by Dr. Donna Spector

Adopting a pet involves more than picking an adorable pet out of a cage and bringing it home.  Every shelter has their own approach to finding new homes for pets but all try to balance the interests of the pet and the adopter.  The adoption process usually involves the following steps:

• Filling out an adoption application
• Interview with shelter staff
• Selecting your new pet
• Waiting period
• Signing an adoption contract and paying fees
• Trial period

The application and interview
Many pets are surrendered to shelters because people are often unrealistic about the time, effort, money and facilities that pets require.  Because of this, shelters often perform vigorous personal interviews to insure a great match for you and your new pet.  You will usually be required to fill out basic contact information, provide photo identification, proof of residence, and proof of prior pet ownership with veterinary and licensing records if applicable.  In addition, the shelter staff will use the following information to help match you with your perfect pet:

• Reasons for getting a pet (e.g. companion for yourself, children, or another pet; agility dog, etc).
• Number and ages of children and pets you currently have and previous pet experience.
• Facilities or housing situation and whether you rent or own.  Some shelters will require a letter from a landlord stating that pets are allowed.
• Lifestyle information—activity level, travel, etc.

Selecting your new pet
It can be overwhelming when you arrive at a shelter to see how many choices you have.  Before you arrive, it is important to construct a list of desired traits—such as coat type, size, shape, temperament, gender, and age.  As many shelters have purebred dogs and cats, you should also research breeds that appeal to you in both physical and behavioral characteristics.  Some shelters will keep a waiting list and contact you if a particular breed you are looking for becomes available.

Oftentimes pets that appear quiet, scared or even overly excited are overlooked by potential adopters.  Ask the shelter staff about the personality of each pet you may be interested in.  The shelter staff usually has had the opportunity to interact with the animals in various environments and can often assist you in better observing his or her true personality.

Read my article about choosing the right pet at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/getting-a-new-dog.html for more considerations.

Waiting Period
Many shelters and rescue groups will require a waiting period of 24 to 48 hours (or more) before allowing you to take your new pet home.  This is intended to give families time to discuss the decision of getting a pet and make sure it is not just an impulse.  A family must be emotionally, financially and personally ready to take on the responsibility of a new pet.  It is important that all members of a family are “on board” with getting a pet and everyone is committed to its care.  It must be decided who will feed, groom, exercise and pick up after a pet in advance.  This waiting period also gives prospective families time to prepare their home for a new pet.  Read my article about welcoming your new pet at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/welcoming-your-new-dog.html.

Adoption contract and fees
Most shelters require that you sign a contract when you adopt a pet.  These contracts will often require that adopters be responsible for:

• Spaying or neutering
• Provision of good housing, nutrition and health care
• Return of the animal to the shelter if an adopter can no longer care for him or her
• Associated costs of adopting the pet

Some shelters also require post-adoption visits by shelter staff.  In almost all cases, you will need to pay an adoption fee to the shelter.  Also if the animal has experienced significant health care costs while at the shelter, they may ask the adopter to help with the costs.  Shelters always appreciate contributions toward their programs and facilities.

Trial Period
Many shelters offer a trial period that allows you to take your new pet home to determine how he or she does in their new environment.  This is particularly important if there are already pets or children in a household.  Occasionally a behavioral or medical problem may be discovered that was not noticed in the shelter.  Some shelters offer post-adoption assistance with minor behavioral or adjustment problems.  If the adopter or shelter feel the match is not a good one, the animal can be returned during this trial period to the shelter without penalty.

Many shelters have information about their specific adoption process on their websites so you can prepare in advance.  Although this process may seem extensive, it is beneficial to all parties involved—you will have a relationship with your pet for many years so it is worth the time and effort to insure the best match possible.

by Dr. Donna Spector

Did you know…..approximately 50% of U.S. dogs are overweight or obese.

Do you have a pudgy pooch? If you break a sweat when picking your dog up or you notice he cleans the floors with his stomach—there is a problem! All joking aside, health risks of obesity are real. It contributes to many medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, compromised immune function and can even predispose to certain types of cancer. It has been well documented that dogs maintaining an ideal body weight live 15% longer, and with less disease, than overweight dogs. It is a fact that dogs will live shorter lives if obesity is not addressed.

While most dog owners realize that their dog may be “a little heavy”, they often don’t recognize when their dog is truly obese. When a vet says “Fido” should lose 5 pounds, it often goes in one ear and right out the other. Really…who doesn’t have 5 pounds to lose? But this is us thinking in human weight terms. Did you know….

5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 12 pound Shih Tzu is like 58 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.

5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 25 pound Beagle is like 28 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.

5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 70 pound Lab Retriever is like 10 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.

The first dog in this example is morbidly obese at 42% over ideal body weight. The second dog is also obese at 20% over ideal body weight. The third dog is overweight at 7% over ideal body weight. These are weights that veterinarians see every day. This kind of weight problem is responsible for many preventable illnesses in our pets.

What causes obesity?

While some dog’s do indeed have a medical condition that predisposes them to obesity, most often it is a result of simple overfeeding. While dogs are frequently overfed their food, treats are also a major source of hidden calories. Look at this example:

A premium pig ear on average has about 230 calories. If you give this pig ear as a treat to a 40 pound dog (who should be eating around 620 calories each day), it is the same as a person (on a 2300 calorie diet) eating 2 double cheeseburgers as a treat in addition to their normal meals. This pig ear represents close to 40% of that dog’s daily calorie requirement.

Many commercial dog treats are filled with calories, sugar, and other potentially unhealthy ingredients that do nothing to satisfy hunger and just contribute to our dog’s ever expanding waistlines. Choosing treats like Halo’s natural baked low-calorie Healthsome biscuits is a great option. Fresh or lightly cooked vegetables are always a good choice, too.

What can you do?

• The first step is to admit there is a problem. Get motivated on your dog’s behalf!
• Talk to your vet. Get your pet a full medical checkup. Find out just how overweight or obese your dog is. Find out what their ideal body weight is. Find out how many calories they should eat each day.
• Choose the best food for weight loss in your dog. Talk to your vet about Halo’s natural high protein food to aid in weight loss while still maintaining lean body mass and strength. The canned chicken and lamb Spot’s Stew has lower calories and can be especially helpful for weight loss. Halo also creates a line of low-calorie nutritious treats that can give your dog that snack he craves without the unnecessary calories. Try the Healthsome Skin and Coat treats with only 12 calories per biscuit or Beef and Liver or Chicken and Cheese treats with only 14 calories per biscuit.
• Exercise your dog briskly for at least 20 minutes every day!
• Monitor your dog’s progress and stay on track.

Check out this great website about pet obesity prevention for more tips on weight loss:

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/.

by Dr. Donna Spector

Did you know…..approximately 50% of U.S. cats are overweight or obese.

Do you have a flabby feline? If you notice she cleans the floors with her stomach—there is a problem! All joking aside, health risks of obesity are real. It contributes to many medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, compromised immune function and can even predispose to certain types of cancer. It has been well documented that cats maintaining an ideal body weight live longer, and with less disease, than overweight cats. It is a fact that cats will live shorter lives if obesity is not addressed.

While most owners realize that their cat may be “a little heavy”, they often don’t recognize when their cat is truly obese. When a vet says “Sylvester” should lose 2 or 3 pounds, it often goes in one ear and right out the other. Really…who doesn’t have a few pounds to lose? But this is us thinking in human weight terms.

Most domestic cats should weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. Some breeds have larger ranges. For example, Persian cats can be smaller at 6 or 7 pounds and up to 12 pounds. Siamese are similar. Maine Coon cats, Norwegian Forest Cats and some others can be normal up to 23 to 25 pounds. But…these are the exceptions. Most cats should weigh 8 to 10 pounds. As a veterinarian, I commonly see 13 to 18 pound cats…that indeed should weigh 8 to 10 pounds. Did you know….

12 pound cat: these extra 2 pounds on a (should-be) 10 pound cat is like 28 pounds on a 140 pound woman.

13 pound cat: these extra 3 pounds on a (should-be) 10 pound cat is like 42 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.

15 pound cat: these extra 5 pounds on a (should-be) 10 pound cat is like 70 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.

18 pound cat: these extra 8 pounds on a (should-be) 10 pound cat is like 112 pounds on a 140 pound woman.

All cats in this example are obese….meaning they are 20% or greater over their ideal body weight. These are weights that veterinarians see every day. This kind of weight problem is responsible for many preventable illnesses in our cats.

What causes obesity?

While some cat’s do indeed have a medical condition that predisposes them to obesity, most often it is a result of simple overfeeding. Cats are typically overfed their cat food as well as “over-treated”.

An average lazy 10 pound house cat usually needs only 180 and 200 calories each day! As a person eating a 2000 calorie diet, those number are hard to imagine. That would be like us eating only 1 cup of chicken breast each day…but it is accurate for our small feline friends.

What kind of food and treats are best for cats to lose weight?

As many commercial dry cat foods are very calorie-dense with 400 to 500 calories per cup, it is very easy to overfeed your cat. Many owners are in the bad habit of “free-feeding” their cats by placing the food bowl down and filling it up as the level gets low. It is impossible to know how many calories this is…but usually represents gross overfeeding. It is best to meal-feed your cat with a precise measuring cup to get the calories just right.

As strict carnivores, it is easiest for cats to lose weight on a high-protein, low carbohydrate natural canned food. Treats must be chosen wisely and high-carbohydrate, high-calorie treats must be avoided. Go natural with baked treats like Halo’s Healthsome cat treats with real chicken and only 1.5 calories per treat or freeze-dried meat treats like Halo’s Liv-a-Littles to help kitty lose that chub. Avoid the little cubes of cheese out of the refrigerator or other high-calorie treats as you can easily provide 50% or more of your cat’s calorie requirements with this type of treating.

What can you do?

• The first step is to admit there is a problem. Get motivated on your cat’s behalf!
• Talk to your vet. Get your cat a full medical checkup. Find out just how overweight or obese your cat is. Find out what their ideal body weight is. Find out how many calories they should eat each day.
• Choose the best food for weight loss in your cat. Talk to your vet about a natural high protein canned food like Halo to aid in weight loss while still maintaining lean body mass and strength. Consider Halo’s Liv-a-Littles as a perfect protein treat for your cat—ask your vet how many treats your cat can have every day.
• Exercise your cat! Play laser tag—something to get your cat moving for at least 20 minutes each day.
• Monitor your cat’s progress and stay on track.

Check out this great website about pet obesity prevention for more tips on weight loss:

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/.

by Dr. Donna Spector

Does your dog have allergies? He may, if he has any of the following allergy symptoms:

• Scratches his ears
• Licks or chews his feet or body
• Has a reddish discoloration of the hair on the paws or between the toes
• Rubs his face against the furniture or floor
• Has a rash, bumps, pimples or open sores on the skin
• Has red or watery eyes
• Has ear infections
• Has sneezing or a runny nose
• Vomits or has diarrhea
• Coughs or wheezes

Dogs tend to have different allergy symptoms than people do. While grass pollen may cause a person to sneeze and have watery eyes, a dog may develop itchy feet that causes him to lick and bite. Although dogs can develop watery eyes and sneezing, the most common allergy symptom is scratching. Constant scratching may lead to open sores, raised welts and loss of hair.

All dog breeds can be affected by allergies. Allergies usually affect dogs over two years old, although they have been reported in dogs as young as five months old. This means that dogs who are affected by allergies often suffer their entire lives and symptoms often become worse with age. As a dog owner, it is important to educate yourself about allergy symptoms and treatment options to help keep your best friend comfortable.

Types of Dog Allergies

There are four types of dog allergies. These include:

• Airborne allergies (atopy)
• Flea allergies
• Food allergies
• Contact allergies

Airborne Allergy (Atopy)

Allergies to particles (allergens) your dog inhales is called atopy and is very common. Common allergens include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc), grass pollens, weed pollens (ragweed, goldenrods, etc), molds, mildew and house dust mites. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed and grass pollens. Others, such as molds, mildew and house dust mites are year-round problems. When humans inhale these allergens they usually develop respiratory signs (“hayfever”). When dogs inhale these allergens they develop itching of the face, feet and armpits.

One of the most important treatments is to minimize your dog’s exposure to things he is allergic to. For example, if a dog is allergic to pollen, he should be kept inside when pollen counts are high or the grass is being mowed. Air filters can also help remove many airborne allergens to keep the home environment clean.

Some veterinarians will recommend allergy shots if specific allergens have been identified (see allergy testing below). With allergy shots, very small amounts of the offending allergen are injected weekly to help your dog become less sensitive to it. Up to 75% of dogs that receive allergy shots will have improvement in their signs—but it can take several months (up to one year) to see the full effect.

Flea Allergy

Flea allergy is a very common allergy in dogs. Most dogs will have minor irritation and itching from a flea bite. A dog with flea allergy, however, will have a severe reaction to a single flea—they will often bite and break the skin and even remove large patches of their own hair. The most common area of the body affected by flea allergy is the base of the tail or the hind legs.

Treatment of flea allergy includes strict flea control. Fleas can be very difficult to kill but with modern flea medicine and home treatment options, your veterinarian can help you rid your home and dog of these pests.

Food Allergy

Food allergies are more common than originally thought, and it is now known that food allergy and atopy often occur together. Food allergy can strike at any age and allergies can develop to any protein or carbohydrate in the food. Allergies to beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, soy, corn and wheat seem to be the most common. Common symptoms of dog food allergy include itching of the face, feet, sides of the body, legs and anal area. These dogs will often have ear yeast infections and skin infections that respond to antibiotics, but recur as soon as the antibiotic is finished. Some dogs with food allergy will also have increased bowel movements and soft stool. Food allergies should not be confused with food intolerances which generally cause more severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatment of food allergy involves feeding your dog a diet that does not contain the allergen. To achieve this, your veterinarian will perform a “diet trial”. A commercial hypoallergenic diet or homemade dog food is prescribed and fed for 8 to 12 weeks. During this time, your dog must ONLY eat the prescribed food—no table food, scraps, treats, vitamins or chewable medications (even heartworm pills) can be given during a diet trial. If a positive response is seen after this trial, your veterinarian will advise you on how to proceed.

Contact Allergy

This is the least common type of allergy and is caused by something your dog comes in contact with, such as carpet, bedding, plastic, cleaners, detergents, lawn chemicals, grasses, or other things. The area of the body affected is the contact surfaces, such as the stomach, bottom of the feet, muzzle or elbows. Treatment involves identifying and removing the allergen.

Diagnosis of Allergies

If you suspect your dog has allergies, you should see your veterinarian. Veterinarians will usually make a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan based on the following information:

• Season(s) of the year when your dog has the most symptoms
• What body locations are the most itchy
• Response of the itch to medications (e.g. shampoos, antihistamines, steroids, etc)

If the initial treatment does not give your dog relief, your veterinarian may recommend more specific “allergy testing”. Allergy testing is done by either taking a blood test or performing intradermal skin testing. The blood tests are reasonably reliable for detecting airborne allergies but not as good for food or contact allergies. Skin testing is considered more accurate and involves shaving a patch of hair on your dog’s side and then injecting small amounts of allergens under the skin. A positive test is diagnosed if there is a reddening or welting of the skin after injection. Those allergens can then be mixed together by a laboratory and injections given weekly at home over several months to help diminish the dog’s reaction to the allergens.

Treatment of Allergies

In addition to specific treatments listed above for each allergy type, your veterinarian may recommend the following skin treatments to give your allergic dog relief during his most itchy times:

• Shampoo — frequent bathing with a natural shampoo removes pollens, debris and other allergens from the coat that could be absorbed through the skin. Your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo or conditioner that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients if your dog needs additional relief.
• Anti-inflammatory allergy medication — steroids, antihistamines or cyclosporine may be prescribed as they dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases. These medications create almost immediate relief from skin irritation and severe itching associated with most types of allergy.
• Antibiotics — often the itch of allergy is made worse by bacterial or yeast skin infections. Your veterinarian may recommend the use of oral antibiotics or anti-yeast medications to treat these infections.

Additional things you can do at home to minimize your dog’s itchiness or allergy symptoms:

• Try to minimize the exposure of your dog to the suspected allergens.
• Feed your dog a high quality natural dog food with proper pet supplements to ensure they have no dietary deficiencies.
• Give your dog a pet supplement with fatty acids to provide beneficial anti-inflammatory properties and improve the quality of their skin and coat.
• Use stainless steel or glass feeding dishes and clean them regularly.
• Brush your dog’s hair coat regularly to distribute the natural oils and prevent mats that can further irritate itchy skin.
• Apply a natural ointment in areas where the skin is broken or in “hot spots”.
• Use flea preventative regularly as allergic dogs tend to be even more sensitive than normal dogs to flea or insect bites. A natural herbal dip is a gentle alternative to harsh chemicals.
• Wash your dogs bedding with hypoallergenic detergent in very hot water.

It can be miserable to watch your dog suffer with allergy symptoms. Using natural pet products and working closely with your veterinarian will ensure your dog will be as comfortable as possible.

by Dr. Donna Spector

Cats are commonly affected by allergies. An allergy occurs when a cat’s immune system overacts to foreign substances or particles (called allergens). This overactive immune system can cause any of the following allergy symptoms in cats:

• Skin itchiness causing scratching and rubbing
• Sneezing, coughing or wheezing
• Vomiting, diarrhea, gas or bloating

Types of Cat Allergies

There are four types of allergies that affect cats. These include:

• Flea allergies
• Food allergies
• Airborne allergies (atopy)
• Contact allergies

As a cat owner, it is important to educate yourself about the unique signs associated with each type of allergy. If your cat exhibits any of these allergy symptoms, see your veterinarian to discuss treatment options to give your cat relief from allergies.

Flea Allergy

Flea allergy is probably the most common allergy in cats. A normal cat will experience minor irritation and itching from a flea bite. A cat with flea allergy, however, will have a severe reaction to a single flea—they will often bite and break the skin and even remove large patches of their own hair. There will often be open sores or small scabs present on their skin. The most common areas of the body affected by flea allergy are the rump, head and neck.

Treatment of flea allergy includes strict flea control. Fleas can be very difficult to kill but with modern flea medications and home treatment options, your veterinarian can help you rid your home and cat of these pests.

Food Allergy

Cats are not born with food allergies. It is actually more common that they develop allergies to a food they have eaten for many years. Food allergy can strike at any age and allergies usually develop to the protein component of the food. Allergies to beef, pork, chicken, and turkey are the most common. Cat food allergy can produce severe skin itchiness, gastrointestinal upset or respiratory allergy symptoms. Food allergy testing is recommended when allergy symptoms have been present for several months, if a cat has a poor response to steroids, or when a very young cat itches without other apparent causes of allergy.

Testing involves a “diet trial” selected and monitored by your veterinarian. During a “diet trial”, a commercial or home-made hypoallergenic diet is fed exclusively for 8 to 12 weeks. During this time, your cat must ONLY eat the prescribed food—no table food, scraps, treats, vitamins or chewable medications can be given during a diet trial. If a positive response is seen after this trial, your veterinarian will advise you on how to proceed. Treatment is easy—just feed a diet without the allergen!

Airborne Allergy (Atopy)

Allergies to particles your cat inhales is called atopy. Common allergens include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc), grass pollens (bermuda, etc), weed pollens (ragweed, goldenrods, etc), molds, mildew and house dust mites. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed and grass pollens. Others, such as molds, mildew and house dust mites are year-round problems. When humans inhale these allergens they usually develop respiratory signs (“hayfever”). When cats inhale these allergens they develop severe itching of the entire body.

One of the most important treatments for atopy is to minimize your cat’s exposure to things he is allergic to. For example, if a cat is allergic to pollen, he should be kept inside with the windows closed when pollen counts are high or the grass is being mowed. Air filters also help remove many airborne allergens to keep the home environment clean.

Other treatment options are chosen based on the severity of your cat’s allergy symptoms and the length of his allergy season. For example, if your cat itches a few weeks once or twice a year, your veterinarian may recommend shampoos and anti-inflammatory medications to help alleviate his allergy symptoms. However, if your cat itches year-round, or so severely that he has open sores, your veterinarian may recommend skin testing and allergy shots (see below).

Contact Allergy

This is the least common type of allergy and is caused by something your cat comes in contact with, such as carpet, bedding (especially wool), or detergents. If your cat is allergic to such substances, there will be skin irritation and itching at the points of contact (elbows, bottom of the feet, belly, etc). Treatment involves identifying and removing the allergen.

Diagnosis of Allergies

If you suspect your cat has allergies, you should see your veterinarian. Veterinarians will usually make a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan based on the following information:

• Season(s) of the year when your cat has the most allergy symptoms
• What body locations are the most itchy
• Response of the itch to medications (e.g. shampoos, antihistamines, steroids, etc)

If the initial treatment does not give your cat relief, your veterinarian may recommend more specific “allergy testing”. Allergy testing is done by either taking a blood test or performing intradermal skin testing. The blood tests are reasonably reliable for detecting airborne allergies but not as good for food or contact allergies. Skin testing is considered more accurate and involves shaving a patch of hair on your cat’s side and then injecting small amounts of allergens under the skin. A positive test is diagnosed if there is a reddening or welting of the skin after injection. Those offending allergens can be mixed together by a laboratory and very small injections given weekly at home over several months to help your cat become less sensitive to them. Up to 75% of cats that receive allergy shots will have improvement in their signs—but it can take several months (up to one year) to see the full effect.

Treatment of Allergies

In addition to specific treatments listed above for each allergy type, your veterinarian may recommend the following treatments to give your allergic cat relief during his most itchy times:

• Shampoo — frequent bathing with a natural shampoo removes pollens, debris and other allergens from the coat that could be absorbed through the skin. Your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo or conditioner that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients if your cat needs additional relief.
• Anti-inflammatory medications — steroids, antihistamines or cyclosporine may be prescribed as they dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases. These medications create almost immediate relief from skin irritation and severe itching associated with most types of allergy.
• Antibiotics — often the itch of allergy is made worse by bacterial or yeast skin infections. Your veterinarian may recommend the use of oral antibiotics or anti-yeast medications to treat these infections.

Additional things you can do at home to minimize the itchiness of your allergic cat:

• Try to minimize the exposure of your cat to the suspected allergens.
• Feed your cat a high quality natural cat food with proper pet supplements to ensure they have no dietary deficiencies.
• Give your cat a pet supplement with fatty acids to provide beneficial anti-inflammatory properties and improve the quality of their skin and coat.
• Use stainless steel or glass feeding dishes and clean them regularly.
• Brush your cat’s hair coat regularly to distribute the natural oils and prevent mats that can further irritate itchy skin.
• Apply a natural ointment in areas where the skin is broken or in “hot spots.”
• Use flea preventative regularly as allergic cats tend to be even more sensitive than normal cats to flea or insect bites. A natural herbal dip is a gentle alternative to harsh chemicals.
• Wash your cats bedding with hypoallergenic detergent in very hot water.

It can be miserable to watch your cat suffer with allergy symptoms. Using natural pet products and working closely with your veterinarian will ensure your cat will be as comfortable as possible.