Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Cats and Other Holiday Quandries

The Holidays are fast approaching and many folks have already begun celebrating.  This can be a stressful and sometimes dangerous time for your pets.   Suddenly our homes are filled with strange new objects and visitors.  There are many new sights and smells that a curious pet can get into trouble with.  When making your holiday plans, be sure to keep your pet in mind.

• Yuletide plants such as Holly and Poinsettias, while not toxic, can still occasionally cause mild G.I. upset if ingested.  The best rule of thumb is to try to keep them out of reach to curious nibblers.
• Having guests over for parties or relatives over to stay can be stressful.  Make sure that your pet has a place to retreat if frightened.  Also keeping pets in a kennel or small room away from the activity can prevent accidents like escaping from a frequently opened door.
• Cats sometimes can't resist chewing on cords which can lead to possible electrocution.  Make sure to keep cords covered and/or out or reach.
• The Holidays are a time to indulge in all sorts of yummy treats but make sure they are out of your pet's reach.  Every December Veterinary clinics have an increase in pets that come in for things like chocolate ingestion and pancreatitis.  Don't let your pet be one of them! 
• When wrapping gifts make sure your kitty cannot get into the ribbons!  Due to the barbs in a cat's tongue they cannot help but to swallow string when they chew on it which can cause serious bowel obstructions. 
  

The Staff at Kutter Pet Care wish you a safe and Happy Holidays!

-Amanda Ward, R.V.T.

Kutter Pet Care Center 

Can pets get fleas in the winter?

It is a common misconception that pets cannot get fleas in the winter time and therefore, many pet owners are taking their pets off of their monthly flea preventatives.  Here in the Midwest, it is especially important to keep you pet on year-round parasite prevention.

• Treating fleas only in the Summer makes it difficult to prevent initial infestations.  Once fleas are noted, they have already produced thousands of eggs in your home.  These eggs will hatch out in the months to come and your pet will need a preventative to kill these new fleas.
• Due to changing climatic conditions, flea and tick "season" also is changing.   Milder winters means thriving flea and tick populations.  
• Fleas can live inside homes no matter how cold it is outside! 
• Many of our staff and clients reported seeing ticks and mosquitoes in January of last year!!!  

Be sure to purchase a your flea preventatives from your veterinarian.  They will be able to recommend the right product for your pet and unlike stores, they will have manufacturer guarantees. 

-Amanda Ward, R.V.T.

Kutter Pet Care Center 

What are those white worms in my pet's poop?

                                                                                                                                                                      

WHAT ARE THOSE WHITE WORMS IN

MY PET'S POOP??????????

  

They’re creepy, they’re gross, and they are coming from your beloved pet!  If you see worms in your pet’s stool, or around his bottom it could be:

TAPEWORMS:  The most common sighting.  They look like either dried pieces of rice stuck to the fur around the anus or small (less than 1 inch) worms that change shape (either rounded or elongated).  These are actually segments of the tapeworm called proglottids that break off and get passed in the stool.  The causes of tapeworms are either from flea infestation or by ingestion of infected rodents.  They are diagnosed by observation and treatment is by prescription.  To prevent re-infestation, keep your pet on a veterinary flea preventative.

Tapeworm proglottids

MAGGOTS:  If you are seeing small white worms only on the stool outside during the summer, they are most likely maggots.  Flies lay their eggs on the feces and they hatch out into maggots within a day’s time.  While tapeworms are smooth and solid in color, you can see black ends and segmented bodies in maggots. Your pet does not require treatment but it might be helpful to make sure stool is picked up daily in the summer. 

ROUNDWORMS:  If you see long, spaghetti-like worms in your pet’s feces, they could be roundworms.  These are diagnosed by observation or by a microscopic fecal test.  Treatment is available by prescription.  To prevent re-infestation keep your pet on a year-round heartworm preventative that includes intestinal parasite control. 

Roundworms

It’s never pleasant to describe or discuss finding these parasites but it’s important to get your pet checked by its Veterinarian.  While intestinal parasites are easy to treat, they can cause serious health problems if left unchecked. 

 -Amanda Ward, R.V.T.

Kutter Pet Care Center

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Sick

Cats by instinct hide their illnesses so even subtle changes in their behavior can be cause for alarm.   So how do you know if your cat is sick?  In addition to the obvious such as vomiting, sneezing, and diarrhea, watch closely for any of these signs:

1.      Not using the litter box:  Whether it’s urine or feces, a cat that stops using its litter box could be suffering from physical or psychological discomfort. 

2.       Your cat just isn’t acting like itself:  Even slight changes in the way your cat interacts with you or other pets can signal pain or distress. 

3.       Changes in activity levels: Decreases and increases alike can both be signs of illness

4.       Changes in eating habits:  This could mean eating more or eating less than usual.  Please note- if your cat hasn't eaten in 2 days bring them to your veterinarian ASAP!  Cats can develop a life threatening condition from just a few days of starvation.

5.       Unexplained weight loss or gain:  Does your cat feel lighter/heavier or do bones protrude more noticeably?

6.       Excessive grooming or lack of grooming:  Has your cat been licking obsessively or to the point of hair loss?  Is the coat matted or appear unkempt?

7.       Increased or changed vocalization:  Has she started meowing at night or does her meow sound different or more frequent than it used to?

8.       Bad breath:  Stinky kitty breath is not normal.  It could mean painful periodontal disease as well at many other conditions

9.       Hiding or sleeping in unusual places:  Has he began disappearing for long stretches of time or do you find him sleeping in a closet that he never used to sleep in?  Cats that don’t feel well will do this in an effort to hide it.

10.   She’s just getting older:  Old age isn’t a disease!  Many symptoms that owners chalk up to old age can, when caught early, be treatable which can help your pet’s quality of life. 

Many times cats are sick for several days before their caregiver notices.  Paying attention to your cat’s routine and personality can help you catch an illness early and potentially save its life!   

-Amanda Ward, R.V.T.
Kutter Pet Care Center 

What to do if your dog gets skunked

It's that time of year again when skunks are making their rounds.  Did you know that in addition to being smelly, skunks can pose a danger to your pets?  Skunks are notorious carriers of the deadly Rabies virus and have been known to habituate urban areas so it is extremely important that your pet is up to date on it's Rabies vaccination. 





So what do you do if you dog is sprayed by a skunk?  The best idea is to keep a bottle of Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover on hand.  This is a product that we carry that you apply to your pet and let dry without bathing.  If you do not have a bottle on hand, you can easily mix up a batch of skunk odor remover with common household items.  Here is the recipe:

Skunk Odor Removal Formula 

- 1 quart fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide

- 1/4 cup baking soda

- 1-2 tsp. of liquid dish soap 

For large dogs, add one quart of tepid water to ensure coverage. 

Mix the above ingredients together.  Bathe animal outdoors if possible.  Apply the formula to the pet working deeply into the fur and allow it to set for five minutes.  Be careful not to get into pet's eyes.  Rinse well and repeat if necessary.   

Hints

-The mixture must be used promptly and will not work if stored for any length of time.

-Do not store in a closed container

-The pet's fur, as well as clothing, towels, and carpeting may be bleached by the formula.

-For maximum effectiveness, do not bathe pet with any other soap beforehand.

-Amanda Ward, R.V.T.

Kutter Pet Care Center