Cat cafés, toxic household items, and more

American Animal Hospital Association  February 27, 2015

I'll take my coffee with a cat Maureen Blaney Flietner Coffee with a calico? Tea with a tabby? Or just want to unwind with a feline? Enter the "cat café." ...more

13 household items toxic to pets Anna Coffin, DVM In 2013, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center responded to 180,000 calls about pets exposed to potentially poisonous substances. Of these calls, 15 percent were due to insecticide exposure, 10 percent to household products, 5.5 percent to rodenticides, and more than 2 percent to lawn and garden products. More than 90 percent of pet poisonings occur in our homes, so it's important to become familiar with these common household items....more

What a wellness plan can do for your pet (and your pocketbook) Corinne Ryan, CVPM A wellness plan offers a way to prepay for pet health care services. Different than insurance, a wellness plan often requires a pet owner to sign a contract for a particular time period, usually 12 months. The pet owner then pays a monthly fee and receives a set of services that may include exams, laboratory tests, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, nail trims, deworming, heartworm testing, dental care, and others. Participants in pet wellness plans also often receive discounts on additional veterinary services. Several plans may be available based upon the type of pet you have and how old he or she is. There may also be different tiers or levels depending on the services bundled into the plan. For example, a "puppy plan" that includes spay/neuter, microchipping, and other services may be more expensive than an "adult dog plan" that doesn't include these one-time services. In addition to the monthly fee, there is often a sign-up fee or one-time membership fee, which is paid up front. ...more

Canine and feline arthritis Bekka Burton Have you ever noticed a groaning dog as he slowly struggles to stand after a nap? Or a cat who is no longer interested in boisterous physical activity? These could be signs of arthritis, which results in a deterioration of the cartilage (cushion) between the joints and bones, which results in pain and limited movement. But there are actions you can take to help prevent this degenerative joint disease and preserve your pet's quality of life. ...more

Pocket pets 101: Your guide to owning a pocket-size pet Veronica Daehn Harvey Gary Riggs, DVM, spends most of his time working with exotic pets. So when it comes to advice on pocket pets—small animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, and sugar gliders—he's a good person to ask. Riggs is a veterinarian at three Ohio clinics, NorthCoast Bird and Exotic Specialty Hospital, Barberton Veterinary Clinic, and The Animal Clinic of Wadsworth....more

Pet International Inc. recalls Beef Trachea pet treat PetsMatter According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pet International of Miami, Fla., is recalling 1,500 units of 6" Beef Trachea pet treat because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating, and humans handling, the contaminated products. ...more PetsMatter is provided by the American Animal Hospital Association for educational purposes only. The information should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. PetsMatter is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of specific tests, products, procedures, or opinions. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian. AAHA is an association of veterinary teams that are committed to excellence in companion animal care. It is the only organization that accredits animal hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. © 2015 American Animal Hospital Association. All rights reserved.