Newsletter Archives
Spring 2000

Spring! Time for Cleaning, Chocolate Bunnies, and Fleas!

Towels Needed

Please keep us in mind when you tackle your spring cleaning. We are always in need of used bath towels. We use them to pad the cages and runs for our patients. Sheets, blankets, and spreads are really too cumbersome for our washing machine, but we do use lots of towels. Whatever you can donate will be much appreciated and well-used!!

Chocolate is Toxic to Pets

Theobromine is a central nervous system stimulant. It is also the ingredient in chocolate that is very toxic to pets. The more concentrated the chocolate (dark chocolate, baker's chocolate), the higher the level of theobromine. Obviously, milk chocolate does not contain as much theobromine because it is "diluted" with milk, sugar, etc. Milk chocolate has 44mg/oz, semi-sweet chocolate has 150mg/oz, and bakin gchocolate contains a whopping 390mg/oz. A dosage as low as 90 mg/kg (41 mg/lb) can produce toxicity in dogs. For a 10 pound dog, the toxic dose iof theobromine would be obtained in only one ounce of baking chocolate, but the dog woul dhave to eat almost three ounces of semisweet or ten ouces of milk chocolate to get the same dose of theobromine. Lower doses have been reported to cause vomiting, excitement, increased urination, muscle tremors, and rapid heart rate. Higher doses can cause seizures or cardiac arrest.

Flea Control

Do you remember the days before Frontline and Program? Do you remember when fleas meant a major commitment of time, energy and expense to get rid of them? I can remember spending whole weekends laundering, vacuuming, "bombing," and washing the cats and dogs with flea shampoo. The "flea collars" were not very effective! Thank goodness those days are over!! With the advent of products like Frontline (adulticide), flea control is as easy and effective as a once-a-month topical application between the shoulder blades of the cat or dog. Or with Program (insect growth regulator), it can be as easy as giving a pill once a month. A major study in Tampa, Florida has shown that flea control can be achieved with topical application of adulticides or oral (systemic) administration of insect growth regulators without concurrent treatment of the surroundings. Ask us about flea control before you are over-run by the Spring population explosion!

How Smart are Cats?

While it's difficult to truly assess the intelligence of cats, it's clear that, given a little incentive, most cats can learn simple commands if their owners are patient and persistent enough.

For example, you can teach your cat to sit on command. Take your cat's favorite food treat, hold it in front of her nose, and move it upward and backward. As the cat's nose follows the treat and points up toward the ceiling, the cat will naturally sit down. At that precise moment, say "sit" and quickly give the food treat. Practice this a few times a day and soon your cat will sit down when you want her to.

Cats are careful observers and will remember things that have a direct relevance to them. That's why so many cats go into hiding at the very sight of the carrier used to bring them to the vet, even if it's been more than a year since the last visit. And even subtle changes to your routine, to which cats become very accustomed, won't go unnoticed.

Thus, your kitty certainly has the capacity to learn. With the right mix of perseverance and patience, you'll find she'll learn all kinds of tricks.

Of course, you must always keep in mind the classic definition of the difference between a dog and a cat: If you call a dog, he'll come; if you call a cat, she'll take a message and get back to you (maybe).