Tampa Dog Training

Spike

As pet owners in South Florida are being warned about a deadly bacterial disease that can infect dogs and transmit to people, as well, Tampa Bay area veterinarians say leptospirosis is also a concern here.

While Tampa Bay area vets haven’t necessarily noticed an uptick in cases here, the risk of contamination is present, they say. South Florida media outlets have warned about the bacteria in recent days.

Dr. John Gicking of BluePearl Veterinary Partners told Patch that leptospirosis occurs regularly in the Bay area. The disease is caused by bacteria carried by small animals, such as rodents and raccoons. When infected animals urinate they may contaminate canals, puddles of water and other sources of standing water. Should a dog happen to run through contaminated water, it can become infected as a result, Gicking said.

Leptospirosis can cause such symptoms in dogs as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excessive thirst and jaundice. It can prove fatal to dogs and may also be spread to humans.

Dogs can be treated with a round of antibiotics and sometimes their immune systems are capable of fighting off the infection, as well.

“You may also want to talk to your family veterinarian about getting your dog vaccinated for leptospirosis,” said Gicking, who is board-certified in emergency medicine and critical care.

Gicking especially suggests that pet owners with dogs that frequently run through creeks, canals and puddles, such as hunting dogs, get the vaccine.

Leptospirosis infections can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory disease and even death in people, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. People also contract the illness by coming into contact with contaminated animal urine, the agency noted on its website. Symptoms in people are similar to those displayed in canines, but may also include a high fever, red eyes, abdominal pain and a rash. Antibiotics are also used to treat the infection in people.

To avoid contamination, the CDC recommends people avoid swimming or wading in waters that might be contaminated and avoiding exposure to potentially contaminated animal urine.

Retrieved from: http://patch.com/florida/landolakes/deadly-dog-disease-tampa-bay-area-concern

PB&FRUIT ICE

Stepping out with our furry friends during the sunniest time of the year makes for hot and hungry dogs. This quick, simple recipe is designed to cool off your pup, while providing a delectable, tasty treat! Makes 30-40 cubes, enough to last the summer. Feel free to add other tasty items like raspberries and strawberries, or any of the superfoods.

Ingredients:

4 cups yogurt (flavored or plain, non-fat if needed)
½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 ripe banana, mashed

Directions:

1. Melt peanut butter in microwave for about 30 seconds
2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender, mixer or food processor and mix well (until smooth)
3. Pour into ice cube trays or Popsicle trays.
4. Freeze until firm.
5. Pop out of the tray (you’ll need a knife) and let your dog enjoy this frozen treat!

Retrieved from: http://thebark.com/content/simple-frozen-yogurt-treats

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.
• Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
• Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
• Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.

Retrieved from: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips