Search Results for: blog signs of pain in pets

The Subtlety of Pets and Health

We recently had a guest at the cats-only boarding facility who was very sick. We just didn’t know it. This particular cat is one who comes to stay with us every few months. She’s an older lady of fourteen, with no apparent health issues and a love of a good brushing. As compared to other guests, she’s a quiet one. She’s happy to curl up on her fleece blanket most of the day, watching the world go by. But out of nowhere, she threw up one morning. A few days after that, one of my coworkers noticed a strange smell … Continue reading →

Knee Pain

In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of my Health Blog articles are inspired by my own life. My interest in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease come from years as a caretaker for my grandmother, who suffers from both (and other health issues). My brother and I struggled with asthma and allergies throughout our elementary school and high school years. When I twisted my ankle over the summer, I became fascinated with strains, sprains, and fractures. Lately my body has offered me another topic to write on: knee pain. I get periodic knee pain — partly, I think, because I tend … Continue reading →

Recognizing Signs of Aggression

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You may not want to believe that your dog can be aggressive. It can be a hard thing to recognize — we often try to assign human motivations to animal behaviors. We try to reason with our pets: “It’s only the mailman; you don’t have to bark at him.” But our dogs don’t think like people. They think like dogs. Aggression is not a breed problem. It can exist in any dog, any breed, at any time. Signs of aggression can include: Growling Snarling Baring teeth/curling lips Mounting people or other animals Lunging Snapping Blocking your path Aggressive barking Biting … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Apr 9-15

This week guest blogger Heather Long (whose regular blogs you may have read in Marriage and Fitness) joined Aimee and myself here in the Pets Blog. We covered a lot, so without further ado, here’s what we covered on: Monday, April 9 Unfortunately, I reported the tragedy of the Jacksonville Humane Society burning to the ground after a friend back in Jacksonville emailed to tell me about it. Aimee was chalk full of helpful tips for moving with small/exotic pets. Tuesday, April 10 It’s Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month. Did you get your orange on for ASCPA day to show … Continue reading →

Signs of Pain in Pets

Our pets are generous and over the top in showing affection; they can be very subtle when it comes to showing pain! Knowing your pet well — and noticing very small changes in behavior — can be key to detecting discomfort. In general, dogs can be more vocal and more dramatic about their pains. A dog may yelp, whine, limp, or hold up a hurt paw. My parents’ dog Becca is very dramatic about her aches and pains, and will limp very obviously when she’s achy (or maybe wanting attention). Cats, on the other hand, may simply hole up and … Continue reading →

Glaucoma In Pets

Glaucoma is common in both humans and dogs. When pressure fluid inside the eyeball is too high, internal structures can be destroyed. This is glaucoma. The pressure damage is similar to high blood pressure rupturing a blood vessel in the brain, causing blood flooding that damages brain cells — otherwise known as a stroke. Glaucoma renders the affected eye blind and useless in most cases. What causes glaucoma? The fluid in the eyeball is known as aqueous humor. Drainage issues — the aqueous humor not being able to drain properly from the eye — is the most frequent cause of … Continue reading →

Salmonella Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul: it conjures images of family, warm eyes and wet noses, and heartwarming stories about our furry family members. But right now it’s the opposite of wholesome; last week Diamond Pet Foods issued a recall of certain lots of their Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul adult dog food due to a Salmonella infection. The information for the potentially affected bags is as follows, including production codes and expiration dates: * Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul 35 lb. CLF0102B31XCW 27/JAN/2013, CLF0102B32XWR 28/JAN/2013 * Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult … Continue reading →

Say It With Flowers

Yesterday my second grader selected the Valentine’s Day cards and treats she plans to gift to her classmates in about, oh, three weeks or so. Given that Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens have been selling Valentine’s Day paraphernalia since December 27th, I figured we’re far from ahead of the curve. Not far from the Scooby-Doo, Snoopy and Smurf cards were two gigantic displays of Love Day-themed scrapbook embellishments. Two gigantic displays of overpriced Love Day-themed embellishments. Personally, I don’t craft more than two Valentine’s Day-themed layouts per year, so my wallet is not screaming out in pain after coughing up the … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Safe Household Treatments

At various vet trips we’ve received advice to treat our pets with doses of Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Neosporin. That’s right: medicines we think are for people can also be for pets. There are actually a number of household items or medications we can employ if our animals are having problems. The trick is knowing exactly what medicines, and how much of them, are safe for our pets. For example: most dogs should only have one Benadryl a day. If giving the pet Zyrtec, it should only receive the normal kind – make sure it doesn’t have any decongestants or other … Continue reading →

Spring Break Sanity Savers

This weekend marks the beginning of spring break for tens of thousands of students across the country. It also marks the beginning of “Save our Sanity Week” for the tens of thousands of parents who are now tasked with the job of entertaining their children for an entire week while teachers enjoy a break from the duty. If your child is off this week and you are looking for fun activities that will keep him occupied and help preserve your sanity, consider the following: Paper Bag Puppets: This activity is cheap, easy and fun. Have all of your kids create … Continue reading →