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From Dr. John, more bad news about food recalls:

I try to keep an eye out for news about toxic medications, foods, and other important information.

There is a new pet food recall that affect humans in 9 states. Diamond Pet Foods is pulling nine brands and WellPet LLC is recalling one as a precaution.

At least fourteen infected people had contact with dogs or dog food a week prior to them contracting an illness identified as Salmonella. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and fever. To date – no deaths have been reported.

Cases so far have been in Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

These products were sold to 16 states in the US East coast and Canada.

For a list of foods recalled this year – go to: www.petplace.com/health-alerts-pet-product-and-food-recalls-by-fda
Please forward this to any family and friends. We would like to help prevent any problems before they occur.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. There are several food and pet product recalls you need to be aware of check them out to keep your pet safe.

We will continue working to keep you informed.

P.P.S. It is recommended that consumers should wash their hands after contact with pets and pet food.

Well the really good news is that there are some cupcakes in the oven–and we’ll have some new puppies at the beginning of the summer. This means I will have some new pictures to share all summer long as these beautiful puppies grow up. Keep an eye on the website and on the nursery pages.

The other news is that again Pet foods have been recalled. Be careful. The following foods have currently been recalled:

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Country Value
Diamond
Diamond Naturals
Premium Edge
Professional
4Health
Taste of the Wild

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For more information contact: http://diamondpetrecall.com/#

A friend asked a curious question last week. “Dee, is there something wrong when your dog doesn’t wolf down his food? I mean, aren’t dogs supposed to be ravenous feeders – they certainly are in the wild, right?”

My friend had a point. When you think about how wolves in the wild eat, there’s typically not a lot of hesitation before they dive in and devour their kill. After all, that’s how they survive. And a lot of people say that a good appetite is a sign of a healthy dog.

Some dogs do indeed ‘wolf’ down their food and on occasion, even eat things they shouldn’t. Some dogs (not unlike some humans) are naturally picky about what they’ll eat. And there’s another whole group of dogs that has become finicky because of their owners’ unintended actions.

Is your dog a picky eater? Sometimes it’s a personality trait that dogs have their entire lives, and sometimes it’s a relatively new development. Before I give you some pointers on how to help “fix” your finicky dog, let’s put on your detective hat and look at four things first:

1. Be sure there are no underlying medical issues. Consult your veterinarian about your dog’s picky behavior, especially if there is vomiting and/or diarrhea or any other signs of illness present, weight loss, or if the problem has developed suddenly.

2. Check out the food you’re feeding your pet. Is it high quality and nutritious? Does it contain wholesome protein sources instead of cheap non-nutritive fillers? It’s only natural for a dog will reject inferior food. Also check to ensure that food has not gone stale or rancid as this can also put off your dog’s appetite.

3. Do you rotate foods? Many veterinarians recommend feeding only one type of food. Changing your pet’s food can create a finicky appetite if he thinks there may be something tastier coming if he doesn’t eat. New foods can also cause stomach upset and discourage eating.

4. Is there anything affecting his appetite for meals? Is your dog stealing food from another pet or trash can?

Could a family member be slipping him extra treats or table scraps between meals?

Surprisingly, how you respond to your dog’s finicky eating habits can either help make them or break them.
What do YOU do when your pet refuses to eat? If you do what a lot of pet owners innocently do – pet her, coax her, even try to hand feed her – you’re rewarding your dog with positive reinforcement.

Think about it… if your dog gets all that extra, loving attention for NOT eating, imagine what she’s likely to do the next time you feed her!

I suggest you try this instead the next time your pet won’t eat: Place the food in your dog’s bowl and walk away. When your dog is hungry, her body will drive her to eat.

However, I’ll be the first to admit that there are situations where this may not be the best approach. These include times when…

• Your dog needs to consume a special diet that’s less than appetizing
• Your dog is growing older and is losing his sense of taste
• Your dog is ill, undergoing therapy, or recovering from surgery and needs to eat for health reasons

Another friend has found a great solution for these special situations and for when your pet is routinely picky.

And here’s what is great about it: It’s a solution that WON’T encourage your dog’s finicky behavior.

Instead, it’s an ideal way to add a little “extra” burst of taste and nutrition to your pet’s meal. SuperGravy™ was developed as a healthy solution for picky eaters, whether they are young or old, healthy or ailing, and eating any type of food.

SuperGravy™ is an economical way to add the nutritional goodness of concentrated whole superfoods without any artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives to your dog’s daily diet.
It’s a mixture of some of the healthiest foods available – humanely sourced grass-fed, free-range organ meats (including organic), omega-3-rich Aztec “miracle” chia seeds, and phytonutrient-rich organic vegetables like spinach, pumpkin and carrots.
Just sprinkle a small scoop of SuperGravy™ over your pet’s food with a little warm water and stir. It adds an inviting brown gravy coating to any food. For only pennies a day, SuperGravy™ can improve ANY pet food’s taste and nutrition. Compare that to the two bucks a day you can spend for premium canned food. Plus, there are no heavy bags or cases of cans to lug around – just a small, more earth-friendly “green” 30-day supply pouch.

I don’t sell any products, but if this product works for you and your dog, why not??

Recently I watched a show on PBS called NOVA scienceNOW that asked a very interesting question: How Smart Are Dogs?
We all know that dogs are smart. They learn to follow commands and they learn how to do tricks. They even learn how to trick their owners!
Research tells us that the average dog can understand about 150 words and is about as smart as a three-year-old child.
Some breeds are smarter than others, and Border collies are thought to be among the smartest. We know that these dogs understand hundreds of words. But the dog on this show – a Border collie named Chaser – showed us that dogs could be even more intelligent than we believed.
Chaser has about a thousand toys – and her owner claims that she can identify each one by name. If that’s true, Chaser knows more than a thousand words!
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the well-known scientist who hosts this PBS show. He decided to put that theory to the test with an experiment of his own. He asked Chaser to find several of her toys by name, and she got it right every time. Then he decided to see if Chaser could take it one step further. He wanted to see if she could identify a toy that she had never seen before, with a name that she had never heard before, by using the process of elimination.
Dr. Tyson had brought a new toy with him that he named “Darwin”. He put Darwin among some of Chaser’s toys to see if the dog could pick out. At first, Chaser seemed confused when he asked her to “find Darwin”. She had never seen the toy before and didn’t know the name, but finally she picked out the right toy!
Experiments like this make us realize that dogs are indeed very smart. And just like humans, dogs need to use their intellectual skills to keep them sharp.
Most dog owners try to give their dogs everything they need to stay healthy and happy – good food, plenty of exercise and lots of love. But sometimes we forget about one very important need: our dogs also need to keep their minds active.
A challenging situation that tests your dog’s problem solving skills is both interesting and fun… and it’s also a good way to help keep your dog’s mind sharp. Without these satisfying tests of intellect, boredom will soon set in. And a bored dog can soon lose interest in play, or even become destructive.
A good interactive puzzle toy can give your dog the satisfying intellectual challenge he craves and at the same time sharpen his problem solving skills.
One of the best “smart” toys I think is the Hide-A-Squirrel. This interactive toy will hold your dog’s attention for hours and provide satisfying intellectual play. The trick is for your dog to figure out how to get the three squirrels out of the tree trunk – and your dog will keep at it until he succeeds. Playing with this toy will help keep your dog’s mind sharp – and it’s a lot of fun. This is a great toy for dogs of all ages.
We know that dogs are smart – and we’re starting to wonder if they could be even smarter than we thought. So if your dog is “bored” with his toys, give him a satisfying puzzle toy that will really hold his interest, like the Hide-A-Squirrel. You can find the Hide-A-Squirrel at PetProductAdvisor.com.
Do you have an interactive toy that your dog likes? Share it with me and we’ll share it with the other owners.

Dogs can sometimes seem very human to us. They seem to have emotions and moods just like us, and often have similar health problems as us. But can dogs also suffer from motion sickness in a car?
The answer is yes! Dogs can get car-sick just like humans, and it’s a common concern for pet lovers. In fact, dogs get car-sick for the same reason as us: motion affects the inner ear, which sends signals to the emetic center of the brain, the part which controls vomiting.. Most of the time, your dog’s body sends a signal to vomit directly to the emetic center. In some cases, like motion sickness, the signals first travel through an area in the brain that causes symptoms such as drooling, anxiety, and nausea. And cars are not the only stimuli to blame – dogs can experience motion sickness from any means of travel, including airplane, boat, or train.
How do you know if your dog is feeling car-sick?
Some visible signs include an increase in drooling, excessive panting, and frequent swallowing. Other dogs begin pacing or frequently look around. Another more obvious sign of car-sickness is vomit. Yes, dogs who get motion sick sometimes throw up just like humans! The symptoms differ from dog to dog, and even between situations. One patient of mine, a pit bull named Daisy, gets car-sick in only one model of car.
Motion sickness in dogs is a bigger problem than you’d think, too: at least 1 in 6 dogs in the US experience vomiting due to motion-sickness. This
surprised me – 82% of dog owners say they would travel more if their dog did not get motion-sick.
The number of motion-sick dogs may actually be much larger, since many people do not bother to visit their veterinarian for help with their dog’s car-sickness. In fact, 58% of dog owners report that they have delayed or postponed their vet trips because of their dog’s motion sickness.
But such a prevalent problem must have a simple solution, right? Well, until recently there hasn’t been much people could do about their dog’s car-sickness. Some people used over the counter human medication to treat motion sickness in their dogs, a practice which I strongly discourage. Human medicine affects dogs differently from humans, and can have side-effects that can do more harm to your dog than good.
Fortunately, now there is a simple solution for your dog’s car-sickness: CERENIA® Created by Pfizer Animal Health, CERENIA® (maropitant citrate) tablets are the first FDA-approved veterinary medication developed specifically to fight vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs. CERENIA® is safe for dogs, even dogs who are on other medication. And tests show that CERENIA® was 93% effective in preventing vomiting with just one pill.
Pfizer’s CERENIA® is an easy way to finally put an end to your dog’s motion sickness troubles! The catch is you need to actually consult with your veterinarian about your dog’s car sickness – something there is no reason not to do! Vomiting should be reported to your vet even if you feel sure that it was caused by a trip in the car. This is simply because your dog may vomit for many reasons including dietary issues like swallowing something he shouldn’t have, intestinal virus, and even organ failure. If your dog experiences vomiting, get him to a vet to rule out more serious causes!
So if you’re one of the many dog owners whose dogs experience motion sickness, you don’t have to let your dog suffer in silence. Speak to your vet about the issue! In fact, you don’t have to let your dog suffer at all – CERENIA® can put an end to your dog’s traveling miseries… and your car cleaning woes!
I hope this solution makes traveling with your dog a little easier. Talk to your vet.

Thanks again to Dr. Jon.

According to the folks at Pet Poison Helpline, they talk frequently to terrified pet owners whose dog or cat found an enticing ‘treat’ in a purse or backpack and gobbled it up.

Since during the winter months pets tend to be indoors more, a handbag or similar item lying open with contents exposed, can prove an irresistible temptation to a confined, curious and perhaps slightly bored pet.

Top 5 Most Common Purse Items That Poison Pets

1.Human medications. About half the yearly calls to the Pet Poison Helpline are because someone’s pet ingested a medication found in a handbag, book bag, duffel bag, etc.

Human pills come in bottles, and the sound of a rattling pill bottle is very similar to the noise some dog toys make.

Both over-the-counter and prescriptions drugs can be a problem.

Very common OTC painkillers like Advil, Motrin and Tylenol, and human doses of prescription drugs for depression like Prozac and Effexor, can be toxic to pets.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil, Motrin and Aleve, can cause GI ulcers and kidney failure and are especially dangerous for kitties.

Just one Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be fatal to cats, and larger amounts can cause liver failure in a dog.

Antidepressants are the number one cause of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. Signs a pet has ingested one of these drugs include sedation, loss of coordination, agitation, trembling and seizures.
2.Asthma inhalers. If your dog bites into an asthma inhaler, it has the potential to result in acute, life-threatening poisoning. These inhalers contain highly concentrated doses of drugs like albuterol (a beta-agonist) and fluticasone (a steroid).

If a dog punctures an inhaler by biting or gnawing it, she can be exposed to a massive single dose of a powerful drug which can bring on vomiting, agitation, heart arrhythmia, collapse, and ultimately, death.
3.Artificially sweetened gum and mints. Many ‘sugarless’ gums and mints contain xylitol – a sugar substitute highly toxic to dogs. Even a small amount of xylitol can result in a dangerous blood sugar crash in canines, and larger amounts can lead to liver failure.

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, weakness, collapse, shaking and seizures.

In addition to gum, mints and other sugarless candy, xylitol is commonly found in chewable vitamins, certain prescription drugs, dental hygiene products, nicotine gum and baked goods.
4.Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other products containing nicotine. Did you know a small dog can die from ingesting just three cigarettes, depending on the brand? Chewing tobacco is also toxic to dogs and cats, and so are stop-smoking products like nicotine gum.

Signs of nicotine poisoning come on quickly and include elevated heart and respiratory rates, neurological symptoms, loss of bladder or bowel control, tremors, seizures, paralysis and death.
5.Hand sanitizer. Small bottles of hand sanitizer have become commonplace in purses, briefcases and backpacks. These products, which are used to kill germs, contain lots of alcohol. Alcohol (ethanol), is the germ-killing agent in these gels and liquids.

If your dog were to ingest a small bottle of hand sanitizer, it would be about the equivalent of a shot of hard liquor. This could cause a severe drop in your pet’s blood sugar, loss of coordination, loss of body temperature, nervous system depression, coma, and death.

An Ounce of Prevention…

If your family is like most, chances are you can find an open handbag or other carryall bag within reach of your pet right now.

If so, you might want to designate a common surface in your home – close to the front door – as the ‘bag drop-off area.’ It should be high enough that its contents don’t draw your dog’s attention.

If you have a curious cat, then the requirement should be that all bags are zippered or snapped closed before leaving them in the ‘bag drop-off area.’

Another option would be to create a ‘bag hanging area’ by installing pegs, coat hooks or similar heavy-duty hangers close to the front door, and assigning one to each member of the family.

By Dr. Bruce of Poison Central

The following article was recently published in the CotonClub eZine and I was given permission to post it to my blog as I think the information in it is critical no matter what breed of dog you may own.

CHINESE INGREDIENTS IN PET FOODS AND VITAMINS

by
Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D.,
Coton de Tulear Club of America President,

www.cotonclub.org
CotonNews@aol.com
(607) 693-2828

February 1st, 2012. For five years, the CTCA has warned pet owners of the dangers of Chinese ingredients in pet food, pet treats, pet vitamins, and pet toys.

The following article by Mercola.com’s veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker addresses an on-going crisis in pet food (and human food as well) sold in the United States and Canada (and to various degrees, all around the world):

Pet Food and China – More Cause for Concern?
Posted By: Dr. Becker on February 01 2012

Recently the Taipei City Government ordered four brands of pet food removed from store shelves due to false labeling.
The pet food companies involved were charged with violating China’s Commodity Labeling Act.
Out of 140 pet foods tested by Taipei city officials, four were found to contain not even a trace of beef, despite label claims and misleading product names.
The four formulas:
• Belicom’s tuna and beef cat food
• Dobi’s beef, chicken and potato dog food
• Ever Red’s beef dog food
• Maxwell’s beef dog food
I guess we can assume tuna as an animal protein source was found in the Belicom product and chicken was found in the Dobi product.
But we can also assume the Ever Red and Maxwell products contained no animal protein source at all.
How would you like to discover the ‘beef’ dog food you’ve been feeding your pet perhaps several times a week for who knows how many weeks, months or even years, contains not even a trace of animal protein?
Even though these specific pet food brands aren’t, to my knowledge, sold in the U.S., the apparent blatant false labeling by Chinese pet food manufacturers of four (four that we know of) different kinds of dog and cat food is extremely troubling.
You may be wondering why I’m concerned about lack of beef in four pet foods made and sold in China.
It’s really not about those four pet foods – it’s about the much bigger picture.
China is By Far the Largest Importer of Pet Food Ingredients to the U.S.
According to PetfoodIndustry.com, in just the month of February 2011, 70 percent of pet food ingredients imported to U.S. pet food manufacturers came from China.
In that month alone, almost $22 million dollars worth of pet food products were purchased from China. The second largest importer was Thailand, from whom we purchased a measly-by-comparison $7.6 million in pet-related goods.
If you’re worried about feeding your pet a food with ingredients imported from China (or anywhere else), at first glance the solution seems simple. Just read the product label to insure it says ‘Made in the USA’ … right?
Not exactly.
U.S. country of origin labeling laws only require that products made in the U.S. be put together here. There’s no requirement of pet food manufacturers to identify where the ingredients in their products come from.
From the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection’s Complying with the Made in USA Standard document:
“What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?
For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. The term “United States,” as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.”
If you’re thinking you’ll just call the pet food company’s 1-800 number and inquire about where their ingredients come from, you might not find out much.
According to TruthAboutPetFood.com:
“… it seems that no one in the pet food industry is very willing to talk much about Chinese imports. Try calling or emailing several pet food manufacturers and ask them the country of origin of all ingredients. Many will just happen to forget to mention vitamins and minerals are sourced from China.”
Concerns with Pet Food Products from China Are Not New
Most pet owners remember the huge and frightening 2007 pet food recall for melamine contamination. The melamine was found, along with cyanuric acid, in wheat gluten that contained ingredients imported from China.
The combination of melamine and cyanuric acid is known to cause kidney failure in pets. Many dogs and cats became very sick, and some died after eating melamine-contaminated food.
Some of the biggest pet food names in the U.S., including Science Diet, Purina, Eukanuba, and Iams were involved in the 2007 recall of over 40 brands in total.
And of course just last month I reported an ongoing, mysterious contamination problem with chicken jerky dog treats imported from China. The chicken jerky problem dates back to 2007 and has made dogs sick not only in the U.S., but also in Canada and Australia.
Complaints about the chicken jerky treats dropped off in late 2009 and for most of 2010, but rose again in 2011. It’s mind-boggling, but what this means is after four years, with scientists in three countries investigating the problem, there is still no official answer as to exactly what’s in these chicken jerky products from China that is making dogs sick.
Meanwhile, among veterinarians and pet owners, theories abound. Suspicions include an ongoing problem with melamine contamination, irradiation of the ingredients in chicken jerky treats, and/or use of an as-yet unidentified chemical preservative.
Current Outlook Remains Bleak
It appears food safety concerns with China will continue indefinitely, and not just for pet food, but for all food.
According to The New York Times:
“Despite efforts to create a modern food-safety regimen, oversight remains utterly haphazard, in the hands of ill-trained, ill-equipped and outnumbered enforcers whose quick fixes are even more quickly undone.
“Most of them are working like headless chickens, having no clue what are the major food-borne diseases that need to be addressed or what are the major contaminants in the food process,” said Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety expert with the World Health Organization’s Beijing office.”
According to the Times article and other sources, China has massive problems feeding its own human citizens safely. So it’s reasonable to assume insuring the safety of pet food ingredients for export may not be at the top of their current To-Do list.
And now they can add another problem to the mix – falsely labeled pet food formulas that in some cases do not contain even a trace of animal protein. Meatless dog food masquerading as beef dog food means a certain percentage of family pets aren’t getting the nutrition they need to thrive – or the nutrition their owners assume they are providing for their companion animals.
So four years after the melamine contamination disaster, it seems there are still significant challenges in determining what, exactly, is going into (or not going into) the pet food and pet food ingredients produced in China.
So How Can I Know the Food I’m Feeding My Pet is Safe?
If you buy rather than make food and treats for your dog or cat, my recommendation is to write or phone the manufacturers of the pet food brands you use and request a list of the countries they import ingredients from. And you want to know the origin of all ingredients, including vitamins and minerals (a large percentage of which are made in China).
If the pet food company can’t or won’t give you the information you request, I’d consider transitioning your pet to another, higher quality food, made by a manufacturer who is at least willing to answer your questions about where their ingredients are sourced, and address your concerns about imports from China.
If you discover some of the ingredients in your pet’s current food come from China, you can contact other pet food companies that sell products in your price range and make the same inquiry about where their ingredients originate.
I will caution you that it can be extremely difficult to avoid virtually every food ingredient imported from China or another foreign country. It’s up to each of us as consumers to do our best risk assessment of the food products we buy, whether they’re ‘Made in the USA’ or elsewhere.
However, you can take every reasonable precaution to keep your pet safe by:
• Carefully selecting the pet food you purchase.
• Learning what to look for on pet food labels.
• Switching your dog or cat from commercial pet food to a balanced, species-appropriate, homemade diet.

Thank You Dr. Russell

This is a very interesting article that I found by Dr. Ernie Ward. Let me know what you think.

We live in a world chock-full of arresting — and often overwhelming — sights, smells and sounds. But while you can block all that background static with state-of-the-art Bose headphones, your pets have no choice but to soak it all in.
From noise emitted by fluorescent light bulbs to overpowering air fresheners, there are many things that may seem innocuous to us — but can negatively affect your dog or cat’s stress levels. Here’s a look at some common sensory pet stressors.
Pet Sensory Offender #1: Noise Pollution
First, some background: Humans hear in the range of about 20–25,000Hz, while dogs fall in the 67–45,000Hz zone and cats in the range of 45–64,000Hz. Our voices come in at about the 300–3,000Hz range, so what this means is that there are lots of shrill sounds that can really bug your dog or cat.
Excessive or loud noises can create what is known as acoustic stress, which affects felines, in particular, since they can hear very high tones — about 1.6 octaves higher than humans and one octave above dogs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs, light dimmers, some CRT and LCD displays (computers, televisions, etc.), and tea kettles are all potential sources of high-frequency noise pollution that you may not even be aware of — unless you can hear like a cat.
If you really want to get serious about reducing ultrasonic noise pollution for your pets, start by turning everything down a notch — or three. TVs, iPods, video games, washing machines and dryers can all stress out noise-sensitive species, such as dogs and cats. Another tip that I practice with my own pets is to play low-volume classical music when they’re home alone. Believe it or not, there are even pet-specific composers out there creating stress-busting music for pets!
Pet Sensory Offender #2: Intense Odors
A cat’s sense of smell is estimated to be about 14 times more sensitive than ours. But that’s nothing compared with a dog’s powerful sniffer, which is thought to be 1,000 to one million times more powerful than a human nose. So there are plenty of aromas that could easily turn a dog or cat’s tummy or tempt their taste buds — but we wouldn’t even notice them.
Some potential sources of offensive (and often stressful) smells include cigarettes, carpet fresheners, cleaning agents and disinfectants, potpourri, hair spray and perfumes, scented litter and a host of air fresheners. So instead of masking an unpleasant odor, try to remove the source of the foul smell.
I know that’s easier said than done, but a tiny trace to us is like an elephant-sized funk to some animals. I’m so sensitive about this that I even train my staff not to wear perfumes or scented deodorants to avoid upsetting my pet patients. Seriously.
Pet Sensory Offender #3: Visual Overload
Although our pets don’t get stressed by the murder and mayhem plot lines of crime shows before bedtime, the bright lights and moving images can light up their visual cortexes. So even though your dog or cat appears to be snoozing at your feet as you watch TV, they’re actually in stand-by mode, monitoring all the commotion.
My advice: If you want your pets to enjoy restful, restorative sleep, go to bed earlier, turn off the television and power down your smartphone, iPad and laptop. Help them (and you!) de-stress from a sensory-packed day by finally unplugging.

Dr. Jon had a good article about this recently:

Dogs can sometimes seem very human to us. They seem to have emotions and moods just like us, and often have similar health problems as us. But can dogs also suffer from motion sickness in a car?
The answer is yes! Dogs can get car-sick just like humans, and it’s a common concern for pet lovers. In fact, dogs get car-sick for the same reason as us: motion affects the inner ear, which sends signals to the emetic center of the brain, the part which controls vomiting.. Most of the time, your dog’s body sends a signal to vomit directly to the emetic center. In some cases, like motion sickness, the signals first travel through an area in the brain that causes symptoms such as drooling, anxiety, and nausea. And cars are not the only stimuli to blame – dogs can experience motion sickness from any means of travel, including airplane, boat, or train.
How do you know if your dog is feeling car-sick?
Some visible signs include an increase in drooling, excessive panting, and frequent swallowing. Other dogs begin pacing or frequently look around. Another more obvious sign of car-sickness is vomit. Yes, dogs who get motion sick sometimes throw up just like humans! The symptoms differ from dog to dog, and even between situations. One patient of mine, a pit bull named Daisy, gets car-sick in only one model of car.
Motion sickness in dogs is a bigger problem than you’d think, too: at least 1 in 6 dogs in the US experience vomiting due to motion-sickness. This
surprised me – 82% of dog owners say they would travel more if their dog did not get motion-sick.
The number of motion-sick dogs may actually be much larger, since many people do not bother to visit their veterinarian for help with their dog’s car-sickness. In fact, 58% of dog owners report that they have delayed or postponed their vet trips because of their dog’s motion sickness.
But such a prevalent problem must have a simple solution, right? Well, until recently there hasn’t been much people could do about their dog’s car-sickness. Some people used over the counter human medication to treat motion sickness in their dogs, a practice which I strongly discourage. Human medicine affects dogs differently from humans, and can have side-effects that can do more harm to your dog than good.
Fortunately, now there is a simple solution for your dog’s car-sickness: CERENIA® Created by Pfizer Animal Health, CERENIA® (maropitant citrate) tablets are the first FDA-approved veterinary medication developed specifically to fight vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs. CERENIA® is safe for dogs, even dogs who are on other medication. And tests show that CERENIA® was 93% effective in preventing vomiting with just one pill.
Pfizer’s CERENIA® is an easy way to finally put an end to your dog’s motion sickness troubles! The catch is you need to actually consult with your veterinarian about your dog’s car sickness – something there is no reason not to do! Vomiting should be reported to your vet even if you feel sure that it was caused by a trip in the car. This is simply because your dog may vomit for many reasons including dietary issues like swallowing something he shouldn’t have, intestinal virus, and even organ failure. If your dog experiences vomiting, get him to a vet to rule out more serious causes!
So if you’re one of the many dog owners whose dogs experience motion sickness, you don’t have to let your dog suffer in silence. Speak to your vet about the issue! In fact, you don’t have to let your dog suffer at all – CERENIA® can put an end to your dog’s traveling miseries… and your car cleaning woes!
I hope this solution makes traveling with your dog a little easier. Talk to your vet.

I hope for all of you, the holidays have brought bring smiles and lots of joy into your lives and the lives of your pets. We are looking forward to a good 2012 with continuing information on dogs, puppies, health, and a joyful year to each and every one of you. And maybe even a few new Beautiful Biewers to share.