Carefully Consider Giving Pets as Gifts

This is the time of year that finds many of us scurrying around
looking for the perfect present for
 someone special. A few of us wish we could somehow avoid this
task because it’s difficult to find a gift that he or she will
really like. Every year, it seems to get tougher.
This is the time of year that finds many of us scurrying around looking for the perfect present for someone special. A few of us wish we could somehow avoid this task because it’s difficult to find a gift that he or she will really like. Every year, it seems to get tougher.

Some folks have it easy. They know exactly what to get for that perfect holiday gift. My friend is sure his wife will really like the new stainless steel wrenches he bought for her the other day. And she’s sure to please him by giving him a new set of towels for the bath. Needless to say, they have a rather unusual relationship.

It would be nice to know exactly what gift would make my wife happy. For me, hunting for Peg’s gift is a real challenge. But I know well enough not to shop at the hardware store.

Holidays can be equally tough for pets for several reasons. Yes, pets can “read” our emotions and yes, they sometimes do feel our stress. Our anxieties can make them also feel unsettled.

It’s important to remember to take a little extra time relaxing with our favorite furry friends. We’ll all benefit. Companion pets help people unwind and stay healthy. Studies show that pets not only make us feel better, but they also help to reduce blood pressure. And they love to have some special quiet time with their special human friend.

December is a time of giving. But when it comes to pets, be very careful what you give. Some “goodies” are not just unhealthy; they can be downright dangerous. For example, the food we eat – particularly rich food served around the holidays – is not safe for pets to eat.

In general, “people food” can cause serious illness – anything from gastroenteritis to pancreatitis. Each of these conditions can be dangerous and lead to extended, expensive visits at the vet hospital. Don’t feed table food to any of your critters. Get some treats made just for them at the pet store.

Another more serious pet problem during the holidays relates to gift-giving. Each and every year, thousands of people give a puppy, kitten or some other pet as a gift. And each and every January, after the holidays are over, many of these animals show up abandoned at shelters across the country. They’re no longer wanted by their new families. They just “didn’t work out.”

Let’s face it: Pets make lousy gifts. Anyone who might want a new pet – whether a kitten, puppy or fish – needs to make the choice for himself or herself. Picking a companion animal is a very personal decision. How can someone else even come close to knowing what choice to make? Wrong choices sadly end up as abandoned animals all too often.

So, if you have ideas of choosing a pet for a friend or family member, consider this better alternative: Give him or her a certificate to pick a new pet after the holidays. A gift certificate will give your friend some time to pick just the right companion that will spend its entire life with a new family. And in January, that pet won’t end up with so many other unwanted pets at a shelter.

During this holiday time, give your pets an extra hug. Happy shopping!

Q: Our boxer dog, Garfield, has a lump in his mouth that the vet says is a benign tumor. He called it an epulis. What is this? Should we worry?

A: Epulis is a benign hyperplasia of the gum tissue. We aren’t entirely sure why it occurs, but it appears to affect certain breeds more than others, and boxers are high on the list.

Unfortunately, surgical removal is the only effective treatment for this condition, but it’s usually simple and effective. Unfortunately, these growths often reappear later on, making this a persistent problem.

It’s possible that hygiene plays a role in the development of this condition. Talk to your vet about what you can do to help prevent the recurrence of epulis after the lump is removed.

Q: Our 6-year-old dog, Fergie, has developed a dark haze over the surface of her left eye. She seems comfortable enough, so that we don’t think it bothers her at all. Should we be worried about this? Can you tell what it is?

A: It sounds like a visit to the vet would be a good idea for Fergie. Chances are, this opacity on Fergie’s eye is benign, probably a condition called Pannus. Pannus is a pigment problem on the cornea (the outer surface of the eye). We really don’t why it occurs, but left untreated, it could continue to expand on the corneal surface and cause permanent changes that would affect her vision. Pannus is usually very treatable with medications that slow the progress of the pigment over the cornea.

Still, I really think Fergie needs a professional evaluation of the eye to rule out any other, less-likely problems. As the saying goes, we only have two eyes with which we see. It’s always a good idea to take care of them.

Q: What’s the average size for a litter of puppies? What’s the largest litter you have ever seen? I have a rat terrier. She’s pregnant and she is just huge. I almost wonder if she will be able to withstand the pregnancy the way she has gotten so large.

A: Dogs are multiparous. That means that a bitch (the female dog) usually will have a litter of at least two pups. An average litter for a terrier is usually three to five puppies. 

But every once in a while, things don’t always turn out the way they were intended. Over the years, I have assisted in whelping with many dogs who have had only 1 puppy. 

The largest litter? That would have to go to an Irish setter that delivered 16 puppies in the middle of the night. She was absolutely exhausted through much of the delivery. We delivered her last puppy by Caesarian section almost 30 hours after she started labor. All the pups survived – a big surprise to us all because often there are serious problems with litters that large. I hope your pooch has an easy time of it.