Mission Animal Care Center: Halloween Candy and pets: "Eating a bag full of chocolate Halloween candy is more of a trick than a treat for the average household pet, according to a Kansas State ..."
www.missionvet.com
Showing posts with label Animal Hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Hospital. Show all posts
Monday, October 4, 2010
Halloween Candy and pets
Eating a bag full of chocolate Halloween candy is more of a trick than a treat for the average household pet, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian. K-State’s Susan Nelson, assistant professor of clinical services, says chocolate consumption by many pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, birds and rats, can be extremely hazardous.
“Chocolate contains large amounts of methylxanthines,” she said. “Theobromine and caffeine are methylxanthines that are found in chocolate. It is theobromine that causes the majority of symptoms in pets.”
When a pet ingests a small quantity of chocolate, an owner may notice no changes, or they could see such symptoms as vomiting, diarrhea and excessive thirst and urination. As the consumption of chocolate increases, Nelson said the symptoms become more severe and could lead to irregular heartbeats, tremors, seizures and possibly death.
“Symptoms typically occur within 12 hours of ingestion,” she said. “Unlike people, dogs take much longer to clear theobromine from their bodies, which leads to the formation of toxic levels.”
According to Nelson, different types of chocolate can vary in the concentration level of theobromine. Baking chocolate contains the most theobromine, white chocolate contains the least, and semisweet and milk chocolate contain a medium amount.
If a household pet consumes a large quantity of chocolate Nelson advises owners to call a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Inducing vomiting will most likely be advised, but she said this measure is not safe in all situations.
She also recommends keeping all foods — especially Halloween candy — out of a pet’s reach to avoid hazardous consumption situations. Confining pets during parties or family gatherings also will help prevent guests from feeding them toxic foods, she said.
“Chocolate consumption is a very common problem amongst pets, dogs especially,” Nelson said. “It is important to recognize that individual reactions vary by pets, but it is best to assume your pet is one of the sensitive ones and not delay in seeking advice from your veterinarian. Be aware of the chocolate sources in your house, and tell any new dog owner English news online this potential threat to their pet.”
www.missionvet.com
“Chocolate contains large amounts of methylxanthines,” she said. “Theobromine and caffeine are methylxanthines that are found in chocolate. It is theobromine that causes the majority of symptoms in pets.”
When a pet ingests a small quantity of chocolate, an owner may notice no changes, or they could see such symptoms as vomiting, diarrhea and excessive thirst and urination. As the consumption of chocolate increases, Nelson said the symptoms become more severe and could lead to irregular heartbeats, tremors, seizures and possibly death.
“Symptoms typically occur within 12 hours of ingestion,” she said. “Unlike people, dogs take much longer to clear theobromine from their bodies, which leads to the formation of toxic levels.”
According to Nelson, different types of chocolate can vary in the concentration level of theobromine. Baking chocolate contains the most theobromine, white chocolate contains the least, and semisweet and milk chocolate contain a medium amount.
If a household pet consumes a large quantity of chocolate Nelson advises owners to call a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Inducing vomiting will most likely be advised, but she said this measure is not safe in all situations.
She also recommends keeping all foods — especially Halloween candy — out of a pet’s reach to avoid hazardous consumption situations. Confining pets during parties or family gatherings also will help prevent guests from feeding them toxic foods, she said.
“Chocolate consumption is a very common problem amongst pets, dogs especially,” Nelson said. “It is important to recognize that individual reactions vary by pets, but it is best to assume your pet is one of the sensitive ones and not delay in seeking advice from your veterinarian. Be aware of the chocolate sources in your house, and tell any new dog owner English news online this potential threat to their pet.”
www.missionvet.com
Thursday, September 30, 2010
How to Become a Veterinary Orthopedic Specialist | eHow.com
How to Become a Veterinary Orthopedic Specialist | eHow.com
http://www.missionvet.com/orthopedic.htm
http://www.missionvet.com/orthopedic.htm
Mission Animal Care Center: Online Pharmacies
Mission Animal Care Center: Online Pharmacies: "http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm115432.pdf"
Mission Animal Care Center: Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware Photo Il...
Mission Animal Care Center: Purchasing Pet Drugs Online:
Buyer Beware
Photo Il...: "Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth “Discount pet drugs— no prescription required” may appeal ..."
Buyer Beware
Photo Il...: "Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth “Discount pet drugs— no prescription required” may appeal ..."
Purchasing Pet Drugs Online
Purchasing Pet Drugs Online:
Buyer Beware
Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth
“Discount pet drugs—
no prescription
required” may appeal
to pet owners surfing the Web,
but FDA experts say it can be
risky to buy drugs online from
sites that tout this message
and others like it.
2 / FDA C o n s ume r He a l t h In f o rma t i o n / U. S . F o o d a n d Dr u g Admin i s t r a t i o n MARCH 2010
Consumer Health Information
www.fda.gov/consumer
drugs are available to U.S. citizens
without a prescription. But, says Hartogensis,
“There is a risk of the drugs
not being FDA-approved.”
A foreign or domestic pharmacy may
claim that one of its veterinarians on
staff will “evaluate” the pet after looking
over a form filled out by the pet
owner, and then prescribe the drug. “A
veterinarian should physically examine
an animal prior to making a diagnosis
to determine the appropriate
therapy,” says Hartogensis.
CVM is especially concerned that
pet owners are going online to buy
two types of commonly used prescription
veterinary drugs—nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
and heartworm preventives.
“Both drugs can be dangerous if
there is no professional involvement,”
says Hartogensis. “It’s not generally
a concern if the owner uses a legitimate
online pharmacy and mails in a
prescription from their veterinarian,
who is monitoring the animal. But if
there is no veterinarian–client–patient
relationship, it’s a dangerous practice.”
NSAIDS and Heartworm Preventives
Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs
to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs
should not be purchased on the Internet
without a veterinarian’s involvement
because
• dogs should undergo blood
testing and a thorough physical
examination before starting
NSAIDs
• dogs should be monitored by a
veterinarian while they are taking
NSAIDs
• veterinarians should discuss
possible side effects of NSAIDs
with the owner
• the prescription should be
accompanied by a Client
Information Sheet that explains
important safety information to
the owner
Heartworm disease is a potentially
fatal condition transmitted by the
bite of a mosquito that is carrying
infected larvae of the heartworm parasite.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get
heartworm. Heartworm preventives,
given daily, monthly, or semiannually
depending on the product, kill the larvae
before they become adult worms.
The American Heartworm Society
recommends
• using heartworm medication for
dogs year-round, no matter where
you live in the United States
• getting dogs tested yearly to make
sure they’re not infected with
heartworm
“Testing is important even in dogs
regularly treated with heartworm preventive
products due to the occasional
reports of product ineffectiveness,”
says Hartogensis. An Internet pharmacy
veterinarian cannot draw blood
from the animal to perform the test. If
the test isn’t done, a pet owner could
be giving heartworm preventives to a
dog that has heartworms, potentially
leading to severe reactions.
Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online
• Order from a Web site that belongs
to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy.
Vet-VIPPS—the Veterinary-Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites—is
a voluntary accreditation program of
the National Association of Boards of
Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the
Vet-VIPPS seal to online pharmacies
that dispense prescription animal
drugs and comply with NABP’s strict
criteria, including federal and state
licensing and inspection requirements,
protecting patient confidentiality,
quality assurance, and validity
of prescription orders. Look for the
Vet-VIPPS seal displayed on a pharmacy’s
Web site or check with NABP
at www.nabp.net (click on “Accreditation
Programs”) to find out if a pharmacy
is Vet-VIPPS accredited. Because
this is a new program, begun in 2009,
a small number of pharmacies are
currently Vet-VIPPS accredited.
• Order from an outsourced prescription
management service that your veterinarian
uses.
These state-licensed Internet pharmacy
services work directly with the
veterinarian, require that a prescription
be written by the veterinarian,
and support the veterinarian-clientpatient
relationship. Ask your veterinary
hospital if it uses
www.missionvet.com
Buyer Beware
Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth
“Discount pet drugs—
no prescription
required” may appeal
to pet owners surfing the Web,
but FDA experts say it can be
risky to buy drugs online from
sites that tout this message
and others like it.
2 / FDA C o n s ume r He a l t h In f o rma t i o n / U. S . F o o d a n d Dr u g Admin i s t r a t i o n MARCH 2010
Consumer Health Information
www.fda.gov/consumer
drugs are available to U.S. citizens
without a prescription. But, says Hartogensis,
“There is a risk of the drugs
not being FDA-approved.”
A foreign or domestic pharmacy may
claim that one of its veterinarians on
staff will “evaluate” the pet after looking
over a form filled out by the pet
owner, and then prescribe the drug. “A
veterinarian should physically examine
an animal prior to making a diagnosis
to determine the appropriate
therapy,” says Hartogensis.
CVM is especially concerned that
pet owners are going online to buy
two types of commonly used prescription
veterinary drugs—nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
and heartworm preventives.
“Both drugs can be dangerous if
there is no professional involvement,”
says Hartogensis. “It’s not generally
a concern if the owner uses a legitimate
online pharmacy and mails in a
prescription from their veterinarian,
who is monitoring the animal. But if
there is no veterinarian–client–patient
relationship, it’s a dangerous practice.”
NSAIDS and Heartworm Preventives
Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs
to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs
should not be purchased on the Internet
without a veterinarian’s involvement
because
• dogs should undergo blood
testing and a thorough physical
examination before starting
NSAIDs
• dogs should be monitored by a
veterinarian while they are taking
NSAIDs
• veterinarians should discuss
possible side effects of NSAIDs
with the owner
• the prescription should be
accompanied by a Client
Information Sheet that explains
important safety information to
the owner
Heartworm disease is a potentially
fatal condition transmitted by the
bite of a mosquito that is carrying
infected larvae of the heartworm parasite.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get
heartworm. Heartworm preventives,
given daily, monthly, or semiannually
depending on the product, kill the larvae
before they become adult worms.
The American Heartworm Society
recommends
• using heartworm medication for
dogs year-round, no matter where
you live in the United States
• getting dogs tested yearly to make
sure they’re not infected with
heartworm
“Testing is important even in dogs
regularly treated with heartworm preventive
products due to the occasional
reports of product ineffectiveness,”
says Hartogensis. An Internet pharmacy
veterinarian cannot draw blood
from the animal to perform the test. If
the test isn’t done, a pet owner could
be giving heartworm preventives to a
dog that has heartworms, potentially
leading to severe reactions.
Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online
• Order from a Web site that belongs
to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy.
Vet-VIPPS—the Veterinary-Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites—is
a voluntary accreditation program of
the National Association of Boards of
Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the
Vet-VIPPS seal to online pharmacies
that dispense prescription animal
drugs and comply with NABP’s strict
criteria, including federal and state
licensing and inspection requirements,
protecting patient confidentiality,
quality assurance, and validity
of prescription orders. Look for the
Vet-VIPPS seal displayed on a pharmacy’s
Web site or check with NABP
at www.nabp.net (click on “Accreditation
Programs”) to find out if a pharmacy
is Vet-VIPPS accredited. Because
this is a new program, begun in 2009,
a small number of pharmacies are
currently Vet-VIPPS accredited.
• Order from an outsourced prescription
management service that your veterinarian
uses.
These state-licensed Internet pharmacy
services work directly with the
veterinarian, require that a prescription
be written by the veterinarian,
and support the veterinarian-clientpatient
relationship. Ask your veterinary
hospital if it uses
www.missionvet.com
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