Just as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors medication errors that affect people, the agency watches out for mistakes that may harm animals. According to Linda Kim-Jung, PharmD, a safety reviewer in the Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM’s) Division of Veterinary Product Safety, “A number of the medication errors that occur in the treatment of people are the same as those we are seeing in the treatment of animals.” For this reason, CVM collaborates with the human drug center at the FDA, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Medication Errors Prevention and Analysis (CVM), to share, learn and disseminate outreach work on medication error prevention.

Errors Easily Made

Prescriptions for pets are sometimes filled in the same pharmacies that serve human patients. Errors can start with something as simple as an abbreviation.

“Unclear medical abbreviations are a common cause of the medication errors we review at CVM,” Kim-Jung says.

Commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, abbreviations are most often used when a veterinarian is writing drug orders or documenting information in the medical record. Medical abbreviations are not universal; nor are the variations. As a result, ambiguous abbreviations and symbols can cause transcription errors. For example, a pharmacist in a human pharmacy may not be familiar with certain veterinary abbreviations for different dosage amounts.  CVM has found that the abbreviation “SID” (once daily), sometimes used in veterinary prescriptions, was misinterpreted as “BID” (twice daily) and “QID” (four times daily), resulting in drug overdoses.

“If the vet has prescribed a drug where there’s a strong correlation between the dose and the severity of side effects, an overdose can have serious consequences,” Kim-Jung says.  “Poor penmanship can add to the problem, too.”

Problematic abbreviations such as “u” (units) or the Greek letter μ (mu) could be mistaken for the letter “o” or a number zero “0”.  Also, the “mcg” abbreviation for microgram could be mistaken as “mg” (milligram).  Additionally, when prescriptions are written without a leading zero or with a trailing zero, it can potentially lead to a dangerous overdose error.  “So, a 5 mg dose written as 5.0 mg can be misread as 50 mg, potentially resulting in a 10-times overdose if the order is not clearly written,” Kim-Jung explains.

In addition, drug selection errors can occur because of labels or packaging that look alike. Similarly, the pharmacy may dispense a wrong drug if the drug names look alike when written on a prescription, or if the drug names sound alike during verbal orders.

For example, one veterinarian called in a verbal order for Zeniquin (marbofloxacin), an antibiotic for a dog and asked if it was available in  generic form. The pharmacist misinterpreted the order as “Sinequan” and dispensed doxepin, a generic formulation of Sinequan.  Sinequan (doxepin) is used to treat depression and anxiety in humans.  The dog owner called the vet 24 hours later stating that the dog was ill. Fortunately, the dog was treated and recovered.

There are numerous opportunities throughout the treatment process (from writing a prescription to administering a drug) for different people to misinterpret or misread what is written or even typed on the medication’s label. “Mistakes can happen at the veterinary clinic, but also in the pharmacy which fills the prescription, and at home, when the pet owner gives the animal the meds,” Kim-Jung says.

Sometimes, a pet owner is uncertain how to use a syringe or measuring device, or it doesn’t work the way it’s expected to. CVM considers human factors like this when evaluating patient safety and works on system design strategies that can prevent such errors.

Ask Questions

There are a number of things you can do before you leave the veterinarian’s office. Start by asking good questions, such as:

What is the name of the drug? What is it supposed to do?

If the drug comes with a device or packaged with a measuring device, ask your vet to show you how to use it properly.

How much of the medication should I give each time?

How many times a day should I give it?

Should I give it before, during or after meals?

How should I store it?

What should I do if I forget to give a dose to my pet?

Should I finish giving all the medication, even if my pet seems better?

Are there reactions I should look for and call you about right away?

Help Your Veterinarian to Help You

Sharing information is a two-way street, Kim-Jung says, especially if you are getting a new prescription or seeing a new veterinarian. Be sure to:

Keep a list of drugs that your animal is taking—including over-the-counter products, supplements and prescription drugs—and bring it with you to the veterinary office.

Discuss any medications that your animal is allergic to or that have caused problems in the past.

Discuss any serious or chronic health conditions that your animal may have.

Finally, there are some simple steps you can take at home to avoid medication errors:

Keep animal drugs stored away from human drug products to prevent mix-ups.  Accidental exposures to some human topical drugs and other type of human drugs can be dangerous and can cause fatalities in animals.

Keep your animal’s medications in their original labeled containers.

Do not share the medication for one animal with another animal unless directed by the veterinarian.

Do not give human medications to your animal unless directed by the vet.

For more information on veterinary medication errors, click here.

Your Report Matters

The good news is you can play a role in helping to prevent medication errors by reporting medication issues directly to CVM/FDA. 

If your pet is ever found and taken to a vet or animal charity, they can use a scanner to check whether your pet has a microchip. If found, they can easily trace your details to make sure your pet gets back to you safe and sound.

It is not currently a legal requirement to microchip your pet in all countries, so I want to share with you all the reasons why you should get your pet coded. After all, you want the best chance to be reunited with him or her if something does go wrong, right?

1. Identification

Obviously, the microchip acts as identification for your pet. This is so important if you want to make sure that they can be easily found and brought back to you.

To ensure that it is accurate, you must make sure that you keep the details of the keeper up to date. If you do not and your pet gets lost, it will not be so easy for others to get him or her back to you. You should notify the microchip database when you move and when there’s a new keeper.

Although the microchip does act as an incredible form of identification, it’s important to note that it does not use GPS and can therefore not track the location of your pet.

According to the AVMA, it is currently voluntary to microchip your pet in the US. However, it is a legal requirement in the UK. It costs very little for a lifetime of identification for your pet, so whether it is legal in your home country or not, it is worth it.

2. They can be reunited with you even if their collar and tag are missing

There are a number of reasons why your pet may not be wearing his or her collar and tag.

These include:

• Your pet’s collar has become worn and therefore has fallen off or broken
• Your pet could get it caught in something, causing the collar to break
• You’ve recently washed your dog and have yet to put his collar back on
• Someone else removed it

These may seem obvious but try to consider that dogs, in particular, can be stolen. If a pup is stolen, it is unlikely that the abductor would want to keep your dog’s collar on. However, the abductor would not be able to change the details on your dog’s microchip. If someone else were to find your dog in this situation, he or she could be brought back to you.

Dogs and cats can become lost. Whether this is a simple accident of leaving a door open or your dog or cat bolting off in the park, it is still scary when you cannot find your furbaby anywhere. A microchip can give you some hope that, if found, he or she can come home to you soon.

Remember that even if your pet has been microchipped, you still must ensure that your pet is wearing a collar and tag.

3. Microchips avoid your pet being rehomed

Although we often think of rescue dogs as those who have been abandoned and not been given a good life, this is not always the case.

If your dog gets lost and nobody can find a way to reroute him to you, your dog has to go somewhere. According to Blue Cross, after seven days your dog can be passed onto a rehoming charity. Without identification, your dog risks being rehomed to another family.

Obviously, it would be heart-breaking for you to lose your pup all because they could not be identified. Make sure you get them microchipped so that they do not end up with the wrong family.

From the point of view of dog borrowers, they feel more at ease if they know a dog has been microchipped. The thought of losing your own dog by mistake is terrorizing, but the thought of losing another person’s pooch by accident would be a massive weight to hold. Sometimes things can go wrong. A microchip provides security for both the owners of a pooch and anyone else who looks after him or her.

4. The procedure will not take long

If you are particularly worried that having a microchip inserted under your pet’s skin will cause them too much pain, try not to worry too much!

The microchip is a fairly quick procedure, completed with a needle. Your pet will not need to be pinned down or forced. In fact, no anesthetic is required according and some dogs do not even realize that the process has been done. Remember that those who are qualified to insert a microchip may have a different way of completing the procedure than others do.

Watch a dog being microchipped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo-Ft84bf84 

If you ask me, a procedure that only takes a few minutes is worth it for the length of time that it lasts. The microchip can be effective for over 20 years, which is a great reward for such a small amount of pain.

As with anything, there can be drawbacks. There’s a slight chance that the microchip can become lost, which means that it can be difficult to locate when scanned.

5. The microchip could save your pet’s life

If your pet is on medication that he or she needs to stay happy on a day-to-day basis, wouldn’t you rather live in the comfort that your pet will be able to be treated each day?

If your pet goes missing and does not have a microchip, it can be much harder for your pet to be brought back to you. If he or she has a long medical history and needs consistent care and medication, someone else who finds him or her will not necessarily know what he or she needs and why.

The sooner your pet is found and is reunited with you, the sooner he or she can be on the way to recovering from any trauma or missed medication.

The AVMA has also stated that some registration databases allow you to store medical information that can be checked by a vet. This is only for reference though and not all databases allow you to do this.

A microchip could save your pet’s life. So why take the risk?

Please visit https://yourdogadvisor.com/

Leaving pets out of evacuation plans can put pets, pet owners, and first responders in danger. Even if you try to create a safe place for them, pets left behind during a disaster are likely to be injured, lost, or worse. Before a disaster strikes, find out what type of shelters and assistance are available in your area to accommodate pets and include pets in your family disaster plan to keep them safe during an emergency.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start today by including your pet in your family’s preparedness plans to protect the health of yourself, your family, and your pet.

Make a Plan

To get started, familiarize yourself with the types of disasters that could affect your area and consider your options for providing care for your pet(s).

Disasters can happen without warning, so be prepared:

• Make sure your pet(s) wear collars and tags with up-to-date contact information and other identification.
• Microchip your pet(s) – this is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if you are separated. Always be sure to register the microchip with the manufacturer and keep your contact information up to date with the microchip company.
• Purchase a pet carrier for each of your pets (write your pet’s name, your name, and contact information on each carrier).
  • Familiarize your pet with its carrier before a crisis.
  • Practice transporting your pet by taking them for rides in a vehicle similar to one you would be evacuating in.
  • Practice catching your pet, if needed.
• Keep a leash and/or carrier near the exit.
• Make sure you have proper equipment for pets to ride in the car (carriers, harnesses, pet seatbelts).
• If you do not have a car, make arrangements with neighbors, family, and friends. You can also contact your local government to learn about transportation options during a disaster.

Celebrate National Preparedness Month by making your pets part of your personal preparedness plans.

Get more information on how to prepare your pets for an emergency on the Healthy Pets, Healthy People website.

Sheltering in Place

When sheltering at home with your pet, make sure the room chosen is pet-friendly in the following ways:

• Select a safe room, preferably an interior room with no (or few) windows.
• Remove any toxic chemicals or plants.
• Close off small areas where frightened cats could get stuck (such as vents or beneath heavy furniture).

Sheltering During an Evacuation

• Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets.
• If accommodations are needed for your pet(s):
  • Contact local veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, and local animal shelters. Visit the Humane Society website to find a shelter in your area.
  • Contact family or friends outside the evacuation area.
  • Contact a pet-friendly hotel, particularly along evacuation routes.
  • Remember to take your pet’s emergency kit with you.
• Make plans before disaster strikes for where you and your pets will go. Be aware that pets may not be allowed in local human shelters, unless they are service animals.
  • Check with:
    • Family or friends outside the evacuation area.
    • Pet-friendly hotels
      • bringfido.com or call 877-411-FIDO
      • dogfriendly.com or call 888-281-5170
      • doginmysuitcase.com or call 8880254-0637
      • pet-friendly-hotels.net or call 866-966-3046
      • pets-allowed-hotels.com or call 800-250-1625
      • petswelcome.com
      • tripswithpets.com

Prepare a Pet Disaster Kit

Prepare a disaster kit for your pet(s) so evacuation will go smoothly. Ask your veterinarian for help putting it together. Some examples of what to include are listed below; when making the kit, think about your pet’s basic needs, prescriptions, and paperwork.

Disaster Supplies for Pets

• Leash, collar with ID, and harness
• Appropriate-sized pet carriers with bedding and toys
• Food (in airtight waterproof containers or cans) and water for at least 2 weeks for each pet
• Food and water bowls and a manual can opener
• Plastic bags for dog poop and a litter box and litter for cats
• Cleaning supplies for accidents (paper towels, plastic bags, disinfectant)
• Medications for at least 2 weeks, instructions and treats used to give the medications, and a pharmacy contact for refills
• Flea and tick medication and heartworm preventative for 1 month
• Documents
  • Photocopied veterinary records (rabies certificate, vaccinations, recent FeLV/FIV test results for cats, prescriptions, etc.)
  • Registration information
  • Recent photos of your pet
  • Contact information for you and friends or relatives
  • Boarding instructions, such as feeding schedule, medications, and any known allergies and behavior problems
  • Microchip information
• A pet first aid book and first aid kit
• Documents, medications, and food should be stored in waterproof containers

Make sure your pet has a tag with up-to-date contact information and other identification.

Protect Yourself from Injury and Illness

Emergencies can put stress on both people and animals, and natural disasters can contribute to the spread of some diseases. Exposure to inclement weather conditions, stagnant water, wildlife or unfamiliar animals, and overcrowding can put both you and your pet at risk for getting sick. Some diseases can be spread between animals and people, such as rabies, ringworm, leptospirosis, and diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks like West Nile and Lyme disease.

Knowing some practical skills ahead of time will help you be prepared to prevent illness and injury during a disaster.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Pets Healthy During a Disaster

• Wash your hands after handling your pet, its food, or its waste.
• Do not let your pet lick your face or hands.
• Keep your pet up-to-date on all vaccinations and heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives.
• Practice safe handling of your pet, because your pet may behave differently during a stressful situation.
• Keep your pet in a carrier or on a leash.
• Do not allow your pet to interact with other animals, especially wildlife and stray animals.
• Report any bite wounds to medical personnel immediately.
• Properly clean and disinfect cages and litterboxes. Wash your pet’s bedding regularly.
• Avoid stagnant water, especially after flooding occurring after natural disasters.
• Don’t allow pets to play in or drink contaminated water.

Bring handouts with identification information in case you are separated from your pet.

What To Do if You Are Separated from Your Pet

Make sure that your family is in a safe location before you begin your search.

• Bring handouts with identification information in case you are separated from your pet.

• If you are in a shelter that houses pets, inform one of the pet caretakers. Give the pet caretaker your pre-made missing pet handout.
• Once you have been cleared to leave the shelter and return home, contact animal control about your lost pet.
• Last, call the microchip company to make sure all the information about you and your pet is updated and current.

Reprinted with permission from the Centers for Disease Control and Protection. (CDC)

Image courtesy of CDC.

The good news is you can grow an indoor garden even when you own pets.  Yes, some do love to dig in the soil or even eat our favorite houseplants, but with proper plant selection and planning you can keep your pets safe while enjoying an indoor garden.

Start by selecting plants that are safe for your pets.  Consult the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website for a list of pet-safe plants to grow and toxic plants you should avoid.  This will reduce your anxiety by helping you create an indoor green space safe for your pets.

Incorporate a few easy-care plants like blunt leaf peperomia, cast iron plant, spider plant, and Swedish ivy that are not toxic to cats and dogs. Add some color to your indoor garden with dog and cat safe African violets and Phalaenopsis orchid.

Next, adjust your gardening style to keep your plants safe from curious pets.  Mulch the soil in large planters with chunky woodchips or decorative stones to prevent cats from using the planters as a spare litter box.  Just make sure the mulch is not attractive to or poses a danger to dogs or other pets that might be tempted to eat the mulch or get it lodged in their mouth.

Or invest in a commercial mat designed to prevent digging. Most are made of plastic or rubber with upward facing nubs that humanely discourage digging. Just cut the mat to size and set it on the soil surface.

Consider elevating your garden by growing plants in hanging baskets or in pots placed on high shelves out of the reach of curious animals. Be sure to keep up with pruning as those long-dangling stems can provide tempting entertainment.

Break out the homemade or commercial repellents for those persistent pets. Use products labeled for this purpose or make sure your homemade concoction is safe for pets, plants and furnishings.

Enlisting scare tactics may be the next step to keeping your plants safe from grazing pets.  Squirt bottles, noisemakers, and commercial devices may help deter pets from digging and munching on plants.

Using a variety of strategies often yields the best results. Once you find the best method for keeping your plants safe and pets healthy and happy, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and benefits indoor plants provide.

Photo credit: Melinda Myers LLC

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books and is the host of The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series.  Her website, www.MelindaMyers.com, offers gardening tips and videos.

A release from the University of Illinois quotes Kelly Swanson, corresponding author on a new study published in the Journal of Animal Science and Kraft Heinz Company Endowed Professor in Human Nutrition in the Department of Animal Sciences and the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois, as saying, “A lot of companies test for complete and balanced nutrition, but don’t go beyond that. The company we worked with – Freshpet – wanted to see how some of their unique diets would perform. Would dogs like them? Were they digestible? Would they increase activity?”

The study was published in August 2018 in the Journal of Animal Science. The research was funded by Freshpet.

The release explains that the researchers tested the palatability and digestibility of three commercially marketed fresh and raw diets for dogs, as well as a traditional extruded kibble diet. The diets included a lightly cooked roasted-refrigerated diet; a lightly cooked grain-free roasted-refrigerated diet; and a raw diet. The lightly cooked roasted diets were pasteurized, and the raw diet was treated with an acidifying bacteria that makes the food inhospitable to harmful microbes.

“The roasted diets come in a meatball form, and the raw diet was more like a big sausage roll that you cut up and feed to the dog. All diets were chicken-based, but some had added beef, salmon, or chicken liver. Each diet also contained a vitamin and mineral mix, and a dry mix of plant products like sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, cranberries, and carrots,” Swanson says. “People are familiar with those ingredients so they like to see them included in their pets’ diets. Although specific ingredients are not needed in the diet of dogs and cats, as many options can result in an acceptable nutrient profile, those ingredients are of high quality and are nutrient dense.”

Eight beagles were successively fed each diet for one month. After a 14-day transition period onto each new diet, they were monitored for voluntary physical activity, and then urine, stool, and blood samples were collected and analyzed.

The roasted diets turned out to be more digestible than the kibble, and both the grain-free roasted diet and the raw diet resulted in lower blood triglyceride levels than the kibble diet, even though they were higher in fat. Swanson isn’t able to pinpoint the cause of the surprising result, but points to it as a potential benefit of the non-traditional diets. Voluntary activity didn’t differ across the diets.

The researchers also found major shifts in the microbiota – the suite of microbes inhabiting the gut – in the roasted and raw diets, compared with kibble. Swanson says the changes in the microbiota were neither good nor bad, just different. He suggests that the results showcase the flexibility of gut microbiota, and how little scientists know about the effects of diet on host-microbe relationships as a whole.

It is important to point out that all dogs were healthy throughout the study period, and that all diets were palatable, highly digestible, and resulted in good stool quality. Even though some of the diets were statistically more digestible or led to lower triglycerides, those metrics were within the normal range for all dogs on all diets. Therefore, Swanson emphasizes, all the diet formats tested in the study, including kibble, would be healthy choices.

“As far as diet format and market segment is concerned, it ultimately comes down to consumer preference and philosophy. As long as a diet is shown to be safe and meets the nutritional needs of the pet in question, it is an acceptable option to me. If an owner is willing to pay more for premium ingredients and/or an improved processing method, I am fully supportive. To me, the most important thing is testing these new diet formats and products before they are commercially available,” Swanson says.

A release from the university notes that speech interaction experiments between adult dogs and humans showed that so called “dog speak” improves attention and may help humans to bond socially with their pets.

Previous studies on communicating with dogs had suggested that talking in a high-pitched voice with exaggerated emotion, just as adults do with babies, improved engagement with puppies but made little difference with adult dogs.

Researchers at York tested this theory with new experiments designed to understand more about why humans talk to dogs like this and if it is useful to the dogs in some way, or whether humans do this simply because they like to treat dogs in the same way as babies.

The release quotes Dr Katie Slocombe from the University of York’s Department of Psychology as saying, “A special speech register, known as infant-directed speech, is thought to aid language acquisition and improve the way a human baby bonds with an adult. This form of speech is known to share some similarities with the way in which humans talk to their pet dogs, known as dog-directed speech.

“This high-pitched rhythmic speech is common in human interactions with dogs in western cultures, but there isn’t a great deal known about whether it benefits a dog in the same way that it does a baby.

“We wanted to look at this question and see whether social bonding between animals and humans was influenced by the type and content of the communication.”

Unlike previous experiments, the research team positioned real humans in the same room as the dog, rather than broadcasting speech over a loud speaker without a human present. This made the set up much more naturalistic for the dogs and helped the team test whether dogs not only paid more attention more to ‘dog speak’, but were motivated to spend more time with the person who had spoken to them in that way.

Researchers did a series of speech tests with adult dogs, where they were given the chance to listen to one person using dog-directed speech containing phrases such as ‘you’re a good dog’, and ‘shall we go for a walk?’, and then another person using adult-directed speech with no dog-related content, such as ‘I went to the cinema last night.’.

Attention during the speech was measured, and following the speech, the dogs were allowed to choose which speaker they wanted to physically interact with.

The speakers then mixed dog-directed speech with non-dog-related words and adult-directed speech with dog-related words, to allow the researchers to understand whether it was the high-pitched emotional tone of the speech that dogs were attracted to or the words themselves.

Alex Benjamin, PhD student from the University’s Department of Psychology, said: “We found that adult dogs were more likely to want to interact and spend time with the speaker that used dog-directed speech with dog-related content, than they did those that used adult-directed speech with no dog-related content.

“When we mixed-up the two types of speech and content, the dogs showed no preference for one speaker over the other. This suggests that adult dogs need to hear dog-relevant words spoken in a high-pitched emotional voice in order to find it relevant.

“We hope this research will be useful for pet owners interacting with their dogs, and also for veterinary professionals and rescue workers.”

The release explains that parabens are preservatives commonly found in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and their use in human food products and dog and cat food is regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The substances also have been shown to be endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Research has shown EDCs potentially interfere with hormones and have harmful effects on developmental, reproductive and neurological systems. Previous studies have examined the presence of other EDCs, such as heavy metals and bisphenol A, in pet food, but very little is known about parabens in this context. So, Kurunthachalam Kannan and colleagues wanted to examine the exposure of dogs and cats to parabens in commercially available pet food and analyze the substances in the animals’ urine.

The team examined 58 variations of dog and cat food, as well as 60 urine samples from animals. The paraben called methyl paraben and the metabolite called 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB) were the most abundant chemicals detected in pet food and urine. The researchers found that dry food contained higher levels of parabens and their metabolites than wet food. In addition, the researchers report, cat food had higher paraben concentrations than dog food. After the urine analysis, the group calculated the cumulative exposure intake for the dogs and cats. By comparing the calculations, the team concluded that dogs are exposed to other sources of parabens, besides food, whereas cats’ exposure is mainly from their diet. The group also notes that to their knowledge, this is the first time the occurrence of these substances has been reported in pet food and urine in the U.S.

A release from North Carolina State University reports that Jeannine Moga, a veterinary social worker at NC State, has seen some of these issues firsthand and quotes her as saying, “Even though everyone involved in an animal’s case is trying to act in the animal’s best interest, determining the best course moving forward can lead to conflicts and that can be distressing for the people involved.” I wanted to find an ethics-based way to help our hospital staff address differences and form consensus in these cases.”

Moga contacted Dr. Philip Rosoff for guidance and advice on how to proceed. Rosoff, pediatric oncologist and director of the clinical ethics program at Duke University Hospital, is corresponding author of a new paper describing the committee’s formation. “The establishment and growth of veterinary specialty hospitals for very sick animals is a relatively recent phenomenon,” Rosoff says. “It’s not surprising that veterinary hospitals also now see the need for ethics committees to mediate and adjudicate disputes about care.”

Together, Rosoff, Moga and Bruce Keene, Jane Lewis Seaks Distinguished Professor of Companion Animal Medicine at NC State, set out to adapt human ethics committee guidelines currently in use to address issues in a veterinary hospital, creating NC State’s first Clinical Ethics Committee (CEC).

“The pediatric model works very well for our situation in veterinary medicine,” Keene says. “In both cases, you’re dealing with a patient who cannot advocate for him or herself, and a decision-maker who is very involved in the process. However, we do deal with some thorny issues – such as euthanasia – that human hospitals do not.”

The CEC consists of seven people: three doctors, three veterinary technicians and a social worker. When cases arise, as many as four or as few as two members of the committee meet with the veterinary patient’s care team to serve as a resource or a sounding board. The entire process operates independently from the academic and business aspects of the NC State veterinary hospital to avoid conflicts of interest. The CEC formed in late 2016 and as of December 2017 had worked on seven cases. While the CEC currently serves veterinary clinicians, staff and students, Moga hopes to expand its availability to hospital clients in the near future.

“Our job is not to make treatment recommendations,” Moga says. “We are there to make sure that any ethical issues raised are dealt with openly and fairly. Sometimes it’s as simple as just getting everyone in the same room to hash things out.

“Figuring out which medical options are feasible and ethical in a way that also respects client autonomy can be difficult, but dealing with ethical issues pre-emptively rather than reactively is in everyone’s best interest.”

###

Corresponding author Rosoff is also a resident scholar of the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities and History of Medicine and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Moga and Keene are co-authors along with Chris Adin, associate professor of surgery, Callie Fogle, clinical associate professor of equine surgery, veterinary technicians Heather Hopkinson and Charity Weyhrauch, and NC School of Science and Math student Rachel Ruderman.

1. Is it okay to open a door and let dogs out when a letter carrier drops off mail? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close the door before opening the front door. Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. Parents should remind their children not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

2. Does an angry dog wag his tail? Yes OR No

Answer:  YES

People often assume that a dog with a wagging tail is a friendly dog, but this is far from the truth. Dogs wag their tails for numerous reasons, including when they’re feeling aggressive. A tail that is held high and moves stiffly is a sign that the dog is feeling dominant, aggressive, or angry.

3. Do dogs like to be kissed and hugged? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

We humans like to touch and hug people and things when we express happiness. Dogs don’t. Some dogs are very tolerant and will allow hugging and kissing while some try to get away. A dog may tolerate or even enjoy a hug on his terms, but sometimes he will not be in the mood. Think about it. When hugging a person, you wrap your arms around the other and hold the person in place for a few seconds. That alone is bad news to a dog since they on average do not do well with restraint. They generally don’t like to be held in place. This alone is enough to generate feelings of anxiety as well as a sense of unease and insecurity in your dog.

4. If you know a dog, is it okay to reach through a car window or a fence to pet it? Yes OR No

Answer:  NO

Dogs, even ones you know, have good days and bad days. You should never pet a dog without asking the owner first and especially if it is through a window or fence. For dogs, this makes them feel like you are intruding on their space and could result in the dog biting you.

5. If a dog is chasing you, should you try to run away? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

Never run from a dog! The dog may think you are playing a game and start chasing you if you begin to run away. Don’t shout or wave your arms as this will either encourage or frighten the dog. Remain calm and still and talk to the dog using a soft voice. Loud, angry-sounding words and screaming only make the dog nervous and upset.

6. Is it important to ask an owner for permission before you pet their dog? Yes OR No

Answer: YES

ALWAYS even if it is a dog you know!

• First get the “OK” from the owner.
• Hold out your hand, fingers closed, palm down, slowly toward the dog. Allow the dog to approach your hand and sniff it.
• Wait for the dog’s “OK.” If he wants your affection, he will lower his head, perk ears, or even come closer to you. If the dog puts his ears back, flat on his head, or growls, or cowers, don’t pet him!
• Pat the dog on the top of his head, or along his back. Avoid touching his belly, tail, ears, or feet.

7. Is it okay to pet a dog while it is eating? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

Do not try to take food or toy away from a dog. NEVER bother a dog while he is eating. The most common situation where a dog bite occurs is while a dog is eating because they are protecting their source of food.

8. Is it okay to hit or yell at your dog if it doesn’t listen to you? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

When we hit or yell at a dog, we are applying pain and scaring the dog. For dogs, a natural reaction to being hurt or frightened is to bite. A fearful dog doesn’t trust people and this can lead to aggression.

9. Is a scared dog as dangerous as an angry dog? Yes OR No

Answer: YES

When animals and people are afraid of something, they prefer to get away from that thing. They try to defend themselves from the scary thing. An angry dog is just as dangerous as a dog that is afraid because both will be defensive and bite.

10. Are there only certain breeds (or types) of dogs that bite? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

ALL DOGS are capable of biting. There’s no one breed or type of dog that’s more likely to bite than others. Biting has more to do with circumstances, behavior, and training.

11. Do dogs use their bodies to tell you how they feel? Yes OR No

Answer: YES

Dogs have a language that allows them to communicate their emotional state and their intentions to others around them. Although dogs do use sounds and signals, much of the information that they send is through their body language, specifically their facial expressions and body postures. You can tell how a dog is feeling (sad, tired, happy, angry, scared) by looking at the position of a dog’s ears, mouth, eyes, and tail.

12. Does a good dog owner leave his dog chained up outside all day? Yes OR No

Answer: NO

Dogs are social animals that crave human companionship. That’s why they thrive and behave better when living indoors with their pack — their human family members. Dogs that are tied up or chained outside are frustrated and can become aggressive because they are unhappy. They can also become very afraid because when they are tied or chained up, they can’t escape from things that scare them.

Below are some key car accessories to consider if you’re a pet owner:

Car seat covers. Few tasks are more tedious than cleaning animal hair (or worse, bodily fluids) from your car seats. You can avoid this hassle by covering your vehicle’s seats before taking your animal companion along for the ride. The best car seat covers offer solid durability while adding a stylish accent to your vehicle’s cabin. Look for a car seat cover that’s thick enough to withstand scratches and tears. You’ll also want to make sure your choice is waterproof, stain-resistant and machine washable. How your car’s upholstery stands up to your pet is also something to consider when choosing a new vehicle: Leather upholstery, while more expensive, is much easier to clean than cloth.

Pet ramps. Older and smaller pets sometimes have a difficult time climbing into vehicles, especially if the vehicle is an SUV or a crossover with high ground clearance. (Keep this in mind if you’re in the market for a new vehicle.) While pet ramps aren’t necessary for all pet owners, a ramp makes it easy for your aging or tiny pet to get in the car and saves you from picking him up. When choosing a ramp, select one that’s sturdy enough to bear your pet’s weight. Pick a lightweight ramp with a handle, as it’s easiest to maneuver. It’s also essential to consider safety features such as front and rear stabilizer lips and non-skid feet, since these help prevent falls by keeping the ramp securely in place. The final aspect to keep in mind is storage. A ramp that telescopes or folds saves space.

Pet harnesses, crates, and carriers. A harness, crate or carrier is essential to the safety of your pet. A pet that travels without one of these restraints is more likely to suffer serious injury or death in an accident. Also, an unrestrained pet poses a hazard to other passengers, since the animal can become a dangerous projectile if the vehicle brakes during an emergency or navigates a sudden turn. Not all harnesses, crates, and carriers provide the same measure of crash protection, and it’s essential to research your choices. The Center for Pet Safety (CPS) is an advocacy and research group dedicated helping pet owners make safer product selections, and the organization has conducted crash-test evaluations on several harnesses, crates and carriers.

The right pet-related car accessories can keep your pet safe and your car protected during travels with your favorite animal companion.

Warren Clarke is an animal lover and automotive journalist for CARFAX, a leading online resource for car buying. He enjoys sharing tips on how to make your vehicle more pet-friendly.