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Pet Theft – Awareness and Prevention
Last Chance for Animals (LCA) created National Pet Theft Awareness Day in 1988. It’s observed annually on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, which sees a considerable uptick in pet thefts. The goal is to raise awareness for the issues of pet theft and to educate the public about how to keep their companion animals safe from thieves. Some precautions are: Since many pet thefts go unreported, it’s impossible to know exactly how many animals are taken, but an estimated two million pets are stolen in the United States each year. That number is astounding and heartbreaking. “We have seen a dramatic increase in this type of crime. In fact, the FBI…
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What’s in a Name: Birch sugar or Xylitol
Wood sugar, birch sugar, birch bark extract are other names for xylitol. Xylitol used to be listed by its name, but lately there’s been a change in what’s listed in an ingredient panel. Xylitol is found in a variety of “sugar-free” snacks and condiments as well as oral care products, over the counter medicines and supplements. This matters because xylitol is toxic to dogs. Cats and ferrets can suffer adverse effects, too, but dogs are particularly susceptible because they have more sweet receptors in their tastebuds, so they’re more likely to consume something sweet. “[Xylitol] is rapidly absorbed, causing insulin to be released from the pancreas and blood glucose levels…
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Bird Flu and You
Bird Flu and Raw Feeding: What You Need to Know If you’re a raw feeder, you’ve probably heard about the recent bird flu concerns. But what does this have to do with your pets? Quite a lot, actually. H5N1, the bird flu strain that’s been circulating for years, has been affecting wild birds and spreading to poultry, dairy cows, and even cats—and yes, humans too. Cats, both domestic and wild, are particularly vulnerable to the bird flu, and it can have serious consequences. According to AP News: “Though cases of infection are rare, cats seem especially susceptible to the bird flu virus, or Type A H5N1. Even before the cattle…
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Pet Travel Safety – By Land
With the holidays freshly behind us you’re probably pooped from all the traveling you did and, hopefully, you’re settling into the new year ready for what’s to come. Fittingly, National Pet Travel Safety Day falls right after the holiday season on January 2. As it turns out there is a lot to keeping pets safe when traveling. First things first. Research the requirements of your destination as they vary from state to state, so read first and then take them to the veterinarian and get the necessary work done and documented. Are they healthy enough to travel? Are they up to date on their shots? If your destination is the…
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Pet Travel Safety – By Air
National Pet Travel Safety Day falls right after the holiday season on January 2. As it turns out there is a lot to keeping pets safe when traveling, especially when flying. First things first, it’s best to begin at the beginning and research the requirements of your destination. They vary from state to state and country to country, so read up first and then take them to their vet to get them evaluated. Are they up to date on their shots? Are they healthy enough to travel? And that’s just the beginning! There’s even more to consider when traveling by plane. Having said all this, it’s important to note that…
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Food as Medicine for Pets with Diabetes
Dan Teich of District Vet hits the nail on the head when it comes to the pet-parent relationship. “As pet parents/guardians/servants…our main duty is the comfort and happiness of those in our charge. Feeding a nutritious diet, along with providing shelter, exercise and environmental enrichment, are essential, as is a physical examination by a veterinarian.” That’s exactly right. Because plenty of behaviors are also symptoms of underlying issues, and if they go undetected for long enough then they become problems. He goes on to state “A two-pound weight loss, if achieved over a period of a few months, most likely will be missed by the pet parent but will be…
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November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month
First let’s start with a quick lesson: November is recognized as Pet Cancer Awareness Month, with November 7th being specifically Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day. Lymphoma, also known as lymphosarcoma (LSA), is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells are important for the immune system, but when they become cancerous, they grow uncontrollably. Canine lymphoma can show up in different ways, but it often causes the enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. It can also affect other organs such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, skin, or digestive system. Common symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some cases…
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Local Organizations Are Aiding Hurricane Rescue Efforts – You Can Help, Too
California suffers through fire season, or El Nino. The Pacific Northwest has volcanos and earthquakes. Nor’easters in New England. Every year, wherever you are in the United States, there is a “disaster season.” Right now it’s hurricane season and the devastation wrought by Helene, followed closely by Milton, has cost many lives. Larger organizations such as the Humane Society and the ASPCA are critical to the disaster response, providing emergency veterinary care and distributing pet supplies and food. Red Rover is one of the amazing volunteer organizations with boots on the ground in these situations. However, there is another critical part played by local groups. In order to allow shelters and rescues in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and…
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Melatonin or CBD?
The Big Bad Woof has an extensive apothecary section with products that address a variety of symptoms and issues that pets experience. A common question we hear is what’s the difference between melatonin and CBD? They’re both good for calming pets down, right? So which should you use? Though they overlap in important ways, CBD and melatonin are very different from one another and ultimately serve different purposes in the animal kingdom. For our pets purposes the most important difference is the intended duration of use; CBD is better used long term for more chronic conditions like anxiety, pain or cancer, and melatonin is for shorter term, acute conditions like…
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Celebrating Mutts
Created in 2005, National Mutt Day is all about embracing, saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs. And mutts are so great that they actually get two days a year: 7/31 and 12/2. Did you know that celebrities like Benji and Old Yeller were mutts? Even the dog recently featured on Max’s (formerly HBO) “House of the Dragon” is a mixed-breed buddy. Lassie is classic and I’d never detract from her accomplishments (she was always saving Timmy from that well), but mutts have a very special place in my heart. They’re always full of quirks and personality, and they make the funniest faces sometimes. Our adopted Lhasa-Maltese-Shi tzu mix, Max (formerly known as…
