Animal Airwaves

Now that 24 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, many people have access to cannabis products. But when it comes to dogs, THC —  the psychoactive agent in cannabis — doesn’t produce a high. It just makes them sick.

Put simply, any amount of THC is toxic to dogs. It targets their nervous system, causing characteristic signs within an hour of ingestion. Even a small amount of THC can cause a dog to stumble, shake, urinate inappropriately or much worse. Keep in mind that some cannabis products contain up to 90 percent THC.

If your dog shows any abnormal signs that you suspect are due to cannabis ingestion, bring them to a veterinary clinic right away. Make sure to tell the veterinary team exactly what your pooch may have eaten so that they can provide the best care.

Microchips are key to reuniting lost pets with their families, but they only work if they’re correctly enrolled with a microchip registry. Unfortunately, over 40 percent of all microchips are unregistered because of faulty enrollment. A big reason for this is scams involving microchip registries.

Legitimate microchip registration is never free, so don’t fall for free online registration. These so-called services are scams to harvest and sell your data or target you with junk emails. They can even enable pet theft. The best way to avoid this is to enroll your pet’s microchip with the company that distributed the chip.

Another scam asks to you to pay for re-registration before your pet’s service expires. Microchip registrations for pets never expire, so don’t fall for this one either.

Mammary cancer — akin to breast cancer in people — is one of the most common cancers affecting female dogs and cats. The outcome depends on early detection and timely intervention — both of which can rely on a pet parent’s keen powers of observation.

Although a minority of mammary tumors are benign, up to 90 percent are cancerous and will spread without treatment. Spaying a pet before their first heat cycle dramatically reduces their risk of developing mammary cancer later on.

The most common signs of mammary tumors are small bumps or larger masses that can be seen or felt on a pet’s underside.  There might also be sores or discharge involving the mammary glands. Any abnormalities warrant a timely trip to the veterinarian for further evaluation.

Nearly one in four dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime. Less is known about the cancer risks in cats, but one thing’s for certain — as our pets live longer lives, their risk of cancer increases.

Cancer treatment for pets relies primarily on surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. And now, some advances in cancer treatment for people — like immunotherapy and targeted radiation — are being applied to animals too. The priority with pets is to ensure the best quality of life possible, so veterinarians concentrate on minimizing the side effects of treatment.

Since most of these therapies are costly, veterinarians can offer other options too. It’s important to discuss your goals before determining if cost is a dealbreaker for treatment.

You might have seen videos of drunk dogs meant to elicit laughs. But alcohol poisoning is no laughing matter. It’s deadly serious for pets.

Our beasty buddies aren’t able to metabolize alcohol as efficiently as we can. Within thirty minutes of ingesting beer or liquor, they can exhibit symptoms ranging from difficulty walking to trouble breathing and even seizures.

Anything containing alcohol should be kept away from pets. That usually means alcoholic drinks but also includes yeasty dough and hops used in homebrewing.

If your pet’s exhibiting symptoms of alcohol exposure, contact the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Pet Poison hotline or take them to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

Remember, no amount of alcohol is safe for pets.

Hamsters are often touted as “starter pets,” but that’s as inaccurate as it is callous. In reality, it takes lots of work to care for them properly.

It’s important to know that hamsters are nocturnal and solitary. Each requires a well-ventilated, escape-proof cage with space for daytime sleeping and an exercise wheel for use at night. Soft absorbent bedding helps them form sleeping nests and absorbs some of their waste. However, soiled bedding needs daily replacement, and all bedding should be changed weekly.

Hamsters need to be fed pelleted food formulated just for them. They can occasionally be fed small amounts of seeds or veggies, but just as treats.

Hamsters may only live for up to three years. During that time, they deserve the best life a pet parent can provide.

For over three decades, frog populations worldwide have been decimated by a fungal organism called Bd for short. While spreading like wildfire through every continent except Antarctica, Bd has caused the possible extinction of up to 200 frog species.

Now, researchers are cautiously optimistic that the tide may be turning. Some frogs appear to be developing natural resistance to Bd. Other species have moved to warmer habitats, exploiting Bd’s sensitivity to higher temperatures. Conservation biologists have been helping in this regard by building so-called frog saunas, easily accessible by frogs looking for warmer places to hang out. Some researchers are even investigating a virus that attacks Bd.

After succumbing to Bd for years, frogs may finally be developing ways to fight back.

The US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recently approved a generic version of florfenicol, called Paqflor [PACK-floor], for certain species of freshwater-reared fish. The medication contains the same active ingredient as the brand name drug, Aquaflor.

Paqflor, like all medically important antibiotics for animals, requires oversight by a veterinarian. It’s a so-called veterinary feed directive drug that is only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

The FDA has determined that when used according to the label, any residue of florfenicol left in tissues of fish intended for food will not harm people. In addition, the FDA concluded that approved use of the drug would not result in significant environmental impact.

Our canine companions can suffer from their own form of seasonal depression if we don’t tend to their needs during the winter.

While you may prefer to hole up indoors, your dog counts on the exercise of outdoor walks all year round. Outdoor time is mentally stimulating too. In fact, you might consider sniffing a canine form of social media.

Just make sure you prepare for winter walks by putting a coat on your pooch as necessary. Small dogs and those with short hair are most in need of an extra layer, and all dogs can benefit from winter booties to protect their paws from deicers.

For those days when frigid temperatures increase the risk of frostbite, you might want to pull out the puzzle toys and chew treats for your pooch while you snuggle in for a winter read.

In efforts to enhance the welfare of racing Thoroughbreds, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has developed a digital tool to assist regulatory veterinarians. Called Horse-in-Sight, it combines aspects of a horse’s racing career with the animal’s medical history to help track veterinarians make timely decisions.

The tool graphs an individual horse’s high-speed furlongs over time, including races, workouts and scratches. That information is supplemented with data on injuries, treatment and outcomes. A Race Day tab also enables veterinarians and other stakeholders to compare data on multiple horses.

Ultimately, Horse-in-Sight aims to identify horses at risk before they suffer catastrophic injuries.