Pet Resolutions for 2011

This time of year everyone is making New Year’s resolutions. Our pets are so much a part of our lives that when making resolutions for ourselves this year, why not consider a resolution or two that will help both you and your pet get a fresh start in the new year. Here are some possibilities to consider.

Choose healthy snacks in 2011.

Keep the amount of calories to 10% of your pet’s daily calorie requirement. Your veterinarian can help you assess how many calories this is. Choose healthy snacks like the 5 calorie baby carrot or the 50 calorie ½ apple. CittiKitty now markets Tuna Treats, premium bonito flakes for treating your cat, but a fish loving dog will find them tasty too. Because the tuna is dried and flaked paper thin, one cup has 35 calories. Using 10 flakes a day as a treat will contribute minimal calories and the taste will be a huge hit with your cat.

Get down to and maintain an ideal body condition.

Weight loss is on almost everyone’s New Year’s resolution list. Because pets come in so many sizes and shapes, it is hard to say your cat should weigh 5 or 10 or 15 pounds. What matters is maintaining an ideal body condition. Veterinarians commonly assess this during an annual examination. It is based on your pet having a waist and skeletal features you can feel with your hands. If your pet doesn’t have these, he/she is likely overweight. To see the dog and cat body condition scale, visit:

• Understanding your Dog’s Body Condition
• Understanding your Cat’s Body Condition

Take your pet to the veterinarian at least once a year.

Comparing 2001 and 2006, a decrease of 1 million veterinary visits was recorded and visits have fallen further due to the Great Recession beginning in 2007. This means pets are medically underserved and small problems can quickly become big ones. Preventive healthcare prevents potentially fatal infectious diseases and difficult to treat disorders such as heartworms. Senior pets may need twice yearly visits as a pet’s lifespan is compressed into fewer years than ours are.

Give to less fortunate dogs and cats.

Local animal shelters and rescue group are always in need. Cleaning out your old and shabby towels? Call your local shelter and see if they could use them to give a homeless pet a place to curl up. Check with your local rescue group or food pantry about pet food donations. People without enough to eat may also have pets in the same situation. Offer to walk dogs or brush cats at your local shelter. I am sure any help you offer will be more than appreciated.

Spend quality time with your pet.

We all lead busy lives. It is often very easy to overlook spending good quality time with that four-legged, furry member of your family. Instead of just walking your dog to the corner and back, vow to take him to the park, play fetch or check out the new dog run in the neighborhood. Change your cat’s toys frequently to prevent boredom. By giving your pet this quality time once a day or even once a week, your pet will return the favor with love and devotion. And, guaranteed it will improve your own quality of life!

This blog may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog from WebMD.

_________________________________________________

For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Holiday Gifts for Your Pets

When shopping for the holidays, don’t forget a gift for the cat or dog in the family. To help the harried shopper, the specialist veterinarians at The Animal Medical Center have teamed up to create a holiday gift list for pets using ideas from the Pet Socialite’s “No Place Like Home” Pet Expo on November 9 in New York City. A member of the AMC staff has carefully selected each gift with a different health issue in mind. Everyone at The AMC hopes you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season. Be sure to review our holiday safety tips for pets.

From the Neurology Service and the Rehabilitation & Fitness Service: Surprise your dog with a bad back and a weak hind end by ordering a large roll of yoga mat. Trim the yoga mat to fit your slippery hallway and turn it into a non-skid walkway for your dog with bad back legs. As an added bonus, the mats come in many colors to match your décor or mood.

Photo: Pioneer Pet Products, LLC

AMC’s Renal Medicine Service is always prescribing more water for their feline patients with bladder problems. If the prescription for your cat is to drink more water, try a water fountain. Many cats find the bubbling water more attractive than still water in a bowl and will increase their water consumption with the fountain. Shown here is a Feng shui fountain. Even if your cat won’t drink from it, maybe his litter box use will improve just with a better flow of qi.

Photo: Jax and Bones

Selecting the correct chew toy for your dog is critical. AMC’s Dentistry Service recommends avoiding hard nylon toys and the Gastroenterology Service recommends avoiding real bones since they often lodge in the intestinal tract and cause serious problems. For a safe chew, consider these holiday themed toys from Jax and Bones. Colored with vegetable dyes and graded according to the “Chomp Chart,” these delightful toys can be wet and frozen to entertain chewers for hours.

Photo: Go Pet LLC

Is your pooch a weekend warrior who doesn’t exercise Monday-Friday? Weekday couch potatoes are prone to sports injuries. Keep your dog in tip top shape all week and avoid the need to see one of AMC’s orthopedic surgeons for a knee repair by exercising your dog everyday. The self-powered exercise wheel shown below is an in-home method of exercising your dog and a great addition to the family’s home gym.

AMC’s Dermatology Service frequently prescribes a t-shirt for their itchy patients. The t-shirt prevents excessive licking and scratching while your pet’s skin heals. How about having your pet recover in style with this cute t-shirt from Sexy Beast: Canine Style Unleashed.

Photo: Sexy Beast

Pills, pills and more pills — AMC’s Internal Medicine Service is a big prescriber. Diligent pet owners make charts, calendars and post it reminders and still have a hard time remembering to give medication. How about simplifying the system with a glow cap reminder system by Vitality GlowCap? The special lid has connection to a wireless network and fits on a regular pill bottle. A missed dose sends a text message or phone call as a reminder. You can even send a reminder to another family member who can give the missed medication.

Photo: Doggles

Your dog only has one set of eyes and AMC’s Ophthalmology Service wants to protect them. These sport glasses designed with dogs in mind, keep out sun, are shatterproof and protect eyes from flying debris if your dog rides in a open car, a pickup bed or the sidecar of a motorcycle.

The entire AMC staff hopes for a safe new year for all pets. To be prepared in case your cat or dog gets lost, be sure they have both a microchip and a collar with ID tags. Neither is a foolproof method of identification, so use both to make sure your pet is home for the holidays.

And the entire AMC staff hopes for a healthy new year for all pets. To be prepared in case your new year comes with an illness or injury, consider purchasing an insurance policy for your favorite dog or cat. Having a pet insurance policy will help to ease the financial burden and let you make decisions based on good medicine and not on finances. Many different companies underwrite policies for pets, so investigate carefully to pick the best one for your family.

This blog may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog from WebMD.

_________________________________________________

For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org.  To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Collars and Chips for All Cats

Without research into disease mechanisms, new diagnostic tests and better treatments, there would be no advances in the medical care of either animals or people. Yet some folks think all animal research is bad. Let me tell you about some recently published research that just might save your cat’s life. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association has published a study “Evaluation of collars and microchips for visual and permanent identification of pet cats.” Since cats are now more popular pets than dogs are, this research is really important to those of us who love cats.

The lack of identification — either by a collar or microchip — is the main reason a cat’s owner cannot be found. Both indoor and outdoor cats can be lost and end up in a shelter so this study applies to all pet cats. Unfortunately, when cats end up in a shelter they are frequently euthanized if the owner cannot be found, making the question asked in this study, “What is the best method of identifying a lost cat, is it a collar or a microchip?” a matter of life and death.

The owners of 538 pet cats in Ohio, New York, Florida and Texas gave permission for their cats to participate in this creative study. All cats had a microchip placed for permanent identification and each cat wore a collar. To determine which collar would stay on the cat and provide the best opportunity for a cat’s owner to be identified, three different collars were evaluated in the study: a plastic buckle collar, a breakaway plastic buckle safety collar and an elastic stretch safety collar. Owners were surveyed at the beginning and the end of the 6 month study.

As you might expect, the microchips performed extremely well. All but one was working well after 6 months, providing a ready method of cat owner identification. This information reinforces the need for every cat (and by the way, dogs too!) to have a microchip placed. But because this study identified a microchip failure, all cat owner’s should have their cat’s microchip function confirmed during an annual examination. This takes barely a second or two.

Not surprisingly, collars were less reliable than microchips, but they were still effective in identifying a cat. Just over 70% of cats wore their collars successfully for the duration of the study, underscoring the importance of the microchip as a backup method of identification. Owners frequently had to replace all types of collars, but the plastic buckle collar stayed on the best. No collar related injuries were identified, although 3.8% of cats did get the collar caught on an inanimate object or a body part such as their leg or mouth.

Cat owners, this is your call to action. Researchers have provided you with the tools to save your cat’s life. All you need to do is get your favorite feline a collar and a chip.

What kind of collar does your cat like best? Post your response in our comments section below.

Source: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2010:237:387-394. Evaluation of collars and microchips for visual and permanent identification of pet cats. Lord LK, Griffin B, Slater MR, Levy JK.

This blog may also be found in the “Tales from the Pet Clinic” blog from WebMD.

_________________________________________________

For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit http://www.amcny.org/. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Driving with Pets

For those of us growing up with a passion for cats and late night TV, the highlight of the weekend was the newest episode of “Toonces, The Driving Cat” on Saturday Night Live. Toonces was just a family pet, who drove the family car. The skit was pure fantasy and very silly. Riding with Toonces was dangerous since every skit ended in a fireball crash.

In reality, driving with the family pet may not be that much different than riding with Toonces. Pet owners frequently drive with their dog or cat and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 6,000 fatalities occur annually in drivers distracted by their dog or cat, and many more are injured in accidents. No one knows how many pets are killed or injured in the same traffic accidents. Pet owners need to be proactive to protect themselves, their pet and other passengers.

In addition to the pet as a driver distraction, another hazard car traveling pet owners should prepare for is a traffic accident. According to Bark Buckle UP, an organization promoting pet safety and assisting first responders in handling pet emergencies “In an accident, an unrestrained animal is dangerous to the human passengers as well. Even in an accident of only 30 mph, a 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, a windshield, or another passenger. Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of rescue workers for whom every moment is precious.”

One of the critical pieces of preventing driver distraction and projectile pets is restraint. Successful restraint may take some trial and error. The first car trip my cat and I made was a disaster. Being safety minded, I slipped him in his carrier and put it on the back seat. And the yowling began. Talk about being distracted. Ultimately, he and I came to an agreement. He begrudgingly wore a leash and harness, tethered to a backseat armrest. The ability to move and see outside the car stopped the yowling, but he couldn’t get into the front seat and distract me from driving.

Multiple devices are available to meet the needs of traveling pets and their owners: pet seat belts, booster seats, pet carriers and safety barriers.

Pet Seat Belts
Selection of pet seat belts should be tailored to the individual pet. Size is important. Pet owners should select the proper size for their dog or cat’s weight. The seat belt selected must also be compatible with the car the pet will be riding in. Pet owners should check with their car dealer about pet restraint options available for their make and model.

Pet Safety Barriers
One car specific barrier is the gate which can be installed between the luggage area and the back seat of a station wagon to confine large dogs. These gates often have attachments for tethering devices to prevent the dog from jumping out the instant you open the back hatch. Some of these gates are so holding 2 dogs or 1 dog and some luggage. For dogs that prefer the backseat, a mesh barrier can be used to divide the front seat from the back seat to prevent a pet from jumping onto the lap of the driver. Any of these barriers also serve to prevent a pet from being injured or injuring passengers if an accident occurs.

Pet Booster Seats
Booster seats both restrain the pet and allow the pet to watch the scenery go by. These devices attach either to the headrest or are elevated beds strapped into the car using the existing seatbelt. Choose one with a strap to attach to your pet’s regular harness. I say harness, because if the pet tries to jump out of the seat or there is an accident, they might injure their neck if the restraint strap is attached to a collar. Some of these booster seats are pretty fancy and can be heated using the car’s outlet, or double as a bathtub.

Pet Carriers
A pet carrier is a versatile car travel restraint device. It works in the car, airplane or on public transportation. Most of my feline patients come to see me in a carrier, partly because of convenience and partly because cats feel safer in their own space rather than in their owner’s arms. In the car, carriers should be attached to the seat or floor so they do not become a projectile in an accident or slide off the seat if you make a quick stop. Some carriers attach to a base which is secured with a seatbelt, just like some infant car seats. Other carriers have integral seatbelt straps to fasten the carrier in place.

I hope pet owners find this information helpful and certainly safer than riding with Toonces!

________________________________________________

For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Taking Better Care of Our Cats

It seems that cats are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to veterinary care. Research has shown that cat owners are taking their cats to the vet less often. Research sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association determined 83% of dogs see a veterinarian annually while only 64% of cats see a veterinarian annually.

Cats are medically underserved, in part because owners are unaware how sick their cat is. Cats, being the clever creatures that they are, can hide illness until it has reached catastrophic proportions.

The veterinarians at The AMC recommend annual examinations for all healthy younger cats and for senior cats (>7 years of age) twice annual examination. During the examination, your cat’s veterinarian will monitor your cat’s weight and body condition score as a measure of his/her overall health. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends the minimum database in senior cats include a complete blood count, chemistry screen, and urinalysis.  Once cats pass their 10th birthday, testing thyroid function and blood pressure are recommended. Together, you and the veterinarians will discuss your cat’s lifestyle and decide on what preventive healthcare measures are required to keep you cat in tip top condition. The preventive measures include: vaccinations, parasite prevention, behavioral interventions and nutritional recommendations. Your cat’s veterinarian may suggest testing for occult infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and feline heartworms.

People other than just those of us at The AMC are thinking about cats and cat health too. There is an interesting new cat website (www.kittytest.com).  This website displays the frequency of important cat diseases by geographic location. The information contained in this website will help the cat owner determine how often a disease is diagnosed in their county and open the door for a risk analysis for their cat with the family veterinarian. This website is similar to, but not the same as, a registry of disease for people like the governmental vital statistics bureau. The data shown on the website is compiled from the tests performed since 2000 by only one laboratory, but it will help cat owners to know how common these diseases are in their neighborhoods and give them some information with which to open a discussion with their veterinarian. Ultimately, any medical tests and treatments should be customized to the lifestyle issues of your cat.

_______________________
For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts.  Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets

The winter holidays should be a joyous time for people and pets alike. In the midst of your revelries and big family dinners, don’t let your home become a hazardous place for your dog or cat. Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pets safe this holiday season:

1. Fatty Foods Aren’t Good for Sparky Either
Who can resist gravy on roast beef or a cup of egg nog? Spills on the kitchen floor or overturned glasses and gravy boats are what your dog is wishing for this year. Lapping up these high fat treats puts him at risk for severe gastrointestinal upset. Delicious, but oily potato pancakes will do the same.

2. Other Holiday Foods on the Naughty List
Chocolate contains a caffeine-like substance which is toxic in animals, known to cause hyperactivity, seizures and heart arrhythmias (dry cocoa powder is the most dangerous). Onions can cause anemia in dogs and cats. Raisins are often found in many holiday baked goods and for an unknown reason, raisins and their hydrated relative, grapes, can cause kidney failure in dogs.

3. Trash Cans Become Holiday Buffets for Pets
Don’t forget about the trash can in your kitchen as you whiz about making final preparations for guests – it can become a dangerous buffet for your pet. If eaten, the string used to tie the meat and the discarded bones can lodge themselves in the digestive tract and require a surgical procedure to remove. Bones lodged in the esophagus can be fatal if it is severely damaged.

4. Raise Your Glasses!
Not to propose a toast, but do ask guests not to set glasses down on the floor or on a low coffee table where pets get easy access to those sweet, tasty, alcoholic holiday drinks. Pets will keep slurping and can become intoxicated and ill quickly.    

5. Wrapping Risks
The festive bows, twine, paper and tags of the holiday season can wrap your pet up in a heap of trouble if they’re ingested. Cats and puppies love to play with puffy bows and balled up wrapping, and may in fact swallow them. All animals will be tempted to eat through the pretty packaging surrounding gifts of food, so make sure to put them out of pets’ reach. The ingested wrapping can get stuck in the intestine and cause a blockage as well as damage the intestinal wall.

6. Christmas Tree Safety 101
The water in your Christmas tree stand is mighty inviting to a thirsty pet. Keep it covered so they can’t lap up water that has been tainted by pinesap and tree preservatives. Anchor your tree well and display it in a secure location to prevent pets from knocking it over. String the lights tightly and put the all dangling cords behind furniture to limit your pet’s interest in playing with, and possibly chewing on them. Severe electrical burns and electrocution can result. Cats especially have been known to nibble on the tree branches and sample the tinsel, both of which can be dangerous to their digestive tracts. Lastly, choose your ornaments carefully. Glass ornaments that shatter easily if knocked off the tree leave shards for your pet to step on and ingest. The best bet is to not let animals into the room where the tree is standing without human supervision.  

7. Let There Be Light (as long as your pets can’t get near it!)
Candles and lamps are a part of many holiday celebrations like Hanukah, Christmas, Divali and Kwanzaa. Your Menorah or Kinara should be in a place that is inaccessible to your pets and should not burn unattended. Your cat can easily light itself on fire by brushing its tail up against a burning candle or start a house fire by tipping it over.

8. Mistle-no’s
Colorful houseplants abound at holiday time but many are poisonous if nibbled on by your pets. Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and Cyclamen’s tuberous roots are toxic to pets and lilies and amaryllis will cause kidney failure if eaten by your cat. It is best to be safe and not have these plants in your home if you share it with a pet.

9. Break out Star
With so many holiday guests coming and going, it is easy for pets to get agitated or escape out the door. Be sure your pets are crated or leashed when you expect guests to prevent them from running away. And with all of the new voices, music and loud noises holiday festivities often bring, even the calmest pet can get spooked. Keeping pets in a closed room will help minimize the anxiety.

10. Not a Good Surprise Present
Remember that a pet of any type does not make a good gift. No matter how much your neighbor or family member covets your beloved Fido or Whiskers, other families need to be prepared for the time and financial commitment a pet requires. A pet should never be a surprise gift anytime of the year.

If your pet has ingested any foods or materials that may be toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately or call Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day. The Animal Medical Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency, routine and specialty care: (212) 838-8100.
_______________________________
For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts.  Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Dog Bone Safety

During these tough economic times, we all want to give to those less fortunate. These days the gifts may not be dollars, they may be gently used items or something we can’t use ourselves. The folks at Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City are doing just that, they are donating the pork bones used to make noodle broth to dogs in local shelters.

While the spirit of the gift is admirable, the gift may not be exactly right. From a veterinarian’s perspective, cooked or raw, these bones are dangerous, and potentially deadly. The veterinarians at AMC are frequently called on to remove bones stuck in the esophagus of dogs.

In 2007, the veterinarians at at The AMC published a review of 60 dogs with foreign objects lodged in the esophagus in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. All 60 dogs were seen at AMC and 46 of them had bones lodged in their esophagus. The other 14 had various toys, food objects and plastic lodged in their esophagus. Six of the dogs studied suffered from permanent esophageal damage and 3 additional dogs died from complications attributed to the esophageal obstruction.

Raw bones carry the additional animal and public health concerns. Any raw meat diet contains some risk of bacterial contamination with dangerous organisms. Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and E. coli found in raw meat may make the dog eating the food sick or may contaminate the kitchen of those preparing the raw bones for dogs and result in human illness. Dogs eating raw food diets are more likely to shed E. coli and Salmonella in their feces and contaminate the environment.

The AMC dentistry service recommends dog chew toys with tooth safety in mind. On the no-no list are hard nylon chew toys, furry tennis balls (the fur is very abrasive to the teeth), hoof chews and compressed rawhide. They say yes to hard rubber chew toys and non-furry balls like handballs.

So hats off to everyone stepping up to help shelter animals; just be sure your gift is a safe one.
____________________________________

For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit www.amcny.org. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

How to Make Your Cat “Green”

When Cat Fancy magazine asked me about making a cat “green,” my first thought was, “How can these fluffy balls of fun contribute to our carbon footprint?”  Cats don’t operate motor vehicles and they don’t contribute to landfill much, except for the occasional sofa shredded beyond recognition.  And, those disgusting hairballs we end up stepping on in the middle of the night are totally organic and biodegradable.

What I didn’t know was that traditional clay cat litter is not biodegradable.  It is made from clay which is strip mined making it tough on the ecosystem both coming and going.  The dust from clay litter contains substances which contribute to the development of feline lung diseases.  Furthermore, cat feces, which end up in our costal waterways, may be harming wildlife such as sea otters (delightful creatures almost as cute as cats).  It seems that there is an epidemic of Toxoplasmosis in sea otters traced back to cat feces flushed down human toilets.

Below are some suggestions to make your cat “green.”   They range from simple to creative and I think there is something for everyone. They are divided into 4 major areas: 

Food and Treats
Purchase cat food in recyclable containers – bags or cans are most commonly recyclable.  Then recycle the containers.

Grow your own cat grass and cat nip – your cat will love you and you can erase a little of your carbon footprint.

Cat Litter and Litter Boxes
Litter box issues are tough and nothing causes more friction between a cat and its owner, so if you plan a switch do it slowly and be prepared to revert to your previous litter and litter box on a moment’s notice.

Toilet train your cat.  This is a no-no if you live in a coastal region.
http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/Mingus/cat_training.html

Use litter from recycled materials, such as recycled newspaper
http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/?D=1102642&T=4768447

Use a biodegradable litter:
• Pine based flushable litter – This litter is specially processed to make it safe for cats. Do not use pine chips for your garden as they may not be safe. http://www.naturesearth.com/

• Corn based flushable litter
http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/Products/WBCL/default.aspx

• Wheat based flushable cat litter http://www.swheatscoop.com/

Make your own litter from old newspapers
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/diy-newspaper-cat-litter.php

Disposable litterbox – Great for travel, but may not be great for the environment so be sure it is biodegradable; no plastics

This self washing litter box has reusable pellets instead of litter.  It looks like a very cool device, but it really needs a carbon audit
http://www.catgenie.com/

Protect the delicate natural environment
Keep cats inside to protect native wild birds

Put cat feces in the garbage or compost it if you live in coastal areas to protect native water species. In Australia, keep cats inside to protect native small marsupials.

Environmentally friendly products
Environmentally friendly toys

Environmentally friendly grooming products

Book on making cat toys
http://www.makeyourowncattoys.com/PeekGreenventory.html
http://www.makeyourowncattoys.com/PeekGreenventory.html

Sustainable bamboo scratching posts/cat trees
http://www.trendycat.com/?Click=42

The AMC Holiday Gift List

At The AMC we know how much animals enrich our daily lives.  This holiday season, we have prepared a list of wonderful gifts for all the pets and pet lovers in your life.

Gifts for Pets
Microchip: When it comes to giving your pet a holiday gift, good things really do come in small packages.  A microchip is only the size of a grain of rice, yet contains enough information to send your beloved back to you if you should accidentally get separated.  Your veterinarian can implant a microchip in minutes. 

 

Chew Toys: Toys are always a popular holiday gift.  If you are selecting a chew toy for a dog, be sure to pick a tooth-safe chew toy such as a Kong®. http://www.kongcompany.com/ 

 

A nifty price conscious cat toy is the virtually indestructible Cat Dancer® which provides hours of entertainment for your cat. http://catdancer.com/products.htm

 

Seat belt: A safer trip to Grandma’s includes the addition of a doggie seat belt for your four-legged back seat driver.  They are easy to use and available at stores from Petsmart to Orvis.  Here’s one on-line at: http://www.petsafetybelts.com/

 

Pet insurance: For a gift that keeps on giving, pet insurance is one that pleases both the pet and the pet owner. With rising costs of veterinary care, pet insurance can help take the bite out of routine and specialty care.  Just make sure you read the fine print when choosing the policy that’s the best fit for your pet.

 

Grooming: Pamper your pooch or fluff your feline by getting them a gift certificate to their favorite grooming parlor.  A warm bath and a hair cut will perk up any pup.    

  

Pheromones: Too many holiday guests?  Help pets cope with the “holiday blues” with Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP)® spray or a Feliway® diffuser.  Available from various web sites.  
 

Gifts for Humans
Books: The Complete Dog Book for Kids, by the American Kennel Club http://www.akc.org/store/detail/index.cfm

 

The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, Home Edition. Available in the pet section of your favorite bookstore.

 

Pet Hair Remover: Having a party?  Use Scotch brand Fur Fighter™ to remove the hair from your furniture instead of having it stick to your guests’ clothes.

 

Cookbook: For the epicurean pet lover, try the Pet Treat Kitty Cookbook or Pet Treat Cookbook Doggy Bone Cookbook.  Just remember no more than 10% of your pets daily calories should come from snacks. 

 

Gifts to Help The Animal Medical Center
Give to your favorite pet charity, just by shopping.  Do your holiday shopping on www.petgive.com and list The Animal Medical Center as your charity.  View The AMC wishlist.

 

Toast the New Year with a bottle of Syrah from Lieb Family Cellars.  Twenty percent of the proceeds from its sale benefits The Animal Medical Center.  http://www.amcny.org/supportamc/syrah.aspx 

————————- 

Please note: The use of product names and websites within this post is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by The Animal Medical Center of any product or service.