According to the American Pet Products Association 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey, more than 164 million people in America own a cat or dog.
While most pet owners are aware of the basic issues that are associated with pets. There are many illnesses and problems that still go unseen. These issues can be very dangerous for the animal and expensive to treat. Dr. Patricia King, a veterinarian at Raritan Animal Hospital in Edison, N.J. says that many of these issues can be prevented with a little due diligence on the part of the pet owner. Some of the most dangerous conditions can go unnoticed if the owner is not aware of the symptoms.
To begin with, one ailment that can be easily overlooked is called a pyometra. According to King, this usually occurs in unspayed older female dogs, but can also occur in cats. “A pyometra, is an abscessed, pus-filled infected uterus. Toxins and bacteria leak across the uterine walls and into the bloodstream causing life-threatening toxic effects. Without treatment death is inevitable,” King says. A pyometra, will usually occur one to two months after a heat cycle and could exhibit symptoms that could easily be overlooked. These symptoms can include: lethargy, poor appetite, increased drinking, vomiting, or a vaginal discharge, she says.
Moreover, according to King, the only way to prevent the onset of a pyometra, is to have the pet spayed. “Spaying represents complete prevention for this condition. A female dog or cat can benefit from spaying at any age. Any perceived risks of surgery are very much out-weighed by the risk of a pyometra,” King says
Furthermore, Mary Bennis 36, from New Brunswick, N. J. says that knowing the symptoms of a pyometra saved her dogs life. “I never spayed my dog when she was a puppy. I did not have the money and really did not know how important it was. I noticed that she was drinking more water and she had a little bloody discharge,” Bennis says. “I took her to the vet that day. She was admitted to the hospital and had emergency surgery. The doctors said I saved my dogs life, her symptoms were so minor, but I knew something was wrong.” Bennis says.
Another issue that affects many pets, and can easily be overlooked by the pet’s owner is parvovirus. According to King, “parvovirus is a virus that is effective at rapidly infecting and dividing host cells, such as intestinal cells, bone marrow cells, cells of the lymph system, and fetal cells,” she says. The virus, King says, affects puppies to adolescent dogs but is most severe in six to 14 week old puppies. Parvovirus’s symptoms can be mild to severe, and can come on very rapidly. Symptoms of parvovirus include, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody and malodorous.
“The virus can be deadly if not recognized and treated right away,” King says. “If a puppy tests positive for parvovirus, the owner needs to be prepared for the pet to be hospitalized up to a week. Intensive care in the hospital is needed to treat this infection at a substantial expense. The usual survival rate is approximately, 75 to 80 percent if the pet is hospitalized,” King says.
Moreover, a puppy with bloody diarrhea does not necessarily have parvovirus, King says. “The puppy could have a parasite, a virus other than parvovirus, stress colitis, intestinal foreign body, or may simply have eaten something that disagreed with him. It is important to confirm the diagnosis of parvovirus before embarking on what could be the wrong treatment,” King says.
EricaVasquez 20, a Rutgers University student, majoring in communication says that she never knew how difficult it would be to care for a pet, when she adopted a Pit Bull Terrier puppy named Max.
“I wanted a dog, and I thought it would be relatively easy to own,” Vasquez says. “I thought that vomiting and diarrhea was normal with puppies, but I was really wrong. It turns out Max had parvovirus and I could not afford to treat him. I had the option of euthanizing him or giving him up. So I surrendered him to his veterinarian and they went ahead and treated him. I wish I knew more before adopting him. It was a responsibility I was just not ready for financially or physically.” Vasquez says.
Another issue, which King says is something every pet owner should know about, is a urinary obstruction. A urinary obstruction occurs when, “mucus, crystals and even tiny bladder stones clump together to form a plug in the narrow male cat urethra,” King says. “Only a few drops of urine will be produced or sometimes no urine is produced at all. The easiest way to tell is by feeling in the belly for a distended bladder. It is often the size of a peach and if there is an obstruction, the bladder will be about as hard and firm as a peach,” King says.
According to King, “If the blockage persists three to six days, toxins build up and will result in death. The urinary toxins, that build up in obstructions commonly result in vomiting, nausea, and appetite loss. They can also cause life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances,” King says. The pet must be hospitalized, to treat a urinary blockage, she says.
Furthermore, King says there are a few things to consider before adopting. A prospective owner should also be aware that pets are not only expensive but time consuming. Another concept to consider is why they are adopting the pet and the perspective owner should be prepared for a long term commitment that could last as long as 20 years. Caring for a pet is more than purchasing food and paying for veterinarian bills, pets need constant love, attention and care. It is important for a potential owner to understand the needs and requirements that come with each breed, research before adopting is recommended, she says.
