My Pet Has Fleas?!? In WINTER?!?

Posted on by
Reply

Alice Snook, Licensed Veterinary Technician, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 2.2

In the last few weeks, the clinic has seen a significant number of pets at the clinic for flea infestation.  The unusually warm weather has made this a prime time for fleas.  Unfortunately, once fleas infest a pet, the first freeze won’t be enough to squash the plague these little bugs unleash.

Fleas are the most common external parasites of pets.  They feed on blood and can cause serious health problems in you and your pet.  Prevention of fleas is much easier than treating them once they take hold, but they can be controlled.

Keeping your pet on a monthly flea preventative is recommended in order to keep any fleas in the environment from infesting your pet.  These preventions are either applied to the skin or given orally, generally once a month.   Flea prevention products have different safety margins and efficacy.  Products carried at Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic generally work by attacking body systems in the flea/insect that are not present in mammals, which is why the safety is much better than many over the counter products.   It is very important to remember to never apply a canine product to your cat, or conversely a feline product to your dog.  Dogs and cats are very different and what may work for a dog could be toxic to a cat.

Fleas have four stages in their life cycle, which is important to understand when treating your pet for fleas.  Fleas go through adult, egg, larva and pupa stages.  Of the four stages, only 5% are actually in the adult phase, meaning that 95% are in the other three stages somewhere in the environment.  In other words, for every adult flea you see, there are 20 immature fleas lurking in the house.  These immature fleas must develop into adults and jump onto the pet in order for the flea prevention product to take effect.  Because it can take months for a flea to develop (depending on temperature, vibrations, and the presence of stimulations), once flea infestation has occurred it is recommended to treat for a minimum of three months, but may take longer than that to eradicate a particularly heavy infestation.  Year round application of preventive products is the best way to ensure fleas don’t take hold of your pet or household.

Flea Life Cycle

In addition to being pesky, fleas can pose a health risk to pets and people.  Most occur because of the flea’s diet:  they consume the blood of their host, which can cause blood loss and disease transmission. Some diseases that can be inflicted on your pet by fleas include:

  • Flea bite anemia:  Infestations can result in anemia (or decreased red blood cell count) of the pet.  In severe cases, pets may die if the anemia is too severe.  We require a certain number of red blood cells to keep oxygen delivered to the internal organs, and if too little are present, death could result.

  • Fur loss and skin irritation associated with Flea Allergy Dermatitis

    Flea Allergy Dermatitis:  an itchy condition in which the pet may develop sores and fur loss from scratching.  Pets with this condition have a hypersensitivity to the flea saliva.

  • Rickettsiosis:  a bacterial infection transmitted by fleas.  It can cause malaise, fever, and problems with red or white blood cells.
  • Bartonellosis (Cat Scratch Fever):  a bacterium that fleas carry and spread in their stool, which can be transmitted to people when a cat infested with fleas scratches them.
  • Feline Infectious Anemia:  Bacterial infection of red blood cell membranes, such that the cat’s own immune system begins destroying the red cells to remove them.

Along with the diseases caused by flea bites, when a pet ingests a flea while they are grooming or scratching, they could become infected with tapeworms.   Tapeworms require a specific type of dewormer (and of course flea control!) to eradicate.

With the potential for health problems and the discomfort that fleas cause pets and people, prevention is recommended.  If you are experiencing a flea infestation in your home or on your dog or cat, call the clinic to discuss the best treatment option for your pets.

The Pancreatitis Holiday Link

Posted on by
Reply

Dr. Chris Jones, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 2.1

My stomach hurts…I think I ate too many treats.

During this holiday season we have been seeing an increase in the number of dogs with suspected pancreatitis.   What is pancreatitis and what symptoms do I watch for?

The pancreas is located along the first part of the small intestine which is called the duodenum.   The pancreas has two main functions: it helps control glucose (sugar) metabolism and regulation thru the production of insulin, and is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by producing pancreatic enzymes.  Most of these enzymes help with the digestion and absorption of fats. 

There are many causes of pancreatitis:  certain medications, infections, metabolic disorders, trauma, cancer to name a few.  For this article, we will concentrate on dietary indiscretion as a cause of pancreatitis.  Around the holidays there always seems to be lots of human and pet goodies around the house.  These treats can be much richer, higher in fat, than the dog is normally used to.  The high fat content taxes the pancreas and can create a condition known as acute pancreatitis.

So what symptoms do you look for?  The most common symptom is acute vomiting, often very frequently, with lack of appetite and depression.  We recently had a pet that vomited eight times in the course of 6 hours.  The vomiting can lead to dehydration and the inflammation in the pancreas leads to a painful abdomen.  If the inflammation in the pancreas is severe it can cause damage to the surrounding organs as the digestive enzymes leak out of the pancreas. 

How do we diagnose pancreatitis? This can be difficult but is a combination of a good physical exam, blood work, x-rays and ultrasound.  Sometimes surgery and pancreatic biopsies are required.

Is there a treatment? Yes – early intervention is key to successful treatment.  Mild cases are treated with fluids to combat dehydration and supportive care such as antibiotics, anti-emetics (anti-vomiting medication) and pain medication.   Serious cases of pancreatitis require hospitalization – often in an ICU unit – and very aggressive therapy.

Please watch what your pets eat – they will thank you for it.

Living With Hip Dysplasia

Posted on by
Reply

Dr. Ruth Zarka, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 1.15

T-bone is a happy and active 7 year old pit bull/boxer mix who enjoys barking at squirrels, going for walks, and playing with his dog friends.

And treats.

And car rides.

Oh, and squirrels!

When he was about a year old, his owner noticed he was having some trouble getting up off the couch in the mornings and after especially active weekends. He seemed stiff in his rear legs and took a while to move normally. When they went for walks he would walk pretty slowly toward the end of the walk.  Sometimes he even limped on one of his back legs, but when his dog friends were around he would run and play like he normally did.  He never cried or complained.

He was brought in for x-rays of his hips and spine. On the x-rays it appeared that he had some changes in his hips that are often seen in dogs with hip dysplasia. The acetabulum, or “socket” part of his hip joint is very shallow and doesn’t cover the majority of the femoral head, the “ball” part of the joint.

T-bone’s x-rays are on the left.  An x-ray of a dog with normal hips is on the right.

T-bones hip xrays at diagnosis

Normal Canine Hips

Hip dysplasia isn’t uncommon in dogs and refers to abnormal development or structure in the ball and socket part of the hip joint.  Usually the ball of the femur (thigh bone) fits very securely in the socket of the hip bone. In hip dysplasia, the ball does not always fit securely due to how the bones developed as the dog was growing.  The instability in the joint results in excessive movement which eventually causes wear and bony changes. These changes can frequently result in pain.   Depending on the dog and the severity of disease, a dog may have problems as an active young dog or as an older dog where arthritis has developed over his lifetime.

Risk Factors

Hip dysplasia is seen most often in larger breed dogs (dogs that grow to be larger than 50 lbs as adults) but smaller dogs and cats can sometimes be affected also.

Genetics and the severity of disease in a dog’s parents plays a role in determining whether a puppy develops dysplasia but several other factors also influence whether dysplasia develops.

Diet and nutrition during a puppy’s growth phase is a factor.  In recent years there have been many advances in the way puppy foods are formulated and many brands of food are labeled specifically for large breed puppies. These foods can’t eliminate dysplasia but are designed to help promote slow, steady growth, with optimal joint development which can reduce severity of dysplasia.

Treatment

For dogs that already have dysplasia there are many treatment options which depend on severity of the disease and age of the dog.  Treatments range from pain relievers and nutritional support to surgery that actually replaces or reconfigures the hip joints to improve function.

Using several different modes of treatment together is more beneficial than one single treatment. This applies to both medications and nutraceuticals (nutritional supplements) in combination with each other as well as other treatments. It also sometimes allows use of reduced doses of medications that may have more severe side effects.

T-bone was started on an NSAID (a non steroidal anti inflammatory) which did reduce his discomfort and helped his symptoms.

He is kept as close to his ideal weight as possible to reduce wear on his joints and he goes for walks daily to keep his muscles in shape.  He also eats a prescription diet that has high levels of omega fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation.

Two and a half years after the previous x-rays were taken, T-bone’s hips were again x-rayed.  These showed some of the boney changes that can occur with dysplasia. There is a flattening of the femoral heads, widening of the femoral neck and boney ridges forming around the hip sockets.

Same view of T-bone's hips - 2 years later

Though his disease will continue to progress over his lifetime and additional medications or treatments may be necessary in the future, so far he seems comfortable and continues to be a happy dog.

For more information about hip dysplasia see:

Canine Hip Dysplasia – Veterinary Partner

Prescription Diet for Optimal Mobility and Joint Health

Recent Outbreak of Leptospirosis Prompts Questions

Posted on by
Reply

Stephanie Herrbach, Licensed Veterinary Technician, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 1.14

The clinic has had several calls, emails and Pet Portal messages lately asking about leptospirosis.  This has been spurred by the recent outbreak of the bacterial disease in the Detroit area.  This article will give you basic information about the disease, why we recommend vaccinating dogs against the disease, and why we require the vaccine for dogs boarding in the Pet Resort.

What is Leptospirosis?

The bacteria that causes leptospirosis

  • Leptospirosis (more commonly shortened to “Lepto”) is a bacterial disease that affects the liver and kidneys of humans, dogs, livestock, horses, rats, and mice.  Cats are rarely infected.
  • The bacteria has a spiral shape, which enables it to swim in water, its primary mode of infection.

How Is It Transmitted?

  • The bacteria is excreted in the urine of infected animals.
  • Animals and people then come into contact with the contaminated urine either directly or via contaminated water.  Infection can occur through the skin or by drinking contaminated water.

The recent outbreak near Detroit is thought to have been caused by rats.  Unvaccinated dogs have become infected after coming into contact with rat waste.

Signs and Symptoms in Dogs

  • Affected dogs may have fever, vomiting, arched back (due to pain in the kidneys), inappetance, and lethargy.
  • The bacteria infects the liver and kidneys, so bloodwork may show failure of these organs.  Jaundice may occur with severe liver involvement.
  • Young dogs and dogs that have never been vaccinated may be more severely affected.
  • Some dogs can be carriers of the bacteria but never show illness.

Signs and Symptoms in People

  • Severe, redness of eyes, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, and high fever.  Occasionally rashes occur.
  • The infection can recur in a second phase, resulting in recurrence of symptoms and possibly chest and abdominal pain, neck stiffness, and vomiting.
  • SEvere infections can progress rapidly and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, or heart.  The infection is life-threatening and must be caught early to decrease mortality and lasting complications.

Treatment

  • Treating leptospirosis involves using an appropriate antibiotic combination and supportive care for damaged organs.  Killing the infection with antibiotics is critical, but the damaged tissues will still take time to heal.
  • Treatment also requires minimizing exposure of infected animals and their urine to people and other animals.  Since leptospirosis is zoonotic (or able to be transmitted from animals to people), very special precautions must be taken.

How Is It Prevented In Dogs?

  • The most important and easiest way to prevent infections in dogs is vaccination!
  • The initial vaccine requires a booster several weeks later.  Thereafter, the vaccine is done annually.  At Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, we recommend that all dogs be vaccinated against leptospirosis.
  • Occasionally dogs will have allergic reactions to the vaccine.  Those with a severe reaction may require individualized vaccine protocols.

If you have any questions about leptospirosis, the vaccine, or whether or not your dog is protected, please do not hesitate to call the staff at Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic!

What’s Behind That Mysterious Smile? Cats and Cavities

Posted on by
Reply

Dr. Ruth Zarka, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 1.13

Yes, those cute little lips and tiny pearly teeth….as most cat owners know, cats are unique and sometimes mysterious creatures.  They’re also well known for sometimes developing painful medical problems in the mouth. One such problem that we see fairly often involves a resorptive type of cavity in their teeth, the exact cause of which is still not known.

There has been a lot of research and many theories but no definitive cause of this frustrating disease has been identified.  Suspected causes include, exposure to calicivirus, autoimmune disease, nutrient excess or deficiency or combinations of these factors.

The cavities can be difficult to see if they are small or under the gumline.  Lesions can also be covered by tartar buildup on teeth.  Some cats may have one affected tooth, others multiple teeth. It’s been estimated that as many as 50% of cats may have at least one resorptive lesion.

Cats of any age can be affected.  They may show no obvious symptoms and the lesions may just be found during a physical exam. Others may tilt their head to chew on one side, or simply not chew their food.  Some may drool, have trouble eating or lose weight. Usually with more advanced disease, there is an odor to their breath.

When a tooth is affected, resorption will usually start at the gum line then progressively erode large areas of the tooth. This can be a painful process as it invades sensitive tooth layers.

Some teeth are completely resorbed, and the roots eventually transform to bone like tissue which doesn’t need to be removed.  Other teeth may develop large cavities in the exposed crown and roots of the tooth but the roots still remain and can cause pain and inflammation. Some lesions are a combination of these two processes.

Unfortunately, treatment of these types of cavities involves either extraction of the entire tooth or, if roots are changing into bone tissue, removing just the diseased crown (visible top) of the tooth.

 

Taking dental x-rays is important to identify which process is occurring since this determines treatment. This is why they are recommended if we find a lesion while cleaning your cat’s teeth.

So next time your cat smiles at you, take a closer look in there!

Some information in this article and more information on feline dental health can be found at:www.winnfelinehealth.org/,   and  Feline Health Center – Cornell Veterinary Medicine – Cornell University

Buddy’s Emergency: Gastric Dilatation Volvulus

Posted on by
Reply

Dr. Rebecca Smyka, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 1.12

Buddy is such a sweet boy!

Buddy was brought in to Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic for emergency evaluation early one Saturday morning.  That morning, Buddy had eaten his breakfast and seemed alright for a little while.  He then started trying to vomit multiple times, but was unable to get anything up.  His owner noticed this and his distending abdomen and brought him straight in for immediate evaluation, as she suspected that Buddy had gastric dilatation volvulus, more commonly called bloat.

 

 

 

Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening emergency in which a dog’s stomach twists upon itself.

Normal Stomach Position

The beginning of stomach rotation

Full torsion of the stomach

Bruising and tissue damage due to interruption of blood supply

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This twisting, or torsion, has several dire consequences for the dog and can progress very quickly.  The rotation can put so much pressure on the stomach wall that the blood supply is cut off, causing necrosis (or death) of the stomach wall tissue if let go too long.  As the stomach compartment is unable to decompress because it is twisted shut, gas and fluid continue to accumulate, blowing up the stomach like a balloon.  The massively distended stomach can compress the largest vein in the body, cutting off blood supply back to the heart and head, putting the patient in shock.  Finally, the spleen is closely attached to the stomach by its blood supply, and can become torsed as well during rotation.  All of these factors result in dire consequences, even death, if not treated quickly.

Buddy's lateral (side view) xray

Upon arrival, an exam and xray were taken quickly to confirm his condition.  The xray shows Buddy’s stomach massively distended with air and food, with the twist clearly visible.  He was immediately placed on IV fluids to reverse shock and ECG to assess heart rhythm.  We took Buddy into surgery immediately to relieve the torsion.  Luckily, Buddy’s stomach tissue and spleen appeared healthy during surgery, which positively affects the outcome of GDV cases.  Buddy’s stomach was derotated and a gastropexy was performed, permanently anchoring his stomach to the body wall so that rotation cannot recur.  Buddy required several days of intensive monitoring at an emergency facility post- surgery to observe for potential postoperative complications.  We are happy to report that he has been doing well since discharge!

Buddy just after surgery, still quite groggy

Luckily, Buddy’s owner had worked in the veterinary industry previously and was aware of the signs and consequences of bloat.  The more time passes, the worse the consequences of GDV can be.  Unfortunately, many pets still die from bloat, even despite veterinarians’ best efforts.  Dogs at highest risk for developing GDV are those with deep chests, such as the Great Dane, St. Bernard, and Weimeraner.  However, Buddy is evidence that this can occur in any breed.  The incidence of GDV in high risk breeds is about 6%.  Other risk factors identified in a study by Glickman et al were older animals, having a known genetic relative with a history of GDV, eating very quickly, and having a raised feed bowl.  Gastropexy is recommended for those high risk breeds when they are spayed or neutered to prevent GDV from occurring later in life.

What can pet owners do?

-         Feed your pet from the floor, not from a raised food dish

-         Prevent vigorous exercise just after eating

-         Monitor your dog for the signs of GDV:  retching or attempted vomiting without producing anything, and a distended abdomen.

Should you notice any of these signs, take your dog to your veterinarian immediately!  Quick recognition and treatment is vital to the best outcome.

Images of stomach reprinted from veterinarypartner.com

Canned Cat Food – Is It Good or Bad?

Posted on by
Reply

Dr. Chris Jones, Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic, Points About Pets – 1.11

A client asked me this week:  “I heard that canned cat food is bad for my cat – is that true?”  The answer to that has changed over the years.  Until recently, we thought that what was good for the dog was also good for the cat.  But ongoing research, clinical trials and feedback from the veterinary community has shown that not to be the case.  We encourage dog owners to feed a high percentage of dry food to help with dental health, but this does not seem to be as important in the cat.  Veterinarians now realize that cats have a much different normal bacterial population and pH in the oral cavity than we once thought.  So dry food and dental health are not as directly linked in cats as they are in dogs. Most research and clinical impressions are that some canned food every day is beneficial for the cat.  Why is that?  Well, hydration is the key to better health.  Our human doctors recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day – that’s a half gallon of fluids.  Cats also need to stay hydrated for optimum health, but like a horse, you can lead a cat to water but you can’t make him drink!  The roots of many of the feline species that we see today are from the desert or arid regions of the Middle East, where water was not always plentiful.  Thus, cats tended to walk a tight rope between hydration and dehydration.

So how does that relate to canned food and our furry friends?  One of the more common problems seen in cats of any age are bladder- and kidney-related disease.  Many in the veterinary community believe that the reason for this is related to the hydration status of the cat.  So how can we get our kitties to drink more water?  The key is canned cat food.  Canned food has a high water content and as such, can help the cat stay adequately hydrated.  In fact, some diseases such as idiopathic cystitis respond better to a diet of 100% canned food.  I know what you may be thinking; owners don’t like all those messy cans of cat food in the refrigerator.  The pet food industry has responded and today there are a variety of sizes of cans and even soft food in pouches.  Myself, I feed my cat Mac a three ounce can of food each evening.  That is about 40% of his caloric intake for a day.  The rest of his diet is dry food (diet food for Mac!) split up into small meals scattered through the day.  Canned food is good for your cat.  Give it a try – your cat will thank you for it.