May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

            May is Pet Cancer Awareness month.  Cancer causes nearly 50 percent of all disease related deaths in pets per year and cancer is the #1 natural cause of death in older pets, according to Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center.  The cause of cancer is to some degree unknown, like in humans, but genetics, over-vaccination and environmental/food toxins play a part. 

            Following are the early pet cancer signs as identified by The Veterinary Cancer Society:

1.      Abnormal, persistent swelling

2.      Sores that do not heal

3.      Loss of weight

4.      Loss of appetite

5.      Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

6.      Offensive odor

7.      Difficulty eating of swallowing

8.      Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

9.      Persistent lameness or stiffness

10.  Difficulty breathing, urination or defecating

If you are seeing any of these warning signs, see your veterinarian immediately. 

Physical exams are key to catching and treating cancer early and increasing your pet’s chance of survival.  “We are looking for things that aren’t obviously noticed by the owner,” says Dr. Suzy Ahrens of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital.  Many owners overlook the importance of annual exam for young animals and bi-annual exams for senior pets.  Dog Topics.com reports over 50 percent of dogs over the age of 10 will die of cancer.  “We can palpate the abdomen, check for masses and perform rectal exams.  Anal sac tumors can be cured if found early enough.  That is certainly something an owner isn’t going to notice,” adds Ahrens.  “Lab testing can check for early renal disease, which can be slowed with a diet change.  The same thing is true for some liver disorders.  Thyroid disease is easily treated in the early stages.”  

            Annual exams for young animals and bi-annual exams for senior pets are essential in monitoring your pet’s health.  If your pet is due or you are seeing any of the above signs, make your appointment today!

           

The Importance of Vaccinations

Why do Puppies/Kittens Need a Series of Shots?
When a puppy or kitten is born, its immune system in not yet mature and wide open for infection. Fortunately, the mother produces specific milk, called colostrum, in the first few days after giving birth. The colostrum is rich in antibodies and the puppy/kitten will take on their mother's immunity. After the first couple of days, regular milk is produced and the puppy's/kitten's intestines undergo what is called closure, which means they are no longer able to take antibodies into their systems.

Maternal antibodies against different diseases wear off after different times. We do know that by 16 to 20 weeks of age, maternal antibodies are gone and the puppy/kitten must be able to continue on its own immune system.

While maternal immunity is in the puppy's/kitten's system, any vaccines given will be inactivated. Vaccines will not be able to "take" until maternal antibody has sufficiently dropped. Puppies and kittens receive a series of vaccines ending at a time when we know the puppy's/kitten's own immune system should be able to respond. We could simply wait until the puppy/kitten is old enough to definitely respond as we do with the rabies vaccination but this could leave a large window of vulnerability if the maternal antibody wanes early. To give puppies/kittens the best chance of responding to vaccination, we vaccinate intermittently (usually every 2 to 4 weeks) during this period, in hope of gaining some early protection.

When a vaccine against a specific disease is started for the first time, even in adult animal, it is best to give at least two vaccinations. This is because the second vaccination will produce a much greater response if it is following a vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks prior.


What Vaccines Should My Pet Have?
What vaccines are recommended to an individual pet depend on many factors: what kind of exposure to disease does the animal have, what diseases are common in the area, what kind of stress factors are in the home situation, etc. When you consider the multitudes of vaccine types and combinations and the many different situations dogs and cats live in, it is not too surprising to find that almost every veterinarian recommends a different group of vaccines.


Core Vaccines
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has published guidelines for vaccinating your dog and cat. Vaccinations are divided into "core" vaccines that every pet should have, and "non-core" vaccines that a pet should have depending on exposure risk.

Core Vaccines For Cats

• Feline Distemper
• Rabies

For more information on feline vaccines, please visit our website: Feline Vaccinations

Core Vaccines For Dogs

• Canine Distemper
• Rabies
• Bordetella (Protects against Kennel Cough; most veterinarians recommend for dog parks, boarding, grooming, etc.)

For more information on canine vaccines, please visit our website: Canine Vaccinations

*The Rabies vaccine is important even for indoor-only cats & non-social dogs, but when you consider the consequences of rabies exposure and the legal consequences of owning a biting animal, it is not hard to see why this vaccine is important*


Can Vaccines Hurt My Pet?
Some muscle soreness, lethargy and mild fever persisting for a day or two are considered common reactions to stimulation of the immune system. Vaccine reactions beyond this are unusual but possible. Allergic reactions characterized usually by facial swelling and hives are strong signs that special care should be taken in administering vaccinations. Since allergic reactions potentially can become worse with each episode, it is important to take heed of these signs as severe reactions can result in shock or even death.

Toxic Table Scraps

Sharing "just a bite" of food off your plate with your pet is harmless, right? Wrong. Many human foods can be dangerous--even deadly--to dogs and cats.

Alcohol - Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Products such as desserts containing alcohol or yeast-containing doughs are often the unknown culprits.

Caffeine - Coffee, tea, energy drinks, dietary pills or anything else containing caffeine should never be given to your pet, as they can affect the heart, stomach, intestines and nervous system.

Chocolate - Cocoa and chocolate contain theobromine, a chemical that is highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion of small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but ingestion of larger quantities can cause seizures and affect heart rhythm.

Fatty Foods - Foods that are high in fat can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in pets, especially in certain breeds like miniature schnauzers, shetland sheepdogs, and yorkshire terriers. Fight the temptation to share these kinds of table scraps and give a healthy pet treat instead.

Grapes and Raisins - Avoid the wrath of grapes--keep them away from dogs. Just a few grapes or raisins can damage your dog's kidneys or even prove deadly. Even small amounts of raisins in trial mix or snack boxes can pose a problem.

Macadamia Nuts - Popular in many cookies and candies, macadamia nuts should never be given to pets. Lethargy, vomiting, and loss of muscle control are among the effects of macadamia nut ingestion.

Onions and Garlic - Onions and garlic in any form--even powdered--can endanger your pet's health. Ingestion of small amounts can result in a mild gastrointestinal upset, while larger amounts can cause severe anemia, particularly with long-term ingestion (like sprinkling it on your pet's food).

Salt - Believe it or not, common table salt is poisonous to your pet--but it's not usually from table scraps. The source is often what surprises pet owners: pets often experience salt toxicity as a result of eating household play dough, swallowing too much ocean water, or ingesting paint balls. Salt toxicity can be very severe and results in neurologic signs such as incoordination, seizures, and brain swelling.

Sweeteners - Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a natural sweetener that is acutely toxic to dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, weakness, a life-threatening drop in blood sugar, loss of muscle control, seizures and liver failure.

Yeast Dough - Unbaked dough that contains yeast can expand in your pet's stomach or intestines. As the yeast ferments, it releases gases, resulting in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even life-threatening bloat and a twisted stomach. Some yeast dough also ferments into alcohol, which contributes to signs of lethargy and alcohol toxicity.

If your pet accidently ingests any of these foods, or you have a question about something your pet has eaten, contact Pet Poison Helpline for immediate help at (800-213-6680).

*Have an emergency first aid kit at home in case of a poisoning emergency. Keeping these items on hand will make it easier for you to work with the Pet Poison Helpline experts.

What to include:

• Hydrogen Peroxide 3% (non-expired)
• Liquid dishwashing detergent (such as Palmolive or Dawn)
• Rubber gloves
• Triple antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin)
• Vitamin E oil or capsules
• Diphenhydramine liquid or 25mg tablets (such as Benadryl), with no other combination ingredients
• Ophthalmic saline solution or artificial tears, with no other combination ingredients
• Can of tuna packed in water, chicken broth or some type of tasty canned pet food
• Sweet electrolyte beverage (such as Gatorade)
• Corn syrup

The Importance of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles and it offers several important advantages.

·        Male Cats go through a significant personality change when they mature. They become very possessive of their territory and mark it with their urine to ward off other cats. The tomcat’s urine develops a very strong odor that will be almost impossible to remove from your house. They also try to constantly enlarge their territory, which means one fight after another. We strongly urge pet owners to neuter their cats at about 6 to 9 months of age. If cats begin to spray their urine before this time, they should be neutered immediately…the longer the cat is allowed to spray or fight, the less likely neutering is to stop it.

·        Male Dogs are attracted to female dogs in heat and will climb over or go through fences to find her. Intact male dogs are more aggressive and more likely to fight, especially with other male dogs. As dogs age, the prostate gland frequently enlarges and causes urinating and defecating difficulty. Neutering will greatly help all of these problems that come with owning a male dog. Male dogs can be neutered anytime after 6 months of age.

Spaying is the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. Therefore, heat periods no longer occur. Spaying prevents unplanned litters and offers several important advantages.

·        In Female Cats the heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of obnoxious behavior. This can be quite annoying if your cat is kept indoors. Male cats are attracted from blocks away and, in fact, seem to come out of the woodwork. They seem to go over, around, and through many doors. Cats will have a heat period about every 2-3 weeks until she is bred. It has been proven that as the female cat gets older, there is a significant incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections if she is not spayed. Spaying your cat before she has any heat periods will virtually eliminate the chances of either. If you don’t plan to breed your cat, we recommend that she be spayed before her first heat period. This can be done anytime after she is 5 months old.

·        In Female Dogs the heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This can be quite annoying if your dog is kept indoors. Male dogs are attracted from blocks away. Female dogs will have a heat period about every 6 months. It has been proven that as the female dog gets older, there is a significant incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections is she has not been spayed. Spaying before she has any heat periods will virtually eliminate the chance of either. If you do not plan on breeding your dog, we recommend that she be spayed before her first heat period. This can be done anytime after 6 months of age.

The Truth About Dental Care

For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been a part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember. Just like it is for you, oral health care is important for pets -- regular, professional care from veterinarians and home care from pet owners to keep plaque removed. Daily brushing and feeding special treats or pet foods, such as Hill's Prescription Diet t/d, can help.

Pet Dental Facts:

• Periodontal disease is the most prevalent disease among dogs and cats.
• An astounding 80% of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease by age three, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS).
• Periodontal disease is common in dogs of smaller breeds because dogs' teeth often are too large for their mouths, forcing the teeth closer together.
• Dogs start out with 28 deciduous (baby) teeth; cats start out with 26 deciduous teeth. By six months of age, these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, 42 in the dog and 30 in the cat.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Plaque is a film that contains large amounts of bacteria. If left unchecked, plaque builds up, creating infection, destroying gums and resulting in the loss of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. Preventative oral care can reduce the formation of plaque and help maintain proper oral health throughout a pet's life.

Signs of Periodontal Disease
All pets are at risk for developing dental problems. Once a pet displays any of the warning signs below, serious periodontal disease may be present. Don't wait for these signs. Rather, start a preventive program of veterinarian supervised dental care.

• Tooth Loss
• Subdued Behavior
• Abnormal Drooling
• Swallowing Food Whole
• Bad Breath
• Bleeding Gums
• Change of Chewing/Eating Habits

Pet owners should look for warning signs of oral disease. Common indications include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression. If any of these signs are present, the pet should be taken to the veterinarian for a dental exam.

Treatment of Oral Disease
Pet owners should practice regular dental care regimen at home, which may include brushing the pet's teeth with specially formulated toothpaste. Pet owners should schedule regular follow-up care with their veterinarians and ask about specially formulated foods with proven benefits in plaque and tartar removal.

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