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Giving medications to cats can be daunting, but there are alternatives to  make the process easier. Many people have success hiding medications in their  cat’s favorite treat or in commercially available treats designed with a pouch  for hiding pills.

Another option is to have medications compounded into a form and flavor that  works for your pet. This involves dissolving or suspending medications into a  palatable liquid base that can be given directly into the mouth or hidden in the  food.

Cats are sensitive to bitter tastes or strange smells in their food and may  not get the full dose if this approach is used, but specially trained  pharmacists at compounding pharmacies can add sweeteners, or use a different  form of the base medication to offset bitterness or acidity. They also have a  large range of flavoring agents, from meat to fruit flavors, in order to appeal  to many different species of pets.

Some medications can be made into a chewable, flavored treat. Compounding  pharmacies are available throughout the Bay Area. Ask your veterinarian if this  is an option the next time a medication is prescribed.

Compounding pharmacies can also put some medications in gels or patches where  the drug is absorbed through the skin or ear flap. While this route is not  available for all medications and the dose actually absorbed can vary depending  on ambient temperature or blood flow to the skin, it’s a nice option and avoids  the owner dealing with sharp teeth.

Finally, some owners find it easier to give injections, especially if they’ve  had prior experience. Your veterinarian can show how it is done if they feel  that’s an appropriate option.

Kirsten Williams, DVM, Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Clinic,  Oakland

The AHF just helped Alejandro afford surgery for a fracture on 7-month old Kimo’s right leg.  While he was under anesthesia, Kimo was also neutered.  Thank you Community Veterinary Hospital for reaching out to the AHF so that we could help.

Teri Kraslavsky and her beautiful Shepherd Monk have been doing pet therapy work for 8+years.  The following special visit was at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo in 2010.

Monk was working at the hospital with a man with an inoperable brain tumor.  The man was lying on a table in the gym and a therapist was helping him with stretching and strengthening exercises as he lay on his back.

Monk got up on the table and lay down, pressing his body against the man.  The man responded to the soft, warm, sturdy presence of Monk gently pressing against his body.  You could see the tension leave the man’s body, his face relaxed into a beatific smile.  Both of their breathing slowed.  Gradually stretching, the man’s range of motion increased, and increased, and then increased some more.  As he began to do his strengthening exercises, he inadvertently dug his elbow into Monk’s face.  Monk didn’t move, in fact, when I checked on him, I realized Monk was asleep.  More than their bodies were touching………Monk wrapped him in wordless, tender, accepting protectiveness.

All of us teared-up, myself, the man’s wife, the therapist….  Later, as I was driving home, it occurred to me that when we are at home, and Monk even THINKS I am going to step on his long fur, he cries-out and gets up and leaves the room, yet he was willing to let the man smoosh his face with his elbow.  Monk understands his therapy work is sacred.

My thanksgiving in 2011 came on Tuesday (not Thursday) during a therapy dog visit to Kaiser in Irvine, CA with Mia. Family was in the room with mom in bed who doesn’t speak English. She lit up when I asked if I could bring the dog in, so Mia comfortably laid on the bed next to her.  The pulmonary nurse comes in to do a procedure and the mom’s face was struck with pain, she looked at the daughter and said (per translation) “can Mia stay with me?”.  We looked at the nurse and she said, no reason why not.  The mask went on, the vapors swirled around, the mom coughed and coughed and looked at her daughter in pain.  Then she looked down at Mia and started petting with both hands.  In about 5 minutes mom was asleep and the daughter had tears in her eyes of thanks.  She said that her mom dreads this procedure each time she has it and it was the first time she went to sleep during it.  Her arm was gently rested on Mia – Mia was asleep too.  We sat there chatting until the procedure was done and when the mask came off, I’ll never forget the look of thanks on that woman’s face.  It brought tears to my eyes.

Pam Becker & Mia

This question comes up every day at veterinary hospitals; how important is the laboratory analysis of a dog or cat’s stool? Years ago, fecal exams were done only on animals with digestive problems, either diarrhea or vomiting. But times have changed and so has our knowledge of disease-causing parasites.

First, there are newer ones that, years ago, never existed in our local environment. Just a few years ago, we rarely saw hookworm or whipworm infections. But as people have moved with their pets from other parts of the country into South County, these “bugs” have emerged as a potential problem. In addition to intestinal worms, protozoa (named giardia) are nearly endemic in many parts of California, causing digestive upset in animals and people. And those pet store over-the-counter medications? Unfortunately, they’re not effective in eliminating many of these parasites.

Veterinarians and medical doctors are keenly aware that some animal parasites can also infect children, causing serious illnesses including blindness and paralysis. It’s a nasty world out there and we can’t just look the other way. So we’re always on the lookout.

I’m sure your vet made the right decision insisting on that fecal exam. Considering your pooch’s weight loss, it makes sense to check into the potential for a parasitic problem. Fecal exams should be done whenever there are signs of indigestion, weight loss or unthriftyness. It’s good medicine for your pooch AND for your family.

From the Animal Endocrine Center Blog

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Courtrooms  are stressful and scary places where victims and witnesses come face to face  with murderers and sex offenders.

But Pierce County will soon use  a specially trained dog to provide a calming and comforting influence during  interviews, arraignments, sentencings and perhaps even trials.

Meet Kiley, a 2-year-old yellow  Labrador retriever.

She will be the courthouse dog  in the County-City Building in Tacoma, at least on a temporary basis. She’s been  raised, trained and certified so she can work in a courthouse.

Read more: https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Pierce-County-courthouse-dog-for-calm-and-comfort-3427084.php#ixzz1qUsK3Hwo