Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs - A Guest Blog!

Our new technician, Tiffany, has adapted a report she did in school to educate everyone on tick-borne diseases that affected our canine companions. Thanks to Tiff and congrats on her graduation this weekend! We can't wait to get her working full time!

Tick Borne Diseases

What Is a Tick Borne Disease?

• This is a disease that is carried by infected ticks, which transmits the disease to dogs through biting them.

What are the most common tick borne diseases in our area?

1.     Lyme Disease

2.     Ehrlichiosis

3.     Anaplasmosis

4.     Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

What is Lyme’s Disease?

• Is caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia bourgdorferi. This disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick.                                                     

What is Ehrlichiosis?

• Is caused by a rickettsial bacteria that infects the white blood cells. There are two forms of Ehrlichia that can be found in your dog.

1.     Ehrlichia canis

2.     Ehrlichia ewingii

• Ehrlichia canis is transmitted by the brown dog tick. This disease mostly affects the dog's bone marrow.

• Ehrlichia ewingii is transmitted by the lone star tick. This disease leads to joint pain and lameness.                                                   

What is Anaplasmosis?

• Caused by an infectious bacterium known as Anaplasma. There are also two forms of this disease as well that your dog can contractt.

1.     Anaplasma phagocytophilum

2.     Anaplasma platys

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by the deer tick. This tick causes an infection in  the white blood cells.                                                

• Anaplasma platys is transmitted by the brown dog tick. This tick causes an infection of the blood platelets that can lead to bleeding disorders.                                                  

What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

• This disease is caused by a rickettsial bacteria that reproduces only inside living cells. This disease is transmitted by the American dog tick.

Symptoms tick borne diseases cause in your dog are : muscle aches, fatigue, decrease in appetite and energy, and fever.  These symptoms can also be indicators of other clinical problems. Therefore, if you suspect your pet may have been exposed to one of the diseases, a simple blood test can tell us if the dog has in fact been exposed to the disease. Based on these results, treatment plan can be designed to match your animal's needs.

The best way to protect your dog from getting these tick borne diseases is by using preventatives on your pet that kills all the life cycles of the tick.  Products like Ovitral, Parastar Plus, K9 Advantix, and Fronline plus work very well when used every month. We recommend using parasite prevention year-round in the Middle Tennessee area. 

- Tiffany

Seriously Scary - GDV

First off, GDV stands for gastric dilation and volvulus. This is a serious, life-threatening condition that can occur in any dog breed, but most commonly in deep-chested dog breeds like Great Danes, Labradors, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles and Saint Bernards. The direct cause of GDV is not known but there are many factors that contribute to the development of the condition. These factors include rapidly consuming food, exercise immediately before or after eating, stressful conditions, increased age or inherent motility disorders of the stomach. There is a gas accumulation in the stomach that then leads to distention and a rotation or twist of the entire stomach.

So, how do you recognize this condition? The most common signs are abdominal distension, vomiting or retching (unproductive vomiting), restlessness or signs of pain. Occasionally, the dog may even collapse. These signs usually progress as the condition worsens. This condition can become very serious very quickly. As the stomach twists, the blood supply is cut off. This is a life-threatening situation that can lead to necrosis of the stomach. If your pet is showing any of these signs, they should already be in the car and on the way to a vet!

Diagnosing GDV is usually fairly straightforward. Abdominal radiographs show a dilated stomach that is full of gas and some food materials. Often times, a stomach tube cannot be passed due to the rotated stomach. Treatment of a GDV is multi-faceted. IV fluids must be administered for cardiovascular support. The patient is typically placed under anesthesia and decompression of the stomach is attempted. Usually, surgery is required to reposition the stomach. The stomach is then sutured to the abdominal wall in a procedure called a gastropexy. This prevents the stomach from twisting again in the future, as this condition often repeats itself. If the condition is severe enough, sometimes the stomach or the spleen may need to be resected due to necrosis. These conditions unfortunately increase the mortality rate of this condition. Recovery from the condition takes several days, as food is slowly re-introduced post-operatively.

This radiograph of a canine abdomen shows a severely distended stomach full of gas. 

There are many things you can do to try to prevent this condition from occurring in your pet. Changes to feeding habits can decrease the incidence rate. Feed multiple, smaller meals throughout the day and have a significant time gap in between feeding and exercise. Some dogs, like my mother’s dog Milly, often inhale their food within seconds. Placing a rock or large ball in the bowl to slow down eating is often helpful. None of these methods, however, are 100% effective. A prophylactic gastropexy may prevent this condition from occurring in your pet. This procedure tacks the stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent twisting from occurring. This procedure does involve an abdominal laparotomy; it is often done when spaying female dogs that are pre-disposed to this condition.

Hopefully, this gives you a bit of insight on a serious and life-threatening condition many dogs face. Most famously, Marley from the film “Marley and Me” suffered from a GDV at some point in the film. 

Marley from the classic canine film "Marley and Me". Just had to throw a cute lab puppy picture in for a smile. 

2013: Your Pet Can Have Resolutions Too!

This year, why not make a 2013 resolution for your pet?

Pet obesity is a huge problem with companion animals, both dogs and cats. It has been reported that over 50% of household dogs and cats are considered either overweight or obese. Another study has shown that around 25% of America’s pets are considered obese. This is a serious problem with serious health implications for your pets.

So, how do you tell if your pet is overweight, or even obese? Weight is not a helpful number in dogs and cats, as there are so many breed variations. The body condition system (BCS) is an accurate way to assess dogs and cats based on body fat percentages. Below are the ideal findings on a dog or cat as well as the findings on a pet that is overweight.

• Ideal Dog/Cat: Cannot see ribs, but you can easily feel them. Pet has a waist behind rib cage when viewed from above. Viewed from side, the stomach tucks behind the rib cage.

• Overweight Dog/Cat: Cannot feel ribs, or can feel them only with significant pressure. Fat deposits at base of tail. Belly is rounded when viewed from the side.

Obesity affects various systems in the dog and cat, including the musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, endocrine system and liver function. Numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between body condition scores (BCS) and osteoarthritis. Just as in humans, the less stress (from excess weight) placed on joints over time will limit the development of arthritis in your pets. Diabetes is another disease humans may be familiar with. This disease is heavily influenced by a pet’s BCS. In cats especially, a healthy diet and appropriate weight can lead to discontinuing insulin therapy in some cases! Overall, dogs and cats with a normal BCS are likely to be healthier longer and live extended lives.

There are several keys to weight loss in your pet. As in humans, caloric restriction combined with exercise is the key to success. Dogs should go on regular, long walks to help with weight loss. Exercising cats can be more of a challenge. Laser lights on the wall or pulling a toy across a room can get most cats to play. This should be done for a 15 to 30 minute time period daily to see weight loss results. Equally important to weight loss is a diet. There are a lot of products out there that claim to be “weight management” foods. It is very important to read the label and know how many calories are in a serving. Some excellent weight loss diets can be found at most pet stores. Sometimes, however, a more severe calorie cut is needed. Companies like Royal Canin, Hill’s and Purina have developed prescription veterinary diets to make weight loss manageable. If you have any questions about these diets, please do not hesitate to ask us! Finally, never forget the power of treats when helping your pet lose weight. Most commercial dog and cat treats are full of unnecessary calories for your pet. Consider healthy alternatives for treats outside the typical treats. Green beans or other vegetables are low calorie, healthy treats. Also, Trader Joe's has a treat called "Charlee Bears" that are 3 calories each! There are many lower calorie options for rewarding your pet. 

Have a look at these BCS charts for dogs and cats. How does your pet score? If your pet is up in the 7 to 9 range, please give us a call or shoot us an email at techs.csah@gmail.com to discuss a weight loss plan for your pet! And always, we encourage you to swing by the office whenever you are out around town with your pet to check their weight and monitor your progress.

Need more information? Purina has a Project Pet Slimdown to help get your pet on track to a healthy weight in 2013.

Breaking Down the Canine Annual Visit

Almost all veterinarians recommend an annual visit for your canine companions. In this blog post, we will break down our standard “yearly exam” for dogs with what vaccines are given and all the other items involved. One thing to keep in mind about vaccines is that they work by stimulating the immune system agaisnt certain antibodies or antigens. If a pet has a disease, such as a urinary tract infection or skin allergies, it is not a good idea to give vaccines at the same time, as that puts too much stress on the pet’s immune system. Let’s start off with a breakdown of our canine yearlys:

Canine annual examination:

1. DHLPP-CV
2. Rabies Vaccine
3. Bordatella vaccine (optional)
4. Fecal flotation
5. Nail Trim
6. Heartworm test +/- annual bloodwork
7. Full Physical Examination

1. DHLPP-CV: a combination booster with a lot of letters representing different diseases – we will break down the acronym below:

• D: stands for distemper virus – a very contagious and often fatal viral disease in dogs. It is usually spread from nasal or ocular discharge in injected dogs. This disease can affect many different organ systems, including the digestive system, respiratory system or the nervous system.

• H: stands for Infectious Canine Hepatitis – this disease is caused by adenovirus (some vaccines can be called DA2PP) and can be transmitted by contact with infected dogs through the urine, feces or saliva. This virus can cause liver failure, respiratory disease or eye damage. 

• L: stands for Leptospirosis – this is a bacterial disease that dogs can get when exposed to the organism in water. It can cause serious liver and kidney disease if contracted.

• P: stands for parvovirus. This is an extremely contagious and serious viral disease that can be fatal. It attacks the gastrointestinal system, especially in young puppies. It is typically spread through fecal exposure and is highly resistant to most cleaning agents.

• P: stands for parainfluenza – this is a respiratory viral disease that can cause coughing, especially when many dogs are found in the same place (boarding, grooming, etc.)

• CV: stands for Coronavirus – a less common viral disease in dogs that affects the intestines.

2. Rabies Vaccine – required by law. We usually start giving a 3 year vaccine to dogs after they have had two one year vaccines in a row. We will give each dog a current rabies tag at every annual visit. See our previous blog post for more information on rabies.

3. Bordetella Vaccine – this oral vaccine is optional for dogs. It prevents Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterial infection known to cause “kennel cough”. This vaccine is recommended for dogs that get groomed regularly, attend training sessions with other dogs, are being boarded or go to the dog park often.

4. Fecal Flotation – a sample is evaluated for presence of worm eggs. Most dogs on regular heartworm prevention do not have intestinal worms, but there is increasing resistance with many of these worms. The most commonly found worms in canine feces include whipworms, hookworms and roundworms. Some facilities require a fecal done annually before boarding.

5. Nail Trim – a complimentary pedicure for all dogs seen at their annual exam. Done mostly to save your hardwood furniture and upholstery. We have yet to meet a dog that enjoys a nail trim.

6. Heartworm Test +/- Annual Bloodwork – we require a negative heartworm test annually to renew any heartworm medication prescriptions. This is a blood test, typically sent to an outside lab that also tests for exposure to a few tick borne diseases. We also offer two different types of annual bloodwork that include a heartworm test.

• Junior Profile: a mini-chemistry panel checking liver and kidney values, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and of course, a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they turn 3-4 years old and annually after that until your pet reaches their “senior years.”

• Senior Profile: a full chemistry panel with a more in depth look at liver and kidney function, electrolytes, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, a urinalysis and a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they reach 7-8 years old. This is also a good panel for any dog that has been sick or having urinary issues. If you would like more information on senior pet care, click here. 

7. Full Physical Examination - there is nothing more valuable to a veterinarian than a physical examination. Looking at every aspect of your pet every year helps to keep track of your pet as they age. We can make sure any lumps or bumps are not changing significantly and check for early signs of arthritis or other disease. There have been many cases where a dog comes in for annual vaccines, and a very significant disease has been found and treated just from a good physical examination. 

Milly stay healthy because she gets her exam and vaccines every year!

Hopefully this has been a good break down of our typical canine yearly examination. Please post a comment if you have any questions. Call us today at 615-377-4959 to schedule your pet’s annual exam! 

Halloween Hazards - Household Toxins

With Halloween around the corner, and everyone stocking up on their chocolate candy for trick-or-treaters, a blog post about common household toxins for pets seems in order. This will not be all inclusive, but hopefully I can cover the major toxic items inside and outside the home.

Let’s start with foods. The most well known is of course, CHOCOLATE. With chocolate, the dark, baking chocolate is the most toxic. Also, white chocolate is in fact not toxic at all to your pup (but please do not give it to your dog). Other common food items that are toxic include avocado, onions and garlic, grapes and raisins, any beverages with caffeine or alcohol, macadamia nuts and any chewing gum containing xylitol.

Another major source of toxins for pets is household plants. This list is very long and new plants are constantly added to it. The ones that immediately pop into my head are LILIES (all kinds – especially in your feline friends), oleander, foxgloves, daffodils, philodendrons and sago palms (a huge problem in Louisiana and Florida). Other plants on the list include: English ivy, poision ivy and poison oak, rhododendron, poinsettias and holly (Christmas!), yews, dumb cane, elephant ears, hibiscus and aloe vera.

Outside you can find other toxins as well. Garden mulch and mushrooms can be toxic to dogs and cats. Also, many fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides, especially organophosphates, are not safe for pets. Please keep your pets away from these products when they must be used. The worst toxin I can think of is ANTI-FREEZE. This always becomes a problem with cooler weather coming. This chemical is very potent and just the smallest drop can cause a severe problem for cats and small dogs. Please be extremely careful with the product. It is naturally sweet tasting, so pets can often be attracted to the smell. Always clean up anti-freeze spills when they occur.

Another major toxin is RAT POISON. This can cause internal bleeding if ingested. These rodenticide and other baits in the home can cause serious problems if your pet happens to get into them. Also, household cleaners, especially bleach, should be kept in a safe place out of your pet’s reach.

The most common toxin exposure we see at CSAH is human medications given to pets inappropriately. We recommend calling us before giving your pet ANY household medication. If you don’t know already, TYLENOL is extremely toxic, especially to cats. Also, please do not give your pet ibuprofen (Motrin) as overdoses are very common. Decongestant medications containing pseudoephedrine can cause hyper-excitability and liver damage. Another common toxin we see is topical flea and tick medication labeled only for dogs being used on cats. If this happens, the first thing you should do is bathe the cat with dawn (or another gentle soap) to get the product off the fur.

Signs of toxin exposure can be very variable. The most common signs include vomiting (GI toxins), lethargy and weakness, or seizures (CNS toxins). You may also see labored or shallow breathing, drooling, stumbling, staggering or tremors. Some toxins cause increased heart rate, hyperactivity, increased thirst and dilated pupils.

If you think your pet has ingested a toxin, please give us or any emergency center a call immediately. If you need to bring your pet into the hospital, always remember to bring the packaging that the toxin came in. This can provide very valuable information when handling toxin exposure cases.

Hopefully this blog post opened your eyes to some of the pet toxins found around your home and in the yard. Please comment if you have any questions about this information.

ASPCA Toxin Hotline: (888) 426-4435

Above, a picture of George, one of our regulars in his Halloween attire. 

- H

Better a day late, than never - Rabies

Did you see Old Yeller? If not, go watch it stat. I saw it when I was about eight, and I think it changed my life for three reasons. One, it is partially responsible for me becoming a veterinarian. Two, it solidified my love of Labradors. Three, it made me very afraid of Rabies. Why the movie reference? Well, I had grandiose plans of making a blog post in honor of World Rabies Day. However, World Rabies Day is September 28^th, so I missed my deadline by a day. My apologies, but we are still going to do an overview of the worst, most fatal viral disease, rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease (a Rhabdovirus to be exact – thanks Dr. Gyimah!) that is almost always fatal in animals and humans. It is secreted in salvia and typically transmitted from a bite by an infected animal. Rabies affects only mammals, mainly skunks, raccoons, bats foxes and coyotes. In household animals, cats are most commonly affected and have been since 1988. This is partly due to decreased compliance with rabies vaccines in cats (note: vaccinate your cat!). It also affects dogs, cattle, horses and other livestock.

Once an animal is infected with rabies, the virus travels along nerves from the wound site to the brain. It can take weeks or months for the virus to travel to the brain, depending on where the infection occurred. From there, the clinical signs begin. The signs are variable, but include your Hollywood perception of foamy mouth, aggression, staggering, etc. This is known as the furious form of rabies and is often referred to as “mad-dog syndrome.” There can also be fearfulness, seizures, difficulty swallowing (paralytic form), depression, light sensitivity or just acting in an unusual manner. Once clinical signs appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.

Diagnosis of rabies is an unpleasant topic. A definitive diagnosis is usually required if rabies is suspected. A rabies test involves humane euthanasia and decapitation. The head is then sent to a qualified laboratory for immunofluorescense microscopy.

Rabies control is the main mechanism of disease prevention. Annual vaccinations are a MUST for all dogs and cats. These days, many rabies vaccines are good for 3 years, with a new rabies tag being issued at each annual visit. As a bonus, rabies tag numbers can be used to help locate a pet’s home if they get lost. Also important is to limit your pet’s exposure risk. Keep your pet in a contained environment, such as inside or in a fenced yard. Avoid wild animals and never attempt to keep them as pets.

If another pet or a wild animal bites your dog, please give us (or any veterinarian) a call immediately. Even if the pet is current on vaccines, there are many risks associated with puncture wounds from animal bites. An observation period may be needed, depending on the situation. Unfortunately, if your pet is not current on vaccines and is exposed to a rabid animal, the only options are euthanasia or a strict isolation for 6 months. I cannot express enough how important it is to keep your pet current on their rabies vaccines.

How does this affect the pet owners? If an animal ever bites you, wash the wound immediately and see a doctor. If the animal is a pet, get information on the vaccination status and report the incident to the local health department. These cases are evaluated based on risk assessment, which may be too complicated to discuss in a brief blog post.

So, the moral of this story and the classic film Old Yeller? Vaccinate your pets EVERY YEAR! Questions? Let me know!

- H

Getting Older - Senior Pet Care

In honor of September being Senior Pet Care Month, I have decided to briefly summarize the standard of care for all senior pets. So, what exactly is a senior pet? We consider most animals geriatric (or senior, if you will) at seven years old. This is, however, not an exact number. With some large and giant breed dogs, like a Great Dane for example, six is probably a more appropriate age to start calling your dog senior. However, many cats can live up to twenty years. These cats may not be considered geriatric until they are eight or ten years old. Also of note, the standard saying, “one dog year equals seven human years,” is not exactly accurate. Below you will see a chart of how different sized pets age at different rates.

So, now you know if your pet is senior. What to do next? Once your pet hits that magic age, it is time to go to the vet a bit more often. The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) recommends all geriatric pets have semi-annual veterinary visits. That is, a vet should see all geriatric pets every six months. These exams will include a physical examination to pick up on changes your pet is going through, both physically and mentally. A good physical examination can pick up on many diseases earlier than an owner might notice them.  It is estimated that only 14% of geriatric animals undergo this recommend regular health screening.

And now a word (or two) about bloodwork.

At one visit a year, bloodwork should be run. The standard senior panel we have at CSAH includes a full chemistry panel, a complete blood count (CBC), a thyroid (T4) hormone check, a heartworm/tick panel (4DX test) and a complete urinalysis. This panel gives us (the vets) a good idea how everything is working on the inside. This can pick up on early signs of disease and help make treatment more successful. For example, a dog may have kidney values mildly elevated on screening bloodwork. Fluid therapy when kidney disease is caught early on is much more successful than when started once your pet is feeling ill from advanced kidney disease. This bloodwork also helps establish a baseline of values, so we know what is normal for your pet when they are healthy. That way, if you pet does get ill down the road, we know what was normal for him when he was healthy. I cannot emphasize enough how important bloodwork is for your senior pet.

So, what exactly are the major diseases affecting geriatric pets? That list is quite long, but I can briefly summarize. First off, 50% of all dogs over ten years old typically lose their life to cancer. This is a major part of geriatric care. Some neoplasia, like splenic masses and skin tumors, can be picked up with semi-annual physical examinations. Others become evident upon receiving bloodwork results. Unfortunately, sometimes cancer is not discovered until your pet is very sick. Just like in humans, cancer is a deadly problem affecting many geriatric pets.

Other diseases commonly found in older animals typically include osteoarthritis, especially in your larger breeds of dogs, and endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and Cushing’s disease). Heart failure, liver failure and kidney disease are also geriatric pet diseases typically found at semi-annual veterinary appointments. Cognitive dysfunction is also a problem in geriatric animals, with signs similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This is a very broad summary of geriatric illnesses that you may encounter as your precious pet hits the senior years.

In summary, once your dog or cat reaches the age considered senior, it is time to start making appointments every six months for a physical exam and have bloodwork done once a year. Since September is Senior Pet Care Month, we have our senior panels discounted $10.00 to encourage clients to screen their older pets for many of the diseases we have covered. Please call us today and make an appointment!

- H

PS: Here is my mother’s senior pup – Gerry, 14 years old – and going strong!