Amy Shojai's Blog, page 146

Furry Friday: Labor Day Travel & Pets

Seren helps me pack--but prefers to stay home.

Welcome (almost) to Labor Day Weekend Travel, woo-woo! What do you have planned? Will you stay at home and catch up on (ew!) work? Or take a trip to celebrate the end of summer? Maybe you'll shuffle across the state to spend time with family. Or perhaps it's the perfect time to make that move to a new apartment or job.

What about the fur-kids? Will you take them with you for the trip to Grandma's cookout? Or do you plan to take them along for that last summer fling to go to the lake? Do the cats enjoy rides in the cat carrier? Are the dogs eager to hop into the car? What about plane travel? Oooooh, so many questions!

BEWARE THE UN-FRIENDLY SKIES

My cat Seren isn't a fan of carriers or cars. I can only imagine what all the hurled cat-curses would mean should she be asked to take a plane trip. I really cannot recommend taking any pet on board a plane as "baggage" these days. The scary stories abound of pets lost or injured at airlines when carriers are damaged or the cat or dog escapes. The most recent one chronicles Jack the cat lost at JFK baggage center just as the airport shut down for the hurricane last weekend. The owner has hired a pet-tracking canine to find her missing cat. But this wouldn't have happened–or the risk would have been less–had she been allowed to take the cat in the cabin as carry-on luggage. Here's an article with details to consider and tips for traveling with your cats by plane.

Luca rides in style! (Copr. KTJacobs via Flickr)

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG . . .

What about car travel? My first dog threw fits, cried, and even got sick on the drive home from the breeder. And that experience probably colored his entire future expectation of car rides. The first ride in the car takes him away from the only family he's ever known. The next several car rides end up at the veterinarian for needle pokes for puppy vaccinations and rude cold thermometers inserted in uncomfortable places.

Cats are no different and actually may be worse because cats HATE CHANGE. Most dogs enjoy a bit of adventure so you can play up the fun aspect. How did you get your pets used to riding in cars? Here are some puppy car riding tips and they'll work for adult dogs, too. The kitty version is here, including some crate training help.

LAKE CONCERNS & WARNINGS

I grew up in Northern Indiana, our house was on the river and I spent countless summer days in, on, and around the river and lakes including those in Michigan. In my new home state, North Texas boasts Lake Texoma–a man-made lake/reservoir that attracts swimmers, boaters, skiers, family vacationers–and their pets. Of course we want to ensure everyone has fun around (or in) the water but this summer a new warning made the rounds. Just in time for Labor Day, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warned people to HAVE NO SKIN CONTACT with the water in Lake Texoma. No swimming allowed. They also warned of water spray risk if inhaled while boating. And drinking the water (can you say PETS?) also poses a risk. That's because the drought lowered water levels while the heat encouraged the growth and bloom of blue-green algae, which releases toxins into the water.

This particular kind of blue-green algae is called cylindrospermopsis and blooms beneath the surface of the water–you won't see mats, scum or foam associated with other blooms. Boaters and swimmers won't know they're in the middle of the stuff. Dogs won't care. And the CDC warns that skin contact can cause skin irritation, inhaling water droplets can cause runny eyes and nose, sore throat, asthma-like symptoms or allergic reactions; and swallowing it can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and damage the liver, kidney and neurological systems. So check water recreation areas in your neck of the woods and keep yourself–and your pets–safe!

What are you doing this weekend with your pets? Magic will be playing hose-tag, while Seren catches up on some lap-sitting time. Oh and fair warning…I'm taking a (rare) day off on Monday to work on my thriller WIP so check back on Tuesday for the next blog. Have a fun and SAFE weekend!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: airlines and pets, Amy Shojai, blue-green algae risks, dog behavior, dog training, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Labor Day, Lake Texoma, pets, puppies.About.com, travel with pets, vacation with pets

Woof Wednesday: Heart-to-Heart About Doggy Heartworms

Puppies need heartworm preventive starting at 6-8 weeks of age. Copr. Paul Loades

I hate mosquitos not only because they're itchy aggravation, but these nasty vampires spread deadly heartworm disease. That can make your dog sick or worse—it could kill her. Dogs are the natural host–but they also can affect cats–and heartworms have been a problem at least since 1922 when they were first discovered. Today heartworms are found all over the world. They affect baby dogs, too, like this stunning puppy picture from Paul Loades. And adult dogs like Dan Ciminera's handsome doggy friend, below, are at even greater risk.

The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis belongs to a group of parasites called filarids, and is a type of roundworm. They live in the right heart chambers and pulmonary arteries—the lungs—of infected dogs. As you can imagine, lungs and heart filled with worms can damage and interfere with normal organ function. You won't be able to tell if your puppy has heartworms. You can't see them the way you can fleas or ticks. And your dog won't even act sick until she's been infected for quite a while. Learn more about how heartworms affect your dogs and are treated in this article about heartworms. 

Don't risk it--our dogs are too precious so give preventive all year long! Copr. Dan Ciminera

HEARTWORM TREATMENT SHORTAGE!

Most dog owners understand the seriousness of keeping their dogs on heartworm preventative—and it's even more important now because the only FDA-approved treatment Immiticide (Merial) is unavailable. Dogs diagnosed with heartworms instead are being managed with the recommendations from the American Heartworm Society .

It's important that pet owners remain faithful and give preventive medication on the prescribed schedule, too. Just being a few days late may open a window for infection. But there have been a few cases where dogs became infected even though they were given preventative without fail. Researchers suspect that some heartworm populations become resistant to the drug—so a new study has been launched.

NEW DNA STUDY OF HEARTWORMS NEEDS SAMPLES

Dr. Mark Rishniw, a genetic researcher at Cornell University requests veterinary practitioners from across the United States collect and send to him blood samples containing microfilaria and/or adult heartworms. A genetic survey hopefully will offer insight into the drug resistance issues being described. Veterinarians can email or call Dr. Rishniw for additional information at mr89@cornell.edu or 916-275-1650.

The president of the American Heartworm Society, Dr. Wallace Graham, addresses questions about prevention, treatment and more in my latest radio interview with him. Find out what you need to know to keep your cats and dogs safe from heartworm disease in PET PEEVES, HEART-TO-HEART ABOUT HEARTWORMS.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Pet Peeves Radio, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: American Heartworm Association, Amy Shojai, cat books, Cornell Uniersity, dog books, Dr. Mark Rishniw, Dr. Wallace Graham, heartworms, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, pet books, puppies.About.com

Tuesday Tips: John Sandford's Pacing

Here's yet another installment of tips from Thrillerfest. I've shared video tips from Karin Slaughter,  a video of Michael & Daniel Palmer's Thrillerfest Song, as well as a video of the Thrillerfest interview with master author R.L. Stine, and Ken Follett.  Today I've got more goodies in store from that event.  You can check out a boatload of Thrillerfest pictures here.

Where else but Thrillerfest could you get so much bang-for-your-buck with James Rollins interviewing a whole panel of best-selling-authors! This first video features a question about pacing, answered by John Sanford. In fact, I just finished reading one of Mr. Sanford's thrillers BAD BLOOD – he's got to be one of my all time favorite authors! and I got the book autographed (Fan-Girl Moment!).

This video is only a small taste, of course. You can get the full deal recording (and those of the other panels) of CDs, MP3s and DVDs of Thrillerfest here.

So how do you create good pacing in your novels? Guess whether Mr. Sanford is a "pantser" or a "plotter?" He shares a great tip for increasing tension and starting your book off with a bang. How do you start your novels?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Video, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat books, dog books, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, James Rollins, John Sanford, puppies.About.com, Thrillerfest, video, writers, writers conference, writing

Monday Mentions: Funds for Shelters & Furry Blog-icity

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. So I had to share this lovely picture taken by photographer Sherry Aldritch Sineath posted in my Flickr Kitty Publishing group. There's also a  Puppy Publishing group on Flicker, and the picture (below) is courtesy of Summer Whyte. A number of these great pictures will also get posted over at the Puppies site but of course you can post 'em directly there with details about your baby dog's gotcha day and more. Please don't be shy about sending me your own links or suggestions for others to highlight. Today's blog is a major shout-out and SNOOPY-DANCE-'O-JOY! to a whole passel of pet-savvy writers and animal advocates doing the work of the angels.

ADOPTASHELTER.COM  Chris Ruben and his team have just launched an awesome website AdoptAShelter.com that fund-raises for animal shelters. What's neat about it is you get to choose the shelter–you can add your own shelter, too–and then simply shop for whatever you want from the store-partners (amazon, petmeds, Kmart, Office Depot and 400 more!). Every time a purchase is made through AdoptAShelter.com, 100% of the amount displayed is donated to the animal organization or shelter chosen by the shopper. The shelter gets a donation, the site gets a small percentage and the pets win because their volunteers can concentrate on helping cats and dogs instead of beating the bushes for donations. It's free for you to use the service, there's no login or password required, they DON'T collect your information–it's all for the animals. They're already getting some media attention.

VETSTREET.COM is a new site with some awesome content and contributors–you'll recognize Dr. Marty Becker and there are a host of savvy veterinarian and animal-expert journalist contributing to the site. They've also got an online pet products store which I discovered also links to my own vet's "pet portal" so Magic and Seren health records are available for ordering authorized prescriptions. Kewl beans!

DR. RAYYA'S ONLINE VETERINARY JOURNAL  offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what goes into caring for our pets. I just discovered her blog and it's well worth the follow.

CHARLIE, THE THERAPY DOG lives with Patricia Tirrell. She writes a kewl blog called A Dog's Life and you don't want to miss this amazing and touching story about Charlie–a blind beagle who provides furry inspiration and love to friends and strangers alike.

MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION does so much for animals–pets as well as wildlife–I'm always excited to read their news. Some of their funded studies look for ways to develop DNA tests for diagnosing kitty cancer, as well as using genetic markers in dogs to breed-and-avoid genetic diseases to improve doggy health. Morris Animal Foundation also funds research to help sea otters and sea lions.

CAT HOUSE RENTAL? ME-OWY NICE! My colleague Jane Denny, creator of  THE PRIDE Cartoon starring Crazy Johnny (the cat) inherited 18+ cats when her mother passed away. She couldn't sell the NYC house and evict the cats, so she did the next best thing–she turned the house in Queens into a DESTINATION for vacationers who love cats.

Finally, huge CONGRATULATIONS to all the nominees and winners of the PETTIES, awards presented from Dog Time Media to some of the best pet bloggers around. They were presented at BlogPaws Conference this past week and I'm proud to say many of my colleagues and friends are among those honored.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? I'm nearly ready to record a bunch of new ones, so be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Monday Mentions, Video, Wags & Purrs Tagged: adoptashelter.com, Amy Shojai, awards, BlogPaws.com, cat books, dog books, Dog Time Media, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Jane Denny, Marty Becker, Morris Animal Foundation, Patricia Tirrell, pet blogs, pet books, Petties, puppies.About.com, The Pride Cartoon, therapy dogs, veterinary care, vetstreet.com, video, writing

Feline Friday: Kitty Communication & How Cats Read

Cats always seem drawn to sit on top of books.

TGIFF…Feline Friday, that is. In honor of TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET week, I'm re-running a blog (with a few updates) that some of my newest subscribers may not have seen. Enjoy!

Do your cats know how to read? Well of COURSE they do. I suspect our felines subscribe to the Kitty Manual on Rooling Humanz or wouldn't have such a uniform method of intervention.

They simply sit on the page (or the E-reader), and absorb the text through their (ahem) nether regions. Just check out Wall-E, in the picture "reading" my first-aid book. Kitties want to be prepared. *s* What do YOUR cat's read?

Speaking of being prepared, if you have a new kitten over the summer I'm sure you're making the right next paw-steps to properly socialize the little fur-kid. Cats can be trained (yes, they can!) at any age, and continue to learn throughout their lives. But kittens are furry sponges that absorb lessons, both good and bad, at an incredible pace.

Kittens are works in progress--and need help with socialization!

This prime kitten socialization period is a narrow window during babyhood when learning the "wrong" lessons can emotionally cripple the cat. For example, kittens not exposed to positive experiences with humans during this period will be wild (feral) critters and never accept people. Well actually they MAY accept a very patient and loving human who makes extra effort, but they won't be the "pet-able" kitties we long to snuggle. Proper socialization teaches a cat how to be a cat, proper feline manners, how to communicate with other felines, and who the cat's friends and enemies are.

The age when kittens are most receptive is two-to-seven weeks. That's about the age of this gorgeous baby in Maria Magnus photo, above. Have your new kittens been properly socialized? How did you manage this? Proper socialization can be very helpful in getting them to visit the vet with the least amount of trauma!

Kittens tend to be snuggle-pusses. But adult cats can be puzzling when it comes to wanting attention. Or does your cat ask to be petted and then walk away and wait j-u-s-t out of reach, playing keep away for you to come to her? Seren does this, and I know other readers also experience "kitty keep away" behavior. She'll move enough that I need to take a step, bend over and reach to pet again-whereupon she again tippy-toe dances a finger's width away. I've seen cats (including Seren) do this over and over and over. Find out the reasons behind this behavior here.

I suspect that a future blog will cover the pushing "Velcro" kitties that pester constantly for attention. Is there a happy middle with kitties? Naw….that would be boring!

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Feline Fridays Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat behavior, cat books, cat communication, cat training, cats, Complete Kitten Care, kitten books, www.amyshojai.com

Thoughty Thursday: Do-Over…Would You?

Magic howls when music plays--everyone's a critic!

It's the back-to-school time of year, and that conjures up a mixed bag of memories. I loved being a student–yeah, I was a school nerd, and classes were pretty easy for me maybe cuz I took the "artsy" classes like writing, singing, and suchlike. I had mixed feelings about my parents being teachers, though. And lots of angst when for a short time I actually became a high school teacher. On Facebook my relationship with school would be "it's complicated."

Part of that is disappointment, I think. After study of music and acting I had every intention to take Broadway by storm. Ha! Then life happened. I met someone special, we fell in love, got married, and my "dream life" was no longer practical. That empty spot inside begged to be filled up with some kind of creativity. So I "made do" with writing. *snort*

My in-house editor, Seren, never holds back her opinion.

Yep, I'm an accidental writer who actually made a career out of making do. I wonder how many of us end up with accidental careers?

The dreams we have early in life evolve as we grow and have obstacles and hard choices thrown in the path. Have you ever regretted a choice you made? Would you go back in time for a "do-over" if you had the chance? Are you satisfied with your life today? All those choices along the way–the doors opened or slammed shut, the "mistakes" that lead to other opportunities–for good or ill, they get us to this spot–HERE, NOW, where we are at this moment. A different choice 10 years ago, or even last week surely could lead to a different reality but who's to say it would be better?

Today I head back over to the Denison High School–where I taught for that brief wonderful-awful-glorious-crazy period of time–for a rehearsal. I've been invited to perform in a fund-raiser "talent show" for the theater department this Saturday night. So what better choice than an original song from the new musical dramedy KURVES written with my co-author Frank Steele. Oh, it's cast and will be presented in full in early February, stay tuned…

Wait a minute, what happened there? Yes, after all these years that drama-dream resurrected with a detour into accidental script/music writing. That's some scary crappiocca, I gotta say! And guess what? The 8 characters angst over missed opportunities and whether to risk what they have for a do-over new chance at happiness.

Sort of gotz me a theme going, ya think?

A couple of decades ago I could have turned down that marriage proposal, headed to Noo Yawk and who knows what would have happened? I do know what would NOT have happened: 23 books, pet writing and behavior consults, teaching music, Seren-Kitty and Magical-Dawg, moving to Texas, meeting y'all–none of that would have happened.

So what about you? What do-over would you wish for? If you had a chance for a "do-over" would you take it?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Thoughtful Thursdays, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, career choices, cat books, do over, dog books, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Kurves, mistakes writers make, pet books, publishing, theater, writer choices, writing, writing music

Woof Wednesday: Storks, Babies & Separation Anxiety

How do YOUR "human pups" get along with the dogs? (Image Copr. Sebastien Garnier)

Whether you're an expectant parent or grandparent, a new baby can bring joy into your life. But what does a newborn mean for the animals you've lived with for years?

Dogs used to adults may not recognize babies as the same species. Newborns and toddlers sound scary, smell funny, and seem to evict pets from your lap because they divert a favorite human's attention. Here are tips to help you persuade your dogs to welcome babies as part of their family. The latest Paw Nation article offers tips on how to encourage your dog to welcome Baby into the home.

How have you managed the fur-kids when you became pregnant? Did the dog act differently? What was his or her reaction when the baby came home? Was it love at first sight or did the dog drag his furry heels accepting the "interloper?"

I'm always amazed at the folks who share their lives with a wonderful canine companion for years and years–and then decide to "get rid of him" because of the baby! Did you know that infants and kids brought up with pets are LESS LIKELY to develop allergies to them? There are wonderful programs available to help like my colleague Jennifer Shryock's Dogs & Storks (awesome I love it!) and the free pamphlet from American Humane called Pets Meet Baby.

Safety is always an issue, of course. Teaching children how to interact properly with dogs is as important as the fur-kid learning good kid-manners. You should teach puppy bite inhibition whether you have kids or not. These additional dog bite prevention tips can help you and your kids learn how to be safe around your own dogs and strange dogs.

Once your dog accepts the infant as a member of the family, a wonderful relationship can blossom. When its a young dog, the kids and pup can grow up together. But that means dogs that become very attached also can suffer when the child loses interest in the pet–or goes away to school. Yep, it's back-to-school time and especially for puppies acquired over the summer, you may notice some separation behaviors from the little guy. After all, if for the first months of his life he had constant company and attention from the kids and they leave all day for school or–HORRORS!–move away to college, what's a lonely dog to do? Here are some tips for dealing with separation anxiety and behaviors.

Are your dogs upset that school started? How does their behavior change? Do you have tips to share to help them feel better until the kids come home? Please share!

A great relationship with dogs can result in something like the trust and joy exhibited in this video. Enjoy!

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Woof Wednesdays Tagged: American Humane, Amy Shojai, baby and dog introductions, cat books, dog bites, dog books, dog separation anxiety, dog training, dogs and babies, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, PawNation.com, pet books, pet meets baby, puppies.About.com

Tuesday Tips: Ken Follett Writer-icity Tips

Those who frequent this blog already know about my fan-girl moments related to the most recent Thrillerfest.  I've shared tips from Karin Slaughter,  a video of Michael & Daniel Palmer's Thrillerfest Song, as well as a video of the Thrillerfest interview with master author R.L. Stine, and today I've got more goodies in store from that event.  You can check out a boatload of Thrillerfest pictures here.

Where else but Thrillerfest could you get so much bang-for-your-buck with Douglas Preston interviewing Ken Follett–wowzer! Find out how Mr. Follett transitioned from nonfiction to thrilling fiction and created EYE OF THE NEEDLE.  This video is only a small taste, of course, and you can get the full deal recording (and those of the other panels) of CDs, MP3s and DVDs of Thrillerfest here.

So how do you create good pacing in your novels? Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter?" And how's that working for you? Please share!

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? I'm nearly ready to record a bunch of new ones, so be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Video, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat books, dog books, Douglas Preston, Eye Of The Needle, Ken Follett, novel pacing, pet books, Thrillerfest, video, writing

Monday Mentions: Pets, Vets & Furry Writer-icity

Frankie in the sun . . .

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. So I had to share these lovely pictures taken by photographer Jamie Clugston  posted them in my Flickr Kitty Publishing group. There's also a  Puppy Publishing group on Flicker. A number of these great pictures will also get posted over at the Puppies site but of course you can post 'em directly there with details about your baby dog's gotcha day and more. Check out the links, below, and please don't be shy about sending me your own links or suggestions for others to highlight. First out of the cat-bag today are–CATS!

MEOWY-SHOUT-OUTS

PETFINDER.COM sponsors TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET WEEK

During Take Your Cat to the Vet Week, we remind cat parents to take their cats to the vet for preventative care. Even though pet cats outnumber dogs in the U.S. by 15 million, cats go to the vet only half as often as dogs. But cats need preventive care just as much as dogs, and regular vet checkups can help you catch health issues before they become major illnesses that are painful for your cat and more difficult (and expensive) to treat. Check out Jane Harrell's terrific blog with lots of great information all week long at PetFinder.com

Cats get the short end of the health care stick. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the CATalyst Council, cats visit the vet much less frequently than dogs. It's not that felines are healthier (although cats do hide illness better) but many cats hate the vet so much their owners find it easier to just skip it. But even healthy cats need well exams once or twice a year. Last week's Feline Friday Heart-to-Heart about heartworms points out one devastating result of overlooked health care.

Why do cats hate the vet? Cats are adept at protecting themselves from stranger danger. What's familiar is safe, while anything new or different raises kitty suspicions. A vet visit delivers a triple whammy by changing the cat's routine, environment and exposure to strangers. Here are seven reasons cats hate the vet and how you can ease the angst.

Lily as a puppy--SQUEEEEE! by Brenda Hawk in Puppy Publishing

DOG STUFF TO HOWL ABOUT

Neat story about a rescue dog from Mexico–check out The Flying Nun from DJones Blog

AMERICAN HUMANE'S HERO DOGS AWARDS Finalists have been named! Take a peek and be inspired by these canine furry wonders–and add your vote to help choose the winner.

Fido & Friend & Five Bobbie Pyron shares recommended books filled with furry inspiration.

WRITER-ICITY YOU NEED TO KNOW

Terry Odell writes romance with a twist of mystery–and her blog today features BLOODHOUNDS! This is great info for writers wanting to include some furry facts.

THINKING BURNS CALORIES according to Joy Held's Writer Wellness blog.  I need all the healthy help I can get–so I'm loving the fact that angsting over a plot twist gives me an extra boost.

Kristen Lamb's latest Deadly Sins of Writing blog on POV PROSTITUTION is a must-read for aspiring and established authors.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? I'm nearly ready to record a bunch of new ones, so be sure to get your requests in the comments. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Monday Mentions, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: American Humane Hero Dogs Awards, Amy Shojai, Bobbie Pyron, Brenda Hawk, cat books, Catalyst Council, DJones blog, dog books, Fido & Friends & Five, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Jamie Clugston, Jane Harrell, Joy Held, kitten publishing, Kristen Lamb, Paw Nation, pet books, petfinder.com, puppies.About.com, Puppy Publishing, take your cat to the vet week, Terry Odell, writers

Feline Friday: Heart-to-Heart About Heartworms

Anubis, a gorgeous kitty who shares life with Karyl Cunningham.

I just completed an interview for Pet Peeves radio show with Dr. Wallace Graham, the president of the American Heartworm Society (stay tuned—I'll post the link when it goes live). Do you give your cat heartworm preventative? Yes, CATS can get the disease. Seren eats her monthly treatment like a treat. Thank heaven's for that or I might risk loosing fingers when I pilled her!

WHAT ARE HEARTWORMS

An intermediate host, the mosquito, is necessary to transmit the disease. Although here in Texas we're in the middle of a drought, you can bet mosquito-vampires find a way to continue to spread their lethal cargo.

Dogs are the natural host, but cats also get heartworms yet don't develop the same kind of disease. Feline heartworm disease remains an invisible illness despite having nearly twice the incidence of feline "aids" or leukemia virus. The incidence varies across geographic regions but runs about ten to twenty percent that of dogs. Here in Texas, that means feline heartworm disease is much more common where the dog disease tends to be relatively high. And in the Mississippi Delta region there's a virtual epidemic in dogs—and cats are affected more often, too.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a veterinary internist and senior vice president and chief medical officer (CMO) of Banfield Pet Hospital says, "In our own analysis of data from more than two million dogs and almost half a million cats, we determined that heartworm disease is among the top three disease risks for pets in the southern United States. Education and awareness are vital to reducing this risk."

Outdoor cats are at highest risk for parasites--even though they LOVE life on the outside! How do you make the outside safe?

HEARTWORM TRANSMISSION

To become infected, a cat must live in an area that has infected dogs, and with mosquitoes that have a taste for both dog blood and cat blood. Dr. Graham says that wildlife also serves as a reservoir for the disease so coyotes and raccoons could put your pets at risk. Heck, the coyotes come up onto my back patio! Even though Magical-Dawg is negative for the disease and takes preventative, Seren-kitty could get heartworm from a single mosquito biting a coyote and nailing her before I could swat the sucker.

That's right, I said it. A cat doesn't have to go outside to be exposed. Exclusively indoor cats also get heartworm disease. Dr. Graham mentioned he'd recently diagnosed a couple of exclusively indoor cats in his clinic in Corpus Cristi. Yikes!

Mosquitoes ingest baby heartworms (microfilariae) when taking a blood meal from an already infected animal. The immature parasites spend about three weeks developing inside the mosquito and migrate to the mouthparts of the insect. When the mosquito again takes a blood meal, larvae are deposited upon the skin and gain entrance to the new host's body through the bite wound left by the mosquito. Once inside the body, the immature heartworm undergoes many more molts and development stages.

KITTY SYMPTOMS ARE H.A.R.D.

The larvae are carried by the blood through the heart to the cat's pulmonary arteries which almost immediately become enlarged and inflamed. They usually die in cats in about 9 months (they can live 5 years in dogs!) and cause severe inflammatory respiratory problems when they die. This has been described as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD).

Feline airways become thickened, stiff, and inflamed. Cats with asthma symptoms—open-mouth breathing with blue gums—may in fact be suffering from heartworm disease. Frequent vomiting also can be a sign of feline heartworm disease. "The third unfortunate sign we see is the cat is fine this morning, and dead this afternoon," says Dr. Graham.

HEARTWORM TESTS

Current tests don't detect all feline heartworm cases. Antigen tests identify the presence of adult female worms. That means cats could have immature worms present, or an adult male, and appear to be safe. Antibody tests can detect very early infections by immature worms–fantastic for our dogs!–but half of all cats that have worms don't have antibodies against them. Additional chest radiographs and echocardiograms may be needed when heartworm infection is suspected.

A single heartworm can kill the cat, and there's no cure or treatment for feline heartworms. Instead, veterinarians suppress the inflammation in the lungs and make it easier to breathe using such drugs as prednisone, bronchodilators, and doxycycline. Infected cats usually are put on heartworm preventive so they don't get any new worms that further complicate their care.

Even pampered show cats aren't immune.

While diagnosis is difficult and treatment virtually impossible, there are preventive products for cats. The American Heartworm Society provides guidelines and the latest research on its site. They recommend all cats should be on preventative, year round. Start kittens at 6 to 8 weeks of age–there are products that not only prevent heartworms but also control other parasites like fleas so you're multi-tasking and keeping kitty safe. It costs pennies a day to protect my dog and cat, compared to the expense of treating an infection. And these days, the dog treatment for heartworms is temperarily unavailable.

Losing Magical-Dawg or Seren-Kitty to heartworms is not a price I'm willing to pay.

How about you? What sorts of preventatives to you give your fur-kids? Fleas and tick stuff? Heartworm prevention? Do you prefer the "natural" route or have suggestions how to get the cats to accept "what's good for them?" There are liquid alternatives and spot ons for some of these preventions. What works best for your pets?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Feline Fridays Tagged: American Heartworm Society, Amy Shojai, Banfield Pet Hospital, cat books, cat health, Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Dr. Wallace Graham, feline heartworms, heartworm prevention, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, kittens, pet books