What's New

What's New
By Kathi Gruss, DVM

 

Non-Core Vaccines - which ones to consider for your dog?

Toxins in the Home
February is National Pet Dental Health Month
Canine Influenza Alert
Watch out for toxic foods
More Thoughts About Fleas and Ticks
Arthritis
Feline Interstitial Cystitis
Fleas and Ticks
Second Hand Smoke & Our Pets

 

 

Non-Core Vaccines: Which ones are right for your dog?

Core vaccines are those vaccines we recommend for the average pet. For dogs, that includes the Distemper/Parvovirus combination vaccine (DA2PP) and Rabies vaccination.

Non-core vaccines are the vaccines we only recommend for pets at risk. For dogs, that includes the Bordetella and Influenza vaccines for dogs that are groomed, boarded, or go to dog shows and classes. Leptospirosis vaccines are for dogs that are exposed to farms and wildlife. We have recommended Lyme vaccines for dogs who travel to endemic areas - generally north of Virginia - or who do not have good tick prevention. The Virginia Department of Health reports that Lyme cases in the state have increased dramatically over the past few years. Knowing that, we will be recommending Lyme vaccines more frequently for dogs even if they don't travel out of our area. Lyme is a serious disease spread to dogs by tick bites. Please ask our doctors for specific recommendations for your dog.

 

Toxins in the Home

In the past week, we have had 3 dogs in the practice who have been poisoned accidentally by foods that are not toxic to people.

The first dog ate a large amount of raisins - even a small amount of raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure and death. 

The second dog at 4 ounces of sweet dark chocolate - this amount is enough to cause heart irregularities, seizures, and death. 

The third dog at a pack of sugar free gum - more than enough to cause severe low blood sugar, liver disease, and death.

All three dogs were rushed to our hospital by their vigilante owners who knew these items were toxic to dogs. We were able to induce vomiting and get much of the poison out of their stomach before it could be absorbed. We then followed the specific protocols for each poison that helped us lessen the toxic effect.

Other things in the home that cause serious problems for our pets include Macadamia nuts, rat and mouse poison, and antifreeze.


 

Dental Health Month

Dental care is very important for all our pets.

Beginning a home care program when your pet is young is the best way to keep their mouth healthy.

Professional dental cleaning that includes scaling under the gum and polishing is equally important. We professionally clean pet's teeth as needed - for some pets that means once or twice a year and for others it may be every 2 to 3 years.

Our doctors and veterinary team would love to help your pet improve their dental health. Schedule an appointment for an evaluation. 

Canine Influenza

Dogs and cats do not get swine flu or any type of influenza from their owners. However,  canine influenza that is a contagious disease for dogs. This virus first infected greyhounds at the racetrack in 2004. Since then, there have been outbreaks especially in groups of dogs housed together. Boarding kennels are especially susceptible to this respiratory disease. The first cases of canine influenza in Virginia have been recently reported in northern Virginia. So far, there are no cases in Virginia out of that area. The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) is tracking the disease incidence. Since this is a new disease, the average dog has no natural protection. There is a vaccine available. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog's risk factors. The vaccine MAY be a good idea if your dog is planning on going to a boarding kennel or anywhere else where dogs will be housed in close quarters. If your dog needs a Bordetella Vaccine, he may need a Canine Influenza vaccine.

Toxic Foods

Watch out for foods that are toxic to pets. This includes grapes, chocolate, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts. In addition to those items, pets also get ill from eating garbage and some mushrooms.


In addition to a quality pet foods, many pets can also enjoy some table scraps. Talk to your veterinarian about what foods are best for your pet.

   Pesky Fleas and Ticks

More about fleas and ticks:

First - they really are worse this year. Even if you have not had a pest problem for years, be sure to keep your pet protected this year for sure.

Second - for a veterinary product to be labeled effective against fleas or ticks, it has to be at least 95% effective for the entire time that it is effective.

This includes Frontline, Advantage/Advantix, and Comfortis plus many other products. There will be a list on the package telling you exactly what stages of fleas they are effective at killing and also which of the four species of ticks they will be effective against.
   Over the counter flea and tick products do not have to prove their effectiveness. Clients report disappointing results with many of them. I think this is an area where you do get what you pay for.

Flea infestations happen quickly. A flea infestation takes months to get under control even the best products on the market.


So, I think it is always best to use the most effective product you can find as long as it is still very safe for the pet and the owner.

Ticks spread deadly disease and are extremely difficult to control even with the best products on the market. Definitely do not try to skip any corners if you pet comes in contact with ticks. Read the labels carefully - some products are only effective killing one species of ticks. We have all four species in our area and they all spread disease.

Ticks can bite your pet any time the temperature is above 42 degrees. In the past two  years, we have seen pets all winter long.
 
   Does your pet swim or is he frequently bathed? If so, be sure the product you are using is waterproof or you will be washing away his protection.
  Arthritis

Is your dog stiff when he gets up?
Has your cat stopped jumping up onto furniture?

Many older pets develop arthritis as they age.

We start our evaluation of your pet with a good physical exam. We may follow that up with radiographs and lab work. Then we can develop a plan just for your pet. This may include weight loss. A pet that is a little overweight will not do as well as a pet that is lean. A truly obese pet will have mobility issues much earlier than a lean pet and will have more severe signs.
  It may also include changing how they exercise. Many pets with arthritis who are still able to exercise do better with moderate exercise as long as they do the same amount every day.

It also may include a diet change, nutritional supplements, pain or non-steroidal medications, and even herbs and acupuncture.
 
  Bladder Disease in Cats

Did you know that when cats get cystitis it is caused by a surge of brain hormones?

Feline Interstitial Cystitis (FIC) has been know by many names including FLUTD and FUS. This is a disorder that affects less than 1% of our feline patients. It is a painful condition of the urinary bladder. Many cats who have this condition develop poor litter box habits and urinate in the bathtub, on carpets, or other fabrics during episodes.

We now know the cause of this painful condition.  When a "sensitive" cat is stressed, norepinephrine is released from his brain. This brain hormone causes the lining cells of his bladder to separate and allows urine to get inside the wall of the bladder. The wall of the bladder actually gets "scalded" by the urine and an intense inflammatory reaction develops. "Sensitive" cats can develop this condition every time they are stressed so they can have episodes their entire life.
  What can we do to help them?  First, keep stress to a minimum. Many of these cats live in the house and use a litter pan. They are stressed by pans and litter that are not what they like and when the pan is dirty. So choose a pan they like - most cats like a big pan that does not have a hood; choose litter they like - most cats like clumping clay litter without a scent; have enough pans - one more than the number of cats in the family; and choose a location they like - private but convenient. Definitely, keep the pan as clean as possible - scoop at least twice a say.

Patricia McConnell has written a great book - "Fastidious Feline" - that you can purchase at the animal hospital - that gives all the details. 
 
Second, feed the cat a canned food diet exclusively for life. This makes the urine more dilute and will make the urine less irritating to the bladder wall.

Third, eliminate stress in the cat's life. What stresses the average cat? People coming and going, an environment that is not stimulating, too little exercise, boarding or traveling, other pets...the list goes on. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor, Tony Buffington, has developed a wonderful website devoted to improving the life of indoor cats. To see it, go to www.indoorcat.org.
 

Flea and Tick Control

Flea and tick control has been pretty easy since the advent of the Frontline® line of products beginning in 1997. We certainly thought we had the perfect product when Frontline Plus® hit the market in 2000. This product had close to 100% effectiveness in killing fleas and ticks within 48 hours and an insect growth regulator that sterilizes fleas. Equally important, it has a very high safety margin. 

Many other products have joined the market since. Some of these products are excellent. However, some products do not have the same effectiveness and some have more side effects. Also, some less effective older products keep coming back under new labels.



 



 
 
 
So, once again, pest control is not easy. It is really important to understand basic facts about fleas and ticks.
The most common parasite of companion animals is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. These fleas will infest most warm blooded animals in the household, including dogs, cats, ferrets, and domestic rabbits. Flea bites are itchy for all pets. They are worse for the many dogs and cats that are allergic to flea bites.
Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the most common skin disease of pets. Fleas can cause other diseases including: anemia, tapeworm infections, and cat scratch fever.
Once a flea jumps on an animal, it lays eggs within 24 hours. The eggs are laid in the pet’s hair and roll off into the environment where the larva and pupae can survive for a long time. One flea can lay thousands of eggs in her short lifespan. Flea eggs and pupae are resistant to all insecticides but can be controlled with Insect Growth Regulators (IGR’s)
There are outdoor flea reservoirs. If there is a flea infestation in the outdoor environment, it may be difficult to eradicate fleas in the house. The outdoor fleas often come from dogs, cats, opossum, or raccoons that live in or visit the yard. Flea eggs fall off these reservoir animals and the larvae and pupae can develop in the environment.
Fleas do not jump from one pet to another or jump off a pet. Pets acquire fleas from infested premises not another pet. An adult flea spends its entire life on one pet. Flea eggs deposited into the environment develop into adult fleas in as little as 16 days or the larva can remain in the cocoon stage for up to six months. Carbon dioxide, warmth, and vibration cause the pupae to emerge as adult fleas. So, fleas hatch in response to a dog or cat walking by and they jump on the pet immediately after they hatch. All fleas seen in the environment developed from flea eggs. They did not jump off the pet.
We have learned that fleas are much easier to prevent than they are to conquer once you have an infestation. An infestation can happen before you see the first flea on your pet and take months to get under control.
All pets should start flea prevention before flea season starts and continue past the end of the season. Here in central Virginia and many parts of the United States that means year round preventative medication.
All pets in contact with your pet need to be on flea control. This means all your pets including dogs, cats, and small mammals as well as visiting animals. Be sure to read product information carefully. Most flea products are made for a specific species. What is safe for your dog may not be for your cat or rabbit.
Your flea control program needs to include a product that kills flea eggs, larva, and pupae (IGR). These are the source of the infestation.
In general, spays, powders and dips have been replaced with safer and more effective oral medication and liquids that are applied in one spot over the pet’s shoulder. The newest product is Comfortis®, the monthly flea pill that appears to be very effective and safe.
Shampoos may kill adult fleas on the pet, clean the coat, and make the pet feel better, but will not offer protection from the eggs, larva, and pupae. As soon as the pet’s feet touch the ground, newly emerged fleas can jump right on and start feeding.
Ticks are another important external parasite of dogs. Tick bites spread disease including: Babesia, Ehrlichia, Lyme disease, Anasplasma, Feline Cytauxzoonosis (which is deadly), and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Pets come into contact with ticks when they are outside in areas of vegetation (grass or shrubs) or in or near wooded areas. Ticks live in moist and humid environments. It is not surprising that ticks flourish in many parts of the United States. Here in central Virginia, we see ticks 12 months of the year.
There is no product on the market now that can keep pets tick free 100% of the time. Ticks are acarids (like spiders and mites), not insects, so insecticides are not very effective in killing them. Be sure to do “tick checks” every day during tick season. Remove the ticks with tweezers and discard them in the toilet or drown them in alcohol in a jar. Treat all ticks like they are infectious. Do not touch ticks with your hands or cut or burn them. Most disease is spread after the tick has been on your dog for 24 hours, so these daily tick checks and removals can really help you keep your pet healthy.
Your veterinarian is the best source of information about safe and effective flea and tick control measures for your pet. We will make an effective plan just for your pet's special needs.

Second Hand Smoke & Cancer in Pets

I just read interesting information about second hand smoke and the risks for our companion animals that I definitely want to share.

The most common form of cancer cats get is lymphosarcoma. This cancer was associated with young, Feline Leukemia Virus positive cats in the past. However, the incidence of this cancer is on the rise at the same time the incidence of Feline Leukemia has been declining. At the same time, this deadly form of cancer has been occurring in an older population and the intestinal form has become more common. This shift prompted researchers to look for the reason for this. The results surprised everyone associated with the study. The environmental issue these cats had in common was second hand smoke. The carcinogens were found on the cat's hair coat, and were ingested as the cat licked their fur as well as the cat breathing them in the air. The statistics are alarming. Just being in a house where one person smokes increases the cat's risk of getting this disease 2-1/2 times. The risk increases with more people in the house smoking or with heavy smoking.

Second hand smoke has also been associated with oral cancer in cats, and sinus and lung cancer in dogs.

The evidence is clear - pets should not be in a house where people smoke or around anyone who is smoking.

What a great reason for a pet lover to give up this habit that now that we know it causes health issues not only for people but also for their beloved pets.