I just took my dog, Max, to the vet and they said he’s too fat! My little Maxy is supposed to lose some weight but how can I say no to his cute face? If he’s asking for food doesn’t that mean he’s hungry? It would be wrong of me to not feed him when he asks right? Please Help! – Jen G.
Our pets know how to get what they want, especially if they’re “food motivated”. You’re having a nice dinner and your furry friend comes over, plops down next to and looks up with those big brown eyes, how can you say no? It’s hard to fight it, but it’s in your pet’s best interest to not be constantly fed extra meals or unnecessary treats. Just like with people, extra weight on animals can lead to health problems. Keeping your pet in a healthy weight class is easy if you follow the recommended feeding instructions for their ideal weight, you can find usually find this on the label or website of the diet you are feeding your pet. If you are preparing your pet’s diet yourself please consult with your veterinarian for proper feeding instructions.
Dear Emma,
MyMolly is a sweet 7-month-old scruffy mix, she loves to run around outside and sometimes can get a little dirty. How often should I be giving her baths? – Danny P.
Sometimes our dogs and cats need a little extra help getting squeaky clean, but they shouldn’t be bathed too frequently. Ideally, you should only bathe your dog once a month, frequent baths can cause their skin to dry out and be itchy. For easy messes there are grooming wipes that you can get at your local pet store, these can help quickly rid fur of dirt and grime. When a full bath is needed try to use shampoo and conditioner that moisturizes the skin and stay away from anything too perfumey.
Each year, SPCA International partners with under-resourced animal welfare groups in developing countries to put on spay and neuter clinics. One of our longstanding partners in this work is Spay Panama. This is an incredible group of volunteer veterinarians, technicians and local citizens that come together to offer sterilizations and veterinary care on a large scale. This December 14th and 15th, they held an event in Llano Bonito, Chitre, Panama where they treated over 700 animals, as shown in the photos below.
December 2019 Llano Bonito, Chitre, Panama – SPCA International partner organization, Spay Panama, treated 708 animals! All animals were spayed/neutered, dewormed, ears cleaned and treated for fleas.
Little puppy waking up from anesthesia after a quick spay. She has a long and healthy life to look forward to.
Caring volunteers include local animal advocates, veterinarians and veterinarians in training who donate their time. This volunteer is keeping a pup warm after treatment.
An owner holds his cat as she wakes up after her spay. Because cats can have multiple litters of kittens each year, this one spay can save hundreds or even thousands of kittens from being born.
Spay Panama has a well-designed system they use to organize sterilization and veterinary care events in communities across the country.
Professional veterinarians and veterinarians in training are joined by local volunteers that help organize the process and provide aftercare for the animals that have been treated.
Just another happy customer! Many families in Panama simply don’t have the financial resources to have their animals spayed or neutered. Events like this are essential for controlling the dog and cat population in low-income communities.
Wake up sleepy head! Your whole life awaits! This little pup is just one of many born in the last year. However, by sterilizing hundreds of animals in one area, the number of new births in the community will decline. This is essential for a healthy animal population.
Daisy is one of those special dogs that charms everyone she
meets. She isn’t boisterous or attention seeking. She is, quite simply, sweet.
When SPCA International’s partner organization in the Middle
East found Daisy, she was in terrible shape. She was lying in a ditch with a
bloody stump where one of her feet should have been. It looked like someone had
hacked off her paw with a sharp knife.
Daisy had mange and was so filthy that three veterinarians
refused to even treat her. Finally, we found a kind and talented veterinarian
who saw Daisy’s will to survive.
It was touch and go for a while. We didn’t know if Daisy
would make it, but the SPCA International community stepped up in a big way to
make sure her veterinary care was funded.
One member of our community, named Eileen, stepped up in an even bigger way. She offered to adopt Daisy. Eileen says, “Daisy took my heart from the moment I saw her picture. It was the look in her eyes.”
After months of careful veterinary care, Daisy was finally
ready to make the trip to the U.S. Now,
over a year after Daisy almost died in a ditch, she is finally home with
Eileen.
Daisy is getting around well on three legs and takes a few walks every day with Eileen, her husband, and their Chihuahua, Tink. Eileen wasn’t sure how Tink would feel about a new dog in the house, but he immediately accepted Daisy. Tink and Daisy have no problem sharing their food and they act like they have been together all their lives. Daisy’s journey has been long, painful and difficult, but she is finally home with a family who will love and care for her for the rest of her days. Thank you to everyone who made Daisy’s journey home possible.
Daisy getting ready to head to her forever home in North Carolina!
The Giving Tuesday movement has been growing each year since it began in 2012 and represents millions of dollars generously donated to non-profit organizations around the world. It is an important day for SPCA International, but not just because of the donations that help save animal’s lives around the world.
Giving Tuesday is about celebrating a great American
tradition of generosity in a world that seems increasingly disconnected. As someone
who works across international borders the global demonstration of giving is
particularly heartwarming for me.
Intrinsically tied to Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday helps us
kick off the holiday season by considering how we can take an active role in
making the world a better place and gives us a chance to stand with others who
care about the same causes.
This year, I hope you’ll consider starting the holiday
season with a donation on Giving Tuesday. No matter how small, Giving Tuesday
donations make a difference. When millions of people make donations on the same
day, they are speaking with one voice to tell others they care.
Holiday lists can get long, but here at SPCA International, we’ve rounded up some great gift ideas for the animal lovers in your life. Whether you’re looking for something practical or fun, we’ve got you covered. These gifts are SPCA International staff picked and approved.
During the cold winter months, snow, salt and ice can be hard on your furry friend’s feet. Thankfully Musher’s Secret forms a breathable barrier for your animal’s paws, keeping your pet’s feet protected from the elements!
BarkBox is a monthly surprise of dog toys, treats, and goodies! From super chewers to small pups there is a Barkbox for your canine companion. Use our code at checkout, BBX1SPCA, not only will your pup get spoiled by getting some goodies in the mail but BarkBox will donate $15 of your purchase to us!
You and your pet can look snazzy all year round with handmade bow ties! Ugly Yellow House creates standout bowties that easily attach to your pet’s collar so they can look fashionable year-round. They also have equally cool bowties and pocket squares so the humans in your life won’t feel left out.
Let your cat’s inner DJ come out with this creative gift. The DJ Cat Scratching Pad lets your cat scratch a record rather than your furniture. With a spinnable deck and poseable tonearm made from 100% recycled paper, this gift means hours of fun for your feline friend!
When giving holiday treats to family and friends, don’t forget your canine and feline pals. Polkadog Bakery makes all-natural and high-quality gourmet treats for cats and dogs. From festive holiday flavors to year-round favorites there is something for every cat and dog on your list!
Don’t forget the humans in your life! Author Chris Clews has released a sequel to his popular book, What ’80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace. In Book #2, you’ll find 10 more unforgettable ’80s movies and even more righteous business lessons to apply at work. Plus a totally radical foreword from ’80s silver screen sweetheart Diane Franklin. Plus Chris Clews will be donating a portion of the proceeds from book sales and speaking engagements to SPCA International!
SPCA International is proud to provide veterinary supplies
to partner organizations around the world. Dog Rescue Romania is one of these
partners. They recently received a shipment from our Veterinary Supply Aid program
and shared their thoughts and some pictures with us.
Here’s what they had to say, “Our friends from America are
always thinking about us. SPCA International sent us donations that are
essential for our shelter. They sent us medical products that help us to save
lives. Thank you, beautiful people! We send you lots of hugs!”
Every single SPCA International supporter should receive one
of those hugs because this program would be impossible without our network of
donors, supporters and sharers.
The shipment included thousands of dollars’ worth of
medications and supplies. These supplies will help treat many sick and hurting
animals.
Dog Rescue Romania is a small but mighty shelter that
rescues some of Bucharest Romania’s most needy dogs and cats. They provide life-saving
medical care to suffering animals. They also work to find loving forever homes
for the animals they save.
Most Romanians take home less than $700 per month, so it is
hard for them to afford veterinary medicine and supplies. That’s why donated
veterinary supplies help animals receive the care they need before going home
to adoptive families.
Our Veterinary Supply Aid program collects new veterinary supplies in North America and ships them overseas to developing countries like Romania. The cost of delivering these donated supplies is only a fraction of the actual value of each shipment. That means every donation to this program is multiplied! Shipping and customs clearance can get tricky, but shipping these supplies is worth it to save lives.
Thanks to the many people who stood up to support Noobu, she
is healing.
Sweet Noobu was found on the streets of Borneo with a fresh
and gruesome wound. Someone had hacked her nose off. We think she might have
been protecting her puppies because two of them were with her.
This terrible act angered locals. Several people offered
rewards for information, but no one came forward.
Thankfully, our partner organization in Borneo was able to
give Noobu the specialized medical care she needed to live. Noobu also had
surgery to keep her nostrils open so she can smell.
All of this specialized care was expensive. That is why every SPCA International supporter is so important. Every single person who donated for Noobu’s care contributed to keeping her alive.
Today, Noobu’s pups have been adopted into loving homes
where they will be safe. Noobu is now eating and drinking well. Amazingly, she
is happy, kind and loving.
Unfortunately, Noobu’s life will never be the same. Her
appearance might scare people, and her health will need to be constantly
monitored.
Here at SPCA International, we are looking forward to the
day when Noobu finds a loving forever family of her own. When she does, we’ll
let you know.
Noobu continues to receive veterinary treatment from SPCA International’s partner, IAPWA, as part of her journey to full recovery. Her puppies are all placed in loving homes and she is currently doing really well. Your support for her has made a big difference!
The U.S. Government’s recent announcement to pull troops out of Syria has caused a surge in applications to our Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide program. Our Middle East and North America teams are working hard to make sure we get to animals before their soldiers leave. It hasn’t been easy, but our dedicated staff has risen to the challenge.
Over the past week, I have been reflecting on these challenges and feel extremely grateful to the recurring donors that support rescues month after month. Recurring donations help SPCA International take action when a crisis arises, because we know we can count on regular financial support from a group of generous individuals. Without these funds, we would have to turn some soldiers down.
With the current situation in Syria, recurring donations have allowed us to take over 20 animals into our care on very short notice. These animals were immediately placed with a safe veterinary team and are being cared for until they are cleared for travel.
The soldiers on the ground understand how difficult conditions are for animals in the Middle East. They know if their beloved pets are left behind, they will quickly fall victim to the elements, hunger, thirst, packs of wild dogs and even human cruelty.
These men and women who serve our country are so extremely grateful for the help we are able to provide thanks to the generous individuals who give to SPCA International.
In closing, thank you to everyone who donates to SPCA International. Whether once, or monthly, your dollars make a huge difference.
In my role with SPCA International, I have had the rewarding
job of helping many animals with special needs. I never imagined that my own
rescue dog, Lilah would end up diagnosed with a degenerative disease and using
a cart to help her get around.
Lilah came into my life on February 13th, 2009.
It was a Friday, and I had the day off from work. I decided to visit a local
animal shelter and fell for Lilah. I can’t count how many times I have told the
story of how my first glimpse of her was sticking her snaggle tooth through the
opening in her enclosure looking for treats. She was barely a year old and had
just weaned her first litter of puppies. There was a lot of interest in Lilah’s
puppies, but most people looked right past her. The shelter told me she wasn’t
available for adoption because she hadn’t been cleared medically from giving
birth and nursing.
The next day was February 14th, Valentine’s Day.
I told my boyfriend (now husband!) that all I wanted for Valentine’s Day was
for him to come see this dog with me. I convinced him by reminding him that she
wasn’t even up for adoption yet.
We went to the shelter, and low and behold, Lilah had been
made available for adoption. Needless to say, she came home with us that day. Over the last decade she has brought
immeasurable joy into our lives with her silly personality. She’s inspired so
many friends and family to adopt animals of their own, it’s like she’s her own
one-dog rescue mission.
Last September, we noticed that she was dragging her right
hind foot, with the top of her nails scraping. Now we know this is called
“knuckling over” and it’s one of the first indicators of Degenerative
Myelopathy, a progressive disease of the spinal cord. DM is an inherited
neurologic disorder with symptoms similar to that of ALS in humans.
We thought her hips were getting bad, or she was starting to
suffer from arthritis. We started extensive testing of her joints, and started
treatment for arthritis but her condition did not improve. Degenerative
Myelopathy is a diagnosis of elimination, meaning you look for the most common
contributors to the symptoms first. Finally, we did a blood test for the
genetic mutation in the SOD1 gene known to cause this disease. A positive
result for the mutation does not always mean your dog will be symptomatic.
Unfortunately for Lilah, she is in the 25% of pups that inherit the disease
from their parents.
I am lucky to have access to so much information by way of
my profession, but I had a lot to learn about this disease. It was devastating
to learn that Lilah’s mobility would continue to get worse, and there was no
way to stop this freight train barreling at us. So, I decided to focus on the things
we could do to improve her quality of life and help her live her last years in
comfort.
We learned that it was important for us to keep Lilah active
while not over straining her muscles, so for the fist few months after her
diagnosis, we kept doing what we always did. We would take Lilah to Central
Park with her red Kong ball where she would play with herself by placing the
ball at the top of a hill and letting it roll down.
We also began working with a veterinarian who specializes in
acupuncture, Dr. Jeff Levy. After each appointment Lilah had a noticeable pep
in her step, and the treatments helped alleviate some of the anxiety she was
feeling. By the end of each appointment she can be found snoring happily,
dreaming of the days she was chasing squirrels in her prime.
We started working with Canine Rehab of New York to do
underwater rehab, stretching, and massage. The vet also recommended giving
Lilah CBD oil from ElleVet
to help with the physical symptoms and anxiety of having decreased
mobility.
Today, Lilah uses a pink cart from Walkin’ Wheels that
supports her back legs. They provide new and refurbished carts for all sizes of
dogs and we are so grateful that Lilah’s cart has improved her quality of life.
Thanks to the cart, Lilah still happily goes on walks. As
time goes by, it’s almost as if she’s forgotten that she’s in a cart, and she
continues to do the things she did before with the same joy for life she has
always had. She’s learned to run, turn on a dime and reverse with the skill of
a stunt driver. We have also noticed that Lilah likes to have a little more
space from strangers these days, so it’s good to remember to ask owners if
their pets like to be touched.
So many people have shared that they know another dog that
uses a cart and it is amazing how many people just want to talk with us about
Lilah.
I’m sharing this personal story with you in case you notice symptoms like Lilah’s in your own dog. When the disease is caught early, more can be done to relieve symptoms and slow the progression. Remember, your animal can’t advocate for themselves so they are counting on you to do it for them. The average lifespan for a dog with DM is 6 months to 3 years, and there’s nothing I can do to quiet the clock ticking in my head. For now, we are enjoying every day with Lilah and she’s enjoying her life to the fullest. I won’t let thoughts of our inevitable good-bye cloud what time we have left. Someone once told me animals embrace life without self-pity, and that has never been clearer to me than through this experience.
Lilah enjoying some well deserved peanut butter after her physical therapy session
Lilah is always focused during her phyical therapy sessions
Lilah gets lots of TLC from the team at Canine Rehab of New York
Lilah is all smiles after a walk in her wheels!
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