Pets Health Problems from Smoking Exposure
Need help with a New Year’s resolution to stop smoking? Do it for your pet. Three separate studies at three veterinary colleges showed that dogs and cats whose owners smoke are more likely to develop health problems from secondhand smoke, including cancers of the nose, lung and lymphatic system. If you do quit for your pet, you’ll not be alone in doing so: Another study suggests people are more likely to quit for a pet than for a spouse.
As deer populations continue to grow, so do the numbers of ticks and cases of tick-borne illness. Of concern to both physicians and veterinarians is the discovery of a new tick-borne bacterium causing ehrlichiosis that has been discovered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. According to DVM360.com, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin, more than two dozen people have contracted the disease. So far, despite the testing of thousands of ticks, this particular strain has not been found outside of the two states yet.
Animal bites should never be taken lightly, even if they seem minor at first. Even “minor” cat bites are like a hypodermic needle jamming bacteria deep into the flesh, and they can become a severe medical crisis. Pet rodents could also be carrying deadly disease. If bitten by an animal, immediately head to the sink for a lot of soap and water, and keep the lather and rinsing coming for about three minutes. Then call your doctor for treatment advice — you may need antibiotics.
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