!!!!WEST NILE!!!!

* Just a quick side note for everyone.  I have a search engine in my blog, this will allow you to easily search my archived blogs.  I didn't realize there were sooooo many till I went looking for an old post!!! Can't believe I've been blogging since 2010!!  Thank You to everyone who reads my crazy if not entertaining postings!!!!*

-I have been getting alot of people asking me about West Nile in their pets, due to the number of human deaths related to West Nile Virus.  Here is a great FAQ put out by the CDC (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention).  Check out their website if you have any more questions about West Nile.  http://www.cdc.gov/

-Many people have also been worried about the aerial spray they are using for the mosquito's. The CDC and EPA report the level of insecticide in the sprays is way below what is considered toxic to mammals and fish. They do advise people to keep their pets indoors during aerial spraying. They should also wash any food bowls, water bowls, or toys that are exposed to any insecticide, before using them again.

Q. Can West Nile virus (WNV) cause illness in dogs or cats?

A. A relatively small number of WNV infected dogs and WNV infected cats have been reported to CDC . Experimentally infected dogs* showed no symptoms after infection with WNV. Some infected cats exhibited mild, nonspecific symptoms during the first week after infection--for the most part only showing a slight fever and slight lethargy. It is unlikely that most pet owners would notice any unusual symptoms or behavior in cats or dogs that become infected with WNV.

(The Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratories reports, that although dogs and cats have tested positive, these animals are almost always asymptomatic. There is no evidence that West Nile virus is a significant cause of meningitis in dogs and cats.)

Q. How can my veterinarian treat my cat or dog if they are/may be infected with WNV?

A. There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. Full recovery from the infection is likely. Treatment would be supportive (managing symptoms, if present) and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals infected with a viral agent.

Q. Is there a vaccine for cats or dogs?

A. No.

FYI: There is a vaccine for horses.

Q. Can I use insect repellent on my pets?

A. DEET-based repellents, which are recommended for humans, are not approved for veterinary use (largely because animals tend to ingest them by licking.) Talk with your veterinarian for advice about the appropriate product for use on your pet.

DEET can be toxic to dogs and cats, it can cause neurologic problems, like tremors and ataxia.  The only approved dog mosquito repellents are Advantix and Vetra 3D, these both contain permethrin.  Cats are very sensitive to any pyrethrin based product, their use can result in toxicity and death (There are many over the counter flea prevention products for cats that contain pyrethrin, I strongly avoid using them all!!  I have no idea how they can still be allowed on the shelf but thats a story for another day!)

 

Stuffed Animal Clinic

We had an absolute blast at the Stuffed Animal Clinic, kids, dogs and adults!!!  We did 17 Health Certificates and even more emergency wound repairs!!  We have already been asked to do this again, so I think we will mark our calendars and attempt to make this an annual event!

A little over $300 was donated for Meals on Wheels and their animal outreach program, we also had pet food donated by our generous Iams' Representative, Thank Your Stu!!  Thank you everyone who came and made this a fun and enjoyable event!! 

Here is the Meals on Wheels facebook page address, their photographer was so wonderful to come out and take some pictures of the day! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Meals-On-Wheels-Inc-of-Tarrant-County/127714468424

Making Birthday Cards for Meals On Wheels clients

Listening to Heart Bear's heart.

Very Serious Surgery

Brad and a BIG bear for adoption

A completed Health Certificate

Stuffed Animal Clinic

Is your teddy bear feeling under the weather? Does your stuffed animal have a cut that needs fixing? Does it need some extra care and attention? Arlington South Veterinary Hospital is here to help! Our veterinarians and staff are holding a Stuffed Animal Clinic on Saturday, August 11th from 2 pm to 5 pm. All proceeds go to Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, to help with their animal outreach program.

It’s a day to fix the ailments affecting your teddy bear or beloved stuffed animal. Veterinarians, staff members and volunteers will assess the overall health of your stuffed animal, as well as make a diagnosis based on your description of its symptoms. Medications or bandages will be available if needed.

You will begin your visit with a stop at the reception desk, where your animal will be checked in and given a health certificate. The receptionist will then direct you to the next available stuffed animal doctor, who will care for your animal’s well-being and sign your certificate, indicating a clean bill of health. If your animal has a tear that requires stitches, you will be asked to leave the animal with trained staff and return later to retrieve the mended patient. The entire visit only costs $3, and you will leave with a healthy stuffed animal and a certificate to prove it! Stuffed animals will be available for adoption for $1!

Please call for information or directions:

Arlington South Vet Hospital
5505 Matlock Road
Arlington, Texas 76018
817-465-1401

Most Common Canine Poisonings of 2011

The Pet Poison Hotline released their list of the top 10 most common dog emergencies in 2011.  I always find what dogs will eat so entertaining!!  Some of them aren't even tasty!?!?

1.  Foods (chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins)
2.  Insecticides (sprays, bait stations, and spot-on flea and tick treatment)
3.  Mouse and rat poison
4.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory human drugs (ibuprofen and naproxen)
5.  Household cleaners (sprays, detergents and polishes)  -Really?  This can't be good tasting or even fun to chew!!! 
6.  Human antidepressant drugs (Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and Effexor)
7.  Fertilizers (bone-meal, blood meal and iron based products)
8.  Acetaminophen, a human drug (Tylenol and cough and cold medicine)
9.  Amphetamine human drugs (Adderall and Concerta)
10.  Veterinary pain relievers (Rimadyl, Deramaxx and Previcox)    My own dog ate about 10x's her prescribed dose!!!  The cat fed them to her!!

All the things listed above can be very deadly if eaten in adequate amounts.  Always call your veterinarian if your pet has eaten something.  They can tell you if it is toxic and what you should do.  This may include just watching your pet or bringing it in to induce vomiting and intravenous fluids.  It is different for every case.
The other bit of advice I have is that never assume your pet can't get to a certain medication or food.  I have seen little dogs use chairs and drawers to get up onto counters.  Or in my case the cat got up on the window sill and knocked the meds down for the dog to eat....

(888) 426-4435

It's HOT Out There!!! Heat Stroke!!

This is a post from last year, but I just saw my first official heat stroke of the year and it's only June 28th! We have had maybe five, 100+ days so far. This means there are many more heat stroke dogs to come. This was a small dog that was only left outside for 1 hour, but as I explained to the owner, it doesn't take very long to get overheated when your covered in fur!! Everyone be careful out there, if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your pet!

First of all Heat Stroke is an emergency!!! If you are googling because you think your pet has heat stroke, you need to stop and call your vet immediately!

I wanted to write about Heat Stroke now because here in Texas we are experiencing days and days of triple digit heat. It is miserable just walking from your car to inside the store. Even those pets that are used to being outside need some extra measures to make sure they're safe in this heat.

Causes:
Heat Stroke can occur at anytime the temperature rises above 105 F.
• When an animal is left outside in very hot/humid conditions (Texas in general).
This is made worse by; lack of shade, water or proper ventilation. Being very hairy, sick, overweight or having a short nose (pugs, bulldogs, shih tzu's) are things that can impair your pets ability to dissipate the heat.
• Exercising your pet in hot/humid weather.
I feel that it is only safe to exercise your pet very early (before 7am) or very late (after 8pm) here in Texas. And then I wouldn't walk more than 30-40 minutes depending on your pets fitness level.
• Leaving your animal in the car or in an un-air conditioned home, in hot/humid conditions.
I think I have said enough here...

Symptoms:
Signs can vary depending on the degree and duration of elevated temperature.
• Prolonged or excessive panting and increased temperature (over 105 F) are the most common
• Weak and Wobbly
• Collapse or Coma/non-responsive
• Red or blue(cyanotic) gums
• Vomit and/or Diarrhea. Can be bloody.
• Delayed Signs: Can occur 3-5 days after supposed recovery. There could be decreased urine production, yellow color to the gums or eyes (jaundice), or sudden death due to infection or heart malfunction.

Treatment:
• Call your vet or the closest animal emergency center!!
• Get the animal into a cooler environment. Into the shade or in the air conditioned house.
• If possible record the rectal temperature and write it down.
• Wet the pet with cool tap water. NOT ice water. The ice water actually prevents effective inner body cooling.
• Wrap the animal in a cool, wet towel and transport to your vet immediately.
• Once at your Veterinarian office, your pet with most likely be hospitalized. Blood work, intravenous fluids and appropriate medications should be started immediately. Expect a 3-5 day stay for treatment.

Prognosis:
This really depends on the severity of the heat stroke. Survival is poor for animals presented in a coma and for those with secondary organ failure.

Animals that survive heat stroke are more prone to reoccurrence in the future. Please make sure these animals keep in an air conditioned environment during the next heat wave.

Prevention:
• If you live in the south and it's 100+ degrees outside try to have those animals inside. Dogs are easily crate trained.
• If being inside just isn't something you can do, you MUST provide shade, cool/fresh water and an area with air movement.
• Some dogs love water: Get them a children’s wading pool-refill it daily.
• If you don't have shade, make some. Tarps and posts are cheap and easy to make shade out of.
• If your yard is small or if you have a wooden privacy fence the amount of air movement is almost zero. Think about investing in an industrial fan or a outdoor ceiling fan if you have a patio. Putting in grated vent areas in your fence may also help.
• Above all don't take a pet that has been inside and suddenly decide to make them an outdoor dog when it’s 100+ outside. These animals are not used to the heat and are much more susceptible to heat stroke than those that always live outside. It's like asking someone who works at a desk to suddenly change jobs and start replacing roofs for a living!

Top 10 Canine and Feline Conditions of 2011

VPI, a pet insurance company, weighed in on the top medical conditions of dogs and cats in 2011.  I agree these are some of the most common things I see as well.  Most of the conditions require long term treatment and/or reoccur on a regular basis.  Making them very common and seen by me almost daily.
VPI recieved more than 62,000 canine claims for ear infections and 3,800 claims for feline urinary tract infections!!!  WOW!  I would say if you have a dog breed prone to ear infections (bassett hounds or labs), I would go ahead and sign up for insurance!!  It would truely be a money saver in the end....  

 Dogs
1.  Ear infection
2.  Skin allergies
3.  Skin infection
4.  Noncancerous skin growth
5.  Upset stomach
6.  Diarrhea
7.  Arthritis
8.  Urinary tract infection
9.  Bruise or contusion
10.  Underactive thyroid

Cats
1.  Urinary tract infection
2.  Chronic kidney disease
3.  Overactive thyroid
4.  Upset stomach
5.  Periodontitis
6.  Diabetes
7.  Diarrhea
8.   Ear infection
9.  Skin allergies
10.  Lymphosarcoma

Pet Apps

In this world of "There's an App for that", I thought I might put in my 2 cents about the ones I found fun/useful.  Please remember that these apps in no way replace your veterinarians office.  We are always happy to talk on the phone and examine the pet if need be.

PetSnap: Pet Photo App.  It has several sounds(squeaky toy, cat meow, bells, etc) to help get your pets attention to get a great picture. 

Pet Phone:  Allows you to put your pets health needs on your phone.  It tracks vet visits, medications, weight history and general info about numerous pets.

PetBook:  Its a calendar but it also have notifications.  It can remind you to medicate your dog or that it has a grooming appointment.

 

ASPCA Petoxins:  It has a list of toxic plants, with pictures and the symptoms they cause.  You can also call Poison Control from the App and get advice(I think there is a fee for this).






Dog Tricks - Best of 101 Dog Tricks:  This teaches 8 basic tricks.  Would be good for new dog owners.

Dog-a-Log:  Its a list of dog breeds with pictures and descriptions.  It is collected off of Wikipedia, and put in to simple app form.

Pet First Aid by Jive Media:  It has information on what do do in an emergency situation. (Burns, bleeding, choking, etc.)  It also has fundamentals for restraint and muzzling, with very helpful videos.  I think this is a great app for all pet owners to have.