My Favorite Spooks

Animal Emergency Care has been fortunate enough to have two "spooks" associated with our hospital.

Spooky, a white domestic short hair cat, lived at the hospital throughout the 1990s.

Spook, a black domestic short hair cat, is a beloved member of our bookkeeper's household. 

What color "Spooks" do you know?

Parvovirus: A Deadly Dog Disease

Canine parvovirus is a deadly disease discovered in the late 1960s.  A decade later, a worldwide outbreak brought this disease into the news.  Even though an effective vaccine is available, veterinarians continue to diagnose parvovirus in their patients.

Parvovirus is spread by contact with infected dogs or through direct contact with the virus in the environment.  The virus is very hardy.  It can survive freezing temperatures and is resistant to many household disinfectants.

Puppies are more susceptible than adult dogs as their immune systems are not fully developed.  Because of this, it's important to have your puppy vaccinated for parvovirus at the intervals recommended by your veterinarian.  Ideally, puppies should not be taken to public places until their vaccinations are complete and they are at least 16 weeks of age.

Dogs infected with parvovirus are listless and have decreased appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea (often bloody and very smelly).  Not all of these symptoms occur immediately.  If your puppy becomes ill, it's best to contact your veterinarian rather than waiting for all of the symptoms to appear.

Parvovirus is best treated in the hospital, under a veterinarian's care.  Most patients are severely dehydrated and cannot keep food or water down.  Intravenous fluids and antibiotics can make the difference between life and death in infected dogs.  Patients may need to be hospitalized for 3 to 7 days.  With intensive care, many infected dogs recovery completely. 





 

   

My Friend Boo

Boo came to Animal Emergency Care as a very sick puppy infected with parvovirus (more about this deadly dog disease in my next post).  He spent a week in our ICU, and he almost died.  Once his body cleared the infection, he went home with one of our technicians to recuperate.  Being the dog that he is, Boo recognized a good home and set about making himself irresistible.  Thirteen years and a few gray hairs later, he still lives with the same technician.  We salute you, Boo, for being a survivor.  Our hospital wouldn't be the same without you.

New Treatment for Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid gland, is a common problem in older cats.  Initially, the extra thyroid hormone may cause cats to seem younger--they eat more and are more active.  But as the disease progresses, symptoms change to include increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and vomiting.  Hyperthyroidism can also cause heart disease. 


Traditional therapies for hyperthyroidism have involved daily medication, surgery, or irradiation of the thyroid gland.  Recently, however, Hill's Pet Nutrition has released a food especially formulated to combat hyperthyroidism:  Feline Prescription Diet y/d. 

Feeding Prescription Diet y/d will not prevent a non-hyperthyroid cat from developing the disease.  This food is only for cats that have already been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid gland.  Cats with hyperthyroidism should have lower levels of thyroid hormone within three weeks of starting Prescription Diet y/d.

At this time, Prescription Diet y/d only comes as a dry food.  Because it works by limiting the amount of iodine in the diet, owners are discouraged from giving their cats other types of food or treats while feeding Prescription Diet y/d.

What do you think?  Will Prescription Diet y/d make it easier to manage cats with hyperthyroidism or will cat owners need to continue traditional therapies in order to keep this disease under control?

Some Summer Hazards

HEAT.  Dogs and cats that overheat can be in real danger of developing heat stroke.  Heat stroke occurs when your pet can’t cool down.  Signs include heavy panting, collapse, and even seizures.  During heat stroke, the body temperature can become dangerously high (>106 degrees Fahrenheit) and the blood sugar can become dangerously low.

Pets that have symptoms of heat stroke should be cooled off with lukewarm water or wrapped in a wet towel and taken to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Tips to prevent heat stroke:  Make sure any pet that goes outside during hot weather has access to plenty of shade and cool water.  Keep exercise to a minimum during the hottest parts of the day, even if your pet is physically fit.  Never leave pets confined to a car in hot weather. 

Brachycephalic breeds (such as pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs, and Persian cats) are at increased risk of heat stroke because of their conformation. 

BARBEQUES.  Fun for humans.  Dangerous for pets.  Here’s why:  1.  Hot grease can splatter and burn your pet.  2.  Pets can burn their tongues by licking the sides of a hot grill.  3.  Beware of wooden skewers!  Even small dogs can swallow these with ease.  (Getting them back up again is much harder.  Pets that swallow skewers usually need surgery to remove them.)   

THUNDERSTORMS AND THINGS THAT GO BANG.  Summertime is full of loud noises that can send even the bravest pet running for cover.  If these make your pet panic, ask your veterinarian for suggestions.  In the meantime, make sure your pets are safely confined during storms, firework displays, or other periods of loud noises.

FLY STRIKE.  Older or ill pets that spend time outside are at risk for fly strike.  Animals that develop fly strike often have open sores or wounds OR they urinate or defecate on themselves and can’t clean the area.  Flies lay eggs, eggs hatch, and suddenly your pet is infested with maggots.  Your veterinarian can remove the maggots and help you find the reason your pet may have been vulnerable.

Why is My Pet Wearing an Elizabethan Collar?

E-collar.  Lampshade.  “Cone of Shame”.  No matter what they’re called, most pets view them as a torture device.  Pet owners hate them, too.  So why are they so popular?

Elizabethan collars are useful for many different conditions.  They help prevent pets from hurting themselves, through biting, chewing, licking, or scratching.  They’re also used to prevent pets from ripping out drains and sutures after a surgical procedure. 

Elizabethan collars come in different sizes and lengths, and they can be adjusted to each patient.  For instance, a pet with a wound on its front leg may be able to use a shorter collar than a pet with a wound on a back leg.  Patients with long noses often need longer Elizabethan collars than patients with pushed-in (brachycephalic) or short noses. 

Most pets adjust quickly to their Elizabethan collars.  They sleep, eat, and drink while wearing them.  Walking can present more of a challenge, as the Elizabethan collars are often wider than their body.  With a little adjustment period, however, most patients are able to adapt.

Traditional Elizabethan collars are made from rigid plastic.  A few types are made from flexible padded material.  Others resemble life preservers.  

Whatever type of Elizabethan collar you choose, remember this:  Veterinarians use them for a specific purpose—to keep your pet safe and healthy.

April is...Lyme Disease Prevention Month

Spring is here…and so are the ticks.  Ticks are more than just a nuisance.  They’re a potential health hazard for your entire family.

Ticks are responsible for several diseases, including Lyme disease.  Lyme disease has been reported in all 50 states, but it is most prevalent on the East Coast. 

Lyme disease was first described in 1883, but the cause of Lyme disease—a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi—wasn’t discovered until 1982, almost 100 years later.

The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transmitted to pets and people via tick bites.  A tick must be attached for at least 24 hours before it can pass the bacteria through its saliva and into the bite wound. 

Both dogs and cats can become infected with the Lyme bacteria, but only dogs show symptoms of Lyme disease.  Horses can also develop Lyme disease.

Common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include fever, decreased appetite, listlessness, joint pain or swollen joints, and lameness.  Dogs may limp or seem painful in more than one leg.

Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline.  Most pets are treated for 3-4 weeks.  Sometimes antibiotic therapy kills most but not all of the bacteria.  If this happens and your pet’s symptoms reoccur, your pet may need to be treated again.

How to prevent Lyme disease in your pets:

1.     Pets should be checked daily for ticks.  Remove and destroy any ticks that are found. 

2.    A vaccine to prevent Lyme disease is available through veterinarians.

3.    Flea and tick preventives, such as topical medications or tick collars, are essential in reducing the number of ticks on your pets.