Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

Today being Halloween, it is appropriate to promote awareness of chocolate toxicity in dogs.  Children and even many grown-ups accidentally leave chocolate and other candy lying around and accessible to dogs…who rarely can resist the opportunity to gorge on it.  While in people overindulgence of chocolate may lead to a tummy ache, even relatively small quantities of chocolate consumed by dogs could lead to severe illness and death.

Chocolate contains a compound that comes from the cocoa plant that it is derived from called theobromine.  While this compound is by in large promptly metabolized in people and therefore poses little potential harm, canines metabolize theobromine much more slowly, causing it to accumulate in the system as it is ingested.  Once it reaches a certain level in the bloodstream, a number of adverse effects may begin to occur as it has the potential to affect multiple vital organ systems.

Theobromine causes a precipitous drop in blood pressure that can lead to heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats) and poor blood perfusion to vital organs, such as the kidneys and liver.  Arrhythmias can lead to cardiac arrest and organ failure secondary to compromised blood perfusion are common complications and causes of fatality from theobromine consumption.

Theobromine has an excitatory effect on the central nervous system, which can lead to dangerously high fever and seizures.  Lastly, theobromine has a toxic effective on the gastrointestinal system leading to vomiting and diarrhea, often severe in nature.

All chocolate has some levels of theobromine, but some types of chocolate have more than others.  While you should always seek veterinary attention immediately for ingestion of any amount of chocolate by your canine, owners should be aware of the relative danger the different type of chocolate leads to based on their respective theobromine content.

1. Milk Chocolate – Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested; severe toxicity occurs when two ounces per pound of body weight is ingested (or as little as one pound of milk chocolate for a 20-pound dog).
2. Semi-Sweet Chocolate – Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested; severe toxicity occurs when one ounce per pound of body weight is ingested (or as little as six ounces of semi-sweet chocolate for a 20-pound dog).
3. Baking Chocolate – This type of chocolate has the highest concentration of caffeine and theobromine. Therefore, as little as two small one-ounce squares of baking chocolate can be toxic to a 20-pound dog (or 0.1 ounce per pound of body weight).

Be careful of accidental chocolate ingestion in your dogs this Halloween and holiday season when there tends to be especially high amounts of it around the home.  Keep it secured and out of reach of your dogs, as their life may literally depend on it.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

An Incredible Reunion

A new client called today to make an appointment for her who she had just claimed from our local animal shelter.  He was identified as her dog by the microchip that was implanted under his skin when she adopted him as a puppy.  While this is a post about the merits of getting your pets chipped, the amazing twist to this story is that this dog had been lost after escaping out of a backyard gate that was accidentally left open, 3 years ago!  That’s right, you read it correctly; this dog was missing for 3 years, leaving this owner both elated, but absolutely floored when she received the call from the shelter that they had her dog.

Incredibly enough, the dog seemed well adjusted, well fed (even a bit on the chubby side), with the only problem being that he was infested with fleas.  We gave him his immunizations, updated his heartworm screening and stool analysis – which were, incredibly, negative – and he went home, reunited with his owner after nearly 3 years of separation.

Amazing as this story is, this post is to remind everyone of what made this reunion possible: the microchip.  For those who are unfamiliar with the microchipping of pets, it is the implantation of a tiny microchip that contains the information of the pet owner, so that in the case of a pet being lost or stolen, when found, the pet’s owner can be located.  The chips are implanted by injection with only a pinch felt over the back, between the shoulder blades.

The microchips are made by several different manufacturers, each readable by a scanner.  When a lost pet is found and brought into a shelter or veterinary clinic, the first thing that is done is to scan the shoulder bladder area for the presence of a chip.  When the pet is lost, most microchip manufacturers will post blue alerts on the behalf of the pet owner reporting the lost pet and its description to police departments, shelters, and veterinary hospitals within a certain mile radius (typically 5-10 miles) of where the pet was lost.

In my experience, seeing how often lost pets and owners are reunited because of these microchips, I would advise every pet owner to have every pet microchipped.  The company that my clinic uses claims that their chips lead to the recovery of a lost pet once every 6 seconds in the U.S., and they are just one of several microchip manufacturers.  The cost to do so is very reasonable, as is the nominal fee to keep them active.  The cost of not doing so can be tragic.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

 

Don’t Let Dental Disease be a Matter of Life and Death

It was a very difficult day today. My morning consisted of two very challenging procedures: two stage 4 out of 4 dentistry procedure, each poised to consist of multiple tooth extractions necessitating invasive oral surgery, each in dogs at advanced ages, 14 and 15 years of age. (Dental disease is graded from stage 1-4, 1 being the least severe, 4 being the most severe) One dog is home tonight resting comfortably, the other did not leave my clinic alive.

Why perform dentistry on dogs at such advanced ages, one may ask? Because regular maintenance cleanings were not done on these dogs in years despite repeated recommendations from veterinarians in my clinic, and their mouths were so diseased, infected, and painful, neither could eat without wincing in pain; both had thick, constant drool with offensive odor. Both were so painful that they would not tolerate me looking in their mouth, and their quality of life was so poor that each faced choice either risking the anesthesia for oral surgery, or euthanasia.

Beyond being at an advanced age, the 14 year old dog also had developed cardiac valve disease in the past year, a condition for which severe chronic dental disease likely played a major role in developing.

While the 15 year old had such decayed teeth and jaw bone that I had to extract every remaining tooth in her mouth; she survived the anesthesia and recovered well. Thankfully, she is home tonight and after 2 weeks of antibiotics and pain management; she should go on to enjoy a peaceful rest of her life…albeit on soft food.

For our 14 year old dog with cardiac valve disease, things started off fine. The condition of the teeth was so bad that calling the necessary teeth extractions and bone/soft tissue reconstruction oral surgery almost sounds like an understatement. Despite this, however, the dog remained stable throughout all of the extensive work. The problem began after I placed the last stich, the dog was taken off the anesthetic gas, and we had just begun the recovery process delivering only pure oxygen and preparing to pull her tracheal tube. The heart rate out of nowhere suddenly dropped to a dangerous level.

Cardiac stimulatory drugs given intravenously provided mild bumps in the heart rate, but the rate would continue to tank nonetheless despite repeated dosing. Eventually the heart stopped altogether, necessitating chest resuscitation (compressions and manual ventilation) to support the patient. 20 minutes later, I pronounced him dead, and I had to make the heartbreaking call to his owner to inform her of the loss of her dog.

Both of these owners are good people who no doubt love their dogs and never intended any harm to come their way. Like too many pet owners, they simply failed to heed our warnings of the need for veterinary dentistry. Whether they could not justify the expense, did not believe their dogs were showing pain until things were out of hand and they could no longer hide it, they were afraid of the anesthesia necessary to perform the dentals when they were younger and healthier to withstand it, or some or all of the above; both owners learned a very tough lesson today.

I wrote about this day so that others may not make the same mistake.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

Behavioral Inappropriate Voiding in Cats

Since my last post focused on a common behavioral issues in dogs, today my focus is one of the most common behavioral problems in cats: inappropriate elimination in the home, outside of the litter box.  Most feline enthusiasts, who as a regular part of their existence have cats in the home, have dealt with this issue at one time or another.

Before really delving into this issue, it is important to dispel the common notion that cats do this out of some form of personal spite or anger toward the owner.   This could not be further from the truth.   Cats do not act out behaviorally in a spiteful manner, they do not hold grudges; those kinds of emotions are distinctly human character traits that we erroneously tag these cats with.

So if it is not spite, then what is it that causes a cat to urinate or defecate outside of the litter box?  Unfortunately there is not a simple answer, but the causes of cats engaging in behavioral voiding in the home can generally be broken down to one of two basic causes: a medical problem or anxiety.

From a medical standpoint, cats that suffer from bowel problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal parasites, or infections of the gut, or pancreatic disease, likely experience discomfort while in the process of defecating.  They may have less control of their bowels, and as a result, void outside the litter box simply because they could not make it.  From the discomfort standpoint, cats feeling discomfort as they eliminate in the litter box may associate that discomfort with the actual litter box, and therefore avoid it.

Similarly, if cats suffer from painful conditions of the urinary tract, such as infections, crystals, or inflammatory lower urinary tract disease, as they experience pain while urinating it the litter box, they may begin to associate the litter box with that pain, and thereby begin avoiding use of the litter box.  From a control standpoint, systemic conditions such as kidney failure and diabetes increase thirst, reduce the ability of the feline to concentrate its urine, the bladder fills rapidly, creating a control issue and the kitty may not make it to the litter box in time.

In consideration of a possible medical cause because we cannot ask our feline patients why they have chosen to avoid the litter box, the first step in these cases that should always be taken is a thorough examination and medical work-up.  Medical work-up should include stool analysis, bloodwork, urinalysis, and possibly imaging with x-rays and/or ultrasound.  If any medical issues are found, then treating them may stop the behavior.

Only after a medical work-up has for common diseases that may lead to litter box avoidance has been performed and ruled out, can it be assumed that litter box avoidance is a behavioral issue that stems from anxiety.   It may seem unusual to hear that a pet may suffer from anxiety, but make no mistake, stress is not unique to humans, but is in fact a more prevalent problem in cats.

Cats are actually stress driven creatures, that is, their everyday existence and survival is predicated upon the fight or flight response.   This is an important distinction that makes cats very different from dogs.  While all mammals possess a fight or flight response to some degree, cats survive by remaining hyper cautious at all times with a hair trigger fight or flight response.  If you have any doubt about that, watch a neighborhood cat cross the street some time, and you will note that it often takes much longer than it should, as the kitty darts behind parked cars and behind trees time and again as his finely tuned senses take in smells and noises that constantly and instantaneously influence their movements.

So what could possibly stress out a pampered house cat that never even has to endure the stress crossing the street?  Lots of things!  They may pick up on the scent of a new neighborhood cat or the scent of new wildlife in the area.   A major change in a home, such as remodeling, new furniture, or a move to a new home could be a source of stress.  One of the most common sources of stress that we see lead to litter box avoidance is a new pet in the home.  Lastly, some cats are exceptionally fastidious, and get stressed from only a small amount of excrement in their litter box, thus causing them to avoid litter box even after only one use in some cases.

While we cannot fully explain why some felines eliminate in the home as a consequence of anxiety, it is believed that it essentially serves as some sort of coping mechanism.  Frustratingly, the longer the behavior continues, the more difficult it tends to be to stop it.

Once a behavioral cause for inappropriate voiding can be reasonably assumed, I will generally first look for basic solutions to problems, such as making certain that there is one litter box for every two cats in the home.  In homes with multiple cats, too few litter boxes is a common mistake.  Even if you have the correct ratio of litter boxes, placing additional litter boxes in strategic locations in the home can also be helpful especially if placed in areas where the kitty tends to inappropriately void in the home; can also help quell the behavior.  Lastly, keep the litter boxes as clean as possible, scooping them as often as possible, at least 2 times per day may encourage our highly fastidious kitties to use the litter hbox again..

If these measures do not help, I will then recommend trying Feliway sprays and plugin diffusers.  Feliway and other products like it, consist of a feline is a biochemical hormone like sensory compound known as a pheromone, that is calming for cats.  These items are best used in regions where the cat spends the most time, as well as the regions in the home where he tends to void.

In cases where the owner has come to me already at his or her wit’s end, or in cases where the aforementioned measures do not provide relief, then I will treat the troubled kitty with amitriptyline.  Amitriptyline is a tricyclic anti-depressant whose net effect is to increase serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of contentment.  It is often effective, generally safe and well tolerated, and very inexpensive.

It would be so nice if veterinarians were like Dr. Doolittle and could sit litter box avoiding cats on the couch and help them talk out their issues that may be leading to their behavior.  Since we will not likely ever gain this 6^th sense, we instead have to rule out a medical cause or treat any that may be contributing factors, try creative litter box placement and ensure proper litter box ratios and clean litter boxes, try soothing pheromones, and/or kitty anti-depressant therapy to resolve the problem.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

Managing Dog Aggressive Dogs

At least five times per day, we have to escort canine patients and their owners through our rear employee entrance, because their dogs are so aggressive toward other dogs.  The aggression is so bad in these individuals, that the situation in the waiting room where there are often many other dogs, could quickly become chaotic and downright dangerous.

The interesting thing about most of these dogs is that they do not have an aggressive nature toward people…just other dogs.   Typically, I do not have to be very concerned or even muzzle these patients, as in most cases they are friendly and sweet toward even me, the mean guy in the scrubs that gives them injections.  After our visit, the owner by necessity gets checked out right in the exam room, then exists the rear of the building and all is well.

But really, all is not well.  These dogs cannot be walked and allowed to play in the company of other dogs.  What would happen if these owners of dogs like this wanted to add a second dog to the home?  That would not work very well.

Before beginning to deal with these dogs, we need to first understand what causes this problem.   The first thing we should not do is necessarily blame it on breed.  While it is true that there are certain breeds that are more prone to dog aggressive behavior than others, Chihuahuas, Pit Bulls, many little terrier breeds to name a few; breed is really not the whole story.

What these dogs lack and crave more than anything are two important things: (1) calm, assertive pack leadership, and (2) adequate exercise to vent off pent up energy.  The reason breed plays a role is that some breeds have more energy and carry more of the pack instinct to either get leadership or be the one to provide it.

Addressing point 1, how does one provide calm, assertive leadership?  This is not as easy as one may think, but there are some simple steps you can begin to take.  For starters, basic obedience is a must.  The dog must be made to work for anything pleasant.  You want a treat?  You must sit.  You want your dinner?  You must sit and maintain your sit even after I have put the bowl of food down and you approach the bowl, only after I have given the command to do so.

You want to go for a walk?  You must sit calmly and still as I put on your leash.  While you are walking, you must heel; stop when I stop, walk when I walk, sit when I command you to.  As they listen and obey, you reward their obedience with verbal praise, petting, and treats.  When they do not obey, you do not strike them, but use sharp, verbal, one word scolds, like “no!” while giving a gentle enough, but assertive tug on the leash to get their attention.  Do not correct by striking, as that will make the problem worse, making some dogs neurotic, skittish, less secure, and therefore more prone to being aggressive.

For little dogs, do not treat them like priceless, breakable little pieces of porcelain.  Do not litter box train them and carry them everywhere.  Treat them like dogs….mandate that they do all aforementioned tasks, walk them on a leash and make them potty outside, even in the rain.  The biggest cause of little dogs exhibiting aggression is not the fact that they are inherently born with a bad case of little man’s syndrome; it is their owner taking pains to shelter them, pamper them, and treat them more like expensive accessories than dogs.  So when these dogs have to face real life situations, like getting groomed, being around other dogs, being examined by the veterinarian, or simply getting a nail trim, it can be a very unpleasant ordeal for owners, veterinarians, dogs, and innocent bystanders alike.

Regarding training, let’s face it; most of us are not dog trainers…even most veterinarians.  Do not hesitate to get professional help.  Some dogs are well adjusted enough that they require only basic obedience offered at large retail stores like Pet Smart.  Others can be more difficult cases that require a higher level of expertise like Barkbusters or other dog behavior experts that are more dog therapists than they are trainers.  The bottom line is, get help; how to books typically don’t cut it.

Regarding exercise, this is where frustration builds up.  As dog that is not allowed to expel his energy more prone to acting out in negative ways.  This part is easy – walk the dog, run the dog, swim the dog.  Get him moving and exerting himself as often and as long as possible.  Some dogs, like Australian Cattle dogs, for example, need far more than others, with some requiring as much as ninety minutes twice daily engaging in brisk walking and running to stave off orneriness.

So that is it in a nutshell to help reduce dog aggression: calm, assertive pack leadership and exercise.  Do not hesitate to seek professional help to get there.  Believe me when I tell you that it is worth the effort, as the more well-adjusted our dogs are, the happier they are, the happier we are.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

Caring for Geriatric Pets

Geriatric pets are pets that have an advanced age where the body tends to begin to break down, making them more susceptible to injury and disease.  In dogs, this age is generally considered to be between 8-12 years, for cats, 10-12 years.   Please bear in mind that these are general age ranges that all pets do not necessarily fall into, as not all pets age equally.

Since disease and injury are more prevalent in geriatric dog and cats, special considerations should be taken to maximize their longevity, minimize pain, and maintain optimal quality of life.

Nutrition

The first consideration for a geriatric pet is nutritional.  Every geriatric pet should be fed a high quality senior diet.  Diets such as these:

–           Have increased anti-oxidants to scavenge free radicals that are generated to a higher degree in geriatric animals.

–          Are lower in fat content for geriatric pets that tend to have increased body fat.

–          Are higher in protein to encourage maintenance of lean muscle, something that progressively diminishes in geriatric dogs and cats.

–          Have higher fiber content to promote gastrointestinal health that tends to wane with age.

Ask your veterinarian for senior dietary recommendations.

Semi-Yearly Examinations

Yearly examinations are a must for geriatric pets, but I advise taking it a step further to twice yearly examination.  One year represents 5-7 years of a canine’s and feline’s life and no one would advise a geriatric person to be examined only once every 5-7 years.  Blood pressure screening should be included in every geriatric examination, ideally combined with general wellness blood screening for early disease detection.

Veterinary Grade Joint Chews

I have done a lot of reporting on the efficacy of joint health supplement compounds, such as glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, and omega-3-fatty acids.  These compounds help to restore the cartilaginous surfaces of joints, increase joint fluid production, restore the integrity of tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues, and naturally reduce inflammation.

 I favor products that contain not just one or some of these compounds, but all of them.  I also insist that they must be pharmaceutical grade.  These products are not FDA or USDA regulated, and therefore are not subject to any oversight whatsoever.  As such, there are a lot of bad products on the market that do not have the ingredients they claim, or are not processed into a form that is optimally absorbed by the canine or feline gut.  The best source for information on joint health supplements for pets is your veterinarian.

Exercise

While geriatric pets should not be pushed to a level of exercise that can do them harm, it is important to maintain a certain level of moderate exercise to maintain lean muscle and muscle tone, cardiovascular health, and joint/spinal mobility.  For dogs it is a simple manner of putting them on a leash and walking them at a medium pace for 30 – 45 minutes once or twice a day.  For cats, it is usually not that simple, so it is important to often get creative with laser pointers, cat toys, and/or give them vertical access with kitty jungle gyms.

DO NOT OVERDO EXERCISE.  If the pet is excessively panting, limping, or showing any kind of distress from exercise, cut it back to a point where it is less taxing.  Always keep in mind that moderate geriatric exercise is meant to prevent harm, not cause it.

Take Weight Management Seriously

The worst thing a geriatric pet could be is obese.  Obesity stresses aging joints, muscles and bones, aggravating existing arthritis, predisposing to serious injuries like ACL tears and spinal disk injuries.  Obesity the cardiovascular and other taxes organ systems, and predisposes the pet to diabetes.

Keeping a pet obese is the fastest avenue to accelerating the aging process and deteriorating the health of geriatric pets.

Geriatric pets have given a lifetime of loving companionship.  In their old age, they appear distinguished with their greying hair coats and beards, are no longer prone to being destructive or hyper, and have a dignified demeanor that years of living have imparted them with.  Geriatric pets by in large are the lowest maintenance they have been in their lives, but still offer the same companionship and devotion they showed as younger animals…perhaps even more so.  By following these aforementioned measures, we do our part to make sure we keep them around as long as possible with the best possible quality of life.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

The 4 Most Important Health Concerns in Dogs

Dogs are susceptible to any number of diseases, many of which they share in common with humans.  While a lot of these diseases have their roots in genetic inheritance as the result of inbreeding, unethical breeding, and in some cases just bad luck, the 4 health concerns below are the most prevalent and preventable areas of disease in canines.

1.)    Cancer – The number one cause of death in dogs is cancer.  Cancer can manifest in just about any tissue or organ system.  Although a lot of a canine’s predisposition to cancer is rooted in its genetics, there are measures you can take to prevent cancer.

1. Spay your dog.  50% of females not spayed develop mammary tumors in their lifetime, 25% of which are malignant (cancerous).  Statistically, intact female dogs are 3 times more likely to develop mammary (breast) cancer than human females, only instead of dealing with 2 mammary glands as women do, female dogs have 10.  On the other hand, spaying a female dog before she has her first heat cycle decreases the incidence of mammary cancer by 80%, making mammary cancer quite rare in these patients.  Even if you have an adult female dog that you never got around to having spayed, it is still not too late to have it done: spaying after the first heat cycle decreases the incidence of mammary cancer by 50%, while spaying after the second heat cycle or at any time in her life thereafter, reduces the incidence by 25%.
2. If you see a skin growth, have it checked.  The only cancer in dogs more common than mammary cancer is skin cancer.  Growths like squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and mast cell tumors are all common malignant skin tumors we see in dogs.  Early surgical intervention before these tumors have had the opportunity to spread to other tissues is the most effective way to stop these cancers in their tracks.

2.)    Dental health – Many dogs are showing dental and gum disease as early as 3 years of age, and this is especially true in small and toy breed dogs.  Unchecked dental and gum disease is a source of pain, inflammation, immune system suppression, and even heart and kidney compromise.  If your veterinarian advises dentistry for your dog, take is seriously and don’t wait, as bad teeth and gums can lead to very serious health and quality of life consequences.

3.)    Parasites – 1 in 4 dogs is chronically infected with a preventable parasite.  Parasites can be blood born as with heartworm disease, can reside in the gastrointestinal tract, or can live in the ears (ear mites) or hair coat (fleas and ticks).  Parasites often do not show outright clinical signs in dogs until secondary disease necessitates a veterinary visit (such as heart failure from heartworm disease, skin infections from fleas and ticks, etc.).  As such, yearly examination, heartworm blood screening, and stool analysis is of the utmost importance.  Some parasites pose serious danger to small children, the elderly and immune compromised individuals, so canines infested with parasites pose a danger to the human family in addition to the family dog.

4.)    Obesity – There are far too many obese dogs, with canine obesity right in line with the human obesity epidemic statistically.  Obesity stresses the cardiovascular system, commonly leads to spinal injuries and early onset arthritis and degenerative joint disease.  If your veterinarian observes that your dog is obese, do not hesitate to engage in portion control, prescription weight control diet if obesity is severe, and increase exercise.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

 

The 4 Most Important Health Concerns in Cats

While cats can be susceptible to any number of diseases, many shared in common with dogs and people, there are 4 specific health issues that every feline owner must be aware of and be proactive in promoting preventive screening and early detection measures.

1.)    Blood pressure: Many felines suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, from ages as early as middle age.  Hyper tension may be a primary genetic issue as it often is with people, or it may be a secondary symptom of chronic diseases in cats, such as cardiac disease, endocrine disease, and kidney failure.  I have diagnosed many diseases due to follow up on the discovery of hypertension on routine wellness physical examinations, leading to early detection, optimal disease management, and subsequent increase in quality of life and longevity.  As such, as a routine part of a physical examination on any feline over the age of 7, a blood pressure reading is taken.  Whether a secondary manifestation of a primary disease or is a primary disease in and of itself, hypertension in cats must be addressed, as it commonly leads to kidney degeneration, cardiac disease, hemorrhage of retinal blood vessels and subsequent blindness,  and dangerous clot formations.   Management of blood pressure is often easily accomplished with low sodium diet and simple medication, as well as addressing other primary diseases that may be contributing to the hypertension.

2.)    Dental health: Many felines are exhibiting disease of the teeth and gums as early as 3 years of age.  The leading cause of death in felines is kidney failure, and a major contributing factor to the development of kidney failure is chronic dental and gum disease.  Felines are also unique from dogs and people in that they as a consequence of chronic dental tartar and gum infection, they often develop tooth lesions known as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL).  In the case of FORLs, as a reaction to tartar and gum infection, felines activate a cell called an odontoclast, a cell that begins to essentially degradate the tooth.   These lesions are often found on physical examination, but with kitties not uncommonly uncooperative for oral examinations in the exam room, they are often missed on routine physical examination.  Sometimes they are hidden under tartar.  When feline patients are under anesthesia for dentistry and receiving their ultrasonic scaling and polish, these lesions are easily found by the veterinarian through routine probing.  It is always recommended that teeth with FORLs are extracted, as they are a source of chronic pain and possible abscess formation.

3.)    Obesity: Obesity has serious consequence in cats.  Diabetes is a very common disease in felines, and 95% of diagnosed diabetics are type II diabetics, meaning that it is their sedentary and overindulgent eating habits that get them there in the vast majority of cases.  Obese cats also overstress their cardiovascular systems commonly leading to chronic cardiac disease, and overstress their musculoskeletal systems leading to early onset arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and joint pain.

4.)    Keep them indoors!  Depending on the source, statistically, indoor cats as opposed to those let outside tend to live anywhere from 5-7 years longer.   From a veterinarian’s perspective, this is not surprising, as much of what we treat in feline medicine is the result of cats being allowed to go outside, whether it is infectious disease and parasites, injuries from other animals, hit by car, or poisoning/injury from sadistic people to name a few.

These issues above are best addressed by engaging in yearly wellness visits with your veterinarian, where the patient is thoroughly examined and blood pressure is taken as a routine part of the physical examination once the kitty is 7 years of age or older.  If your vet is not taking routine blood pressures on your cat and he is over the age of 7, I advise you push for it.  Blood pressure is easily and quickly read with a device called a Pet MAP.

If dentistry is recommend for your kitty, do not hesitate, as poor dental health in cats is far more than just a case of bad breath: it is a source of stress and pain, as well as a major contributor to the most common cause of death in cats, kidney failure.

If your cat is determined to be obese, take it seriously, especially if the idea of giving your cat insulin injections two times daily is not appealing to you.  Weightloss can be achieved through portion control, weightloss diets, and encouraging exercise with laser pointers, cat toys, and kitty jungle gyms.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

4 Reasons why it is best to Purchase Pet Medications from your Veterinarian

There has been a long established online pet medication retail market for over a decade, but in the last few years, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, and even grocery store chains have gotten in on the multibillion dollar a year industry.  The latter have introduced programs like $4 prescriptions, and other tactics that their large purchasing power and mass storage capacity enables them to engage in to attract new pet consumers, while also doing direct to consumer marketing online, in print, and on television.

Cost is a major driving factor for pet owners that choose to demand prescriptions for their pet medications so that they may purchase from large retailers, and the truth is that veterinary practices, the majority of which are small businesses, simply cannot compete with these large retail outlets.  But…in many cases, we can get the price of prescription pet medications reasonably close to the discount offered by large retail, and if your veterinarian can succeed in pricing his prescription drugs reasonably close, then here are 4 reasons why you are better served to choose to buy the prescription from your veterinarian.

1.)    Large retail pharmacists are trained in human pharmacology and generally are not familiar with veterinary pharmacology and how it applies to pets.  They do not have the same understanding of animal physiology that your veterinarian does, and many medications that may not cause side effects in people, may do so in pets; or vice versa.  As a result, I have seen time and again, pet owners getting warnings about medication that are not relevant to pets, thereby scaring them unnecessarily; while having seen the flip side where warnings should have been given, but were not.

2.)    Many veterinary specific drugs, including most HW, flea and tick preventive products, are sold by pharmaceuticals only to veterinarians exclusively.  This exclusivity ensures that veterinarians who best understand these medications receive the products directly from the distributor and are directly overseeing their handling and storage.  When these medications are dispensed to the customer, the labels are written and printed by the veterinarian, complete with instructions for use and warnings.  All of this ensures the integrity and proper use of the products to maximize safety and efficacy.  When large retail stores get these products, since they are sold veterinarian exclusive, it means that they got them through sideways sale from an unethical veterinarian, what is termed a “black market source.”  Some products even come from overseas.  This middleman involvement creates a big variable with regard to quality control, as mishandling, improper storage, and improper shipping can lead to problems with safety and efficacy of a product.  Getting product from overseas creates the same, but even more magnified quality control issues with the consumer not benefitting from the oversight of the FDA, USDA, and EPA.

3.)    Product’s safety and efficacy may not be guaranteed.  With veterinary pharmaceuticals being legally powerless to stop the black market sales outline in point 2, many have responded by refusing to guarantee the safety and efficacy of a veterinary specific prescription medication purchased from a retailer other than a licensed veterinarian.  Therefore, if you ever find that a product may not work or has made your pet sick, if the product was not purchased from a veterinarian, some pharmaceuticals will not provide product support, and disavow all responsibility for product failure.

4.)    Help your local economy.  Money spent in large retail stores by in large goes to China, whereas money spent in a veterinary clinic stays in the local economy.  Veterinary hospitals are small businesses.  As they grow, they add local jobs, increase patronage of other local businesses, pay more local taxes, etc.  When you spend money in a small business, that money feeds to prosperity of your local community, not some country half a world away.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

Adopt a Service Dog

I competed in a local triathlon this past Sunday, and the day before was race packet pick up at a local running apparel store.  When I arrived at the store, I could not help but notice the 7 yellow Labrador retrievers in front on the entrance, each one wearing a service dog smock and sitting regally next to his/her own handler.   When I inquired about why all these dogs were here, I was informed by one of the volunteers that the dogs were up for adoption, which really surprised me.

Prior to this past weekend, I had just assumed that service dogs lived out their lives with their special needs person that they were bred and trained to serve.  However, after I had a discussion with a service dog volunteer, I realized how naïve my assumptions were, especially given the profession in which I work.

I learned that these dogs are bred and trained for performing essential functions for people of afflicted with any number of physical disabilities, from the deaf or blind, to the paralyzed and even those affected by post-traumatic stress syndrome; for only a finite period of time.  The services they perform require a certain level of physical ability and mental acuity, traits that diminish with age.  Thus, while the humans whom they serve may become emotionally attached to their canine wards, once their age causes their ability to serve to wane over time, they must be replaced, no matter how sad such a parting may be for both parties.

So after spending ¾ quarters of their lives in obedient and loving service of another, service dogs in most cases eventually find themselves in need of loving homes where they may live out their retirement with the love and kindness they have more than earned, but are often left with too few takers to offer it.  People typically are more consumed with the idea of getting a puppy, because what is more cute, snuggly, and innocent than a puppy?

Only, once a person or family takes the plunge and adopts a puppy, they often are not prepared for the amount of work they entail.  They are not house trained, nor trained in any manner for that matter.  They chew shoes and other valuable items, and have to even be taught even simply how to walk on a leash properly.  The true breeding make-up of puppies is often truly not ever known, so owners may unknowingly be adopting a dog that may later manifest with inherited genetic diseases that shorten their lives and/or lead to high vet bills.

I am not discouraging the adoption of puppies, but in contrast, senior age service dogs come from typically high end breeding lines that are well vetted, and since congenital diseases most commonly manifest by 2 years of age, from a genetic disease standpoint, often what you see is what you get.

Service dogs are hyper-intelligent; otherwise they would not have passed the rigorous service dog training program…some of the smartest, most well-adjusted dogs I have ever seen are service dog program dropouts.  They come with a level of training and obedience most dog owners could only dream of, and although they may not be spring chickens any more, they are still usually physically capable of swimming, going for walks, and even doing a bit of fetching, in many cases for years to come.

Most importantly, these dogs have served and loved their whole lives, and would love nothing more than to offer that level of dedication and unconditional love to another human; for the mere low price of loving them back and letting them live out the twilight of their lives with the security and peace they have earned.

So if you are thinking of canine companionship and may not have the time or energy to devote to a puppy, or simply feel compelled to give back to those who have given so much of themselves, consider adopting a service dog.  If you are interested, since each state has its own service dog programs, policies, and adoption groups, the best way to find out how to adopt a service dog is to type “service dog adoption [your state]” in the search box of your favorite internet search engine.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.