With the Pet Food Scare, Don’t Neglect Other Dangers

Here we are, a week since the recall of pet food by Menu Foods
Inc. They’re the principal supplier to many different pet food
companies across the country.
Here we are, a week since the recall of pet food by Menu Foods Inc. They’re the principal supplier to many different pet food companies across the country. And the news that some of their product contained toxic contamination has shocked our country. As of last week, officially 15 cats and dogs had died of renal failure, allegedly after eating some of this food. But unofficial reports indicate the numbers may get much higher. And the jury is still out whether or not the rodenticide aminopterin is the only culprit here. There may be more to this story. Stay tuned.

So how does something like this happen? The answers are hard to find and we may not know the real answers for many weeks. But we have learned a huge lesson.

Nothing can be taken for granted any more. Not too long ago, most of the spinach harvest from the Salinas Valley was halted, also because of a contamination problem. That recall and the current pet food debacle have shattered our sense of safety and well-being. We’ve always presumed our food supply to be safe. Yet in past months, several unfortunate events have destroyed that trust. There is talk already of tighter regulations for the pet food industry. As a result, food prices might rise higher.

For the moment, consumers can only watch the news as the investigation into this pet food contamination unfolds.

In the meantime, it’s time to talk about the warm spring and summer months. They’re here already, along with some typical hazards this time of year. Remember these?

First, there’s the foxtail. This weed can cause expensive and even deadly problems. So it’s time to start foxtail eradication in your yard. That’s right. If you don’t eliminate these pesky weeds completely, you might find your dog or cat at the vet clinic later this summer with a costly and scary health problem. Foxtails easily get into the fur, the ears, the nose and even under the eyelids of pets. They carry lots of bacteria and can do monstrous amounts of damage wherever they migrate in the body.

I’ve seen foxtails penetrate into the bladder, and even in the spinal column of different dogs. And just last week, we removed one from the abdominal cavity of a very sick kitty-cat. No doubt about it. If you have a pet, you’ve got to get rid of all the foxtails in your yard.  

Warm weather also means the chance for heat-related health issues. Already this month, we’ve seen an older dog with heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body loses its ability to thermoregulate. Heat problems are more common in older animals, but they also occur in younger pets.  

There are several precautions pet owners should take. First, make sure there’s a shady area for your companion to get out of the heat. Water spray misters really help to keep everyone more comfortable. They’re inexpensive and most dogs love to feel that cool mist on a hot day. A large fan to move air also helps keep things more comfortable.

Second, keep lots of cold water available at all times. And make sure your pet has a clean, well-groomed coat. Hair mats are a sign of an unhealthy animal. If your pet has matted fur, he or she can’t regulate body temperature normally. Give your pet the gift of regular grooming and a summer clip and life will be much cooler this summer.

Q: We recently got two rabbits and have a nice hutch for them. But I remember hearing last year that some neighbors lost their rabbits in the heat. What can we do to prevent this from happening to our rabbits if it gets so hot this summer?

A: Of all our pets, rabbits are perhaps the most susceptible to the effects of heat. They really have a difficult time keeping cool in hot weather. But caring for them really isn’t all that difficult and here are two different ways to prevent your bunnies from suffering in the heat.

Keep your rabbits in an area where water misters release a cool spray with a fan blowing through the area. This technique is used at many fairs and other rabbit shows. Spray misters are available at most hardware stores.

And here’s another idea. You can freeze water-filled plastic bottles and put these in the cage with the bunnies during the day. Two liter soda bottles work great here. They slowly thaw during the day as they keep a rabbit cool. This, along with a fan moving air through the area will keep most bunnies comfortable in the warm days of summer.

Q: I’m curious. Do dogs ever get swimmer’s ear? Our labradoodle, Butch, loves to jump into our pool and I don’t know if we should be worried about potential ear infections.

A: As a rule, most dogs don’t seem to have any ear problems after swimming. Their immunity protects them from infection setting up in their ear canals. So you might not have to worry about Butch.

But just in case he does have trouble, here are several symptoms to watch for. You may see a large amount of waxy buildup around the opening to the ear canal. Some dogs will scratch their ears, and maybe even hold one ear down a little showing discomfort. And many will have a bad odor emanating from the opening of the canal. If you see, or smell, any of these symptoms, you should take Butch to the vet’s office for a checkup.

If he has an infection, the veterinarian will try to determine whether the problem is related to bacteria or yeast. With this knowledge, Butch’s vet can dispense the proper medication to make life a lot more comfortable.

And yes, there are medications that can be given to help prevent future recurrences so that Butch will still be able to enjoy his water sports, even if his ears need special attention.

Q: I heard that some exotic pet birds can live longer than their owner. Is this really true? How long can they live?

A: It’s absolutely true. Many of the exotic avian pets live a very long life. Take, for example, the macaw. These birds live around 50 years. Cockatoos outdo that with an average lifespan of up to 70 years. And the double yellow head amazon parrot? This bird often lives more than 80 years!

These numbers make it clear that anyone who has one of these birds needs to consider who will care for their pet if it outlives them. Many bird owners wisely make provisions in their will for these circumstances.