A client asked me the other day if it was really necessary to
vaccinate his dog against the rabies virus. After all, he noted,
his little pooch only went outside for just a few short moments
each day. He told me he didn’t want his furry friend to suffer
through any more injections than absolutely necessary. Besides, he
asked, when was the last time an animal had been infected with this
virus?
A client asked me the other day if it was really necessary to vaccinate his dog against the rabies virus. After all, he noted, his little pooch only went outside for just a few short moments each day. He told me he didn’t want his furry friend to suffer through any more injections than absolutely necessary. Besides, he asked, when was the last time an animal had been infected with this virus?
Actually, rabies is a little more common that many people think. In fact, a news item from San Ramon (near Walnut Creek) two weeks ago reported a kitten with this disease that subsequently died. Many people who had been exposed to that little kitty were now being treated with injections. And that’s an expensive and sometimes painful treatment for a person.
Rabies is out there still. In California, it’s spread by infected bats and skunks. And these critters are found throughout our state. So, any outdoor pet should be considered at risk. Rabies vaccinations for these dogs and cats are a necessity.
Besides all of this, rabies immunization are mandatory for dogs as part of the government’s eradication effort. This virus was far more prevalent in the 1930s through the mid ’50s. And yes, it’s much less of a problem now, thanks in part to this aggressive vaccination program. But the danger is still there. So vaccinate your dogs and outdoor cats for this disease. It really makes no sense not to do so.
And once again it’s time to remind everyone of the inherent danger of Christmas trees to pets. While it might seem obvious to most pet owners, some fail to realize that mistletoe, poinsettias, and even Christmas tree needles are unhealthy if eaten. All of these can cause severe gastroenteritis, and it doesn’t take much to do this. So, be sure you keep your pet away from the holiday greenery, and you’ll avoid a potentially expensive veterinary visit.
In addition, remember that the water in the tree stand can also make your dog or cat very ill. Some pets really like to drink from the stand. One year, our kitty-cat Rumpy drank just a small amount of this water. His upset stomach kept both him and me awake most of that night.
Now every year, we wrap a sheet tightly around the base of the tree to keep the cats away. I’m not sure what attracts them to this water, but I do know this: They’ll drink it if we don’t stop them.
Wrapping paper and ribbon can also end up in some pet’s stomachs, and every year some pet owners find themselves in the emergency vet clinic with their cat or dog. Just remember to be careful. Remove any temptation from the floor before your furry friend gets into trouble. Clean up those wrappings right after you open your gifts.
And finally, keep the “people food” – especially the chocolates – away from your pet. They can be deadly! Have plenty of pet treats handy so that your favorite animal companion can snack safely with you.
Q: I recently heard grapes, raisins, onions and garlic are poisonous to dogs. Is this is some kind of weird, Internet folklore? Even though I don’t give my dog “people food,” I find it very hard to believe that any common food considered healthy for human beings would be so potentially harmful to our pets.
 A: Actually, there is some truth to these claims. But it’s not necessarily quite as bad as it sounds. That’s because it takes more than just a little of these substances to cause problems. Let’s talk about each of these foods.
Onions and garlic belong to the same plant family and share some of the same characteristics. In small quantities (i.e. as seasonings), they are absolutely harmless to animals. But if ingested in larger amounts, they can cause hemolytic anemia, a potentially fatal disease where red blood cells are destroyed. I’ve never seen a case of onion or garlic toxicity in small animals. And I’ve seen quite a few dogs fed a lot of garlicky food.
But I once helped treat a herd of cattle where several had died of this syndrome. These cows were being fed the culls from garlic and onion fields. Several had died before the cattle rancher called us in to examine the situation. Once he quit feeding these leftovers to his cows, the problem disappeared.
I’ve seen some reports that smaller dogs can develop hemolytic anemia if fed whole raw or cooked onions. Cats are also susceptible to this health hazard, but felines are such finicky eaters that it’s unlikely any of them would ingest enough to become ill. Come to think of it, how many dogs would eat a whole onion? Nonetheless, keep onions and garlic away from your pets, just to be safe.
Grapes and raisins also may not be as safe as you think. Truth is, for some dogs they can be downright dangerous. I first reported this in October 2003 when we first heard about the potential dangers of grapes. A local dog had eaten a large amount of grapes from a backyard vineyard and was exhibiting signs of end-stage renal (kidney) failure. At the time, grape-induced renal disease was just being recognized as a problem in dogs. There were no published reports in the veterinary medical literature. There was little information available.
More data has since been compiled, and as it turns out, grapes and raisins are indeed potentially dangerous. Interestingly enough, not all dogs are affected by them. In fact, there are quite a few trainers that have used raisins as bait for teaching tricks and have never seen any problems (few use this fruit anymore since news of the danger became more widespread). And it seems that it takes a large amount to cause a reaction.
But in those canines that fall ill after ingesting this fruit, the renal disease is severe and often fatal. No one knows exactly why this occurs. But it’s clear that it’s risky to give grapes or raisins to dogs.
The end of the year gives us a moment to reflect. There is a lot for which we all should be grateful. Peg and I feel fortunate. We’re happy to have so many friends here in San Martin and throughout south Santa Clara County. You know, this region truly is a little piece of paradise.
Pets are an important part of our lives. Our furry and feathered friends give us so much happiness and love. They help us deal with hectic stress, they make us laugh and they can make us cry. With pets, we are healthier.
Thanks to all of you for your stories and experiences. They’ve given me so much material for this column that my “job” is easy. It is you and your pets who have made this column so interesting.
