It's Been a While!

Hey there everybody! I believe the last time I made post was about a year ago? I'm sorry for that. Sometimes life gets a little busier than we would expect at times, right?  Let me get you all updated on what I've been up to this past year.

photo credit: wallmu.com

As you already know, my dream is to become a veterinarian.  For a while, I planned on focusing primarily on small animal medicine.  But I've come to realize that with my dog allergy, working with dogs is becoming very difficult, no matter how much I love working and caring for them.  Recently, I've developed a peak interest in avian medicine, which is a branch of veterinary medicine that specifically deals with companion birds, such as parrots.  Besides avian medicine, I've also been looking into wildlife science and conservation.

I hope to someday expand this interest to help and save parrots in the wild all over the world.  Furthermore, as of August 2014, I will officially be attending Virginia Tech and majoring in animal and poultry sciences, bringing me another step closer to fulfilling my dream.

photo credit: ICSC

Keep an eye out for upcoming blog posts coming soon!

It's the End of the Semester, But It's Not Goodbye!

The end of my second semester of college is finally coming to an end.  Although I created this blog specifically for this semester's english class, I have chosen to continue blogging for as long as I can.  It may not be weekly like I've done for academic reasons, but I plan to post as often as possible.

At the beginning of the semester, the word "blogging" seemed far out of my zone of interest.  But throughout these few months, I've grown to enjoy blogging.  In my experience, I can admit that the one thing I disliked about having to create a post was all of the research and time it takes to write a trustworthy and factual blog post that grabbed the attention of my audience.  But once I began to research and learn more information than I could have ever learned if I hadn't started blogging, I found myself indulged into my posts like nothing else.

Sometimes it was hard to figure out what to blog about when ideas started to run out from the top of my head, but after finding, reading, and interacting with other bloggers in my community, I learned that animal health and welfare is a vastly broad topic for anyone.  Ideas seemed to pile up quickly over time and my next hardest decision was to pick which idea I wanted to write about.

If any future bloggers decide to choose this topic or anything related to it, always know that new concerns come up everyday and add up to more issues that need to be addressed in the animal world.  Countless animal health and welfare bloggers are out there trying everyday to help the voices of animals be heard.  I plan to continue to do so as well through my blog and work.  One day, I will become a veterinarian and hopefully my outreach to society will continue to grow into something so much more than a college student trying to make her dreams and the dreams of animals come true.

It's been fun blogging with Professor Quinn and my class.  I hope for the best with everyone and happy blogging!

Scabies Not Rabies!

Image from: Ron Miller

I'd like to dedicate this post to my oldest dog and best friend, Buddy.  During a recent veterinarian visit, I've learned that he may have scabies.  I didn't have the slightest clue what scabies was other than the fact that it sounded like rabies.  As a dedicated pet owner and veterinary assistant, I believed that if I wrote a blog post on the disease, I'd better educate myself and others about it.  Also, obtaining more information on scabies can better prepare myself with handling Buddy if he does indeed have it.

What is Scabies?

Canine scabies, otherwise known as sarcoptic mange, is a skin disorder caused by tiny spider-like mites.  Scabies parasites are known as Sarcoptes scabiei (Smith, 2013).  Scabies is extremely contagious and can be transmitted through contaminated grooming equipment and kennels.  These mites burrow into the skin of dogs and cause a numerous amount of skin problems.  Scabies can be transmitted to humans from an infected dog and can also be transmitted to other household pets.

Which Animals Are Targeted?

According to Drs. Foster and Smith, "Canine scabies can infect all ages and breeds of dogs. While it prefers to live on dogs, this particular mite will also infect cats, ferrets, humans, and fox. Cats, fox, and humans all have their own particular species of mite within the Sarcoptes family. Each species of mite prefers one specific kind of host, but may also infect others".

Causes

"The most common cause of mange in dogs is exposure to another infected animal, as the mites quickly move from animal to animal. Kennels, animal shelters, dog parks, groomers and veterinary clinics have a high exposure rate of mange due to the close proximity with animals that are infected. The exposure generally occurs about two to six weeks before the first symptoms of mange are displayed" (petMD, 2013).

Diagnosis

Diagnosing scabies can be very difficult and frustrating.  A scabies diagnosis is made by examining samples of skin scrapings under a microscope.  Sometimes the mites aren't identified so to confirm diagnosis, a veterinarian may recommend a scabies treatment as a test.  If the test is positive, the scabies diagnosis is confirmed (WebMD, 2013).  Usually if food allergies, chiggers, and bacterial infections of the skin have been ruled out, a veterinarian will inspect the dog's skin for any invasive microorganisms followed by a treatment test.

Image from: dog-health-today.com

Symptoms

As stated by petMD, some of the most common symptoms of scabies include:

• Intense scratching
• Skin rash
• Crust in the affected area
• Hair loss

One can observe skin rashes and small red bumps or blisters, especially in areas like ear, abdomen, elbows, chest and hocks (Buzzle, 2013).

Treatment

Scabicide, a drugs used to kill itch mites, is generally used to treat dogs with non-seasonal sarcoptic mange.  Scabicidal shampoo can be used on dogs to kill all living mites on the skin (petMD, 2013).  Topical antiseptic ointments can also be used to treat skin lesions or bumps on the skin from scabies.  Remember, scabies treatment should only be conducted on veterinary supervision to ensure optimal and safe results.  If a dog develops bacterial and/or yeast infections, they need to be treated along with the scabies because the infections may be caused by damage from the disease.

Unfortunately, there no preventative measures that can be currently taken to prevent sarcoptic mange.  Also, if your dog develops scabies, limit contact with the dog during treatment to ensure that the disease is not transmitted to you.  If necessary, quarantine the dog until properly treated and healed.  Always take your dog to the veterinarian for regular exams and never try to treat any disease or infection unless prompted by a veterinarian.  

Works Cited:

Buzzle. (2013). Scabies in Dogs. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/scabies-in-dogs.html

petMD. (2013). Mange (Sarcoptic) in Dogs. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from petMD: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_dg_sarcoptic_mange

Smith, D. F. (2013). Sarcoptic Mange. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from pet education: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2111&aid=764

WebMD. (2013). Dog Mange (Scabies). Retrieved April 17, 2013, from WebMD: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-mange-scabies

Are You Harming Your Pet Without Knowing You Are?

Image from: keepmefromharm

Sometimes it's difficult to know what's good for your pet and what isn't.  But how do you know if you're really keeping your pets safe? What are some of the things that you are doing that harms your pet unintentionally? And what can you do to help prevent harm to them? Many pet owners are unaware that the way they are taking care of their pet could be uncomfortable to them.  Knowing what can cause unintentional abuse to your animal can help to prevent any unintentional harm to your pet.  

"Unintentional cruelty is something that tops the list of animal cruelty. This can be prevented by educating people and making them aware of their animal's needs" (Animal Port, 2004).  One of the most common activities that pet owners do that can harm their pet is taking them along for a car ride.  Of course it's fine to take Fido out for a drive when the weather is nice and irresistible.  And who could pass up that glow in their eyes when they hear the car keys jingling?  In Charmaine Engelsman-Robins article, "Owners Unintentionally Killing Their Own Beloved Dogs: YOU CAN HELP", she states that cranking the windows down, leaving a bowl of ice water in the car, parking in the shade, or leaving the A/C running, do not ensure safety when leaving your pet in the car.  In fact, your dog can still die.  The best way to prevent any harm to your pet when leaving them in the car is to leave your dog at home if you know you will have to leave them in it.

Along with the danger of leaving your dog in the car is letting your dog hang out the window.  The truth is that your dog becomes susceptible to lung infections, inner ear damage, and injury from debris flying in the atmosphere when your dog sticks his head out of the window.  It's best to keep your dog harnessed or in a crate during trips, and never let him ride in the bed of a truck, as an accident could send him bouncing out (Home Security Source, 2011).

Image from: PCCA

Pet owners sometimes poison their pets unintentionally by giving them human medications or exposing them to household toxins.  Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) reports that in 2007, the top 10 claims of pet poisoning are with drug reactions (usually meant for human consumption) surfacing as number one, as well as:

• Rodenticide: used to eliminate rodents.
• Methylxathine: an ingredient usually found in chocolate.
• Plant poisoning: usually from tulips, hyacinths, poinsettias, azaleas, lilies, amaryllis, grapes, raisins, sago palms, and oleander.
• Household chemicals: cleaning supplies and toiletries.
• Metaldyhyde: found in snail bait.
• Organophosphate: found in insecticides.
• Toad poisoning
• Heavy metals: mercury, lead, iron, zinc, cobalt, and copper.
• Antifreeze

Keeping your pet away from anything that can be dangerous to them is extremely difficult.  Pets love to explore and gallivant around the house and their environment and sometimes they happen to end up in places they should not be in.  The best way to help keep your pet safe is to remove and secure anything that can harm them.  Locking up cleaning supplies and medications or removing poisonous plants can help establish a safe environment for your pet.  Your pet's safety means a lot to you as a pet owner so value it as you would for yourself.

Works Cited:

Animal Port. (2004). Animal Abuse Information. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Animal Port: http://www.animalport.com/animal-information/animal-abuse-information.html

Engelsman-Robins, C. (2012, May 3). Owners Unintentionally Killing Their Own Beloved Dogs: YOU CAN HELP. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/article/owners-unintentionally-killing-their-own-beloved-dogs-you-can-help

Home Security Source. (2011, June 28). Are You Causing Your Dog Unintentional Harm This Summer? Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Home Security Source: http://www.homesecuritysource.com/blogs/are-you-causing-your-dog-unintentional-harm-this-summer.aspx

Veterinary Pet Insurance. (n.d.). Veterinary Pet Insurance Data Reveals Well-Intended Pet Owners Unknowingly Poisoning Their Pets. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from PRNewswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veterinary-pet-insurance-data-reveals-well-intended-pet-owners-unknowingly-poisoning-their-pets-57029522.html

"Polly Wants a Cracker!"

photo credit: flowerdreamy.blogspot.com

Many people believe parrots are only seen in movies.  Many people also believe that parrots only talk in movies.  Believe me, I was one of these people.  The first time I went to an aviary (a place or building that has birds), I was astonished. The sight of so many species of colorful parrots in one place, living and socializing with people and each other created a life-long memory that I can never forget.  But the best part was when I was browsing through the birds and a little "hello" came out of nowhere.  Believe it or not, that "hello" came from a parrot.  After getting my first parrot, Perry, my view on birds changed tremendously.  There are many benefits one can receive from owning a parrot and although it takes a lot of care and time, having a parrot is literally having a life-long friend.

Quick Facts About Parrots

Parrots are a medium-sized group of birds that are best known for their extremely bright colored feathers and their unique ability to talk and mimic sounds (a-z animals, n.d.).  There are hundreds of different species of parrots and they can be found in nearly all of the warm climates across the globe.  The largest diversities are generally located in Central America and South America.  All parrots have curved beaks and are zygodactyls, meaning that they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward (National Geographic, n.d.).  Typically, parrots feed on fruit, seeds, nuts, flowers (when in the wild), some vegetables, and insects (when in the wild).  Take a look at a few species of parrots in this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7g0lDLcEKE.

Parrots as Pets

photo credit: www.petcaregt.com

As stated by National Geographic, parrots have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical.  Parrots are not considered domesticated like dogs or cats.  Their nature is very much the same as if they were in the wild.  Parrots can chew through your walls and furniture, scream to their heart's content if not trained properly, make a lot of mess, are constantly active, require a diverse and varied diet, and they are very expensive to care for (Avian Welfare Coalition, n.d.).  Parrots are social animals and require daily socialization and attention.  Even though these behaviors seem a bit pressuring, you can train your parrot and teach them right from wrong.  A marvelous advantage with training and teaching your bird is that they can talk and understand what you're telling them.  What makes parrots bond to their owners even stronger than a cat or dog is that they live very long.  In fact, the largest of the parrot species, the Macaw, has been known to live for up to 80 years.

Parrots are amazing creatures.  Unfortunately in the wild, many species of parrots are becoming endangered because of the growth of many predators and the destruction of their habitats like the Amazon Rainforest.  The best way to help these birds is to help save the rainforest and other habitats as well as create a more captive method of living for them to protect them from becoming extinct.  The more captive parrots that find homes within families, the more that can be saved and have a promising life and future.  Do you think that you would be interested in owning a parrot? If the answer is yes, there are many certified aviaries all over the country that would love to give baby parrots a good home.  If you would like to know more information on parrots or owning a parrot, read 10 Facts About Owning A Parrot by Rebecca K. O'Connor.

Works Cited:

a-z animals. (n.d.). Parrot. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from a-z animals: http://a-z-animals.com/animals/parrot

National Geographic. (n.d.). Parrot. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from National Geographic: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/parrot/

The Avian Welfare Coalition. (n.d.). Keeping Parrots as "Pets". Retrieved March 20, 2013, from The Avian Welfare Coalition: http://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/pets.htm

All Pets Could Use a Home

Image from: www.hdwallpaperspics.com

Animals come in all shapes, sizes, breeds, and colors.  But no matter the looks, all pets come from somewhere.  There are many ways to obtain a pet whether someone is giving one away to you or selling it because the owner can't take care of it anymore or even finding one roaming around on the street.  But have you ever thought of where the rest of these loving pets come from? Well, most pets can be found through animal shelters and breed rescue groups, pet stores or breeders.  Most people aren't aware of how one obtains a pet and how it affects the pet being obtained, the pet owner, and the pets out in the world that don't have a home.

Adopting Pets from the Animal Shelter

Adopting an animal from the animal shelter is just about the best method in obtaining a pet.  Animal shelters are very trustworthy and they offer loving pets in need of a home at an inexpensive price.  The most rewarding benefit of adopting an animal from an animal shelter is saving an animal's life.  "Sadly, between 3 and 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply because too many people give up their pets and too few people adopt from shelters" (The Humane Society of the United States, 2011).  The amount of euthanized pets can be dramatically reduced if more people adopt pets rather than buy them.  By adopting from a private humane society, animal shelter, breed rescue organization, or local animal control agency, one can help save two lives; the pet being adopted and a homeless animal that can use the space that has been made available.

Benefits of Adopting a Pet

There are many benefits that can come out of adopting a pet including the pleasure of gaining a lifetime companion filled with unconditional love and loyalty.  

• Most animals are neutered/spayed or there is a very inexpensive fee to have the animal fixed
• Most animals are up-to-date with vaccinations and are worm-free
• Adoption of animals help reduce the overpopulation of animals in society
• Mature animals are house-trained
• Shelter pets have great temperaments and will want to please their new owners

Always be sure that you are well prepared and ready for the care that an animal can cost you.  Part of the reason that most pets end up at animals shelters is that their previous owners couldn't afford to take care of them or that they didn't have the time to take care of them.  Also, many shelter pets may require a longer period of time of adjusting to their new home depending on the pet's past, whether they are victims of abuse and abandonment or something less severe (Perrett, n.d.)

Buying Pets from Pet Stores

Buying puppies or kittens from pet stores is probably one of the worst options in obtaining a pet.  According to Dogster about puppy mills, dogs are often bred far too frequently, are kept cramped together in squalor, and are not socialized with humans. In addition, these breeders do not always care about the health and strength of the breed, which often results in genetic illnesses, poor health in general and unlikable personality traits.  What most people don't know is that many of these animals are shipped off and sold in most pet stores.

Image from: madpuppymills

Why Shouldn't You Buy a Pet from a Pet Store?

Even though that puppy may be cute behind the window of a pet store, many of them can carry a lot of problems with them.  Some reasons why one shouldn't buy a pet from a pet store include:

• Bad health
• No or limited human interaction and socialization
• Behavioral problems
• Expensive price for an unhealthy animal
• Housebreaking difficulty

From personal experience, both of my dogs were bought from a local pet store and both have had health problems surfacing since they were brought home.  Unfortunately, it is very costly in paying for medications, prescription foods, and having to care for animals that will never really be cured.  Tommy, my youngest dog, was born with inguinal hernias (a hereditary illness that can only be passed down from the dog's mother) and the pet store failed to mention it to me at the time of purchase.  Later on, I found out that breeders are recommended by veterinarians to not breed dogs with inguinal hernias because it is very painful for the puppies being born with it and may cause death to the mother and pups.  Just as PETA states, pet shops treat puppies, kittens, birds, hamsters, mice, rabbits, and other animals as if they were fashion accessories and sell them to anyone who plunks down a credit card.

Buying Pets from Breeders

Buying a pet from a breeder is usually the moderate option between adopting from animal shelters and buying pets from pet stores. "[Good breeders] are careful about breeding; have healthy, well-cared for dogs; belong to dog clubs or breeder organizations; and usually enter their dogs in shows. They try to eliminate health problems by screening their dogs for genetic disease. They keep current on information regarding vaccinations, canine medicine, and genetics" (Fortney, n.d.).  To find a good breeder, ask your veterinarian for a referral.  If a veterinarian recommends the breeder, you'll be set on the right road for getting a good quality pet.  

If there are good breeders, there are bad breeders.  According to Kim Campbell Thornton's article Buying a dog? Beware of breeder, "if you're looking to get a new dog, recent headlines no doubt have warned you against buying an animal from illegal 'puppy mills' run by unlicensed breeders. But don't be fooled into thinking that legal, licensed breeders and those with registration papers are a guarantee of a healthy puppy either".  She continues on with her article and reports, "When the Humane Society of the United States released a video last month charging that a Los Angeles pet store, Pets of Bel Air, purchased its pricey puppies from puppy mills, the store responded on its Web site with a statement that its dogs were purchased from pet breeders approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and that it relied on the USDA to inspect breeders and their premises".

Remember to always check out the breeder before purchasing a puppy or kitten from him or her.  Make sure that the breeder has a valid license, good reputation, belongs to many organizations, and provides adequate veterinary care for all of their animals including mothers, fathers, and babies.  Whether you decide to purchase a new pet or give advice to someone who is thinking about purchasing a pet, try to adopt from the animal shelters or find a good breeder.  Try to stay away from pet store animals, but if you can't pass off that cute face behind that glass window, check out where the puppy or kitten comes from and make sure they don't come from a puppy mill.  

Works Cited

Fortney, D. W. (n.d.). Buying a Dog From a Breeder. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from Animal Planet: http://www.animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/hot-to-choose-a-pet-dog5.htm

Perrett, G. (n.d.). Adopting Pets With A Past: Welcoming Rescued Pets into the Family is Both Rewarding and Beneficial. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from Western Pennsylvania Humane Society: http://www.wpahumanesociety.org/PetsWithAPast.html

The Humane Society of the United States. (2011, December 12). Top Five Reason to Adopt. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from The Humane Society of the United States: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/adopt/tips/top_reasons_adopt.html

Spaying/Neutering Your Pet

Keeping your pet healthy can do nothing but good for you and your pet.  Part of maintaining the health of your pet is ensuring that they are spayed or neutered as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the overpopulation of animals causes a great amount of these loving pets to be put into animal shelters and often, many of them never find homes.  There's simply too many animals in the shelters and not enough people who would like to adopt them.  Spaying or neutering your pet contributes to decreasing the overpopulation of animals.

image from: http:/www.123rf.com

What is spaying/neutering?

Spaying is the removal of the ovaries (ovariohysterectomy) from a female animal.  Neutering is the removal of the testicles (castration) from a male animal.  Whichever gender of pet you may have, it is always a good idea to get them fixed at 8 weeks of age or older.  Many pet owners believe that only female animals need to be spayed because of the heat cycle they undergo, but male animals need to be neutered just as much.  When male animals reach sexual maturity, they tend to mark their territory on anything and everything, roam around (instinctively try to find a mate) and develop aggression towards other male animals.  That's pretty to tough to deal with isn't it? Spaying/neutering eliminates this behavioral problem.

What is the importance of spaying/neutering?

Besides relieving behavioral issues with your animal, spaying and neutering promotes a longer, better, and healthier life for your pet.  Spaying females nearly eliminates the risk of breast cancer and prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer (American Humane Association, n.d.).  Neutering male animals prevents testicular cancer, enlargement of the prostate gland, and greatly reduces the risk of perianal tumors (American Humane Association, n.d.).  

Spaying and neutering your pet can help diminish the overpopulation of animals in society.  Unfortunately, homeless animals are everywhere we go and most of them end up giving birth to litters of puppies or kittens that can't be taken care of.  This increases the amount of animals euthanized at animal shelters in order to make room for more.  "In the U.S., there are an estimated 6–8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. About half of these animals are adopted" (The Humane Society of the United States, 2012).  Stray animals tend to eat other animals in the wild, be killed and cause car accidents, and so much more.  If you want to help decrease animal overpopulation, get your pet spayed/neutered.

What if the procedure costs too much?

The cost of spaying and neutering can be expensive, but it is affordable.  This should be an aspect in consideration before acquiring a pet.  Some pet owners do not wish to spend the money in having their animal fixed and most often leads to abandonment of the animal which contributes to overpopulation. If one doesn't want to spend money on having their pet fixed, how can one properly care for their animal? "Many animal shelters offer low-cost spay/neuter services, and there are also many low-cost spay/neuter clinics across the country. To find low-cost options in your area, call your local animal shelter. The reality is that the cost associated with providing adequate care for just one litter of puppies or kittens is often more than the cost of spaying or neutering...The cost of the well-being of not just your companion animal, but of future generations, should be considered" (American Humane Association, n.d.).

What if you don't own a pet?

Whether you own an animal or not, promoting the procedure of spaying or neutering matters very much. When you're driving down the street and pass by a dead dog or cat on the side of the road, do you feel some sympathy?  The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) states that "the single most important thing that we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them." We are all affected by animal overpopulation.  

As Americans, "millions of tax dollars are spent annually to shelter and care for stray, abandoned and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to euthanize animals when homes cannot be found.  Human health is threatened by the danger of transmittable diseases (including rabies), animal bites and attacks.  Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food.  Animal waste is proving to be a serious environment hazard, fouling yards and parks.  It is only when all of us assume the responsibility for pet overpopulation that we will see any decrease in the problem" (American Humane Society, n.d.).  

It's tragic to see such lovable pets never find the love that they need. To prevent this, spaying and neutering should be a must on your "to do" list if you don't want to end up with unwanted puppies and kittens.  This procedure is affordable and many shelters and organizations are willing to assist you if you need some help.  Spaying and neutering is not only important for our animals, it's important for us too.  For more information on spaying and neutering, visit the ASPCA | Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet and American Humane Association.  For more information on animal overpopulation, visit PETA.

Works Cited: 

American Humane Association. (n.d.). Spaying/Neutering. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from American Humane Association: http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/caring-for-your-pet/spaying-neutering.html

The Humane Society of the United States. (2012, November 27). Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from The Humane Society of the United States: http://www.humanesociety.org/pet_overpopulation/facts/why_spay_neuter.html