Pet talk

Remember years ago when the car companies told us that fossil fuel was the only thing that would make our cars run?  And look what we have today:  a true oil shortage, and a variety of ways to run cars.  Turns out that corn, cooking oil, and even some type of grass can be made into fuel. 

Such was the case in animal testing.  Years ago the cosmetics and pharmaceutical firms told us that animal testing was the only way to ensure safety in new products.  Well clearer minds prevailed, and in Europe animal testing for cosmetics will come to an end in March 2009.  What has happened since that law was passed?  The cosmetics companies have been forced to get cracking and come up with alternatives.  Companies have sprung up and have invented “in vitro” methods that are expected to replace animals totally by the March deadline. 

Of course the United States is way behind the trends in Europe.  But it is a start.  With “in vitro” testing being accepted in other countries, it will only be a matter of time before the FDA is forced into changing its stance as well.  The progress is slow, but still marching on.  And maybe these tests will only cut down on the number of animals used in research.  If so, that is better than nothing.  “Replace, reduce and refine”, should be the mantra of every animal researcher on the planet.  If it isn’t we need to ask, “Why isn’t this your goal?”  That answer should be fascinating.     

This week an

She got about 60 calls and the most noteworthy thing was that nearly 20 of them were from people interested in eating horse meat.  And I guess I can relate.  I routinely try out different types of meat when I get the chance.  Cabela’s restaurant has buffalo, ostrich and even elk—which are all pretty good.  I have tried alligator, rabbit, pheasant, quail, and venison too.  But horsemeat?  Nope.  I just can’t force myself to eat something I love so much.  It would be like eating dog or cat.  A staple in other countries, but just not done here.  

The slaughter of horses for meat has been outlawed in the

Did we do the horses justice?  I don’t think so.  Are we going to stop people from eating horses?  I seriously doubt that as we can not stop the people in some cultures who eat their relative’s brains! All we can do is ensure that the animals are raised well, enjoy the life they have and die painlessly.            

I recently had my dogs micro chipped.  Eventually, the government will require the horses to be chipped as well as the chickens.  (That is another blog for another time!).  But those chips are only good after the animal is found and sent to a pound or shelter with a reader.  But wouldn’t it be great if a chip could have GPS capability?  So when your pet gets lost a “LoJack” type of system could be activated to find him? 

It seems this technology is already on its way.  Along with a collar that contains a cell phone.  With this device, you can speak to your pet in a normal voice up 12 miles away.  You could call him home.  The best feature in this collar is the “call owner” button.  You press it and it immediately calls the owner so you can tell him/her that you have found their pet.  I LOVE this idea because it completely by passes the law in

Older technology that is really catching on is the pet cam.  Being able to observe your pet from work or anyplace with an internet connection is becoming a must have in the doggie daycare/spa business.  And what a huge advantage it is to the veterinarian who is monitoring a critical pet in intensive care.  Let’s face it; your veterinarian is probably not living at the clinic.  They have homes and family duties just like you.  Nothing beats being physically there to check an animal.  But being able to monitor the patient via web cam brings help immediately instead of at the next scheduled visit. 

My husband and I are discussing putting a camera in our kennel just for peace of mind.  As the technology becomes less costly, I bet we even put one out in the barn.  Just in case.   

My husband frequently asks me if I think the dogs know we love them.  And I always reply with an enthusiastic “Yes!”  I believe that some animals appreciate us and know that they are cherished members of a family.  And some animals can even make their appreciation known by making gestures similar to the gestures we use with each other. 

Take for instance the whale freed from a tangled mess of crab traps and fishing lines near the

When she was finally free, the whale immediately swam in excited circles around her rescue group.  Then she came back and gently nudged each and every person on the team as a thank you.  When a single flap of her tail could have killed every person working to free her, a gentle nudge is truly a show of appreciation!  Some of the rescue team said that, “it was the most incredibly beautiful experience” of their lives.

As a veterinarian in practice, I have had lots of experience with pets showing appreciation for what I was doing.  Whether I was removing quills from the nose of a plot hound, or foreign bodies from anywhere they were stuck, I was often given sincere looks of relief and gratitude.  And those rescuers were right; it is an incredibly beautiful experience. 

A Trenton dog trainer had a great idea.  She collected money from everyone she knew—family, friends and co workers.  At the end she had over $3000.00 to buy downriver fire departments special equipment to save the lives of pets found in burning homes.

Amazing as it seems, many animals can survive a deadly fire and not get burned.  But they end up succumbing to smoke inhalation.  In the precious few minutes after an animal has been removed from the smoke filled environment, if oxygen is administered the survival rate increases significantly.  But the oxygen masks made for people are nearly useless for pets.

That’s where Robin Brown comes in.  A package of 3 nose cones, which fit anything from a mastiff to a kitten, (and in a pinch can be used on other animals like rabbits, rats, and ferrets!), can be purchased for $55.00.  Robin took the donated money and outfitted several fire departments.  Now they can save the pets as well as the people from the burning houses.  What a great idea! 

If you would like to help more fire departments save animals, send your money to:  H.E.L.P Animals, Robin Brown Obedience Dynamics, 2708 Gorno,

www.obediencedynamics.net/AnimalRecoveryFundraiser.html    

What a shame!  The MDA has officially stopped inspecting pet stores in Michigan.  And it couldnt have come at a worse time.  With the economy so bad and money so tight, one of the first things to suffer are the animals. 

Years ago, the MDA also inspected research facilities, dog dealers and pet breeders similar to the USDA Animal Care unit.  In fact, there would be times when the situation was so dire that the agencies would team up and go to a facility together.  Dealers who sell dogs to research facilities were pretty bad back then and it was nice to know that someone was making sure the animals were treated humanely.

 But that is no longer the case.  Dirty, smelly pet shops running on a shoe string are pretty common now and there is no one left to advocate for the animals.  Well you say, people should just stop buying animals from a place like that—right?  Of course that is the best answer.  But what usually happens is that some well meaning people come in, see the mess, smell the stench, and then decide to “save” the animal by buying him; thus removing him from the problem.  But that only keeps these guys in business. 

I guess the best plan is to write the MDA and your representatives in Lansing and tell them that this is unacceptable.  Tell them to fund the Department of Agriculture and to restore the pet shop inspections.  The animals depend on us to protect them and this is something that must be continued!

I inherited a very expensive oriental rug from my parents when they passed away.  It is a beautiful rug that looks fabulous in my seldom used dining room.  That is until I found the huge urine stain!  It seems Duffy, our Rat terrier had some qualms about relieving himself outside when it was so bitter cold.  And being from

So what to do?  The Hagopian people said that they could get the smell out but not the stain.  I decided to experiment and went online to see what kind of products are out there for pet stain removal. 

The internet was pretty informative.  I found a type of product that has enzymes in it that not only gets rid of the smell; they erase the stain while not harming the rug itself.  They come in different names like: Urine Out, Urine Be Gone, and others—but all work the same way. 

Right now I am working on the stain and I must say is much better!  I am using the product as the label says and although I have more treatments to do I think the rug will be salvageable. 

Having pets on carpet is a whole lot easier when you have the proper tools.  I am talking about a carpet cleaning machine called the “Green Machine”.  It is a small wet vac type carpet cleaner.  I use it for the small problems to spot clean, along with a pet stain spray.  I then follow up with a commercial carpet cleaning company called “Dave’s” from

By the way, regular vacuuming and commercial steam cleaning are effective ways to rid the carpet of fleas.  A recent study found that these methods extract the adults and eggs.  And there are no pesticide residues to contend with.  Another tool to use when you need it. 

I just got an email from the Monroe Humane Society.  Thanks to all the generous folk at the Frenchtown Mall, the Humane Society raised $95.00 for the 2 tickets to the dinner and tour of Greenfield Village.  I hope whoever won the raffle had a great time and felt good about helping the animals as well.

Winter is upon us so remember:  livestock need liquid water available at all times.  Therefore you need to invest in a tank heater, or hammer out the ice in the tank several times a day.  Dogs and cats should not be kept outside in this type of extreme weather AT ALL.  Move them into a garage or basement if you have to–just until the weather warms to near freezing.  Rabbits, chickens, goats, sheep, llamas and horses are well prepared for the cold temps as long as they can remain dry, and out of the wind.  The chickens will prefer not to come out of the hen house because they really do not have the circulation in their feet to be comfortable in the snow.  So don’t worry if they choose to stay in.  Just move the food and water inside and they will come out when the weather breaks.

And don’t forget our wildlife.  When the weather gets this cold, water and food become a challenge for birds and other small mammals.  Birdbath heaters, feed and recycled Christmas trees for shelter go a long way to help animals survive the extremes we are experiencing now.  But this is Michigan and if we wait a few days, it is going to warm up again into the mid 50’s.  Yeah!