Cat Allergies (

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1 Coalition for Pet Protection Newsletter Fall 2015 Cat Allergies ( Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause food allergies than others. In cats, the most common offenders are beef, lamb, seafood, corn, soy, dairy products and wheat gluten. As you may have noticed, the most common offenders are the most common ingredients in both cat and dog foods. This correlation is not a coincidence. While some proteins might be slightly more antigenic than others, many proteins are similar in form and the incidence of allergic reactions are probably associated with the amount of exposure. The symptoms of food allergies are similar to those of most other allergies seen in cats. The primary symptom is itchy skin. Symptoms may also include hair loss, excessive scratching, and miliary dermatitis. It is difficult to distinguish an animal suffering from food allergies from an animal suffering from atopy or other allergies based on physical signs. However, there are a few signs that increase the suspicion that food allergies may be present. If a cat suffers from allergies year-round or if symptoms begin in the winter, I suspect a food allergy. With food allergies, cats may develop very itchy skin which does not respond to steroid treatment. The treatment for food allergies is avoidance. Once the offending ingredients have been identified through a food trial, then they are eliminated from the diet. Short-term relief may be gained with fatty acids, antihistamines, and steroids, but elimination of the products from the diet is the only long-term solution. The owner of the animal has two choices. They can choose to feed the animal a special commercially prepared diet or a homemade diet. If homemade diets are used, it is essential that they be balanced with correct amount of ingredients, vitamins, and minerals. Homemade diets for such long term use should be developed by a veterinary nutritionist. Be aware that some pets with food allergies may develop allergies to new foods if they are fed those foods long enough. If you see signs of food allergies returning, consult your veterinarian. 100% of your generous donations go to help the animals! 1

2 November is senior month! Speak to All Feline Hospital about their senior wellness special (402) Is Chocolate Bad for Dogs? ( Chocolate is poisonous to dogs; however, the hazard of chocolate to your dog depends on the type of chocolate, the amount consumed and your dog's size. In large enough amounts, chocolate and cocoa products can kill your dog. Why not chocolate? The toxic component of chocolate is theobromine. Humans easily metabolize theobromine, but dogs process it much more slowly, allowing it to build up to toxic levels in their system. A large dog can consume more chocolate than a small dog before suffering ill effects. A small amount of chocolate will probably only give your dog an upset stomach with vomiting or diarrhea. With large amounts, theobromine can produce muscle tremors, seizures, an irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding or a heart attack. The onset of theobromine poisoning is usually marked by severe hyperactivity. The usual treatment for theobromine poisoning is to induce vomiting within two hours of ingestion. If you are worried or suspect that your dog may have eaten a large quantity of chocolate and they are showing any of the signs listed above, call your veterinarian immediately. A single piece of chocolate should not be a problem. A single piece doesn't contain a large enough theobromine dosage to harm your dog; however, if you have a small dog that has eaten a box of chocolates, you need to call and go to your veterinarian right away. Do not wait. Different chocolate types have different theobromine levels. Cocoa, cooking chocolate and dark chocolate contain the highest levels, while milk chocolate and white chocolate have the lowest. If you re dealing with any quantity of dark or bitter chocolate, err on the side of caution. The high level of theobromine in dark chocolate means it takes only a very small amount to poison a dog. Less than an ounce of dark chocolate may be enough to poison a 44-pound dog. Are you looking for a furry family member? Head on over to our website to fall in love 2

3 Would you like to get more involved with CPP? Fill out a volunteer application on our website or come see us at any of our PetsMart Meet & Greet events. We look forward to getting to know you Scratching on the Furniture ( Different cats have different preferences for what they like to scratch on. So, have different types of scratching posts. Sissal, cardboard, and short carpet are probably the most popular. Once you get the scratching post, give your cat a little extra incentive to use it. Sprinkle cat nip on it on a regular basis. If you catch your cat using it, praise them, and maybe even give them a treat. The second thing is to make your furniture undesirable for scratching on. Probably the easiest is to cover the good scratching areas with double sided sticky tape. Cats don't like to stick to things, so they will leave this alone. Eventually you can start removing a little bit at a time once your cat starts using the scratching posts consistently. You may have to replace the tape regularly, and test a small area in back first to make sure that the tape will not cause any damage to your furniture. You can artfully rearrange your furniture so that the good flat scratching areas have furniture placed up against them so it is difficult to access them. You can also spray cat distasteful things on your furniture such as bitter apple, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, or anything that your cat will dislike the smell and/or taste of and avoid. The third thing is an instant bad result if you catch your cat scratching the furniture. This is where squirt guns, spray bottles, noise makers, and just plain NO in a loud voice come in. The main thing to keep in mind is that these only work if you catch your cat in the act. A few seconds later, they will have no idea what you are yelling at them for. Follow us on Facebook for up to date events, videos, pictures, and informative articles 3

4 Pet Allergies ( About 10 percent of the population is allergic to animals, but that doesn't mean they can't own pets. You may have heard rumors of hypoallergenic dogs and cats, pets that don t cause trouble for people with allergies. In truth, there is no guarantee that a specific breed won t cause allergies for a given individual. Many adults are already aware that they are allergic to dogs or cats (or both), but others may still be in the dark. Here s how to find out for sure: Get tested You will need to make an appointment with an allergist to get tested. The test is a measure of a specific antibody response (specific IgE) directed at the relevant allergen. Get a reality check If you are considering adopting a certain breed of cat or dog try to arrange an hour or more when you can play with the animal, paying attention to your body s reactions. Despite some reports of hypoallergenic animals, there are no breeds of cats or dogs that do not produce allergen. The American Kennel Club lists many breeds as good options for people with dog allergies because they are thought to produce less dander than other breeds. You should still take some time to find out if they trigger your own allergic symptoms. If you or someone in your household has cat or dog allergies try these strategies: Keep your pet out of bedrooms Keep your pet outside if possible Groom your pet often to control shedding and dander Clean your home often to pick up hair and dander, using HEPA filters on vacuums and other air filters Talk to your vet about dander control shampoos, or diluted doses of the sedative acepromizine, which may reduce the allergens produced by certain breeds of cat To read more educational articles and view videos visit our website at 4

5 Enter our photo contest! Good Reasons to Spay & Neuter ( Want to do something for your pet that is great for his health and is also an act of responsible pet ownership? Have your animal spayed or neutered. When you make the decision to spay or neuter a pet you are also making a socially responsible choice. Spaying or neutering a pet is a major surgery, but these are also some of the most commonly performed procedures. Your pet will be given general anesthesia during the surgery, and pain medications are often given after the procedure to minimize pain or discomfort. Stitches are usually removed 10 to 14 days later. It is recommended that female dogs and cats not be spayed while they are in heat since they may be susceptible to increased blood loss. Relieves stress Animals are geared toward pregnancy or nursing. If they are not doing that they are physiologically stressed. Cuts down cancer risks When you spay or neuter your pet, it reduces your pet s risk of developing certain cancers and may lengthen their lives. Prevents urinary tract infections Having a pet spayed or neutered lowers your pet s risk of developing urinary tract problems. This can be particularly important for cats since urinary tract disease can be very serious or even fatal in felines. Promotes better behavior Neutering can decrease the roaming of males who may get hit by cars or get picked up as strays. In dogs it can lessen howling, barking, and urine marking. Male cats will be less likely to mark their territory with urine. Spaying female cats will prevent yowling which is what they do to attract males when they are in heat. Eliminates female canine menstruation Female dogs experience heat cycles approximately every six months or so which can leave bloody stains around the house. Your pet will be calmer and better behaved after surgery. Reducing the breeding instinct can eliminate the desire to roam to find a mate. More importantly, your dog or cat will be healthier, more content, and a more devoted member of the family. 5

6 A Purrrrrfect Ending Clancy and Nora's parents adopted them just 2 weeks after they'd lost their cat of many years. Clancy and Nora helped to heal their aching hearts. Four years later the littermates are still the light in their parent's eyes. "We can't imagine our lives without them. They are the best cats EVER! We love them to death and they are the best buddies together." Would you like to receive our newsletter in ? Fill out the online form from the website or send an with your request Traci@petcoalition.org 6