All posts in New Online Pharmacy

How to Trim Your Cat’s Claws

By admin 15 May, 2014 New Online Pharmacy

We often are asked what is the safest and most effective way to trim a cat’s nails.

The best way to get your cat used to nail trims is to first de-sensitize kitty to his or her paws being handled. If you get your cat as a kitten, it’s important to get him or her used to be handled as much as possible, not only for socialization, but also to get them used to be handled so that you can trim their nails, brush their teeth and also handle them more easily in the future if any medications are needed. This is also true if you adopt your kitty as an adult; it simply may take a little longer for them to get used to being closely handled, depending on their past history.

To de-sensitize your kitty, simply handle them as much as possible. Hold them and pet them, then gently massage each of their feet. Then rub their ears, and gently pet their face area, rubbing along their gum lines. The more you do this, the more they get used to your touch in those sensitive areas.

When it comes time to trim their nails, which should be done every 4-6 weeks, it’s easiest to tag team your approach. Have a friend hold your kitty on his or her lap while you gently massage kitty’s paws. Then, gently press a paw pad which will cause the claw to extend. Using a kitty nail trimmer (available at most pet supply stores or veterinary offices – ask your veterinarian for recommendations on the best type), simply trim off the tip of the nail. The nail is usually whitish, and you will see pink inside the nail toward the bottom. This is called the “quick” and is blood inside the nail.

You want to trim kitty’s claws above the quick. If you accidentally hit the quick, the kitty’s nail will bleed. You will then need to put styptic powder, cornstarch or flour on the kitty’s nail to stop the bleeding. Kitty will not bleed to death, but it is a good idea to have these powders on hand in case you nick a nail.

With practice, trimming kitty’s nails becomes an easy, quick routine. If you are unsure about it, your veterinarian, groomer or many humane societies and rescues are willing to trim kitty’s nails for you.

Watch our How to Trim Your Cat’s Claws video here

Thunderstorm and/or Fireworks Anxiety in Dogs

By admin 09 May, 2014 New Online Pharmacy

Thunderstorm &/or Fireworks anxiety in dogs is a truly a challenging issue for many of our pets!   The sharp, loud concussion may actually be quite painful to their more sensitive ears.  Dogs may also be much more attuned to the static electricity and barometric changes that occur during both thunderstorms and fireworks, and these may trigger an evolutionary (limbic brain) terror. Two of my own three dogs really struggle with both storms and fireworks, so I certainly understand how hard this can be on both pet and owner.

Your veterinarian can help!  There is no one simple answer to help soothe a pet terrified by thunder, lightning, or fireworks.  There are many options that can be tried, and each dog is an individual case.

Natural methods are always preferred!  Our favorite is an oral nutriceutical called Composure by the VetriScience company.  They have an OTC version and we are most impressed with their Composure Pro.  It has four naturally occurring active anti-anxiety ingredients in a soft, chewable tablet.  It works best given an hour before an event and can be given twice daily.  It is very safe, often produces a bit of drowsiness, and we feel it is about 75-80% successful in reducing anxiety symptoms. It can also be used for cats.

The Thundershirt is our favorite acupressure-like anxiety wrap.  Useful for much more than thunderstorm terror, this jersey cotton material doggie jacket, when fitted properly, applies a natural “big hug” that calms and soothes many of our patients.  Thundershirt has a great website and a money back guarantee that they really do stand behind.  We have a few returned, but the majority of pet owners feel that a Thundershirt helps reduce fear symptoms.

Pheromones are scent mediated hormones that elicit a biological response.  A man-made imitation of a naturally occurring scent hormone that calms anxiety in nursing puppies is called Adaptil.  Their collar option is the most effective for this product and would be best applied a few days to a week before a fearful event.  So you would have to plan ahead for like the 4^th of July or perhaps the April /May thunderstorm season.  We see some successful responses to Adaptil but feel it is best used as an adjunct with other strategies.

Masking sounds, soothing music, and behavioral modification techniques all make sense and may all be helpful as well.  Unfortunately most of us have not invested the time and consistency of training to really take advantage of these methods.  A trained pet behaviorist can tailor a program for your individual needs.  Even so moving a pet to a more soundproof area of our home and turning on soothing music, or a TV, and possibly distracting with a chew toy or food puzzle may help … a bit.  Combining these things with Composure &/or a Thundershirt will often provide significant relief for most pets.

And then there are some medications that can be prescribed by your DVM.  Much as we’d like to avoid psychoactive drugs, they do have their place for some of our patients.  When deemed suitable, the most commonly used anti-anxiety prescription medication is alprazolam.  This is Xanax.  Related to valium, alprazolam may be helpful, especially if given an hour before a thunderstorm or fireworks event.  Alprazolam may cause excitement in a small percentage of pets so we ask owners to test a dose before it is actually needed.  Like our preferred option Composure Pro, alprazolam is usually given on an as needed or episodic schedule rather than as a maintenance dose.

These are the main options currently in our thunderstorm, lightning, fireworks anxiety toolbox.   We’ll be happy to work with you and your pets to find what works best for your situation.  At American Animal Hospital we care for your pets as if they were our own.  ~  Dr. Pat