Dogs and Dames

Filed under: Dogs, Ask A Vet, Animal Sites We Love

Q: We took our puppy to a training class at the local pet store. The trainer handed out a list of dangerous items that we should never give our pets, and on that list was a tennis ball. We thought this was odd. We’ve had dogs for years and have always thrown tennis balls for them. As a veterinarian, do you see a problem?

A: Yes–and no. Our Golden Retriever, Shakira, is a tennis ball addict, and a daily dose of fetch has helped keep her lean and fit well into her senior years. But tennis balls do present a hazard that requires they be used only in supervised conditions.

SEE ALSO: Why Does My Dog… Lick and Chew His Feet?

The problem is that dogs have strong jaws capable of compressing a tennis ball. If that compressed ball pops open in the back of the throat, it can cut off a dog’s air supply. Most notably, one of Oprah Winfrey’s beloved dogs was a tennis ball victim, but there have been many others. The chewed bits of a tennis ball also aren’t something you want inside your dog.

SEE ALSO: Meet the Pets of the Republican Presidential Candidates

You don’t have to throw away all your tennis balls, but you do need to use them in a way that reduces the risk of choking. Tennis balls should always be put out of reach after a game of fetch, and no dog should ever be allowed to use them as a chew toy. In supervised play, insist that your dog fetch, return and immediately release the ball–no games of keep away while the dog works the ball in her mouth. And have only one ball in play at a time, to minimize the risk of having your dog pick up more than one and get the furthermost ball lodged back in her throat. Keep the game of fetch fast and lively to keep the focus on the chase and the next throw. (I couldn’t live without the Chuck-It, a tool that flings the ball much farther than most of us can throw.)

Nothing in life is without risk, sadly, but there’s no need to deny your dog the joy and needed exercise that a tennis ball can provide. Just be sure to follow a few simple guidelines to keep playing safely.

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This week’s question comes from Catster reader Janey, who asks:

What’s the scoop on toxoplasmosis? Can I catch it from my cat?

Toxoplasmosis is a pretty awesome parasite if you have to pick a favorite. It has the ability to alter the behavior of its host to maximize its chances for reproduction. An infected mouse will lose its inhibition that normally causes it to fear the scent of predators, which increases the chance that it will be someone’s supper. Toxoplasmosis will then continue its life cycle inside a cat, where it’s warm and fuzzy.

It’s estimated that one third of the world’s population is infected with toxoplasmosis, but it’s important to note that 80 to 90 percent of primary infections are asymptomatic. Most carriers of the disease (typically ladies ages 15-44) will never even know they have it! Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous if you are pregnant or immunosuppressed, so get tested by your doctor if you are at risk. (Kitties with FIV or feline leukemia are also at risk.)

You are more likely to contract the disease through unwashed produce and poorly cooked meat than via cat feces. Even though it makes your cats love you, try to refrain from feeding them raw meat. Use common sense when handling their litter boxes. If you have children, be mindful of public playgrounds. Stray cats love to bury treasure in the sandbox!

My good friend in med school told me that her professor advised students not to prescribe “getting rid of the cat” as a treatment for patients with toxoplasmosis. Most cases can be treated with folic acid or antibiotics. Those doctors are wicked smart.

SOURCES: Mayo Clinic, Centers for Disease Control, University of Oxford Press, Cornell University, UpToDate, AccessMedicine

P.S. Got a question? Ask our cat lady in the comments below!

Filed under: Pet Product Reviews

If you’re planning to spoil your pet–or a pet owner–with a special gift this Valentine’s Day, why not choose a product that also gives back to animals in need? Many items designed for pets and for the humans who love them benefit rescue organizations or other charities through proceeds from sales.

Supporting animal charities through your purchases is a great way to say “I love you” to all the four-legged friends in your life. So in order to help you celebrate pets on Valentine’s Day by giving back, our friends at Zootoo rounded up some of their favorite pet products with heart.

A fun, snappy book, “Mimi and Maty to the Rescue!” by Brooke Smith was inspired by Smith’s daughter, Mimi Ausland, whose charitable website Freekibble.com has enabled users to donate over 675 million pieces of kibble to shelter animals to date. The clever story and illustrations will delight children and adults alike, and for each book sold, Halo will donate five meals to feed shelter animals.

A durable toy that also supports canine charities, the Orbee-Tuff Glow for Good Ball from Planet Dog is both sturdy and satisfying for your pooch. Eco-conscious shoppers will appreciate that the ball is recyclable, and an impressive 100% of the proceeds from sales of the Glow for Good Ball go to the Planet Dog Foundation, which promotes and celebrates dog service programs.

If you’re looking for a unique present to treat your feline on Valentine’s Day, try the Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Adjustable Cat Safety Collar from Coastal Pet. This top-quality collar features a pink ribbon design, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each collar benefits breast cancer foundations.

Your valentine can show support for animal rights in style with the All Over Paws Socks, available at The Animal Rescue Site’s online store. The comfortable socks are offered in a range of eye-catching color combinations, and purchases made through the website help to fund food and care for rescued animals.

Featuring an appropriate design for Valentine’s Day, the Rescue Heart Pewter Collar Charm from Big Paw Designs helps to promote adoption awareness with a well-designed, durable product. And like the other items in the brand’s Rescue Power Collection, the charms are available at discounted rates to pet rescue groups to help them in fundraising efforts.

Continue reading Zootoo Review – 5 Valentine’s Day Pet Products With Heart

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Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

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This is me handing out Temptations at Animal Aid in Florida. Crazy? Nah. It was the best day ever! Photo: sonjuphotography.com

What’s the definition of crazy cat lady? Is it a number of cats? If you dress your cat or not? If you’re single, with a certain number of cats?

Are you a crazy cat lady if you feed the ferals down the street? Visit the local shelter just to pet the cats and keep them company? Have a picture of your cats on your desk at work?

Is a woman a crazy cat lady if her cats sleep with her at night? Wears cat-themed pajamas and wraps Christmas presents in cat-themed wrapping paper?

Because if we’re tallying stuff up here, I’m pretty much ready to get “Crazy Cat Lady” tattooed on my forehead.

I’ve always heard — and I have no idea where I got this from — that the tipping point to be a crazy cat lady was single with three cats. I guess at that point, the likelihood of a man deciding to take not only you, but your three cats, in his life is a fairly large hurdle. Sometimes I think people turn their nose up at that more than they would if you said you had three small children at home. The children they get; that’s “normal” … but all those cats.

People have this picture in their head of a woman running around ragged in a pee-stinking home with a bathrob on and curlers in her hair, with cats weaving in and out of her ankles and climbing up her sagging pantyhouse. The visual is awesome (I wish I could draw!), but probably not accurate 99 percent of the time.

I have two cats at home and I’m single, and while they might not be helping (one look at my Facebook timeline and it’s safe to assume that any of my friends who aren’t huge animal lovers have probably “hidden” me), I really don’t think it’s the cats that are keeping the guys from beating down my door.

You know what I think? I think they’re intimidated. Because I’m an ambitious, strong person who knows what I like, what I want and what makes me happy. I’m cute, smart and funny. I have a good job with an office and a fancy-schmancy title. And my world revolves around my cats. So if that makes me crazy, sign me up for the loony bin … but only if I can bring Pimp and Moo.

Any other awesome and amazing crazy cat ladies out there? We’re some of the best people I know!

Filed under: Dogs, Funny Animal Videos

The same is true for pets. We spend epic amounts of money on toys when cats are perfectly happy batting at dangling pieces of string or your shoelaces. And dog, well, they genuinely love tennis balls and chew toys, but when all of those are too chewed up to play with anymore and you haven’t hide time to buy replacements yet, improvise.

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