Kelly's Corner
|
Thoughts for the New Year
January 25, 2012 Losing weight. Finding love. Work on increasing your savings account. All very common New Year’s resolutions. The most common, however, is always to stop smoking. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that secondhand smoke is attributed with killing thousands of adult non-smokers yearly. I’ve never had to stop smoking, but on my 16th birthday, my dad made the pledge to stop, not only for his health but for the health of his children and the people around him. Children and grandchildren are a great reason to stop smoking, but so are pets. More and more evidence is coming forward about just how dangerous secondhand smoke is to the animals that share our homes. A recent study from Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine found a very strong correlation between secondhand smoke and some forms of cancer in cats. The most common one that was found was a certain form of mouth cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. This particular cancer was found in a higher percentage in animals living in smoking environments than in non-smoking households. The numbers rose even higher in cats that were living with a smoker for five or more years. One of the reasons cats are so susceptible to these cancers are because of their grooming habits. Cats are constantly grooming themselves, therefore they are licking up all of the cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate on their fur. Dogs are more susceptible to cancers of the nose and sinus area. Colorado State University recently conducted a study that showed that dogs living in smoking environments had a higher percentage of nasal tumors than those who were living in non-smoking environments. The increased incidence was specifically found among the long-nosed breeds of dogs. Shorter and medium-nose dogs showed higher rates for lung cancer. Secondhand smoke is not the only danger faced by pets that live in smoke-filled environments. Poisoning is another common risk. Curious pets can eat cigarettes and other tobacco products if they aren’t stored properly. When ingested, this can cause nicotine poisoning, which can be life-threatening. The best choice that could enhance your chances of enjoying a healthier lifestyle with your family and pets would be to stop smoking all together. Cheers to a happy and healthy 2012! Kelly |
How do I know when a lump on my pet needs to be examined?
All new lumps found on your pet should be examined by a veterinarian. During the examination, the doctor will palpate (feel) the lump, measure it, and take a needle biopsy sample. This initial test will let the doctor know if it is a benign lipoma (fatty tumor), cyst, or a malignant lump that needs removal. If a lump is cancerous, early removal can be curative. Therefore, it is important to get lumps checked out early. Does my dog really need heartworm preventative all year round?
If I give heartworm preventative all year round, why do I have to test every year? While it's true that there are no mosquitoes in February, intestinal parasites are present and infective to your dog all year round. It is possible to pick up a parasite infestation from sniffing other dog feces that is infested, so dogs who walk where other dogs have been are exposed. Since some of these parasites are also a human health threat, we recommend that all dogs are on preventative all year round. We follow the manufacturer's recommendations on testing every dog annually for heartworm disease. This is to be sure that every dose that your pet receives has heartworm medication in it, and to be sure that every dose was given. It is very easy to forget a dose. |