The Unexplained Death of a Veterinarian’s Dog: His quest for answers reveals why your Dog may be ill or at RISK of dying young.

Do you know what the fastest growing cause of death in dogs is?

- Accidents
- Heart Disease
- Parvovirus
…or?
It may surprise you, but the fastest growing cause of death in dogs isn’t accidents… it isn’t Heart Disease… and it isn’t Parvovirus.

It’s diseases caused by the Poor Quality Food that your dog eats… namely, Cancer.

Yes, it’s sad, shocking, and true. This year more dogs will die of Cancer - caused largely by poor nutrition - than any other disease.

Pet Health Webinar featuring Dr. Andrew Jones DVM

Pets 911 is excited to be hosting an upcoming webinar about pet health featuring Dr. Andrew Jones.  Dr. Jones was raised on a farm in rural British Columbia, Canada. He grew up reading James Herriot books, which were stories about the life of a mixed animal veterinarian in rural England. These humorous stories inspired the young Dr. Jones and painted a picture of a dedicated vet and a fulfilling life.

In the fourteen years since graduating with his DVM from the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Jones has been practicing as a small animal veterinarian and has treated thousands of animals. He has a special interest in a variety of alternative, non-traditional remedies for pets and has written numerous pet-health articles. He is the owner and one of the practicing vets at the Nelson Animal Hospital, in Nelson BC.

Dr. Jones’ pets, Lewis and Cleo, are a part of his family. This philosophy of animals being members of the family is applied to his practice as well; his client’s pets are a part of their family and they deserve the best care possible.

We think you will find Dr. Jones Webinar to be very revealing and informative. Go here now to sign up, seating is limited.

I am always very interested in hearing about products that are potentially hazardous to the health my dog — after-all he is my baby! So when I came across the following information about spot-on pesticide products, I wanted to share the information with others who love their pets too! I also wonder if there are alternatives for flea/tick control that are not potentially harmful.

The EPA has reported that they are intensifying their evaluation of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control due to recent increases in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets treated with these products. Adverse reactions that have been reported range from mild effects such as skin irritation to more serious effects such as seizures and, in some cases, death of the pet.

According to the EPA, the majority of reports are related to flea and tick treatments with EPA-registered spot-on products. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/prodname-reg.pdf Spot-on products are generally sold in tubes or vials and are applied to one or more localized areas such as down the spine or in specific spots. The EPA does note that many people use the products with no harm to their pets, but they are recommending the following precautions be taken when using these products:

• Follow label directions and monitor pets for any signs of an adverse reaction after application.
• Consult your veterinarian before using these products on weak, aged, pregnant or nursing pets, or on pets with a history of sensitivity to pesticide products.

At this point, the EPA is NOT issuing a recall or suggesting that the products not be used. They just want to advise pet owners to exercise caution and monitor their pet for adverse reactions.

To read the full report: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/flea-tick-control.html

Teaser: Summertime and the living is easy, but that’s not always the case for pets! Here are some tips to help keep your pet safe and happy this summer.

The summer months are particularly hostile for our furry friends in Phoenix, AZ. Having coats designed to protect them from the thick of winter and chilly nights. The desert may get chilly in the cold months, but it’s not so good for them during the scorching heat of summer. I can only imagine how it might affect them in muggier climes.

Not everyone lives in the middle of a desert, but taking care of ourselves during the summer heat is as important as checking up on our pets. Consider making sure there are more shady areas for your pet to reside in. Add an extra water dish, especially in another shady area. Be sure to check the water daily. In Arizona, dehydration is a major ailment striking humans; so it’s going to be an equally likely problem for furry pets.

The article also goes on about how pools, while extremely temping to hot pets, can be dangerous for them; and it also goes on about car safety. So it’s worth checking out.

Link, via the HSUS.

If you recently added a kitten to your family, learn what behavior you can expect from month to month with our kitten behavior basics tip sheet.

The rescue cat who is a recent member of my household is just under a year old, and he was picked up from a nearby apartment complex by volunteers from a nearby shelter. That same shelter would probably not have been able to take him due to space issues. It does look like we’re keeping him. So I’m happy.

We’ve missed out on a lot of his early socialization. So it’s not unexpected that he’s a little bit rough when play wrestling. His bite pressure is a bit too high, although he does seem to understand the fact that if he bites too hard or is too rough: play ends instantly. This isn’t totally unexpected for growing kitten behavior and socialization (he’s less a kitten now and more of a juvenile.)

He’s extremely attentive, always wants to play, and very talkative. Fortunately for us, he’s extremely well socialized, calm, and almost Zen like in his tolerance of being handled. (Flip this cat upside-down and he’ll hang out like a limp spaghetti noodle for minutes on end.) He’s been a good experience.

If people have just gotten themselves a newly minted kitten, checking out the PETS 911 Cat Training section and this HSUS article as supplement could help them set founding expectations for their new family member.

Link, via the HSUS.

Do you have a pure breed or mixed American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, Schnauzer or Great Dane with un-cropped ears?

If so, get your camera out and start taking pictures!

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring the “Natural Dog-Eared Photo Contest” to promote the natural beauty and functionality of dogs with un-cropped ears. Ear cropping is typically a surgical procedure that is performed on dogs solely for cosmetic purposes. It has no medical benefit to the dog and actually causes pain and distress and may result in medical and behavioral problems.

Prizes will be awarded for the three best photos that showcase the dog’s natural ears.

Contest Rules:

1. Photos can be of purebreds or mixes, as long as the primary breed (based on appearance) is among those which qualify.
2. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to the photos that best illustrate the dogs’ natural ears.
3. Winners will receive gift certificates ($100, $50 and $25) to HSUS’ Humane Domain, which carries a variety of dog toys, leashes, bed, apparel and other canine items.
4. Photos must be submitted, via email by April 15, to info@hsvma.org.
5. Complete rules and a list of eligible breeds can be found on the HSVMA website at www.hsvma.org.

Photos can be emailed to info@hsvma.org

Hurry – the Deadline is April 15, 2009!