Porcupines are back!

 The Staff of Oromocto Veterinary Hospital have been busy this week taking care of several dogs with porcupine quills.  Most of them have had quills stuck in their nose, muzzle, gums, chin and one with 25 quills stuck to the upper hard palate in the mouth.  Sedation or general anesthesia is needed to properly and completely remove quills.

Ouch!

When your veterinarian prescribes a medication, it is extremely important that your pet receives the full course of the medication.  This means that if your vet recommends 10 days worth of medication, it is important to finish the full 10 days. 

Here are some tips to make the process easier:

If you are able to disguise the pill in something your dog or cat loves to eat (a favorite treat – cheese, peanut butter, soft treat) – this is a good way to give medication as long as you can ensure they get the full pill.  This is easier with dogs.

When you are unable to hide the medication in a treat, for dogs:

•  Use one hand to hold the top of your dogs nose and tilt its head upwards.
•  Use the other hand to open the dog’s mouth and place the pill as far back into its mouth as you can reach.
• Hold the dogs mouth closed with both hands until he swallows.
• You may squirt a small amount of water into the dog’s mouth to encourage him to swallow, or try rubbing its throat.
•  After he swallows, check his mouth to make sure the pill has been swallowed.

For cats the procedure is similar:

• Place one hand on top of the cat’s head, tilting its head upward. The cat’s mouth will naturally open slightly.
• Use your other hand to open the cat’s mouth and drop the pill to the back of its throat.
• Hold the cat’s mouth closed until he swallows – watch for it to lick its upper lip to indicate that he swallowed.
•  Again you can squirt a small amount of water into its mouth or rub its throat to encourage swallowing.
•  Check the cat’s mouth to make sure the pill is gone and not sitting in the back of its throat

If you are unable to give your pet the medication, contact your veterinarian.  The medication may be available in a different form, such as a liquid.  Occasionally compounding pharmacies are able to make the medication into a flavored tablet or liquid that your pet will take more easily or at least make it easier to disguise.

Do you have a ‘good dog’?  Can you trust her loose in the house when you are not home?  Does he chew on your shoes, pencils, drywall, or break in to the garbage?  How is the house-breaking going?

The trick to having a ‘good dog’ is to tire her/him out every day!

Every dog needs one hour of exercise per day.  That is two ten minute walks and one forty to forty-five minute walk every day.  The walk is important; when I say 45 minute walk, I am not referring to letting the dog out in the back yard to run around for 10-40 minutes, because, as you can imagine, that is boring.  What is stimulating your dog when you tie him up or let him loose just in the yard? 

A dog needs to go for a walk or jog every day.  The act of walking or running for ¾ of an hour is good for the dog physically and, more importantly, it stimulates her mind as the world is passing by during her walk.  You will begin to wear her out, but she won’t mind because of all the new scents and sights she is enjoying.

If you devote yourself to walking your dog for 45 minutes each day, your dog will thank you.  He will be tired at the end of his walk.  After the walk is the time to practice some sits, downs and Come (the most important command a dog should learn).  Once he has had a chance to burn off some energy, he will be happy to pay attention to your commands.  He will then be ready for a little nap.  No need to break in to the garbage or chew on shoes as he is content to rest with you, ready to learn new things or to sit quietly by your side.

For the next month, devote yourself to making sure your dog is tired by the end of the day; take him/her for a 45 minute walk every day.  At the end the month, you will see the ‘good dog’ in your dog!

 *       Doctor’s hours: 7 AM to 7 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays.

*       When you call, you get through to Oromocto Veterinary Hospital.

*       You can normally get an appointment on the same day you call or the next.

*       Oromocto Veterinary Hospital is AAHA Accredited, so you know that our patient care is at a standard that has been evaluated by the American Animal Hospital Association.

*       We are here for you in an Emergency.  An Oromocto Veterinary Hospital doctor will look after your pet for any after-hours emergency at our usual hospital facility.  No driving to an unfamiliar location in an emergency.

*       Your pet can have blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, anesthesia, surgery, ophthalmic exam, dental cleaning and a nail trim all in one facility by your own doctor.

*       Oromocto Veterinary Hospital doctors or staff will call you with all test results, normal or abnormal.  We do NOT say, “We will call only if there are abnormalities on the tests”.

*       Oromocto Veterinary Hospital veterinarians show you your pet’s x-ray, ultrasound or other diagnostic test results and will explain the normal and diseased areas.

*       We will dispense medications from our pharmacy, no special trips to a different place to get the medications you need.

*       Your pet needs surgery?   No waiting times, we can operate on your pet right away.

*       We can arrange a referral to a Specialist in the next 1-2 weeks.

*       We call you in a few days to get an update on your pet’s condition.

*       We work closely with you to bring your pet back to its good health.

*       We make house calls.

*       End of life issues are discussed clearly with you, we treat your difficult time with compassion and care, and we understand what you are going through.

*       And most importantly, prevention of illness and your pet’s health is our primary concern.

Normal sources of odor come most often from the anus, ears, and feet. Secretions from these areas allow dogs to recognize each other. These odors are natural but not necessarily pleasant to humans.

Skin glands are found all over the body of the dog but, unlike people, they do not produce sweat. They secrete a pheromone for chemical signaling between dogs.  The glands in the nose and the foot pads function to moisten those areas. These areas also have a thin layer of bacteria that produce a cheesy type of smell, most often noticeable when the feet are damp.

The ears have secreting glands called ceruminous and sebaceous glands. They produce natural ear wax. Microorganisms present in the wax will produce a mild odor.

Last but not least are the glands just inside the rectum called anal glands.  These glands have tiny ducts that secrete to the surface of the anus. Even a tiny amount of the liquid secretion produced by anal glands is very, very, potent odor-wise (rotting fish would be a common description). Normally, the anal glands secrete only tiny amounts onto the feces, thus leaving a calling card that helps describe that dog to another that sniffs the feces. If a dog is frightened, the gland may express large quantities of secretion and the resulting odor tends to be offensive to most owners.

The last ‘normal’ smell on our list is caused by a common behavior of dogs – rolling in material to cover themselves with a smell. They tend to roll in feces of other animals such as deer or rabbit.  In the wild, this behavior is thought to signal to other dogs that there are other animals in the territory.

Other sources of odor to be considered are those that are not as common unless there is a problem:

1)      Poor grooming. Poor grooming can lead to dirt and debris trapped in the fur; this causes the growth of bacteria and yeast. The bacteria and yeast smell is generally unpleasant and undesirable to owners.

2)      Skin disease can affect the odor of the dog. This happens with numerous types of skin diseases. When the skin becomes itchy or inflamed skin there are increased numbers of bacteria or yeast, along with more oil. These organisms proliferate on the inflamed skin, magnifying the “wet dog smell”. So any cause for skin inflammation like mange, bacterial infection, hot spot, flea bite allergy, seborrhea, or other illness will cause the dog to emit a foul “wet dog smell”.

3)      Ears can equally become inflamed and can be infected with yeast, bacteria or both. The smell will increase to the point that the entire dog has a bad odor.

4)      Dental disease has a very unique smell to the trained nose. Dental tartar that sits tightly cemented to the teeth is composed of bacteria and bacterial products. The smell will be noticeable on the dog’s breath. Closer inspection of the tooth surface will reveal the disease.

5)      Another cause for mouth odor can be from anal sac disease. Most dogs will lick more if their anal glands are bothering them and the fluid from the area may cling to the hair around the mouth.

Flatulence or passing gas can be a complaint by owners. Causes of increased gas production are diets and their digestibility. Burping and flatulence can be an ongoing issue and a consult with your veterinarian is recommended to see if the cause can be found and corrected.

Skunks produce their own natural smell but it’s not natural on your dog! Once on the dog’s fur it can take weeks to completely resolve. We do recommend a skunk shampoo for best results but the smell typically lingers even with the best bath.

Hoping that your dog has no smell at all may not be realistic. If there is an offensive odor, one of the causes above may be present. If the odor lingers it is best to contact your veterinarian so that the correct treatments can be recommended.  A good smelling dog is a happy dog…..and owner.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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