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Speak with your vet first about portions appropriate for your dog. A little goes a long way. Too much can cause gastrointestinal issues and other health problems. There are recipes for dog-friendly stuffing, cookies, etc., and you can be as elaborate as you want, just be sure to run it through your vet! Here is a brief overview of what they can have:
We touched base about gastrointestinal issues, but it is more than mere tummy issues. Pancreatitis is an awful stomachache. It is so bad that it requires a vet’s attention and it is the reason. DID YOU KNOW? Thanksgiving Day and the day afterward are the busiest days of the YEAR for emergency veterinarian clinics. It's easy to forget our pets have a very different digestive system than we do, especially when we sit down to the table to celebrate. During the holidays you can avoid going to or having to find an ER clinic, the long wait, and the Thank-you tab they give you before you can leave (the bill) by eliminating the table food. What is so wrong with table food you might ask: Two words: Poison & Problems.
If there is any considered error here it is on the side of caution. Don’t forget the turkey bones or the carcass (splinters) and the cooking bag can be dragged from the garbage can. Store carefully. Lastly, a sugar substitute found in over 700 products humans consume from gum to toothpaste and peanut butter is Xylitol. It is deadly for our pets and quick-acting. Faster than many other poisons with less recourse. If your pet is displaying out of the norm behaviors after they may have gotten a hold of people food call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, there may there may be a fee. REFERENCES: “Merrick® Grain Free Adult Wet Dog Food - 12.7 Oz., Gluten Free, Grain Free.” PetSmart, www.petsmart.com/dog/food/canned-food/merrick-grain-free-adult-wet-dog-food---12.7-oz.-gluten-free-grain-free-5287727.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=CjwKCAjwx_eiBhBGEiwA15gLN_C_TdsKp9WRngXZEqRxluCIdWgG7bTd7lbBCk2dTbnoRHIgofBEWhoCSfQQAvD_BwE. Happy Thanksgiving from Our 2 Cute Havanese Families to Yours
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Why vaccinate your dog at all? First of all, most of these diseases are preventable if vaccinated. Some of these things such as rabies can be transmitted from dog to human. Distemper and parvo are deadly for puppies with no immunity. Fortunately for most of us, there is now a 3-year series offered with rabies and DAP (also known as DHP or DHPP - with parainfluenza included). These vaccines used to be annual shots. Vaccines protect dogs from disastrous diseases that can be costly for veterinary intervention. One of the more unusual vaccinations available is the Western diamondback rattlesnake vaccine for those pets in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, southern California, and in our great state of Texas. Lastly, do vaccines have to be given in the month they expire? Rabies coverage is very sensitive about this down to the week the last vaccine was given in some states. So, yes to answer the question. Just mark your calendar to schedule vet trips for timely vaccinations.  IMAGE COURTESY OF PETMD References:
Editorial, PetMD. “Basic Vaccine Schedule for Dogs.” PetMD, PetMD, 25 Nov. 2020, https://www.petmd.com/dog/infographic/basic-vaccine-schedule-dogs.
surface temperature. Avoid walking on lawns because fertilizer or other yard chemicals can burn a dog’s paw pads. Protective booties are also available for your dog. A dog may not immediately show the pain of burned pads such as limping or licking the pads. Burned pads need to be examined and have running water over them. DO NOT ICE THEM BECAUSE ICE CAN MAKE THE BURN WORSE. Call your vet. DOGS AND CARS In less than 10 minutes a car can become a furnace. Even if the outdoor temperature is 78° a car’s interior temp can reach 120°. Imagine what it can be if it’s 90°! At 100° the interior can reach 170° Dogs cannot pant or sweat enough to cool themselves down. Heatstroke is a danger when a dog’s temperature reaches 105°. DOGS AND SUMMER PARASITES Ticks are one of three external summertime parasites for dogs. Some common tick-borne diseases are:
Some of these diseases can be transferred to humans by ticks. Lyme disease is one of the most serious concerns. Ticks can lay over 1000 eggs at one time. The most common ticks are the brown dog tick, deer tick, American dog tick, and the Lone Star tick. The adult lifespan is about 3 months to 3 years. Fleas and mites round out this list. Fleas can lay 20 – 40 eggs in a day for weeks, adult lifespan is about 100 days. When swallowed, fleas become tapeworms. Mites live in the fur and ears. They can cause intense itching in the ears and skin diseases like mange. Internal parasites include tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms can be contracted by humans. There are medications that can eliminate all worms in a single application. DOGS AND TOADS Toads have dry, bumpy skin and their back legs are not so long. They prefer to crawl versus hopping around and all toads are poisonous. The most likely and dangerous time to find a toad is at dawn or dusk from May to August. The places the toads enjoy are gardens, ditches, lakeshores, sandy soil, fountains, and anywhere with water including a dog’s water bowl. A toad such as Fowler’s toad (2”- 4”) soaking in a dog’s water dish can leave enough toxins behind to make the dog very sick. Usually, toads are only mildly toxic. When a dog gets a toad in its mouth small amounts of toxin are absorbed through the mucous membranes and the poison goes directly into the bloodstream. It can also cause vision issues if gotten in the eyes. The dog may paw at its mouth or eyes or both and whimper or cry. Inducing vomiting will not help because the toxin is not in the stomach. If your dog eats, chews, or licks a toad call your veterinarian. If you have to handle a toad, wash your hands. Take the toad or a picture of the toad to your veterinarian. DOGS, PLANTS, AND MUSHROOMS The top very toxic outdoor plants in Texas for dogs include aloe vera, amaryllis, azalea, begonia, caladiums, castor bean, daffodil, daisies, dumb cane, gladiola, holly, ivy, lilies, oleander, Sago palms, Texas Mountain Laurel, tomato plants, tulips, wisteria, and yew.
If your dog has any of these symptoms, call your vet:
Blood issues:
Take the plant or mushroom or a picture to show the veterinarian. DOGS AND HEATSTROKE Vomiting, confusion, dark red gums, dry or sticky gums, lethargy, tremors, seizures, excessive panting, thick pasty saliva, drooling, and fainting are signs of heatstroke. This can occur when the body temperature of a dog reaches or exceeds 105°. A dog’s natural temperature does not allow much room for getting overheated or having hyperthermia when he can no longer self-regulate his body temperature. The quickest thing to do to help your dog cool down is to get him in the shade or A/C. *NO ICE* Pour only slightly cool or tepid *NOT COLD* water over him or dip a towel in water and lay it over him briefly. Offer little sips of water. Call your vet immediately. If you have sports drinks with electrolytes ask if this would help. Dehydration and heat are problems. DOGS AND DISEASE It's easy to forget about a lot of things with your dog and summertime but do not forget that until your puppy has had his 16 week vaccination, he is susceptible to parvo. The other night we were at the animal ER and there was this beautiful Doberman puppy brought straight in to quarantine with parvo. Parvo is a deadly 10-day roller coaster ride. Central Texas is having a particularly hard time with it. Older dogs are not affected but they can carry and shed parvo. It lives for 48 hours on inanimate things. Wait out this brief period with you puppy at home. Be safe. References: Caplan, Christy. “What Happens When Your Dog Walks on Hot Pavement Is Painful and Avoidable with These Tips.” Pets, 18 June 2019, https://www.wideopenpets.com/pavement-too-hot-for-your-dog/. Burke, Anna. “Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 21 Oct. 2019, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-mushroom/. Wyoming Public Radio | By Ashley Piccone. “The Science (and Magic) of Wyoming's Fairy Rings.” Wyoming Public Media, 14 June 2021, https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/open-spaces/2021-03-12/the-science-and-magic-of-wyomings-fairy-rings. |
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