• Keep pets at ideal weight and make sure they get plenty of exercise
• Keep pets’ teeth clean
• Keep current on vaccinations and parasite preventive
• Spay/neuter early
• Keep cats indoors if possible
• Pet-proof your home
• Be observant, noticing any sudden changes in your pet’s habits/routines

Be sure to contact us for all your preventative veterinary care.

• They can chew through plastic
• They can chew through rubber
• They can chew through your new pair of leather shoes

Dental Health should be a normal part of pet care

But that doesn’t mean your pet’s teeth are indestructible. Just like you, your cat or dog needs regular dental care. Without it, they can suffer from bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth decay or loss. Aside from being very painful, infections from severe gum disease can even lead to death.

Chew On This

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, oral disease is the leading health problem in cats and dogs. In fact, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of gum disease by the time they’re three years old.

Dental Health – Areas of Concern

If your pet has one or more of the following dental problems, they should be treated by your vet right away:

• Yellow or brownish teeth
• Loose, broken, or missing teeth
• Swollen, red, bleeding, or receding gums
• A yellow or brown crust of tartar at the gum line
• Persistent bad breath
• An unusual growth or lesion inside the mouth
• Reluctance to play with chew toys or drink cold water

Keep ‘Em Smiling

To keep your pet’s smile healthy, practice good dental hygiene every day. Examine his mouth – normal teeth should be clean, white, and smooth with firm, pink gum tissue. It’s also very important that you schedule an annual visit with your veterinarian for a thorough exam and professional cleaning.

Dental Health – Solutions

In between exams, try your hand at brushing your pet’s teeth at least once a week. It may be easier than you think, especially if you start when he’s young. Some pets may never take to it, but there are many products available to help make the job more pleasant, including special toothbrushes and chicken- or beef-flavored toothpastes. Your vet can give you tips on the right way to do it. After you get the hang of it, you may find that both you and your pet look forward to a daily toothbrushing!

A dog with gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) also looks “inflated,” but after the stomach fills with gas, fluid, or foam, it turns or torses. When the stomach twists, it traps gas or food and may cut off the blood supply to the stomach tissues, causing part or all of the stomach to die. Surrounding tissues and organs may be affected as well. This is extremely painful for the dog and fatal if not treated immediately.

Something in this photo could kill this dog. Do you know what it is?

In fact, 30% of dogs that get GDV die before they can be seen by a veterinarian or don’t survive long enough to have life-saving surgery, according to Larry Glickman, VMD, Dr.PH., one of the researchers for a 2004 study conducted at Purdue University.

What increases a dog’s risk for GDV?

Kara Tennant DVM, of AAHA-accredited Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Bristow, Va., explains, “We still do not know the exact cause of bloat, but we are aware of certain risk factors that can increase a dog’s chances. The most common history is a large-breed dog that eats or drinks rapidly, then exercises.” In 2004, researchers at Purdue University reported five additional risk factors.

Chest size. Dogs with deep chests (such as Great Danes, Irish setters, rottweilers, and collies) are much more likely to develop GDV.

Raised food dishes. In the past, veterinarians recommended raising food dishes to shoulder height for large dogs. This was thought to prevent GDV, but the Purdue researchers found that the opposite is true. So throw those raised dishes away!

Genetics. Although there is a genetic link, most dog owners don’t have enough information about their dog’s genetic background to know if it is a factor.

Age. Older dogs are more likely to get GDV.

Gulping. Dogs that gulp their food face a two-fold threat. They quickly gulp large amounts of air with their food, and don’t know when to call it quits.

“Vomiting is the hallmark of bloat,” Tennant says. Other possible signs of GDV include:

• Dry heaves — retching without producing vomit
• Excessive drooling
• Restlessness — pacing, won’t lie down
• Fast heart rate
• Labored or distressed breathing — seems like an effort to breath
• Biting at stomach
• Swollen stomach
• Whining, grunting in pain

What to do if you suspect your dog has GDV

If your dog shows signs of GDV, seek emergency veterinary treatment immediately. When possible, call your veterinarian or the closest emergency clinic to let them you are on your way and that your dog might have GDV.

Once you arrive at the hospital, every minute counts. Let the veterinary team take your dog to the back and begin treatment. If your dog is going into shock he will need to be stabilized. Your pet will put on i.v. fluids and have X-rays taken. The pressure and gas in the stomach need to be relieved – either by passing a tube down his throat into the stomach or by piercing the outside of the stomach with a large needle.

Be prepared for your dog to go to surgery. Surgery is the only way to be absolutely sure the stomach is untwisted and emptied. It also gives the surgeon a chance to check the stomach and surrounding tissues and organs for any damage. Your dog has to stay in the hospital for several days on fluids, antibiotics and pain medication. A gastropexy – a procedure where the stomach is sutured in place to help prevent future incidents – is a good idea to have done while your surgeon is in your dog’s stomach. It won’t prevent bloat, but it can prevent a bloated stomach from a deadly twist.

Never, never, never

Many websites have information about bloat. Most of it is helpful some of it can actually harm your pet. Some sites suggest making a special kit if your canine friend is a breed predisposed to bloat.

These sites also have detailed instructions on tubing your pet to relieve the gas in the stomach. Never do this. This should only be performed by your veterinarian. It’s too easy to pass the tube incorrectly and cause harm or even death to your dog if you are not a trained professional.

By Elise M. Atkinson, CVT

Anywhere animals come into contact with each other – boarding facilities, doggie daycare, the local part, on a hike, in your backyard – fleas can be found, says Stacy Stacy, DVM, who practices at The Village Vets, an AAHA-accredited clinic in Decatur, GA. “They hop on dogs and cats and come indoors,” she says, and in the house, they can quickly infest the carpet and furniture.

Scratching, scabs, and dark, pepper-like specs called “flea dirt” on your pet’s skin can all be signs that your pet is playing host.

To determine whether your pet has flea dirt, put some of the dark specs on a white sheet of paper or paper toweling. Then, add a couple drops of water. Flea dirt is flea fecal matter – dried blood – and will cause the water to turn a dark red color.

Because the life cycle of a flea is three to four weeks, it takes at least that long to eliminate an infestation, and the multifaceted and variable life cycle can make getting rid of these insects tricky. Often, several products – dips, shampoos, powders, sprays, or topical applications – need to be used at the same time to kill fleas in all stages of development.

You will also have to eliminate them from your home and yard. Sunlight kills fleas, and they often hide in shrubbery, so when using an outdoor insecticide, target shady areas with dense foliage.

Are any pets safe from fleas? “It is harder for an indoor pet to get fleas.” Stacy says, And there are fewer fleas in high altitudes and particularly dry climates. Fleas also favor warm weather, so Stacy says preventatives are not necessary in places that have cold seasons.

Humans can get fleas too. “If enough fleas pile on a dog. the can jump off on you too,” Stacy says. They have three sets of legs perfect for leaping, and just like pets, “If a person ingests them it is possible to get tapeworms,” she says.

It is an unlikely scenario, but recent studies have prompted experts to remind pet owners to wash their hands after playing with or touching their animals.

Cleanliness is crucial in the battle against parasites, experts say. Washing an animal’s bedding and toys weekly and vacuuming frequently will help win the war against these teeny-weeny, troublesome bugs.

With Spring arriving, now is a good time to talk to Dr. Hendrix about flea control products for your pets. The chemicals used are very powerful and have the potential to be toxic, so even if you purchase a preventative at a pet-supply store, make an appointment with your veterinarian so that you will know exactly how to use it and what the safety concerns are.

Warning!

Never use a flea product on your cat that isn’t specifically labeled for use on cats. Some products that are safe and effective for dogs are toxic to cats. Just a few drops can cause seizures, permanent neurological damage, and death wne used on cats. In fact, if you apply a topical flea control product to your dog, do not let your dog and cat interact until the product has dried completely.

Before using a product on your cat or in your home, read all of the information, and follow label instructions.

By Beth Thompson, VMD

2. Sores that do not heal

3. Weight loss

4. Loss of appetite

5. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

6. Offensive odor

7. Difficulty eating or swallowing

8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

9. Persistent lameness or stiffness

10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

* Adapted from The Veterinary Cancer Society’s web site

1. Introduce the process and help her get used to you putting things in her mouth by dipping your finger in tuna water, chicken broth, or other liquid she may like and letting her lick it off.

2. Hold her like you’re cuddling her and with your savory finger gently rub her gums and teeth.

3. Once she becomes comfortable with having your finger in her mouth, place a dab of toothpaste made especially for cats on your finger and let her taste it. Alternatively, you can use flavored gauze.

4. Gently rub her gums and teeth with toothpaste or a flavored gauze covered finger.

5. Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush or gauze, and in a slow circular motion, brush one or two teeth and the adjoining gum line. Do just enough so she gets used to the feel of the brush.

6. Each day brush a few more teeth until you are able to clean her entire mouth.

7. Brush her teeth at least once a week or more.

For video instruction, Click Here!

Most people want to provide their cats with the very best care, but don’t want to run to their veterinarians every time there’s a sign of trouble. Sometimes, though, even the most concientious person can’t distinguish between a true emergency and when the problem can be resolved at home.

Better Safe than Sorry

Veterinarians generally prefer that people err on the side of caution. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” says Eric Christensen, DVM, small animal veterinarian at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and consultant with the Cronell Feline Health Center. But for the cat owner in a quandary, here are 10 signs that Christensen says should prompt an immediate call to the veterinarian – and possibly a trip to the clinic.

Ataxia.The cat that suddenly starts walking “as though it’s had too many drinks” may need immediate attention, says Christensen. Possible causes include middle-ear infections, neurological disease, or poisoning.

Straining to eliminate. If a cat makes a great effort to eliminate – and especially if it vocalizes during the process – it could be experiencing severe constipation, urinary tract disease or a lower urinary tract obstruction. The latter ailment is common in males and may be fatal. But because it’s often difficult to differentiate between a cat struggling to defecate (not necessarily an emergency) and one that’s struggling to urinate (frequently an emergency), immediate consultation with a veterinarian is critical.

Persistent vomiting.Aveterinarian needs to see a cat that has vomited several times within an hour, especially if blood appears in the vomitus, or if the cat exhibits other signs such as lethargy and a refusal to eat. Possible causes include ingestion of a foreign object, liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, and poisoning.

Obvious hemorrhage. Bleeding from a body opening, the eye, or the inner ear may indicate a serious problem. Equally dangerous is blood that pulses from a cut, which indicates a wound to an artery. If five minutes of moderate pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding, the wound should be bandaged and the cat taken to a veterinarian immediately. Even if the bleeding stops, the cat should be treated as soon as possible by a veterinarian.

Change in gum color. Immediate attention is needed if a cat’s normally pink gums rapidly become white, blue, yellow, or bright red. White or pale gums may indicate anemia or systemic shock; blue gums result from breathing problems; yellow gums indicate red blood cell destruction, liver disease, or gall bladder disease; and red gums may mean septic shock or severe infection.

Obvious lameness. Any sudden onset of lameness, neck or back pain, or the inability to use one or more limbs requires veterinary attention. Possible causes include bony infection, fractures, abnormal blood clotting, or heart disease.

Breathing difficulty If your cat’s breathing is labored, an immediate call to your veterinarian is critical. The cat could be suffering from asthma, lung disease, foreign body aspiration, severe upper respiratory illness, or cardiovascular disease.

Seizures.Any spasm or convulsion – including disorientation, twitching, or apparent loss of ability to recognize one’s surroundings – should prompt an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Possible causes include idiopathic epilepsy, liver, or kidney disease, low blood sugar, infection or inflammation of the central nervous system, or a brain tumor.

Sudden blindness. If your cat suddenly starts walking into walls or otherwise appears unable to see, immediate veterinary attention is vital. Among the possible causes; retinal detachment, liver insufficiency, or glaucoma.

Abdominal problems. A cat paws at it’s abdomen, adopts a “praying” position, or lies on the ground with its lets tucked underneath its body may be experiencing abdominal pain. (The cat may also resent manipulation of its abdomen during this time.) Such signs could indicate abdominal bleeding, organ rupture, or inflammation of the abdominal wall lining.

Again, it’s important to remember how well our cats are able to hide illness. In the case of a long-term condition, it can be quite advanced by the time we notice signs in a particularly stoic cat. That’s why it’s important for owners – who know their cats best, after all – to consult with a veterinarian whenever their cat’s behavior or appearance seems unusual.
By Susan McCollough