Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract that normally affects humans however, this digestive disorder is also common to pets. This disease is defined by an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lining of a pet’s stomach, small intestine and/or large intestine that caused digestive distress.
Common signs of IBD include chronic vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea and loss of appetite. If IBD is affecting the large intestine, signs include diarrhea with or without blood or mucous present, straining to defecate and increased urgency to defecate.
To diagnose IBD accurately the veterinarian will need to perform a biopsy of the intestines and/or stomach. It can be done through surgery or by using an endoscope, an instrument used to examine inside a pet’s body. Once the biopsy is completed, a pathologist will confirm the diagnosis by examining the cells.
The causes of IBD are still undetermined by veterinarians. However, IBD is suspected to be a result of an abnormal response by the body to certain intestinal bacteria or proteins in a pet’s diet.
Treatment of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes dietary changes and medication. Dietary change is recommended if your veterinarian believes a protein in the diet is causing the inflammation. Changes to the diet can also encourage nutrient absorption and easy digestion. The veterinarian may recommend limiting certain food ingredients or provide you with a recipe for homemade dog food.
Common medications which veterinarians use to treat IBD include anti-inflammatory drugs such as prednisone, and antibiotics such as metronidazole or tetracycline.
Johnson & Johnson heiress Jazz Johnson-Merton in the video below have been caught trying to kick her show horse. She was competing in New York at the Hampton Classic Horse Show last September 1 when she was thrown from her horse, Joe Cool. The evidently angry and disappointed Jazz apparently lost her cool and try to kick the horse in the stomach.
The 36-year-old New Jersey-based socialite then dragged the horse off of the course.
The equestrian lifestyle mag spoke to one of the event's judges, Chris Wynne, who recounted what happened.
"She got up, lost her temper and tried to kick the horse in the stomach. I’m not sure she made contact, but then she trotted the horse out of the ring, in hand, and I watched her from the judge’s booth go into the schooling area to see if she was going to do something, and she didn’t. She got a leg back up, jumped two jumps and came back in.”
A report was filed with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The USEF told Fox News: "US Equestrian is aware of the incident with Ms. Johnson-Merton at the Hampton Classic and have received the official steward’s report. We are currently in the process of reviewing the report at this time. "
Johnson-Merton co-authored the book "The Social Climber's Bible," where she is described as belonging "to the most exclusive clubs in the world."
Audible for dogs is a device to calm stressed dogs, it's specifically designed for your canines. It relaxes them even if their owners are not at home. Playing music works for other dogs but according to a 2015 independent academic study listening to audiobooks gave better results compared to music in reducing stress in canines.
Audible teamed up with the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan to conduct their own research in which they studied 100 dogs in partnership with Millan’s Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita, California and the results were outstanding they found that 76% of participating dog owners noticed that audiobooks helped their pets chill out.
Also according to Audible’s research, dogs prefer narrators of the same gender as their primary owners, and books played at normal volume on an in-home listening device.
You can purchase Audible titles separately or you can tap into Audible content through a monthly $14.95 subscription, which includes one credit per month that can be applied to any audiobook, regardless of price, plus other discounts. The books recommended for dogs are priced the same as other Audible titles. Check it out here!
For people who's going to be evacuating please be aware that you will be separated from your pet if you evacuated from Corpus Christi to San Antonio via the city's arrangements. Evacuees who have pets with them were greeted with the option to check their pets in for free care during their stay at a local shelter. The good news is you can visit with your pet anytime you want.
Free shelter was being provided to the pets of Hurricane Harvey evacuees from affected areas throughout the state. Pet owners are having a hard time to let go of their pets, rest assured their pets will be well taken cared of since all the staff at (San Antonio’s Animal Care Services) are actually very passionate pet owners.
The animal shelter will be able to hold up to 165 dogs, plus cats, reptiles, birds and exotics, said San Antonio Animal Care Services assistant director Shannon Wade Sims.
Awareness of the plight of animals in the path of a devastating storms has greatly improved since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when an estimated 250,000 dogs and cats were displaced or died as a result of the storm, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Many people in New Orleans also opted out of evacuating because they did not want to leave their pets behind as animals were then barred from shelters.
Legislation passed since now requires authorities to include pets to existing federal guidelines for disaster planning, said Dick Green, senior director of disaster response for group.
Many hotels and some public transport systems now relax pet restrictions during such emergencies, while officials have stressed in public messaging the importance of evacuating with animals instead of leaving them behind.
If your old dog is suddenly experiencing seizures that never happened when they where young, it is often times a result of other conditions like the following:
1. Brain tumor - Brain tumors often develop later in a dog’s life. Both cancerous tumors (otherwise known as Neoplasia) and non-cancerous tumors can cause your dog to have a seizure, as they put pressure on the brain. If your older dog is having a seizure for the first time, it may be an indicator that a tumor is present. Other symptoms that may happen include a loss of vision and motor coordination. If your vet suspects your dog has a brain tumor, he will most likely recommend diagnostic tests like an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CAT (computed axial topography). Anti-convulsant medications will not control seizures caused by a tumor.
2. Kidney disease - Like heart disease in humans, kidney disease in dogs is the main cause of “dying of old age” in dogs. In the advance stages of kidney disease, seizures can present themselves. Dogs that have a buildup of toxins in the blood or high levels of acidity due to kidney disease can also experience seizures.
3. Diabetes - if a dog with diabetes has a seizure, it's usually due to an insulin overdose not because the condition has been left untreated. Diabetes that is left untreated will cause stupor or coma, not seizures.
4. Cushing's Disease - While Cushing's Disease (also known as hyperadrenocorticism) is not typically a direct cause of seizures, some of the circumstances surrounding the condition can lead to seizures. In most cases, Cushing's Disease is caused by a lesion in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. The majority of these tumors are microscopic in size, however there are cases where larger tumors (known as macroadenoma) can sometimes get big enough to put pressure on the brain and cause seizures.
What to do if your dog has a seizure
The first thing to do is to prevent your dog from injuring himself. Dogs can either experience a single convulsion (usually lasting for a minute or two, and doesn't happen again for at least 24 hours) or multiple, continuous convulsions. The latter is most serious and requires immediate veterinary attention. In the case of continuous convulsions, you should gently restrain the dog so it can't injure itself by placing a towel over it. Don't put your hand on the dog or in or near its mouth - you may get bitten. Once you've restrained the dog, get to the vet immediately.
With more people deciding to take their pets to travel with them more airlines are adapting and some are even encouraging people to bring their pets with them to travel on a plane. However pet-friendly airlines do have rules and restrictions, some airlines offer options for pets to fly, but may restrict any number of pets, including short-nosed dog breeds or those traveling with flyers under age 18. Other airlines restrict times you can travel with a pet. For instance, American Airlines don't allow pets to fly on the airline when the forecasted temperature is above 85F at any location on the itinerary, while Alaska Airlines restricts pet travel on certain holidays.
Here are pet-friendly Airlines:
1. Jet Blue JetPaws Program - they are the to Airline in pet travel. Jet Blue charges a pet fee of $100 each way and allows one pet in a carrier per passenger. The pet is considered carry-on luggage and can not exceed 20 pounds along with the carrier.
Jet Blue's JetPaws program also include a special bag tag for you carrier and your pet can also earn 300 extra TrueBlue points on each flight segment you take together. Unlike most airlines that allow pets, Jet Blue allows you to book pets online. Or, you can call 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583).
2. United Airlines - they allow domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and birds (8 weeks and over) to travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S. An in-cabin pet may be carried in addition to a carry-on bag and is subject to a $125 service charge each way. For pets not allowed for cabin travel, they offer PetSafe, which includes plane compartments pressurized the same way as the cabin, airport-to-airport delivery for animals and features a 24-hour live animal desk and gives owners the ability to track pets. You can earn 500 MileagePlus award miles for each PetSafe shipment within the U.S. and 1,000 miles for all other shipments.
3. WestJet - They allow domestic cats, dogs, rabbits and birds to travel in the passenger cabin for a fee of $50-59 each way, and $75-$90 if they become part of "checked baggage." The allowances for pets traveling as checked baggage are also more generous compared to other airlines. Pets that can fly as checked baggage include birds, cats, chinchillas, dogs, guinea pigs, hedgehogs and rabbits, and the airline allows 100 pounds for the pet and kennel combined. In addition, one passenger can check up to six pets, so WestJet is ideal for the multi-pet traveler. Space for pets cannot be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans you will need to contact them at 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET).
4. Virgin Atlantic - the airline only allow cats and dogs on flights, and restricts short-nosed breeds. They offer Flying Paws scheme which means traveling with pets earn Flying Club miles. The fee for traveling with pets depends on the size of its travel box, and you will need to call their Shipping department before you book your tickets.
5. Alaska Airlines Fur-st Class Care - they allow small pets in the cabin for $100 each way and larger pets in the baggage hold. All pets traveling in the cargo compartment on Alaska Airlines, (including flights operated by Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir) will be required to have a health certificate dated within 10 days of outbound travel and 30 days of return travel.
If you notice your pets scratch more during warm weather it may be fleas. Flease are persistent irritants for your pets. You'll notice that fleas run around your pet's tail, belly, and under arm. If your pets have flea you will notice flea poop which are dark specs the size of grains of pepper. To check to see if it actually is fleas you can place the flea dirt on a sheet of white paper and apply a drop of water. Since fleas consume blood, some of that blood is excreted and the flea dirt appears red when the drop of water is applied.
Fleas thrive in warm, humid weather so this time of the year for flea infestation. However, since many pets reside indoors, fleas also can be a year-round problem, contaminating both your home and your yard. Flea can be the source of FAD (flea allergy dermatitis). If those fleas cannot find a good blood meal in your pets they usually feed on humans. A flea infestation in and around your home may result in you getting bit, which can cause an allergic response.
Anyone who has ever dealt with a flea infestation knows they can be difficult to eliminate. Areas of the home and yard that support flea development are the pet’s bedding, furniture cushions, carpeting, area rugs, flower beds, gardens, dog houses and spaces under decks and porches.
To control and get rid of this pesky fleas, they must be removed from all sources, which includes those reside in your pets, the home and the yard. If you have more than one pet, it’s likely they all have fleas. Be sure to treat your pets simultaneously. An integrated flea control program includes good sanitation and treatment of the pet and the environment, along with follow-up treatments.
For a flea program to be successful, it must involve a thorough cleaning to remove the eggs, larvae and pupae in the pet’s environment. It also includes a complete and proper application of flea control products as prescribed by your veterinarian. Groom your pets with a flea comb dipped in soapy water to reduce the number of adult fleas.
Ticks bring disease to people and pets, they pose great risk to human health and your pets. There are a sudden upsurge in reported tick cases this year. As of June 1, there have been 2,162 positive cases of Lyme disease in 2017. According to experts the sudden upsurge is caused by the unusually mild winter. There are a lot of tall grass for them to hide in, it's rainy and wet.
A tick bite is no cause for panic. But if you get bitten you must be vigilant for the onset of illness. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever get the headlines, but there seems to be no end to the litany of tick pathogens. Almost all can be effectively addressed with prompt medical treatment.
Outdoor cats are most at risk for contracting tick-borne diseases, but all animals are at risk, especially those with fur. Ticks are among the more dangerous pests.
There are ways to tell if your pet does have a tick but prevention is key to avoiding these problems. Over the counter collars and topical preventatives are the classic ways of preventing ticks on your pets, but chewables are a newer alternative option.
While Lyme disease is the most commonly known tick-borne illness, there are other diseases that ticks can spread as well. Signs to watch for are vague flu-like symptoms, fever, and lethargy.
If you find ticks on your pets use a tick key or tweezers, to aid with removal and avoid disease. Make sure that it is removed with the body. Applying oils or a freshly blown-out match is not necessary or recommended.
It is also helpful to take a picture of the tick just before removal, for medical purposes. Removal should not be delayed to go find a cell phone or camera. If you do get sick, you can show the picture to the doctors, and they can get a better idea about what disease you might have.
Prevention is possible through use of insect repellent containing DEET.
Other diseases known to be carried by ticks include:
- Tick paralysis which can be caused by an allergic reaction to tick saliva, paralysis progresses and can lead to death in as little as 24 hours. But if the tick is removed, symptoms usually clear. If a person displays unexplained symptoms of paralysis, seek medical treatment and check for ticks immediately.
- Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is a disease recently linked to ticks. It has flu-like symptoms, but there is usually no rash.
- Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is carried by the Lone Star tick and displays fever, joint pain, headache, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, but rashes are rare. Some patients are hospitalized.
- Heartland virus is a rare disease linked to the Lone Star tick. In the first 10 cases reported, there were two fatalities. Symptoms are similar to monocytic ehrlichiosis, but because the disease is caused by a virus, antibiotic treatments are not effective.
- Tularemia can be contracted by handling infected rabbit carcasses or drinking contaminated water, but it is usually transmitted by ticks. It is rare, with cases usually numbering less than 200 per year. Flu-like symptoms may improve, then return with localized lesions after a couple of weeks. Breathing can become difficult.
- Southern tick-associated rash illness results in the same initial symptoms and bullseye rash as Lyme disease, but is not accompanied by the long-term risks.
- The alpha-gal allergy - a reaction to the ingestion of red mammal meat - has recently been linked to the Lone Star tick in the U.S. Respiratory distress occurs three to eight hours after eating read meat in 70 percent of those afflicted. The alpha-gal carbohydrate is present in all mammals but apes and humans. If a tick bites another animal, then bites a person allergic to the carbohydrate, symptoms can manifest.
Addicts are now using pets as tools to score prescription drugs. Some of them are even hurting their pets. CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported, a New Jersey lawmaker wants to put an end to the abuse of pet prescriptions.
New Jersey State Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Wayne) said that he heard about specific cases around the country.
“A golden retriever dog sliced by its owner, taken to multiple vets to get an opiate, dogs were taught to cough in order to go in and be prescribed an opiate. It’s trending throughout the entire United States,” he said.
Right now, in New Jersey, anytime a veterinarian prescribes a medication for someone’s pet, it’s done in the animal’s name. The lawmaker is pushing for a statewide database to keep track of pet prescriptions using the owner’s name.
He said it would crack down on people who hop from vet to vet to get pills.
“It sounds like it’s escalating, and probably not long before I see a case,” Dr. Benjamin Davidson said.
Dr. Davidson, of Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Paramus said the only downside he can see is that have to report to a centralized system could take time away from pet care.
“But I think we have to look at, we have to look at the big picture which is preventing people from hurting animals,” he said.
In New York, vets are required to make an online report within 24 hours of dispensing tramadol, a pain reliever that can be taken by both people and pets.
Assemblyman Rooney hopes to see his bill go to the full New Jersey legislature in the next few weeks.
Owning a pet is takes a lot of sacrifices and you should treat your pet as a family. However, if you are looking for love you can boost your chances in finding someone when you adopt a furry friend, according to a new survey.
The survey were done by Petsies, a company that makes stuffed animals. They surveyed 1,000 men and women and ask the participants how attracted they were to the opposite sex when possessing differently sized cats and dogs. Researchers showed study participants 12 pictures of the same people. Half of the group saw the person with a pet, while the other half saw him or her without a pet. Researchers used two pictures for each type of pet, and they were classified as “cat, kitten, puppies, small-sized dogs, medium-sized dogs and large-sized dogs.”
Cat owners may be unlucky in love
The study shows women rated men with puppies as almost 24% sexier, 14% more trustworthy and 13% more attractive than the same man not carrying a dog. Also dogs that are medium sized (not too big or too small) gave women the biggest sexiness boost, as men rated them about 7% sexier and more attractive than if they weren’t carrying a dog at all. But in terms of trustworthiness, women with small dogs were rated by men with about 9% more so than women without a dog.
As for women who owns kittens or cats, they were perceived as the least attractive, and women with cats were rated lowest on sexiness and trustworthiness. Also for men, owning a large dog lessen their sexiness and attractiveness. And for the men, being a medium-sized dog owner led to the lowest trustworthy rating.
Troubles for United Airlines keeps piling up after the video of a United Airlines passenger being violently removed from a plane they are on public crosshair. According to the Department of Transportation's Air Travel consumer report United Airlines had the most pet deaths than any other airline for 2016.
There were a total of 9 pets died and 14 were injured that were reported. Almost all of the deaths are dogs except for a Sphynx cat. However, it should be noted that some of those pets died from natural causes and some of the injuries were self-inflicted. In Delta there were 5 pet deaths and 5 injuries reported for 2016, while American reported had 4 deaths and one injury.
In 2015, United has also topped that list with reported 14 deaths and 9 injuries.
Amazon opens their new off-leash dog park in their eye-catching building the Amazon's Spheres in downtown Seattle. The small park is open to well-behaved dogs belonging to employees and the public. It's a mini off-leash dog park located at Sixth Avenue near Lenora Street, next to the Amazon Spheres.
It's so cool to be Ellen DeGeneres pets, they even have their own TV show. Ellen is branching out with a new show that features her pets in animated form. It's a partnership between Ellen Digital Ventures and Warner Bros.’ Blue Ribbon Content.
Ellen’s Pet Dish is a 12-week digital series created by DeGeneres, which will premiere on ellentube.com and Ellen’s Youtube Channel on March 22. The show is a cartoon version of her pets, this will give the audience a peek into what these pampered pets do when DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi are out of the house.
Hudson has always been a happy, fun-loving dog, but the 12-year-old Portuguese water dog slowed down considerably after her arthritis worsened and a toe was amputated.
Michael Fasman of San Francisco use alternative medicine to treat his dog's illness, he uses cannabis or marijuana. His 12-year-old dog named Hudson limps from pain caused by arthritis and an amputated toe. He does not want to give his dog painkillers because "they just knock her out."
Every morning Fasman squeezed several drops of a cannabis extract onto a plate of yogurt, which the Portuguese water dog eat up in seconds. It's become part of Hudson's daily routine.
"We think it's really lifted her spirits and made her a happier dog," Fasman said. "It's not that she's changed. She's just back to her good old self."
As more states legalize marijuana for humans, more pet owners are giving their furry companions cannabis-based extracts, ointments and edibles marketed to treat everything from arthritis and anxiety to seizures and cancer.
These pet products that contains cannabis are not yet regulated, and they contain cannabidiol or CBD, a chemical compound found in cannabis that doesn't get pets or humans high. They contain little or no tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the cannabis compound known for its psychoactive effects.
However, experts say that there are not enough scientific data to show cannabis is safe and effective for treating animals. But despite of lack of scientific data or veterinary guidance, many pet owners are convinced cannabis has improved their pet's health and well-being, based on their own observations.
A dog which was given up for adoption has a note from the owner in a notepad hanging from his collar and it was written by a child. The family's daughter wrote a 15-page note in a tiny spiral notebook which has details and instructions that would be helpful for Rhino's new owner.
It started with “Hi, if you’re reading this you must own Rhino now. He was my puppy. I really hope he is in a good environment. I really miss him. I wish he knew that he was a pretty puppy," she wrote.
The girl's family gave up the dog because it has several small children. The family admits the decision was heart-wrenching. They said they only had the 3-year-old dog for five months, having picked him up from the shelter themselves. They loved him very much however, the dog was too big and too energetic for their young children.
The girl also included his favorite toy which is a green Nerf ball but never give him a tennis ball since he rips them apart. The girl also ask the new owner to not rename him. “His full name is Rhino Lightning (then your last name). Please don’t rename him.”
Rhino's new owner is Melanie Hill of Clearfield, she went to the Humane Society looking for a dog. When she saw Rhino it was love at first sight. She took Rhino home to Davis County -- along with the note pad and the detailed instructions. Hill said she doesn't know anything about Rhino's previous owner, but she wants the girl to know Rhino will be loved by her family and his name will stay the same.
Merck, a drug company disputes Channel 2’s Jim Strickland documents that shows dog owners believe the drug called Bravecto is connected to the death of thousands of pets worldwide.
Bravecto, is a dog chew that is very powerful and effective with only one dose it can kill fleas and ticks for three months. Pharmaceutical giant Merck says it's safe and effective, but the number of dog owners who think otherwise is growing.
Donna White of Buckhead one of the pet owners who are blaming the drug said "I believe that Bravecto killed my dog. That's the only thing I changed his entire life." Her dog named "JoJo" vomited the first two times she gave him Bravecto, which is a known side effect. But 12 hours after the third dose, he had to be rushed to the veterinarian for emergency CPR. It didn't work and JoJo died.
Chris Weber said his dog, Truck, suffered for weeks after dose number three. Then one day, "He put his head in the bowl, turned back and looked at me and collapsed at my feet," Weber told Strickland. Weber euthanized his dog on Thanksgiving Day.
In a letter to veterinarians, Merck said of the dog deaths featured in their investigation: “There were no necropsies performed...the pet owners declined.”
However, Chris Weber of north Fulton County told Strickland that he never got the option of necropsy.
“Merck has not done absolutely anything for me. I was told that after their veterinary professional speaks with mine that they would be calling me. I never heard a word,” Chris Weber said.
The owners of two other dogs who made allegations against Bravecto told Strickland that their dogs were already buried before necropsies could be performed.
Divorce between husband and wife can be convoluted and it can affect the whole family and it almost always end up in a fight on who gets what house, children, TV, and pets. A lot of times pet lovers are asking, can you consider your pet to be your child? However, in law, animals are treated as property. So although pet custody battles are often passionate and ugly courts consider pets as part of the “property distribution” in a divorce.
In Alaska they have amended their divorce statutes that took effect last week, which is trending in the world of animal law. It makes Alaska the first state in the U.S. to require courts to take “into consideration the well-being of the animal” and to explicitly empower judges to assign joint custody of pets. In a blog post, the Animal Legal Defense Fund called the well-being provision “groundbreaking and unique.”
“It is significant,” said David Favre, a Michigan State University law professor who specializes in animal law. “For the first time, a state has specifically said that a companion animal has visibility in a divorce proceeding beyond that of property — that the court may award custody on the basis of what is best for the dog, not the human owners.”
Unfortunately for fish lovers, law does not include it.
Bradley Jean Hubbard, 23 of Pensacola was arrested after being accused of allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a Pit Bull for over 3½ years. He was arrested on Monday at his Pelham Drive address after a family member reported the ongoing sexual assault of the family pet, a pit bull or bull dog mix named "Baby Girl."
Hubbard lived with his father and his father's girlfriend during the period of the offenses, which allegedly had continued for more than three years.
A family member who lived in the home reported the incident, saying she had physically seen Hubbard take the animal to his bedroom and engage in sexual contact with the dog, estimating it to have happened more than 100 times in the past several years. She had been able to witness the attack as Hubbard's bedroom door has a hole in it, as a result of a violent outburst. She also said that she heard the dog cry out in pain during episodes that she said escalated during 2016. She told police Hubbard brushed off questions by saying the victimized animal was in heat.
Hubbard’s roommate told officers she didn’t report it earlier because she “did not want to get Hubbard in trouble.
A blind British man, Amit Patel who works in London, depend on his guide dog named "Kika" to get him through his busy commute each day. He strapped a Gopro on her vest to record everything she sees throughout the day. Kika is a 3-year-old Labrador.
Mr. Patel lost his eyesight five years ago due to a disorder called keratoconus. Keratoconus is when the shape of one's cornea changes, causing limited sight, blurred vision and glare.
Patel said Kika has changed his life tremendously, Kika have been helping him navigate the sometimes tough streets on London to commute to work. He volunteers at The Royal National Institute of Blind People.
He said "99% of my journeys are absolutely fantastic. There are so many nice people out there, but it's that 1 percent that makes life difficult." There are times they encounter rude people during his commute. He said sometimes people will "budge her," "poke her or push her," and one terrible incident when other commuters told him, "'Oh, that lady just hit your dog with an umbrella.'".
Patel started a Twitter account, @Kika_GuideDog, to raise awareness of the importance of guide dogs. He even recently strapped a Go Pro camera onto Kika so people can see what it's like for a guide dog to do its tough job.
