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An animal that has trouble going up or down the stairs, can't jump up on the furniture, and / or seems to be in constant pain may have a back problem

Disk problems are the most common back problems in dogs. The disk functions as a shock absorber between the vertebrae, commonly known as the bones of the back.

When these disks are injured or degenerate, they put pressure on the nerves, creating a "pinched nerve." Aside from a pinched nerve, the injury can interfere with nerve impulses that are sent down the spinal cord. Without a complete functioning nervous system, advanced cases can cause a wobbly gait, leading to paralysis in the hind limbs.

Dogs with short legs and long bodies are most affected by disk problems. Commonly affected breeds include dachshunds and basset hounds.

Basset Hound

Dachshund

Early detection is very important in the treatment of back problems. As soon as a problem is noticed, strict rest is recommended. Unlike humans, dogs don't lie on their backs and certainly don't do very well in traction. Strict rest, and particularly no jumping, is best for the animal.

In more pronounced cases, your veterinarian may recommend surgery in order to remove the affected disk. Back surgery is generally pretty expensive and there are risks that go with it. Back surgery is generally performed by a surgeon / specialist at a referral veterinary hospital.

The earlier the surgical procedure is done, the higher its success rate. Back injuries in dogs are like spinal cord injuries in people. Once paralysis sets in, the success rate declines rapidly, and some veterinarians elect not to take their patients to surgery.

Early detection and a veterinary examination are essential for quick recovery from a back injury. Depending upon the severity of the injury, most dogs recover quite well with medication, rest and lots of TLC. Dogs that have more complicated injuries may be candidates for more complicated back surgery.

About two weeks before the kittens are due, a nesting box (or queening box) should be introduced to the expectant mother. (see article on Gestation in Cats) This box should be made from a washable material and located in a warm and secluded area. The bottom of the box should be lined with an absorbent material that can be changed frequently. Newspapers, towels, or clean rags make excellent bed liners.

The first stage of labor may last anywhere from several hours to an entire day (24 hours). The queen is restless, fidgety, and usually refuses to eat. The expectant mother may pace about the house or begin digging in the queening box. Abdominal contractions signal the end of this period and the beginning of active labor.

Straining of the stomach muscles (contractions) marks the beginning of the second phase of labor. As the mother continues to strain, less time elapses between contractions. Generally within 15 minutes to one hour after contractions begin, a fluid-filled sac appears at the vaginal opening. This sac surrounds the first kitten.

After several contractions, the first kitten is born. The time interval between successive kittens can range anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Some experienced mothers are able to complete the entire birthing process in 30 minutes.

Generally when each kitten is born, it is enclosed in a membrane or sac. The mother usually licks the kitten's face and breaks the sac. If this sac is not immediately broken by the mother, human intervention is required. The sac must be opened, and the kitten's face must be rubbed. Rubbing the kitten's face with a clean cloth is an excellent method to stimulate breathing. Sometimes the kitten is born without a membrane or sac. If this occurs, the sac will follow the kitten, arriving together with the umbilical cord.

There are two normal positions for delivery. The kittens can come out "head first" or "rear first". A "rear first" delivery is generally more difficult than a "head first" delivery.

Human intervention is required when a kitten is lodged in the birth canal. When this occurs (and the mother is not able to expel the kitten herself), the mother must be restrained and gentle traction applied to the kitten. The kitten is grasped with a clean dry towel and pulled in a downward position, toward the mother's feet. When a kitten is lodged in the birth canal for a considerable amount of time, it is usually born dead.

A greenish-black discharge occurs between births. This discharge is normal and is often blood-tinged. If a reddish discharge occurs at the beginning of labor, and the expectant mother strains for more than one hour without delivering kittens, immediate veterinary attention is required.

After each kitten is born, the remaining portion of the sac should be removed from it's face. Any mucus surrounding the nostrils should be cleared away. Kittens should be dried with a clean towel and rubbed in order to stimulate breathing. Using a fine-diameter thread, each umbilical cord should be tied about one inch from the kitten's belly. The cord is cut on the far side of the knot, and the remaining stump (with the cord) is dipped into a white iodine solution. If the kittens are similar looking, it is best to number each one with a permanent marker.

Nursing Kittens

When the mother is relaxed and she settles down with her kittens, it is safe to assume that the birthing process is over. A small amount of vaginal bleeding is normal and this often continues for 2 or 3 days. If bleeding seems heavy or continues beyond this period, veterinary attention is required.

Not all pets are cute and cuddly and sit in your lap, but pet owners love them just the same. Snakes, iguanas, birds, hamsters, fish and others are all popular pet choices, even though they can't go for a walk in the park or come when you call. However, exotic pets may soon be scarce in the United States if Congress passes a proposed piece of legislation that would prevent "non-native" species from coming in to the U.S. and ban the sale, breeding and transporting of exotic pets in the country.

Many species of birds are considered non-native and will be affected by HR 669.

The bill, HR 669, is called the "Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Protection Act." According to the text of the bill, its aim is to "prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes." The overall goal of the bill is noble enough: stopping irresponsible pet owners from keeping dangerous pets and preventing non-native species from taking over local ecosystems. However, the language of the bill is vague, and this means that traditional pets like hamsters, aquarium fish, most species of birds, and reptiles could potentially be banned under the bill. As part of the bill, substantial scientific proof would have to be provided before a non-native animal could be imported into the U.S., bred or transported across state lines.

Under the current laws in place, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must demonstrate that a species can cause harm to humans, local ecosystems and the welfare of other wildlife resources in the U.S. If HR 669 is passed, the Fish and Wildlife Service would be required to create two lists - an "approved list," for species judged as harmless, and an "unapproved list," for species judged harmful. When examining the potential "negative impact" a species might pose, HR 669 judges the animal in the context of the whole country. For instance, a reptile species that might negatively impact the local ecosystem in southern Florida but nowhere else would nonetheless be banned throughout the country. Cats, dogs, farm animals and some rabbits are included in the list of species grandfathered in under the provisions of the bill. Other species would be required to undergo a rigorous screening process in order to prove they could not potentially have any sort of negative impact on their surroundings. Pet owners already caring for exotic pets would not have to give up their pets; however, the pets could not be sold or transported across state lines.

Pets such as dragons and iguanas could be banned under HR 669.

If passed, the bill will have a far-reaching impact on pet owners, breeders, veterinarians, pet supply retailers, and a number of other groups, including the New England Aquarium. Already, pet owners, have started to band together in opposition to HR 669. The website http://nohr669.com declared April 20 as "National NO HR 669 Call-In Day" and encouraged all animal lovers to call their Congressperson and declare opposition to the bill. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), a trade organization comprised of retailers, distributors, manufacturers, hobby groups and other animal-related businesses, has also mounted a strong opposition to HR 669.

How HR 669 will fare in Congress remains to be seen. The bill is under review by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and a hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 23. You can track the progress of the bill by clicking here.

Although there are other ways to get veterinary care for your pet, there are definite advantages to having a regular veterinarian and a regular veterinary hospital.

Regular Veterinary Care Is Important To Your Pet's Overall Health

Your pet not only has a unique personality and place in your family. Like you, he or she has a unique medical history as well. Imagine if you had to give your complete medical history every time you went to the doctor! An up-to-date medical record helps keep your pet's vaccinations up to date, helps with diagnoses and can save valuable time in case of an emergency. Having a regular veterinarian is more cost efficient, as tests do not need to be re-run and all previous medical information is noted on his or her record.

Using The Same Veterinarian Ensures Continuity Of Care

By visiting the same veterinarian on a regular basis, he or she can get to know your pet as an individual and provide continuity of care. If your hospital has several veterinarians, make it a point to request the same veterinarian whenever you make an appointment. If you don't have a regular veterinarian, it's best to get one before an emergency arises.

1. This breed was first reported as a spontaneous mutation by Joe and Grace Ruga of Lakewood, CA. Their cat, Shulamith, had a kitten with an ear mutation. What breed is it?

A. Sphynx
B. Cornish Rex
C. Scottish Fold
D. American Curl

2. This cat is considered a native American breed that occurred naturally. It has a medium to large, muscular, broad chested body. It is considered the largest of all pure breed cats. What breed is it?

A. Norwegian Forest Cat
B. American Curl Shorthair
C. American Shorthair
D. The Maine Coon Cat

3. This cat was found in the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, and is also considered a spontaneous mutation. Which breed of cat is it?

A. Manx
B. Ocicat
C. Cymric
D. Scottish Fold 

4. This breed is considered a spontaneous mutation which was discovered by William and Mollie Ross in 1961. The ear mutation came in the form of a kitten named Susie. Susie was bred to a normal eared male, and their offspring created the foundation stock for this breed. Which breed is it?

A. Sphynx
B. Scottish Fold
C. American Curl
D. Cornish Rex

5.This cat is a natural breed that originated in Turkey, and is a working cat from a remote, snowy region. The tail is foxlike and strongly ringed. Which breed is it?

A. Turkish Van
B. Somali
C. Turkish Angora
D. Norwegian Forest Cat

6. This breed is a spontaneous mutation that was discovered in 1950 in England. The mutation of this cat was its coat, which has deep waves over the entire body. Which breed of cat is it?

A. Devon Rex
B. Cornish Rex
C. Korat
D. Tonkinese

7. This cat is a spontaneous mutation that was discovered in England in 1960. The mutation of this cat was its coat, which has soft, wavy fur, with a more relaxed wave to its coat. Which breed is it?

A. Devon Rex
B. Korat
C. Cornish Rex
D. Tonkinese

8. This cat is one of the rarest registered breeds in North America and is not often seen at cat shows. It is the only naturally spotted domestic cat. Which breed of cat is it?

A. Ocicat
B. Egyptian Mau
C. Singapura
D. Abyssinian

9. This breed, established in 1964, is a hybrid created from crossing a Siamese and an Abyssinian. It was the unexpected result of a breeding experiment by CFA breeder, Virginia Daly. Which cat breed is it?

A. Egyptian Mau
B. Abyssinian
C. Singapura
D. Ocicat

10. This natural cat breed was imported into the United States in 1975. It has a ticked coat pattern, similar to the Abyssinian. This cat is said to look like a miniature cougar. Which breed of cat is it?

A. Singapura
B. Balinese
C. Siamese
D. Tonkinese

Dogs dig digging. For some dogs, it seems to be a natural instinct. Dogs dig holes in order to bury objects. Dogs like to bury objects and return to them at a later date. Some dogs bury anything and everything. In the summertime, the holes that they dig are cool and make comfortable sleeping quarters.

There are several methods that exist for controlling this behavior. We have listed only two. The first method is to redirect the behavior. In this situation, the dog learns to dig someplace else. The second method involves the use of a special collar. This type of collar has a refillable reservoir that contains eucalyptus. When the dog barks, the eucalyptus is sprayed in his (or her) direction. The collar method is used as a deterrent and can help eliminate the digging behavior.

Redirecting the behavior

If your yard is a mess and you would like your dog to dig in only one place, a reinforcement technique may work. This may take some time and requires that you follow your dog every time he goes outdoors.

Take your dog to a remote area in your yard. Bury one of his favorite toys in that area (or bury something that you know he would enjoy burying). Allow him to dig up the object. After he digs up the object, give him a reward (food or praise - we prefer praise!). If he begins to dig anywhere else, you must reprimand him. Scolding, a pull on the collar, or a small spray from a eucalyptus collar will usually suffice. You must be persistent and vary the rewards or your dog will easily forget.

Extinguishing the Behavior

This technique also involves constant supervision of your dog. You must watch him at all times and intervene as soon as you see any indication of digging activity. You can try screaming at your dog; however, a eucalyptus collar is almost indispensable. A small spray of eucalyptus from the collar goes much further when trying to correct this behavior.

The advantage of the eucalyptus collar is that the correction is not coming from you. Screaming at your dog or reprimanding him only makes him afraid of you. By using the collar, the dog thinks that the correction comes as a result of his action.

Good luck!

When explaining pet death to children, it is important to be straightforward and honest. For many children, a pet's death is the first time they experience grief over death. Handling a pet's death in a positive way empowers children to handle grief in the future.

Children Cope Better When A Pet's Death Is Explained Honestly

The terminology that is used when explaining pet death to children is crucial. Euphemisms and clichés do not work. When explaining pet loss, use the words "death," "dead," and "dying" instead of "putting to sleep," "with the angels," or "visiting Uncle Harry" (an uncle who died a few months ago). These are all concrete words that children can wrap their brains around. Be clear, because children's minds may extrapolate harmful connotations from sugar-coated explanations.

A common euphemism for euthanasia is "put to sleep." There is no reason why children wouldn't think of this as a reversible process - "If the pet is asleep, let's just wake him up." Lying to your children by telling them that the pet ran away or that you gave it to a friend is a bad idea. Your children may exhaust every possibility looking for a lost pet, and the empty feeling of a pet that suddenly disappeared is worse than the truth about euthanasia. All of this only gives children a different kind of grief. If you say that you gave their pet to a friend, they wonder why their best friend would abandon them or why their parents would want to separate them from a creature that meant so much to them.

Instead, if you have made the decision to euthanize, it's a good idea to explain it in these terms - because we love Fluffy so much we do not want her to suffer. We are helping her to die because she is experiencing pain that we can no longer treat.

Talk about the death of a pet before the death occurs. Involve your child in the decision-making process. Not including children in the process makes them feel completely powerless about what is going on with their pet. If the pet has a terminal disease, talk honestly about the options with your children.

If the decision is made to euthanize a pet, your veterinarian can explain the medical aspects of death. The veterinarian can describe how euthanasia is done, and how the pet will look in death - the eyes do not close and the body may be warm for a few hours then later become stiff. If the pet dies or need to be euthanized as a result of an injury or traumatic accident, the veterinarian can also explain what went wrong.

Parents often wonder if a child should be allowed to be with the pet during death and see the body afterward. It may be a good idea to ask a child what he or she wants to do. If the parent or child does not want to be present during the euthanasia process, then they can go back into the room to say goodbye. Seeing that the pet is actually dead often helps give children and parents a sense of closure.

Involving Children In The Process Can Help Them With Closure

Grief issues do not just happen in the veterinary hospital; they happen after the children (as well as the adults) leave. Sometimes the grieving occurs months, or even years, later. During the grieving process, family members at various age levels will react differently. Children under two can sense stress in the house even though they do not know the cause. If this is the case, comforting them and paying extra attention to them may help. Children two to five years old typically believe they are invincible and regard death as a reversible feat that cartoons like the roadrunner and coyote enact. Although they may not understand that their pet is dead, explaining death concretely now helps them understand it better at a later date.

Eight-year-olds might understand that death is irreversible; however, in their minds, the universe revolves around them. If they think bad thoughts like, 'I don't want to walk Fluffy today. I wish she would just die' and then a couple months later, Fluffy dies, a child this age might believe that their bad thoughts caused the death of the pet.

Showing your own grief in front of your child is healthy. Grieving and crying in front of a child validates to the child that these emotions are OK to express. Hiding grief might make children wonder why you don't miss Fluffy. This could lead to them wondering if you would be sad if they died.

Children may react in ways that surprise adults. They may draw pictures of their pet underground, bury dolls, or ask shocking questions about what is happening to their pet's buried body. All of these responses are normal and healthy.

Families can be creative about memorializing their pet. Plant a tree. Put an engraved stone in your cat's favorite spot in the house. Encourage children to draw pictures. Each family member should be encouraged to memorialize their pet's death in a way that is meaningful to them.

If you or a member of your family is having trouble dealing with the loss of a pet, call your veterinary hospital for information. There are many Pet Hotline telephone services and counseling services available to families that have lost a pet.

Flying first class is about to get a whole lot furrier. Starting in July, Pet Airways will offer pets-only flights for companion animals traveling between five major cities: New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. The first flight is slated to take off on July 14, and Pet Airways hopes to quickly expand its services to other "pawsengers" in other major cities.

About 76 million cats and dogs travel with their people each year, according to the American Animal Hospital Association, though relatively few travel by air. That's because air travel is often uncomfortable and stressful for pets, according to Dan Wiesel, the president and CEO of Pet Airways.

"Currently, most pets traveling by air are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage," Wiesel said. "The experience is frightening to the pets and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death." Cargo holds in airplanes are often subject to extreme variations in temperature, according to Wiesel, and pets don't always receive the gentlest handling from airline workers.

How does a pet airline work? Pet Airways uses the Beach 1900 turbo-prop plane to transport pets. Normally able to seat 19 passengers, the Beach 1900 planes used by Pet Airways have specially-modified interiors where pets are safely secured in their carriers using a proprietary restraint system. The cabin is fully-lit and climate controlled, with plenty of fresh air circulating for pets. Pet passengers lounge in a temperature-controlled environment and are monitored throughout the flight by a specially-trained attendant. Once the plane lands, pets are taken to a special "pet lounge" where they wait for pickup.

Wiesel and his wife, Alysa Binder, got Pet Airways off the ground in part because of Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier. Binder and Wiesel always wanted to bring Zoe with them on vacation, but they knew Zoe wasn't comfortable flying in the cargo hold of an airplane. Making other travel arrangements were logistically challenging, and the couple decided to find a way to make air travel for pets safe and comfortable.

Airfare for pets is about $150, about the same price as flying a pet on a major airline. Flights occur once a week, and reservations can be made on the Pet Airways website, and pet owners can track their pet's travel progress using Pet Airway's Track Your Pet feature. As Pet Airways expands, you may soon find your pet flying through the air with the greatest of ease!

A Nevada company and the couple that owns it has pleaded guilty to distributing the tainted ingredient that lead to the 2007 nation-wide pet food recall that killed or injured thousands of pets across the country.

On June 17, Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller pleaded guilty before a federal judge to one count of selling adulterated food and one count of selling mis-branded food. The Millers own ChemNutra, Inc., which imports food ingredients from China and resells them to food manufacturers. The Millers and ChemNutra were named as co-defendants in the case.

ChemNutra and the Millers were indicted in February 2008, along with Chinese companies Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company (XAC); Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts (a Chinese export broker), for their role in distributing the tainted wheat gluten. According to the Associated Press, Chinese officials shut down XAC in 2007 following the pet food recall.

With the guilty plea, the Millers face up to two years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $200,000, and must pay restitution for victims of the recall, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. ChemNutra must pay a fine up to $400,000, as well as restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

"Millions of pet owners were impacted by the pet food recall in 2007," said Matt J. Whitworth, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. "The conduct of these defendants in violating federal health and safety standards caused the deaths and illness of thousands of family pets, as well as anxiety among dog and cat owners across the country and economic harm to many pet food manufacturers."

According to the Justice Department, ChemNutra imported more than 800 metric tons of wheat gluten from China. The wheat gluten was tainted with melamine, an unsafe food additive often used to increase the protein count in food components. As part of the guilty plea, the Millers and ChemNutra "admitted that melamine was substituted wholly or in part for the protein requirement of the wheat gluten so as to make it appear the wheat gluten was better or of greater value than it was ... (and) The labeling was also false and misleading because melamine was not listed on the label as an ingredient."

The wheat gluten was then sold to pet food manufacturers and used as an ingredient of hundreds of different varieties of pet foods. Canada-based pet food manufacturer Menu Foods produced most of the 60 million units of recalled pet food. In 2008, Menu Foods agreed to contribute money to a $24 million settlement fund for pet owners whose pets were sickened or killed because of the tainted food.

The melamine-tainted food caused kidney failure in dogs and cats. During the recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received more than 17,000 complaints from pet owners. The Veterinary Information Network estimated between 2,000 and 7,000 pets died because of the contaminated food and tallied health care costs for the recall at between $2 million and $20 million.