I am amazed by the number of cats and dogs that are brought to my office by pet sitters. Sometimes the pet sitters are professionals. In other instances, friends or family members of vacationers volunteered to watch the cat or dog for free. Either way, I can tell that the pet sitter is worried it is his fault that the pet is at the vet.

As well, on some days half of my clients tell me stories similar to this one: “Fluffy was fine before we left for vacation. My friend Jim watched her, and Jim says that he didn’t notice anything wrong while we were away. But since we’ve returned Fluffy hasn’t eaten anything and she’s thrown up ten times.”

What’s going on here? Are pet sitters generally inept? Why do so many pets get sick when their families are out of town?

In my experience, most pet sitters take their jobs (whether paid or not) very seriously. And most of them are exceptionally diligent. After all, nobody wants their best friend’s cat to get sick while they are taking care of it.

But there is no escaping the fact that a disproportionate number of veterinary visits occur when the pet’s family is, or has just been, away. And I believe I know why.

One thing that makes pets so great is that they unabashedly love the people they live with. However, when those people are away the absence causes stress. That stress can dramatically exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions–conditions that may have been present, undetected, for months before the family vacation.

Therefore, seemingly healthy pets may become sick when their loved ones are away.

Does this mean that you are not entitled to a vacation if you have a pet? Absolutely not! But there are some precautions you can take.

And finally, try not to blame the pet sitter if things unexpectedly go wrong. Most of them are doing the best that they can.

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I have spent several nights over the last few weeks working at a veterinary emergency hospital near San Francisco. We see an incredible range of cases, but during my last two shifts in particular I treated a huge number of dogs for exposure to toxic substances.

There are literally thousands of household products, plants, foods, human medications and chemicals that are poisonous to dogs and cats. To view two (non-comprehensive) lists of potential poisons, click here (for household products) and here (for plants).

Despite the huge number of hazardous plants and materials out there, I have noticed that three of them seem to be more commonly ingested by pets than the others. So, although I encourage you to be proactive about protecting your pet from all potential poisons, please be especially aware of these three.

I recommend that pets never be allowed access to any poisons. However, please be especially careful with the three listed above. Dogs are more likely than cats to be exposed to each of these poisons because they are less selective about what they eat.

If you suspect that your pet has consumed any poisonous product, contact a veterinarian immediately. Acting quickly can help to prevent serious consequences.

If possible, always bring the packaging from the product that was consumed, as well as any remaining product to the veterinarian’s office when you seek treatment. This will help the vet to positively identify the type and amount of toxin consumed.

Remember, however, that the best way to keep your pet safe from poisons is to make sure he or she does not have access to them in the first place.

• How can I Protect my Cat From Ear Mites?
• Why do Pets get Sick While You’re on Vacation?
• Article Discusses the Increasing Use of Psychoactive Drugs in Pets
• Yet Another Scientific Paper Documents the Human Health Benefits of Pets
• Pets May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline in Elderly People

For those of you who live in foxtail territory, be careful! I just finished working a shift at an emergency hospital in northern California, where foxtails reign supreme. In a period of 12 hours, I was party to the removal of five foxtails from pets. Two were in ears, two were in noses, and one was in an eye.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with grass awns (colloquially called foxtails), I recommend that you check the link above. Foxtails aren’t present in every locale. But in areas where they grow, foxtails are public enemy number one as far as pets are concerned.

Foxtails occur where long grass (especially wild barley) has gone to seed and dried. They are sharp, irritating plant parts that can embed in the socks of hikers, or in virtually any body part of a pet. If a foxtail works its way into a pet’s ear, he may shake his head violently, rub the ear, or whine when the ear is touched. In the nose, foxtails cause violent sneezing. Foxtails embedded in eyes cause phenomenal pain, squinting, and swelling. In the skin, they cause bleeding, swelling, hair loss, and excessive licking.

Regardless of location, embedded foxtails are painful and have the potential to migrate to distant parts of the body. And once one is embedded, you’ll be looking at a costly vet bill to search for it. Removal is not guaranteed.

My advice: learn whether foxtails are present in your area. If they are, learn what they look like. And then, avoid them like the plague! If you let your pet roam through tall, dry seeded grass, you may end up in the waiting room of a veterinary emergency clinic–nobody’s favorite place to pass time.

Photo from great Dog Owner’s Guide to California Foxtail

 
See related Vet Blog entries:

• How can I Protect my Cat From Ear Mites?
• Why do Pets get Sick While You’re on Vacation?
• Article Discusses the Increasing Use of Psychoactive Drugs in Pets
• Yet Another Scientific Paper Documents the Human Health Benefits of Pets
• Pets May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline in Elderly People

A client recently told me a story that sent chills down my spine.

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is home to several coyotes. They make it into the news now and then, and many people are delighted that such beautiful wild animals live in such an urban area.

My client and her dog (both shall remain nameless) were running in Golden Gate Park recently when the dog spotted a coyote. Instinct took over, and the domestic dog (who was not on a leash) started to chase the wild one.

My client frantically called her dog to return, but he was oblivious to her pleas. He chased the coyote through some trees and out of sight toward a road.

Immediately after that, my client heard the screech of a braking car, followed by a solid thump. She arrived on the scene in time to see the coyote limp away on three legs. The dog was not hurt.

My client and the driver of the car called San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control. An officer came to look for the injured coyote, but it could not be found.

This story is a tragedy for the coyote. It just as easily could have been a tragedy for my client and her dog. By sheer luck, it was not.

The moral is simple. Off-leash activity is a great deal of fun for dogs. But if you can’t rely upon your dog to respond to voice commands, you need to be selective about when and where you let him play free.

My client has vowed that she will never again take her dog running without a leash.

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