Dear Dr. Forsythe: Why is it so many people think it is OK to just show up at a party with their pet in tow? I attended at least four holiday gatherings this past season and on more than one occasion people simply dropped in with a small dog in their bag or on their arm. I am pretty sure this surprised the host, and hostess, although I didn’t hear a word ever mentioned. One person who does this over and over is a girlfriend of mine who I’ve known for quite a while. I wanted to ask her about this but couldn’t get up the nerve. I also wondered what you would have said about all the tidbits of human food I saw her little Chihuahua get into during the party. Isn’t all that rich food bad for dogs?
Sorry if I Sound like a Grinch
Dear Grinch: I think you are right on with this one! Unless a pet is specifically included on an invitation or the party is being thrown for the dog, it is best to assume it’s rude and pushy to show up with a pet. Some of the guests could be allergic to the pet, miffed they didn’t get to bring their beloved pet, or even scared of dogs. As far as the problem of pets getting into human food, that is a valid concern. My scrumptious and popular assistant “Dooney” the bulldog gets invited to many holiday parties each year. I usually “regret” invitations that include him because I am worried one of his fans will slip him a piece of rich foie gras when I’m not looking. This delicious but dangerous food can be catastrophic for pets. While well behaved dogs and cats can be a total delight and even be the “life of the party” I agree they are best left safely at home when gathering for festive occasions. The exception to this would be an event specifically designed for a group of pets to celebrate something such as a birthday or other pet milestone. These are becoming much more common and can be very joyful and fun for animals and their owners. If your girlfriend continues this pattern of “animal crashing” parties, I’d suggest you diplomatically suggest she consider throwing a bash for her own pet and invite other dogs and their owners to celebrate together. Thanks for writing, and let me know if such a party develops, and if so, whether the hostess gets more bark for her buck.
Dr. F.
Dr. Forsythe: Can you tell me the best way to remove a tick? My dog gets them a lot and I always remove them, but sometimes I leave part of it on the skin and the vet has to take it off with a scalpel.
Tick hater
Dear Tick hater: The trick is to get to them fairly quickly before they are well embedded and mouth parts are well stuck into the skin. You can use a pair of tweezers and grasp the tick at the base, down at the very bottom of the tick. While you gently apply pressure –traction, twist and pull at the same time to “unscrew” the tick and remove it from the skin. After removal, you can use a magnifying glass to look carefully at the bite wound to make sure there is no mouth parts left behind in the pet’s skin. If so, it would be wise to visit your veterinarian in order to get them removed using a local anesthetic. Any small parts of the tick left inside the skin can be very irritating.
There is also an excellent and inexpensive product called a “Tick Twister” which is sold at most veterinary hospitals it is a small plastic handle which allows you to grasp the tick at the base and twist it counterclockwise and pull it off the pet. These are very helpful in mechanically grasping and yanking the critters off your pet.
In addition, don’t forget to use Frontline – Fipronil, every three to four weeks on your pet to prevent attachment of ticks in the first place. If your pets are in high exposure places – those who spend time outdoors, run in fields, and live on vast properties, you can improve tick prevention by using Preventic, Amitraz, collars as well. Make sure if your pet develops any tick bites that become inflamed with concentric rings, you have them checked by a veterinarian immediately. Also, don’t forget about the preventative benefits of Lyme’s disease vaccine and tick blood titers to help keep pets healthy and free of tick born diseases. Thanks for a good question!
Dr. F.
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