PetHealth

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has an Ear Infection?

“My dog’s ear is red. Does he have an ear infection?”

“Are dogs with floppy ears more prone to developing ear infections?”

“My dog has discharge coming out of his ear. Is discharge a symptom of an ear infection?”

“Why do dogs with floppy ears get chronic ear infections?”

Virtually every dog will develop an ear infection at some point in his lifetime. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to ear infections.

Is My Dog Prone to Ear Infections?

Dogs with floppy ears or long ears are most likely to get an ear infection. Why?  A floppy eared dog or a long-eared dog’s ear canals are covered by the ears. This makes the ear canals a warm, dark, moist area with little air flow - perfect conditions for trapping and growing bacteria inside the dog’s ears.

That’s not to say that dogs with erect ears are immune to ear infections; every dog can develop an ear infection. Floppy-eared and long-eared dogs are just more prone to developing ear infections.

What are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection in a Dog?

Symptoms of an ear infection in a dog include:

• Redness
• Discharge
• Odor From the Dog’s Ears
• Swelling of the Dog’s Ear Canal
• Scratching at the Ear
• Head Shaking

If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, it’s important to keep his ears clean. Clean the dog’s ears with an ear cleaning solution twice a day will help to eliminate some of the skin irritation that can occur as a result of the dog’s ear discharge.

Cleaning the dog’s ears twice a day is important to allow for healing. A dog’s ear infection will not heal on its own; you will need to visit the veterinarian for antibiotics and ear drops or ear ointment. It’s important to clean the dog’s ears before applying the ear drops or ointment, a procedure that’s usually done twice a day for 10 to 14 days.

Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Salmonella in Cats and Dogs

“What are the symptoms of salmonella in a dog or cat?”

“Can I get salmonella from my dog or cat?”

“Will my dog die from salmonella?”

“Has the peanut butter salmonella recall affected pet foods?”

Salmonella has been in the news lately as a result of the peanut butter recall due to salmonella contamination. The salmonella tainted peanut butter was used to manufacture pet treats, among other food products, spurring new cases of salmonella in dogs and cats.

What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella in a Dog or Cat?

In a pet, salmonella signs and symptoms include:

• Vomiting (often with blood present)
• Diarrhea (often with blood present)
• Dehydration
• Refusal to Eat
• Refusal to Drink
• Stomach Gurgling
• Lethargy
• Fever

Unlike less dangerous stomach upsets that are commonly seen in dogs and cats, salmonella will not go away within a day or two. In a dog or cat, a case of salmonella typically lasts a week or longer.

Can My Dog or Cat Die From Salmonella? Is There a Treatment for Salmonella?

Yes! Pets like dogs and cats can and will die from a case of salmonella.

Most dogs and cats who die from salmonella don’t die from the actual illness; most often, pets die from dehydration and other complications resulting from salmonella. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of a pet with salmonella is key.

Salmonella is diagnosed in dogs and cats by testing a stool sample.

There is no treatment to cure salmonella. If a dog or cat gets salmonella, the pet will require supportive care like IV fluids and nutritional supplements to treat dehydration and low blood sugar.

In addition, pet owners must be especially careful if a pet or human family member gets salmonella. Salmonella is one of the few illnesses that can be transmitted between pets and humans.

More Information on Pet Food Recalls That Are Linked to Salmonella in Dogs and Cats

As a result of the peanut butter salmonella contamination, several dog treats were recalled in January 2009.

To learn more about these pet food recalls due to salmonella, and how to learn about pet food recalls, visit the Pet Food Recall Page on The Pet Health Blog.

Puppy Chow Snack Mix is Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination from Peanut Butter

“Have my dog’s treats been recalled?”

“What pet foods have been recalled due to salmonella-tainted peanut butter?”

“What are the symptoms of salmonella in a dog or cat?”

“Which dog treats have been recalled?”

A pet food recall has been issued for Puppy Chow Snack Mix.

 Puppy Chow Snack Mix - along with other brands of pet treats like PetSmart’s Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits and Happy Tails Dog Treats -  have been recalled as a result of the peanut butter salmonella outbreak that occurred in early January 2009.

How Do I Know if My Dog’s Treats Have Been Recalled?

All bag sizes and all flavors of Puppy Chow Snack  Mix have been recalled.

This means that anyone who has Puppy Chow Snack Mix on-hand should immediately stop feeding the treats to their dog. The dog must then be monitored for symptoms of salmonella, which include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, refusal to eat and fever.

What Should I Do With the Recalled Pet Treats?

Any pet owner who has purchased a recalled pet food or pet treat should return the treats to the store where they were purchased for a refund or exchange.

The recalled Puppy Chow Snack Mix was sold at many stores, including Wholesale Food Outlet, Family Thrift Center, Prairie Market, Pick N’ Save, Econofoods, SunMart Foods and Family Fresh Market.

How Do I Learn More About the Salmonella-Related Pet Food Recalls?

For more information on two other recalls, check out my other articles on the recalled Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits and Happy Tails Multi Flavored Dog Treats.

To learn more about Pet Food Recalls, visit the Pet Food Recall Information page on The Pet Health Blog, or visit The Pet Food Recall Page that I run on Suite101.

Happy Tails Dog Treats Recalled Due to Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Butter

“How can I tell if my Happy Tails dog treats have been recalled?”

“What’s the UPC code for the recalled pet treats?”

“Will my dog get salmonella if he eats recalled dog treats?”

The list of recalled pet foods and recalled pet treats continues to grow, as a result of the salmonella-tainted peanut butter that’s sickened hundreds and even killed a handful of unlucky victims.

Pet treats are included among the items that have been recalled as a result of the peanut butter salmonella scare of January 2009.

Recalled: Happy Tails Multi Flavored Dog Treats

Happy Trails brand Multi-Flavored Dog Biscuits have been recalled; some of the dog treats in this multi-flavored package are said to contain the peanut butter that’s been recalled due to salmonella contamination.

These treats are sold at many stores across the United States, including Albertsons, Shaw’s Supermarkets and Star Market, among others prior to January 25, 2009.

The following UPC codes and package sizes of Happy Tails dog treats are recalled:

• 26-ounce packages - UPC 41163-42406
• 4-pound packages - UPC 41163-42403

For additional information, shoppers can call Supervalu Inc. at 877-932-7948.

If your dog ate these recalled pet treats, it’s important to monitor the dog for symptoms of salmonella, including vomiting, diarrhea, refusing to eat and fever.

How Do I Learn More About Recalled Dog Foods, Cat Foods and Pet Treats?

To learn more about how to learn about recalled pet food brands read How Do I Know if My Pet’s Food Has Been Recalled?

Dog owners should also read about another dog treat recall, issued for PetSmart’s  Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits.

For additional information on what to do during a pet food recall, the signs and symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats and more, visit The Pet Food Recall Page.

Pet Food Recalls Due to Salmonella - How They Occur and How to Learn About Cat and Dog Food Recalls

“How does dog food and cat food get contaminated with salmonella?”

“Can my dog give me salmonella?”

“My dog has vomiting and diarrhea. Does he have salmonella?”

“How do I know if my dog’s food is recalled for salmonella?”

 Salmonella is rather unusual for one very important reason: salmonella is one of the few illnesses that can be passed from humans to pets, from pets to humans and from pet to pet (i.e. from cat to dog.) For this reason, salmonella is a very frightening illness and it can be a potentially deadly illness in some cases.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacteria that invades the digestive system of a cat, dog or other pets. Salmonella can be transmitted with casual contact, in body fluids or in food.

Symptoms of salmonella in cats, dogs and other pets include vomiting and diarrhea (often with blood present), dehydration and fever.

Salmonella contamination in food most often occurs when a person or animal that’s suffering from salmonella comes in contact with foods in a manufacturing plant.

How Does Pet Food Get Contaminated With Salmonella?

In the case of the Mars Petcare US Pet Food Recall, a pet food factory employee contracted salmonella. The employee apparently contaminated the pet food facility, leading to a salmonella-related Pedigree Dog Food recall.

Eventually, the salmonella pet food recall was expanded to include more than a dozen other brands of cat food and dog food, like Special Kitty and Ol’ Roy. The pet food plant was shut down as a result of the salmonella outbreak, but the source was never found. Ultimately, the pet food manufacturing plant was shut down permanently.

More recently, an industrial peanut supplier’s peanut paste and peanut butter products were found to be tainted with salmonella. Dog treats containing the salmonella-tainted peanut butter - like Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits, sold by PetSmart - were subsequently recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. So this is a second way that pet foods and pet treats can become tainted with salmonella - when an ingredient used to manufacture the pet food or pet treats is contaminated with salmonella.

How Do I Learn More About Pet Food Recalls? How Do I Know if My Pet’s Food is Tainted With Salmonella?

There are many ways that pet owners can stay informed about pet food recalls.

One great website with current, comprehensive information dog and cat food recalls is the Pet Care @ Suite101 site, which features my Pet Food Recall Page.

Also check out my posts here on The Pet Health Blog , where I will keep readers informed on all the latest pet food recalls, especially with the recent peanut butter salmonella scare involving Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits.

How Can I Find Out if My Cat’s or Dog’s Food is Recalled Due to Salmonella Contamination or Tainted Peanut Butter?

“Has my dog’s food been recalled due to salmonella?”

“What pet food brands have been recalled?”

“What pet treats or pet foods are involved in the peanut butter salmonella scare?”

“How do I find out when a dog food recall is issued?” 

 There are several ways to find out if your pet’s food is recalled as a result of salmonella or due to some other safety concern.

In addition to taking the following measures, it’s important to keep the packaging for your dog’s or cat’s pet food or pet treats. The packaging will contain the vital product information like the UPC code and “best by” code - information you’ll need to determine if your pet’s food is included in a recall.

How to Learn About Dog and Cat Food Recalls

* Monitor the Pet Food/Pet Treat Manufacturer’s Website - Every couple weeks, visit the pet food company’s website. Here, they will announce any recalls involving your pet’s food or treats.

* Set Up Google Alerts for “Pet Food Recall” Terms - Set up a series of Google Alerts for your dog food brand,  cat food brand, pet treat brand and other pet food product names. Also set up more general Google Alerts for terms like “Peanut Butter Salmonella,” “Salmonella Pet Food Recall” and “Dog Food Recall.”  If a new article is published on the web, Google will send you an e-mail with a link to the article. Check out my step-by-step directions on How to Set Up Google Alerts to Find Out About Pet Food Recalls.

* Monitor the FDA Website - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website routinely provides information and updates on pet food recalls. Unfortunately, the FDA only seems to publicize the larger, more widespread pet food recalls; some of the smaller, regional pet food recalls may not be listed on the FDA website. But it’s a good source to check on a regular basis nevertheless.

* Check the Pet Food Recall Page - As the Pet Care Feature Writer on Suite101 , I closely monitor all dog and cat food recalls, and recalls affecting other pet products, like dog treats. I maintain a Pet Food Recall Page , with articles on the latest pet food recalls and other issues, including the signs and symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats and how to handle recalled pet food.

You can sign up for an RSS Feed for My Pet Care Articles , including articles with all you need to know on the latest dog and cat food recalls.

And as always, you can visit The Pet Health Blog for all the latest news and updates on recalled dog and cat food products, pet treats and any new information on the peanut butter salmonella contamination situation as it affects our pets.

PetSmart’s Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits Recalled Over Peanut Butter Salmonella Contamination Fears

“What dog foods have been recalled due to the peanut butter salmonella scare?”

“Is this pet treat recall related to the peanut butter recall?”

“What should I do if I bought recalled dog treats?”

 “What are the symptoms of salmonella in a dog or cat?”

Pet owners beware! Another pet food recall has been issued, this time for dog treats.

PetSmart has recalled its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits, which may be tainted with salmonella. The recalled dog treats were sold between August 21, 2008 and January 19, 2009.

This is said to be the result of a wider recall issued for peanut butter that’s used to manufacture an array of food products, including these pet treats. The peanut butter has been linked to salmonella contamination that’s sickened dozens of humans.

How Can I Tell if My Dog’s Treats Have Been Recalled?

PetSmart has released the following information on what dog treats have been recalled:

• Small Assorted 32 oz. - UPC 73725702900
• Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb. - UPC 73725700601
• Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb. - UPC 73725700605
• Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb. - UPC 73725702755
• Large Assorted 8 lb. - UPC 73725700638
• Extra Large Assorted 8 lb. - UPC 73725700779
• Peanut Butter 4 lb. - UPC 73725700766

Any customer who purchased these Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits from PetSmart is urged to return the recalled pet treats for a refund or exchange.

Additional information on this salmonella-related dog treat recall is available by calling the PetSmart Customer Service Hotline at 1-888-839-9638.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has Salmonella?

Symptoms of salmonella in cats and dogs include:

• Vomiting (often with blood in the vomit)
• Diarrhea (often with blood present)
• Fever
• Refusing to Eat
• Gurgling and Bubbling Sounds in the Abdomen
• Lethargy
• Dehydration (usually severe)
• Drooling and Panting (often a sign of nausea and/or pain in dogs and cats)

Symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats most commonly arise about 72 hours after exposure.
Notably, Salmonella is a very tricky illness in that it can be passed between species; this is fairly unusual. Typically, dogs cannot pass illnesses to humans and vice versa. But salmonella can be passed between cats and dogs and between humans and dogs, etc., so extra precautions must be taken if a case of salmonella is supsected.

Notably, the ASPCA is urging dogs owners, cat owners and other animal lovers to avoid all pet foods and pet treats containing peanut butter until the full scope of the peanut butter salmonella contamination situation is determined.

Where Can I Learn More About Pet Food Recalls and Salmonella in Cats and Dogs?

To learn more, check out the Pet Food Recall Page .

Here, you’ll find information on the latest cat and dog food recalls, what to do if you found you’ve purchased a recalled pet food, along with information about the symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats.

Also check out Is My Dog Sick? and Is My Dog Dehydrated? for tips on caring for a sick pet during a pet food recall.

 The ASPCA’s Poison Control Hotline for Pets…..Call 888-426-4435

“How much chocolate is poisonous to dogs?”

“What medications are toxic for dogs and cats?”

“What foods are toxic to pets?”

“How do I know if my dog or cat has been poisoned?”

 Pets have a way of getting into mischief from time to time and no matter how conscientious you are as a pet owner, there’s always a chance that your dog could ingest a poison or toxin.

So what happens if your dog eats a pill? Wondering how much chocolate is toxic for a dog? Do you need to know if a certain drug or food is toxic to pets? The ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline can help!

How Does the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline Work?

Dog owners, cat owners and other pet parents can call the ASPCA’s Poison Control Hotline for pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll need to tell the hotline about your dog’s symptoms, what type of toxin or poison the pet ingested and other similar information.

Experienced veterinarians and pet toxicologists will give you information on whether the dog, cat or other pet ate a toxic dose and whether or not the pet should be brought to the vet. In some cases, pet owners may learn that the food, medication, vitamin, gum or other substance that the animal ate is not toxic!

In other cases, the pet poison control hotline staff may tell an owner that the pet is in danger and they may recommend a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

Callers to the ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline will also receive directions on how and if to induce vomiting in your dog or cat, along with any other tips to help your pet after the poisoning incident.

How Much Does it Cost to Use the ASPCA Pet Poison Control Hotline?

There is a $60 fee for using the hotline. And it’s $60 may very well save your pet’s life.

The $60 fee is per incident, which means that there is no additional calls for follow-up calls to the hotline concerning the same case.

Remember that the funds will benefit a great non-profit organization and the $50 spent on the Poison Control Hotline could save you a $200 on an unnecessary visit to the 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic in cases where the pet does not require emergency treatment.

Call the ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.

More Resources on Pet Poisoning and Toxic Items for Pets

• What Foods are Toxic to Dogs?
• What Items in the Kitchen are Toxic to Dogs?
• Xylitol Poisoning in Pets
• Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
• How to Tell if a Pet Ate Rat Poison
• What Plants are Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
• The Most Common Pet Poisons of 2008
• The Pet Poisoning Page

Learn How to Treat a Dog’s Bite Wounds and Other Injuries After a Dog Fight

“My dog got in a fight. Should I take him to the vet?”

“How do I clean my dog’s bite wound? Will it get infected?”

“My dog was attacked by another dog. How can I tell if my dog is seriously injured?”

It’s possible that at some point in your dog’s life, he’ll be involved in a fight with another dog. Even a dog who is friendly with other dogs can be involved in a fight if a bad situation arises. You, as an owner, will need to know how to help your dog and administer first aid after a dog fight.

Dog Fights - A Fight Can Start In the Blink of An Eye

Case in point: A couple years ago, my pit bull (Sasha-Simone) was attacked by another unleashed dog while we were out for a walk. The dog fight started before I could even process what was occurring - before I knew it, this dog had run up and blitzed Sasha-Simone; he started biting her neck, legs and ears. It gives me chills to recall the sounds of my girl screaming in pain as she was attacked.

Apparently, nobody ever told Sasha-Simone that pit bulls are supposed to be mean and tough because my poor girl lost the fight in a bad way. It took three people to stop the Lab mix from attacking my dog.

When the fight was over, I walked the three blocks to my home, carrying my bloodied, injured and very heavy dog home.

What To Do After a Dog Fight

After a dog fight occurs, you will need to examine your dog to determine the extent of his/her injuries.

I must note that you will need to take the dog to the veterinarian, though not all cases require an expensive trip to the emergency room (though if you have the money, I say absolutely visit 24-hour veterinary clinic if your normal vet is closed for the day.) Dog bite wounds are extremely prone to infection so your dog will likely require oral antibiotics to prevent the bite wounds from becoming infected.

In some cases - as long as the injuries are fairly minor and as long as the dog’s bite wounds are properly disinfected - a dog owner can safely wait until morning to take the dog to the veterinarian.

In other cases, you will need to take your injured dog to the veterinarian immediately if the injuries are severe or life threatening. I will explain how to examine a dog after a dog fight and how to determine if a visit to the veterinarian’s emergency room may be necessary.

Examining and Treating a Dog’s Injuries After a Dog Fight

Here are the things you will need to do if your dog is attacked:

* Stop heavy bleeding. If any heavy bleeding is present, apply pressure with a clean paper towel or cloth. If bleeding is severe and heavy, get your dog to the veterinarian ASAP. If more minor bleeding is present, allow the wounds to bleed for about 10 minutes - this will flush the bacteria from the bite wound.

* Check your dog’s eyes. A dog’s eyes are often injured during a dog fight. A dog’s eye can even pop out of the socket - called ocular protrusion - if the dog suffers a bite to the face. Look for any obvious damage, protrusion, swelling, bleeding or scratches on the eye. If any eye injuries are present, this is cause for a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

* Check for wounds. Bite wounds can be hard to detect, even on a short-haired dog. And many dog bite wounds do not bleed a whole lot. This can make it very easy for an owner to miss a dog bite wound. And when a bite wound is not cleaned and disinfected, infection will set in. So check your dog over very thoroughly immediately after the fight and then again a few hours later. Swelling often occurs around the bite wound within a few hours, so you may be able to detect a bite wound by feeling or looking for areas of swelling.

If your dog has any full thickness “tearing” injuries where the skin is torn, creating a flap, this will require a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

* Disinfect dog bite wounds. This is perhaps the single most important  aspect of post-dog fight first aid. Immediately wash and disinfect the dog bite wound. Read this article to learn how to properly clean a bite wound.

* Monitor for bruising and hematomas. Sasha-Simone required a trip to the emergency room because the pressure from a dog bite to her leg severed a large blood vessel, but the skin was not broken. This caused the blood to pool beneath the skin, creating a massive hematoma (bruise). A dog can die from this type of bleeding, so you must monitor for any areas of severe bruising, especially if the bruise feels fluid-filled. Apply pressure to the leg (or firmly wrap the leg with an ace bandage) until you get the dog to the veterinarian.

* Monitor for swelling. Swelling is common following a dog fight. This can cause limping when the swelling affects the legs. The face is another common location for serious swelling. Swelling can become dangerous and life-threatening for the dog bite victim if the inflammation affects the neck and windpipe or if the swelling gets severe, as this can impede blood flow. If swelling is present, apply an ice pack compress to the area for 20 minutes at a time (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) several times a day.  It’s important to note that swelling and redness around a wound indicates infection.

More Help for Owners of a Dog Bite Victim

After a dog fight, many owners are tempted to give their dog pet-safe over-the-counter medications like aspirin. You should never do this unless explicitly directed to do so by a veterinarian. Aspirin thins the dog’s blood, which means areas of bruising (bleeding under the skin), internal bleeding sites or flesh wounds can start bleeding uncontrollably.  Instead, apply ice compresses. This will help to relieve the pain and the swelling.

I should also note that if you suspect that your dog may need stitches for any large bite wound injuries, you must take your dog to the veterinarian immediately for treatment. Generally speaking, only large bite wounds are sutured, as stitches impede drainage which is vital for preventing infection in a bite wound.

It’s vital to get a dog to a veterinarian for stitches within a few hours after the injury occurred - the sooner, the better, as this lessens the chance of infection. Veterinarians will not typically suture a wound if more than 12 hours has passed since the injury occurred.

More helpful articles include Why Do Bite Wounds Get Infected? and How to Clean a Pet’s Wound.

Dog owners should also monitor a dog’s vital signs after any serious injury. Learn how to check a dog’s gums, temperature and other vital signs in Is My Dog Sick?

Why is a Bite Wound More Likely to Get Infected?

“Will my dog’s bite wound get infected?”

“My cat got in a fight. How do I prevent the wound from getting infected?”

“I cleaned and disinfected my dog’s bite wound. Why did he get an infection?”

There’s several reasons why an animal bite wound is more likely to get infected. The following factors are the most common reasons for an infection in a pet’s bite wound.

* There’s lots of bacteria in the mouth. When a dog bite, cat bite or other animal bite occurs, the teeth essentially “inject” bacteria below the skin’s surface. The mouth has a very high population of bacteria so these wounds are contaminated with more bacteria than most other cuts, scrapes and wounds.

* There’s poor air flow in a bite wound. In addition, a bite wound is likely to have poor drainage and air flow. The bacteria is deep inside the skin where it’s warm, dark and it’s not exposed to air - perfect conditions to allow for more rapid bacteria growth.

* Swelling causes the wound to close up. The cat’s or dog’s bite wound is also more likely to be associated with swelling as a result of the pressure from the actual animal bite (which can involve hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch.) This can cause a bite wound to swell shut, trapping bacteria inside the wound.

* Bite wounds can be hard to see. There’s many cases where a cat or dog will suffer a bite wound and the owner may not even notice the small wound until a day or two after the fact, even on a short haired dog or cat. By this time, the bite wound is likely to be infected.

How Do I Help a Wounded Dog?

In order to help a cat or dog with a bite wound or if you need to to administer first aid in the case of another pet injury or illness, you’ll need a pet first aid kit. Check out First Aid Kits for Pets to learn what items should be included in a pet’s emergency kit.

Also check out How to Clean a Pet’s Wound for directions on how to clean and treat a pet’s cut, gash or scrape, and read How Do I Clean a Bite Wound? for tips to reduce the chance of infection in your pet’s bite wound injury.