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6 Vaccinations You Should Know Something About

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:22 -0800

Shots, shots, shots. It seems like doggies require endless vaccinations, but do you know what they're being safeguarded against? Take these quizzes about six diseases that pups get protected for to see if you're a shot-recognizing expert.

Quiz: Coronavirus	Quiz: Rabies	Quiz: Parvovirus
Quiz: Hepatitis	Quiz: Distemper	Quiz: H3N8

To the Rescue: How to Check Your Pet's Temperature

PetSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:35:44 -0800

OK, now that you're aware of how to check your dog's pulse, let's move on to temperature taking. The easiest way to do this is with an ear thermometer like the Pet-Temp Instant Ear Thermometer ($40). It measures the infrared heat waves coming from the ear drum. Pet-specific versions are best because they have a long probe that can fit deeply in the ear canal.

The other option is to use a rectal thermometer like this Vet-Temp Rapid Digital Thermometer for Pets ($15). Coat it with a water-based lubricant, insert about one inch, and wait for the finishing beep. While it's a cheaper option, if your pet dislikes this process, you will need to have someone else hold him and distract him while you measure the temperature. See the normal ranges for both cats and dogs when you read more.

For dogs, the normal ear temperature is between 100 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
For dogs, the normal rectal temperature is between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
For cats, the normal ear temperature is between 100 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
For cats, the normal rectal temperature is between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Source: Flickr User Max Wolfe

12 Diseases Humans Can Catch From Animals

PetSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:40:05 -0800

The idea that a beloved pet could make us sick is a scary thought but, thankfully, not that common. With the first H1N1 cat case popping up last week, I've gotten many questions about which illnesses people could catch from animals (like rabies) and which are only for the dogs (like the H3N8 flu, parvo, or bordetella. To help out, I've rounded up 12 diseases that people could get from pets, wild animals, or flying insects, with a short explanation of them. Brush up!

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H1N1 Face Mask For Pets: Really Smart or Really Ridiculous?

PetSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:45:54 -0800

With the new threat of pets (potentially) being able to be infected by H1N1 - poor kitty - some people are taking serious precautions to protect an animal from potential poisons. Take this pooch in China, he's been specially fitted with a face mask. While it limits his breathing in germs, it also prevents the extra sniffs and licks so many dogs are fond of. What's your take on this tactic?

The Scoop: First H1N1 Cat Case Confirmed by AVMA

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Following last week's case in Oregon where vets confirmed the first H1N1 transmission between a human and a pet ferret, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has confirmed that a 13-year-old, indoor-only cat in Iowa in fact has swine flu.

While it's uncommon for flu viruses (like the H3N8 for dogs) to jump between species, doctors at Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine performed two sets of tests to find the feline was in fact infected. According to her owners, they had been sick with flu-like symptoms before noticing the cat was ill and, until recently, there was no reason to think cats could catch the 2009 swine flu. Kitty symptoms are primarily respiratory, which includes sneezing and teary eyes, as well as any unusual food refusal.

Get the CDC's tips for interacting with all pets (and people) when you read more.

As with humans, the CDC recommends:

Wash your hands frequently.
Cough or sneeze into elbows.
Discard any tissues out of reach of cats.
As hard as this is, be a little less affectionate with your animal (distance-wise) while you're ill.

Source: Flickr User theogeo

What Do You Know About Heartworm?

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:45:00 -0700

Heartworm preventative is on the must-have list for many pet owners. Commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates, along with the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Ohio and Mississippi river basins, no dog is totally safe from this parasitic infestation. Prove how much you know about the disease, and take this quiz.

Take the quiz

What Do You Know About Canine Skin Cancer?

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:50:15 -0700

Just because the weather's getting colder in many parts of the country, doesn't mean dog owners can be less concerned with skin cancer. Luckily many cases can be treated successfully when caught early enough so brush up on the facts about the various types of this disease in the quiz below.

Take the quiz

Cat Owners Eight Times More Likely to Have MRSA at Home

PetSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:55:01 -0700

If you're not familiar with it already, MRSA is a bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, dangerous because of, well, its drug resistance. The first cases in pets popped up about five years ago in therapy dogs exposed to patients or healthcare workers, but the tables could turn, putting humans in more danger any day.

Typically, humans usually infect pets (and not vice versa), but animals can serve as a reservoir for the bacteria and pass it back to humans. Healthy animals rid themselves of bacteria in a matter of weeks.

According to a study this Summer, Elizabeth A. Scott and colleagues at the Center For Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston swabbed household surfaces and found that one variable that overwhelmingly predicted the presence of the germ was the presence of a cat - they were eight times more likely than others to have MRSA at home.

To learn some tips to keep your human (and furry) family safe, read more.

Wash your hands or use antibacterial hand gels before and after playing with a pet or handling wastes and food.
Don't let pets lick near your face or any cuts or sores, and be sure to keep your broken skin bandaged up.

The Pet Ate WHAT?! This Year's Most Unusual Insurance Claims

PetSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:25 -0700

Dogs (and cats!) eat the darndest things. I've rounded up and surveyed several inedible snacks but these take the cake. Seriously.

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) named the oddest claims they've gotten each month for the last year and will award the winner the first ever Hambone Award. In case you missed this famous case, that's named after the pooch who got stuck in the fridge . . . and helped himself to the whole Thanksgiving ham while waiting to be found.

Source: VPI

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7 Holistic Practices and Services To Share With Your Pet

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:50:34 -0700

On the heels of National Dog Day, Aug. 30 is National Holistic Pet Day! In honor of our furry friends and ways to make them feel good, better, or the best, peep seven holistic treatments - from aromatherapy to hydrotherapy. Check it out and then vote for your favorite at the end!

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