Oromocto Vet Hospital News

Mange is a skin condition in dogs and cats that is caused by a parasite known as a mite.  There are typically two types of mites that are the cause – demodex or sarcoptes (more commonly known as scabies).

Demodex mites cause demodectic mange, which is more common in dogs than in cats.  Demodex mites live on the skin of healthy animals and are not infectious to humans or other animals.  Typically, the animal’s immune system prevents these mites from causing a problem.  However, in young animals whose immune system is not fully developed, or in older animals that have another illness that is causing their immune system to be weak – the mites are able to overcome the weakened immune system and an infection results.

Demodectic mange can be localized to one or a few spots, or can be generalized over the entire body.  The main clinical sign is hair loss (patches or generalized) and yet the dog is often not itchy.  However, a secondary bacterial infection can occur as well, causing redness and scaling or scabs, and this will result in itchiness.  Lesions usually first occur on the head, chest, and front legs, and then gradually spread over the rest of the body.

Demodex is diagnosed through a skin scraping performed by your veterinarian.  The skin scraping is then examined under the microscope for the presence of the mites.   Treatment is with a medication called Ivermectin and usually lasts for weeks (6-8 weeks, sometimes longer), depending on the severity.  Any secondary bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics.

Sarcoptes mites, or scabies, cause sarcoptic mange.  This is a highly contagious infection that can affect dogs and cats, as well as humans.  In contrast to demodex, scabies is extremely itchy.  The lesions tend to be more severe than demodex and occur first along the margins of the ears, around the eyes, elbows, or chest, but can also spread over the entire body.  The lesions involve hair loss, pustules, redness, and scaling.

Like demodex, scabies can also be diagnosed by a skin scraping.  However, the mites tend to be hard to find and a negative skin scraping does not rule out sarcoptic mange.  A presumptive diagnosis is typically based on clinical signs, especially on the severity of the itchiness.  Treatment is with a topical medication called Revolution.  Revolution is more generally known as a flea preventative and is used once a month when dealing with fleas.  When treating scabies, the medication is instead given more frequently, often every 2 weeks, for a total of at least 3 doses.

Mange can be a frustrating condition to manage and treatment is often a long process.  It is important to contact your veterinarian when any skin issue is first noticed.  Prognosis is dependent on the severity of the illness and the presence of any other underlying conditions.

Many people know that things like chocolate, grapes, and antifreeze are toxic, but there are other common materials that may be toxic to your dog that could lead to serious trouble if eaten:

1)      Uncooked Dough – Raw pizza or bread dough contains uncooked yeast; which can rapidly expand in your dog’s stomach if ingested. Once it rises in the stomach, the dough can cause decreased circulation due to the pressure that it applies to the stomach wall. Also, yeast fermentation can produce ethanol – an alcohol that can cause your dog to act disoriented (drunk). Immediate intervention can be required, and may involve surgery or intravenous (IV) fluids to flush out the toxins.

2)       Macadamia nuts – Although we don’t know what is in these nuts to make them toxic (much like grapes/raisins), veterinarians are aware that only a small number of these nuts are needed to cause problems for your dog. Besides causing upset stomach due to the high concentration of fat, these nuts also cause muscle weakness and hind leg tremors. Dogs that eat macadamia nuts often due well once the nuts are out of their systems.

3)      Paintballs – Common paintballs used for war games are labeled as non-toxic, but contain compounds that, in pets,  cause fluid to leave the blood and enter the intestinal tract. This can cause dehydration, and lead to dangerously high levels of sodium in the blood. They can also cause vomiting/diarrhea, and lethargy. IV fluids may be needed for full recovery.

4)      Xylitol – Commonly found in chewing gum, this chemical can cause a large release of Insulin in the blood if ingested (Only in dogs, not humans). This can lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels, leading to collapse, weakness, seizures, etc. Also, Xylitol has been known to cause liver damage in dogs. IV fluids with dextrose (a sugar), hospitalization, or other medical care may be necessary.

One of the main organs of the body that allows both pets and people to digest food is called the pancreas. It is a small gland located near the stomach and it functions to regulate blood sugar (endocrine) as well as digest food (exocrine). The cells that carry out each function are distributed together throughout the pancreas.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is a failure to produce sufficient digestive enzymes in the pancreas. When the enzymes from the pancreas are present they secrete into the intestine and break up nutrients into smaller molecules (digestion).  Food molecules need to be broken down in order to be absorbed.  Without adequate production of enzymes, food cannot be digested, cannot be absorbed and illness will develop. Clinical signs of EPI are weight loss, greasy diarrhea,a as well as a poor hair coat. Some dogs even experience pica (consumption of non-food materials such as paper, dirt, or plastics) or such aggressive hunger that they will eat anything.

EPI occurs when there is loss of function of the cells in the pancreas either because of a genetic trait or destruction of the cells from ongoing inflammation in the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis). The genetic form happens generally before the age of four, most commonly in German Shepherds (70%) and rough coated collies (20%). Cats can develop EPI as well, usually from chronic pancreatitis.

If a dog is having issue with weight loss, and diarrhea, your veterinarian will first do blood work to make sure a more common issue is not the cause. In-hospital blood work will likely need to be done.  A more specific test for this condition is called a TLI – Trypsin Like Immunoreactivity test.  EPI symptomatic dogs will have a low TLI reading.

The treatment for EPI is an enzyme replacement that can be purchased. It replaces the enzyme that the pet cannot produce. Raw beef or lamb pancreas can be used as well to provide the enzyme. These meats need to be kept frozen in order to store and maintain enzyme function; they cannot be cooked.

Diet management is important. A high quality diet is preferred (as opposed to human food and fatty foods). This will allow better digestion and weight gain for the pet.

When patients have EPI they can also have another issue with Vitamin B12 storage. The mal-digested foods allow bacterial to overpopulate in the intestine causing bacterial overgrowth (BO). These bacteria use up the Vitamin B12 as they multiply and leave the pet deficient in this vitamin. Antibiotics can restore normal bacteria and allow better absorption of Vitamin B12. Injections may be needed to replace this vitamin as the patient recovers and responds to pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Enzyme replacement for EPI patients is required for the life of the animal. Most dogs have an excellent quality of life on supplementation and regain normal bowel movement and normal weight maintenance.

Grapes and raisins are now added to our list of poisonous foods for dogs. Irreversible kidney damage may result from ingestion of just 10-12 grapes by a dog weighing 8 kg (about 17 and 1/2 lb). Raisins, which are dried grapes, are similarly toxic and ingestion of even small amounts (about 3 g per kg of body weight, or 0.1 oz per 2.2 lb of body weight) is enough to cause significant health problems.

The symptoms of grape or raisin poisoning will be vomiting, lack of energy, appetite loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain and weakness. The signs may present one day after eating the fruit and vomiting may be the first sign noticed. If you have not knowingly given raisins to your dog, it is important to mention if you see any signs of grapes or raisins in the vomit of your sick dog.

Diagnosis may be made most effectively by the evidence or history of the dog eating grapes or raisins. In such cases, blood chemistry may show the kidneys are not working correctly and the history of ingestion is most important to pinpoint the cause.

The treatment will be the same for any type of kidney failure although the prognosis may be different if your veterinarian suspects other causes. Treatment will be extensive and the outcome may not be good. Typically, intravenous (IV) fluids in hospital and medication to control clinical symptoms are provided.

Any type of kidney failure can be permanent. A survey of grape /raisin ingestion cases indicated that 53 % of confirmed exposures recovered with treatment. The other animals were either euthanized or died. The blood work at time of diagnosis as well as response to therapy may be the best guess indicator for a full recovery.

The overall rule is DO NOT feed grapes or raisins to any of your pets. Keep them out of reach and should you pet ingest numerous grapes or raisins contact your veterinarian.  Inducing vomiting will be a priority in the first six hours……. It should also be noted that not all cases of grape/ raisin ingestion lead to kidney failure but prevention of any exposure will make sure your pet is not one of the unlucky ones.

Have you tried out the Oromocto Veterinary Hospital’s Pet Portals service yet? This free private website allows you to view your pet’s medical and food records, request appointments, reorder food and medications, even upload pet photos into your private pet photo gallery. For more information on Pet Portals, see here.
If you are a user of Oromocto Veterinary Hospital’s free Pet Portals service, but have not logged onto your pet’s website since November 8, then please note that a new version of Pet Portals has been released (Pet Portals 2). You will need to ACTIVATE your Pet Portals before you can access the new version.

To do this, take the following steps:
 - Click on the Pet Portals login on our website. A message from Pet Portals
appears.
 - Click on the ACTVATE button. You will be asked to enter your email address.
 - Pet Portals will send you an email message with information that allows you
to logon on to the new version of Pet Portals. You must act on this information
within 24 hrs.

 We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. But we think you will find
this new version to be worth the effort.

 If you have not yet tried Pet Portals, visit our website for more information.

Also known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), dry eye is a condition caused by the eye not producing enough tears. This is a very uncomfortable disease, causing the dog (or rarely the cat) discomfort and pain, and can lead to scarring and blindness if left untreated. The most common presentation is a dog with very goopy, sticky, eyes that has been gradually getting worse.  There is no cure for this disease, but there are several treatment options available. Treatment is required for the rest of the animal’s life.

Any breed can develop KCS, but small breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Pugs, and Shih Tzus are the most commonly affected. These animals can be genetically predisposed, or the condition can be brought on as the side effect of long-term medication or trauma. The most common cause is ‘auto-immune’ – the animal’s own body attacks the tear-producing glands and resulting in a reduced or complete lack of tear production.  The diagnosis is made by doing a Schirmer Tear Test – a test that measures the tear production over a one minute time span. It is done by placing a small strip of special paper under the pet’s eyelid.

Treatment for KCS involves using topical eye drops in the affected eye/eyes once or twice daily for the life of the pet. The drops used most commonly consist of Cyclosporine, and they work by stimulating the eye to produce more tears. In addition, your veterinarian may suggest using artificial tears as often as every few hours to help lubricate the eyes.  In extreme cases, there is a surgical procedure that can be performed that involves moving a salivary duct so that it drains onto the eye.

This disease is very uncomfortable, as anyone with dry eyes can explain, often describing the sensation like sand in the eyes.  If your dog’s eyes appear abnormal, or you notice them rubbing their face frequently, a visit to your veterinarian is recommended.

When your dog or cat comes in to see us at the Oromocto Veterinary Hospital for their annual exam, you may notice the doctor giving them a pill or a small amount of liquid. Often times, we are asked what these treatments are for… The answer is Deworming!

The most common intestinal parasites that household pets are affected by are Roundworms and Hookworms. Both of these parasites live in the intestines and may or may not cause obvious signs of illness (Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal bloating or pain, etc.). Your pet can become infected by eating the feces of another animal, dirt contaminated with feces, or even through the milk they drink from their mother. Roundworms eat food in the animal’s intestinal tract; the pet may become weak and take on a ‘pot-bellied’ appearance. Hookworms live in the animal’s gut by feeding on blood produced by the host animal; this deprives your pet of the blood it needs to thrive. Hookworm infections may kill young puppies, and both hookworms and roundworms may be transmitted from pets to humans.

Diagnosis of these parasites involves examining the feces and looking for the eggs that these worms produce. If eggs are found, infection is confirmed; but if no eggs are found, we cannot say with 100% certainty that they are not infected.

Puppies and kittens should be dewormed beginning at 2-3 weeks, and are usually dewormed every 2 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. Once they are adults, dogs and cats should be dewormed every 6-12 months.  Your veterinarian may also recommend deworming anytime your pet has non-specific gastrointestinal upset as a precaution… Dewormers are typically very safe medications, and have very few side effects.

Occasionally, pets can become infected with Tapeworms, which are acquired by eating the worms’ intermediate host, either a mouse or a flea (This is the reason that outdoor, hunting cats are usually recommended to deworm for Tapeworms, as they are more likely to have eaten prey).  Tapeworms are usually identified because they leave small white egg packets around the animals’ anus. These egg packets are roughly the size of rice grains.  The medications given as routine dewormers do NOT treat for tapeworms, and therefore if you are noticing these egg packets, you should call your vet for the appropriate treatment.

Cat Adoption Tips:

Adopting a new cat from the SPCA or another shelter is a great way to acquire a new pet, and helps give needy cats a ‘forever’ home. Here are a few tips and things to consider:

1)      Consider adopting two cats instead of one. Cats need to stay active and have mental stimulation. While it is important for owners to interact and entertain the kitties, another cat can go a long way to keeping a new addition happy.

2)      Consider an older cat. When choosing a new feline friend, it is easy to be swept away and fall in love with a cute kitten. The issue with adopting young kittens is that it is much harder to determine what their personality is going to be at maturity. Mature cats already have established personas, and thus can be matched to the correct owner.

3)      Adopt a cat that match’s your attitude.  Active household with kids are great environments for active, playful younger cats and kittens. Older owners or busy households may fair better with a more laid back cat that enjoys lounging around.

4)      Make sure EVERYONE in the house is on-board with the adoption. Family members who do not like cats, or are allergic to cats, should be consulted prior to the cats’ arrival home. It’s not fair to either the family or the cat.

5)      Prepare for the investment. Don’t be caught off guard by discounted adoption fees. Remember that there may be more costs up front (food, toys, litter boxes, etc.) as well as long term costs (medical expenses). Illnesses can develop suddenly, and owners must be prepared for these surprises. Reviewing your budget and allowing for such costs should be considered.

6)      Prepare the house prior to the new cats’ arrival. Have food dishes, scratching posts, litter boxes, etc. ready for when your new friend arrives. Also, if you are in an apartment, ensure that your landlord allows pets.

7)      Introduce new cats to your pre-existing pets SLOWLY. Cats, especially mature cats, take longer to adjust to their new homes and new furry siblings. This process should be done over days, and with supervision.

8)      Don’t give a cat, or any pet, as a gift. Pets in general require financial responsibility, and long term commitment.  The decision to adopt needs to be well thought out and planned.

Your local SPCA or shelter should be able, and willing, to help you with all of the planning necessary to make the new cat experience a great one. If you have questions or concerns, speak to your veterinarian or the shelter BEFORE adopting.

Chinchillas are rodents that originally came from South America (Bolivia, Peru, Chile, etc.). The name ‘chinchilla’ was given because the Chincha natives in South America used the pelts to adorn their clothing. Chinchillas have been bred in captivity since the 1920’s, and were originally bred for their pelts. While chinchillas are still used for their fur, they are also captive bred as pets and research animals. Their average lifespan is 8-10 years (up to 18 in some cases).

Chinchillas are usually fed a specific chinchilla pellet diet, but in a bind could be fed standard rabbit or guinea pig food. Chinchillas also need hay for their diet – Timothy or other grass hays are appropriate, while other types (like alfalfa) are too high in calcium and should be avoided. Hay provides fiber for their gastrointestinal tract, and roughage to help maintain their teeth. Chinchillas also LOVE fruit and nuts, but it is important that these treats be used sparingly, and should only account for 10% or less of their total diet. It is also important that they have access to fresh, clean drinking water. Lastly, it is very important for chinchillas to be given ‘dust-baths’ once or twice weekly. This helps keep their coat dry and healthy (since they are desert rodents originally).

One of the common illnesses affecting chinchillas is enteritis (upset intestinal tract caused by bacteria or viruses), causing diarrhea, loss of appetite, and even leading to death. Should a chinchilla develop enteritis, it often requires antibiotics. Other common bacterial infections happen in the lungs (pneumonia) or the skin (often a fungus called Trichophyton, commonly referred to as ringworm). Other common illnesses NOT caused by infection are dental disease (malocclusion of the teeth from improper wear), and ‘fur slip’ – a condition in which a patch of fur is lost due to improper handling.

Chinchillas are easy to keep and handle as pets, but are nocturnal, and are perhaps not the best choice for young children. They rarely bite, and have interesting, individual personalities. With proper care and a little knowledge, they can be great pets that are quite entertaining.

With the recent update to the Pet Portal (available to any client that has an email), we have greatly expanded the number of medications and foods that are now seen on your pet’s individual Pet Portal.  The medications, the date and the prescription (doctor’s instructions) are all visible now for your review.

We feel this enhancement will help our clients, by giving them more information about their pet’s medical information. It will allow you to review your doctor’s instructions (as well as the prescription for the medications) and correct any possible administration errors that may have occurred.

Please log-in to  your Pet Portal to review pet medical history (vaccine information, medications and foods received from Oromocto Veterinary Hospital).

If you do not have a Pet Portal, please request one for your pet family, simply visit us at www.oromoctovethospital.com and follow the links to Pet Portal.  After we receive your request, we will send you an email with a Username and Password for access to your secure Pet Portal.

Do not worry; we will never sell your email or personal information.  We view the Pet Portal as another tool for you to use to educate yourself about your pet and to communicate with us.  Don’t forget to upload a picture of your pet(s) to the Pet Portal so you will be eligible for a Pet ID card!  (See previous NewsBlog post about Pet ID cards)