Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! It's a time to be thankful and to eat everything in sight. When you're giving thanks, make sure you don't forget to be thankful for your pets. They have given so much throughout the year: love, affection, exercise, goofiness, lots of laughs, maybe even some joyful tears, and they'll be there to scarf down the weird, green, marshmallow salad that your Aunt Bernice brings to holiday dinners. We get so many benefits from having a pet in our lives. It's even proven that pets decrease our blood pressure, and you may need that during this holiday so closely following on the heels of a contentious election, especially when everyone has agreed to NOT talk about it, but you know someone is going to. To celebrate this day, friends and clients have sent me their best pet pictures to lighten the day, of those pets they are so thankful for, and some even included why they are thankful for their pet. Let's start the Thanksgiving festivities! Have a good one! Happy holidays! Enjoy your pets!
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Many pet owners are unaware that their pets can develop diabetes, but it can happen, and it looks very similar to diabetes in humans. Since some researchers say it is on the rise, it’s something to look out for in your pet, and since it’s Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s a good time to go over the common symptoms so you can recognize them in case you notice changes in your pet’s behavior. Being temperamental is not one of the symptoms though, so if your pet is giving you attitude, it may be leftover resentment from the pirate costume or tutu you made Fluffy wear on Halloween. These are some of the things you should look out for, and many of them will sound familiar if you are or know someone who is diabetic:
If you have recognized these signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian for a diabetes screening today. Your veterinarian will test your pet’s urine for glucose and screen for a urinary tract infection (which diabetic pets are predisposed to) and general bloodwork to check their blood glucose and other body systems. If high levels are found in the urine and blood persistently, that is a clear indicator of diabetes. Not enough insulin is being produced to absorb the glucose in your pet’s system, and it continues to build up in their bloodstream. To ignore the signs, and to allow glucose to build in their bloodstream, could cause cataracts in dogs and nerve damage in cats. Make sure they are diagnosed quickly. This means, as a pet owner, you will have to take on a large responsibility to care for your pet because there is no cure for diabetes. Just as you’ve experienced or heard about diabetes in humans, it is controlled with daily insulin injections in pets as well as humans. This will restore their insulin levels to maintain the correct level of glucose in their body. It sounds difficult if you’ve never given a shot before, but ask anyone with diabetes, it gets easier. Also, the needles on the insulin syringes are so small that many animals don't even notice the shots or at least get used to them. A diet change for your pet may be in order as well, something high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Exercise may also be helpful, but diabetes is about maintaining glucose levels, so along with their insulin injections, the timing of meals and exercise is very important to maintain those levels. It may seem like an experiment at first, seeing what works at what times, and possibly trying a different approach to your routine, but with frequent check-ups and guidance from your veterinarian, you’ll be able to figure out a plan that will get your pet healthy in no time. If you don’t recognize these signs in your pet, be aware that there are some risk factors for certain pets and lifestyles. Older pets, of course, have a greater risk for diabetes, but also unspayed females dogs, neutered male cats, obese pets, and ones that are genetically predisposed to diabetes. Cats with chronic pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism are also at a greater risk to develop diabetes. Inactivity in your pet can also cause diabetes, so yes, get your lazy bones pup or fat cat out and about and make them move. There are also breeds of dogs that are more susceptible:
With early diagnosis, your pet will have the same life expectancy as any other pet. It just takes a little extra care and structure to maintain their health. For more information, check out this website: http://www.petdiabetesmonth.com/. This is my service announcement for the week because we’ve had an upswing of canine parvovirus in the clinic recently. This is just the plain old, run of the mill, warning about parvovirus, so go clean some kennels people! Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads rapidly, hence the increase in parvo cases at the clinic, because if you get one parvo case, you can count on a few more that week. Usually parvo is contracted by unvaccinated dogs, so it can sometimes be an irritation to veterinarians when we see a dog that was perfectly fit, happy, and healthy come in with such a preventable illness, but sometimes, in rare cases, dogs can catch parvovirus even if they are vaccinated, most likely toward the end of a vaccination’s rotation or in a dog with a poor immune system. Also, puppies are susceptible to parvovirus in a gap stage in their development. They may not have started their vaccinations yet, or their boosters may not be complete, which could cause gaps in their vaccinations, especially when their natural immunities subside. Parvo is a tricky one to get rid of because it’s hard to physically remove from spaces in which a dog frequents. It’s not as if you can take a gallon of bleach to the yard or your local park. Parvovirus can survive for a long time, even through hot and cold temperatures, so it’s important to isolate your dog in a disinfected location after it’s been treated for parvo to give the virus time to die out naturally around your yard. Parvo is easily passed from one pet to another because it is present in feces, which ends up on the ground, which ends up on their feet, so it travels with them. Who would have thought that your back yard would be a dangerous spot for them? If your dog has been sick, it might be a good idea to quarantine the area for awhile until your pet is fully recovered and the vaccination has kicked in. Also, you probably shouldn’t take your dog that is just getting over parvo or take young puppies to any place where pets gather, like your local dog park or groomer, until they’ve built up their immunities or received their vaccinations. Dogs that are infected with parvo can shed the virus in their feces for up to 30 days after their symptoms resolve. Also, many pet related businesses require you to sign a form saying your pet has had their vaccinations. Don’t get annoyed by the extra paperwork! They are diligently keeping their business safe and clean for your pet, especially because parvo spreads so easily. Watch for signs of canine parvovirus in your dog. These are some of the symptoms:
Because of the vomiting and severe diarrhea, your dog could become dehydrated, which in turn damages the intestines and immune system, making it even harder to treat, and this breakdown in the immune system could lead to septic shock. If you recognize these signs in your dog, call a veterinarian immediately because severe dehydration is the most common reason that dogs with parvovirus die, and it can happen in as short of a time as 48 to 72 hours. Instead of being able to kill the virus, since there isn’t a specific drug to do that for parvovirus, veterinarians have to complete support treatments to build the immune system to fight the virus. Dogs will often need electrolytes and intravenous fluids to fight dehydration, and veterinarians will also use treatments to stop the vomiting and diarrhea causing dehydration. If diagnosed and treated early, survival rates are close to 90%, but that depends on the quick action of a pet owner, so make sure you are aware of the signs and symptoms. You know your pet the best, so you’ll know when something isn’t right. Monitor them closely, especially now, because as I’ve said before, canine parvovirus comes in waves. Also, hospitalizing a dog and treating for parvovirus can be quite expensive as they usually have to be hospitalized for several days. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so be sure to get your puppies vaccinated starting at six weeks of age. It’s best to bring your pup into the veterinarian for their vaccinations as a wellness exam and appropriate preventatives can be started at that time. You can also discuss other health issues like nutrition with your veterinarian at that time. However, if you’re really strapped for cash, most veterinarians will sell the distemper-parvo-hepatitis-parainfluenza vaccine over-the-counter, which is relatively inexpensive. If you’re going to purchase the vaccine yourself, I would do it from a veterinarian instead of a feed store to ensure the quality of the vaccine and that it’s stored correctly. |
Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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