.).

Being aware of our pets’ body language can help alert us to physical distress even though our pets can’t tell us about it.

How to tell

when Buddy the parrot

may bite

 By Frances Goodman

Question: My sister’s Macaw has tried to bite me several times. Other times, he has allowed me to hand-feed him with no sign of aggression. How can I tell when it’s safe or not safe to offer him treats? Signed, M. S.

Dear M. S. If you interact with pet birds, especially parrots, and have never been bitten, consider yourself fortunate.

In the wild or a cage-free setting, biting is not natural for birds except in extreme cases of self-defense. Typically they handle danger by taking flight.

However, biting does happen, especially when there is no escape route. Factor in the tendency of parrots to be prima donnas, and you have a situation that requires alertness and knowledge.

Generally a parrot displays definite body languages that can warn us when a bite may be forthcoming. This is called “bite posturing.” 

Reading the signs

An excellent description of this body language is found in the book Parrots for Dummies, by Nikki Moustaki (Wiley Publishing), in the chapter entitled “When Good Birds Go Bad.”

Here are her fascinating tips on bite posturing by parrots:

-- Eye pinning -- When the pupils are contracting and expanding, the bird is in an agitated or excited state and can bite.

-- Glaring -- There’s a difference between a bird merely looking at you with anticipation or curiosity and glaring. It’s hard to put this difference into words, but you’ll know it when you see it.

-- Erect posture, leaning back, glaring -- This bird feels pressured or fearful and has nowhere else to go. Biting time!

-- Tightened feathers, neck stretched upward, nervous looking-around -- Here’s a bird that’s looking for an escape route. If he can’t get one, he’ll bite.

-- Stooped posture - Along with other biting indicators, stooped posture and glaring can indicate aggression.

-- Feather puffing -- Along with stooping, glaring, and eye pinning may come feather puffing, kind of like when a dog’s hackles stand on end.

-- Beak clicking, wonking, growling, or hissing -- Little clicks, odd explosive repetitive noises, growling, and hissing (along with other body language) all mean that you shouldn’t get your hand in this bird’s face.

-- Tail flaring -- In some species, a fanned tail, along with strutting, eye pinning, wonking, stooping, and feather-puffing, means stay back!

Any species

Be aware of these postures when dealing with any species of bird. They are fairly easy to recognize.

Avoidance is best for both of you when any of the warning signs are present.

If biting gains the result the Macaw wants, which is for you to move away, it can reinforce the parrot’s tendency to bite again in the same situation.

Moustaki’s book is available from bookstores and through Amazon. I highly recommend it for serious bird guardians.

She provides up close and personal information on living with, caring for, and understanding parrots.

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With Easter taking place this month, many will be tempted to buy a furry Easter Bunny as a pet for themselves or the children.

But this is a good time to rearrange that familiar slogan and say: "Bunnies are for life, not just for Easter."

Rabbits are intelligent, playful and can make wonderful pets. But they will need a responsible adult to provide special care, exercise and attention long after Easter has passed.

If rabbits are altered and well-cared for, their life span can be from eight to 12 years of age.

Yes, pet rabbits should be altered. Hormonal issues can cause territorial marking and behavior problems that may be frustrating to its new caregivers. Spaying or neutering results in a more relaxed, content pet.

Children

One myth that should be cleared up right away is the misconception that they rabbits are a good first pet for children.

Rabbits are delicate, ground-loving creatures and must be handled carefully. They may scratch, bite or be injured trying to escape the arms of a well-meaning child. It is best not to leave young children alone with them.

Bunnies also need to be protected from other animals. Their housing needs to be in a safe place where other animals can’t get to them or scare them.

However, rabbits also are social and need exercise and entertainment. Isolation in an outside cage is not fair to them.

Housing

It’s a new concept to many people, but keeping bunnies indoors is recommended by many rabbit advocates. However, there are health issues related to many types of litter for litter boxes

Pine and other wood shavings can cause liver disease in rabbits, and clay litter can cause digestive and/or respiratory problems. Finding a safe litter product requires some research. At the end of this article I’ll list some good web sites for learning more about this issue.

If a wire-bottom cage must be used on the patio, or in a sheltered and shaded outdoor area, it should have a partially solid floor. Wire is not that comfortable for resting.

More than this, a safe corner with solid flooring can also prevent predators from being able to reach up into the cage and grab a foot. Rabbits also need a little private corner, as they are naturally burrowing animals.

In the summertime, keeping their excess fur brushed out will help them stay cool. So will a cool marble or tile slate to rest on.

Rabbit Care

Although rabbits are not rodents as once believed, they have the same chewing need. (Rabbits are lagomorphs.)

They must have toys to chew, and room to run and exercise.

They are vegetarians. In addition to commercial pellets, a diet with plenty of fiber and vegetables is important.

For those who have or plan to acquire a rabbit, an excellent web site on the care and behavior of rabbits is www.rabbit.org, published by the non-profit House Rabbit Society.

Another excellent site is the Humane Society of the United States rabbit care page at www.hsus.org.

A DELICATE ISSUE...

Question: I took my dog to the vet and he had an infected anal gland. She put him on antibiotics and said this could be an ongoing problem. Any advice on how to keep them from getting infected?

Dear Doreen: Infected anal glands are not unusual for dogs.

Normally, every time they do “Number Two,” a little bit of musky fluid is released by the anal glands, which are located on each side of the dog's rectum.

This is how they mark their territory with their unique personal scent when they potty. They also release this fluid involuntarily when they are hurt or frightened. You may have noticed it at some time in your dog’s life. It is and unpleasant, almost skunky odor.

Sometimes the glands get stopped up, and do not release the fluid as they should. This can lead to irritation, and often infection. Licking the area or scooting can be symptoms of clogged anal glands.

Your vet can express them and clean them, to prevent infection. Expressing involves using gentle pressure to make them release the stopped-up fluid, but should only be done by a vet or skilled professional groomer. Done improperly, it can cause injury.

Ask your vet about this procedure. She may recommend bringing him on a regular basis to have the glands expressed, or merely that you watch closely for symptoms and bring him in then. Such attention can help prevent future infections.

Don’t wait

for recall

symptoms

If your pet has consumed products on the pet food recall list, don’t wait until they become ill to seek treatment. Have the pet checked before symptoms appear.

This is the advice of veterinarians we contacted who are testing or treating moderate numbers of pets that have eaten food on the toxic food recall list.

“The problem is you don’t see the clinical symptoms of renal (kidney) failure until the last stage,” said Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed. “If you do the blood test early, hopefully you will see the problem early and can begin treatment right away.

“By the time they arrive at the later stage, it may be too late,” he said.

According to Dr. Julie McClaine, “If the pets have eaten any of the foods on the list, we recommend they come in for a blood panel and/urinalysis, whether they are ill or not, just to see if their kidney levels are normal.

The bottom line: If you are concerned, have the pet checked.

The list of the recalled products, apparently tainted with a toxin or toxins that cause kidney failure, can be found at www.menufoods.com/recall/

 Menu Foods can be reached at 1-866-895-2708.

Test your "Pet Lover I.Q"

(all kinds of pets)

Use tough love

when driving with pets

Airbags, when they inflate, can pose a danger to pets, just as they do for infants and children. This means re-thinking safety when it comes to driving with pets.

Even without air bags, pets should be buckled in or confined when riding in a vehicle, for their safety and the safety of the driver. In case of an accident, the impact of an unsecured animal against a passenger can injure both.

Pet seats and harnesses that attach to the seat belt are available at pet supply stores. Wire barriers that partition off the back seat also make driving safer. Probably the safest option is their own wire travel crate.

Whichever you choose, never let your pet ride in the front seat where it can be injured by an airbag in the event of a collision. Fido will be safer buckled up in the travel-harness in the back seat, or confined in a travel crate.

No more lolling in your lap, or drooling on the dashboard. Sometimes the best love is tough love!