Category: Veterinary Topics

Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening, acute condition that requires immediate medical attention.  Certain breeds are more prone to this condition: Boxers, Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Saint Bernards, Irish Setters, Dobermans, Weimaraners and Gordon Setters.  These breeds are considered deep-chested (large chest and narrow waist) but any similarly shaped dog can be at risk. Diagnosis of GDV is made based on physical examination, history and abdominal x-rays.  Often GDV happens when a pet eats a large meal and then becomes very active.  Initially the dog may become restless, try to vomit or retch continuously but is unable to produce any vomit.  This is because the stomach has twisted, preventing anything entering and exiting the digestive system.  The pressure inside the stomach starts to increase and the dog may salivate and pant excessively.  As the patient’s condition progresses they become lethargic, have a swollen stomach and eventually collapse.  If not treated, the internal organs can be damaged and without timely treatment this condition is fatal. The goals of treatment are to reduce the pressure in the stomach and return the stomach to its normal position.  During the surgery, the stomach and internal organs are examined for damage and then the stomach is attached to the body wall to prevent a reoccurrence. Prophylactic suturing of the stomach is sometimes advised in breeds predisposed to GDV during abdominal surgeries for other causes.  Other preventative measures include restriction of exercise before and after feeding.  Feed twice a day instead of once a day and not to elevate food/water bowls.

A common parasite, fleas are found in almost every area of the world and can be found on dogs, cats, and many other mammals. They survive year to year even in cold climates because they live on pets, in buildings, and on wild animals. There are four stages to the flea life cycle. Eggs are laid by an adult female flea which is on a host.  The eggs roll off into the environment and after a few days they mature into larvae.  Larvae survive by eating flea feces, flea egg shells, organic debris, and other flea larvae.  They can crawl and move as far as six inches per day.  After a few days, and once conditions are conducive, larvae mature into pupae.  Pupae have very thick shells and are very resistant to environmental conditions.  After a few days, and once the pupae detect a host is present, they mature into adult fleas that hop on another host. There are many types of flea treatments.  Unfortunately, there is no one drug or chemical that can kill all four stages of the flea.  There are several types of good products to kill adult fleas:  Activyl, Frontline, Advantage, Comfortis, Capstar, Revolution, and others. Older products of various formulations of synthetic pyrethrins are also available, some of which are highly toxic to cats.  Lufenuron and methoprene  are chemicals that work on immature stages of the flea, although there is no chemical that will kill the pupal stage. Fleas are the number one allergen of dogs and cats and can cause severe skin disease and itching. Another reason fleas should be treated  is due to the fact that they can carry and spread several serious diseases, such as tapeworms, Cat scratch disease (Bartonella), murine typhus, and the bubonic plague. Your veterinarian can help you with a flea control program depending on what kind of pets you have and the level of flea infestation. Control may involve treating the environment as well as the pets. Contact your veterinarian today for more information about the treatment options available for your pet!

Feline distemper or feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral disease of kittens and adult cats caused by the feline parvovirus. It is also called panleukopenia as it affects the bone marrow and causes low white blood cell counts. It is relatively common in unvaccinated cats and is often fatal, especially in young kittens. It has been referred to as Feline Distemper, but in fact, it is a different virus than canine distemper and causes different symptoms. Early symptoms of feline distemper infection are lethargy and loss of appetite then rapid progression to severe, sometimes bloody diarrhea and vomiting.  These signs are very similar to other diseases, some serious, some not so serious. Therefore, if any abnormal behaviors or signs of illness are observed, it is important to have your veterinarian examine your pet as soon as possible.  A diagnosis of distemper is presumed if vomiting and diarrhea are present along with a low white blood cell count.  A diagnosis of distemper is confirmed when the virus is detected in blood or feces. Another syndrome associated with the feline distemper virus occurs when a susceptible pregnant cat or a newborn kitten is exposed.  The kittens will have permanent damage to the cerebellum part of the brain and walk with an uncoordinated gait and an elevated tail.  It may also affect the retinas of their eyes.  They are otherwise alert and act normal. Infection occurs when unvaccinated cats come in contact with the virus, which may be by contact with blood, urine, feces, nasal secretions, or even the fleas from an infected cat.  The hands and clothing of people who handle infected cats can also spread the disease. Unfortunately, the virus is very resistant to environmental conditions and difficult to destroy; it can remain infective for years.  Routine household disinfectants will not kill the virus, and a 1 to 30 dilution of bleach should be used to clean any appropriate surfaces. There is no medication to kill the virus. Hospitalization with IV fluid therapy and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection are necessary to support the cat’s health while its own body is fighting the infection. Not all will survive. Preventing the infection through vaccination is better rather than treating an infected cat. Today’s vaccines are very effective in helping your pet protect itself from infection. A series of kitten vaccinations followed by adult boosters stimulate the cat’s immune system to produce protective antibodies. Should the cat come into contact with the virus, these same antibodies will help your cat successfully fight off the infection. Consult with your veterinarian for advice on a vaccination schedule appropriate for your pet.

Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures.  It is commonly controlled with medication, although surgical methods are used as well. Epileptic seizures are classified both by their patterns of activity in the brain and their effects on behaviour. In terms of their pattern of activity, seizures may be described as either partial or generalised. Partial seizures only involve a localised part of the brain, whereas generalised seizures involve the entire cortex. The term ‘secondary generalisation’ may be used to describe a partial seizure that later spreads to the whole of the cortex and becomes generalised. All the causes of epilepsy are not known, but many predisposing factors have been identified, including brain damage resulting from malformations of brain development, head trauma, neurosurgical operations, other penetrating wounds of the brain, brain tumor, high fever, bacterial or viral encephalitis, stroke, intoxication, or acute or inborn disturbances of metabolism. Hereditary or genetic factors also play a role.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a life long disorder of dogs and cats that results when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to meet the animal’s needs. Insulin is a hormone needed to transport glucose (blood sugar) into the body’s cells. When there is a lack of insulin in the body, blood glucose rises to abnormally high levels. Over time, this causes damage to body tissues and produces the symptoms commonly seen in animals with DM. Early symptoms, such as weakness, weight loss, change in appetite and depression can be mild and may go unnoticed by the owner. Increased thirst and frequent urination more commonly results in a visit to your Veterinarian where tests can be done to identify what may be affecting the family pet. Urinary tract infections are more common in diabetic pets than in normal animals. Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan will be designed to meet the individual needs of your pet and you. The plan will address the type and amount of insulin, how it is to be administered, dietary restrictions and exercise for your pet.  Dogs are Type I diabetics in that they require insulin injections.  Cats are usually Type II diabetics. Insulin injections are usually used initially, but when fed a special diet, as much as 70% of cats can eventually be maintained without the insulin. There is no cure for DM, but through your commitment of time and management of their life style, your pet can lead a happy comfortable life.

The Importance of Dentistry What is periodontal disease? Over 85% of dogs and cats have some type of periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease simply means that the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place are being destroyed by oral bacteria.  This preventable disease is the number one diagnosed disease in our pets, yet many animals suffer needlessly.  Periodontal disease begins with gingivitis, or inflammation of the gum tissue, which is caused by plaque.  Plaque is a mixture of saliva, bacteria, glycoproteins and sugars that adhere to the tooth surface.  Within minutes after a cleaning, a thin layer of plaque has adhered to the teeth.  Eventually this hardens to become calculus or tartar.  Calculus by itself is nonpathogenic – it does not cause disease.  However, it does create a rough surface for more plaque to adhere to, and pushes the gums away from the teeth, which increases surface area for more plaque to adhere.  Eventually, the supporting structures of the tooth (bone, tissue, periodontal ligament) are destroyed and the tooth becomes mobile and will either fall out on its own or need to be extracted.  Signs of periodontal disease are bad breath (halitosis), reluctancy to eat, chewing on one side of the mouth, dropping food, pawing at the face or rubbing the face on the floor, drooling, becoming head shy, and painful mouth/face. Veterinarians recommend the following care for pets: STEP 1:  Bring your pet in for a dental exam.  Don’t wait for his annual checkup if you suspect a problem. STEP 2:  Begin a dental care regimen at home.  Brushing your pet’s teeth daily is very important.  We also recommend using a specially formulated dental rinse, and dental chews and food.  Please ask us if you need instructions on brushing your pet’s teeth, or if you have any other questions. STEP 3:  Schedule your pets for an annual teeth cleaning with x-rays.  This is also very important and ensures we are catching any disease early enough to treat. Periodontal disease and oral bacteria can easily affect other organ systems including the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and brain.

What is cancer:  Cancer, by definition, is the uncontrolled growth of cells.  Any type of cells in the body can become cancerous.  Once these cells grow out of control, they take over areas previously occupied by normal cells; sometimes these tumor cells break off and travel to other areas of the body.  Wherever these cells lodge they can start new tumors.  This process continues until there is not enough normal tissue remaining to sustain normal bodily functions.  There are a number of factors that influence how fast a cancer may grow or spread: type of cancer cell, location, genetics, as well as any concurrent illness or debilitating condition the patient may have. Why cancer happens:  While there are many research studies devoted to determining the causes of cancer, a lot about this disease is still unknown.  It is evident that factors like genetics; exposure to harmful substances, injury, and advanced age can predispose certain patients to this disease. Diagnosis:  Regular physical examinations and thorough medical history review are often key components to detecting cancer.  Samples of any abnormal tissue should be evaluated by a pathologist to determine the type of tumor and degree of aggressiveness of the disease.  A pathologist’s report, along with other imaging such as X-rays, ultrasound, and lab work help establish the patient’s health status and determine the optimal treatment plan. Treatment:  There are many different type of cancer treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or any combination of these treatments.  The important thing is to destroy the abnormal cells without damaging the normal cells.  Veterinary oncologists, veterinarians that specialize in the study and treatment of cancer, can be consulted to help determine what treatment would be best for the patient. Prognosis:  Cancer is not always a terminal disease.  Early detection and appropriate treatments are important in achieving the best outcome.  New advancements in diagnostics and more effective treatments are being discovered all the time.

Canine distemper is caused by a virus that is shed in bodily fluids of infected animals. The virus affects primarily the lungs, intestines, and nervous system. Symptoms of the infection can include coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, inappetance, dehydration, weight loss, seizures, and encephalitis. Secondary infections can present as discharge from the eyes and/or nose, and pneumonia. Puppies, especially those from shelters, are at the highest risk. Currently there are no antiviral medications to treat canine distemper. Treatment is aimed at controlling secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics and supportive care as needed. Vaccination aimed at preventing distemper is the best strategy. Puppies should be isolated from other dogs until they have completed their series of vaccinations at 16 weeks of age.

Bloat & Gastric Torsion is a serious condition and your pet should be rushed to the emergency room if this occurs. Certain breeds of dogs with deep chests and narrow waists, such as hounds,  Bouvier des Flandres, or Doberman Pinschers  are more susceptible to a syndrome of gastric torsion and bloat. This occurs when the stomach twists on its supporting ligaments and the contents begin to release  gas pressure. A similar disease is seen in cattle and horses as well. Dogs who experience such an attack are very susceptible to another which is usually more severe, and this is one case where immediate veterinary care is needed, normally requiring abdominal surgery to prevent a recurrence.