As we know, the “dog days” of summer can be dangerous for dogs—especially those dogs left inside hot cars. Every year, countless dogs die after being locked in cars while their owners work, visit, shop, or run other errands. These tragic deaths are entirely preventable.

You would never consider leaving your dog in a hot oven, but that’s exactly what your car can become in a matter of minutes on a hot summer day.

So, be cool to your pooch!

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For some pet parents, a trip’s no fun if the four-legged members of the family can’t come. But traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions. With thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone.

Planning a road trip? Traveling with a pet involves more than just loading the animal in the back seat and motoring off—especially if you will be driving long distances or plan to be away for a long time.

1. Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of wire mesh, hard plastic and soft-sided carriers available. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. And P.S., it’s smart to get your pet used to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your trip.
2. Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won’t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
3. Your pet’s travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure. Don’t feed your furry friend in a moving vehicle—even if it is a long drive.
4. Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
5. What in your pet’s traveling kit? In addition to travel papers, food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and a pet first-aid kit, pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity.
6. Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please.
7. Don’t allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. He could be injured by flying objects. And please keep him in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat buckle.
8. Traveling across state lines? Bring along your pet’s rabies vaccination record, as some states requires this proof at certain interstate crossings. While this generally isn’t a problem, it’s always smart to be on the safe side.
9. When it comes to H2O, we say BYO. Opt for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area he’s not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet.
10. If you travel frequently with your pet, you may want to invest in rubberized floor liners and waterproof seat covers, available at auto product retailers.

Article courtesy of ASPCA.ORG.

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Pet Cancer Is the #1 Disease-Related Killer of our Dogs and Cats.

• You probably don’t realize it, but dogs and cats get cancer at approximately the same rate as people do. Unfortunately, 80% of pet parents know little or nothing about pet cancer.
• That’s why it’s so important to learn all you can about the disease. The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Pet Cancer Research, through the Pet Cancer Awareness (PCA) program, is devoted to raising awareness about the warning signs of cancer, as well as educating pet parents about ways to minimize the risk.
• With your help, it’s our hope that we can one day find a cure for this devastating disease.

Make a Donation Today!

http://petcancerawareness.myshopify.com/

Pet Cancer Signs

Just as in people, early detection is critical. That’s why it’s so important to check your pet regularly.

Early Pet Cancer Warning Signs, As Identified By
The Veterinary Cancer Society.

1. Persistent, abnormal swelling
2. Sores that do not heal
3. Loss of weight
4. Loss of appetite
5. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
6. Offensive odor
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing
8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9. Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
11. If your pet has any of these early warning signs, visit your veterinarian as soon as possible for a complete examination.

What Causes Pet Cancer?

Just as in people, early detection is critical. That’s why it’s so important to check your pet regularly.

Genetics

Due to improper breeding practices certain breeds of dogs are genetically prone to canine cancer including:

• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Rottweilers
• Bernese Mountain Dogs
• Boxers

When choosing a dog or a cat, question the breeder as to the incidence of canine or feline cancer in the line. And always avoid animals that have been “mass” bred in puppy and kitten farms or “mills”.

Over-Vaccination

It has been clinically proven that over-vaccinations can actually weaken your pet’s immune system, setting the stage for pet cancer. Sadly, cats can now suffer from a specific type of feline cancer named “Vaccine Induced Fibro Sarcoma.” It develops at the vaccine site on your pet’s skin as a direct side effect of over-vaccination.

While initial puppy and kitten vaccinations are required and necessary, try to avoid automatically vaccinating every year. Speak with your veterinarian about spreading out the vaccinations and inoculate only those for diseases that are prevalent in your geographical area.

It’s also a good idea to check your pet’s immunity with a blood titer test before vaccinating. If your veterinarian is not familiar with a lab that does titer testing, suggest that he or she contact Antech Diagnostics for titer testing information (800-872-1001). You may also want to confer with a holistic veterinarian who is knowledgeable in minimizing the potential side effects of vaccines after they are given.

Environmental And Food Toxins

Do a “Toxic Screening” of your household and environment. Exposure to chemicals in the environment and even small daily doses of chemical additives and preservatives in their food can build up and be carcinogenic. That’s why it’s important to take a serious look at the products you have around your house, get rid of the toxic ones, and substitute safer products.

A variety of reports from the EPA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Game confirm the hazards of environmental and household toxins including lawn fertilizers, detergents, and cleaners. These all have warning labels relative to children and pets, and many veterinarians see a link between environmental toxins and pet cancer.

Make Your Donation Today!

http://petcancerawareness.myshopify.com/

Unsterilized dogs are creating a crisis in Los Angeles County. Stray dogs are public safety hazards, and unsterilized dogs are more likely to stray. Stray dogs can bite or attack people or other animals, cause traffic accidents, spread disease, damage property and harm the quality of life for residents in a community. During the last fiscal year 23,799 stray dogs were impounded by this department.

Unneutered males search for mates and are attracted in packs when female dogs come into heat. One female in heat, even if confined, can make an entire neighborhood unstable by attracting packs of male dogs intent on breeding. These situations often become dangerous.

Unsterilized dogs can create unplanned litters, and there are not enough available homes to absorb this surplus. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is overwhelmed with dogs. In Fiscal Year 2004-2005 the department impounded 40,174 dogs, more than any other animal care and control agency in the nation. During that year 18,804 dogs were euthanized. Despite strong efforts to place dogs into new homes and reunite lost dogs with their owners, there are still not enough adoptive homes available. This department is committed to a “no-kill” philosophy. However, in order to reach that goal we must first greatly reduce the numbers of dogs flooding our shelters. This ordinance will help us reach that goal by reducing the number of dogs born or running loose in Los Angeles County.

Spaying and neutering also presents many health benefits for dogs. Certain types of cancers in dogs are eliminated by spaying and neutering. Sterilized dogs are less likely to roam and therefore less likely to be lost, hit by a car, injured in a fight, or abused.

By spaying or neutering your dog, you are helping solve the problem of pet overpopulation and protecting your dog from potential harm. However, since some dogs cannot be spayed or neutered for certain reasons, this ordinance has exemptions for these cases. These are:

1. Dogs which are unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity. Written confirmation from a licensed veterinarian is required to qualify for this exception.
2. Dogs used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.
3. Service or assistance dogs that assist disabled persons.
4. Competition dogs. A Competition Dog is a dog which is used to show, to compete or to breed, which is of a breed recognized by and registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) or other approved breed registries. The dog or owner must also meet ONE of the following requirements:
   1. The dog has competed in at least one dog show or sporting competition sanctioned by a national registry or approved by the department within the last 365 days; or
   2. The dog has earned a conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, sporting, working or other title from a purebred dog registry referenced above or other registry or dog sport association approved by the department; or
   3. The owner or custodian of the dog is a member of a department approved purebred dog breed clubs, which maintains and enforces a code of ethics for dog breeding that includes restrictions from breeding dogs with genetic defects and life threatening health problems that commonly threaten the breed.

If you believe your dog meets one of these exemptions, please complete and return an Exemption Application.

Microchips

Under this ordinance all dogs must have an identification microchip. Microchip implantation and registration is available to all dog owners FREE of charge thanks to a generous donation from the Found Animal Foundation. You may obtain your free microchip and registration at any Los Angeles County animal shelter. Please call ahead to confirm microchip clinic hours. Microchip Schedules

Positive identification that cannot be lost, falsified or altered is essential to reuniting lost pets with their families. Microchipping of animals has become a customary practice – millions of dogs and cats, horses, livestock, birds, wildlife and endangered species are chipped. Microchipping is a simple, non-surgical procedure.

The microchip, which is approximately the size of a grain of rice, is injected underneath the skin with a needle. There is no anesthesia required, and even the smallest animals such as fish, puppies and kittens are safely microchipped. Each microchip has a code number embedded in it. When a special, hand-held scanner is passed over the area where the microchip has been implanted, the scanner “reads” the microchip and displays its unique code number. That number is stored in a database that contains the owner contact information.

Hundreds of thousands of lost pets have been reunified with their distraught families because the pets were micro-chipped. While tags can become lost or damaged and tattoos can fade or be altered, microchips provide permanent identification with unique numbers that cannot be changed. Due to the presence of a microchip, this department has reunified owners with pets that had been missing for as long as five years.

Shelters for Animal Control Agencies within LA County can be found at http://www.rescueguide.com/shelters.html

Low-Cost Assistance

Part of this new ordinance includes a $50 voucher program for senior citizens and low-income residents who have a state-issued California Advantage Card. S/N Discount Voucher Request Our agency also has a list of veterinarians who offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries and accept the vouchers our agency will issue as part of this program. Participating Veterinary Offices

We also will conduct low-cost spay and neuter programs for dogs at many of our County shelters and we are working with a wide variety of animal welfare groups who are active in low-cost spay-and-neuter efforts. Ongoing spay/neuter opportunities will be made available, and we encourage you to check our website and with your local County shelter to find out opportunities in your area.

In addition, Actors and Others for Animals currently provides FREE spay or neuter services for all Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. Call (818) 755-6045 or (818) 755-6323, or visit their website at http://www.actorsandothers.com/ more information.

Effective Date of Enforcement

This ordinance became effective on June 1, 2006.  The current grace period has been extended until March 1, 2007 to allow dog owners adequate time to comply with the new requirements.  However, owners of stray dogs that are impounded at a County shelter during the grace period will be required to comply immediately.  After the grace period has ended, dog owners will be expected to be in compliance with this ordinance.

Fines and Penalties

A first violation of this ordinance is an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. If the owner fails to correct the underlying cause of the violation within 30 days after being notified of the violation, it shall be deemed a second violation. A second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months or by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each subsequent violation shall be considered an additional misdemeanor.

The full text of this ordinance is available on our website. If you still want more information, please visit your local County shelter, write to us at 5898 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805, or e-mail us, using the link on our website homepage. You may also contact us by telephone at (562) 256-7104. Staff is available to assist you Monday through Thursday from 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

This information has been provided by:

http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/Did%20you%20know.asp

http://www.rescueguide.com/shelters.html

http://aaloc.com/helplinespayneuter.htm

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/

1. Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life.
   Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
2. Neutering provides major health benefits for your male.
   Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age.
3. Your spayed female won’t go into heat.
   While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
4. Your male dog won’t want to roam away from home.
   An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate! That includes digging his way under the fence and making like Houdini to escape from the house. And once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males.
5. Your neutered male will be much better behaved.
   Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.
6. Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat.
   Don’t use that old excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.
7. It is highly cost-effective.
   The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray!
8. Spaying and neutering your pet is good for the community.
   Stray animals pose a real problem in many parts of the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, damage the local fauna and frighten children. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets.
9. Your pet doesn’t need to have a litter for your children to learn about the miracle of birth.
   Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is not a good lesson for your children—especially when so many unwanted animals end up in shelters. There are tons of books and videos available to teach your children about birth in a more responsible way.
10. Spaying and neutering helps fight pet overpopulation.
    Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

A client shared a recent story of how her chocolate lab found trouble by ingesting marijuana. Although we might giggle and picture a “stoned” dog listening to Pink Floyd and enjoying himself, many plants including pot, are EXTREMELY toxic. It was two days before Brinkley was back to normal. He weighs 90 pounds!

The most common route of exposure to pet animals is oral. Unfortunately, there have been cruelty cases involving smaller animals, such as a cat placed under a large bowl or bucket and someone blowing their used smoke in with the cat, exposing the pet to toxic levels of THC. In dogs, clinical signs develop within 30-90 minutes after ingestion and even faster with smoke. The effects of the THC may last up to 72 hours.

The most common clinical signs of toxicosis in the dog include depression, ataxia, bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypothermia (low body temperatures), vocalization, mydriasis (dilated eyes), muscular incoordination, respiratory depression, hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, seizures and coma. The most consistent clinical sign in dogs is central nervous depression, usually appearing as if the dog was falling asleep. Additional clinical signs that may be seen include hyperreflexia (exaggeration of the reflexes), hyperesthesia (increased sensation in the nerves of the skin), and nystagmus (rotation of the eyes). It is rare that a lethal dose is taken, although the period of depression may be prolonged.

Garden toxins can cause severe toxicity in animals. Just a seed, a bulb or even a few leaves can cause symptoms like vomiting, liver damage, and in some cases death. The Sago Palm for example, if ingested, the leaves and seeds can cause vomiting, bloody stools, damage to the stomach lining, severe liver failure and, in some cases, death.

Common toxic plants in our gardens today:

• Autumn Crocus
• Azalea
• Cyclamen
• Hyacinth/TULIP BULBS
• Kalanchoe
• Oleander
• Daffodil Bulbs
• Lily

Potentially poisonous plants that effect the heart are:

What should pet owners do if they suspect their animal has ingested a poison? What symptoms should they look for?

If a pet owner suspects that their animal ingested a poison, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Symptoms of poisonings can include almost any clinical sign.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, an operating division of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and pet owners. The Center’s hotline veterinarians can quickly answer questions about toxic substances found in our everyday surroundings that can be dangerous to animals. The Center maintains a wide collection of reference materials and computer databases that help provide toxicological information for various species. Veterinary professionals provide around-the-clock, on-site coverage of the Center. The licensed staff members share over one hundred and ten years of combined call center experience and over seventy-five years of combined toxicology, clinical, and diagnostic experience. The phone number of the Center is 1-888-4-ANI-HELP
(1-888-426-4435).

Keep a list handy of emergency phone numbers for medical care for your pets… and for yourself and family. Be sure to list alternate numbers and “after hours” numbers, too!

ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
888-4ANI-HELP
(888-426-4435)
$50 fee may be applied to credit card.

Human Medications
For several years, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards, and 2008 was no exception. Last year, the ASPCA managed more than 50,000 calls involving prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor, so it’s essential to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.

Insecticides
In our effort to battle home invasions of unwelcome pests, we often unwittingly put our pets at risk. In 2008, our toxicologists fielded more than 31,000 calls related to insecticides. One of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick products—such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong species. Thus, it’s always important to talk to your pet’s veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.

People Food
People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and certain citrus fruit can seriously harm our furry friends, and accounted for more than 13,500 cases in 2008. One of the worst offenders—chocolate—contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

Rodenticides
Last year, the ASPCA received approximately 8,000 calls about pets who had accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets, including bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

Veterinary Medications
Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they’re often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents. In 2008, the ASPCA managed nearly 8,000 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.

Chemical Hazards
In 2008, the Animal Poison Control Center handled approximately 7,500 cases of pet exposure to chemical hazards. A category on the rise, chemical hazards—found in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals—form a substantial danger to pets. Substances in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.

Plants
Common houseplants were the subject of nearly 6,500 calls to the Animal Poison Control Center in 2008. Varieties such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera are often found in homes and can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.

Household Cleaners
Everybody knows that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to adults and children, but few take precautions to protect their pets from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. Last year, the ASPCA received more than 4,000 calls related to household cleaners. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.

Heavy Metals
It’s not too much loud music that constitutes our next pet poison offender. Instead, it’s heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury, which accounted for more than 3,000 cases of pet poisonings in 2008. Lead is especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.

Fertilizer
It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last year, the ASPCA fielded more than 2,000 calls related to fertilizer exposure. Prevention is really key to avoiding accidental exposure, but if you suspect your pet has ingested something lawn-side, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Information compiled by á laMutt.com staff and á la Mutt Inc. For questions or comments, email us at customerservice@alaMutt.com. Information and advice contained on this site is for your consideration only. Consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet.