Cat, Butters, Steals Chair

 

It seems these days one cannot simply make photocopies without running the risk of losing their seat.  Monday morning, an unidentified Winslow Animal Hospital employee, who writes pet stories and pet health news, such as CDC concerned about salmonella outbreaks, returned to find their seat occupied by Butters, the hospital cat.

Upon returning, the employee challenged the alleged chair thief, claiming they needed it to work, while there are a plethora of surfaces for the cat to lounge upon. In his defense, Butters was quoted as saying, “Ai haz the chare now, u didn’t call fives, kthxbai.”

The unwritten law to which the cat referred, known as “fives,” states that a person who calls fives upon leaving their chair may reclaim it if they return within five minutes. The employee responded by saying that fives were not necessary, as it is part of their job to work at that computer.

The two found compromise when the employee offered to let Butters sit on their lap in the chair. This may have simply been symbolic, as Butters stayed less than two minutes before slinking out of the room.

“Ai didunt want it anywai. U can haz this tiem,” Butters added. Whether this was a one-time incident or the beginning of an office feud, only time will tell.

Pet Food Recall

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently released a recall of certain dry pet foods due to a risk of salmonella contamination. Proctor and Gamble has recalled certain lots of foods, which they say are less than one tenth of a percent of their annual production, and no salmonella-related illnesses have been connected with these products to date.

To see the list of foods affected, visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm365154.htm and, as always, if your pet displays digestive symptoms that concern you, such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloody stool, or the like, be sure to contact a veterinarian and get your pet the care that she needs.

CDC Concerned about Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Live Poultry

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are concerned about outbreaks of Salmonella.  Like intestinal parasites we have mentioned before, the Salmonella bacteria infect the digestive system and cause unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.  More and more people are keeping chicks or adult chickens in their backyards or even bringing them into their homes as pets.  Chickens are major carriers of Salmonella, and having them on surfaces in the home, especially in the kitchen, means contaminating surfaces close to people and possibly the food they are eating.  People usually become infected by eating contaminated food and water.

Hundreds of cases of a few strains of Salmonella (Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Lille, Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Mbandaka)  (Salmonella typhimurium) have been reported in 37 states. The diarrhea can cause severe dehydration, which may be why there have been at least 72 hospitalizations related to these outbreaks. Salmonella, on rare occasions, may also spread beyond the digestive system and become life-threatening.

The CDC is attempting to educate the public about Salmonella and how to protect ourselves from infection.  The main protection is good hygiene – wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs, especially after contact with chickens, ducks, geese or other animals. If you have chickens, keep them out of the house.  Just like you would not put raw chicken meat on your tables and counters without disinfecting them afterward, do not allow live poultry to touch surfaces in your home.

Intestinal Parasites (pt 2 of 2)

It’s a stool sample!

… read Part 1 first.

Do not allow your pet to drink stagnant water and keep away from environments that are heavily contaminated with feces, such as dog parks. Clean up your pet’s environment on a regular basis to avoid soil contamination. 

Veterinarians recommend regular stool sample screenings, at least once per year for most pets in order to detect parasites as early as possible. If a pet has had chronic parasitic infections or suspicious symptoms have begun, screenings should be every 6 months.

Fecal samples for testing should be fresh, no more than 24 hours old and in an airtight container. Sample size recommended is one (1) gram, which is equivalent to 2 sugar cubes or one medium marble.

Intestinal Parasites (pt 1 of 2)

It’s a stool sample!

Hookworms. Whipworms. Protozoa infections. These terrifying miniature monsters are not science fiction; they are common realities for pets in the United States. Some of the many intestinal parasites out there can be contracted trans-placentally, that is, from mother to puppy or kitten.

Dogs are even less careful what goes in their mouths than people are. Many parasites are contracted via contact with or ingestion of infected feces, stagnant water, infected hosts (mice, rabbits, fleas, etc.) or through skin penetration by contaminated soil.

Pets MAY NOT show clinical signs, depending on the infection, which is why preventative care is so important. Most common symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stool, weight loss, lethargy, distended abdomen, abdominal cramping, dullness of coat, dehydration or anemia, especially when infected by a ‘blood-sucking’ variety of parasite.

See Part 2 for information about detecting and preventing intestinal parasites!

First Pet Names

What was the name of your first pet? Is there any significance behind this name? 

The complimentary pair below are the bold “Butters” and his skittish companion “Margie.” Like Butter and Margarine! 

Canine Parvovirus

Learn how to manage and prevent canine parvovirus.

Canine Parvovirus

Protect Your Family from Zoonotic Illnesses

Weather changes can increase the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading between pets and people. Here’s how to protect every member of your family.

Protect Your Family from Zoonotic Illnesses