Bloat

If your veterinarian says that your dog has bloat, she means that your dog’s stomach is full of excess gas, fluid, or foam. Bloat generally occurs in large or deep-chested dog breeds. It has been suggested that one should not feed their dog a large meal and then engage in heavy exercise. But in truth bloat can happen spontaneously and without any known cause. Often, when the stomach becomes enlarged it twists on itself. When this happens the openings at the top and bottom of the stomach twist, blocking all materials from entering or leaving. As the digestive process continues and the stomach gets larger it will press against the blood vessels of the abdomen and decrease circulation. This can cause the tissues supplied by those vessels to die. The enlarged stomach also takes up room the diaphragm needs to expand, which makes it hard for your pet to breathe.

A veterinarian must treat bloat immediately. Your veterinarian can check for this condition by performing a physical exam and abdominal radiographs. If your pet is diagnosed simply with bloat and the stomach has not twisted, sometimes the veterinarian can decompress the stomach with a tube passed into the stomach through the mouth or a large needle inserted into the stomach through the skin. This may only be a temporary solution. If your pet has a twist in the stomach he will need to be treated surgically. During surgery, your veterinarian can untwist the stomach so that material can move through it, examine the tissue of the stomach to make sure it wasn’t injured, and attach the stomach to the abdominal wall to reduce the risk of the twist happening again. Bloat happens very rapidly and can be fatal in 30 minutes, when it’s severe. If your pet’s abdomen is distended and/or you notice nausea, vomiting, attempts to vomit, sudden weakness, or collapse, contact your veterinarian immediately. Bloat is a life-threatening condition we hope your pet will never experience but if they do we are here to help. Please contact us at (503) 648-4117 any time your pet acts strange. Remember, you know your pet better than anyone else. If you suspect a problem there probably is one.

Bladder Stones

Occasionally, bladder stones (rock-like collections of minerals that form in the bladder) may occur in dogs and cats. They can be a large, single stone or dozens of small stones the size of sand or pea gravel. Depending upon the type of stone, various risk factors may contribute to bladder stone formation. Diet, water intake, urinary tract infections, and urinary pH are all-important considerations. It is important to determine the mineral composition of the stones, when possible. The two most common signs of bladder stones are blood in the urine and difficulty urinating. Blood in the urine occurs because the stones irritate the bladder wall, causing bleeding from its surface. Difficulty urinating occurs when stones block the passage of urine out of the bladder. When a blockage occurs, urine cannot pass out of the body and the abdomen becomes very painful. Your pet may cry in pain, especially if pressure is applied to the abdomen. Your pet may also make frequent attempts to urinate. Even if there is no blockage occurring, blood in the urine and difficulty urinating may be significant; the irritated bladder is quite painful.

There are two options for treatment. The fastest solution is to remove them surgically. Following two to four days of recovery, your pet is relieved of pain and difficulty urinating. The blood in the urine will often continue for a few more days, and then it stops. Surgery is not the best option for all patients; however, those with a blockage and those with an infection associated with the stones should be operated on unless there are other health conditions that prohibit surgery. The second option is to dissolve the stone with a special diet. This avoids surgery and can be a very good choice for some pets. However, it has three disadvantages: it is not successful for all types of stones, it is slow, and not all pets will eat the special diet. If your pet is urinating small amounts frequently, straining to urinate, or you see blood in the urine, contact your vet immediately. Timely treatment will not only ease your pet’s discomfort but may prevent costly complications from occurring.

Benefits of Grooming

Whether cat or dog, longhaired or short, all pets need regular grooming to keep their coats and skin healthy. Even shorthaired cats that keep themselves clean still require regular nail trims and benefit from regular brushing. Brushing stimulates the skin to shed dead skin cells and hairs. Regular brushing prevents hair from matting and controls shedding in the rest of the house. All animals need to have their nails trimmed. Long nails can break easily and bleed profusely. Walking on long nails can also make arthritis worse.

If you are not able to groom your pet at home or your pet needs more than just brushing or bathing, a professional groomer can groom your pet for you. A groomer can: trim coats, bathe, cut nails, clean out ears, pluck hair out of ears, express anal glands, and more. Long-coated dogs (and some cats) are much easier to care for when their coats are trimmed. Long hair forms mats more easily, which pull at the skin and can be very painful. Mats and excessive hair between toes can cause slipping on hard floors and increase the amount of dirt and yard debris tracked into the house. Long hair on the face can obstruct vision as well. Some dogs develop excessive ear hair that needs to be plucked frequently. Excessive ear hair makes some dogs more prone to developing ear infections. All breeds of dogs may need to have their anal glands expressed on a regular basis to prevent anal gland impactions.
Hillsboro Veterinary Clinic is proud to now offer professional grooming services. Heather Wilson, previously of GroomCrafters, is available for grooming appointments. If you would like to schedule an appointment to have your pet groomed, please call us at (503) 648-4117.

Allergies to our Pets

Our pets fill our lives with joy and companionship but for some pet owners the friendship they bring comes with faults. Approximately 15% of people are allergic to dogs or cats and at least 1/3 of them continue to own pets. Allergic people are often told to get rid of their pets, but most pet owners do not consider this a viable option. Many of these pet owners even get new pets after a previous one has died, which shows that pet companionship is often more valuable than clear sinuses. People with mild to moderate allergies can live comfortably with their pets despite being allergic by changing their environment.

The first step is to create a part of the house – generally the bedroom – that is an allergy free area. NO pets are allowed in this area!! Place a HEPA air filter in this room. Try to limit the amount of carpeted floors, cloth curtains, fabric furniture and blinds as these collect dust and dander. Frequent and thorough cleaning should be performed to remove dust and dander, including shampooing carpets and furniture and washing pillows and pet beds. Bathing your pet, even your cat, weekly, will control pet dander. Most people with allergies have more than one allergen, and controlling the other allergens may reduce the overall symptoms. Ask your allergist to specify what you are sensitive to and try to eliminate other allergens from your environment. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) can also improve symptoms by gradually desensitizing the immune system.
If you are considering acquiring a new pet and know you are pet-allergic, be sure you are ready to handle the consequences that owning a pet will bring to you. There are no breeds that are non-allergenic. Even hairless breeds can cause allergic people to react, although dogs tend to be less allergenic than cats and dogs with soft coats that don’t have seasonal shedding (such as poodles or Bichon Frise’s) can be less irritating.

Arthritis in Dogs

As patients age, slow developing diseases may become apparent. Arthritis, also known as “degenerative joint disease”, is the progressive and permanent destruction of joint cartilage. Pain in tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and bone is caused by inflammation and mechanical damage. Some signs that your dog may be affected by arthritis include falling behind during walks, difficulty getting up, licking at joints, changes in personality, periodic lameness, and worsening of symptoms in cold weather. These changes are slow to appear and are often difficult to notice until they become pronounced.

Several factors may contribute to the development of this disease in your dog. Old injuries may predispose your dog to arthritis. Nails that are too long alter the natural position of the toes, decrease traction on hard flat surfaces, and encourage pulled muscles from slipping. Obese dogs carry excess weight that adds pressure to weak or painful joints. Vigorous exercise on pavement or only exercising your dog occasionally may also be damaging. Rapid growth as a puppy has been shown to worsen bad joints and arthritis later in life. Hereditary defects, such as hip dysplasia, contribute as well.

Many new treatments are now available to both slow the progression of arthritis as well as to treat the pain. New research has shown that improvements in diet and general health can have significant benefits. Supplements (not regulated by the FDA) such as glucosamine and chondroitin add to the lubrication of the joint and are thought to slow the progression of damage. Newer pain medications are more effective than ever at controlling pain and have fewer side effects. However, these drugs are all processed through the liver and may have effects on the kidneys and other major organs. All treatments should be prescribed and supervised by your veterinarian. Do not give your dog over the counter drugs or those prescribed for humans as they effect dogs differently and may cause serious illness. As our canine companions live longer, it becomes more important to treat arthritis early to provide a good quality of life for them.

At Home Dental Care

Dental disease is the most common infectious disease in both dogs and cats. Fortunately, most dental disease can be prevented by regular dental cleanings and daily plaque removal. We have a wide range of products and methods available for use at home to help keep your pet’s mouth clean and disease free. One of the easiest options is to feed your pet a diet specially designed to help fight dental disease. These diets are made with a large kibble size to increase chewing and coarse fibers that rub against the teeth and help “brush” away plaque. This food can be fed as the entire diet or can be used as treats. There are also many treats available that help control plaque buildup. C.E.T. chews for dogs are similar to a rawhide chew but are made with a solution which helps fight bacteria in the mouth. The chews for cats are made with a catfish base and the same solution. There is a wide selection of other dental treats out there so ask your veterinarian for their recommendation. Treats should be given in moderation and should not make up more than 10% of your pet’s diet. Many toys can also help control plaque buildup, including Kong toys, Nylabones, Greenies, and Dentabones. Any toy that encourages chewing but isn’t easily eaten can be part of a good dental health program.

Another option is an oral rinse or gel which are easy to use- just apply between your pet’s cheek and gums. These products quickly cover the entire mouth and have powerful ingredients to remove plaque and fight bacteria. Oxyfresh is a liquid that can be added to the water that your pet drinks every day. It works by decreasing plaque buildup and freshening breath. It doesn’t have a flavor and most pets don’t seem to notice it. The best method for keeping you pet’s mouth clean is daily brushing. Special toothpastes are formulated for pets that can be swallowed and taste good to pets. Be sure to read next week’s article on how to brush your pet’s teeth.

Clip Their Wings

One of the most common problems for bird owners is that their birds fly away. Once your bird gets away the odds of catching it again are small. Clipping the bird’s wings, impairing it’s ability to fly, will not only keep your bird safely at home but may improve his attitude. Flighted birds are also more likely to fly into windows or mirrors and may cause serious injury to themselves. However, in a house with small children or an aggressive dog or cat, its better if your bird can fly to get away. Some common behavioral problems associated with a flighted bird include: swooping down to attack, flying around the house rather than socializing with you, and biting and becoming aggressive when its time to go back into the cage. A wing trim can change this attitude to one of “I can’t live without you.”

Be careful about how your bird’s wings are trimmed. A good trim will allow the bird to gently drift to the floor whereas a bad trim will cause the bird to flip or fall to the floor causing potentially serious injury such as broken bones. The number of feathers trimmed depends on the weight and strength of the bird. It may only require 3 trimmed feathers for a weak flier and potentially 8 for a strong one. A heavy bird will need fewer feathers trimmed because his weight will help keep him grounded. Before you attempt to clip your own bird’s wings have your veterinarian show you what to do. Also always test your bird’s ability to fly before you finish a wing trim/or allow them outside the cage. Be careful to never cut a blood feather (identified by their swollen blue appearance). Nor should the covering or protecting feathers be cut. Finally, some owners find that their bird holds a grudge against the person doing the trimming. It may be in your best interest to let the veterinarian be the “bad guy”, we don’t mind.

Bladder Stones

Occasionally, bladder stones (rock-like collections of minerals that form in the bladder) may occur in dogs and cats. They can be a large, single stone or dozens of small stones the size of sand or pea gravel. Depending upon the type of stone, various risk factors may contribute to bladder stone formation. Diet, water intake, urinary tract infections, and urinary pH are all-important considerations. It is important to determine the mineral composition of the stones, when possible. The two most common signs of bladder stones are blood in the urine and difficulty urinating. Blood in the urine occurs because the stones irritate the bladder wall, causing bleeding from its surface. Difficulty urinating occurs when stones block the passage of urine out of the bladder. When a blockage occurs, urine cannot pass out of the body and the abdomen becomes very painful. Your pet may cry in pain, especially if pressure is applied to the abdomen. Your pet may also make frequent attempts to urinate. Even if there is no blockage occurring, blood in the urine and difficulty urinating may be significant; the irritated bladder is quite painful.

There are two options for treatment. The fastest solution is to remove them surgically. Following two to four days of recovery, your pet is relieved of pain and difficulty urinating. The blood in the urine will often continue for a few more days, and then it stops. Surgery is not the best option for all patients; however, those with a blockage and those with an infection associated with the stones should be operated on unless there are other health conditions that prohibit surgery. The second option is to dissolve the stone with a special diet. This avoids surgery and can be a very good choice for some pets. However, it has three disadvantages: it is not successful for all types of stones, it is slow, and not all pets will eat the special diet. If your pet is urinating small amounts frequently, straining to urinate, or you see blood in the urine, contact your vet immediately. Timely treatment will not only ease your pet’s discomfort but may prevent costly complications from occurring.

Anatomy of a Dental Cleaning

Now that your pet has been diagnosed with dental disease and you’ve scheduled a cleaning, we’re going to discuss what occurs while you pet is here having their teeth cared for. Since pets are not going to lie still with their mouths open voluntarily, full anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean their teeth. We understand that many pet owners are concerned about the risks of anesthetizing their pets. To minimize this risk, our hospital uses modern anesthetics that are safe, even for older pets. We also recommend blood work prior to anesthesia to evaluate organ function (organs need to be healthy to process anesthesia) and to check for anemia. We also recommend the use of intravenous fluids during the dental cleaning to support blood pressure and increase hydration.

Once under anesthesia, the tartar is removed from the teeth with a special tool called a hand-scaler. The teeth are cleaned both below and above the gum line because above the gum line is where tartar does the most damage. When the tartar is cleaned from above the gum line this gives the gums a chance to re-attach to the teeth and can prevent tooth decay and loss. Once the tartar is removed a complete oral exam is done to check for broken teeth and other problems such as pockets in the gums. Pockets in the gums provide a place for abscesses (pockets of infection) to form and can suggest underlying problems with the tooth’s root. If a tooth looks suspicious, radiographs can be taken to evaluate the strength of the root. Any teeth that have loose roots, big pockets, or are fractured need to be extracted. If your pet has a tooth extracted he will receive pain medication to ease recovery. Once diseased teeth are extracted the remaining teeth are cleaned with a stain remover and are polished to give your pet a beautiful white smile. Next, your pet’s teeth are treated with fluoride to strengthen the enamel of the teeth and protect against decay. Finally, we seal the teeth to slow the build-up of tartar and extend the amount of time between cleanings. Dental care doesn’t end at the vet’s office. There is a lot you can do at home to keep your pet’s mouth healthy which we’ll discuss next week in “At Home Dental Care”.