Winter Weight Loss

The days are longer, the skies are sunnier, and the walking trails are more inviting. Warmth has finally arrived in a more consistent fashion and more humans can be seen taking their furry friends on walks and runs throughout the city. Accompanied with the sunshine is a strong desire to get our diets and exercise regimes on back on track. But what about our furry friends? Have they packed on the pounds too? A few extra table scraps combined with shorter winter walks, and our feline and canine companions can pack on some winter blubber fast. Despite our loving denial that they just are “fluffier," more “muscular” or big boned, our pet's weight is an important number to keep track of.                            

                                             http://petradioshow.com/tag/dog-swimwear/

Overweight animals are at a greater risk for joint problems, diabetes, breathing problems, heat intolerance, and an overall shorter life span. In 2013 it was estimated that an astounding 52.6% of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese. So while we strive to get into our “summer skinny” it is important to ensure that our pets also see a healthy number on the scale. Here are some steps we can take to keep our pets lean, mean, happy machines:

           -Decrease the amount food: Of course this is easier said than done. Like humans, each pet may have a different metabolism and thus require more or less food to stay a healthy weight, regardless of size. If you’re like me, you might feel guilty over the small amount of food you’re serving your furry friend. A good trick for dogs is to add some green beans (straight from the can) on top of their food. Green beans are filling and give the pups more to munch, which is mentally satisfying for both dog and owner.

            - Change the food your pet is getting: Different brands of food have varying protein and carbohydrate contents, as well as different nutritional values. Perhaps your pet needs a food with more protein and less carbohydrates. For cats, this can mean a simple switch from dry to wet food as wet food is higher in protein. However, if cost is also a factor, you can replace one meal of dry food with wet food instead. Unfortunately, changing your dog’s food can be a bit more complicated. Like many pet owners these days, I have gone through three different brands before finding the right one for my fur babies. Choosing the best food for your pup depends on their own individual needs, size, breed, energy level, and allergies. Read food labels thoroughly and ask your vet for their suggestions.

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- Increase their activity: Of course, this is easier said than done. If you have an active pet, simply increasing walks or playtime may do the trick. However, if you are short on time or your pet prefers the couch to the walking trail you might have to get creative. You can:

                          -   Hire a dog walker like all of  us at All Breed Care.

  -   Take your pup on an outdoor adventure. Try a  park, a coffee shop, or a walk Downtown.

-     If your pup is friendly with both humans and dogs, try an off –the-leash dog park, great socialization for both human and pup.

-         For those lazy dogs and cats out there some treat motivation may be required. Try and coax them to get active by luring them with a tiny treat from one side of the house to another. If they like healthy treats like carrots or vegetables even better!

-        Cats can be motivated to move with an adventurous laser pointer or some cat-nip. Lure them around the house with a piece of string or mouse toy. Or, get really daring and try out this interesting cat toy: 

Find something that works for your pet and stick to it.  Before you know it, you will both be in a habit of creating a healthier happier lifestyle. However, make sure you know your pet’s limits. Start slow and work your way up to avoid injuries and heat exhaustion. And remember, just like you, pets are happier when both their bodies and minds are nourished. We know our pets love food, but sometimes holding back the treats or decreasing their meal size is the best thing we can do to truly show them our love. A healthy pet is a happy pet, and one that will stay around for years to come.

                                                                  http://www.gemvet.com/old-dogs/

By: Chelsey Dyer

Spring is here! And so are allergies...

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Spring has finally arrived to the Raleigh area and along with warmer days and hopes for a tan it has brought a host of allergies. While my days of walking dogs at All Breed Care are filled with longer and sunnier walks, too often my evenings are now accompanied by an itchy face, stuffy nose, and the general exhaustion of allergy season. However, I am not alone.  As many pet owners know, animals can suffer from allergies too. While we humans struggle to adapt to the sheen of yellow that now coats our surroundings, many pets are too. In fact, throughout my years around animals, I continue to run into more cases of allergies, frequently found in purebred dogs. Worried that your pup might be suffering from some seasonal foes? While allergies can manifest in many ways, some common symptoms include:

• Runny eyes
• Constant scratching or gnawing at skin and paws often leading to “hotspots”: irritated areas of the skin prone to infection
• Ear problems (infection, irritation, increased redness)
• Sneezing
• Raw or pink snout or eyes
• Itchy scabby bumps on the skin

   

 

Allergies can be easily treated with Benadryl, a prescription antihistamine, or steroids. However it is important that your vet assess your beloved animal to determine if allergies are indeed the cause. If you suffer from allergies, you know the drain they can place on your day. Unfortunately our pets can feel the same! The vet can perform a simple skin test to determine what your pet is allergic to and help develop a plan of action. Like humans, some common allergies include:

•    Pollen
•   Ragweed
•   Mold/mildew
•   Grass
•    Dust mites
•    Fleas
•   House hold cleaning products
•    Food

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Of course, there are a variety of other allergens, and each pet may differ in their reaction. But as playtime outside gets longer and the days remain warmer it is always nice to be aware of the small things that can affect our pets day-to-day happiness. After all it is the little things that count!

By Chelsey Dyer

#PugLife

It was my freshman year of college and after 25 year of marriage my parents decided it was best to go their separate ways. To soften the blow of his new foray into singlehood my dad decided it was time to welcome a new furry member into the family. And so we welcomed Joe Mug the Pug, a tiny little ball of fur and wrinkles just small enough to fit inside a stocking. Thus began my irreconcilable love for pugs. I soon usurped Joe as my own dog and, as my previous blog post discussed, began down a path of pug addiction.

Joe Pug in his Christmas Stocking

However, I was woefully unaware of all of the health problems often associated with pugs. Their adorable squished faces come with several drawbacks including breathing problems, eye problems, and wrinkle issues. In the 5^th year of Joe Mug the Pug’s life he experienced the scariest of all three, breathing problems. It began like many pup illnesses do, with lots of vomit. At the time I was working on my master’s of anthropology, hitting the books from home with a pug at my side. Luckily this enabled me to monitor his condition. After a day of continuous vomiting we made our first of many trips to the emergency vet. We were given several medicines to calm his stomach and sent home with hopes that this was just a passing virus. However, the weekend progressed and Joe still couldn't keep any food down. On our walks, he refused to go more than a few steps, the exertion of the effort forcing him to spit up what little he had in his system. With no end in sight, Joe pug was admitted to the vet for further testing and analysis.

Joe pug was the first dog who was all my own. I raised him from a puppy, slept with him under the covers every night, and listened to his snores as I worked. I could not imagine my life without him. That first night when he was at the vet I found myself struggling to comprehend the pain and strength of parents who have sick children. Who wait hopefully by the phone for a treatable diagnosis. Who pray for more time with their kids.

Finally, the next day, the call came. Joe pug had Megaesophagus. His esophagus, the tube that feeds food from the mouth to the stomach, had grown so weak that food was sitting inside and festering until Joe would throw it back up. The prognosis was not good. Most dogs suffer from malnutrition or aspiration pneumonia and have to be laid to rest within months. However, the staff at Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital were wonderful. With their support and guidance Joe was put on a new feeding regimen- he now had to eat upright like a human and was given only soft meatballs of food 5 times a day- and referred to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) here in Raleigh, NC. The goal was to identify to root cause of the Megaesophagus and eliminate it completely. Furthermore, throughout this ordeal, Joe’s breathing continued to deteriorate. At a routine check-up for the Megaesophagus a week later, the vet feared that eventually Joe’s congestion would prevent him from breathing at all. We went to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital the same day.

I had heard the horror stories. Pug owner’s waking up in the morning to find that their pug had suffocated in the night. Already, I would awake with a start if I did not hear Joe’s snores throughout the night. I was terrified and helpless. Though I continued to feed him 5 times a day, Joe had lost a lot of weight. He still did not enjoy his walks. His quality of life was fading.

However, hope was not lost. Doctor Rae Hutchins at VSH came to Joe pug’s rescue. She determined that the extra tissue in Joe’s nose was exacerbating his breathing problems. Joe was working so hard to breathe that the pressure this effort put on his esophagus caused it to fail. As such, Joe would undergo a puppy facelift. Our hope was that after removing the extra tissue in his nose and widening his nostril openings, Joe’s breathing would improve and his esophagus would return to normal. And so Joe pug went under the knife.

After the surgery and another night spent at the hospital Joe pug returned home to a strict regimen of medicines and feedings. Every four hours, day or night, he would get a pill to help keep his food down. He was on a steroid to help quell the inflammation of his nose tissues, an antibiotic, a pain killer, and Prilosec. Caring for Joe was like caring for a new born baby, and through the stress and terror my love only grew.

Yet, a week later we hadn't seen any improvement. We returned to emergency vet, Joe exhausted and me fearing what the next step might hold. While Dr. Hutchins took Joe back to examine him, I cried in the lobby alone with my grief with no one but the receptionist of offer kind words and tissues. Even Dr. Hutchins was unsure about what this meant for little Joe pug.

It had now been a month of stress and illness and sorrow. My simple wish was for Joe to get better. I wanted my pug back.

With bated breath I waited for the vet to return. I was beginning to lose hope. However, with a calm confidence the vets determined that Joe needed a second surgery to go back in and clear out more tissue from his nose. Joe was readmitted for round two of a puggy facelift and a piece of hope returned. This time, Joe was an old hospital pro. The nurses said throughout the night Joe refused to be left in his crate. He was passed from lap to lap, soaking up healing snuggles and waiting for his mom to come and pick him up.  This was pug I knew and loved.

After two surgeries, several more months of medicines, and a nice chunk of change, Joe pug was back! I had never felt more like a mom. I was covered daily in wet dog food, pug fur, and love and the end result was more than I could have imagined. Joe’s Megaesophagus cleared. He was able to eat anything and everything he saw. Our bond had grown to whole new levels.

Currently, through All Breed Care I am pet sitting for an adorable 16 year old pug. Her old age has left her toothless and her tiny pink tongue hangs lazily from her mouth, but her health and spirits abound. She gives me hope for another wonderful 10 years with my Joe and increases my thankfulness that I never gave up on getting him well. For all those out there waiting anxiously in your vet’s waiting room, holding on to hope for a healthy pup, keep holding on. Amazing recoveries do happen. I have a new respect for the vets who brought Joe back to me, and a new respect for myself and for Joe, for our strength and resilience during months of trial and uncertainty. Now, over a year later Joe is healthier than ever. Ferociously guarding our house, playing with his brother, and stealing my heart on a daily basis. Here in the Dyer household it is and will always be a pug life. 

By Chelsey Dyer