Summer is almost here, and for many people, that means dusting off the camping gear! The fresh air, recreational activities, camp food, campfire, and some well-deserved relaxation are all part of camping. Unfortunately, so are the insect bites, burned or soggy camp food, lumpy beds, and bad weather conditions. Learn how to prevent accidents and avoid emergencies in this article.

Related About.com site:
Camping By David Sweet, About.com Guide to Camping

Photo credit: Getty Images/Noel Hendrickson

DawnMarie77 writes: "I need some serious help. I have 2 large Rottweilers that are seriously allergic to fleas. They are both pulling out their fur on their bottoms. The vet wants me to bring them both in and all the puppies at $35 apiece when we already know what is wrong. (The vet) wants still to sell me a bunch of medicine for otherwise healthy dogs. They are healthy weights and have good tempers and appetites..."

I was fortunate to be able to interview VPI's veterinary expert, Dr. Carol McConnell, about the Top Household Poisons survey findings and about pet health insurance in general. Learn some background information on the most common types of poisons and what is covered by pet health insurance for poisoning claims in this interview.

I am noticing more "pet friendly" places to stay and visit lately, which supports the idea that more people are choosing to bring their pets on trips and vacations. Do you travel with pets, or are you more inclined to find a kennel or petsitter? This Quick Tip examines taking your pets on vacation and if it is a good choice for your particular pet.

Photo © Getty Images/Jakob Helbig

I found a recent survey about household poisons conducted by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) to be very interesting. The number one insurance claim for poisonings by far was owner-induced; classified as "drug reactions" (3,455 claims).

Most of these drug reaction poisonings were caused by pet owners giving their pets drugs intended for human use, such as over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil. Learn about this dangerous practice of giving pets human medicines and 9 other top household toxins in this article.

Veterinary Pet Insurance
VPI web site

Photo © Getty Images/Michael Matisse

DEWFRAIN writes: My father passed away in November and although his dog seems to be blending well into our family, he seems sad sometimes. I wonder if he realizes what happened. My father was out of town and the dog was at "camp" when he died. We picked him up and he has been with us since then. I still have a lot of things to go through that were my father's but I am hesitant to do it in front of the dog. He seems sad when I pull things out that belonged to my father. I let him smell things but I don't know if I am confusing him or if he understands. He is a great dog and we love him very much and just want him to be happy. Any helpful advice or comment would be appreciated."

Related Resources:
Loss and Grief

I spotlighted this article during the March Poison awareness week, but recent news stories have brought the pet dangers of xylitol into public view again. Toxicity has been documented in dogs and now suspected in ferrets, according to a recent news report. This time, one pet ferret death and one pet ferret suffering from seizures.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute and used in candy, sugarless gum, toothpaste and other products. The mechanism of toxicity (in dogs at least) is by creating a sudden crash of blood glucose; which creates a host of clinical signs and life-threatening changes.

Pets are curious by nature and many of them have a sweet tooth. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and quite possibly other animals, so please use caution with gum, candy or other treats around the house. This is also another good reason to use pet toothpaste instead of human toothpaste for home pet dental care, to avoid any possible xylitol ingestion.

Related reading:

• For a dog named Hershey, sugarless gum is not so sweet
  From the LA Times
• Ingredient Fact Sheet: Xylitol
  From Tom's of Maine Toothpaste
• Raisins and Grapes are also Toxic to Pets
  From you Guide
• Tips and tools for home dental care for pets
  From you Guide

Photo courtesy of GenGlo.

There's nothing like a nice, bright smile! Pet dental care is important, but many people wonder why anesthesia is often necessary for a full dental cleaning and examination.

For the record, home care (brushing) does not require anesthesia, and is definitely a part of good oral health for your pet. In addition to home care though, your vet may recommend a professional cleaning if your pet has bad breath or related problems. Learn what is involved with a veterinary dental and why general anesthesia is necessary in this FAQ.

Related Reading and Video:

• Tips and tools for home dental care for pets
• How to Brush a Dog's Teeth (video)

Photo courtesy of GenGlo.

Veterinary medicine was traditionally a "male" profession, especially back in the days of heavy lifting and large animal wrangling. Technology and medical advances have drastically changed the way medicine is practiced, and the family pet has moved into the spotlight for veterinary care. Along with these changes, the veterinary profession has seen a drastic increase in the number of female veterinarians and veterinary students over the last 30 to 50 years.

Advances in both veterinary and human medicine in the last few decades have been exponential. And expensive. The costs of medical school and doctor's salaries have gone up, as have insurance and medical costs. The average veterinary salary, however, is usually less than other human health care profession salaries, and slightly above Registered Nurse (RN) salaries. The lack of extensive pet health insurance coverage can make balancing veterinary income and practice expenses difficult as well.

So why the gender shift in veterinary medicine? There are many theories, including, but not limited to:

• equal admission process for men, women and minorities
• advances in large animal restraint and medicine; better tools to handle large animals
• more women role models for female applicants (conversely, this may be a deterrent for male applicants)
• men may be pursuing higher salary potentials for doctorate degrees in other fields
• income for married women may be viewed as "supplemental" to the household income, and thus be seen as willing to accept lower pay

What are your thoughts about the changing "face" of veterinary medicine? Please post your comments using the link below this post. Do you or your pets have a "veterinarian gender preference?" The poll is a multi-answer poll so you can answer for you and for your pets.

Related Reading:

• Women dominate admissions at veterinary medicine schools
  From the San Jose Mercury News
• Campus gender gap: Progress or problem?
  From the Seattle Times
  
• Gender and veterinary medicine
  From Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  Author Jeanne Lofstedt, DVM
• Veterinary admission and applicant statistics
  From the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)

The AVMA released a FAQ in April 2008 about a relatively new strain of parvovirus called canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c). This strain causes the same gastrointestinal signs as the "regular" virus, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). These signs may include vomiting, diarrhea (often bloody), loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration.

What about parvovirus types 2a and 2b? They are also present, but do not differ enough from CPV-2 to void the protective effects of the parvo vaccination. The new strain of parvo, type 2c (CPV-2c), circumvents vaccine protection because the viral proteins of CPV-2c are just different enough that the body doesn't have antibodies built up to fight it off; as it does with the other strains of parvo. Because of this, some diagnostic tests for parvo may not pick up on the new CPV-2c variant either.

This new strain of parvo is transmitted the same way as the old parvo; by dog-to-dog contact, and the risk is higher for dogs kept in close quarters, such as a kennel. Treatment is supportive, including fluid and eletrolyte replacement therapy, antibiotic support, and management of vomiting and diarrhea.

At this time, there is no vaccine for this new strain, but the currently available parvo vaccine may provide some protection, according to the AVMA research report. Dog owners are still strongly advised to vaccinate their dogs for parvo.

Related Reading:

• OSU Laboratory First to Discover a Virus in United States
  From Oklahoma State University
• Canine Respiratory Coronavirus (CRCov)
  Also from the AVMA a FAQ about this virus that causes respiratory infections in dogs.

From your Guide:

• What are the signs seen with Parvovirus infection?
• Veterinary Q & A: Parvovirus Infection in Dogs