Are you preventing Heartworm Disease?

With spring and warmer weather upon us, mosquitoes will be making their appearance anytime. Heartworms are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. This is a major health concern for your pet!

Signs of heartworm disease include: coughing, difficulty breathing, panting, decreased exercise tolerance or even sudden death. Pets may not show signs until very late in the course of the disease and that is why annual blood testing is recommended.

However, heartworm disease is easily prevented with either a chewable tablet or a topical medication placed on the skin between the shoulder blades. Both types of preventative are used monthly. If you have a difficult time remembering to treat your dog monthly, we now have an injection that will last six months.

Let’s not forget our feline friends. Although cats are not the proper host for heartworms, some cats can contract the disease. Identifying cats with heartworm disease is very difficult, but the infection can be easily prevented with use of monthly and/or topical medication.

Easter Toxins

Easter is a happy of time of year to celebrate with family and friends and welcome spring. But it is also a busy time of year for pet toxin ingestion making March Poison Prevention Month. The most common calls this time of year involve Easter lilies, chocolate, and Easter grass.

True lilies such as Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter, and Japanese Show lilies are highly toxic to cats. All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous – the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure. In most situations, symptoms of poisoning will develop within six to 12 hours of exposure. Early signs include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration. Symptoms worsen as kidney failure develops. Some cats will experience disorientation, staggering and seizures.

There is no effective antidote to counteract lily poisoning, the sooner you can get your cat to the veterinarian, the better his chances of survival will be. If you see your cat licking or eating any part of an Easter lily, call our office or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661-fee applies) immediately. If left untreated, his chances of survival are low.

Treatment includes inducing vomiting to get any remaining plant material out of the stomach, administering drugs like activated charcoal (to bind the poison in the stomach and intestines), fluid therapy to flush out the kidneys, and monitoring of kidney function through blood testing.

Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Japanese Show, and my personal favorite Stargazer lilies are popular in many gardens and yards. These lilies are also commonly found in florist bouquets, so it is imperative to check for poisonous flowers before bringing bouquets into the household.
Non-toxic types of lilies – such as the Peace, Peruvian and Calla lilies typically only cause minor drooling.

Thankfully, lily poisoning does not occur in dogs or people. However, if a large amount is ingested, it can result in mild gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.

With Easter comes Easter baskets and decorations and Easter grass… the fake grass that often fills those decorative Easter baskets. When your cat or dog ingests something “stringy” like Easter grass, it can become anchored around the base of the tongue or stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. It can result in a linear foreign body and cause severe damage to the intestinal tract, often requiring abdominal surgery.

And what’s the other favorite thing in those Easter baskets? Chocolate of course! Chocolate rabbits and hundreds of kinds of chocolate eggs! While the occasional chocolate chip in one cookie is not typically an issue, certain types of chocolate are very toxic to dogs. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the danger. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem. The chemical toxicity is due to methylxanthines (a relative of caffeine) and results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and possibly death. Treatment here too requires inducing vomiting to get as much of the chocolate out as possible. The colored foil wrappers on some of those chocolate eggs do make vomiting a colorful process in a lot of cases! The treatment is much the same as lily ingestion where we give activated charcoal (not at all the same as grill charcoal, so please don’t try that) to absorb the toxins. We control the seizures and abnormal heart rhythm with supportive medications as warranted. And give fluids to help flush the toxins out of the blood stream.

Just a reminder, our family of clinics always has a doctor on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Call one of our regular clinic phone numbers and follow the prompts to reach our emergency doctor.

Muzzle Is Not a Dirty Word

Sometimes when asked how work is going, I answer, “Not too bad. I still have all ten fingers.” It’s my poor attempt at a joke, but I’ve realized that a lot of people unfamiliar with veterinary medicine ask if that’s really a risk of the job. Although we have countless wonderful pets that walk through our doors, the reality is that some patients are more difficult – and more dangerous – to handle than others. So yes, there really is some inherent risk in working with animals.

The reason I wanted to discuss this is that some people think when we muzzle a dog, it’s cruel. It’s not. It’s a matter of safety. We all love animals and love the patients we work with, but that doesn’t mean we’re willing to take a trip to the emergency room instead of muzzling your pet. There are many reasons we use muzzles when dealing with patients beyond the obvious case of an aggressive dog. Even the sweetest dog has the potential to bite if they are in severe pain, so most painful patients are given a muzzle as a precaution. Some dogs that pose no threat to bite are simply calmer when they are wearing a muzzle. It’s difficult to draw blood from a wiggly dog, but many become more stationary with a muzzle. Many exams and treatments become a lot quicker when a nervous dog is muzzled, so we can get that dog back to the comfort of home much sooner.

I can personally relate to owners whose dog requires a muzzle because I am one of those owners! My dog cannot stand his nails being trimmed. He can be a real pain – and quite honestly, a danger – to anyone trying to trim his nails. But, when he is wearing a muzzle, he’s a completely different dog. He is more relaxed and less active making the procedure less stressful for him and easier for us. The muzzle allows us to give him a much quicker, better, and safer nail trim – a win for everyone!

So, if your dog requires a muzzle, it’s not something to be embarrassed by. If the appointment is easier, quicker, and less stressful for your dog (and you), then the muzzle is definitely a good thing!

Misfortune of bad teeth...

This is Chip – he is my dog. Chip has the misfortune to have been born from a mother and father who both had bad teeth. Chip is nine years old. He is about ready to have his third dental cleaning. (He doesn’t know it yet). 

He was on my lap the other night and his breath grossed me out. I immediately carried him to the kitchen counter (my in-house exam table) and did an oral exam. Diagnosis—halitosis due to bacteria in mouth with grade II dental disease.


Grade I= good teeth and oral health

Grade II=gums red and mild to moderate tartar

Grade III=tartar and gingivitis beginning periodontal disease

Grade IV=advanced periodontal disease diseased or loose teeth.

When is the last time you looked at your pet’s teeth? Or did you just not want to look?

The number one abnormal finding on routine physical exam in dogs and cats is obesity. The number two problem is dental disease. The best way to help your pet have good oral health is to brush it’s teeth. 1% of my clients brush their pet’s teeth. Unfortunately for Chip I am in the 99% and likely so are you. Brushing is the best but there are other things you can do if you can’t brush.

Some options for you at home to care for your pets teeth with a lot less work are:

• Hill’s Prescription Diet T/D (a fiber matrix tooth food) used as treats. This is what I do for Chip. He gets 4 a day.

• Greenies treats work well, he gets one of these occasionally.

• Dentahex oral solution (like mouthwash for dogs) you wipe it on and it helps clean the teeth. I wipe his teeth when his breath smells.

These products work and we have them available at the clinic.

There are other products as well. You can find other oral health care products in many stores. It is easy to make a claim to help keep teeth clean. It is another to have been tested and given the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval. If a product has this seal it is a good product. Others I can’t speak for.

See how you do answering a few questions about your pet’s oral health.

1. True or False?  If your pet’s teeth are nice and white they are OK.
2. True or False?  Hard food always keeps your pets teeth clean.
3. True or False?  Bones are good for your pet’s teeth.
4. True or False?  Bad teeth can lead to heart, liver and kidney problems
5. True or False?  Bad teeth are painful.

Answers:

1. False. The mouth isn’t OK just because the teeth are white if the gums are swollen or red.
2. False. Hard food helps only if the pet chews the food well. Most swallow their kibble whole.
3. True. As long as bones don’t break the teeth they help but I have seen a lot of broken teeth and my dog never gets bones!!!
4. True. Bad teeth do a lot of damage that can go unseen until serious problems crop up.
5.  True. Did you ever have a tooth ache? Our pets don’t show us tooth pain except occasionally drooling or dropping their food when they try to eat. None the less they hurt.

"Diet Starts Tomorrow..."

We've all probably said this to ourselves at some point, especially after the holidays when delicious treats and over-indulgence have run rampant and wreaked havoc on our waistlines. We are not alone, though, as our pets share an increase in poundage and probably for the same reasons – they join in our celebrations of the holidays and special occasions and we want to reward them with the foods they love because they are a beloved part of our families.

The number one response I get when I mention that a pet I'm examining has gotten a bit overweight is something along the lines of "The weather just makes it impossible to go for walks." It is understandable that no one wants to be outside in a polar vortex trucking through the snow with their dog to work off that extra slice of pie. But what many pet owners do not realize is that exercise has only a small fraction to do with their pet's weight loss! Don't get me wrong, exercise is great; it helps build lean muscle and burns calories and strengthens the heart, just to name a few benefits. I consider exercise a bonus to a good weight loss program, not a necessity because let's face it, not everyone is lucky enough to spend time outdoors with their pets year-round!

I have often thought about how awesome it would be to have a personal chef. Everything in front of me would be healthy and in the right proportions, and I wouldn't have to even think about it! Our pets are so lucky because we are their personal chefs. We control what goes into their mouths (for those of you that have labs or beagles this may not always be true, despite your best efforts...)! So how do you make the best choices for your pet?

It is all about how much food you make available to them. If you grab a big drinking cup and scoop it full of your dog or cat's food and then leave it out all day for them, they are probably going to be taking in way too many calories throughout the day to stand a chance at weight loss.

My first piece of advice would be to start measuring out how much food you are already feeding your pet. To do this you need to obtain an actual measuring cup. Pour the same amount of food that you would normally feed your pet into one or more measuring cups to get an idea of how many cups you are actually feeding. Then take a look at your pet's food bag. There will usually be a chart showing how much food to feed based on a given weight range. This is the important part: if your pet is already overweight you do not want to feed based on their current weight because they will either maintain or gain weight! You need to feed based on their ideal weight. If you need help figuring out what number this is feel free to talk to your veterinarian. I have found with many food bags that the recommended feeding quantities are very generous, so keep that in mind! It also helps to feed them a designated number of meals during the day, instead of just feeding "free-choice."

Another recommendation to help with your pet's weight loss is to gradually switch to a low-calorie food which will often have more fiber to help make them feel fuller, longer. It also helps to have one person in the household in charge of all the feedings, that way you stay consistent.

I know you are probably wondering about treats which for some is a very important part of their pet's routine. Table scraps should be eliminated because the food we eat is simply too high in fats and sugars for our pets. If you must feed "people food" stick to vegetables like carrots or green beans which make great low-calorie treats. Or you can just try using your pet's dry food kibble as treats throughout the day, a little here or there. Keep in mind, too, that you don't need to give your pet a massive handful of treats to show them you love them or to reward them. They are just as happy with a small nugget here and there; it's still a treat!

If you make these changes to your routine when feeding your pet you should see gradual weight loss and maybe even notice positive changes in them like an increase in energy and activity levels, not to mention the health benefits like decreased risk of heart disease and diabetes and decreased stress on their joints, just to name a few! Then when the weather gets nice again you can supplement these great new habits with exercise outside to maintain their weight loss you've worked so hard to achieve and keep your pet (and you!) happy and healthy!

Let's Talk About Bloat

Let us talk about bloat, (as the general public refers to it). Actually, let us talk about gastric dilatation with volvulus also known as gastric torsion. These are conditions that affect dogs primarily of the larger and deep chested breeds like the Great Dane.

The two conditions are not synonymous, however torsion/volvulus is usually preceded by bloat. Simple distension of the stomach with food, water, air or some combination, while uncomfortable, is not generally a life-threatening condition. Perhaps you have felt this recently with the holiday feasts we indulge in. Volvulus/torsion on the other hand is very serious and frequently leads to fatality if not treated rapidly and aggressively. The latter condition occurs when the full stomach has rotated within the abdomen in such a way that both ends of the stomach are effectively closed off not permitting much of anything to get in or out of the stomach. In addition to the stomach twisting, the vessels that provide blood to, and take blood away from the stomach are also compromised. The cascade of events that takes place both locally at the stomach as well as hemodynamically to the whole body results in pain, depression, shock, collapse and death if not treated.

While this is a simplistic look at the condition, what I want to make people aware of is that there is a simple and effective means of preventing it from happening. We can feed the right foods, in the right amounts and frequency, control post eating activity, etc. but that does not always insure that torsion will never occur. Owners of at risk breeds can have a procedure called a gastropexy performed that very effectively reduces the chances of torsion from occurring. It does not stop bloating from occurring if the pet over eats, or drinks but as I said above bloat is not typically a huge problem unless it is followed by torsion. The key is knowing the difference and that requires examination and radiographs. Any acutely bloated dog should be seen as soon as possible to determine which problem is present.

Here at Pine Bluff Animal Hospital, we perform what is called a laparoscopic assisted gastropexy, LAG for short. This is a minimally invasive procedure that effectively anchors the wall of the stomach to the wall of the body cavity thus preventing the twisting and rotating. Complications are rare and to date, after over 800 LAGS performed there have been no occurrences of torsion. The vast majority of dogs we have done have been Great Danes thanks to working with 2 prominent Great Dane rescue organizations as well as a number of breeders/handlers of show dogs. Torsion does not affect every Great Dane or deep chested dog, but when it does, it is an acute life-threatening condition that if not caught in time usually results in death.

Winter and Fleas

Think the flea threat is over with cold weather approaching –- think again!

With winter coming and colder temperatures with it, many fleas will die off. Once temperatures drop below 37 degrees Fahrenheit fleas start to freeze, but it can take up to 10 consecutive days of temperatures below 37 degree before fleas outside die. If day time temperatures exceed 37 degrees the fleas can survive and remain active.

Fleas are crafty and often find ways to survive the cold. The body heat of outside animals provide a safe haven for fleas even in the coldest weather. Micro-environments is another way fleas survive the winter. Outside animals often seek warmth up near foundations, under porches and in mulch beds. In these areas the temperature may not drop below 37 degrees and the fleas remain active. If your curious pet explored these areas, they may be the next hot meal for the fleas and can transport them into your home, only to thrive in the warm environment. Form theses areas fleas may find their way into your home through cracks in the foundation or other small openings.

So with cold weather the flea risk may diminish but it is not gone. To prevent flea infestation in your home we recommend using flea control products like Frontline Plus, Revolution or NexGard all year long.

Holiday Floral Threats

During the holidays, many homes may be decorated with traditional greenery – poinsettia, holly, mistletoe and lilies – which present potential toxic encounters for household pets. If these plants are part of your holiday tradition, limiting your pets' exposure is key.

Poinsettias, a common Christmas plant, only represent a mild concern with self-limiting signs. The white sap in the plant contains chemicals that if exposed to or ingested, may lead to skin irritation, drooling, vomiting or rarely diarrhea. These signs, when noted in dogs and cats, usually resolve without a need for medical intervention.

Mistletoe may be found in American (Phoradendron sertinum) and European (Viscum album) varieties, the American variety being less toxic – the berries contain various toxins and, if ingested in small quantities or accidentally, present similar signs to Poinsettia – drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. However, IF ingested in large amounts, more serious signs such as abnormal heart rate, hypotension, seizures and death have been reported.

Holly, with its spiny leaves and berries, may also cause mild digestive distress in dogs and cats. The leave, with the spines, can cause mechanical injuries on sensitive oral membranes, and berries contain several toxic substances that may lead to head shaking, vomiting, drooling and diarrhea.

Depending on the plant species, lilies represent a mild threat to a severe one to cats. Less toxic species such as Peace, Peruvian and Calla Lilies may cause only short-term signs of foaming at the mouth, drooling and vomiting. Of greater concern are true lilies of Lilium or Hemerocallis species, such as Day, Tiger, Easter, Red and Western Lilies. Even small amounts ingested of a few petals or even vase water may result in acute kidney failure. If your cat is seen eating any part of a lily, immediate veterinary attention is indicated. Decontamination via induced vomiting, intravenous fluid therapy and kidney function tests may all be indicated.

If there are any suspected toxic exposures to any of the plants discussed, call our offices for recommendations. Remember, preventing contact with and keeping these decorative plants out of reach helps ensure a peaceful holiday for all.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Can Help Your Pets, Too!

The ice bucket challenge to raise money for ALS research is everywhere, but did you know it can help your pets too?

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a degenerative neuropathy that causes human patients to lose their ability to use their muscles to move.  Dogs can suffer from a similar nervous system disease called canine degenerative myelopathy.  This disease causes dogs to slowly loose function of their hind legs until they can no longer walk and begin having incontinence issues.  Like ALS, there is currently no cure for canine degenerative neuropathy. 

Due to a recent "One Health Initiative", scientists and doctors from veterinary and human medicine are sharing their research with each other better than ever before. So, research in human medicine is being used to address diseases seen in veterinary medicine, and vice versa.  This means that ALS research funded by money raised from the ice bucket challenge has the potential to provide treatment options for not only human ALS patients, but also dog neuropathy patients. 

Whether you donate to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/) or an organization that funds veterinary research such as Morris Animal Foundation (http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/), support for medical research is important to help veterinarians and human medical doctors continue to improve the care provided for their patients. Another way to help is to ask your legislators to maintain current federal funding of medical research. 

In summary: Dumping a bucket of ice water over your head to raise awareness of the need for funding of ALS research may help develop treatments for dogs (and other animals) suffering from similar neurologic diseases.  

Pine Bluff Animal Hospital staff participated in the ALS #icebucketchallenge!

Post by Kacie Frese.