Gambit's Pets, summer 2017

SU M M E R 2017

Summer Summer

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Furry friend, foul weather Pet health issues to watch for as temperatures soar B Y K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N

I

T’S HOT. IT’S STICKY. Stepping

outdoors is like a sucker punch to the gut. Now, imagine going outside while wearing a fur coat.

Our furry friends seem to exhibit Zen-like calm when facing summer temperatures, but the truth is there are several seasonal problems that can affect pets. Dr. Paul Koenig of Elysian Fields Animal Clinic and Dr. Mary Brewington of Metairie Small Animal Hospital explain a few summer health issues, their causes and treatments. These health concerns aren’t exclusive to summer, but extra diligence is needed as the mercury climbs.

It’s not the heat ... yes it is

Bug out Fleas (and other bugs) mature more quickly in warmer months because of the heat and humidity.

Summer conditions can trigger fleas to emerge from their adolescent cocoons sooner and become biting, reproducing adults. Many fleas are species-specific, only feeding on a single animal species, but the fleas in Louisiana are less discerning. Cat fleas are most common, but they will infest dogs and cats alike. Exotic pets such as ferrets and gerbils also are susceptible to fleas.

“We have cat fleas here — it’s too hot for dog fleas,” Koenig says.

“They won’t bite humans unless you’re overrun with them, so pet owners won’t know (there’s an infestation) unless they check their pets’ skin.”

Fleas only spend about onefourth of their life cycle on their hosts, so it’s important to treat not only your pet but the pet’s living area for fleas. Scratching is the most overt sign of a flea incursion, but pets also can develop allergic reactions, contract flea-borne diseases such as roundworm and hookworm and even become anemic from blood loss. An influx of fleas should be treated aggressively, and Koenig says it’s easier now than ever.

“The flea medicines that we use now are so much more effective than they have ever been,” he says.

Some of these medications and sprays even protect against ticks.

Koenig sees very few tick bites in city pets, but deer ticks are common in Louisiana’s wooded areas.

These ticks bite humans and their furry friends with equal zeal, and infect them with diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Both are bacterial infections whose primary symptoms in pets are high fever, swelling of the joints and lameness; Rocky Mountain spotted fever also causes

skin discoloration. Both are more likely to affect dogs than cats, and humans can get them too.

Heartworms are another bugborne pest that affects dogs in particular, especially in the warmer months. Transmitted by bites from a summer-swollen population of mosquitoes carrying microfilariae (heartworm offspring), heartworms mature and breed in the blood vessels near an animals’ vital organs, causing damage or organ failure and obstructing blood flow. Symptoms are coughing and wheezing, trouble breathing and reduced energy.

The best treatment for heartworms is prevention. A veterinarian can prescribe a monthly oral medication that is easier to administer and significantly cheaper than the drugs used to treat heartworms.

Koenig stresses that dogs need the medication monthly, not only in summer. Cats can contract the disease, but since it is less common there is no approved drug treatment. Prevention is the only option.

“People think that because their cats stay inside, they’re safe from heartworms,” Brewington says. “But it’s transmitted by mosquitoes — I got bitten by three mosquitoes in my house just last night. Cats (and dogs) need to be on heartworm prevention year-round because we have mosquitoes year-round.”

The other “bugs” Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, is common during the summer because contamination usually comes from contact with stagnant water polluted with the bacteria. It’s also passed via the urine of an infected

animal, and is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted between pets and humans. Koenig says half of all cases have no known exposure, so make sure pets aren’t drinking standing water in the backyard. That neighbor with the chickens? Bird feed attracts rodents, which also are harbingers of the bacteria.

Symptoms are fever, muscle pain and dehydration, and if untreated can progress to bleeding disorders and kidney and liver complications. There’s a canine vaccine for leptospirosis; cats are resistant to infection and aren’t vaccinated.

Canine influenza has been reported in Louisiana, although there currently are no confirmed cases in the New Orleans area. Symptoms are coughing, sneezing and eye or nasal discharge. Brewington says dogs spend more time with other dogs in summer — boarding, playing in dog parks — so the flu can spread quickly. She recommends vaccination as part of a pet’s annual health screening.

“It is very contagious,” she says.

“Some animals may not exhibit symptoms but can still carry the virus.”

There are more than a few curve balls summer weather can throw at us (thunderstorms and street flooding included), but with preventive care such as regular exams and vaccinations, a lot of risks to pets can be eliminated.

“This is basic care,” Koenig says.

“Everyone who wants to have a pet needs to try to provide that. Half of the problems that can possibly arise with a pet won’t happen if you take preventive measures.”

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

Allergies are more likely to crop up in warmer months because “the heat and the growing season of pollens and grasses can lead to itching and allergic skin disease,” Koenig says. Kennel cough is another common ailment, not because of weather, but because families travel more in the summer and may board pets.

There’s a vaccine for this; typically, it’s administered during your pet’s annual wellness visit.

Hot asphalt can burn Fido or Fifi’s paw pads. Brewington suggests walking pets or letting them outside only during the cooler hours of the day, and offers a general rule of thumb for heat exposure: “If it’s too hot out for you, it’s too hot out for them,” she says. Make sure pets have access to plenty of fresh water, especially outdoor animals.

“Coughing, especially in the heat and especially with overweight, small dogs can be a sign of … overheating, as is panting,” Koenig says.

“The blood vessels under a pet’s tongue will get enlarged and turn purple. These can also be signs of tracheal collapse or heart failure.”

Extreme heat can cause heatstroke, and dogs with short snouts (such as bulldogs and pugs) and pre-existing breathing problems are more susceptible to it. It can happen quickly to pets left in vehicles; Prevention magazine reports the temperature inside a car can increase by as much as 19 degrees

in as little as 7 minutes.

“Just don’t do it,” Koenig says.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to ever try to get by with leaving your animals in the car. It’s too dangerous.”

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Where to find low-cost pet care in New Orleans

BY ALEX WOODWARD | @ALEXWOODWARD

A

VERAGE HOURLY WAGES IN THE NEW ORLEANS AND METAIRIE AREA HOVERED AROUND $20.85 IN 2015 — about 10 percent below the

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

nationwide average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A 2017 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition clocked the average hourly wage for renters in New Orleans — who make up more than half of the population — at only $15.52. People earning the federal minimum wage ($7.25 an hour) would have to work more than 70 hours a week for a one-bedroom home at fair market rent — let alone caring for a pet. People earning low or middle incomes with pets do have several options for veterinary care for their furry friends, the bills for which can top hundreds or thousands of dollars a year depending on the level of care needed.

To help ease costs and keep animals safe in homes and off the streets, several veterinary clinics and nonprofit organizations offer low- or no-cost health services.

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Jefferson SPCA 4421 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, (504) 733-5878; www.jeffersonspca.org Jefferson Parish’s arm of the animal welfare organization sponsors Fix-AFeline and Fix-A-Canine, a low-cost spay-and-neuter program for Jefferson Parish residents. The programs are funded through parish residents’ annual rabies licenses.

Fix-A-Feline aims to lower the parish’s population of sheltered cats, which represents more than half of all pets in parish shelters.

Since the program’s inception, participating clinics have performed more than 50,000 spay-and-neuter surgeries. The surgery is $15 for cats with an owner and free for feral and stray cats (and it includes a rabies vaccine). Feral cats brought in for the service will be ear-tipped — a painless procedure in which the tip of the cat’s ear is notched to show that the animal has been spayed or

neutered and vaccinated.

Fix-A-Canine surgeries are $60 for dogs of all sizes.

For pets to be eligible, pet owners must show proof of residency in Jefferson Parish or be a cat caretaker or trapper in the parish. Find a list of participating hospitals at www.jeffersonspca.org/low-cost-feline-spayneuter and www.jeffersonspca.org/ low-cost-dog-spayneuter.

Jefferson SPCA also sponsors free spaying and neutering for pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Call for a list of participating shelters and vouchers.

Louisiana SPCA 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., (504) 3631333; www.la-spca.org/clinic Among the oldest animal welfare organizations in the state, the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) is contracted by the city of New Orleans to provide animal control services. It also houses a pet medical care center. The LA/ SPCA Community Clinic — which has five exam rooms, two surgical suites, five heartworm treatment areas and a pharmacy — offers microchipping, heartworm treatment, vaccinations, SNAP testing, deworming, nail trimming, anal gland expressions and other diagnostic screenings, tests and services. A basic exam is $25.

Annual dog exams are $65-$95. Annual cat exams are $45-$95. Puppy check-ups are $35, and kitten visits are $30. The center also offers dental cleanings ($105, before additional services) and summer cuts in June ($30-$70, depending on the size of the animal). The clinic spayed and neutered more than 9,200 animals last year.

The clinic offers reduced fees for seniors, students, military personnel and first responders, and households receiving state or federal assistance. The clinic does not provide emergency services.

Low Cost Animal Medical Center 4300 Washington Ave., (504) 4441124; www.lowcostanimal.org The recently-opened nonprofit vet-

Pets R Our World| Veterinary Clinic 4721 Jefferson Highway, Metairie, (504) 224-1996; www.petsrourworld.com The clinic participates in Jefferson Parish’s Fix-A-Feline and Fix-A-Canine programs. Cats are $10 and dogs are $50. Pets R Our World also offers vouchers for spay and neuter services for Jefferson Parish residents; feral cats are serviced at no cost.

Southern Animal Foundation 1823 Magazine St., (504) 671-8235; www.southernanimalfoundation.org The Magazine Street nonprofit veterinary hospital offers low-cost spaying and neutering, microchipping, annual exams and vaccinations, radiology and X-rays, allergy tests, heartworm treatment, pain management, dental cleaning and a range of other services as well as emergency care.

Spaying and neutering surgeries are $40-$110 depending on the pet’s weight and include ear-tipping and a rabies vaccination.

SpayMart www.spaymart.org The volunteer-run nonprofit group facilitates low- and no-cost spaying and neutering. Check the website for a current list of locations and events.

Trap-neuter-return www.facebook.com/ trapneuterreturnnola To help control the feral kitten population in the New Orleans area, the LA/SPCA, the Jefferson SPCA and other community clinics offer free or low-cost spaying and neutering, vaccinations and ear-tipping for feral neighborhood cats. Residents can pick up a trap, deliver the cat to a participating clinic, and return the cat to the neighborhood after neutering via the “trap-neuter-return” (TNR) program. Call either SPCA branch for a list of locations from which to rent a trap and place a deposit (refunded when the trap is returned). The LA/ SPCA also offers free community workshops on TNR.

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erinary hospital in Gert Town offers a range of low-cost services for dogs and cats. The 4,500-square-foot hospital has more than 100 kennels, seven exam rooms, three operating rooms and X-ray and lab capabilities.

Founded by Copey Pulitzer with Drs. Shannon Landry, Timothy Troia and Marisa Muniak, the shelter anticipates performing up to 7,500 low-cost spays and neuters and caring for more than 30,000 animals a year.

Annual dog visits are $90 and include a physical exam, heartworm test, fecal exam and vaccines for rabies, DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza) and Bordetella. Annual cat visits are $70 and include a physical exam, fecal exam and vaccines for rabies and FVRCP (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and distemper). The center also offers exams for new puppies ($45) and kittens ($40), as well as microchipping, blood work, dental cleanings, soft-tissue surgery, urinalysis, nail trims, anal gland expression, flea and tick prevention and other services. Walk-ins are welcome.

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GAMBIT

Gone fishin’ fishin’ Saltwater tanks are labor — and beauty — intensive

BY KAT STROMQUIST @KSTROMQUIST

Do a little world-building. Before doing anything else, make some decisions about what’s going to live in your tank. Valladares says there are three main setups: fish-only, fish with invertebrates or a full reef tank.

Reef tanks featuring coral create a dramatic effect but are the most challenging and expensive to maintain.

Coral requires a light setup that cycles on and off and varies its intensity.

Fish-only tanks don’t require as much investment in lighting and generally are less expensive to maintain.

You also should ask questions about the kind of fish you plan to buy.

Some species don’t get along with others, and if you have more than one of the same type of fish, there’s a possibility of breeding. Some fish will become aggressive and nip fingers if they’ve laid eggs in a small tank.

New saltwater tank owners often like clownfish, because they’re hardy and familiar from the movie Finding Nemo. Damsels are another durable species, but Valladares warns they’re “mean as all get-out.”

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Set a budget. “If you say, ‘I want to set up a cheap saltwater tank,’ that’s kind of an oxymoron, because there isn’t any such thing,” Valladares cautions. Prepare for the hobby’s associated costs, and make adjustments based on what’s humane for the fish — some popular species, such as blue hippo tangs, require a large tank to stay healthy.

Captive-bred or -raised fish are more expensive livestock options, because it takes time and money to raise them from the fry stage.

Serious hobbyists tend to prefer them because they’re more eco-friendly.

(Captive-bred fish also can be hardier because aquarium life seems normal to them, Valladares says.)

It’s also important to budget time to manage your tank. Test your tank’s ammonia, nitrite and pH levels weekly, and expect to spend between half an hour to an hour each week (depending on the size of your tank) changing the water, cleaning the glass and doing other maintenance.

Be patient. Setting up a functional tank takes time. Valladares says it can take as long as six weeks before a tank has finished “cycling” and is ready for coral. During these weeks, bacteria from “live sand” and “live rock” develop to help make the tank safe for living creatures; these bacteria ultimately eat the ammonia produced by fish that’s poisonous to them in large quantities.

Also, tank cultivation is an inexact science. Even if you’re on top of your measurements and diligent about cleaning, unpredictable things can happen.

“We are taking things from the ocean … and we’re cramming it in a box,” Valladares says. “Even if you do everything perfectly … there may be a death without an explanation.”

So, start slow, and don’t beat yourself up if a fish meets an untimely demise. And maybe don’t give anything a name for the first few weeks.

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Size matters. For budding aficionados (a-fish-ionados?), Valladares recommends a 65- to 75-gallon tank.

In smaller tanks, it’s harder to balance the pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels that are the components of a healthy environment. “[In a smaller tank] you don’t have as much give room,” she explains.

“If something dies in the tank and you don’t notice it, it’s going to spike ammonia faster than it would in a big tank.”

Also, consider tank size relative to what fish you plan to buy. A casual rule of thumb is five gallons of water for every inch of fish. Valladares says the space is necessary because saltwater is more dense, so it doesn’t

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New book features portraits of dogs in beautiful houses

BY K A N DAC E P OW E R G R AV E S PHOTOS BY SAR A ESSEX BR ADLEY

T

HE FAMILY DOG AND HIGH DECOR MIGHT NOT SEEM NATURAL PARTNERS, but

Sara Essex Bradley’s new book, Dog Decor: Canines Living Large (Glitterati Inc., $35) reveals how beloved canines become a central part of many households, often claiming the best seat in the house.

The book, released July 1, is 160 pages of beautiful pictures of home interiors, most in the New Orleans area, and each shot places pets (there are a couple of cats) front and center.

The idea for the project took a while to form. Bradley, who has been a professional photographer for 18 years, says at first she would just snap photos of the dogs who became friendly with her as she was shooting beautiful homes for interior designers or various media outlets — not as part of the assignment but on a lark. “The

Baxter, a bulldog who lives in the Garden District with Dr. Troy Scroggins, is featured in Sara Essex Bradley’s new book.

sell the book, Bradley went a step further by telling the dogs’ stories.

It’s one of the most endearing parts of the book, though choosing to tell the stories in first person from the viewpoint of the dog makes for some tricky transitions into talking about decor.

Because her photo assignments have come from places like interior designers, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, The Washington Post, The New York Times and other publications, the subjects include dogs of local luminaries such as chef John Besh, who has two Labrador retrievers, and the Casbarian family, who owns Arnaud’s restaurant.

An added plus for Bradley is that her photos also spotlight New Or-

leans artists. “I love that there’s so much local art in a lot of these pictures,” she says. “It just emphasizes ... how people support their local artists here. Our local artists are now becoming nationally famous, like Ashley Longshore and Amanda Talley and Bradley Sabin, Kevin Gillentine, people like that. I see their works throughout people’s homes.”

Bradley, whose own pets are two cats she characterizes as “very spoiled,” says Dog Decor may not be her last foray into publishing a book focused on animals and interiors. “I have been collecting (pictures of) cats, too,” she says. “I maybe have 20 right now. I would like to do a Cat House book.”

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

The cover of Dog Decor features Gia, a Whippet who lives in New Orleans with Lisa Tudor and Michael Sichel.

dogs to me all seemed to match the decor,” she says.

Over the past dozen or so years, Bradley began snapping a picture of the family pets in one of the rooms she already was photographing. “When it was just me shooting ... the dog would get pretty comfortable, they’re pretty sociable, and just start hanging out and following me around. If the owner wasn’t home, it was easier to get them to pose.”

Over the years, Bradley found she had photographed more than 60 dogs in their home environments and was struck by how naturally they fit in, whether lounging on a bed, a white couch or an antique chair. Sometimes, she says, it seemed rooms were decorated around the dogs.

“I do know that one person, (New Orleans artist) Miranda Lake (whose rescued dog Birdie appears in a colorful bedroom shot), actually chooses her dog to match her house (or vice versa), and she says, ‘If I get a ... brown dog or a certain kind of dog, I’d have to repaint the whole house,’” Bradley says.

Interior designer Donna Russell and her husband Tom received a pit bull terrier from a client, and when they built a new home, Russell designed one room with wall and floor tiles that mimick the reddish brindle markings of her dog Tyson. “I know that (home) was a new build,” Bradley says. “They had the dog before that, so they may have subconsciously chosen the tile to match because it’s perfect. It really works.”

In another picture, a Metairie dog named Stilts is pictured in an elegant faux marble-finished room with golden hues that appear designed around the blond and white Welsh corgi.

Though the pictures alone could

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P R O M O T I O N

PRESENTS

THE 2017

PET PHOTO CONTEST 1

WINNER

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health issues PAGE 5

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Baxter & Texas PHOTO BY: LYNN PERRY

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1: Dolly Parton

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

PHOTO BY MELANIE CADE

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2: Calli

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS WALSH

3: Sunny

PHOTO BY ROSIE KRIEGER

4: Haki

PHOTO BY VICTORIA KING

5: Rooney

PHOTO BY BRANDI MARCADE

6: BabyOreo

PHOTO BY KELLIE GRENGS

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2731 Tchoupitoulas St. • 504.891.3647 • For more information on Camp Bow Wow visit www.campbowwow.com

Should I get pet insurance?

BY KEVIN ALLMAN | @KEVINALLMAN AMERICANS SPEND MORE THAN $15 BILLION ANNUALLY KEEPING THEIR PETS HEALTHY, according to statis-

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Weekly Tails

ZORA

Kennel #34424153

Zora is a 4-year-old, spayed, Hound/Dalmatian mix.

Zora is a great companion, lots of positive energy!

She’s curious but respectful in the house, and after a good long walk in the morning, she’s more than happy to cuddle up on the couch and snooze away. She knows sit and is housebroken!

CAT CHAT Hi, I’m Charlie MIA

Kennel #35298623

Likes: Simon and Garfunkel. I’m feeling groovy.

Dislikes: Garage rock bands.

Mia is an 2-year-old, spayed, Domestic Shorthair .

Mia and her kittens were brought to us by A Good Samaritan earlier this month. Her kittens have found homes and now it’s her turn!

To meet Charlie, please visit Spaymart Thrift Store And Second Chance Adoption Center at 6600 Veterans Blvd., Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m - 4 p.m. or contact me at 504-454-8200.

To meet these or any of the other wonderful pets at the LA/SPCA, come to 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd. (Algiers), 10-4, Mon.-Sat. & 12-4 Sun., call 368-5191 or visit www.la-spca.org

www.spaymart.org

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

tics from the American Pet Products Association, and an emergency room visit or operation for a dog or cat easily can run thousands of dollars.

That’s where pet health insurance comes in, but it has some basic differences with human health plans.

Nevertheless, says Dr. Rene Baumer of Metairie Small Animal Hospital, pet insurance is always a good idea. “The No. 1 limiting factor for treating dogs and cats is financial constraints,” Baumer says, adding that only 10 to 12 percent of his patients are insured.

Some tips for getting health insurance for your furbutts: Not all pet insurance is created equal. Among the companies that insure pets are Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Petplan, Pets Best, Embrace and Pawbamacare. Baumer’s office recommends Trupanion, which he says covers 90 percent of pet medical care after a deductible is met.

Check with your own vet to see which plan he/she recommends.

Insure young. Some plans don’t take older animals; others won’t insure pre-existing conditions. In general, the younger and healthier your pet, the less expensive monthly premiums will be.

Your pet likely will need an exam. It varies by insurance company, but most will want proof of an exam in order for you to file a claim. If your pet has been examined in the last year or so, that may be good enough. Check with your vet or insurance company.

Policies generally are inexpensive. Depending on the deductible you choose, the monthly cost of insuring a pet can run in the range of $20-$50. The final determination involves several factors, including the pet’s age, breed and where you live.

Pet insurance likely won’t cover basic care. Rabies shots, checkups and other routine vet visits probably won’t be covered. Insurance does kick in for more expensive, specialized needs like MRIs, X-rays, chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

There’s generally a waiting period between the time you purchase insurance and when it kicks in.

Trupanion, for instance, has a five-day waiting period for injuries and a 30day waiting period for illnesses (as long as it’s determined it wasn’t a pre-existing condition).

There’s no such thing as “outof-network” veterinarians. Most if not all pet insurance companies let you choose your own vet.

Ask if the insurance pays the

doctor directly. Find out if you’re going to pay out of pocket for the vet bill while you wait to be reimbursed, or if the insurance company will pay the vet directly, leaving you only to pay any deductible or percentage.

Consider where you live. Louisiana dogs may be more prone to skin and ear problems than dogs in drier or colder climates, for instance. Those generally would be covered by insurance.

To insurers, a cat is a cat is a cat.

While indoor cats tend to live longer lives, don’t expect a break on insurance compared to an indoor-outdoor or outdoor cat. The price stays the same.

Beware breed restrictions.

Baumer says various policies may not cover well-known problems with particular breeds. For instance, Cavalier King Charles spaniels are prone to heart disease; a plan that specifically excludes heart problems in those dogs would not be useful. Check with your insurer and your vet to make sure the plan fits your animal’s breed.

Health insurance is strongly recommended for certain breeds.

Baumer has dachshunds, and says they’re prone to back problems over their lifetime. Other dogs that might particularly benefit from insurance include larger breeds (Great Danes, for instance, consume far more medicine than smaller dogs) and the “brachycephalic” (short-nosed and/or flat-faced) breeds such as bulldogs, boxers, Boston terriers, Bullmastiffs, Lhasa Apsos, Pekingese, pugs and Shih Tzus, which are prone to breathing problems.

Understand pet insurance deductibles. Pet insurance deductibles vary in two ways from human health insurance, according to Baumer.

First, a deductible doesn’t reset every year; it’s good for the lifetime of the animal. Second, each deductible is tied to a specific condition, rather than the pet as a whole. For instance, if you’ve met your deductible for skin conditions and the pet then develops a non-skin-related malady, that’s a separate deductible. If you have any questions about this, consult your veterinarian or insurance company.

For those in need: The Humane Society of the United States has a list of pet-related financial need organizations on its website. While animal welfare groups don’t subsidize pet insurance, they can guide you to lowcost assistance for general care like spay/neuter, vaccinations, pet food, supplies and other necessities.

Last word: “It’s a no-brainer,” Baumer says. “I wish 100 percent of my patients had pet insurance.”

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