Traveling without your pet this Summer?

One of America’s favorite summer pastimes is vacation travel. Often, these trips do not or cannot include our pets, so what do you do with your beloved companion when you cannot take them along? The most important thing is to not worry - the more we worry the less fun we have. Here are some of Dr. Sarah’s favorite tips to help your animals when you travel. Click here to watch the video

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Pet Fire Alert

A Griffin firefighter has created a way for homeowners to let first responders know there are pets in a home.

Called Pet Fire Alert, the product developed by Griffin Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Rick Rickerson is an outdoor information system to alert emergency personnel that a pet is in a home. He based it on his training and personal experience.

Standard firefighter protocol calls for the incident commander to walk around a home looking for clues regarding the fire and number of occupants and to locate the electric meter to turn off the power for firefighter and occupant safety.

Rickerson said, “I suggest (homeowners) mount (the system) on the wall by the meter.”

The container contains information such as the number of pets, type of animals and areas to search, as well as a couple of leashes to secure rescued pets and contact information for care for the animals. There are also signs for the mailbox and a yard sign similar to burglar alarm signs. Read the entire article

Click here to read more about the product

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MRSA and Pets

We've heard a lot about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusproduce) mainly as it affects people. It also affects companion animals. But there's no need to panic. If you have a healthy dog or cat, there is little chance of your pet being infected with MRSA. Even if your pet does have MRSA, caught in time, it will survive with proper diagnosis and treatment.

We are learning more about MRSA thanks to Jill Moss, Founder and President of The Bella Moss Foundation in the U.K. Her rescue dog, Bella, developed MRSA following cruciate surgery. Sadly, it was not properly diagnosed and Bella ran through a complete spectrum of antibiotics to no avail. When Jill lost Bella to MRSA she decided that this would not happen to anyone else's pet. Since 2004, the non-profit foundation has worked with veterinarians, the U.K. government and the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases--and is making a good start at doing the same in the U.S.--to educate and inform vets, pet owners and pet caregivers about MRSA.

"Pet owners need to know that although MRSA and other resistant infections can be very serious--even fatal--they can, if detected early enough, be treated successfully," says Moss. MRSA is not a death sentence.

It's important for pet owners to ensure that their pets receive the correct course of treatment. Just as in people, overuse of antibiotics in pets can cause antibiotic strains of microorganisms to evolve. Talk with your veterinarian on a case-by-case basis regarding the use of antibiotics to ensure that they're used responsibly.


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Summer Safety

By: Steve Dale

On July 4, Maya Webb, of Bettendorf, IA, went shopping at a Joliet, IL, furniture store. Unfortunately, leaving her two Pit Bulls in the car. It was "only" 81 degrees, and she was barely gone for two hours, but both dogs suffered heat stroke and died. Webb was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 4 Felony.

"Dogs are locked inside hot cars all the time," says Dr. Mark Russak, president-elect of the American Animal Hospital Association. "Even opening the windows a bit isn't enough. I've actually smashed windows to let dogs out to breathe. I don't recommend window smashing, but I just did what was necessary."

Dr. Sheldon Rubin, in Chicago, IL adds, "These days, most police departments will respond because there are laws in many places about leaving children or pets in hot cars. Sometimes it's better to run an errand and simply not bring your pet with you."

According to the AAA Chicago Motor Club, when it's 85 degrees outdoors, even when a car's windows are open a crack, on a sunny day the dashboard can heat up to 170 degrees in less than 15 minutes. What's more, dogs don't cool themselves as effectively as people. Panting just isn't as efficient as sweating (though dogs do sweat some from their paw pads).

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Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo - FDA Warning

FDA Issues Caution to Pet Owners with the Use of an Unapproved Pet Shampoo Product
May 13, 2011

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is alerting pet owners to use caution with the use of an unapproved animal drug product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo (0.1% phytosphingosine), distributed by Sogeval Laboratories, Inc. of Coppell, Texas after recently receiving a report of the death of a woman associated with the use of the product on her dog.

The March adverse event report describes a woman with severe, preexisting asthma who had a sudden, severe asthma attack and died while bathing a dog using the product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo. A few days later, another asthmatic family member bathed the dog using the same product and experienced a mild asthma attack but recovered.

FDA is advising consumers with asthma or other respiratory conditions to consider consulting with their physicians prior to use of this product.

FDA is currently investigating this serious issue and will provide additional information as appropriate.

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THE DOG WHISPERER CONTROVERSY

There has always been controversy regarding the "dog whisperer" flawed philosophy.

I came across an excellent article. It's well worth the read. Permission is granted to link to the writer's blog. Click here to read the entire article

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4th of July Tips to Keep from Having a Lost Pet!

The 4th of July is a time to celebrate independence, enjoy barbeques and watch fireworks light up the sky. Sadly, it is the #1 day in which pets get lost and end up in shelters. Chances are, a high-kill shelter.

Many celebrations in the Chicago area begin before the 4th of July, so it is important to use caution even days before the holiday.

From dogs to cats and even horses, this is typically not a time of year that animals feel safe. The loud noises of fireworks spark, no pun intended, fear into animals.

Keeping identification on your pets during this time of year is extremely important. Make sure all tags have a current address, phone number and email. If your pet is micro-chipped, make sure that you have let your pet recovery service know if there have been any changes since the microchip was placed.

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