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Pet Awareness
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Pet Awarness
Pet Awareness
Pet First Aid Awareness
It is important to have a pet first aid kit. Having a well-stocked pet first aid kit can be a key factor in your pet's well-being during an emergency. It will serve to help you you prevent further injury, lessen the chance of infection, and even save your pet's life.
You can either purchase a commercial pet first aid kit or put one together yourself. In my pet first aid classes I recommend putting one's own kit together. This way you'll know what's in it and items can be tailored to your pet. I've heard from many pet owners who have bought a pet first aid kit and didn't look through it because they just assumed it had what they would need in an emergency. That may or may not be true, but when you're in the middle of an emergency you don't want to find out you assumed wrong.
At the very least a pet first aid kit should contain the following: sterile gauze pads, gauze rolls, first aid tape, scissors, 3% hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial ointment, antiseptic wipes, eye dropper, muzzle, leash, digital thermometer, antihistamine (Benadryl or generic), and a blanket or stretcher. It should also include the address and phone number for your veterinarian as well as the nearest animal emergency center. And, be sure to have the phone number for the Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435.
If you would rather buy a pet first aid kit, be sure to familiarize yourself with the contents. Take all of the items out and make sure you know what they are, how to use them, and if they're appropriate for your pet (for example, if a muzzle's included make sure it's the right size and that you know how to put it on your dog.)
The hope is that you will never need to use your first aid kit, but if you do, having it handy will save time and may save your pet's life.
Signs of cancer
According to PetCancerAwareness.org eighty percent of pet parents know little or nothing about pet cancer.
Yet canine and feline cancer is the #1 health problem for pets, and, just like in humans, cancer can occur in any part of a dog’s body. An estimated 40% of dogs die of cancer (source Veterinary Cancer Society).
The website also offers a “Tell Your Story” webpage, similar to the Rainbow Bridge, where you can post a photo of your pet and write about their cancer story. You can read the story of “Blue” the inspiration behind the founding of The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research, which maintains the website.
The Veterinary Cancer Society** notes the following warning signs:
Abnormal swelling that persists
Sores that do not heal
Loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
Offensive odor
Difficulty eating or swallowing
Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
If your pet has any of these early warning signs, visit your veterinarian as soon as possible for a complete examination.
The Vet Cancer Registry has a helpful list of organizations and veterinaries specializing in animal cancer.
The American Veterinary Medical Association offers a brochure “What Your Should Know about Cancer in Animals.”
More information on cancer in dogs and cats, along with helpful photographs, can be found at this link.
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*The AVMA states “Spaying your female pet between 6 and 12 months of age will greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer.”
Stanley Coren's dog intelligence ranking
Brightest dogs
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Excellent working dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer
13. English Springer Spaniel
14. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)
15. Schipperke, Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie, Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, Standard Schnauzer
19. Brittany
20. Cocker Spaniel
21. Weimaraner
22. Belgian Malinois, Bernese Mountain Dog
23. Pomeranian
24. Irish Water Spaniel
25. Vizsla
26. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Above average working dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better.
27. Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Puli, Yorkshire Terrier
28. Giant Schnauzer
29. Airedale Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres
30. Border Terrier, Briard
31. Welsh Springer Spaniel
32. Manchester Terrier
33. Samoyed
34. Field Spaniel, Newfoundland, Australian Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Gordon Setter, Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpinscher, Australian Silky Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, English Setter, Pharaoh Hound, Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
39. Dalmatian
Average working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 25 to 40 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 50% of the time or better.
40. Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Fox Terrier (Smooth)
41. Curly Coated Retriever, Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz, Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki, Finnish Spitz, Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Wirehaired Pointer, Black and Tan Coonhound, American Water Spaniel
45. Siberian Husky, Bichon Frise, King Charles Spaniel
46. Tibetan Spaniel, English Foxhound, Otterhound, American Foxhound, Greyhound, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
47. West Highland White Terrier, Scottish Deerhound
48. Boxer, Great Dane
49. Dachshund, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet, Chinese Shar Pei, Wire Fox Terrier
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound, Welsh Terrier, Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier, Akita
Fair working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier, Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Griffon Bruxellois, Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested
62. Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Tibetan Terrier, Japanese Chin, Lakeland Terrier
63. Old English Sheepdog
64. Great Pyrenees
65. Scottish Terrier, Saint Bernard
66. Bull Terrier
67. Chihuahua
68. Lhasa Apso
69. Bullmastiff
Lowest degree of working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 80 to 100 repetitions or more.
Obey First Command: 25% of the time or worse.
70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff, Beagle
73. Pekingese
74. Bloodhound
75. Borzoi
76. Chow Chow
77. Bulldog
78. Basenji
79. Afghan Hound