Tuesday December 22, 2009
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and IDEXX Reference Laboratories have confirmed the first US case of the 2009 H1N1 influenza in a dog in New York state. In November 2009, the Chinese press reported two canine cases of H1N1, but news reports were not confirmed by the AVMA or any US disease center specialists.
In the New York case, the patient is a 13-year old mixed breed neutered male dog. As with the other species who have become ill with H1N1, the dog became sick after his owner was sick and confirmed with H1N1 infection. It is thought that humans are transmitting this virus to animals.
The dog was seen by his regular veterinarian after several days of not feeling well. After the initial course of antibiotics and anti-inflamatories did not help, his owner took him to an emergency clinic. According to the IDEXX case report , the dog presented with a dry cough, not eating, lethargy and a fever of 103.6°F.
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Monday December 21, 2009
Many people are surprised to hear that the vast majority of calico cats are female. Why is this? Is it possible for a calico cat to ever be male?
Learn about the genetics of coat color in this feline FAQ.
Related Reading
Why does my orange tabby cat have black spots on his lips?
Paula the Calico Cat © GenGlo
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Friday December 18, 2009
Antifreeze is necessary to keep cars from freezing in the winter and overheating in the summer. The sweet taste of antifreeze is attractive to pets and children.
Acute cases of antifreeze toxicity (when an animal consumes antifreeze) often present as if the animal is intoxicated with alcohol.
This is an emergency situation, and life threatening within hours. Please see your veterinarian immediately. Success of treatment depends on quick treatment. Low toxicity propylene glycol antifreeze is available. Please check your local automotive store for availability and details.
Related Reading
Photo: Radiator Antifreeze by evelynishere on Flickr
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Thursday December 17, 2009
My daughter asked if the cats and dogs would have stockings and gifts this year. Considering that I am barely organized to shop for human friends and family (who might actually notice that it is the holidays and gifts are typically exchanged at this time), I answered no. The pets receive little goodies throughout the year, and they love them when they get them.
Fast forward to me doing some holiday shopping the other day. I added in a few extra stockings for the pets. Some little presents are sure to follow. In this case, I was shopping for my kids as much as my pets, since the kids love presenting the presents to the pets. Plus, it keeps the pets entertained and out of trouble while we enjoy the festivities.
Do you buy holiday gifts for pets?
Please vote in the poll and share your reasons/opinions/gift buying tips below in the "comments" section.
Related holiday and pet resources
Photo: Christmas Cat by dierken on Flickr
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