"Anecdotally, we can say many kid with autism are interested in animals. They seem to have a real affinity for them; they often enjoy their company and they may be described by their parents as much calmer, more engaged and happier in general when they're around an animal," Nishawala said. What it is about the interaction that's beneficial is not yet clear.

The National Institutes of Health has expressed an interest in funding studies that examine human-animal interaction, putting out a call for investigations that focus specifically on child health and development in 2010. The advocacy group Autism Speaks has awarded several grants to investigators studying equine therapy, or the use of horses to help improve children's social behaviors and their motor skills, while other studies have looked at dogs. Earlier this month, a small review published online in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that the results of six studies looking at what happens when children with autism interact with dogs are "encouraging," but that more research is needed.

"I think it's a little preliminary," said Lauren Elder, assistant director of dissemination science with Autism Speaks. The new study "focused on children who were included in typical education classes. Most were likely quite high functioning, so it's not necessarily representative of the entire spectrum," she said. Further, the study focused on the social behaviors when children were in the presence of the animal. It is not clear whether there could be a longer term effect on the their social development.

Experts say that parents who have thought about getting a pet or who have noticed that their child seems to enjoy being in the presence of animals might want to consider it. But getting a child with autism a pet will not magically improve their symptoms, and pets are not for everyone.

"I think it's something for families to think about, how it might fit into their child's life," said Nishawala.

Why Do Dogs Sleep on Beds?

Dogs and beds get along well like bread and butter. Most dogs appear to enjoy snoozing on the bed. But trouble starts when dogs begin thinking the whole bed is theirs and start growling at their owners when forced to get down.

Warmth

 

Dogs might enjoy the bed because it is warm. This is mostly seen in the winter when dogs might feel comforted and relaxed as temperatures drop.

 

Companionship

 

Dogs often will enjoy sleeping along with their owners. Sharing the bed fulfills their need for affection and closeness.

Dominance

 

Alpha dogs in nature tend to prefer elevated spots. For this reason, dogs allowed on beds might perceive themselves as leaders of the pack.

 

Considerations

 

A dog that growls when owners move or when told to get off the bed are believed to be dominant. For this reason, such dogs should not be allowed on beds or couches. A dog should get off a bed immediately after being verbally told to get off.

 

Types

 

Senior dogs and dogs with arthritis benefit from sleeping on dog beds. Some beds are orthopedic and made of foam for best comfort and support.

Home Care for the Vomiting Dog

Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms dogs have. It can be a minor problem or a very significant major problem. As a pet owner, you may not know what to do when this happens, so this article will focus on what you can do for your pet at home.

Here are some of the most common questions pet owners ask about vomiting.

What is vomiting?

Vomiting is the act of expelling contents from the stomach through the mouth.

What causes vomiting?


Vomiting can be caused by a variety of problems including eating too quickly, eating too much, eating something that is not digestible, eating a different type of food, eating spoiled food or eating garbage. Vomiting can also indicate a systemic problem such as cancer, kidney failure, diabetes and other infectious diseases. For a full list of possible causes, go to Chronic Vomiting in Dogs

What can I do at home?


Specific home treatments are dependent on the cause of the vomiting. Here is the general approach to treat a vomiting dog:

• If your pet vomits once and then eats normally with no further vomiting, has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own.

• If you can find any predisposing cause such as exposure to trash, change in diet or eating plants, always eliminate the source of the problem.

• If your dog vomits several times and you cannot take your dog to your veterinarian (which is recommended), then you may try the following:

- Administer only prescribed medications. Please check with your veterinarian before giving ANY medications.

- Withhold food and water for three to four hours. Oftentimes the stomach lining may be very irritated. Some dogs will want to eat even though their stomach is irritated, and they will continue to vomit. Give the stomach time to rest for a few hours.

- After waiting the three to four hours, if your pet has not vomited, offer small amounts of water (a few tablespoons at a time). Continue to offer small amounts of water ever 20 minutes or so until your pet is hydrated. Don't allow your dog to over-drink as this may lead to more vomiting.

- If there has been no vomiting after the small increments of water are offered, then you may gradually offer a bland diet.

- Small frequent feedings of a bland digestible diet such as: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat are usually recommended. You can make a homemade diet of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Feed small amounts at a time. Don't over feed as your dog may eat the entire bowl and vomit again. Feed a meatball-size portion. If there is no vomiting, offer a small amount more about one hour later. Give small amounts frequently – every three to four hours for the first day. You can gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency as your dog tolerates.

Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

Acute diarrhea is a common clinical problem in veterinary practice. It is characterized by a sudden onset and short duration (three weeks or less) of watery or watery-mucoid diarrhea. Occasionally the fecal material is also overtly bloody.

Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and is an important sign of intestinal diseases in the dog.

Diarrhea can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.

General Causes

• Dietary indiscretion (eating inappropriate food/material)

• Infectious agents - bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic infections

• Drugs and toxins

• Intussusception (telescoping of the bowel on itself)

• Intolerance of materials in the normal diet

• Intestinal obstruction

• Metabolic disorders, such as liver and kidney disease

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

What to Watch For

• Passage of loose, watery stools that persist for more than one day

• A change in the color of the stool

• The appearance of blood in the stool

•Decreased appetite

• Vomiting

• Depression, lethargy

•Fever

Acute diarrhea is often alarming, but may not be an emergency if your dog is still active, drinking and eating, and is not vomiting. However, acute diarrhea associated with vomiting, lack of water intake, fever, depression, or other symptoms should prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

The average time that a dog is pregnant is 63 days (9 weeks). The range for dogs is between 56 and 66 days and of course this depends on the day of ovulation, which may not be the same day that the actually impregnation took place. Most dogs have the same experience during gestation and it does not matter if the dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a large Newfoundland.

Spring's around the corner and that means fun times, beautiful scenery... and cleaning. When the weather gets warmer it's a good time to start catching up on all those chores that we've let go over the winter months. During spring many people start opening windows, rolling up their sleeves, and getting ready to really clean up! There's typically a lot more to do in homes with pets though.

With Daylight Savings Time starting today, it can feel like there is even less time in the day. That's why when you clean, you really need to make it count.

Pets bring a lot of love into our lives but they also bring a lot of messes. When you're making your to-do list, don't forget the following chores:

Vacuuming rugs and furniture free of pet fur

Washing pet beds and toys

Cleaning carpets where “accidents” have occurred

Clipping your dog's nails

Cleaning their ears

Giving your dog a bath

This last one can be a real bother. After many cold months, chances are your dog is due for a bath - and many of them really don't like being put into a bathtub! But now is the perfect time to give your dog a bath and enjoy the weather outdoors

 

The Dangers of Bones

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You have finally succeeded in teaching your dog not to beg. Dinner is now a pleasant meal for you and your family. As a reward, you think your dog might enjoy chewing on the leftover bones. After all, his distant cousin the wolf chews bones all the time and chewing bones promotes healthy teeth and gums, right? What can it hurt?

Actually, bones are not as healthy as you may think. Some dogs may never develop a problem associated with chewing bones but some may. And, some bone related problems can be very serious. With so many alternatives and little need for chewing real bones, are the benefits worth the risks?

Potential Complications

Unfortunately, if you decide to give your pet a bone, or he finds one in the trash, he may be getting more than just a tasty treat. Bones do not break down easily. This means your pet may have to pass them through his stool. This often leads to a serious impaction and constipation, requiring a trip to the veterinarian. Bones can also be a choking hazard and can cause possible intestinal bleeding if the bone shards break off and tear the intestinal lining.

Types of Bone Problems

Thin bones, such as ribs, can get lodged in the throat or even the roof of the mouth. In one case, a Doberman suffered several days with a rib bone lodged in the roof of his mouth. By that time, the bone had cause significant tissue damage to the roof of the mouth and surrounding gums.

Round steak bones also pose a threat because they can get wedged around the lower jaw. Veterinarians often must use bolt cutters or even hacksaws to remove them, which is extremely uncomfortable for the dog and may require sedation.

Chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous. They are more fragile and splinter easily. Splintered bones can cause perforation of the mouth, throat, intestines and colon, causing internal trauma.

What to Watch For

• Struggling to breathe

• Straining to go to the bathroom

• Bloody diarrhea

• Pawing at the mouth

• Lack of appetite

• Vomiting

Alternatives

The safest thing to do is to only give "bones" that have been designed for dogs to chew on. This can include Nylabones© which tend to be relatively indestructible and are often flavored. Another alternative is to offer him acceptable chew toys. Rawhide toys, given in moderation, are fun to chew, for instance. Again, be careful how often you offer a rawhide toy because pieces can break off and cause constipation.

Choking in Dogs

Choking is a common reason why pets are brought to the veterinarian, though the signs of choking are often mistaken. Usually, the owner confuses coughing or vomiting with choking. Understanding the causes and signs of choking can help determine proper care and treatment for your pet.

Choking can occur due to an obstruction of the airway from a foreign object in the throat, severe swelling of the throat or due to constriction of the neck. True choking is an emergency and immediate veterinary assistance is crucial.

Oral Foreign Object

Having "something stuck in the throat" is a common problem in pets. Due to their curious nature and indiscriminate eating habits, dogs and cats can get all kinds of items stuck in their mouth. Large pieces of food, bone, balls, toys, wood, cloth, metal and even fish hooks have been removed from the mouths of dogs and cats. In order for the foreign object to cause choking, the object must obstruct the opening to the airway. Just having an object stuck in the mouth does not always result in the emergency condition associated with choking.

One common oral foreign body that does not result in choking is associated with bone ingestion. Bones can get stuck between teeth, around the lower jaw or even stuck on the roof of the mouth. This results in significant distress for the pet but not choking.

Other Causes of Choking

Severe throat swelling can occur and is usually associated with an allergic reaction or response to trauma. The tissues within the throat can swell so much that the opening to the airway is blocked.

Constricting neck injury is usually associated with collars and ropes. Dogs and cats that get collars tangled can choke due to the constriction of the neck from the tightness of the collar. In severe cases, dogs and cats can hang from collars, leashes and ropes. For example, a dog may be tied to a leash with just enough slack to jump the fence but not enough slack to allow the dog to touch the ground on the other side. A more common example is the exuberant puppy that constantly pulls on the choke chain while on a walk. This can result in choking.

A complication associated with choking is pulmonary edema. This is the accumulation of fluid within the lungs associated with neck injury. The exact reason this occurs is not completely understood. When the neck is constricted or the airway is blocked, it is though that nerve stimulation in the neck results in fluid accumulation in the lungs. This can lead to significant breathing problems.

Watch For

• Drooling

• Gagging

• Difficulty swallowing

• Difficulty breathing

• Pawing at face

• Regurgitation

• Anxiety and distress

Veterinary Care

Diagnosis

Diagnosing choking is based on history and physical examination. For oral foreign bodies, a thorough oral exam reveals the cause of the obstruction. In severely distressed animals, sedation may be required to examine the inside of the mouth.

Chest x-rays may be necessary if breathing difficulty is noted. X-rays are taken to look for signs of pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs).

A thorough physical exam is necessary to determine if there are any other injuries.

Treatment

For oral foreign bodies, the foreign object needs to be removed immediately. After removal, the mouth needs to be examined again, looking for wounds that could have been caused by the object.

Oral antibiotics may be prescribed if oral wounds are noted.

For neck injuries, the collar and any constricting item needs to be immediately removed. Based on chest x-rays and physical examination, hospitalization may be recommended.

Cats/dogs with breathing difficulty may need oxygen supplementation. Animals with pulmonary edema may require diuretic medication such as furosemide to try to reduce the fluid in the lungs.

In severe cases that do not quickly respond to treatment, an emergency tracheostomy may be required. This is a temporary measure that allows the pet to breath until the cause of the choking can be resolved. A temporary tracheostomy is performed by making a small incision in the neck. The trachea (windpipe) is then cut to allow a breathing tube to be placed directly into the trachea.

In select cases, some patients may require assisted breathing with a ventilator.

Home Care

If you notice your pet is choking, remove any item that may be constricting the neck. Examine inside the mouth and remove any foreign object you see. Do not blindly place your hand down your pet's throat and pull any object you feel. Dogs and cats have small bones that support the base of their tongues. Owners probing the throat for a foreign object have mistaken these for chicken bones. Do not attempt to remove an object unless you can see and identify it.

If you cannot easily remove the object, lift and suspend a small animal with the head pointed down. For larger animals, lift the rear legs so the head is tilted down. This can help dislodge an item stuck in the throat.

Another method is to administer a sharp hit with the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades. This can sometimes dislodge an object.

If this does not work, a modified Heimlich maneuver can be attempted. Grasp the animal around the waist so that the rear is nearest to you, similar to a bear hug. Place a fist just behind the ribs. Compress the abdomen several times (usually 3 to 5 times) with quick pushes. Check the mouth to see if the foreign object has been removed.

Even if you are successful in removing a foreign object, veterinary examination is recommended. Internal injury could have occurred that you may not realize.

Preventative Care

Make sure your pet has a collar that fits properly. Tight collars can create serious injury.

Do not let your pet have sufficient slack in a tie out to allow jumping over fences.

Keep all small items, toys and balls away from your pet. Super balls and racquetballs are a common cause of upper airway obstruction in large breed dogs. Make sure the ball you use to play fetch is large enough to prevent getting stuck in the throat.

Healthy Pets Healthy People

There are many positive benefits of owning a pet; however, it's important to know that some animals may carry germs that can be spread to people and cause illness.

Pets can appear to be healthy even when they have germs. Here are a few tips to keep you and your family healthy.

Picking the Right Pet

Before you purchase or adopt a pet, make sure that it is the right one for you and your family. CDC recommends the following:

•Households with children under 5 years of age should not own reptiles, such as turtles, or amphibians, such as frogs.

•Pregnant women should avoid contact with pet rodents to prevent exposure to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which is a virus that can cause birth defects.

•Pregnant women should avoid adopting or handling stray cats, especially kittens. They particularly should not clean litter boxes to avoid getting toxoplasmosis from them.

•Immune-compromised persons and persons with HIV infection or AIDS should take extra precautions when choosing and handling pets. Talk to your veterinarian and health care provider to help make this decision.

To pick the right pet, do some research beforehand about the specific needs of the animal. Some questions to ask are: How much exercise does the pet need? How large will it become? Is the type of animal aggressive? What does the pet eat? How much will it cost for veterinary care? Do I have enough time to properly care for and clean-up after the pet? What exactly does this pet need in its habitat to be healthy? Are pets allowed in my apartment or condominium? How long will this animal live? See additional information about adopting a pet from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Wash Hands Right after Touching Your Pet

•Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching a pet, their housing, or anything (for example, food or treats) that comes in contact with them or the areas where they live. It is especially important to wash your hands after touching a pet and before preparing, serving, eating, or drinking.

•Adults should assist young children with hand washing. See more information on hand washing. See the CDC's Clean Hands site for more information on hand washing.

•Running water and soap are best for hand washing. Use hand sanitizers if running water and soap are not available. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water as soon as a sink is available.

•Call your health care provider if you or a family member are concerned about illness and be sure to tell them about the pets you have contact with.

•Contact your pet's veterinarian if you are concerned that your pet may be sick.

Many pets, such as dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents, and birds, carry germs that can be spread from animals to people. Always wash hands upon leaving areas where animals live (i.e. coops. barns, stalls, etc.) even if you did not touch an animal, after going to the toilet, before eating and drinking, before preparing food or drinks, and after removing soiled clothes or shoes.

It is also important to wash your hands right after handling pet foods and treats, which can be contaminated with bacteria and other germs. Pet food and treats might include dry dog or cat food, dog biscuits, pig ears, beef hooves, and rodents used to feed reptiles.

Keep Your Pet Healthy

Whether you have a horse, parakeet, or iguana, providing regular, life-long veterinary care is important to having a healthy pet and a healthy family. Keep up with your pet's vaccines, deworming, and flea and tick control. Provide your pet with a good diet, fresh water, clean bedding, and exercise. By keeping your pet healthy, you keep yourself and your family healthy. Regular veterinary visits are essential to good pet health. Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions about your pet's health.

Your pet may carry ticks that can spread serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people. In areas with plague, fleas present a risk to both animals and their owners. Consult your veterinarian about ways to prevent ticks and fleas on your pet.

Practice Good Hygiene Around Your Pet

Make sure to wash your hands right after touching an animal, cleaning up after your pet, and before eating or preparing foods. Make sure to remove your dog's feces from your yard or public places by using a device or bag, and dispose of in proper areas. Dog feces contain many types of bacteria, some of which can be harmful to people. Keep young children away from areas that may contain dog or cat feces to prevent the spread of roundworms and hookworms. Cover sand boxes so cats don't use them as a litter box. Clean the cat's litter box daily. Pregnant woman should not change a cat's litter box, because cats can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, which is a disease that can cause birth defects. Get more information on toxoplasmosis and cats  [PDF - 203KB].

Prevent Rabies

Rabies can kill your dog or cat and can even kill you. Get your pet, especially dogs, cats, and other mammals, vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Talk to your veterinarian about whether or not other pets need a rabies vaccine. Make sure your pet gets and wears a tag with its vaccine history, name, and your contact information. Keep your pet in a fenced yard or on a leash. See more information about preventing rabies and dog bites.

Keep Wildlife Wild

Though they may be cute and cuddly, don't encourage wild animals such as raccoons, prairie dogs, or wild rodents to come into your home by feeding them. You may find a young animal that appears to be abandoned and want to rescue it, but often its parent is close by. Refrain from touching wild animals and their habitats, as many carry germs, viruses, and parasites.

Teach Children How to Appropriately Care for Pets

Children younger than 5 years old should be supervised while interacting with animals. Teach children to wash their hands right after playing with animals or anything in the animals' environment (e.g., cages, beds, food and water dishes). Children younger than 5 years old should be extra cautious when visiting farms and having direct contact with farm animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs. See more information on safety at petting zoos and animal exhibits.

Enjoy Your Pet!

There are many health benefits of owning a pet. The companionship of pets can help manage loneliness and depression. Pets can increase your opportunities to exercise, participate in outdoor activities, and socialize. Therefore, regular walking or playing with pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Remember, healthy pets = healthy people!