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Showing posts from August, 2012
25August2012 In Italian, a belladonna is a beautiful lady; in English, it's a deadly poison Ambrose Bierce [Animal Doc AM Multi-Media with Dr. Don DeForge is now being presented at Silver Sands Veterinary on FB and Twitter] Avoiding Pet Poisoning There are many poisons in and around our homes that can be lethal to our pets.  Non-secured medicine cabinets and human medicines that are left out on counters are very common pet poison exposure areas.  Be sure to secure all of the medicines that you take.  Remember, many of the over the counter medicines you take can be just as lethal as prescription medicines. Here are some categories of Human Medicines that are very dangerous for your pet to ingest: Painkillers of all types Cold Medicines Diet Supplements Antidepressants Allergy Medicines Supplements Muscle Relaxants Sedatives Medicines to Induce Sleep Many times these medicines are dropped on the floor and the pet comes along and licks and swallows them thinking they are eating a tre
"Life is a Combination of Magic and Pasta"  -Federico Fellini   Animal Doc AM Multi-Media with Dr. Don DeForge 21August2012 What is our happiest time of each day?  It is when we gather to eat as a family or find a moment of silence away from the maddening world to have a cup of coffee; a sweet treat; or maybe a large scoop of our favorite ice cream. Our pets also seek the wonders and magic of the varied food that we present to them.  Unfortunately, our selection of foods is not always the best.  We overload our pets diets with treats that are loaded with fats and carbs leading to obesity.  Obesity is a trigger for many medical conditions including the problems listed below. Here are just a few side effects of obesity in our pets that can be prevented with a close scrutiny of diet: Diabetes Heart problems Orthopedic problems Arthritis aggravation Breathing problems Liver disease Lethargy and tiredness Ignore the guaranteed analysis on food bags.  The food you feed your pet sho
Identifying Pain in Your Pet:  Ending Your Pet's Bad Dream Forever by Dr. Don DeForge Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media 14August2012 “Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.”   ―  Markus Zusak Pets have NO recourse but to "smile" even though they may be living in pain.  As your pet's advocate, you must work hard to identify "signs" of pain and remove this pain with the counsel and help of a veterinary professional.  Your Local Doctor of Veterinary Medicine may seek help from a pain specialist if the cause or the pain center is difficult to diagnose.  Pain specialists exist in veterinary medicine just as they do in human medicine. There are two COMMON TYPES OF PAIN in our companions:  First, there is ACUTE PAIN: Common Examples of ACUTE PAIN are: Crying-Howling-Bleeding from trauma Broken bones; a ruptured ligament; a slipped disc Auto accidents; falling large distances; being hit by an object Being shot or wounded as

WHICH ITCH IS THE WORST?

Which ITCH is the Worst? Animal Doc AM Multi-Media Dr. Don DeForge 07August2012 Have your allergies been bothering you? As you stop by the OTC area for allergy medicine at your local supermarket or drug store you will note that there has been a major run on allergy medicines this month.  People are sneezing, coughing, rubbing their itchy eyes, and complaining about sinus headaches.  What about our PETS?  Do they have the same allergies? Yogi Berra once said, "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore!"  The information to follow is definitely worth a dime because it can help your pet return to a normal quality of life.  Dogs, specifically, can have a multitude of allergy problems.  In the dog and the cat, the reactions to allergies are usually dermal [i.e. involving the skin] in nature. Some of the signs you might see with a dog or a cat with allergies are: Licking or chewing of the feet or pads A reddened skin with crusty areas from secondary infections Rubbing of the face Scr