A $5,500 Cat?

My wife & I love pets, both dogs and cats, and yet they can be very expensive at times. We once had a German Shepard who ate about 1/2 a cup of raw flour which became dough in his gut and blocked all passage of food/water. An emergency vet massaged the gut to release the dough ball. Another dog, very old, was taken to an animal hospital when ill. Because we did not say, "do not resuscitate", they charged us $1000 to revive her when she died (and then she died again while still at the hospital).

At the Consumerist there's a story of How My Stupid Cat Has Cost Me $5,500 Over Three Years.

Hooligan (the cat) medical-related expenses: August 2009 - Current

• First-year vet checkup and vaccination rounds: $200
• Ear mites: $50 for meds
• Intestinal worms: $50 for meds
• Vet visit to figure out why his hair was falling out in nasty clumps: $200
• Ringworm: $50 for meds
• Anti-fungal medication for my boyfriend, who got ringworm from the cat: $10
• Neutered: $250
• Emergency vet visit because my roommate thought he had eaten a couple of her Adderall pills (yes, true story, and no, he had not): $200
• Urinary blockage 1: $500 for catheterizing
• Urinary blockage 2: $500 for catheterizing
• Urinary blockage 3: $1500 for overnight stay and catheterizing
• Fancy dancy C/D or S/O prescription-only cat food to prevent future urinary blockages: $40/month x 16 months (and counting!) = $640 (and counting!)
• Vet visit because he was pooping blood: $200 for x-rays and TWO enemas
• Vet visit because he was pooping blood again:$150 to diagnose the problem as "stress"
• Pills for "stress": $50

Oh Where, oh Where Can He Be?

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?

Oh where, oh where can he be?

With his ears cut short, and his tail cut long,

Oh where, oh where is he?

- Septimus Winner

Here's a clever use of technology, Snaptracs is selling the Tagg Pet Tracker which uses GPS to locate your pet. Now this alone is nothing new. I understand there are GPS tags you can attach to children to find them if they wander. What I find clever is that the Tagg monitors your pet's location and sends you email or a text message if your pet wanders outside a geographic area that you've specified. Optional you can also have an email or text message sent to your next door neighbor who might be able to retrieve your pet while you're at work.

This service comes at a price: $200 for the pet-tracking Tagg and one year of wireless service for the Tagg to send its position back to Snaptracs. $140 for each additional pet & Tagg. $60 per year renewal fee. The cost includes a recharging station, which you'll need, since the battery in the Tagg only lasts about 30 days.

According to the Motely Fool, the CEO admits the Tagg is not yet perfected (e.g battery life is too short) but the public response was so great that they went to market early. I hope, as they improve the Tagg, it will become smaller (it's not recommended for pets under 10 lbs given the size of the device that is attached to a pets collar), and that the battery will last longer.

Keep in mind that you're paying for the tracking service. If the company goes out of business, the GPS chip is worthless to you. And the device won't help if the wireless connection fails - e.g. pet is inside a building that blocks reception, the pet is out of range of a cell tower, there's a power outage, or the device becomes broken. And I wish I knew how frequently the Tagg reports its position; I did not find that mentioned on the corporate website. I also don't know if there's a warning or indicator when the battery charge is low. If you forget to recharge (or recharge too late) then the device is useless.

Bottom Line

My wife's family had two beagles when she was a child in Los Angeles. They were escape artists - one climbed a chain link fence with a broken leg! Once both got loose together and did not come back. Lost posters were placed around and someone called - I have found two beagles but I'm 20 miles away from your home, could these possibly be yours? They were! The beagles had wandered 20 miles away so driving around the neighborhood calling out their names was not going to bring them back.

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, hundreds of thousands of pets go missing every year, yet only 15 to 20% of lost dogs and only about 2% of lost cats are ever returned to their owners. If you have a pet that wanders (or might wander) consider implanting a micro-chip with recovery information. Most use RFID technology (like security tags on clothes at stores) with no battery required. The sole problem with micro-chips is that there are many competing standards so the shelter that takes in your pet might not have the right scanner to read it.

What's that smell?

"Zee stripe! It is gone! She is not a skunk at all!"
- Pepe Le Pew

We sometimes refer to our cats as skunks in reverse. They have black bodies with white bellies instead of a white strip on the back. But recently one of our inverted skunks met the real thing. Taz came in with massive quantities of drool coming from his mouth. My first thought was rabies but then the smell hit me - skunk! He was been hit in the face and was pitiful sight. Fortunately my wife knew what to do.

1. We quickly removed our outer clothes so as not to ruin them.
2. She had me remove rugs and towels from the bathroom while she grabbed the cat.
3. Then she and the cat were locked in the bathroom for a bath.
4. We could not find tomato juice or V8. This has worked well for us though some websites claim it does not work.
5. So my wife suggested Listerine which did remove the smell.
6. Skunks aim for the face and cleaning the face is not easy. We poured cups of water over the eyes to flush them clean. The force of warm water directly out of the faucet was too strong.
7. We dried the cat with a very old towel.
8. And gave him a brushing once he had settled down.

We offered the cat water to rinse his mouth but he was not interested. Fortunately the drooling stopped shortly after the bath. Be sure to wipe up the drool since this contains a bit of the skunk oil and will spread on feet, shoes, etc.

First Aid
If the cat if bitten or scratched, get them to a vet. Skunks may carry rabies. Also call the vet if your cat's eye are red or watering.

Bottom Line

Many sites now recommend a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to breakup the skunk smell.

* 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (unopened)

* ¼ cup baking soda
* 1 teaspoon of strong liquid soap such as dish washing detergent.

Mix the ingredients in an open bucket or bowl. The mixture should fizz if the hydrogen peroxide is fresh. Be sure to keep the mixture out of the pet's eyes, nose and mouth. If it is necessary to apply it to the face, very carefully use a washcloth or a sponge. After applying the mixture, rinse thoroughly.

*Warning*
This mixture creates pressure as it fizzes - never store in a closed container, do not cover the container in any way. Always discard unused solution. Do not get the mixture into the pet's eyes, nose or mouth.

Web Resources
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/qt/SkunkFirstAid.htm

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/skunk.htm

Pet Go-Kits

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. 
~Robert Brault

When forced to evacuate your home what will you do with your pets? Most people will want to bring the pets with them which causes two problems:

1. Most emergency shelters will not allow pets. So where will you stay?
2. Do you have emergency supplies for your pets?

Problem 2 is easy to solve - make a go-kit for your animals. Here are some ideas from the ASPCA:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book
• 3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every two months)
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra harness and leash (Note: if you do find a pet friendly shelter, harnesses will be required.)
• Photocopies of medical records including recent rabies shot and distemper. (very important for pet shelters - they want to know your pet is safe. Otherwise it will be quarantined with other "sick" animals)
• Waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
• Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
• Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
• Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

Bottom Line

Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.

Cat Scratches

“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”
- Mark Twain quotes

We have two cats at home which my wife and I adore, even though she is allergic to them. However one thing I do not adore is being scratched by the cats. They don't do it intentionally, we're just playing and I get too close or don't move fast enough and *slash*. The claws are as sharp as scalpels and the slightest contact can leave a deep cut. But unlike scalpels, cat claws are far from sterile and clean; just think about all the digging they do in cat litter.

Yesterday I received the shallowest of cuts just before work. I pressed it and let it bleed a little and figured that was enough. I was wrong. By evening the cut was red and swollen and filled with puss. It may leave a scar. I should have followed my usual routine which is to wash the cut with soap and water, dry it, and then pour hydrogen-peroxide on it. Make sure the hydrogen-peroxide is still active and foams when applied to the cut. A band-aid is optional.

When I follow the steps above, I don't scar.

Sometimes a cat scratch can cause Cat Scratch Fever a few weeks after the scratch. The primary symptom is swollen Lymph nodes. Other symptoms can include headache, backache, chills, and stomach pain or loss of appetite. Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious and medical treatment is not usually needed. In severe cases, treatment with antibiotics such as azithromycin can be helpful.

Bottom Line

Cat claws are a natural reservoir of disease. Treat cat scratches seriously and always clean them immediately.

See also http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm

Not fit for a dog!

“Every dog has his day - but the nights are reserved for cats”

Dogs may think they are part of your human pack but there are many foods that people enjoy that are poisonous to dogs.

* Alcohol
* Avocados
* Chocolate
* Coffee grounds
* Grapes and raisins
* Gum or candy with xylitol
* Human vitamin supplements
* Macadamia nuts
* Mushrooms
* Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, powder)
* Salt
* Tea
* Tobacco
* Yeast dough

I once had a dog who loved anything made of bread. One night after breading some chicken I offered the dog the remaining flour which he lapped up. BIG MISTAKE. The next day he started bloating and we took him to an emergency vet. The flour had turned to a thick dough and formed a plug in his intestine. The vet had to operate to remove the blockage.

Bottom Line

If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888-426-4435; a consultation fee may apply).

Questions for your Vet

Me and you and a dog named Boo,
Travellin' and livin' off the land.
Me and you and a dog named Boo,
How I love bein' a free man.
- lyrics by Lobo
(I thought it was a dog named Blue, but Boo is correct!)

The FDA has put together a list of questions to ask your vet when medication is prescribed for your pet.

1. Why has my pet been prescribed this medication?

2. How many days do I need to give it? Should I give all of the medication, even if my pet is back to normal?
Some medications, like antibiotics, should be given for a set length of time, even if your pet is feeling better, to prevent creating “superbugs” that are antibiotic resistant.

3. How do I give the medication to my pet? Should it be given with food?
Some medications are best to give on an empty stomach, others have fewer side effects when taken with food.

4. How many times a day and how much should I give each time?

5. If it is a liquid, should I shake it first?

6. How do I store the medication? A cool, dry place or refrigeration?

7. What should I do if my pet vomits or spits out the medication?

8. If I forget to give the medication, should I give it as soon as I remember or wait until the next scheduled dose?

9. What if I accidentally give too much?
You’ll want to know if giving too much will cause serious side effects and require a trip to the animal emergency room.

10. Could this medication interact with other medications my pet is taking?

11. What reactions should I watch for, and what should I do if I see any side effects?

12. When should I bring my pet back for a recheck? Will you call me to check on my pet’s progress, or should I call you?

Bottom Line

It's vital to know the answers to the questions above. And not just for pets! Ask these same questions of your regular doctor the next time you or your children are prescribed medication. (But substitute "child" for "pet" in the questions or you'll get an odd look from your doctor.)

The Greenhouse Effect in Cars

"Every dog has his day - but the nights are reserved for the cats" - unknown

Have you ever visited a green house and been amazed at how warm it was inside? Light waves, in particular short-wave infrared, penetrate the glass, get absorbed by objects inside and radiated back as heat (long-wave infrared). The heat waves can not penetrate the glass, so the temperature goes up inside.

Have you ever considered that your car is also a greenhouse? Each year about 40 children in the US die inside hot cars. Hundreds of dogs are literally cooked to death.

The typical excuse of parents is, “I only ran in for a second, I wasn't going to be long.” On a 78 degree day, a car parked in the shade can quickly exceed 90 degrees. A car parked in the sun can hit a scorching 160 degrees. It only about 10-15 minutes, for a child or pet left inside a hot car to suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke or death.

Rolling down a window doesn't guarantee protection since temperatures can still climb into the danger zone. And if the window is rolled down sufficiently, your pet may escape from the car. If your window is open and a passer-by claims he or she was bitten through the car window, you will be liable for a lawsuit. [Paw-rescue.org]

Some people leave the car running with the A/C blowing to keep pets cool while they’re away. Overlooking the chance of car jacking, this is still dangerous. In 2003, a police dog in Texas died after the air-conditioning in the patrol car shut down because the engine got too hot. The car automatically switched to blowing hot air to save the engine.

Bottom Line

Leaving children and pets unattended inside a car is a crime in most states. Don’t do it.

Sometimes children become trapped inside cars when playing or decide to sleep in the car. Always lock car doors and trunks and keep keys out of children's reach.

If your pet show signs of heat exhaustion - restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination - move the pet into the shade, an air conditioned area, or to the vet. Lower body temperature gradually by giving the animal water to drink. Place a cold towel or ice pack on the head, neck and chest, and/or immerse dogs in cool (not cold) water.
www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HotCars.php

Disaster Animal Response Team

“I never married because there was no need. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog which growls every morning, a parrot which swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night.” - Marie Corelli

If ordered to evacuate your home, would you/could you leave your pets behind? Because most emergency shelters and hotels have a no pet policy, the standard procedure for disasters requires that pet owners leave their loved ones behind. However as Hurricane Katrina clearly showed, when given a choice between their own personal safety or abandoning their household pets, a significant number of people will choose to risk their lives in order to remain with their pets.

In recognition of this, congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, Public Law 109–308 (2006). The PETS Act requires that State and local emergency preparedness authorities include how they will accommodate households with pets or service animals when presenting disaster preparedness plans to the FEMA. (A city or state is required to submit a plan in order to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding.)

Unfortunately, since the passage of the PETS Act of 2006, little has changed. Bureaucracies are slow to change. Under existing liability laws, a shelter could face a damaging lawsuit when someone is bitten by another person’s cute pet. And I suspect this law is not well known; I just learned of it, three years after its passage. It has never been mentioned in my training with the Red Cross or CERT.

Bottom Line

What can you do?

First- write to your mayor and governor and ask them, do they know about this law and what have they done to include pets in the emergency planning.

Second- follow the example of the Lamorinda area in Northern California (Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda in Contra Costa County). They have created a Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) to rescue pets and farm animals during Wildfires. Lamorinda DART consists of CERT graduates who have received additional animal sheltering and rescue training and are able to provide disaster response to humans and animals.

Remember Your Pets!

“Never work [as an actor] with children or animals.” - W.C. Fields

Pets are often overlooked during disasters and emergencies, as seen during the recent California wildfires, which displaced 15,000 pets according to PRNewswire. "Pets cannot survive on their own," said Brent Hinton, PetFirst chief executive officer and former head of the Kentucky Humane Society.

PetFirst suggests the following steps to increase the chance of pet survival:

• Identify a pet friendly shelter in advance
  Many disaster shelters, including Red Cross, will not accept pets due to health and safety regulations. Find pet friendly hotels and motels or friends that will accept your pets.
• Pack a pet-survival kit
  Include pet food, bottled water, meds, vet records, toys, a leash or pet carrier and a current pet photo in case the pet becomes separated.
• Bring pets indoors
  Never leave pets outside or tied up during disasters.
• Separate dogs and cats
  Pets can act irrationally during an emergency

If there is no alternative to leaving pets behind, PetFirst recommends the following:

• Confine pets inside
  Provide dry food (moist, canned food may spoil) and drinking water
• Post a Note Outside
  Post a note (waterproofed?) stating what pets have been left inside and where. Include your name and a contact number like a cell phone and your vet's phone

Bottom Line

Should you become separated from your pets it is important that they have ID tags with your phone number on it. Dogs (and some times cats) need to have rabies vaccination tags. Locating your lost pets will also be easier if you have photos of them in your evacuation kit to put online and on posters.

For more information the Pets & Animals in Distress Web site is a great resource center that offers pet preparedness with a hurricane checklist for pet owners and pet friendly hotels.

MORE HELPFUL LINKS
The HUMANE SOCIETY: www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/
FEMA - Animals and Emergencies - http://www.fema.gov/individual/animals.shtm
PET-FRIENDLY Hotels & Motels - http://www.petswelcome.com/