SUMMER HEAT

One of the NUMBER ONE reasons that animals come into the hospital during the summer months is HEAT STROKE!!!!!!!!!!!

Causes:

1. Brachycephalic or "snub nose" dogs/cat over heat much easier and faster than a "normal" dog. (ex. Pugs, Bulldogs, Persian cats)

(<--- example my dog "Lilo", a French Bulldog, and her face isn't pushed in too bad at all! Note her nostrils how they are very small. That is called "stenotic nares" aka small nostrils. Make it harder to breathe.)

<-Stenotic Nares <-Normal

It's like trying to breathe fast through a straw!

2. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PET IN YOUR CAR WHILE YOU RUN INTO THE STORE AND/OR DO A QUICK ERRAND. It does NOT take long for an animal to over heat and a cracked window DOES NOT HELP!

3. Long walks. 

Unless you are really able to read your pet, make sure you do not push them too hard or far in the heat with exercising. Some pets will do more than they physically can and won't "let you know", by that point, it's too late when you figure it out.

4. Dogs/Cats don't sweat except from the paw pads. Besides that, fur, and panting, those are the only significant forms of regulating their own body temperatures.

Some possible signs your pet is over heating:

1. Excessive panting

2. Bright pink gums/ears/muzzle

3. Drooling

4. Lying laterally recumbent (on their side, breathing rapidly)

5. Physically feeling hot to your touch

6. Finding shade to lay in/cool floor to lay on. (Hot pavement in the summer is just as uncomfortable to their bare feet as yours!!)

How to keep your pet cool:

1. Keep a fan on or air-conditioning on when you are not home to keep the air circulating in your rooms, an open window usually will not do enough.

2. Always make sure there is shade available for your pet, whether it's indoors or out. 

3. Always make sure there is fresh, clean, water available. The colder, the better.

(If you go to the beach/park bring a bowl and your own water to make sure there is some available for your pet!)

4. Ice Cubes

My Frenchie thinks they are treats in the summer, I make her do tricks for them and she loves them. It's a way of getting water in without forcing down their throat. PUURRFEECCTTT!!

Also put ice cubes in water bowls to make sure their water stays cold just like yours!

5. Wet them down!

If they are running in a dog park, throw water all over them! It may make them need a bath once home, but it keeps them cool and away from the hospital from heat stroke!

Even keeping a kiddie pool around so that they can jump in can help!

These are just a few signs and a few ways of keeping your pets cool this summer. If you are ever unsure if your pet is too hot or not, stop the playing, bring them indoors into AC and give them water. If they still do not seem right to your vet, bring them to your vet ASAP.

A dogs normal temperature is between 99F-102.5F

A cats normal temperature is between 99-102.5/103F (depending on stress)

If you are ever unsure take a digital thermometer and take your pets temperature rectally if they let you! Use KY lube and be gentle.

Always call your local vet if you are unsure. 

Until next time,

Rachel Husney, LVT

July 4th DANGERS for pets!!

July 4th is just around the corner and we all know that we love our beaches and barbecues! It wouldn't be a holiday without friends, family, and of course, our furry family members. I just wanted to mention a few potential dangers over the holiday weekend that can effect your pet and your holiday weekend!

Bones from leftover meat:

Please do NOT give your leftover steak bones/chicken bones to your pets to munch on as a treat. These bones can either splinter in their stomach or intestines, potentially causing an obstruction or perforation and possibly making it a LIFE THREATENING situation; sometimes causing the need for expensive and painful exploratory surgery to remove them from your pet.

Corn on the cob:

Usually seen with larger dogs like Labrador Retrievers, they get so excited to eat it that they literally inhale the entire cob without proper chewing and/or digesting. This can also cause a life threatening blockage.

Fruit Pits; example Peach Pits:

You may give your pets a peach or an apple to chew on however I have seen many a peach pit get stuck inside an animals intestines because though it may go down easy, it does not come out the same way. Please remove all pits and seeds if giving your pet any fruit and also make sure that they are NOT harmful to your pet. For example, many people give grapes as a treat to their dogs, however, grapes can actually be toxic and/or deadly to your dog. Please do your research before giving your pet anything to eat besides dog food or treats.

Fireworks:
Just like thunderstorms, a lot of dogs get very anxious and/or nervous with the loud sounds of thunder and fireworks. There are a few options in order to help your pet during these situations.

First: Don't bring them to the beach if you know they are scared of fireworks and loud noises.

Second: There is a new product on the market called The Thundershirt. It can be used for thunderstorms, fireworks, separation anxiety, and many more possible uses. The shirt is basically like a "big hug" for your pet and focuses on pressure points that help to calm them down. I did try this product myself when I brought my French Bulldog to work with me and she would not stop barking when a dog was in a run next to her. After about 25 minutes of the shirt properly put on, she eventually calmed down and even fell asleep. Personally, I do believe the shirt works with certain pets if put on correctly.

Third: Your veterinarian can prescribe you a mild sedative that you can give your dog that will help him or her to relax. Some veterinarians may even suggest Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and how much depends on the size of your dog. Sometimes this also helps them to relax and it's over the counter. ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO ASK YOUR VET HOW MUCH TO GIVE YOUR PET BEFORE ADMINISTERING ANY MEDICATIONS.

Try to keep your dogs leashed or fenced in to avoid potentially running into a busy street!!

Until next time!

Rachel Husney, LVT

"CitiKitty", toilet training your cat...

So, as some of you know, I attempted to "toilet train" my cats. The system itself comes with fairly easy directions and seems very possible. However, with a 17 pound cat and a 7 pound cat, both were not sure how to exactly balance on the toilet.You are supposed to move the litter box into the bathroom, which I did. Then after a few days, switch their litter to flushable kitty litter, which they switched over with no issues. Then I was supposed to remove the box and place the insert for the toilet on the seat and place each cat in it so they knew where it was. The box said that it could take up to 24 hours for your cats to start using it.

So, I picked a day where I knew I'd be home so I could keep an eye out and reward them if and when they used it. Unfortunately, all they did was cry because they needed to use the litter box and did not want to use the toilet.

In the morning, the closest they got to it was defecating next to my toilet. Though this process takes time and effort, to me, scooping out a litter box is not that big of a deal. I'd rather that than my cats eliminate on my carpet until they decide to use the toilet, if at all. If I had a kitten, I would try this again to see if it would work. Until then my 7 year old 17 pound cat and 3 year old 7 pound cat will be just fine using the litter box.

If anything I realized this flushable litter is much better than having to collect the urine and feces until I throw it all out. I just scoop it and flush it. That was a major plus!

Do you have any products for me to review? Suggest away!

Until next time,

Rachel Husney, LVT

Pet Grooming 101

Many pet owners view grooming solely as a cosmetic responsibility. In face, there are many health benefits for regularly grooming your furry family member (dog, cat, etc!) Regular grooming, which includes hair brushing, nail cutting, expressing anal glands, and bathing can actually protect your pet from many health complications. Here are some grooming tips to keep your pet clean and healthy as we enter the hot summer months.

Basic Grooming:
All long haired pets should be brushed ideally once daily, ranging from whether you have a Shih-Tzu or a Labrador Retriever. It is easy to forget to brush a Shih-Tzu with their long luxurious coat, however, if not taken care of properly, they start to develop knots known as “mats” close to their skin that are hard, if not impossible, to brush out.

Mats:
Most of the time you can’t see these mats in the beginning, and that’s just it, because it is the beginning. Once these mats get closer and tighter to the skin, it allows for less air to get to the skin. This may have a number of consequences.

Complications of mats/knots:
The first is pain, having a knot of hair pulling your skin is NOT comfortable. Even Golden Retrievers can get mats behind their ears or in their “feathers” (the long hair on their legs and under their belly). If not brushed through, the mats may cause skin infections, fungal infections, sores, hotspots, and so much more. When a coat is matted it is also more difficult for the animal to regulate its body temperature. Dogs do not sweat like humans do. They sweat through the pads of their feet, but mainly maintain their body temperature through panting. If there is not enough circulation on a pets skin, this can also cause them to over heat. Also when matted, it is not easy to see when a flea or a tick is on your pet. You can’t imagine the infestations that have been seen under a fully matted dog of fleas because they were not visible. If a pet is overwhelmed with a flea infestation, not only is it extremely uncomfortable, but potentially deadly. The fleas can suck so much blood out of your pet causing it to become anemic.

Cat Grooming:
Please remember that cats with medium to long hair also need daily brushing. They do groom themselves but sometimes not enough and/or they can’t reach certain spots like their back. Also by brushing them, you lessen the chances of them getting hairballs stuck in their gastrointestinal tract which can cause vomiting and/or constipation. Not only does brushing them make them feel good and comfortable, but it also helps to prevent the excess shed of hair around your home!

Shedding:
No matter what anybody says, ALL PETS SHED, some more than others and some much more noticeable than others. Contrary to what a lot pet owners think, short haired dogs and cats need basic grooming as well. Brushing your pug with the proper brush daily (or even every other day) SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the amount of hair that is left on your furniture, as well as it is enjoyable for your pet.

Start EARLY:GET YOUR PET USED TO BEING BRUSHED AS A PUPPY. A brush, whether for their coat or for their teeth should NOT scare your animal, make it a positive experience! The same thing goes for their feet. When you first get your pet, play with his or her ears and feet so that when it comes to cleaning their ears or trimming their toenails they are NOT as sensitive to it.

Nail Trims:
Each pets nails grow at a different rate just like humans. Some dogs nails need to be cut once every 3 months, while others need to be cut every two weeks. Walking them every day on pavement helps to also grind their nails down. If their nails get too long and/or overgrown it makes it VERY difficult to walk and get a grasp on whatever floor they are on. It is also painful! Sometimes unnoticed, if you haven’t cut your cats nails in some time, they may even grow and curl under AND INTO their foot pads! THAT is NOT comfortable and may cause more serious problems.

Bathing:
Each pet has its own needs. Some may need to be bathed once every two weeks for a medicated bath due to dry skin or a fungal infection, or some need to be bathed every few months because over bathing can also dry out their skin and coat. The activities they participate in are also a factor in grooming. If your lovable lab likes to go swimming with you in the summer, after swimming you should rinse off your dog to get rid of the chlorine from his coat and skin which can potentially irritate the skin if left on.

Ear Care:
Another important thing is that if you rinse your dog off after a swim or bathe them at home, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CLEAN THEIR EARS AS WELL AFTERWARDS. One of the most common cause of ear infections is left over water in a pets ear canal! Their ear canals have a curvature in them, so if you take a piece of cotton with some ear cleaner gotten by your local veterinarian or pet store, wrap the cotton around your pointer finger and wipe out what is left in the ears, that will prevent ear infections and many more things if done after every bath/rinse off/and/or weekly.

           
Weekly maintenance makes your pet feel comfortable and can prevent much bigger problems in the long run! Until next time!

Rachel Husney, LVT

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm is a preventable, but serious and potentially fatal, parasite that primarily infects dogs, cats, ferrets and rare cases have been seen in other species of animals as well. The infection is more prevalent in hotter climates due to the fact that the insect that typically spreads the parasite is the mosquito. It is most prevalent in the southeast of the United States, but there are also cases on both coasts and in between.

The most common thing people say is, “Why is there a need to put my pets on heartworm medications if they do not go outside?” The answer is this, don’t mosquitoes come into your house and bite you? They won’t discriminate between a human or one of your pets. They can be outside OR inside your house.

Let’s start at the beginning. Heartworm disease is a potentially deadly infection, caused by worms (Dirofilaria immitis) that can grow to be as large as 14-inch-long adults. These worms live in the right side of the heart and arteries of the lungs. Pets of any age, species and breed are susceptible to this infection. Heartworm infection can cause potentially serious damage to the arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases, damage other organs such as the liver and kidneys. However, with an easy once a month preventative treatment, heartworm should never get to that point.

Before you start the prevention (which can only be gotten with a prescription from your veterinarian), if your pet is over six months of age, they need to do a simple blood test to make sure the pet tests negative for the heartworm parasite before prevention is started. The reason you can not give it without a test, is if the heartworms have already matured from larvae into adults and are living in your pets heart and/or arteries, the worms will cause a blockage in your pets blood system and/or heart and most likely kill them. You can start heartworm prevention before six months of age because by six months, if your pet is inoculated with the parasite, the worms aren’t adults large and/or mature enough to cause a blockage yet. They can also live for five to seven years in a dog. In cats, it takes about eight months to mature into adult worms that live from two to three years.

Adult female heartworms release their young, called microfilaria, into the animal’s bloodstream. Mosquitoes then become infected with microfilaria while taking a blood meal from an infected animal. During the next 10 to 14 days, the microfilaria mature to the infective larval stage within the mosquito. When the mosquito bites another dog, cat, or other susceptible animal, the infective larvae enter through the bite wound, and that is where the life cycle repeats itself again.

Please remember, each veterinarian has THEIR OWN protocol and you must use the one that your veterinarian uses. They may ask to test your pet every year for heartworm just to make sure as a precaution.

Treatment for heartworm disease is costly and painful for your pet. It requires several painful injections of a strong immiticide that will kill the worms. The injections are usually given in the deep lumbar muscle (lower back) of the animal. The injections are spread out by a few weeks depending on what stage the heartworm infection is. After each injection, the pet must stay in STRICT CAGE REST, short walks, and NO OVER EXERTING themselves for weeks and sometimes months.

All of these things can easily be prevented when using heartworm prevention in the correct way. The main reason for this blog is to explain to you that when your vet asks you about if your pet is on heartworm prevention or not, it is really for their well being. Hopefully this has given you all more information on this deadly parasite. Always remember, please consult with your veterinarian first before giving, stopping, or changing any medications. Until next time!

Rachel Husney, LVT