Myths About Pot-Bellied Pigs

If you’re considering becoming a pig parent, you might be concerned about the following common beliefs.

• Pigs are dirty. Wrong. Pot-bellied pigs are actually quite clean and prefer not to soil their living space.
• Pigs smell. Nope. They have no odor.
• Sweat like a pig? No, you don’t. Pigs don’t sweat—except through their noses.

Characteristics and Considerations

Pot-bellied pigs are friendly and sociable. They like human companionship, and if left alone for long periods, can get depressed, irritable or destructive. They are very intelligent and can be easily housebroken—either to a litter box or outside. Pigs can be taught to obey commands, walk on a leash, fetch a ball—most anything you can teach a dog, you can teach your pig. Part of the reason they are so easily trainable is they are very food motivated—anything for a treat. But that can lead to another common problem in pet pigs—obesity. You need to feed the right foods in the right quantities to provide for their nutritional needs without adding extra pounds.

Because a pot-bellied pig is considered a house pet, he or she needs to spend a lot of time inside. You should provide them with their own space, with a bed or sleeping box, where they can go for naps or to just get away for a while. Just like you would child-proof or puppy-proof your home, you’ll also need to pig-proof it. Pigs are curious and will go where they shouldn’t, open doors they shouldn’t, and get into things they shouldn’t. You need to allow for time outside, as well. A yard with a sturdy fence will let them play, explore, and soak up the vitamin D. Be aware that they like to root around in soil, searching for food, so block off vegetable and flower beds or they will soon be history.

Pot-bellied pigs have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years or more, so you must be willing to make a long-term commitment. They form strong bonds with their humans and often don’t adjust well when you try to rehome them. That’s why it’s so important that you do your homework and make sure you can provide a long-term, loving home. Also, make sure you live in an area that is zoned for pot-bellied pigs.

Veterinary Care

Another way in which pot-bellied pigs are like other household pets is veterinary care. They may not need the same care as your other pets, but they need regular health exams, vaccinations for pig-specific diseases, appropriate nutrition, skin care and, instead of nail trims, they need hoof trims. They also need to be spayed or neutered; otherwise they are likely to develop aggressive behaviors.

Pot-bellied pigs can make affectionate, fun, and rewarding companions—for the right person or family. Make sure you are up to the challenges before you make the plunge. If you decide you want to become a pig parent, give Powell Veterinary Services a call at 970-352-9164, and we’ll set up a health care plan that will ensure a long, contented life.

The post Thinking of Becoming a Pot-Bellied Pig Parent? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Pumpkin for Pets

Pumpkin is a power food for your pets. Skip the stem, the skin and stringy gunk inside, but the flesh and even the seeds pack a powerful health punch. Here are 6 benefits pumpkin can provide your pets:

• Mashed pumpkin helps with regular digestion. Ironically, if your pet is constipated, or has diarrhea, a few teaspoons in his or her food will alleviate the symptoms.
• Pumpkin seeds contain antioxidants and essential fatty acids that help moisturize your pet’s skin and fur. Also, the fiber found in mashed pumpkin can help move hairballs through your cat’s digestive system instead of being hacked up on your shoes or carpet. It can also help prevent hairballs from forming in the first place.
• The oils in pumpkin flesh and seeds may help with urinary problems such as bladder and kidney stones.
• Pumpkin contains high amounts of beta-carotene and Vitamin A for vision health and Vitamin C for joint health and to boost the immune system. It also contains minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium copper and iron, which are essential to your furry friend’s health and well-being.
• Pumpkin is loaded with antioxidants that can help prevent some cancers and help your pet stay young and vibrant.
• Pumpkin can also keep your cat or dog fit and trim. Pumpkin has few calories, and the fiber makes your pet feel fuller so he or she eats less.

Serving Up Pumpkin

Both pumpkin flesh and seeds are good for your pets, and you can either use fresh or canned. However, don’t use the canned pumpkin pie filling, which is loaded with sugar, fat, and spices, and don’t use the jack-o-lantern that has been sitting on your front porch for a week as it may contain mold or other organisms that can be harmful. You don’t need to overdo it. Just a couple of teaspoons daily will provide the health benefits you’re looking for.

If you opt to go the fresh route, cut off the top of your pumpkin and scoop out the gunk inside as if you were going to carve it. Save the seeds for roasting. Cut the pumpkin into large pieces, place skin-side up in a roasting pan with a half cup of water, and roast at 350 degrees for about an hour. Remove the skin and mash or puree the flesh.

Spread cleaned seeds evenly on a baking sheet, coat with cooking oil, and roast in a 375-degree oven for 5 or 10 minutes. You can serve them whole as a training treat or grind them up and to your pet’s food. Save a few for yourself. They’re delish.

After constantly being bombarded with warnings about what you shouldn’t feed your cat or dog, it’s nice to find a people-food that you actually should feed them. So give them a treat this Halloween, and any day thereafter.

Powell Veterinary Service wishes you and your furry friends a happy and safe Halloween.

The post It’s Always Pumpkin Season for Your Pets first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

What Are E-Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as e-cigarettes, e-cigs or vape pens, are small devices that dispense a nicotine vapor that people inhale to get the same effects of smoking. The battery-operated e-cigs hold a cartridge that has a liquid form of nicotine. When a smoker ignites the e-cig, it delivers a nicotine vapor. Each e-cig cartridge contains about the same amount of nicotine as found in 2 cigarettes but without all the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Unfortunately, with the rise in e-cig use has come a related increase in visits to emergency veterinary clinics.

Why Are E-Cigs Dangerous for Pets?

Nicotine is toxic to animals. Before the availability of e-cigs, an animal needed to consume several cigarettes to experience a toxic effect. Cigarettes are generally not enticing to dogs and cats, and therefore they are not a serious concern for pet owners. With the increasing popularity of e-cigs, that has changed. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, calls about nicotine poisoning in dogs or cats that have ingested the liquid nicotine in e-cig refill cartridges have increased significantly over the past couple of years.

The increased danger for pets is due to the amount of nicotine in an e-cig cartridge and the fact that the aroma of liquid nicotine can be attractive to pets—especially flavored nicotine cartridges. Plus, the nicotine cartridges are often sold in packages that may contain as many as 100 cartridges. Although a large dog that ingests one nicotine cartridge may show little or no toxic effect, in a small dog or cat a similar amount can be fatal. Also, since the nicotine is in liquid form, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream faster, producing symptoms and toxic effects very rapidly. Plus, the cartridge itself can injure your furry friend’s mouth or cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.

What Are the Signs of Nicotine Poisoning?

Nicotine mainly affects an animal’s central nervous system, cardiopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract. If your pet ingests liquid nicotine in an amount equal to 2 or more cigarettes, he or she will likely experience drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation and rapid breathing. Other signs of nicotine toxicity include shallow respiration, decreased heart rate, muscle twitching, and cyanosis or bluish skin and mucous membranes.  If left untreated, cardiac arrest, coma and death can occur.

What Should You Do for a Nicotine Overdose?

Because the onset of symptoms is so rapid, immediate action must be taken to avoid serious, even lethal consequences. There is no home treatment to help your pet. Call your vet or an emergency veterinary hospital for professional treatment. The seriousness of the toxicity will depend on the size of the animal and the amount of nicotine ingested.  Of course the best treatment is prevention. Make sure you keep your e-cigs and nicotine refills where you pet can’t get to them, and be sure to impress upon your kids who smoke e-cigs the importance of keeping them away from your animals.

E-cigs may be a somewhat healthier alternative for humans than regular cigarettes because of fewer toxins, but they are definitely NOT safer for your pets. If you believe your cat or dog has consumed liquid nicotine from an e-cig cartridge, you can’t afford to “wait and see.” Call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164 and we can begin life-saving treatment for your furry friend.

The post E-cigs: Why This Popular Smoking Trend Is Not Good News for Your Pet first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Ear infections are common this time of year, and we at Powell Veterinary Service are seeing quite a few cases. Many ear infections are due to foreign bodies such as foxtails, arrow grass, or plant awns—all the little sharp grasses that stick to your clothing and your dog’s fur. These nuisances can get into your pup’s ears and work their way down deep where they are difficult to remove. They cause irritation, which causes your furry friend to scratch and rub on the ear. This can cause open sores that allow bacteria and yeast to grow, causing an ear infection. Environmental or food allergies and damp ears can also cause ear infections.

So What Do You Do?

If you notice your dog incessantly scratching her ears, take a look. Are they red and inflamed? Is there a discharge or dark, crusty scabs? If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to consult your veterinarian promptly. A foreign body or infection can penetrate or spread to the middle and inner ear causing damage to the ear canal and ear drum, causing hearing and equilibrium problems

Treatment

Your veterinarian will take a look deep into your pup’s ear’s to see what might be causing her problems. If it’s an embedded foxtail or grass awn, it will need to be removed—sometimes requiring sedation. The doctor may also take a swab of the infected ear to determine the microorganism causing the infection so it can be treated appropriately. He or she will likely thoroughly clean the ear and send you home with cleaning materials and antibiotics.

Prevention

If you live in an area with lots of weeds and tall grasses or frequently visit them on your outings with you dog, it will be difficult to prevent contact with foxtails and other sharp grasses. But you CAN reduce the likelihood that the grass will cause an infection. After every outing, check your furry friend thoroughly for foxtails and other sharp grasses. If they are in the outer ear canal or ear flap and easily removed without getting into the ear, carefully remove it. If it is deep in the ear canal, Do Not try to remove it yourself, as you can push it deeper into the ear canal and perhaps rupture the ear drum.  And don’t forget to check her body, tail, belly and between her toes, as foxtails can bury themselves most anywhere and cause problems.

Summer may be ear infection season, but that doesn’t mean your pup has to suffer. If you notice your dog scratching her ears constantly or shaking her head a lot, give Powell Veterinary Service a call at 970-352-9164. We’ll uncover the problem and provide the appropriate remedy.

The post Excuse Me. Is That a Foxtail in Your Dog’s Ear? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

However, some dogs do experience problems eating grain. They may be hypersensitive to certain grains, like wheat and soy, and develop allergic reactions when they eat them. Food allergies are the result of an over-reaction of your dog’s immune system to certain proteins in your dog’s food. Proteins are found not just in the meats in the dog food, but also the grains and vegetables. The top allergy-provoking ingredients are: beef, dairy, wheat, chicken, egg and soy. Therefore, switching to a grain-free diet may or may not solve the allergy problem.

So how do you know if your furry friend might have a food allergy? Signs to look for include:

• Itchy, red skin or a dull coat
• Chronic ear inflammation
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Shaking head or rubbing it on the carpet

Those symptoms are common indicators of many conditions, so owners don’t typically suspect food allergies. One reason is because their pup has been eating the same food for years. But food sensitivities usually develop and worsen over time.

The first step in diagnosing and treating a food allergy is to visit your veterinarian to rule out other conditions. If a food allergy is suspected, the next step is to determine which substance or substances are causing the allergy—and that can be a long, frustrating process. You can start by switching to a commercial hypo-allergenic dog food. If the symptoms improve in a few days, go back to your dog’s regular food. If symptoms reappear, you know your dog probably has a food allergy, but you don’t know which substance in the food is causing it.

Next, you could try a grain-free food to see whether symptoms improve. The results will tell you whether switching to a grain-free diet will help relieve your furry friend’s food allergies. If you find that eliminating grain doesn’t help, you’ll need to do food elimination testing to find the culprit. Your veterinarian can help set up a plan to systematically find the allergy-provoking protein. Do not do it alone as you could endanger your pet’s health by not providing essential nutrients.

If you live in Kersey or the surrounding area and suspect a food allergy, call Powell Veterinary Service, 970-352-9164. Together, we can determine the best diet for your canine companion.

The post Is Grain-Free the Right Option for My Dog? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Candy and Sweets

From the overflowing bowls of Halloween candy to a delicious array of Christmas cookies, the upcoming months are full of sugary surprises. None of these human foods are good for pets, but dark chocolate especially should be avoided. Toxic to both dogs and cats, this human snack should be kept away from pets. Many sweets also contain xylitol, a component of non-sugar based sweeteners that is also toxic to cats and dogs.

Decorations

As you take out and put away seasonal decorations, be sure to keep them out of reach of your pets. Especially with a young puppy or kitten, keep wires and electrical cords out of the way to avoid electrical shocks. Pay close attention to your pets and don’t leave them alone near open flames like jack-o-lanterns and seasonally scented candles.

Stress

All but the most social animals will get stressed at some point throughout the holiday season. Especially on Halloween night or during a big party, give your pet a chance to escape the noise and excitement in a separate room.

While many pet owners love to dress their furry friends in festive costumes, pay attention to your dog or cat’s reaction. Many animals do not like these outfits, which can cause them a lot of unnecessary stress. If your pet does enjoy dressing up and showing off, be sure to choose a safe costume that fits them well. Check for small pieces that can be chewed off and avoid any costumes that restrict movement, eye sight or hearing.

Accidents do happen, so call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164 if your pet seems ill or has eaten something that may be toxic.

The post Pet Safety: Holiday Precautions first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Dryer Sheets

A seemingly harmless and often used product, dryer sheets contain a few ingredients, like benzyl acetate and ethanol, which are very harmful to cats. Be sure to keep these sheets out of your pet’s reach and be sure to throw used sheets out in a garbage can with a lid.

Aloe

Although the inside of this plant calms and soothes human skin, it is one of many plants that are poisonous to cats. Keep aloe gel in a spot your kitty can’t get its paws and avoid keeping these plants around the house. For a list of other poisonous plants, click here.

Medicines

Medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen cause NSAID toxicity in cats, leading to stomach ulcers and kidney failure. One of the easiest ways for these toxins to be ingested is by licking an owner who has applied pain relief cream or by getting into a bottle in the cabinet. Keep medicines out of your cat’s reach and avoid the use of topical ointments around them. Acetaminophen is also dangerous for cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and tremors. Be careful when taking these products and be sure to pick up any medicines that drop on the floor.

If your cat gets into any of these items or others that you are not sure about and shows signs of sickness or lethargic behavior, be sure to call your local veterinarian immediately.

Serving an array of towns near Kersey, Colorado, Powell Veterinary Service can be contacted at 970-352-9164 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. If your pet becomes ill in the evening hours, call the ASPCA’s animal poison control line at 888-426-4435 for assistance.

The post Household Products that can Harm your Cat first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Carried by bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, most humans come into contact with the rabies virus through the infection of their household pets. If an incidence of rabies is noted in your area, keep cats indoors and watch dogs while they are out in the yard. Early symptoms of rabies include restlessness and a sudden change in mood, as well as fever and the licking or biting of the affected area.

Here at Powell Veterinary Service, we would like to stress the importance of keeping your pet up-to-date on their rabies vaccination. A requirement for domestic dogs and cats, one and three year vaccine options are available and all pets must wear a rabies tag on their collar. Since there is no accurate test for the rabies virus, animals that have not been vaccinated are frequently quarantined and put down for the safety reasons.

If you believe your dog or cat has been bit by a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian immediately to receive a booster vaccine. Wear gloves and protective clothing while handling your pet and call your local health department to alert them of the incident.

Located at 25505 Co Rd 53 in Kersey, Colorado, we provide preventative care, surgery and specialty services for dogs and cats in the surrounding areas. Request an appointment online or by calling our office at 970-352-9164.

The post Keep Rabies Vaccinations Up-to-Date first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Each and every bump on your dog or cat’s body is not a cause for alarm, but here at Powell Veterinary Service we recommend you always assess your pet after finding a bump and make an appointment to have them checked out. As long as the mass isn’t painful and does not give off any sort of odor, there is no need to rush in.

At your appointment, we will look over your pet, asking about their medical history and if the lump has changed in size, shape or color since it was first found. A fine needle aspirate can be performed to learn more information about the contents of the mass. A small needle will be inserted into the mass, allowing us to extract a few cells to further examine the contents.

If cancer is suspected, as incisional or excisional biopsy will be recommended and a sample will be sent out to a lab for testing.

If you notice a mass on your pet, pay close attention to its location and size, and call us at 970-352-9164 if it does not go away within a few weeks. Located at 25505 Co Rd 53 in Kersey, Colorado, we service neighboring towns as well.

The post Be Aware of Lumps and Bumps on your Pet first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Parasites and Bacteria

Stagnant water, from lakes and ponds to puddles are a breeding ground for parasites and bacteria. Parasites including giardia and cryptosporidium are among the most common and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in the healthiest of dogs. Because of their weaker immune systems, puppies and older dogs are more susceptible to parasites and can be affected even more severely.

Whether you and your furry friend are going for a swim or just on a walk after it rains, keep your dog from drinking stagnant water to help prevent sickness. If your dog displays signs of lethargy or begins vomiting, contact their vet immediately to begin antibiotic treatments. For active swimmers, seasonal stool examinations should be considered for the detection of bacterial infections and parasites.

Algae

Toxic algae can show up in lakes, ponds and the ocean, often emitting a sour smell. This algae has been found in areas across the country in a variety of colors ranging from red to green and brown. Most frequently appearing when water is warm in the late summer and fall, symptoms of algae poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea and motor weakness. Avoid areas covered in algae and keep your dog from drinking water from an algae-covered body of water.

Water Intoxication

Dogs that love to splash around and play in fresh water are also at risk for water intoxication. When a dog drinks too much water the amount of sodium in their blood becomes diluted and the extra water causes swelling in cells throughout the body, as well as the brain. Nausea and vomiting are common signs of this condition, along with excessive salivation and glazed eyes. Watch your dog as they enjoy their time in the water and be sure to provide them with land breaks to decrease the risk of water intoxication.

Salt Water Poisoning

While salt water poisoning isn’t something we have to worry about here in Colorado, it is important to keep in mind if you plan to bring your pooch on your next ocean vacation. Salt water is toxic to both dogs and humans if ingested in large quantities and can cause diarrhea, dehydration and even seizures. Bring a bowl and plenty of fresh water to the beach for your pup and bring them in from the surf if they try to lap the whole ocean up.

Whether you are interested in testing a stool sample for parasites or are experiencing signs of illness in your dog after a swim, call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164. Our Colorado office provides emergency and wellness care for dogs and cats.

The post Dogs and Water: Safety Precautions first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.