Halloween Party for Pets

The second annual Pet Halloween Party at Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital was a success.  We had a small yet powerful parade of pets dressed in their best costumes come into the hospital to show off their creativity and to have their picture taken for our Facebook page and Website.  The technicians decorated the room with spooky and cute Halloween decorations and built a platform for the photo background.  They also had goody bags for each pet and an array of Halloween treats for the pet parents.  All of the participants had wonderful pictures and we even got photos of our adoptable cats and kittens.  A great time was had by all.  Here are some of the photos that were taken at the event.  Join us next year...if you dare!

Want a Lizard, Turtle or Snake?

Want an unusual pet?  Cats, dogs and even birds are just a little too ordinary for you? Maybe a pet reptile is the right choice for you.  Before you visit a pet store to look at the wide variety of reptile pets, do your homework and know what your reptile pet’s requirements are before you commit to buy one.

Reptiles (snakes, lizards and turtles) and amphibians (frogs, newts, salamanders and chameleons) are categorized as “herptiles.” And because they are different, snakes, lizards and other herps have different care requirements than other household pets. These creatures are so special that there are different care guidelines for each species.

People with little or no knowledge of how they should be kept sometimes obtain reptiles. Unfortunately some pet stores give out faulty information when selling these animals. Therefore it is important that you do your research before bringing a reptile pet home. Find a reputable veterinarian or pet store that deals with reptiles and is familiar with their proper care.

Size matters when you’re considering a reptile for a pet. Contrary to popular belief, housing your reptile in a small tank does not mean that your reptile’s growth will be stunted. His health, however, will be poorly affected. A Burmese python, for example, is common in reptile stores; however, a young two-foot Burmese can grow to up to 30 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds.  Make sure to know how big the animal will be when it reaches maturity so you’ll be prepared to properly care for it throughout its lifetime.

Think carefully about what kind of cage or enclosure your reptile will need. Reptile homes need to provide enough space for mobility and must be escape-proof, both for your safety and your pets’.

There are commercially available diets for some reptiles; however, most need fresh food. For example, some species of reptile require food such as mealworms and mice while others may need fresh fruits and vegetables to make up the majority of their diet. Make sure you’re willing to research the diet and spend the money and effort, as you may need to purchase fresh food two to three times a week.

At Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital we have care information sheets available for your reptile friend.  You can get access to the information by visiting our website www.wwvhcares.com or emailing us at general@wwvhcares.com.   Also, you can go to www.reptilechannel.com/care-sheets to get reputable care information on various reptile species. 

4 The Best Detroit

Each summer the Detroit TV station WDIV holds their "4 The Best, Click on Detroit" contest to choose the best, or most popular businesses in the greater Detroit area.  Last year Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital worked hard to accumulate votes asking clients and friends to vote for us in the contest. Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital was happy to be awarded fifth place in the "Veterinarians" category which included over 100 veterinary hospitals in the metro Detroit area.

This year as the contest approached we were not able to put as much effort into publicizing the contest and collecting votes, so we listed it on our Facebook page a few times and listed the website in our lobby.  To our surprise we were awarded the second place in the 2013 contest!  Out of the hundreds of hospitals listed we came in second.  The first place award went to a veterinary charity hospital that is supported by private donations and Michigan tax dollars, therefore we did not feel slighted in the least by their win. In fact, Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital supports many charities and wishes all of them  success in their animal rescuing endeavors.

Thanks to all of our wonderful clients, friends and Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital team members for making Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital one of the best in Detroit.  Also, thank you to WDIV for recognizing business in the Detroit area with this contest.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Most dog owners have seen their canine friend chew on grass at one time or another. It seems that no one knows exactly why dogs do it.  A few theories exist to explain this seemingly odd behavior, though no answer has been proven.

Some veterinarians believe that there is something that dogs are not getting from their commercial diets.  They may be in need of some additional roughage or vitamins that come from the “salad” that they find in the yard. Adding some extra veggies as well as adding extra fiber may also be a possible solution.

Wolves and other wild canids are known to regularly eat plant matter; suggesting dogs' grass-eating behavior is innate and normal. Indeed, a 2009 dog study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that puppies were more likely to eat grass if their mothers did so while nursing.

One of the more common explanations for this behavior is that it helps dogs purge their systems. Dogs can suffer from gastrointestinal issues that make them feel ill. They graze on the grasses to make themselves vomit and ultimately feel better. If a dog is experiencing stomach problems, you may see it eating blades of grass.  The grass causes gastric irritation that leads to vomiting, which helps the dog feel better afterward.

The bottom line is that no one actually knows why dogs eat grass.  You might be able to gain some insight into nutritional deficits, or age-old wisdom on how awesome their instincts are. You will have to decide for yourself what the reason is behind your pet’s grazing.  However, here are some things to watch for.

Vomiting is not usually a normal situation. If your pet vomits on a rare occasion and seems to otherwise be himself, there is usually not cause for alarm.  If, however, your pet seems lethargic, is not eating, and is also vomiting, make an appointment to see your veterinarian right away.  Also, watch the grass your pet is grazing upon. Do not use fertilizers, de-icers, weed killers or other chemicals on your lawn, and make sure your grass is free of mushrooms as some types are toxic.  If your dog eats a large quantity of grass, he could potentially become ill from that.  If you are unsure if your dog’s grass eating behavior is normal, or if your dog seems ill from eating grass, please feel free to call us at Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital for more information. 

586-751-3350

Doggie Aches and Pains - Beware of drug dangers

A friend of mine recently sent me a facebook message asking me if he could give his dog some Ibruprofen (Motrin), and if so how much.  He was on a vacation up north, away from his regular veterinary hospital, and thought that his middle- aged dog was feeling pain from over-exercise.  It is unfortunately common for people to make an assumption that a safe medication for people will also be safe for their pets.  In this instance my friend had the good sense to ask a veterinary professional before using Ibruprofen for his dog so I was able to give him the facts about these medications before he was able cause any harm to his pet.

As our pets advance in age, they will often develop the same problems with aches and pains that their human companions do.  Osteoarthritis can form in hips, knees, elbows and backs just as it does in people and can develop as a result of injury, hip dysplasia and often times just the normal aging process.  The pain associated with arthritis can leave dogs achy resulting in difficulty standing, often in the rear legs after sleeping and stiff joints after exercise.  The pain that they feel might not always be obvious but may show up in subtle ways such as inability to climb stairs, giving up on walks and games, and irritability.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Ibruprofen (Motrin) and Acetominophen (Tylenol), are a class of drugs that are commonly used in people and animals for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, headaches, muscle aches and for the relief of mild fevers.  Ibruporfen has been shown to cause kidney and liver disease in some dogs and is deadly in some cases.  Acetominophen (Tylenol) can also cause illness in dogs and is deadly at even small doses in cats. When pets ingest small overdoses of an NSAID, it may result in stomach ulcers, causing signs of vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, anemia, abdominal pain, and lethargy. With larger ingestions, kidney failure, liver failure and neurological problems (e.g., tremors or seizures) can develop.

There are safer NSAIDs that are used in our canine friends.  Dog-specific NSAIDs include common brands such as Rimadyl, Dermaxx, Previcox and Metacam. There are no NSAIDs designed for longterm use in cats and this class of drug is used sparingly in cats because it is poorly tolerated.

Pet owners should never give any medication to their dog or cat without consultation with their veterinarian.

If you think your dog or cat were poisoned by ibuprofen, or any other human medication, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately for life-saving treatment advice. The sooner the poisoning is diagnosed, the sooner it can be addressed to save your special pet.

Will work for food.

Have you ever heard of setting up “foraging” activities for your pet bird?  If not, perhaps you should.  Each week I see at least one pet parrot that has terrible problems with feather picking, feather chewing, skin mutilation, screaming, biting, or inappropriate bonding.  It is thought by many researchers, that the reason birds participate in these self-destructive behaviors is that they don’t have enough to do with their time and do not have natural food seeking opportunities incorporated into their daily routines.

 In the wild, birds generally spend their time divided between resting, grooming, foraging, and social interactions with flock members.  Most wild birds spend between 6 and 15 hours per day foraging for food.  Our pet birds have food provided in easily accessible food bowls sometimes 24 hours a day.  This type of feeding requires no creativity, activity or thought and rarely requires more than 30 minutes to consume a meal.

Increasing the available foraging activities will enhance your bird’s life and may prevent abnormal behaviors.  If these abnormal behaviors are already present in your bird, providing foraging activities may help decrease the frequency these problems.

Foraging toys are toys that require some physical activity to aquire food.  There are avian pet stores and websites that sell commercial foraging toys made from various materials.  It is important to choose toys that are an appropriate size and skill level for your bird. The best way is to start small and uncomplicated and then work your way up to more complicated toys.  In addition to commercial foraging toys, inexpensive toys can be created at home using natural products such as untreated wood, paper, or  PVC pipes.  Simple foraging toys may include, food inside a crumpled paper cup, paper bag, or piece of paper towel.  Food toys can be created by placing food inside untreated wood or cardboard containers with covers that can be removed or with holes drilled in the side that allows extraction of small food items.  A foraging cup or shallow pan can be filled with untreated wooden beads or shredded paper. This can be used to hide nuts or seeds, requiring the bird to dig through the inedible objects to find the food items.

There is also a good DVD called “Captive Foraging: The Next Best Thing to Being Free.”  It is available at our hospital and online through the Zoological Education Network (www.exoticdvm.com).   Think of any natural way that food is hidden in the wild environment, and try to set up a similar situation in your bird’s cage using nontoxic items that you have around the house.   

Keeping your pet bird occupied with foraging activities will make him (or her) a much happier and healthier individual. 

Itchy, Scratchy and Sneezy - Don't shoot the vet over your allergic pet.

It is finally springtime again in Michigan!  The temperature is hitting over 60 degrees each day and the sun is actually shining more often. The improving weather is sometimes "bad news" for our vets and pets.  Along with spring and summer temperatures comes allergies.   Dogs and cats develop allergies to many things in the environment, just as people do.  They exhibit symptoms such as itching, scratching, rubbing, rolling and chewing.   We see ear infections, eye infections, skin infections and hair loss, all associated with allergies.

 Allergies are as common in dogs and cats as they are in their human counterparts.  On our daily schedule we may see  2 or 3 allergy cases, and sometimes more.  We learn to dread these appointments because we know that there is not a simple solution to the pet owner's problem.  Because there is not a simple answer, we must deal with frustrated and confused pet owners.  In many cases this problem is going to be a longtime, possibly lifetime issue, and there is no magic bullet cure.  

The best way to treat allergies in our pets is to diagnose exactly what that particular pet is allergic to.  We can do this through food trials, blood testing for inhalant allergies and/or skin testing. These test are often time consuming and can be expensive.   They will take time and effort investments on the part of the pet owner.   Veterinarians may treat these pets with antihistamines, antibiotics, and immune suppressant drugs, as well as allergen injections customized for the specific patient.  The allergies are often controlled but very rarely cured.  

If you suspect that your pet may have an allergy, there are several things that you can do to assist your veterinarian with their diagnosis and treatment.

• Be sure that your pet is treated monthly with flea preventative (i.e. Frontline or Certifect) so flea allergies can be eliminated from the equation.  
• Keep a list of your pet's habits and symptoms, and when they occur.  This may help your veterinarian compile an accurate history for your pet.  
• Be patient with your veterinarian so he/she can make the proper recommendations and remember to follow up on your veterinary visits, so you can stay ahead of your dog or cat's symptoms. 

 Remember that it will take an investment of your time and energy (and maybe your checkbook) to get your pet's allergies under control.

Try to enjoy the spring and summer with your pet, and please don't shoot the vet!