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To My Readers,
I am not sure how many of you are out there or how often you read my Monday articles or if you learned anything. It is my hope that you did, & you did enjoy atleast part of the pieces that I put out each Monday this year. It's been such a pleasure learning more about my career field & finding my more creative side with this Blog. It has pushed me, made me a stronger person, & I have learned a lot. I will be continuing my articles next year....I am still not sure in what capacity yet, but I will continue to write. I know that I want to take a month off or so (after 52 articles I figured I could take a break). So thank you again for your continued support! I will keep updating the Facebook page so stay tuned there for more promotions & fun post. Best Regards, Kasey Kent LVT, CVT, B.S. Zoology I have previously covered reasons to spay & neuter your dog, but since this is such an important topic to cover, it definitely deserves to be covered again. I will also be covering the declaw debate. I know this is a sensitive & heated topic for owners, so my intention, as always, is to provide you with as much quality information & facts as I can so you can be better informed as an owner to make wise decisions for your pet. Having a litter of kittens may seem like a fun thing to do. Some even believe that it helps their female cat, in some way, to develop more completely or become a better pet. Neither is true Becoming pregnant and having a litter of dogs in no way alters the maturity level of the dog, either physically or mentally. In most cases, people find out that it is hard to find good homes for all of the puppies, even if they are advertised "Free to a Good Home." In addition, not all pregnancies go smoothly. Difficult labor, puppy mortality, and potential health problems in the mother, such as uterine and mammary gland infections, can take all the fun out of the experience. I have included below several of the risk of keeping your female cat intact. Risks of Not Spaying 1. Pregnancy: Dogs can have large litters, sometimes 10+ kittens. 2. Mammary Cancer: This is one of the most common cancers in dogs. Spaying your female dog reduces her risk of mammary cancer by 40-60%. 3. Tumors in the reproductive tract: Cancer/tumors can occur in both the ovaries & uterus 4. Infection in the reproductive tract: Also known as a pyometra, this life threatening infection causes the uterus to fill with pus which is often fatal. The average age that dogs are spayed is between 5-8 months old, but can be done earlier. Some animal shelters spay & neuter as early as 2 months old. Early neutering does not affect the growth rate, and currently there are no appreciable differences in skeletal, physical, or behavioral development between those animals neutered early than those neutered at a more traditional age. Most dogs at our clinic are spayed & neutered are done with final boosters at 16 weeks old. For male dogs, there are different benefits other than pregnancy prevention when owners choose to neuter. 1. Prevent injury: Intact males are significantly more territorial than neutered males which causes a dramatic increase in the number of fights between intact males which leads to bite wounds, abscesses, and other injuries. 2. Reduces Roaming: Intact males are always looking for a mate which can cause them to frequently wonder away from home. This can lead to hit by car accidents, fights, or wildlife encounters. 3. Keeps your house cleaner: Intact males spray urine to mark their territory. If your dog starts marking your house & you neuter him that does not mean neutering will eliminate that behavior once it starts. 4. Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer: One of the more common cancers in dogs, we take away the testicles during surgery, this eliminates the the risk of that particular type of cancer. Please contact our clinic directly to schedule an spay or neuter for your dog If you still decide that you are going to keep your dog intact (male or female), I strongly encourage you to read our handouts on breeding, pregnancy, & partition. Please click on the picture above for direct link to our resource page. Dental disease, including teeth and gums is one of the most common problems faced by all pet owners. Many dog owners may think that dental health is primarily an older dog issue, but studies show that over 80% of dogs over the age of three suffer from some form of dental disease, but fortunately the most common forms of these diseases are largely preventable or treatable with appropriate preventive dental care and monitoring. The three most common dental diseases in dogs are gingivitis*, periodonitis*, and tooth resorption*. Dental disease in dogs can cause serious pain and discomfort, which can impact a dog’s quality of life. In many cases, dental disease causes a dog to stop eating, which leads to a variety of health problems. Below are some signs to look for in concerns to dental health 1. Red gum line near tooth 2. Swollen gums 3. Painful gums 4. Bleeding gums 5. Tartar on teeth 6. Broken teeth 7. Difficulty chewing/eating 8. Decreased appetite 9. Chewing on one side of mouth 10. Significant drooling 11. Bad breath As mentioned above, the easiest way to prevent disease, infection, pain is good dental care, health, and prevention. Brushing your dog's teeth at home, using a good dental treat (such as Oravet), and regular dental cleaning by your veterinarian are all things that can help prevent dental disease. If you are concerned about your dog's dental health, please contact our clinic to schedule an appointment to get your dog's teeth checked & a dental cleaning scheduled. **Any word marked with a * can be found in our glossary for it's definition** Glossary Gingivitis: Inflammation/infection of the gums Periodonitis: Inflammation/infection of the bone and tissue around the teeth causing tooth loss or loose teeth Tooth Resorption: Condition where the internal structure of the tooth begins to break down causing instability.  We are continuing our National Dog Health month with the remianing vaccines our clinic offers. As I said in the last blog post, our Blog posts this month will be covering common dog diseases, issues, and also give you a in-depth look at the vaccines that we offer, what is in each vaccine, and what each vaccine prevents. In this post, we will be covering Leptospirosa, Bordatella, Lyme & Influenza (Canine Distemper combo) Leptospirosis
Common Name: Lepto Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (mostly puppies), male & female affected, intact males have higher risk Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, exposure to infected dogs, intact male status, rural environment, contact with rodents or their urine, outdoor dogs Zoonotic*: YES Presenting Signs: Lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, polyuria, history consistant with risk factors Treatment: Doxycycline, antibiotics, IV fluid therapy (may need dialysis), hospitalization, bloodwork monitoring (liver & kidneys) Bordetella Common Name: Kennel Cough Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages, male & female affected Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, exposure to infected dogs, kennel or daycare visits, crowded environments Zoonotic*: No Presenting Signs: Cough, nasal or eye discharge, fever, increased lung sound, history of risk factor elements. Treatment: Supportive care, cough suppression, & prevention of secondary infection with antibiotics. Vaccinate! Lyme (Borreliosis) Common Name: Lyme Disease Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (younger animals more high risk), male & female affected. Risk Factors: Inadequate vaccination, tick exposure, no use of flea/tick prevention Zoonotic*: No Presenting signs: Warm, swollen, painful joints, fever, dehydration. Treatment: Long term antibiotics, supportive care, fluid therapy, pain meds. Vaccinate! Canine Influenza Common Name: Dog Flu Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages, male & female affected Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, crowded conditions, exposure to infected dogs Zoonotic: No Presenting Signs: Cough, nasal discharge, lethargy, fever, harsh lung sounds Treatment: Supportive care, cough suppression, & prevention of secondary infection with antibiotics, fluid therapy. February is National Dog Health month. Our Blog posts this month will be covering common dog diseases, issues, and also give you a in-depth look at the vaccines that we offer, what is in each vaccine, and what each vaccine prevents. In this post, we will be covering Canine Rabies & DAPP (Canine Distemper combo) The vaccine Rabies comes in a feline and canine version, but both versions treat the same disease. Michigan requires rabies as a vaccine for dogs, & also is required to become licensed in your county. It is STRONGLY recommended by veterinarians due to the zoonotic* nature and fatal prognosis*. Below, I have expanded on the Rabies disease, so as an owner you can be more educated on the disease that this vaccine prevents.
The vaccine DAPP is our canine combo vaccine that is used to prevent the following diseases: canine distemper virus, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza virus and canine parvo virus. Below, I have expanded on each of the diseases that DAPP prevents so as an owner, you can be more educated on what your vaccines prevent. Canine Distemper Virus
Common Name: Canine Distemper Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages, male & female affected. Dogs between 3-6 months old more at risk Risk Factors: Inadequate vaccination, exposure to infected animals Zoonotic*: No Presenting signs: Fever, lethargy, ocular & nasal discharge, cough, inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea, & neurological signs like seizures. Treatment: Mainly supportive care, antibiotics, & anit-convulsants. Vaccinate! Adenovirus Type 2 Common Name: One cause of upper respiratory tract infections in dogs Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (kittens most likely), male & female affected Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, crowded conditions, exposure to infected dogs Zoonotic: Immunocompromised humans at risk Presenting Signs: Recent exposure to crowded conditions (boarding/daycare), coughing, sneezing, signs similar to pneumonia Treatment: Supportive care, cough suppression, & prevention of secondary infection with antibiotics. Parainfluenza Virus Common Name: One cause of canine kennel cough Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (mostly puppies), male & female affected Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, exposure to infected dogs, boarding or kennels Zoonotic*: No Presenting Signs: Coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, recent boarding or daycare visit Treatment: Supportive care, cough suppression, & prevention of secondary infection with antibiotics. Canine Parvo Virus Common Name: Canine Parvovirus Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, usually puppies under 8 months, male & female affected Risk Factors: Unvaccinated status, exposure to infected dogs, immunosuppressed puppies Zoonotic*: No Presenting Signs: Acute lethargy*, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia* (all signs can be severe) Treatment: Supportive care, fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics*, appetite stimulants, syringe feeding. Vaccinate! |
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December 2018
Kasey Kent
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