If you are like many, one of things on the list that may be due or overdue is a trip to the veterinarian for a tip-of-the-nose to tip-of-the-tail checkup. This is no different than the yearly physical examination recommendation made to you by your own physician. The purpose of regularly scheduled physical exams, even in the face of looking good and feeling well, is to make sure no evidence of hidden or early disease is lurking. Because Pet’s bodies and internal systems age six to ten times as quickly as our own, Pets need comprehensive physical examinations on a twice yearly basis. The focus of veterinary medicine has shifted from crisis care and management to preventive care. Preventing disease, early detection and treatment are less stressful, less expensive and have much better outcomes then waiting until a disease gets bad enough that few or potentially no options exist. Even though veterinarians have a wide array of specialized and advanced diagnostics test capabilities, the most important one is a thorough hands-on physical examination, some basic testing, depending on breed, age and environment, along with a good history and discussion of any changes that have occurred since the Pet’s last physical exam.

Our Pets are our best friends, part of our family and those who love us unconditionally no matter what.

We want them healthy, happy and with us for as long as possible. Remember that although our dogs and cats are domesticated they still maintain some vestiges of their wild ancestors.  In the wild, to show illness or weakness was, in most cases, a death sentence. So not surprisingly Pets, especially cats, tend to hide illness, especially chronic diseases like oral kidney and even heart disease. Even small changes in appetite, body weight, water consumption or mobility, may go unnoticed. Veterinarians know the right questions to ask and how to go about checking for subtle changes that may have significant impact on quality and length of life.

No different  than for people, regular preventive care which changes as we age, is the foundation for a long and healthy life. Your Pet(s) depend on the team of you and your veterinarian to provide a long healthy and happy life. It seems little to ask for the amount of joy, love and well-being they give us in return.

Spring is here! and It’s time to call your veterinarian and schedule a comprehensive examination. Time passes by quickly. Don’t wait!!! You Pet will thank you for it.

Let’s start with the feeding guidelines on the packaging. Guideline is really the key word here; that is all that they really are.  They are a starting point, after which we must make logical changes to keep our Pets in ideal body condition.  Feeding guides provide an estimation of what the average Pet requires for his/her current body weight.  Did you know that the actual amount of food that your individual Pet needs can vary from the average Pet by 25%?  This large variation in requirements is one of the greatest challenges we have when feeding pets and can be a leading source of the obesity epidemic that we are now faced with in veterinary nutrition.  The large variation among individual Pets is due to differences in sex, breed, environment (indoor vs. outdoor), exercise and a whole host of other factors.

Feeding guides typically list the amount of food that your Pet needs per day, rather than the amount of food that they need at each meal.  So, if you feed your Pet twice a day, you should divide the amount the feeding guide recommends by two.  

Most feeding guides will tell you how many cups of food to feed per day.  Take a critical look at the cup that you use to measure your Pet’s food.  Feeding guides are based on a USA standard cooking cup of 237 ml.  In this era of supersizing, we often forget what a standard US cup size is. Some Pet food companies are helpful and provide standard feeding cups for their foods.  You can ask your veterinarian if they have one to give you with your food. It can also be difficult to judge a quarter, third or half of a cup.  An easy solution is to invest just a few dollars in purchasing a cooking cup set at your local kitchen retailer. These make it so simple to accurately determine what a quarter of a cup really is! 

Accuracy is important in how much you feed, but so too is consistency.  Our Pets will lead healthier lives if we are consistent in our routine with the time of day that we feed our Pets, how much we feed and how much we exercise them.  Now that we have implemented an accurate and consistent approach, how do we really decide if we are feeding the right amount to our Pets?  The answer is simple and enjoyable.  We need to touch and feel our Pets!  Specifically, run your hands over the sides of the chest and abdomen of your Pet to the tail.  You want to be able to feel the ribs, and the ribs should have light cover of fat on them.  As you reach the abdomen, you want to be able to feel an indentation of the waist.   Also, if you stand above your Pet, you should be able to readily see the indentation of the waist.  This technique of feeling for the amount of fat that your Pet is carrying is called Body Condition Scoring, and it is a technique that your veterinarian will perform (along with body weight) at each visit.  If you can easily feel and see the ribs, with very little fat covering, then your pet will need more food.  If on the other hand, your pet has a generous covering of fat over the ribs and thickening of the waist area, it is time to reduce the amount that you are feeding and/or increase the amount of exercise.  A good general recommendation is to increase or decrease the amount you feed by about 10% and monitor your Pet closely for the next 2-3 weeks for improvement.  Finally, remember that your veterinarian is the best person who can give you expert advice about how to feed our Pet and if your Pet is in ideal body condition!

• If you have not heard, Pets benefit from many dental procedures developed for humans.  However, keep in mind that these procedures do not include teeth whitening, braces, dentures, dental implants and other cosmetic dental procedures. 
• Professional dental cleaning for Pets is performed under general anesthesia and Pets are recommended to have this procedure every six months to several years depending upon how quickly plaque and tartar build up on their teeth. Just like people, a Pet’s home dental care, genetics and diet helps determine professional cleaning needs.
• Gingivitis is as much of a health issue for Pets as it is for people.
• Pet toothpaste has enzymes to help break down plaque making the job of brushing the teeth at home somewhat easier.  It also comes in yummy flavors like chicken and beef!

So why is dental care as important in Pet as it is in humans? 

1. Healthy teeth and gums have more longevity than infected or broken teeth
2. Bad breath (from plaque and tartar on teeth) is just as offensive when it comes from your Pet as it would from other people
3. Infected teeth hurt and cause bacteria to leech into the body via the gums. Bacteria can then damage the kidneys, heart and other organs in the body

The following are changes are great preventive measures you can take to maintain your Pet’s teeth and gums:

• Provide a good diet – good nutrition builds good teeth and gums
• Feed dry food – dry is less likely to stick to teeth and form tartar or plaque
• Over time train your Pet so brushing their teeth is part of regular grooming
• Schedule professional dental cleaning under anesthesia

Train Pets to allow you to look at their teeth so you can eventually brush their teeth.  Start by training Pets to allow an exam of their teeth at home.  Continue to work with them so eventually brushing the teeth with special Pet toothpaste is part of the hygiene and grooming done weekly or daily, depending on the individual Pet’s needs.

How is dental care for Pets different than our own?

1. Toothpaste for dogs and cats includes special enzymes to help with home dental cleaning.
2. Professional dental cleaning for Pets requires general anesthesia.
3. Most dental care is provided by your Pet’s veterinarian, more complicated procedures such as root canals, are be referred to a veterinary dental specialists.
4. All the adult teeth are present around six months of age so no wisdom teeth appear later in life.
5. Flossing is not included in home dental care for Pets.
6. Some Pets may not lose baby teeth properly when adult teeth come in. These need to be pulled and can often be done at the time of spay or neuter.

When doing home exams for your Pet, here’s what to look for:

• Starting with clean teeth – there is no food or gunk between teeth or close to the gums’ no bad odor associated with the mouth
• Then move to food and plaque (which is soft and easy to remove) build up on the teeth (just like people) that needs to be removed with regular brushing or some similar type of action
• Tartar forms as plaque hardens on the teeth-this is the stage when a professional dental cleaning is needed, brushing at home prevents more plaque hardening to build more tartar, however the existing tartar will not come off with brushing at home
• Receding and/or inflamed gums as a result of plaque and tartar buildup provide more surface area for additional plaque, food debris and tartar to hide. This in turn can put the teeth at risk of root damage that leads to tooth death, loose teeth, infected teeth
• Infected teeth leech bacteria into the body which can affect the major organs including the liver, kidneys and heart; infected teeth can become loose and eventually fall out altogether

To have your Pet’s teeth examined, check with your veterinarian.  Your veterinary hospital can also assist with scheduling professional dental cleanings, make recommendations for different types of brushes that work well for the size of your Pet, provide Pet toothpaste flavored for either your cat or dog and help demonstrate how to start working with your Pet so that over time brushing with Pet toothpaste is part of regular grooming at home.

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, Banfield’s partner in diagnosing and treating poison cases, nearly half the calls from the hotline deal with Pets ingesting human medications. Even with a Pet owner’s best intention, accidents can still happen. Below are tips from Dr. Justine Lee and Dr. Ahna Brutlag (from the Pet Poison Hotline) on how to best prevent these accidents from happening.

Always keep medications safely out of reach ad never administer a medication to a Pet without first consulting your veterinarian. Use the following tips to prevent Pets from getting into over-the-counter or prescription medication:

• Never leave loose pills in a plastic Ziploc© bag—the bags are too easy to chew into. Make sure visiting house guests do the same, keeping their medications high up or out of reach.
• If you place your medications in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your Pets. Unfortunately, some Pets might consider the pill container a plastic chew toy.
• Never store your medications near your Pet’s medications. Pet Poison Helpline frequently receives calls from concerned Pet owners who inadvertently give their own medication to their Pet.
• Hang your purse up. Inquisitive Pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your purse up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication(s).

It is also important to note that while a medication may be safe for children, it may not be safe for animals. Pets metabolize medications very differently from people. Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications can cause serious poisoning in Pets.

If you suspect your Pet has been poisoned, it is best to immediately take your Pet to your Banfield veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian.  In the event that you are unable to do that, you can contact Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 for initial information about the potential toxin your Pet may have been exposed to. Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for Pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. You can also find additional information on poisonings at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

We’ve had Ari since she was a puppy and she never fails to amuse me, even on my worst day. When she was small, we bought her a stuffed toy that looked and sounded like a cow. It was, of course, aptly named “Cow.” Now here is where the trouble began, and here is where you will have to forget all the sage advice I might give about not reading too much into Pet behavior. And here is where I embark on the guilty sin of looking at my little dog as if she were human. Those bothered by this should probably not read on.

Anyway, Ari appeared to fall in love with Cow, making the stuffed animal a constant companion. She would pick Cow up and put her on the couch, just so she could snuggle with her. We have a wonderful picture of them cuddled on the couch. It is the kind of picture that looks somewhat posed, where Cow could have been used as a prop we added to get a better shot. However, it is not. Ari put Cow there, and Ari fell asleep snuggled up next to her pal. Cow was so well-loved and such a constant companion that she required a collar and tags, of course. We used Ari’s old puppy collar on her and had a tag made which says, “Cow–if found please return to Ari”. Our phone number is included. (Not behavior I encourage in any of my clients, mind you.) Eventually Cow started showing the wear of her companionship and developed some holes, making it possible for Ari to get at her stuffing. This is where the vet in me took over and took Cow away. The last thing I wanted was to have Ari go to surgery from a foreign body caused by ingesting Cow!

We put Cow away and kept her, for our sake, as a reminder of our “baby’s” younger days. Two years went by and we happened to come across another Cow and instantly decided to see how Ari would respond. I admit there was some professional curiosity involved here, not just a mom’s desire to see if the baby still remembered her friend. After all, everything we are taught in vet school indicated that dog’s have very bad memories and can’t really tell the difference between one being away from home for fifteen minutes or several hours. Surely Cow II would be just another toy, destroyed in days, shattering not just her plushness but our illusions as well.

Cow II came home and as soon as Ari saw her, the magic was renewed. She ran up to receive Cow II as if she had never left and proceeded to groom her, reconnecting with her long lost love. The magic continued that night as Ari refused to get in her crate until Cow II was in there with her. In the mornings I could swear that Ari runs out of her crate, makes sure the coast is clear, and then runs back to get Cow II up for another day. I should add that Cow was the only toy in the house that our other dog, Tucker, did not destroy. He joined us after Ari claimed Cow II and she was very clear to establish that Cow was strictly off limits to the dog whose whole purpose in life appears to be eviscerating stuffed toys. Well, it turns out that it wasn’t just Ari who “remembered” Cow, Tucker has never once tried to take Cow II and holds the same respect for the reincarnation as the original.

It certainly makes one think of all the things we still don’t understand about Pet behavior and intellect, as well as making me feel just a little guilty every time I caution a client against anthropomorphizing their Pet!

Mugsy

My baby. He almost died of parvo in August. Now he is so healthy and full of life! Thank you Banfield for all your help and advice. Mugsy has so much personality. Add in the green eyes and the large build, and he’s truly and unique Chihuahua! I love my Muggy-butt!

Emerson

After weaving through several hallways full of every size, shape and breed of dog, I found myself in front of the dog from the ad. Sitting against the wall in the back of his cage, there he was. He was noticeably shy and timid, trembling and hesitant to come up to greet me. After some coaxing, he stood up and slowly meandered to the front of his cage to sniff my hand through the small opening. I was in love. Not one to make impulse decisions, I decided to sleep on it. I would return the next day, and if he were there, I told myself, I would most likely adopt him.

After a sleepless night during which I couldn’t get his brown eyes and tiny nose out of my mind, I woke up early to drive back to the shelter. One of the volunteers placed him in my arms and he cuddled up to my neck. A few moments later, I heard myself telling the volunteer I would take him.

He insisted on riding on my lap on the way home. I know this is not the safest way for dogs to ride, but he was scared and needed some extra comfort. The days following were a blur. I named him Emerson, and as my first dog, he patiently adjusted to the trial and error of my learning curve of dog ownership. During the following months, we tried different foods, crates (later relinquished altogether), toys and training methods. Because I work at the main headquarters of Banfield, I was fortunate to have a constant supply of knowledgeable co-workers, always eager to offer me tips and support.

Two years later, I think we have finally gotten the hang of things. Emerson and I still have our moments of training relapses and adjustments to our routine, but overall, we are bonded buddies. He has come a long way from being a timid, fearful dog with a troubled past, to an outgoing and confident pup. I could not imagine my life without him greeting me at the door every day when I get home, barking at suspicious-sounding noises outside, or poised on his favorite ottoman, gazing out the window.

If you’re considering adopting a Pet, conduct research to determine the best breed/type for you, and then visit PetSmart’s adoption event during the weekend of Feb. 12-14, 2010 at all local stores. Your new Pet might be waiting!

Pet Poison Helpline

According to Pet Poison Helpline, Banfield’s partner in diagnosing and treating poison cases, nearly half the calls from this 24/7 animal poison hotline deal with Pets ingesting human medications. Even with a Pet owner’s best intention, accidents can still happen. Below is a list of the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by Pets as reported by Dr. Justine Lee at Pet Poison Helpline. Stay tuned to see tips on how Pet-proof your house.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin): These medications are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and can sometimes be called ibuprofen or naproxen. Even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a Pet, resulting in serious stomach and intestinal ulcers or even  kidney failure.
2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol): This drug is especially dangerous to cats because one regular strength tablet can be fatal – it damages to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.
3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro): While these drugs are occasionally used in Pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems. Some antidepressants also act as stimulants and can lead to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Just one pill can cause serious poisoning.
4. ADD/ADHD Medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin): Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions by Pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.
5. Benzodiazepines and Sleep Aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunestra): While these medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better, about half of dogs can become agitated from it. For Pets who don’t become agitated, they can suffer severe lethargy, incoordination and slowed breathing. Cats can also suffer from liver failure with some forms of benzodiazepines.
6. Birth Control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone): Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause problems. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Also, female Pets that have not been spayed are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.
7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace): Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are occasionally used in Pets to treat high blood pressure. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of ACE inhibitors can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease.
8. Beta-Blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg): Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure, but small ingestions may cause serious poisoning in Pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.
9. Thyroid Hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid): If dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones, they rarely have problems as dog doses tend to be higher than human doses of the same drugs. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting a rapid heart rate and aggression.
10. Cholesterol Lowering Agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor): These medications are often called “statins” and most ingestions of these drugs only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects come from long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

If you suspect your Pet has been poisoned, it is best to immediately take your Pet to your Banfield veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian.  In the event that you are unable to do that, you can contact Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 for initial information about the potential toxin your Pet may have been exposed to. Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for Pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. You can also find additional information on poisonings at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

With a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, we instructed the family that Pumpkin would need to be on a strict diet and insulin injections twice a day. No more marshmallows. He did well for a time, but it was difficult to regulate his blood sugar.  It was determined after further testing that Pumpkin also had a condition called Hyperadrenocorticism (when an overactive adrenal tissue produces excessive amounts of cortisone; Cushing’s-like Syndrome), which makes it difficult to regulate diabetes. 

We treated Pumpkin for a few more months, but he did not respond to treatment as we had hoped and his condition declined. In January of 2006, the owners elected humane euthanasia. I discussed with the family what to expect as my PetNurses placed an IV catheter in order for me to administer the medication.  As they visited with Pumpkin one last time, I asked if they had any questions before we proceeded, and they asked in a teary voice, “Would it be okay to give him some marshmallows now?” I still get tears in my eyes when I remember that story.

I witnessed the profoundness of the bond between my grandfather and his beloved Maltese-Poodle mix, Buster, as he lived at home during his final weeks and days with cancer. Buster was a loyal companion to him; he even camped out underneath his home hospital bed. And when we let him, he laid alongside my grandpa in his bed. Though not very responsive in his final weeks, my grandpa never stopped reaching out to pet Buster’s soft white fur. One of my grandpa’s final smiles came when I held Buster up next to his bed. His eyes lit up and were fixated on his faithful friend, who, like my grandma, was always near his side.

Buster’s big brown eyes and soft “kisses” on my grandpa’s hand provided a unique and undeniable source of comfort to him. My family will always be grateful that he had such a special Pet in his life to make its ending just a little more comfortable. Buster will continue to provide the same companionship, cuddles and laughter to my grandma as he did to both of them when grandpa was still with us.

Since my grandpa’s passing, Buster has seemed to go through a grieving process of his own. To me, this is proof that not only are Pets more perceptive than we tend to give them credit for, but they are truly devoted and deeply attached to their owners. As my grandma will now attest, Pets are also wonderfully intuitive in knowing when we need a couch buddy, a “kiss” or even a chance to ease our grief by laughing at their antics.

If you are fortunate enough to have Pets in your life, remember to enjoy and cherish them, as they do us, at all ages and stages of our lives. It’s easy for us to forget how much our Pets do for us, especially when we have to get out of bed and brave sub-freezing weather for their morning walk. However, if you’re a Pet owner, chances are your physical and mental health is greatly improved because of your Pet’s love and companionship.

If you have a story about how your Pet has helped you or your family, please let us know by e-mailing publicrelations@banfield.net.

Buster