By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
You have a new pet, but do you know the proper care needed for those four-legged friends?
Dr. Bob Judd, longtime Waco-area veterinarian, offers some general tips on the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network for welcoming a new pet into the household.
Choosing the right pet food
Judd is often asked by clients what he thinks is the best pet food for their dog or cat.
The answer is not so simple as one brand or one type but that pet owners consider the digestibility, quality control measures and nutritional content of the food.
“There are hundreds of pet foods available on the market, and just because the food is expensive doesn’t mean it’s a high-quality food,” he said.
Testing for bioavailability and digestibility should be conducted by the manufacturer, along with analysis for nutritional content. The manufacturer should also be able to provide information on quality control procedures such as certification by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and testing for pathogens or toxins.
Judd said every food should have an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement that the food is complete and balanced and indicate which life stage the food is intended for use in, such as puppies or adult dogs.
“If you read closely, some foods indicate they’re only approved for supplemental or intermittent feeding and not balanced for complete nutrition,” Judd said. “Food trials are the most accurate method of determining balance, and companies that perform food trials likely provide better foods.”
Human foods and medications
There are many human foods and medications that can be dangerous or even deadly to pets.
Over-the-counter medications to keep far away from pets include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, commonly sold under brand names like Advil or Aleve. These can cause bleeding stomach, intestinal ulcers and kidney failure in pets.
Similarly, acetaminophen or Tylenol can damage cat’s red blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen can cause liver failure and red blood cell damage.
A wide variety of common prescription medications—including antidepressants, amphetamines for attention deficit disorder, sleep aids, hormonal birth control, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and cardiac disorders—can cause serious illness or irreversible organ damage in pets.
Judd recommends storing medications in upper cabinets, safely out of the reach of pets and children.
There are also some human foods that pets must avoid.
“You always think about chocolate, and while chocolate is toxic to dogs, there are lots of other ingredients in food that are also toxic,” Judd said.
Onions, garlic and other members of the Allium family are very common ingredients in family meals that are poisonous to dogs and cats. Dried and powdered ingredients, such as dried minced onion or garlic powder, contain higher concentrations and can therefore be even more high-risk.
Consumption of these foods can damage the red blood cells in dogs and cats, leading to anemia. Judd noted cats are about twice as sensitive to these ingredients as dogs.
Common signs of over-ingestion include gastrointestinal upset like decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or drooling.
The ingestion of larger amounts that cause red blood cell damage often leads to weakness, elevated heart rate, increased respiratory rate or fast, shallow breathing or panting, pale gums and bloody urine.
Kidney damage in dogs with red blood cell destruction include increased drinking, increased or significantly decreased urination, vomiting and decreased appetite.
If a pet is observed ingesting onion, garlic or any related ingredient, Judd advised the pet owner to call the veterinarian immediately.
Inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal may be necessary to prevent serious harm. He said some pets will even require IV fluids or a blood transfusion to survive.
Although not as dangerous, Judd added baked goods can also cause disease or illness in pets.
“They’re usually high in fat and can lead to pancreatitis if fed frequently enough,” he said.
Symptoms of pancreatitis include gastrointestinal upset and abdominal pain. Left untreated, the illness can progress to a more severe level that requires lengthy hospitalization or may even become uncurable.
It’s best not to feed pets any human food. Judd said small pet treats formulated specially for occasional feeding are the best alternatives to feeding pets or treats from the human table. Pet treats can satisfy the human’s need to reward pets while helping to keep the pet at a healthy weight.
Consult your veterinarian for more information on new pet care.