Dog Nail Trimming Part II

One of the most viewed of our videos (link) is our series on trimming your dogs nails. Yes, we’re also shooting a video on how to trim your cats nails! One question that I hear frequently at the animal hospital is “how often should I trim my dog or cats nails?”

First, we need to understand why it is important to trim your dog or cats nails. I’ve seen some dogs that are brought in that have nails that haven’t been trimmed in a very long time and are actually curling back around into their paw! Obviously for health reasons, this is not a good thing. That’s why reason why you want to trim your dog or cats nails: Health.

If your pets nails are overgrown, they can quickly develop other problems with their hip or back. Bone and joint problems are also common in dogs that have been neglected. Ingrown nails can lead to bleeding, infections and it’s all downhill from their.

Trimming nails does not have to be traumatic experience for your dog or cat. Frequently it’s as traumatic for a pet owner as it is for a dog or cat. As I mention in my videos, you should get your dog used to having his feet touched. This is one of the biggest obstacles…many simply don’t like it…so the sooner that you can get them used to their paws being touched, gently squeezed or groomed, the easier it will be to trim them.

Many owners are reluctant to clip their dog or cats nails. Either they have never attempted to trim their dog or cats nails, attempted but ended up nicking the quick (the blood vessel running through part of the nail) and the dog bled. This can be traumatic for both you and the dog or cat. And of course, the minute they see you with the clippers again, they'll clear out of the room. Which is understandable. Particular if you have a dog or cat that doesn't like to have his/her feet handled.

Some like clippers. Some like grinders/sanders (Dremmel). I use both. I use the clippers to take off the majority of what I'm trimming, then use the sander to smooth out the sharp edges. I say use what is comfortable and if you are comfortable trimming their nails, I recommend having your vet do it.

Of course, getting back to the question: How often? Depends on your dog or cat and what they walk on. Dogs in New York City rarely get their nails trimmed (assuming they're allowed to walk outside on the concrete). Holding all things constant, I would say a general rule of thumb would be every 4 weeks.

Have a great day and keep wagging!

Cat Food Recall

We wanted you to be aware of the following food recall from Nutro Products:

Franklin, Tennessee (May 21, 2009) -- Today, Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO(R) NATURAL CHOICE(R) COMPLETE CARE(R) Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO(R) MAX(R) Cat Dry Foods with "Best If Used By Dates" between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO(R) dry cat food.

This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier. An extensive review confirmed that only these two premixes were affected. This recall does not affect any NUTRO(R) dog food products, wet dog or cat food, or dog and cat treats.

Affected product was distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Israel. We are working with all of our distributors and retail customers, in both the US and internationally, to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or distributed further.

Consumers who have purchased affected product should immediately discontinue feeding the product to their cats, and switch to another product with a balanced nutritional profile. While we have received no consumer complaints related to this issue, cat owners should monitor their cat for symptoms, including a reduction in appetite or refusal of food, weight loss, vomiting or diarrhea. If your cat is experiencing health issues or is pregnant, please contact your veterinarian.

Consumers who have purchased product affected by this voluntary recall should return it to their retailer for a full refund or exchange for another NUTRO(R) dry cat food product. Cat owners who have more questions about the recall should call 1-800-833-5330 between the hours 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST.

Remember, this affects only NUTRO CAT food marked with the dates identified above. For more detailed product information, visit www.nutroproducts.com and click on "recall". Please direct any questions about the food to the 800# listed above.

Sincerely,
Monique and the Nose Prints Family

Dogs, eating, and exercise

From time to time you may hear the term "bloat"...and if you are unfamiliar, please read this and watch the video. I'll also provide a link with more detailed information at the end of this post.

My husband, being the clueless type (he would be the first to admit this - in fact, he just received his certification in Florida, making it the third state he has been certified (8A-1) in cluelessness), recently fed the dogs and took them out to play. Yes, it was probably only 90 degrees and about an hour after they ate. In his defense, he believed they had not been fed yet. Well, flash forward 30 minutes after the dogs came inside - and Tuna is pacing around, panting. This I would have expected of Bishop - it takes him a long time to relax and settle down after coming inside but Big Tuna, she settles down in minutes. She was laying on her side and panting, the later being the unusual behavior. I noticed she looked...well, unusually rotund. I poked her abdomen and it barely moved. I realized, to my horror, that she may be experiencing "bloat"...a scenario where a dogs stomach actually twists and pinches off the blood flow to the lower intestines. Long story short, we drove to the emergency clinic and stopped on the way to pick up Mylanta - this actually helped her burp and pass gas...if they can do that, they are not bloating.

Here is an excellent site for information on Bloat. I would encourage you to pass this information along - so few pet owners are aware of this very serious condition!

Cocoa Mulch toxicity in dogs

I know...I know...it's springtime and everyone wants to have their lawns and yards looking their finest...which means landscaping. Weeding. Mulching. Pesticides. Actually, I'm only concerned with the mulch aspect of landscaping today. Specifically, Cocoa mulch. You see, Cocoa mulch (and I'm sure its a very fine product as far as mulch goes) is not necessarily a good thing to have around a yard if you have a dog in your family. Cocoa mulch is toxic to dogs. And no, this isn't one of those wild internet rumors that rear their head every couple of years. This one has some substance. You can also check out this link here to verify the toxicity risk.