CBD dog treats for fireworks anxiety: Vets urge caution
Why it matters: Dog intakes and runaways are the highest around the Fourth of July, according to Shelter Animals Count, as animals perceive the loud, unpredictable crashes of fireworks as a threat and try to escape.
By the numbers: Animal control officials across the U.S. see a 30%-60% increase in lost pets each year between July 4-6, according to PetAmberAlert, a national pet recovery system.
Only 14% of lost pets are returned to their owners, the organization says.
Zoom in: Chicago falls in line with the national trend, according to Armando Tejeda at Chicago Animal Care and Control.
Reality check: In addition to fireworks, downtown Chicago dwellers will contend with loud, powerful race cars whizzing by for NASCAR, so maybe walk west or head to other neighborhoods for longer weekend strolls.
The intrigue: One possible calming mechanism in recent years is CBD oils and chews. CBD is extracted from hemp, which has very low traces of THC.
83% of dogs showed a decrease in stress when given CBD ahead of a stressful event, according to a study from Cornell.
Much like humans, side effects for animal CBD use include dry mouth and drowsiness.
Yes, but: The American Veterinary Medical Association does not currently recommend CBD products as calming agents.
"We still need more information regarding factors such as how CBD behaves in an animal's body, appropriate dosages, potential side effects and interactions with other medications," AVMA spokesperson Michael San Filippo tells Axios.
"Compounding these concerns, studies have shown that many CBD products on the market are inaccurately labeled; some may contain little to no CBD or potentially harmful contaminants like THC."
In addition to checking with your vet, look for organic CBD products as well as how much CBD is in the product and confirm there's no THC, the American Kennel Club recommends.
State of play: ASPCA has several other tips to help keep your dog or cat calm this weekend.
Perhaps obvious, but don't take them to the fireworks show. Leave them at home in a room without windows and play some soft music.
An anxiety vest or snug shirt is like swaddling a baby; it makes your furry companion feel safe.
If your veterinarian prescribes anti-anxiety meds, make sure to test them out a few days before to ensure your animal will react well.
Don't leave alcohol within reach of them.
Make sure your pet's tags and chips are up to date in case they get out of the backyard.
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USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
The government plans to drop a horde of flies over Texas border. Here's why.
By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to prevent flesh-eating maggots from reaching the United States. Here's how. The United States plans to bring back a somewhat shocking, but very effective, campaign to fight a flesh-eating parasitic fly that's been sighted in Mexico. The plan: Breed millions of sterilized flies and drop them over the Texas-Mexican border to protect the more than $100 billion U.S. cattle and beef industry from the New World screwworm. "This can kill a thousand-pound cow in two weeks," said Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The federal government is being very aggressive in working to contain this." It's not as crazy as it sounds. A similar effort worked well decades ago. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a release, "The U.S. has defeated NWS before and can successfully do it again." The effort works by sterilizing male screwworm flies so that when they mate with females the resulting eggs are infertile. Over time so few fertile eggs are created that the fly is eradicated altogether. An effort across the United States, Mexico and Central America that began in the 1950s was so successful this flying menace was totally eradicated north of Panama, except for a few tiny outbreaks. The U.S control program cost $32 million and was ended in the 1960s. But this past November, Mexico's Chief Veterinary Officer notified the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that a New World screwworm had been found in a cow in southern Mexico close to the border with Guatemala. This set off blazing alarm bells for the entire U.S. cattle and beef industry. So once again, USDA is ramping up its protective program to blanket the potential path of this reemerging threat onto the United States with a rain of sterile males to stop what USDA calls "a devastating pest." What is the New World Screwworm? So far, the screwworms have only been seen in Mexico. "We have not seen any screwworms cross over the border into the U.S. and we're trying hard to prevent that," said Bailey. By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to keep the maggots from ever reaching the border. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is about the size common housefly. It has orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on the living flesh of an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated. Livestock, pets and wildlife are all threatened, as are humans in rare cases. "To give you the heebie-jeebies, you can actually see the skin moving. And it smells rank," said Bailey. Animals at greatest risk include those that have recently given birth, have open wounds, or have undergone surgery or management procedures such as dehorning or branding, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It's dangerous enough that veterinarians are urged to wear disposable gloves when treating affected animals. How do sterile male flies help? The screwworm first became a significant problem in the United States in 1933, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast cattle producers had lost between $50-$100 million because of screwworm infestations. Beginning in the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas. They mated with females, resulting in unfertilized eggs. No fertile eggs meant no more screwworms. Similar programs have been created to release sterile mosquitos. The screwworm program was a stunning success. The insect was officially eradicated in the United States by 1966, at a cost of $32 million to complete – protecting the U.S. cattle and beef industry, worth more than $80 billion today. With the screwworm's return to Mexico, USDA on June 18 announced the launch an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. It's anticipated to begin producing sterile males by the end of the year. In addition, USDA is working with Mexico to begin producing sterile screwworms. The agency is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. It will be able to produce between 60 and 100 million sterile flies each week within a year. It's the first step toward producing the estimated 400 to 500 million flies needed each week to re-establish the new New World Screwworm barrier at the Darien Gap at the border of Panama and Columbia – and stop the movement of the flies. Pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to the screwworm Wildlife, including deer, are vulnerable to the maggots as are pets – and especially dogs. "There's a treatment availalbe, but it takes several days in quarantine if a dog comes down with this," Bailey said. The treatment can only be used in non-food animals, which is why cattle simply have to be euthanized if they're infected. The goal is for the new effort will stop the screwworms long before they threaten the United States again. "Hopefully, this becomes another 'I remember when' story for veterinarians," Bailey said. Contributing: John Bacon, David Baratz, Greta Cross, Janet Loehrke, George Petras and Mike Snider.
Axios
4 days ago
- Axios
Tips for talking to children about Texas Hill Country flooding
Children are among the survivors of the deadly Fourth of July flooding in the Texas Hill Country, and experts are offering advice about how to support them through their grief and trauma. The big picture: Authorities are sorting through debris as they search for victims. There are at least 161 people missing in Kerr County, authorities said Wednesday. The latest: As of Wednesday morning, the statewide death toll from floods stood at 110 people, including 36 children in Kerr County. What they're saying: Children can be especially vulnerable to the effects of traumatic events, Adriana McKinnon, a licensed counselor at the the Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas, told KSAT. "They're just not able to process it as adults do," she said. Zoom in: If kids have not brought the subject up, parents should consider opening the line of communication, Ana Ugueto of Texas Children's Hospital said in a Facebook Live video. It's important to use simple, straightforward language and speak calmly, Ugueto said. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has some more tips for parents on speaking to adolescents after disasters. They include: If a child is feeling detached and guilty, emphasize that their feelings are common. Redirect excessive self-blame with explanations of what actually could have been done. If a youngster is having fears that the event might happen again, help them to differentiate between the disaster itself and any smells, sounds or feelings they might associate with it. Remind them that they need family and friends for support.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Focus on first responders' mental health grows as death toll rises in flood-ravaged Texas
INGRAM, Texas (AP) — Riding on horseback through brush and over numerous dead turkeys, Margo Mellon spent Tuesday scanning the flood-ravaged ground of Texas' Hill Country for dead bodies. As she and her rescue mates trudged through the muddy terrain, state officials announced that more than 160 people are still believed to be missing. With countless miles swamped by the floods, nobody knows when the searches will end. The triumphs of finding people alive ended days ago, while the mission of recovering bodies that might include even more children is far from over. The grim undertaking has prompted questions about how first responders and rescue teams are able to mentally reckon with the work ahead. Mellon, a 24-year-old volunteer with search and recovery organization Texas EquuSearch that is a working with local fire departments, said for now she feels emotionally detached as she focuses on the task. But she knows the experience will be difficult to process once she returns home to Corpus Christi. 'I'll try not to think about it too much,' she said. 'I'll just think about the fact that at least the families have closure.' The flash floods deluged homes, campgrounds and an all-girls summer camp over Fourth of July weekend. More than 100 people have been killed, including 30 children. 'We process it the best we can,' Lt. Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens said Tuesday at a news conference after taking a deep breath. 'We're making sure they have the support,' Baker said of the search teams, adding that 'to see a child in that loss of life is extremely tragic.' Working on autopilot The discussion about first responders' mental health likely wouldn't have occurred a generation ago, experts say. And while first responders have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological health conditions, most are able to process the heavy realities of the job. Nick Culotta, who was a paramedic in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said people in the profession are able to compartmentalize and work on autopilot. Despite the challenges of recovering bodies, he said the work is crucial. 'It's definitely not the goal that you are hoping for,' he said. 'But just being able to give someone closure that their loved one was found can give us a sense of accomplishment. There are still people unaccounted for from Katrina.' Mental health challenges may follow, he said, which is why learning how to rest and get support is important. 'People will still continue to call for police. People will still get sick. Things will still catch fire,' he said. 'What's really important is understanding your limitations. And having resources available to use, whether it be an anonymous help line or a sit-down with a mental health counselor.' The importance of a strong support system The stresses of the job affect everyone differently, said Robin Jacobowitz, interim director at the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz. A lot of it depends on what the first responder experienced previously, both on the job and off, she said. 'For these responders who are working in Texas, it's probably not their first incident,' said Jacobowitz, who co-authored a report on the mental health needs of New York's first responders. 'So what they're dealing with now is probably layered on top of what they have dealt with in the past. And those things add up.' Stress from the job can show up through sleeplessness, flashbacks or introversion, Jacobowitz said, as well as feelings of 'Could I have done more? Did I do enough?' Most will lean on friends and family as well as clergy or spiritual advisers. But because many don't want to burden them with what they've seen, they also lean on each other and mental health professionals. One of the biggest predictors of recovering from a traumatic event is the degree of social support a person has. 'Not every traumatic incident turns into full-blown PTSD,' Jacobowitz said. 'You may struggle with PTSD-like symptoms and then be able to work through them.' A growing emphasis on first responders' mental health There's been a marked shift toward acknowledging the mental health challenges of the job, said Ian Stanley, a University of Colorado emergency medicine professor. Much of the change has occurred in the last decade, pushed along by the growing focus on PTSD among veterans coupled with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic on first responders, Stanley said. But there's still a long way to go because the issue 'hasn't been talked about for so long,' he said. Challenges include serving first responders who work for volunteer organizations or in rural areas where there are fewer mental health resources. The issue also hasn't been studied as extensively as it has among veterans and service members. Stanley stressed that most first responders are 'resilient to these challenges and live happy, healthy, productive, resilient lives.' But he noted that many of those recovering flood victims in Texas are in small communities. 'They might be recovering bodies of people they know or their neighbors,' he said. 'And that's really challenging.' ___ Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia.
