Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin?

Growing up, my parents' dogs were forever gnawing at our jack-o-lanterns, which would send my siblings and me into a full-on meltdown. I'm not sure if my parents ever looked into it (although I hope so), but I got to wondering whether pumpkin is actually safe for dogs to eat. Turns out, it is! In fact, you can even add canned pumpkin (the unspiced kind) to your dog's food to help with digestion "issues."

Image via k9ring.com

I'd suggest talking to your vet first just to be sure about what and how much, exactly, you'd be feeding your pet. And be warned, too much pumpkin can cause diarrhea in dogs. (Eew.)

Below are a few stories (and recipes) on the subject, in case you're interested in reading:

ASPCA
http://www.aspca.org/online-community/transcripts/animal-poison-control-chat-transcript.html

Happy Doggie Blog
http://happydoggieblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/why-pumpkin-is-good-for-your-dog/

eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/way_5300690_pumpkin-dog-treat-recipe.html 

Do You Know What "Coprophagia" Is?

Yeah, I didn’t know what it meant either. Curious? Well, “coprophagia” (or “coprophilia”) is a term for when dogs eat poop. Yep, it’s just plain nasty. And apparently, it’s fairly common. Eew.

Image via Maniac World

According to various online sources, coprophagia can be an indication of a variety of different things, such as a) your dog is malnourished and/or has a Vitamin B or enzyme deficiency, b) your pet has a larger health issue such as diabetes or a tapeworm, or c) you have a dog who has some behavioral issues or is just plain bored. (Puppies, some experts say, sometimes eat feces out of curiosity.)

Various websites suggest other reasons for this behavior, but either way, it’s probably best to check in with your vet regarding possible causes and treatment. In the meantime, if your dog has a fecal fetish, it may be a good idea to keep the face-kisses to a minimum.

Have you had this issue with your dog? What did you do?

Birthday Cake for Dogs

If you’re someone who celebrates your pet’s birthday, at least one company now has cake for dogs. Puppy Cake comes in two flavors—banana and carob—and each box makes 6 cupcakes with frosting.

The company uses all-natural, human grade ingredients including whole wheat flour, banana, carob powder, honey powder, salt, baking powder and yogurt powder. (Yes, you can eat it; No, they don’t recommend it.) If your dog has some sort of gluten issue, Puppy Cake is planning on launching a wheat-free peanut butter version this fall.

For buying information, check out their website.

Get Discounted Pet Supplies Delivered

Last night, I ran into a guy named Jason doing a pet food delivery here in Manhattan, and he passed along his flyer. He delivers dog and cat food, accessories, toys, wee wee pads and more directly to your apartment, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cool, right? The best part is, he has basically every brand of food you can think of.

Check out www.premiumpetsetc.com, and you can give him a call at 1-888-456-3910 or 917-209-4357.

The Dog Flu Virus is Here

According to today’s Science Times, there’s a new dog flu virus going around—H3N8. It has struck predominantly in Florida, New York City’s northern suburbs, Philadelphia and Denver, says New York Times health reporter Donald McNeil, but has been found in 30 states. (It was first found in 2004 among a group of Florida Greyhounds.)

Brachycephalics—dogs with short snub noses—are particularly at risk, say some vets.

H3N8 can be passed by dogs rubbing noses or sharing a water dish, and humans can carry it on their clothes, says Dr. Cynda Crawford of the University of Florida. She predicts it kills five percent of the dogs who contract it. The virus tends to exist in places where dogs live closely together such as shelters, kennels and pet stores. Says the article: “Some veterinarians have found that the dogs that tend to die from it are the 'brachycephalics'—dogs with short snub noses.”

I did some research and found that the most common sign is a cough that lasts for 10-21 days, longer than typical “kennel cough.” Symptoms may also include a nasal discharge and a low fever.

The good news is, the United States Department of Agriculture approved a vaccine last week. (It’s unclear whether the bordatella vaccine will do anything to protect your dog or whether your vet will currently have the vaccine, but I’m checking with my veterinarian to get more information.)

For more information on the virus, check back this week on Dr. Crawford’s NY Times blog by clicking here. If you have any additional information, please share it!