Happy Valentine's Day

February 14th is a day for all to show our loved ones how much we care.  This inevitably means gifts of food and flowers.  Our pets are rarely far from our sides, so Midlands Veterinary Practice wants to remind you to be careful when you get your Valentine's treats.  Be sure to keep all food items out of reach of your pets, especially chocolate items.  Also be careful that any small ribbons or wrapping material is placed in the waste or out of reach of pets.  Be aware that some flowers and plants are toxic to our pets (especially the lilly family), so it's best to keep them placed away from the reach of our four legged friends.  Help make this a happy and safe day for all our loved ones.

Hope for bad breath

February is most well known for Valentine's Day, but our pet population has a whole month to celebrate a crucial part of health management, their teeth!  February is Pet Dental Health Month, and Midlands Veterinary Practice wants your pet's mouth to be in the best condition possible.  Dental health is important for several reasons for our pets.  First and foremost, plaque and tartar are simply bacteria factories, and these bacteria can have adverse effects in the mouth, such as bad breath and tooth or gum decay.  These bacteria can also spread to other body parts, such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidney to cause severe infections.  Secondly, damaged gums or teeth are a significant source of pain for our pets, and we want to do everything possible to minimize pain.  Thirdly, their is the issue of cosmetics, and a pet with a full set of teeth is a goal for all pet owners.  In order to properly clean your pet's teeth, they will need to go through an anesthetic period.  During their anesthesia, each tooth can be individually assessed, cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler, and polished.  Recovery times are quite rapid.  The vast majority of pets can be left with us early in the morning and be home by early afternoon.  If you would like to have your pet's oral health assessed, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Bath time

One of the most common questions I get about pet care is in regard to type of shampoo and frequency of bathing of pets.  For our purposes, we will primarily consider this topic to be dog specific, however a few words about cats will be included.  There are a multitude of different shampoos on the veterinary market today, many available over the counter.  The first thing to consider about shampooing is the purpose of the shampoo.  The type of shampoo should be tailored to the reason, for instance a flea and tick shampoo would not be an appropriate item to use for a dog with a severe bacterial skin infection.  By the same token, a well pampered pet does not need a harsh chemical shampoo, either.  Regarding flea and tick shampoo, I strongly discourage the purchase and use of these products, as their efficacy is minimal, they can be quite irritating, and can cause adverse reactions in cats.  Many clients are familiar with oatmeal based grooming shampoos that are available over the counter.  These shampoos tend to be fairly benign in regards to their side effects, and may provide some soothing capacity for mildly irritated skin (although these effects are often quite short lived).   For clients seeking a shampoo with a broader range of efficacy for multiple conditions, our practice carries and recommends a shampoo called Hylyt.  This shampoo is soap free and is infused with essential fatty acids, and has a very pleasant scent.  This shampoo is perfect for the vast majority of patients with mild to moderate skin inflammation.  The added benefit of it being soap free means that it will not wash off any of the topical flea/tick medication.  Frequency of bathing is a bit more difficult to address.  Most pets will not need any more than 1-2 times monthly baths.  However, it should be remembered that if your pet is dealing with a particular skin problem, frequency of bathing may vary.  With the advent of newer technologies, the veterinary shampoo market has expanded tremendously, and for pets with more persistent or problematic skin conditions, there are a variety of shampoos that are targeted at specific issues.  If you are having problems with your pet's skin condition, please call our office for an appointment to see what shampoo would be best suited for you.

New beginnings

    The new year is upon us, and that is cause to consider new beginnings (especially in the wake of Christmas presents that bark or meow).  We wanted to review today the basics of a new puppy or kitten's first 6 months of veterinary visits.  

     For most puppies, their initial medical care will consist of deworming at 2,4, and 6 weeks of age.  Most puppies receive their first set of vaccinations at 6 weeks of age.  Our recommended sequence of vaccinations is at 6,9, 12, and 16 weeks of age.  Each time your puppy visits us, it will receive a full physical examination and a stool sample will be obtained to screen for intestinal parasites.  Any questions regarding your new puppy will be answered, and a booster vaccination will be given at each visit.  When your puppy is approximately 16 weeks of age, it receives its final puppy vaccinations (including a rabies vaccination), and we will discuss timing and cost of spaying or neutering.  This surgery can then be scheduled when the puppy is approximately 6 months of age.  We currently recommend returning with your pet every 6 months for physical examinations and periodic updating of necessary vaccinations.  

     Kittens are fairly similar to puppies, except we recommend a vaccination schedule of 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age.  The remaining veterinary care visits and timing of surgical sterilization remains the same.  For both puppies and kittens we recommend transitioning from puppy/kitten food over to adult food around 6 months of age.  If you or a family member is starting out the new year with a new pet, give our office a call to set up an appointment.  We wish you all a happy and safe new year!

Pet food safety

     In the wake of the recent pet food/snack recalls, we felt it prudent to provide a link to the FDA's website on recalls and withdrawals.  It is important to understand that the overwhelming majority of pet foods currently being manufactured are quite safe, however it is wise to review the information the FDA provides periodically.  If you have any questions regarding pet foods, please call our office.


http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/RecallsWithdrawals/default.htm

Just weight

     Apologies for the short lapse in our blog posting.  The holidays sometimes get a little hectic!  One of the things I've been spending time discussing with clients lately is weight management.  We had an extremely hot summer, and many of our pets didn't get as much exercise as they might normally have gotten.  Subsequently, we are seeing more pets now that are struggling with a few extra pounds.  There are several recommendations we make to our pet owners with overweight pets.  The first thing is that we need to have an objectively obtained list of all food/treat/snack items the pet ingests on a daily basis as well as all individuals who may offer these food/treat/snack items to the pet.  This gives us a baseline for what type of caloric load the pet encounters.  Second, we suggest that the first level of moderation occur at the snack/treat level.  All snacks (unfortunately) have calories.  This includes milkbones, rawhides, and the like.  Just as in humans, it's not the first snack that gets you, but the accumulation through time of all the snacks eaten.  We don't want to eliminate this important bonding experience from your pet, but rather we'd like to change the type of snacks to something more healthy.  Typical recommendations are using vegetables such as carrots, or marshmallows, or even small pieces of rice cakes.  The key is to substitute a less calorie dense product for the current treat.  Additionally, we look to address portion control in pets.  This is done through measuring with a marked dry measuring cup the exact amount of food being offered.  We typically recommend feeding pets twice daily, and allow access to the food for approximately 30-45 minutes.  Any remaining food at the end of that time period is removed.  The third item we try to adjust is the amount of activity the pet is getting.  Exercise is just as important for our pets as it is for us.  The key is small amounts of consistent activity more frequently.  It is far better to take your pet for a short but brisk walk 3 times a day than one long walk once a week.  Weight management in pets is a complicated issue, and there are a multitude of factors that must be considered in addition to the above items.  Every pet should have an individualized weight management program.  If your pet is overweight, please call and schedule an appointment for a physical examination and consultation.

More cold preparation

     Last week we talked about preparations to keep your pet warm and safe in the colder months.  Today, we are going to talk about some of the impact the cold weather can have on a specific population of pets:  our arthritic ones.  Arthritis is an all too prevalent condition in our pet population.  Animals, like humans, experience stiffness and pain due to arthritis and these symptoms tend to become aggravated by both cold and damp weather.  There are several things pet owners can do to try to minimize discomfort during this winter season.  First, make sure that your pet has a soft, well cushioned surface to sleep/rest on.  Things such as orthopedic foam or baby crib mattresses work well.  Make sure that the pet can traverse the house on solid, non slip surfaces such as carpet or rugs.  Many arthritic pets actually benefit from an increase in the frequency of walks; however do not necessarily increase the duration of the walks.  It is typically better for an arthritic pet to take multiple short walks throughout the day as opposed to one long walk.  Remember, if your pet experiences an increased amount of activity, that you can expect a corresponding increase in soreness or discomfort over the next few days.  This brings up the importance of making sure that your pet is on a quality joint support formula going into the winter season.  Additionally, some arthritic pets may require the use of additional medications intended for use during acute flare ups of arthritis.  It is critical that you discuss the use of any additional pain medications with one of our staff members or veterinarians prior to use.  Under no circumstances should ANY of the typical over the counter human pain medications be used.  Please call our office if you have further questions on how to manage your pet's arthritis.

Colder weather is coming

     It seems that we have finally put the brutal heat of the summer behind us for good.  We still are fortunate enough to have some nice temperate days but we all know that colder weather is approaching, and we need to make sure that our pets are as prepared as we are.  If your pet is strictly outdoors, you should ensure that there is a well insulated shelter area for the pet to retreat to in times of cold weather.  For dogs, obviously some form of dog house is ideal.  Cats (as always) are a little more difficult, as they tend to seek their own areas to hide out in, but you can at least provide a small enclosure/hut with bedding in case they use it.  Outside water bowls should always be checked to make sure that the water hasn't frozen over.  Close monitoring of upcoming weather, especially if it is more cold than normal should alert clients that pets may need to be brought indoors or into garages as added protection.  Pet owners should also be extremely careful about access pets have to things in the environment.  Commonly, antifreeze is changed, and as many people know is toxic to pets.  Be sure that there are no other chemical agents around the yard/garage that could pose a health hazard.  If pets are primarily inside, then there aren't as many concerns, but you should remember that our indoor pets aren't as acclimated to cold weather, and should not be left outdoors for lengthy time periods.  Additionally, pets should not be allowed to come into the close vicinity of space heaters or other sources of heat (electric blankets, wood stoves, etc) as thermal burns can easily occur.  If you have questions about the cold weather and your pet, please call our staff for more information.

Itching for relief

     One of the most common complaints pet owners have is that their dog (usually), or cat (occasionally) has skin irritation and is chewing, biting, licking, rubbing, or all of the above.  This problem can be either relatively minor in scale or can be a major impediment.  There are a multitude of things that can cause skin inflammation.  Most commonly we see allergies (fleas, environmental, food).  Pet owners are obviously seeking relief for these itchy pets.  A safe at home medication to start animals on is benadryl.  Pets can also be bathed in oatmeal based shampoos to obtain temporary relief.  The most important thing to do is to have your pet evaluated when itching occurs, so that our therapy can be specifically targeted to your pet.  Pet owners should bear in mind that control of itchy animals can be a long drawn out process, so patience is crucial as we work through treatment options.  Rarely, it becomes necessary to refer our pets to a board certified dermatologist for consulation and further diagnostics such as intradermal skin testing.

Planning your travels

     As the holiday season approaches, pet owners are often left in a quandary about what to do with their pets during times of travel.  Midlands Veterinary Practice offers boarding for your pets during these holiday times.  Our facility offers climate controlled indoor runs and cages for your cats and dogs.  The holiday season is quite busy for our boarding facilities and we strongly recommend that you set up anticipated boarding as early as possible.  It's much better to have a slot reserved and not need it than to need it and not have it.  All pets that board with us need to have vaccinations that are up to date.  Owners who have had vaccinations administered at another facility will need to bring records of vaccination.  Our vaccination requirements for cats are rabies and rhinotracheitis-calicivirus-panleukopenia;  our canine requirements are rabies, distemper-hepatitis-parainfluenza-leptospirosis-parvovirus, bordetella, and influenza.  A special note regarding influenza vaccination is in order:  if your pet has not had an influenza vaccination, it will need to be given an initial injection, followed by a booster in two weeks, followed by yearly boosters thereafter.  In order to provide the most complete immunity, your pet should receive initial influenza vaccination and booster at least one month prior to boarding.  While your pet stays with us, please let us know if there are any additional services that need to performed, such as examinations, microchips, nail trims, or baths.  We welcome your pet during the holiday season if you're unable to have them travel with you.

A credit card for your pet

     Pet owners can't predict the future, and we all know that our pets are as likely as we are to have accidents occur that necessitate significant financial expense.  Most pet owners do not have a budget specifically for these instances, so when a crisis occurs we many times find ourselves racing around desperately trying to secure funds for our pets' needs.  One solution to this problem is the use of CareCredit.  This is essentially a credit card used for medical expenses (both human and veterinary expenses).  As with a traditional credit card, pet owners will need to apply for approval.  Fortunately the application and approval process is quite rapid.  Pet owners can apply online or on the phone and receive a response almost instantly.  CareCredit offers varying repayment options, allowing clients the flexibility to pick what payment arrangements work best.  Pet owners are encouraged to investigate CareCredit before an emergency happens.  Contact our staff for further details.

(No) trick or treats

     It's scary how fast the year is going by, and now Halloween is just around the corner.  We want you and your furry family to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.  A few reminders are in order about this holiday.  First, remember that candy and snacks are for kids and adults, not our pets.  Make sure that all bags of candy and snacks are kept in a secure area not accessible to pets.  Make sure that pets and young children with candy are not left unsupervised.  If your pet ingests a candy or snack item, be sure to check with our staff or if we are closed with the staff of South Carolina Veterinary Emergency Care to determine the appropriate course of action.  Remember that there will be an increase in activity in and around the house on Halloween, so be sure that all pets are placed in a secure and comfortable place, such as crate or bedroom until trick or treating is over.  Additionally, monitor all outdoor activities closely.  It's easy to have a pet become nervous or excited and run off.  It is generally encouraged have all pets kept indoors during the majority of this holiday, as malicious behavior is especially common during Halloween.  With a few extra precautions, this Halloween can be a safe and happy one for pets and for you.

safe travels

     The holiday season is closing in fast, and for many pet owners that means traveling to see family and friends.  Of course we want to bring our pets along on these travels, but it's as important to take safety precautions for our pets as it is for us.  There is a tendency to give our pets free access to the vehicle while traveling, however this is an unsafe practice because we need to be focused on our driving.  Dogs should be either safety belted into a dog specific seat belt during travel, or placed in a securely fastened crate or kennel.  Cats should be placed in a securely fastened crate or kennel.  Some pets may exhibit motion sickness or anxiety during travel.  Please contact our staff for further information on how to handle these specific cases.  If travel with your pet is not an option, please contact us for information on boarding your pet for you.  We wish you and your pets safe and happy travels this holiday season!

look out for leptospirosis

     The midlands has been the recipient of some heavy rainfall recently, so we wanted to remind everyone about a somewhat forgotten disease called leptospirosis.  Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the microscopic spirochete Leptospira.  This organism is typically found in standing water.  It is transmitted through intact or cut skin surfaces or via mucous membranes.  Rodents and other wildlife are the typical hosts.  This spirochete enters and spreads rapidly throughout the body, causing fever and lethargy.  It typically targets the liver or kidneys.  Although infrequently diagnosed, the disease can make pets quite ill, and the spirochete poses the risk of transmission to humans as well.  Prevention of leptospirosis is through minimizing access to standing pools of water; excellent cleansing/disinfecting if in a kennel situation; and routine vaccination.  Leptospirosis is typically included with other puppy vaccinations and because it has a short duration of immunity pets must receive yearly boosters.  If your pet is not current on its leptospirosis vaccination, call our office today for an appointment.

That darn dog

     Last week we discussed Feliway and its use in some problem behaviors our felines may exhibit.  This week, we focus on a similar product intended for our dogs.  D.A.P. (dog appeasing pheromone) is a chemical copy of the pheromone produced by the mother dog at birth that helps to calm puppies.  The effect of this pheromone lasts throughout the dog's life.  D.A.P. may be useful in several situations:  excessive barking; inappropriate elimination (either urine or feces); chewing; anxiety; or to help adapt a new puppy/canine to a home.  D.A.P. comes as a diffuser, a spray, as well as a collar.  As with Feliway, results vary.  Dog owners should give the product at least a month long trial, and should still practice other behavior modification techniques, as D.A.P. is not intended as a stand alone answer to all behavior problems.  Call our office today for more information!

That darn cat

     Cats are important members of the domestic pet household, but too often they garner negative attention due to inappropriate behaviors such as clawing furniture, aggression, and urine marking.  Many pet owners have experienced this situation, either with their personal cat, or through word of mouth.  There are numerous ways of approaching the treatment of these behaviors.  One important component to consider is the use of the product Feliway, which is a synthetic analog of the natural feline facial pheromone.  Facial pheromones are important for cats to feel safe and secure in an environment or situation.  Feliway comes as both a plug in diffuser as well as a spray formulation.  Not every cat responds to Feliway, and responders may take several weeks to begin showing results.  However, due to the ease of use and lack of any toxicity, as well as the added benefit of not trying to administer an oral medication to a cat, Feliway is a viable and easy product to use.  Cat owners should understand and remember that there are a multitude of causes of inappropriate feline behaviors, and that Feliway is not an answer to all problems.  Owners who are interested in using this product with their cat should contact our office and set up an appointment to have a physical examination performed and to discuss whether Feliway is a product that may be of use.

Is it snack time yet?

     Pet owners love their furry friends and as a result often we are looking for things to give our pets as treats or snacks.  We wanted to focus on the idea of treats and snacks and make sure that pet owners are utilizing appropriate and healthy choices for these important parts of our pets' lives.  We will focus primarily on dogs for this discussion.  There is a common misconception that bones are appropriate treats/chew toys for dogs.  This is an exceedingly dangerous misconception.  Dogs certainly used to eat bones in the wild, but the important thing to remember is that these bones were raw, not cooked; and these bones were chewed thoroughly, not swallowed whole.  Our domesticated dogs, however, are not very tolerant of bones.  It is our firm belief and recommendation that no bones of any sort ever be offered to a pet.  The probability of negative consequences is high.  Our pet owners should also exercise caution when offering their pets any appropriate chew item or treat, and monitor the pet during eating that item to ensure that it is chewed thoroughly and swallowed without incident.  We also want to remind pet owners that any treat can be used or given in excess, even something innocuous like milkbones.  We strive to maintain the most healthy population of pets possible.  Our recommendations for treats and snacks for most pets involve the use of common vegetables such as baby carrots or green beans.  We highly encourage any and all pet owners to check with us prior to using treats, snacks, or chew toys with their pets.  An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure.

Disaster preparedness

     We recently had a hurricane scare when Irene moved through.  Fortunately, our area was spared, but as we enter hurricane season, it is important to be prepared for disasters.  Planning is the most important aspect of dealing with a disaster or evacuation scenario.  Pet owners should take steps to find alternate housing, either with  friends, pet friendly motels, or boarding facilities in the event of emergency.  Additionally, find veterinary offices in the same areas in case your pet needs medical care.  Have a copy of your pets' medical records and vaccination history readily available.  Keep a list of these phone numbers in an easily accessible place.  Make sure that you have a properly functioning crate/kennel for each pet in the household so that you may safely transport them in the event of an emergency.  Make sure you have enough food (dry food is recommended) and water (make sure the bottles are shatterproof) for your pets.  If your pet requires a prescription diet or medication, be sure to have ample quantities on hand.  Pets should have identification tags with current information and/or be microchipped.  Make sure all family members are familiar with the emergency preparedness plan.  With careful planning you can minimize the impact a disaster or emegency has on you and your pet.

Online pharmacy now offered through MVP

     There are numerous internet pharmacy options available for our pets.  You may have even used one in the past.  Standard online pharmacies such as 1800PetMed offer many, but not all products that your pet may need.  The issue with these pharmacies is that product is diverted through a third party and thus manufacturer guarantees are minimal to non existent.  In order to better serve our clients, Midlands Veterinary Practice has partnered with the veterinary direct online pharmacy VetSource.  VetSource will offer our clients the ease of home delivery; competitive pricing with standard online pharmacies; a reminder system for the next dose your pet needs; the option of single dose purchasing (something not availabe through other online pharmacies); and full manufacturer backing of product guarantess (also not available through other online pharmacies).  We will begin our foray into this online pharmacy world slowly, of course, and will initially offer heartworm and flea medications as well as several additional items.  We will be expanding these offerings with time.  Clients interested in signing up should go to http://midlandsvetpractice.vetsourceweb.com/index.pml.

Heartworm disease

     The southeast a hot spot of a multitude of pests and diseases.  One of the most important issues facing our pets is heartworm disease.  Heartworms are, literally, worms that reside in the heart and associated vessels of both dogs and cats.  Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos.  The life cycle begins in an infected dog with circulating immature forms of the heartworm that are taken up into the mosquito along with a blood meal.  Inside the mosquito these go through several larval cycles.  The mosquito then feeds again and injects these larval stages into your pet.  These larval stages migrate through the body until they reach the heart and finish their maturation process into adult worms.  These worms interfere with the heart and associated blood vessels, leading to a host of consequences including potential death.  One of the most common clinical signs of active heartworm disease is coughing.  The only way to diagnose heartworms in dogs is a simple blood test (diagnostics for cats are much more difficult).  Should your pet test positive for heartworms, treatment is availabe.  All dogs should have yearly heartworm testing, and a current (within one year) negative heartworm test is required to refill heartworm prevention for dogs.  In our geographic location, heartworms are considered endemic, and monthly prevention should be given each month throughout the entire year.  There is a misconception that only outdoor dogs are susceptible to heartworms; this is a fallacy.  Every dog is susceptible, as there is no such thing as a mosquito free environment.  We also recommend monthly heartworm protection year round for cats, but to due to species differences cats do not require yearly heartworm testing.  There are a multitude of products available on a prescription basis that are extremely effective for the prevention of heartworms in your pet.  It should be noted that there several holistic methods purported for heartworm prevention, none of which have any scientific basis of support.