Does vaccinating my dog or cat cause warts?

No.  Warts or papillomas are benign tumors that are caused by specie specific papilloma viruses.

These DNA viruses cause chromosomal mutations within the skin (epithelial cells) that express themselves as the ugly lumpy bumps that we see growing almost any place on our pets.  The wart viruses are spread by direct and indirect contact and can take 1-2 months to show up after exposure.Warts often spontaneously regress after 4-12 months especially in younger animals.

Warts are usually seen in younger animals with developing immune systems, older animals with weakening immune systems, and in patients that may have a weakened immune system due to other diseases or in those taking  immunosuppressive  medications.

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Is your dog or cat drinking excessive amounts of water, urinating large volumes frequently or having accidents in the house or outside the litter box?

If your pet is exhibiting any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.  Many diabetic animals also show signs of weight loss despite having a good appetite.  Cats may have a plantigrade stance (walking on more of the hind leg than normal) and dogs can develop cataracts.  Blood and urine tests confirm the diagnosis. Most cases of diabetes can be managed with prescription diets and daily to twice daily insulin injections. Obesity is a risk factor so prevent diabetes by keeping  your pets slim and trim.

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No matter how much they watch, beg, nudge, drool…don’t give in!

It’s those big sad eyes, constant nudging, and drool that tug at the heart strings of every pet owner.  It’s hard to resist such cuteness, but stand strong pet owners! Many of the tasty holiday treats that we indulge in are harmful or toxic to pets.

Fried and fatty foods, butter and any food with a lot of salt, seasonings, or nitrites can cause gastrointestinal disturbances including vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis. One macadamia nut can be lethal as can the natural sweetener xylitol found in many candies and baked goods.  Grapes, raisins, currants, onions, garlic, alcohol, and of course chocolate are all on the toxic table scraps list.

Ask your veterinarian about safe treats for your individual pet(s).

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What’s up with by-products in pet food?

Some people cringe when they see the word meat by-products on their pet’s food bag. However, contrary to popular belief and certain internet sources, by-products can actually be an excellent source of highly digestible nutrients for your pet.

By law animal by-products can’t include feathers, hair, hide, hooves or intestinal contents.  They can however contain clean liver, kidneys, lungs, and splenic tissue.  In fact we eat meat by-products all the time.  Bet you never thought of soup broth or Jello as a nasty by-product of the meat industry?

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On the left is how a human with normal vision would see color. On the right is how a dog sees color.

It was once believed that dogs only perceived the world in black and white. However we now know dogs have limited color vision compared to us. Dogs only have two types of color cones on their retinas vs. three for humans.

 Dogs see shades of yellows and blues with the reds and greens being left out. They can see variations in brightness, but their visual acuity is much less than ours. While most dogs are quick to pick up movement, they probably view the world more like a near-sighted person would.

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National Animal Poison Control Center Hotline
Phone Number 1-888-426-4435

This line is staffed by ASPCA personnel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some calls may incur a consultation fee. In the event that your pet consumes a poison, try to take in a sample of the product or plant and/or the bottle or packaging that the offending substance came in. A part of the plant or substance may help aid the veterinarian in identifying the toxin so appropriate treatment can be administered. In some cases there may be a specific antidote for the poison. The packaging or container labels on many substances, especially insecticides and rodentacides, contains a wealth of information about the product as well as potential antidotes or first aid treatment that can be administered.

Top 10 Pet Poisons

Human Medications
Insecticides
People Food
Plants
Veterinary Medicines in excessive doses
Rodenticides (rat poison)
Household Cleaners
Heavy Metals
Chemical Hazards

Top Ten Human Medications That Poison Pets

Nsaids (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
Antidepressants
Acetaminophen (especially in cats)
Methylphenidate for ADHD
Fluoroucil (an anti-cancer drug)
Isoniazid (for tuberculosis)
Pseudoephedrine (found in many cold medicines)
Anti-diabetic drugs
Vitamin D derivatives (Calcitriol, Calciprotriene)
Baclofen (muscle relaxant)

Insecticides

Always read the label directions on insecticides and yard sprays to determine when it is safe for a pet to come in contact with it.

Check topical flea and tick products for species information and directions on proper application. Some are safe for both cats and dogs while others are safe for dogs only. At Barnyard Veterinary Service & Supply, we carry Frontline which is effective against fleas, ticks, and lice and is safe for both dogs and cats. However it is not safe for rabbits.

People Foods

Grapes/Raisins
Avocados
Xylitol (sugar substitute often found in gum)
Chocolate (especially dark or baker’s chocolate)
Alcohol
Coffee
Fatty or salty foods
Yeast dough
Moldy or spoiled foods
Macadamia nuts
Onions/Garlic

Plants

Peace Lily, Amaryllis, Castor Bean, Oleander, Autumn crocus, Chrysanthemums (Mums), Azalea, Rhododendron, Sago Palm, Lilies, Kalanchoe, Schefflera, Cyclamen, English Ivy, Yew, Marijuana, Pothos, Tulip and Daffodil bulbs (dogs love to dig up bulbs planted with bonemeal)

Veterinary Medicines

Prescription medications given to your pet may be toxic in too high of a dose. Follow label directions carefully.

Rodenticides (Rat poison)

May be addicting to pets and toxicity gets worse with repeat ingestion.

Household Cleaners

Keep bleach and ammonia containing products out of your pet’s roaming area. We’ve seen some severe gastroenteritis cases due to pets drinking mop water with bleach in it or from drinking out of toilet bowls treated with those constant release bleach tablets.

Heavy Metals

Lead, zinc, mercury, etc. from old paint, household siding and construction debris, old lead shotgun shot, pennies, etc.

Chemical Hazards

Anti-freeze is one of the most common chemical intoxicants. It is sweet tasting so cats and dogs are attracted to it. Animals only need to ingest a small amount (a few teaspoons to tablespoons) of anti-freeze for it to cause severe kidney damage and death.

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