Puking Pup? - Motion Sickness in Pets

Bridget Riding Shotgun. Carsick Free!

As it heats up around the south and school lets out, chances are you will be headed outside and on the road with your pet! However, if your pet gets car sick, that can seriously put a damper on summer vacations. Motion sickness is also one of the reasons some pets don’t make it to the vet as often as they should. Simply put, owners just do not want to clean that up. So, here is a bit of information to help reduce the stress and actual vomiting involved in your pet’s carsickness.

Motion sickness is usually noticed in pets once they actually vomit in the car. Naturally, that will bring about a response from most owners. Often, the early signs of carsickness can be missed. They are similar to signs of nausea for any reason and include drooling, panting, licking of the lips and even yawning. If you notice you pet with any of these signs after a short car ride, chances are these symptoms could progress and lead to vomiting on a longer road trip.

Many pets often have anxiety associated with car rides. This can lead to nausea and vomiting as well. With cats, the anxiety is usually triggered as soon as the carrier comes out. Getting your cat used to the carrier is very helpful when it comes to car rides. We recommend leaving the carrier out in a well-used room, like the living room or kitchen, so your cat can explore it without any risk of being locked in and taken to the scary vet’s office. You can make your cat even more comfortable by occasionally putting a treat or two in the carrier as a surprise reward.

If your pet has some anxiety associated with a car ride, there are a few things you can do to make it easier on them. Start off with simply bringing your pet near and/or in the car without going anywhere. They can then get used to the smell and presence of the vehicle. Next up, progress to short car rides either around the block or down the street to the pick up the kids from school. Once you return, reward your pet for surviving with a treat or two.  After you master the car ride, make sure your pet is comfortable during the car ride. Remember, if you are hot while driving your car, your furry friend definitely is!

The above suggestions can make major strides in correcting motion sickness in pets. Sometimes, however, they are just not enough. There are several different medications that can be used for motion sickness. Cerenia is an antiemetic that is used often to treat and prevent motion sickness. If your pet’s carsickness is more anxiety driven, anti-anxiety medications should be considered. There are a multitude of options that are readily available. Please let us know next time you are in the office with your pet, and we can discuss which medication is most appropriate for your situation.

Now after educating yourself, I hope you can take that lake or beach trip this summer with Fido in tow, and no messes to clean up. If you have any questions, please comment below or give our office a call! 

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.

Pet Survival Guide: Winter and the Holidays

Bonny Rose

The holidays can be a stressful time for your pet, just as it can be for you! Sure, they don’t have to struggle with mall traffic just to buy gifts for everyone on their list or cook for twenty out of town guests, but there are a lot of changes they have to adjust to in the month of December.

First off, let’s deal with the weather. Usually, in a normal winter, it’s COLD! (Now, a Tennessee winter is a different story). The weather changes affect your dogs and cats just as much as it affects you. As a guideline, if you pet stays outside usually they will be fine with proper shelter (a covered doghouse or similar structure) down to around 20° F. However, puppies, kittens, smaller dogs and geriatric pets usually should not be left outside below 40° F. Some pets may need a sweater if their hair coat is especially thin or short. The cold also makes arthritis act up in geriatric pets, so remember to have their arthritis medications on hand and limit their time outside. Frostbite can occur in extremely low temperatures, especially on the ears, paws and tail. If theses spots appear hardened, cold to the touch or black, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Remember to keep fresh water out for your dog and change it often to prevent freezing. Finally, if you use ethylene glycol anti-freeze in your vehicle, please keep it safe and away from your pet’s reach as it is highly toxin to both dogs and cats.

Now, for the holiday hazards your pet may encounter.

• Holiday Foods: Try to prevent your pet from getting any fatty or spicy foods, bread dough, fresh herbs, alcoholic beverages and sweets of any kind (especially chocolate ones). Cooked poultry bones can be a serious hazard to pets as they can splinter and cause gastrointestinal perforation.

• Decorations: Several holiday plants are toxic to pets, especially holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and amaryllis. Snow globes can contain anti-freeze, so keep them in a safe place to prevent them from breaking. Christmas trees should be secured to prevent falling and keep all breakable ornaments away from the bottom of the tree. Tinsel can also be a danger to both dogs and cats if ingested. Keep your pet away from the tree if possible, as ingesting the tree water or pine needles can cause stomach and intestinal upset. Also, keep candles and electrical wires out of your pet’s reach whenever possible.  

Lots of changes can happen over the holidays that may confuse or stress your pet. If you know when guests are coming, it is a good idea to exercise your dog before they arrive. This may help your pup relax and they may be ready for a nap by the time the guests show up. Try to prevent your pet from greeting guests at the door, as they may become stressed or react unexpectedly. If you think your pet needs a break or seems stressed, you can place them in their crate or an empty room to help them relax.

Finally, just like people, pets love presents! Don’t forget to pick up a new toy or some special treats for your pet to keep them entertained over the holidays.

Hope the holiday season treats everyone well and don’t forget to bundle up and keep warm! Happy Holidays from all of us at CSAH!

Breaking Down the Feline Annual Exam

This will be a follow-up post to our post from yesterday on the canine annual exam. A lot of the information will be similar, but the vaccines are (naturally) very different for cats. As with dogs, it is highly recommended to bring your cat in for an annual visit. There are a few things excluded from cat annuals that are standard for dogs. Here is a breakdown of our feline yearlys:

Feline annual examination:

1. FVRCP
2. FeLV Vaccine
3. Rabies Vaccine
4. Nail Trim (if desired)
5. Annual Bloodwork
6. Full Physical Examination

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

• FVR: stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and calicivirus – these two viruses cause upper respiratory tract infections in cats that are easily transmitted from cat to cat. Kittens are more often affected, but unprotected cats can easily be infected. Once infected, many cats become a carrier of these viruses for life.

• C: stands for Chlamydophilia– this is a bacterial infection that causes respiratory disease in cats. It is highly contagious, especially in kittens. It can cause infection in the eyes and the lungs if it is left untreated.

• P: stands for panleukopenia – this is the feline distemper virus. This is a highly infectious disease that can survive in the environment for up to a year! Treatment of this disease is very difficult and the prognosis, once infected, is typically poor.

2. FeLV Vaccine – a vaccination agaisnt Feline Leukemia. This disease is the leading cause of death in cats in North America and can cause very serious health problems in cats. Cats can develop cancerous leukemia and secondary infections throughout the body. Cats can be carriers of this disease for months or years before showing clinical signs.

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

4. Nail Trim – a complimentary pedicure for any cat that wants one. This is done much less often than in dogs, but is actually easier to do on a well-mannered cat. 

5. Annual Bloodwork – this is optional, but highly encouraged as your cat begins to age. We have two options available, depending on your cat’s current health status and age:

• 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 a heartworm antigen test. We recommend this bloodwork for cats 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 antigen test. We recommend this bloodwork for cats once they reach 7-8 years old. This is also a good panel for any cat that has been sick or having urinary issues. For more information on senior pet care, click here.

6. 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 disease, especially heart disease and dental disease in aging kitties. There have been several cases where a cat comes in for annual vaccines, and a very significant disease has been found and treated just from a good physical examination. 

Take your kitties to the vet every year - just like Gus!

Hopefully this has been a good break down of our typical feline yearly examination. We would love to see more cats coming in for annual for vaccines in 2013. We see many dogs annually for vaccines, but cats do not come in nearly as often, and it is just as important! Please post a comment if you have any questions. Call us today at 615-377-4959 to schedule your pet’s annual exam!

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