Winter 2008 Edition

Here We Grow Again
If you have had an appointment recently, then you may have already seen the first addition to our clinic- the Pet Health Network. Pet Health Network is a system of computer touch screens, installed in our exam rooms, as well as an on-line program which can be accessed from your home via our website. PHN allows you to physically interact with veterinary medical information, including 3D anatomy models, home care instructional videos, pet health and wellness information, as well as an on-line medical library. Pet Health Network covers many, many topics including parasite diagnosis and prevention, dental cleanings, and gives you the ability to compare between “healthy” and “sick” images. Please feel free to explore the Pet Health Network in our exam rooms during your next appointment, and if you see something you’d like to review later- you can e-mail it to yourself directly from the touch screen.
      As many of you know, in the past we have not had the capability to take x-ray images and have had to refer to another veterinary facility for this procedure. That’s right folks, we now have x-ray!!! We are excited to FINALLY announce the arrival of the latest, state of the art imaging technology: The Rapid Study Digital Radiology (DR) system from Eklin Medical Systems. Just as digital cameras have modernized photography, digital radiology is changing the face of x-ray technology. We will now be able to take a digital x-ray of our patient’s injury or area of concern in less than 4 seconds; without waiting precious minutes to develop film. We will know instantly whether we have a good view of the target area or if adjustments need to be made. Additionally, like a digital photo, a digital radiograph can be manipulated after it is taken. This allows us to vary the contrast of the image, change the resolution or magnify areas of concern. Because of this advantage, we can see things on a digital image which a film x-ray just wouldn’t allow. Veterinarians are discovering improved abilities to diagnose conditions and injuries.  Radiology will be installed on December 18th and 19th, and will be available as of December 22, 2008. This is a huge addition to our facility and we are so excited to offer this service to our clients.
 
 
Holiday Travel
            With the holidays upon us, remember to consider your pet in your travel plans. Will you be bringing them along or not? The holiday season is a very busy time of year for kennels, pet sitters, airlines, and hotels. Each only have so much space available for pets. Scheduling ahead is the only way to ensure your pet has appropriate accomadations.
            Remember to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian two weeks before your trip to ensure your pet’s medications and vaccinations are up to date, and that you have proper health certificates required by kennels, airlines, and/ or hotels.
(See the Summer 2008 issue of our newsletter for a more complete list of recommendations)


Keeping Your Pet Safe During the Holidays
           There is nothing better than gathering with friends and family for the holidays: eating, drinking and putting up festive decorations. While enjoying this time of year, pet parents need to be aware of potential hazards that certain goodies and décor can pose to our furry friends.
To keep pets happy and healthy during the holiday season, the ASPCA offers pet owners the following helpful hints:
Avoid a sour stomach. Tis’ the season for overeating, but remember to keep your pet on a normal diet. Any change in diet, even one mean or something added to just one meal, can give your cat or dog severe indigestion and diarrhea. It is never a good idea to give your leftovers to pets, and remember to keep the trash can in a place that is not accessible to your pets to your pets. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages. While greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause stomach upset.
Use caution with cocktails. If your planes include adult holiday beverages, be sure to place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets can not reach them. If ingested,, the animal could because sick and weak, and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
Skip the Sweets. Several popular holiday treats are toxic to pets. Candies containing the sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination, seizures and even liver failure in certain cases. Chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate, can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst and urination, as well as abnormal heart rate and rhythm and even seizures. Cats also love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
Floral arrangements should be given forethought. Be careful with holiday floral arrangements and Christmas tree decorations. Lilies are commonly used this time of year and all varieties, including, Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats.   In addition, common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be potentially toxic to pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could suffer gastrointestinal upset and in rare cases, cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.
Cover the Christmas Tree water. Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria which can cause abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Decorations can be dangerous. Traditional decorations such as tinsel and ribbons, if ingested, can become lodged in the intestines and cause an obstruction. This is a very common problem, especially with cats. Also take care to prevent your pets from having access to glass ornaments, wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, such ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, while wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock.
Be careful with candles. Animals can easily knock over holiday candles and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of getting burned by candle flames.
 
This article was taken from ASPCA Action magazine.



January is National Walk Your Pet Month!?!
            And I am pretty sure someone in Florida came up with that one! After all, the weather here is frigid, snow and ice cover everything, and I am on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa, watching twenty four hours of A Christmas Story.
 Crazy or not, January is National Walk Your Pet Month, and because I could not find any information as to why, I will have to base this on my own hypothesis and experiences.
By George, I think I’ve got it-two reasons actually.
            First logical explanation- while I am relaxed, beached if you will, on the couch, my precious (yet hyper) Old English Sheepdog is bored out of his mind. He’s got a ton of pent up energy and no outlet for it. The occasional two minute trip outside to do his business is no longer cutting it. What’s a dog to do? Naturally, he seeks out amusement- be it chasing the cats or exploring the contents of the trash can. Denver finds himself in trouble, or worse: sick. Walk Your Pet Month in January was obviously implemented as a way to encourage people to continue exercising their pets, even through the cold months. A pet lacking proper exercise is more likely to be destructive (out of boredom), find himself in trouble (torturing the cats), more prone to arthritis, experience depression, and gain weight-which leads me to my next hypothesis.
            The second logical explanation has got to be the simple fact that January is the time of year for resolutions. Many people vow this is the year they are going to lose weight. What better way to do that than to get out there and get started, in January, and who better than to do it with than your precious pet?
            Keep in mind, if your pet is not used to long walks don’t over do it. Snow, ice and the salt used to control snow & ice can be very damaging to your pet paws. Pet boots are available to protect their feet, but if that is not an option for you, it is recommended to wash their paws with warm water when returning home. Whatever the reason, remember to get out there and walk your pet this January. 
 
 
 
February Is Dental Health Month- Pets Need Dental Care Too!
            As with any species, people and pets alike, proper dental care is very important. Imagine what would happen if you didn’t care for your teeth regularly. The same basics of dental care apply to your pet’s teeth too. 
            Every moment of every day plaque is forming in your pet’s mouth. Plaque is a colorless film (biofilm) that builds upon the teeth. It is made up almost entirely of bacteria. These microorganisms are naturally found in the oral cavity, and are normally harmless. However, if the plaque is not removed it builds in layers. As plaque builds, acid is released-weakening the surrounding teeth.   Plaque can easily be removed by regular tooth brushing, undisturbed plaque begins to mineralize and harden. Hard, mineralized plaque is called calculus (a.k.a. tartar). Unlike plaque, calculus cannot be removed by brushing and may form above and below the gum line. Because calculus creates rough surfaces on the tooth, it creates a perfect environment for rapid plaque growth. Calculus and plaque accumulating on the teeth will irritate the gum tissue, causing swelling, inflammation, and bleeding gums, as well as bad breath. This stage is referred to as gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible by a professional dental cleaning and home care, if left untreated will lead to periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is the most common disease in cats and dogs. About 85% of all dogs and cats have some form of it. Periodontal disease is characterized by red, inflamed, bleeding gums, inflammation of the deeper connective tissue which surrounds the teeth, bone loss and tooth loss. Periodontal disease is often very painful for pets, and you may notice your pet seems reluctant to eat. Chronic periodontal disease not only affects the structure and function of the teeth, but can seriously affect the overall health of your pet. Bacteria associated with periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and cause infection in the heart, lungs or kidneys.  Periodontal disease is not curable, but can be controlled through regular dental cleanings and diligent homecare. 
            When was the last time you peeked in your pet’s mouth? Take a peek, take a whiff- I double dare you! Mmmm, the smell! Putrid fish in cats, and dogs…what is that- dead opossum?!? “Doggy breath” is not a part of life; it is usually the first sign of a dental concern. 
Good dental health starts at home. Though easier to start when pets are young, dental home care can be instituted at any age. There are many dental products to choose from, making it easy to find what works best for you and your pet.
3 Easy Steps to Fight Plaque-Forming Bacteria:
Step One- Good to Chew. Dental chews are probably the most popular form of home care because they require little effort on the owner’s part. Dental treats are an effective way to keep the chewing surfaces of the teeth clean, but do little to maintain healthy gums. If treats are the thing for you, using a prescription dental chew containing chlorhexidine is the best way to go. Chlorhexidine is considered the gold standard for pet oral antiseptics, think of it like the Listerine® for pets. A chew containing chlorhexidine not only keeps the chewing surfaces of teeth clean, but also reduces the bacteria present in the mouth-slowing the growth rate of plaque and calculus.
Step Two- Better to Rinse. Dental rinses contain chlorhexidine, as well as zinc and cetylpyridium chloride to fight plaque, maintain oral health, and freshens breath. They are easy to apply and can be used with or without tooth brushing. Rinsing is more effective than chews because it offers quick coverage of the entire mouth.
Step Three- Best to Brush.  Daily brushing is the best way to maintain dental health. Brushing your pet’s teeth with a pet toothpaste containing chlorhexidine not only removes plaque from teeth and gums before it mineralizes, but also reduces the amount of bacteria in the mouth-slowing the growth rate of plaque. Because of the fluoride content of human toothpaste, it is NOT recommended to use human toothpastes on pets. Pet toothpastes come in a variety of flavors, including poultry, seafood and vanilla mint. Pet toothbrushes come in a wide variety of colors and sizes specifically designed for the differing needs of cats, dogs, and their owners.
 Tips for Making Tooth Brushing Successful
Ø      Patience! Patience! Patience! Remember, this is new to your pet-especially if you are starting when your pet is older. 
Ø      The first few days, you will simply be introducing the toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to your finger and offer it to your pet. By using a flavor such as poultry, your pet will think he is getting a tasty treat.
Ø      Once your pet is familiar with the toothpaste, they will then need to become accustom to you being in their mouth. This is best accomplished by use of a finger toothbrush (a vinyl sheath with bristles that slips onto your finger) or a gauze pad wrapped around your finger. Place the pet tooth paste onto the finger brush and gently navigate your finger around your pet’s mouth. If they seems hesitate at first, start with a small area of the mouth and increase the work size over the next few nights.
Ø      When your pet is comfortable with the finger brush, you can then work up to a full sized pet toothbrush. In some cases, pet’s will except an electric toothbrush or ultrasonic toothbrush which makes for faster brushing.
Ø      Daily brushing is optimal, but not always practical. Set a goal of brushing your pet’s teeth three times a week, and perhaps use dental treats in between brushings.
 
    Cats have 30 teeth, whereas dogs have 42 teeth.
                             Our staff member, Melissa, is a Certified Veterinary Dental Technician 
                    and a Certified Dental Assistant (human).
 

Just as people do, pets require professional teeth cleanings.  Depending on the pet, a teeth cleaning may need to be preformed every six months or every two years.
                            
 



Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
          Over the past five years, the full-time staff of the Animal Wellness Clinic has stayed pretty much the same.  It is not the type of place where you see a different face each time you come in.  We are very sad to report we are losing a member of our staff.  Friday is getting married and will be relocating 1 1/2 hours away.  She has already secured employment in that area and we wish her luck.  Her last day here is December 12th. We sure will miss her!!!









KIDS CORNER 

                                      
 
 
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1. Teeth                                          11. Molars
2. Tooth Brush                                12. Gingivitis
3. Chlorhexidine                              13. Sealant
4. Rinse                                          14. Check Up
5. Bacteria                                      15. Doggy Breath
6. Plaque                                         16. Extractions
7. Calculus                                       17. Periodontal Disease
8. Canines                                       18. Dental Cleaning
9. Incisors                                        19. Pet Toothpaste
10. Premolars                                  20. Dental Chews