It’s Allergy Time!
Published September 15, 2011 | 
As the summer winds down, many people seem to be rubbing their eyes and blotting them with tissues. It’s a sad time of the year for many because we know that winter is coming, but these people aren’t crying. They have seasonal allergies and they are struggling with itchy eyes, running noses, and constant sneezing.
Unfortunately our pets are not immune to the affects of allergies and many dogs and cats suffer the way we do. What’s remarkably different in pets is that sneezing and itchy eyes are not typically signs of allergies. Most often pets lick, bite, and scratch their skin when they are allergic. The areas that seem to be the most sensitive are the feet, armpits, face and around the rectum. Sometimes the only manifestation of an allergy is incessant scratching of the ears. The ears can become red, become swollen, develop a discharge and then get infected.
Allergies develop because pollen given off by trees, flowers, grasses and weeds are either inhaled or absorbed by the by the skin and eyes. The body sees the pollen as a foreign substance and uses its immune system to isolate and get rid of the invader. Sometimes the immune system becomes overactive and releases substances such as histamines that cause all of the allergic signs.
Luckily there are many things that you can do to keep your pet comfortable during the allergy season. Your veterinarian will do a physical examination and make sure that other conditions aren’t causing the signs of allergies. Sometimes fleas, mites, and bacterial or fungal infections can cause signs similar to allergies. On occasion infections can be caused by allergies and need to be treated.
If allergy symptoms are seasonal, there are several medications that can be given on a short term basis. By far the most effective treatment is prednisone or other cortisone like drugs. These medications give immediate relief and can safely be used for one or two weeks. We don’t like to use prednisone long term because of side effects. Antihistamines, which help people with allergies, unfortunately do not work as well in animals. Only 18% of dogs respond well to antihistamines, but they are certainly worth a trial if the allergies last longer than a few weeks.
When allergies are manifested for months or even become nonseasonal, a medication called cyclosporine can be given. This medication mutes the allergic response with minimal side effects. One disadvantage of cyclosporine is high cost, especially in large animals.
Sometimes allergies that are difficult to control require allergy testing and the formulation of an allergy vaccine. Either skin testing (scratch test) or a blood test is taken to find what the patient is allergic to. Once the offending allergens are identified an injectable vaccine is made which your veterinarian can teach you to administer.
Recently it has been learned that pollen can be absorbed by the skin and constant exposure can occur when the pollen lands on your pet. An effective way to reduce this type of exposure is bathing. It’s safe to bathe your pet several times each week to help keep him or her comfortable.
Luckily veterinarians have learned so much about allergies in pets, and through different treatment modalities you can keep your best friend comfortable.
BEN, The New Puppy!
Published August 24, 2011 | I realize I haven’t blogged in a while but that’s because of Ben, the new puppy! OMG in the mornings I race out of bed at about 6:30am to let him out of his crate before he has an accident. Then he goes into zippy mode and races around like he’s insane. He’s like a piranha on four legs at this ungodly hour. So just after I let him out I go make a cup of coffee and sit outside in a fog in my pajamas not caring even a little if the neighbors see me or hear me say “make outside” and “good boy”. Then after this first turbo charged session, he calms down a bit. He really is the cutest little thing except he’s not really so little. At eleven weeks he’s weighing in at 19, yes 19 pounds! I was carrying him around but now i’m trying to train him to just follow me and walk. It’s working, however, it’s hard to get him to yield to Tucker.
Tucker is completely blown away by our new addition. I guess the sweet, docile personality that makes Tucker such a wonderful dog, isn’t helping him establish who is king of the castle. Ben has been chopping on poor Tucker and he just takes it or runs away. Tuck even got out of the electric fence twice (well his collar was off) but gratefully I found him right away playing with a neighbor’s dog. He hasn’t run through the fence in years whether his collar was on or not. Now I won’t let him out if I’m not home and I’ve been praising Tucker and trying to always greet him and give him attention first. I have gated off part of my yard which can be accessed right from my door which has a doggie door opening. Ben learned how to go through the doggie door really fast. I was thinking, wow, he’s really smart although he did chase his tail today for about two whole minutes. What can I say? House training is working and I’d say he’s about 70 percent house trained already.
NOse Offense has been helping me with the other 30 percent. I use it on the carpets, floors and even in the garbage pail. A friend recommended I pick up my area rugs until Ben was trained but since I didn’t really want to live like that I guess I’ll have to have the rugs cleaned when he’s trained. Meanwhile it’s really amazing the way dogs have moods just like we do. Poor Tucker is so completely bummed out that his territory has been invaded. He’s not himself and mopes around when he’s not running away from Ben’s jaws! I gently squeeze Ben’s nose and mouth when he does this and yell “no” but, gee Tucker, man up will ya. My friend’s dog Charlie, (my life saver friend who helps me so much) just gives Ben a growl and maybe a nip and, boy, does Ben back off. But with Tucker it doesn’t work that way, it’s like two siblings. You love them both but it’s exhausting trying to negotiate proper behavior. I also wonder if we waited too long to add a puppy to our home. Tuck’s almost 7. My friend’s dog, Charlie, is only two and likes playing with Ben. Aside from the training part, I have had to puppy-proof the house! Did you know dishwashing detergent is poison?! So is sugarless gum which can be immediately fatal. Also very dangerous is chocolate, especially baking chocolate and many plants. In my garden are azaleas, hydrangeas and rhodedenroms. All poisonous. Fortunately my gated area doesn’t have any of those except for one bush which I gated off. I do allow Ben to chew sticks made of maple or pine which he really likes but mostly I have puppy toys everywhere, giving him lots to chew and avoiding saying no every minute. So life is crazy right now and sometimes I think I should have my head examined but when Ben looks up at me and licks my face and puts his little paws around my neck and then falls asleep on me and I can feel and hear his breathing, I just fall in love all over again. Stay tuned…
Heat Stroke in Animals
Published July 15, 2011 | Summer is here! Along with some of the fun activities that we do with our pets, come some dangers. One of the most serious conditions that we see in the summer is heat stroke.
Unlike people, dogs and cats do not sweat. While heat stroke is rare in cats, it is seen commonly in dogs. Pets primarily release excess heat through panting. On very hot days, pets that do not have the ability dissipate their heat can develop temperatures in excess of 106 degrees F. Very high temperatures cause metabolic disturbances that could cause body functions to shut down and have catastrophic consequences.
There are several predisposing factors that can lead to heat stroke. First, obesity can lead to heat stroke because overweight dogs do not have the ability expel as much heat through panting as thin dogs. Also brachycephalic dogs, dogs with pushed in faces such as pugs, have naturally occurring upper airway obstructions, which prevents effective heat loss through panting. Some larger dogs develop laryngeal paralysis which also prevents heat loss. Dogs with laryngeal paralysis develop very noisy breathing especially when active.
Signs of heat stroke include panting, drooling, agitation, vomiting and diarrhea early in the course of the disease. Later on severe breathing problems, blue gums and tongue, seizures and collapse can occur.
If you suspect that your pet has heat stroke try to take a rectal temperature. Normal temperatures in dogs and cats are up to 102.8 F. If your pet is in distress and the temperature is above 104 F start treatment immediately. Either immerse your pet in cool water in a bath tub or simply use a garden hose to saturate his coat. Ice water is not good to use because it causes the blood vessels in the skin to constrict which prevents heat loss.
Once you have started the cooling process immediately call your veterinarian. Emergency measures must be taken to prevent severe metabolic problems. Your veterinarian will likely take blood tests and put your dog on intravenous fluids. Several days of hospitalization might be necessary.
One of the most common causes of heat stroke in cats is getting trapped in a clothes dryer. Cats love to crawl into containers, so never turn your dryer on without looking inside.
Awareness of the dangers of high temperatures can help prevent a catastrophe and prevention is the best way to avoid heat stroke. Never leave your dog in a car, even for a few minutes. Heat stroke can happen almost instantaneously even with the windows open. On very hot days, limit outside activity. Keep your pets in a cool room inside your house. Air conditioned rooms are best, but many times a fan will suffice. Have adequate water available and if your pet has to be outdoors, make sure that there is shade available. Watch old, obese pets especially carefully to make sure that they are comfortable. Summertime is a wonderful time of the year – as long as the weather is not too oppressive, you can enjoy it safely with your pet.
Tucker and Tess – Accidentally In Love!
Published June 21, 2011 | 
Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Published June 8, 2011 | I frequently examine dogs with acute hind limb lameness. The typical history is the dog was playing outside and then suddenly cried out in pain. Refusal to put any weight on the limb is common. If the owner waits a few days the dog will start to bare weight on the limb, but continues to be lame.
A thorough physical examination by your veterinarian usually reveals a sensitive knee. Many knees are swollen with fluid, but sometimes there’s no swelling at all. Your veterinarian will feel the knee and check for instability. If there is a type of instability called a cranial drawer sign the diagnosis of a turn cruciate ligament is made.
There are two cruciate ligaments in a dog’s knee, the cranial (forward) and caudal (backward) ligaments. They function in stabilizing the knee during activity. The most common injury is a tear of the cranial ligament. The ligament can tear from a traumatic injury such as being hit by a car, but the most common reason for the tear is from degeneration. Just using the leg repeatedly can cause the ligament to fray and just suddenly tear. 
It seems that some breeds of dogs are more prone to tearing their ligaments than others. We see torn cruciate ligaments in Labrador retrievers, Rottweilers and Pit Bull Terriers frequently, but we rarely see them in Collies or Greyhounds. There clearly is a hereditary component to this disease.
Treatment of a torn cruciate ligament is complicated. Dogs less than 30 pounds can sometimes return to full function without surgery, but larger dogs always need a surgical procedure. There are many methods to stabilize the joint and the method chosen by the surgeon frequently depends on the size of the dog. The torn ligament is always destroyed so surgeons cannot repair it. Sometimes the surgeon will use strong suture material or even the dog’s own tissue to replace the function of the ligament and prevent the instability. On very large dogs, surgeons do a procedure called a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy to prevent the instability. This is a complicated procedure that changes the angle of the tibia to prevent the drawer motion. Typically the tibia is cut and then reattached with a metal plate to attain stabilization.
After surgery, activity must be strictly curtailed for several weeks and then activity gradually increased over several months. Some form of physical therapy is always helpful to shorten the recuperation.
I think that it is really hard to prevent torn cruciate ligaments. Genetically predisposed dogs should be kept in good physical condition with special attention to obesity. Overweight dogs put more pressure on their knees with every step, and any way to decrease the load on a knee is helpful. Unfortunately dogs that tear a ligament on one knee are prone to tearing their ligaments on the other knee. The good news is that the success rate for surgery is over 90% and most dogs recover enough to live a happy, pain- free life.
Tucker is a Father!
Published May 17, 2011 | The call came late at night…”Do you want to breed Tucker?” Do I want to breed him? Are you kidding? I’ve been trying to breed him for a couple of years, but without any success. So the female (I’ll call her Tess) came over for a visit before she was in heat.
They got along very well…their first date. Well the next month when Tess came over, Tucker was insane with the intoxication of love! It was like he was possessed (it makes us girls understand boys a little better). Tucker romanced and wooed Tess for several days as I, horrified, watched my children look on. I tried to hide the lovers from the kids but it was impossible to keep a low 
profile. My teenage son ‘locked’ himself in his room, completely mortified. My young daughter just asked “What’s wrong with Tucker?” “Why does he keep whining like that?” I simply answered, “He’s love sick.” I, too, was even a little embarrassed although I didn’t think I would react that way. I kept the two dogs in my sunroom, away from the comings and goings of the rest of the family.
The owner of my new daughter-in-law came to sit with me while we watched the two golden retrievers honeymoon. I learned you have to watch them because the male dog could get hurt if they separate too soon and they should be in the male’s home as he will be more comfortable there (figures, it’s always the male who is considered more!). Anyway, for the most part, it was like a Disney movie. The two of them would walk in my fenced in yard, side by side, with their big feathery tails waving in unison. Then all of a sudden, like someone changed the channel from Nickelodeon to Cinemax, it happened. I called my neighbors and said, “Don’t look out the window” which was code for ‘I’m sorry for the explicit scene in my yard’ and ‘keep the kids away from the windows!’ I guess you might have already gathered that I kept my sense of humor through all this. I didn’t quite know what I was in for, but I did know I wanted (the option) of a puppy of Tucker’s. They ‘tied’ three times which is the point when they keep very still and I was even told you can assure them they are OK and say “good dog” in a soft voice. I called my husband and announced that I’ve become a madame! He was hysterical. So they are supposed to ‘tie’ a few times and have to continue to be watched, but I have to confess, by midnight the second day, I was exhausted! I closed the door to the sunroom and went to bed. When I came back the next morning, the doors to my sunroom had been all chewed and scratched!
I don’t know what went on after midnight when both dogs innocently looked up at me, but my beautiful sunroom reeked to high heaven! The odor was SO bad, I couldn’t stand to be in there. I gathered up all the quilts and towels I had lined the room with but the smell still lingered. Ugh I groaned…what have I done! I quickly ran to get NOse Offense…For Pets and thankfully within minutes the terrible smell in the air and all over my fabrics disappeared! With another successful bond later that day, I resigned myself to the fact that life, real life, is messy (and definitely smelly!).
I also reached a new appreciation for nature. The next day, Tucker’s love was past her season and they just played as friends as if the day before never happened! Amazing. So now it’s about two months later and Tucker is the proud father of four males and two females. All healthy I’ve been told. Their eyes are still closed and sleep by their mother most of the time. I can’t wait to see them this week. Now comes the big question, stud fee (to pay for my damaged french doors) or adopt a new puppy to add to our family? Well, I know how my kids feel…I’ll get back to you on this…
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Published May 2, 2011 | 
Heartworm disease is a parasite that dogs can contract after being bitten by a mosquito. I have always found the method of transmission and the development of heartworm disease in dogs fascinating. Heartworm disease can be treated, but luckily there is a very easy way to prevent the condition by administering medication monthly.
The only way for a dog to contract heartworm disease is to be bitten by a mosquito. Five months after a mosquito bite, a worm migrates to the heart and can cause deadly consequences. A mosquito that bites an infected dog incubates the larval stage of the heartworm and then bites another dog. If the dog is not on preventative medication the worm goes into the tissue under the skin to develop. During its development over three to four months, the worm migrates through the tissue and somehow ends up in the pulmonary artery of the heart and in the right side of the heart.
The consequences of having these worms in the heart are severe. Early in the course of the disease there could be no signs of illness, but as the disease becomes chronic dogs can become weak, cough, spit up blood, and even develop heart failure.
There is a way to treat heartworm disease, but the therapy itself can be very toxic. Veterinarians inject a medication that slowly kills the worms. The drug is actually related to arsenic, which can have severe side effects. Generally a veterinarian will give two or three injections over the course of a month to your dog. It is very important to enforce strict rest for four to six weeks.
The good news is that there is an easy way to prevent heartworm disease. Administration of a medication monthly will kill the worms while they are still in the tissue under the skin. The worm never has a chance to migrate to the heart and cause damage. The medication is available in pill form or in a liquid that can be applied to the skin between the shoulder blades monthly. Your dog should have a yearly blood test, and if it is negative, monthly therapy should be administered year round. One benefit of giving the medication is that it also prevents many intestinal parasites that can be dangerous to dogs.
So heartworm disease is clearly a condition where prevention is so important. Because of the efficacy of today’s preventatives, no dog should ever develop heartworm disease. Luckily almost all of my patients take the monthly preventative, and I rarely see the disease.
Tucker is our hero AND our bodyguard!
Published April 12, 2011 | One day when Tucker was about one and a half, I was taking him with me to one of those big chain pet stores in a neighboring town to buy some dog supplies. I put his leash on and got out of the car. At that same moment, a rather strange looking man was walking in our direction in the parking lot. Before I even had a chance to process the scene, Tucker let out a low pitched growl, which frightened me and made me instantly aware of my surroundings. I held him fast as he turned from my usually docile, 80-pound ball of butter into this scary “Cujo” dog. He bared his teeth and continued to growl and bark like mad at this creepy-looking guy. I pulled Tucker with 
me into the pet store and the man followed. Once inside the store, I knelt down beside Tucker and tried to console him but to no avail. He wouldn’t let up his campaign of snarls, baring teeth and barking at this man. A woman and her two boys asked me if this was unusual for my golden as her worried gaze wandered from Tucker to this man who was walking around the store. I nodded yes and felt a little better about my presence in this store and how I might be disturbing other people. The man soon left the store and Tucker instantly stopped growling, reverting back to his friendly, amazing self.
I thought a lot about this event afterwards and realized we humans often ignore our instincts and rationalize them away but our dogs are, after all, animals and don’t have any intellectual reasoning NOT to listen to their inner voices. Who knows what this man was all about, perhaps he was emitting a distinct smell or odor that only a dog could perceive? Obviously Tucker sensed something sinister and drew so much negative attention towards this guy that he practically ran out of the store. From that day on, I gained a great respect for Tucker and learned to “listen” to him when in a questionable situation. Again – our hero!
How Pets Tell You They Don’t Feel Well
Published March 28, 2011 | 
A frequent question asked by people is “How can you tell if a pet is sick?” Pet owners wonder how I can figure out what’s wrong without their pet telling me what’s hurting. Of course pets can’t talk, but one thing they are really good at is communicating. Pets let you know when they are not feeling well; it’s up to owners and veterinarians to figure out what they are trying to tell us.
Coughing, sneezing or a runny nose can be your pet’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Also lameness, whether just limping or not putting any weight on a limb, lets you know that something hurts. Pets do not have to cry out in pain to be uncomfortable.
The first sign of illness is a change in daily routines by your pet. Appetite changes are sometimes the first sign of illness. If your pet loves to eat, but suddenly isn’t interested in food, many times he is ill. Sometimes a pet will only eat table food and ignore his regular diet. I equate this to when I’m sick and have a fever. If you give me a choice of a plate of chocolate cake or steamed broccoli I will always choose the chocolate cake. I’m still sick, but I’ll eat only something that tastes very good. The same thing happens to pets when they are not well. They will only eat something that is really enticing. A pet with a selective appetite could have a fever, nausea, abdominal pain or even some sort of emotional stress. Many times people bring their inappetent pets to me because they think they might have a toothache. They naturally assume that lack of appetite is due to mouth pain. That does happen occasionally, but usually lack of appetite indicates another illness.
Older cats sometimes develop a voracious appetite and lose weight at the same time. Many pet owners think that their pets have worms, but most many cats with these signs actually have an overactive thyroid. Cats in particular can get a smelly voluminous stool if they have a thyroid problem and dogs can have pancreatic problems when there is a change in bowel habits. Parasites can always be a culprit. If the change persists for more than a week it should be check out.
Other signs of illness include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or excessive urinating. If your pet has a change in bowel movement, i.e. schedule, volume, smell, etc, that could also be indicative of illness but many times it’s not a problem. Pets get diabetes just like people do, and it’s so important for pet owners to get their pets to a veterinarian before there are serious complications.
When you pet your dog or cat, feel the ribs and spine. If all of a sudden your pet feels very boney, have your doctor do a physical exam. Although some older pet lose muscle mass when they age, weight loss could indicate a more serious illness. Blood tests, radiographs (Xrays), and ultrasound examinations help to identify any illnesses.
As I said earlier, pets can’t talk but they are able to communicate. No one knows their pet better than you, so if you see something that looks unusual, have your veterinarian do an examination.
Tucker, our hero!
Published March 21, 2011 | My special needs daughter had hip surgery at the age of 7 and was in bed for three months. Our golden retriever, Tucker, helped her heal more than anything else!
My daughter had been home for a week, was in pain and miserable. On the 7th day, my husband and I brought this precious, 9-week-old light golden retriever puppy home. Placed him next to her on her hospital bed. She placed her little arm around him and smiled for the first time since her surgery.
As our daughter’s spika cast held her captive to her hospital bed (set up in our sunroom), the entire family’s focus changed from watching her suffer to watching and laughing at the antics of our new addition. Tucker became her whole world. In the middle of Winter, we played and trained Tucker as Becca slowly healed.
Becca’s older brothers had to figure out ways to get the puppy to go outside in the freezing cold and snow to go to the bathroom. One brother discovered if he took a laser pointer and moved the light in the snow in front of the puppy, he would follow it outside to go to the bathroom and back again.
It was genius. Let me explain. We had a “doggy door” cut into our back door of the sunroom and fenced off a small section of the yard just outside the door. When it was midnight and 14 degrees outside, the laser pointer light would lure Tucker outside and we watched just inside from the windows. It was hysterical fun to watch him dip his nose in the snow as he discovered it for the first time. This routine got us through many freezing days. Becca’s other brother taught Tucker to go through the doggie door, which is really just a rectangular cutout in the door with a plastic flap he can easily pass through. Well, her other brother taught him to go through it by crawling through himself with dog treats in hand. Another brilliant solution.
During her recovery in that 20 x 14 foot room, for three months, my daughter healed with laughter as I cared for her and the puppy at the same time. A memory that could have been one of watching her misery was changed into memories of hope…our golden means everything to her and all of us.
Our hero
That was six years ago. Tucker is now full grown, 85lbs of joy and, we like to think, a little like Lassie. Let me explain. One day when Tucker was about 6months old and still hadn’t barked yet (first dogs don’t learn to bark very early because they don’t live with another dog to model it for them), anyway, we brought Tucker to our son’s baseball game. This particular field was adjacent to a lot of woods and so while we were watching the game, Tucker started to bark. He barked like crazy and wouldn’t stop. He was really disturbing the game and it was all I could do to try and stop him. I took his leash and walked him behind the bleachers and tried to console him but it didn’t stop him. Then I noticed he was barking in the direction of the woods. I let Tucker walk me into the woods about twenty feet and, there was this little girl (one of the sisters of the baseball players), stuck in a thorn bush and whimpering. No one had noticed she wandered off, except Tucker! I told you – Lassie!