The price of a stray

Euthanasia!  No!  I know I have FIV.  I know I can spread that to other cats, but I don’t want to hurt them.  If someone would just let me live by myself in their house I could live a life just like any other brown tabby cat.  The woman that feeds me, (I like to think of her as my mom,) loves me too.  I know she does because she brought me to this hospital....even if they are sticking me with a needle!  Every morning, like clock work, I run to my mom's house and she gives me some ice cold water and delicious food!  Sometimes I get into fights with those cats because they want to eat the food my mom put out for me.  One of those black cats looked pretty beat up, so he probably is the one that gave me this stupid disease after cutting the side of my face with his long bladed claws!  Despite this disease these girls are talking about, FIV, I still feel great.  My bones don’t hurt, I love to eat, I love to talk to my friends every morning, and I especially love when my mom comes to visit me.  My only problem is my mouth really hurts.  Every time I bite into something I get a searing sensation throughout my mouth.  Some of my friends have told me they have gone to a person that helped their mouth.  They don’t remember what happened, but they remember waking up and not having teeth!  They told me it sort of hurt for a couple days and after that their mouth felt great!  Maybe I can find one of those people that can fix my mouth.  That’s all I need.  And a home

Wait…I hear those nice ladies talking to the wonderful lady that brought me in.  I hear them saying maybe we can find a home for me.  A home by myself.  Inside.  Where I can have a bed.  Where I can not get beat up at night while I look for a place to sleep.  Where someone can pet me every day.  Wow…that sounds nice.  A home.

Happy Halloween - Free Nail Trim

Bring in your pet dressed in their favorite Halloween costume and receive a 

FREE NAIL TRIM

Your pet's picture will also be posted on our Facebook page.  

The photo with the most "Likes" will receive a 

YEAR'S SUPPLY of

Frontline TriTak Flea & Tick Prevention!

Why Does My Pet Itch?

As the pollen counts go up and we suffer from "hay fever," animals, particularly dogs, also begin to show signs of allergies. While most people suffer from respiratory problems such as runny eyes and nose, difficult breathing, or sinus headaches, dogs and cats have a completely different set of symptoms. When dogs and cats suffer from allergies, they primarily are affected in the skin by itching - sometimes intense itching which can lead to hair loss, open sores, and infections.

The same substances that cause allergies in people cause allergies in pets. These include grasses, molds, leaves, trees, food ingredients, bacteria, insect bites (fleas) and other substances. One of the differences in treating allergies in pets as opposed to people is that over the counter antihistamines are generally ineffective in controlling the symptoms and therefore prescription medications and professional advice is indicated.

There are basically three ways to deal with allergies.
1. Medications are given to alleviate the symptoms.
2. Avoidance of the substance that is creating the allergic reaction.
3. Hyposensitization

The most common and potentially the most abused method is to give medications to alleviate the symptoms. Since antihistamines are generally not very effective alone, many times the primary category of drugs that are used are the corticosteroids - either alone or in combination with other medications. While these drugs are usually very effective, they are very powerful and must be used with caution and only on the continuing advice of a veterinarian. Anithistamines, fatty acid supplements and corticosteroids can be given in various combinations to help control the itching and to minimize the side effects. There are also shampoos and conditioners designed to alleviate the itching but are generally only minimally effective. They can be used along with other medications to give the pet some additional comfort.

Another way to deal with allergies is to identify the offending substance or allergen and to avoid it. This is easy when we are lucky enough to find an allergen that can be avoided such as a particular food ingredient. However, in most cases, when allergy testing is performed, there are many substances that are contributing to the problem and avoidance is often impossible. Pet owners can try avoidance food trials to try to identify if the allergy symptoms are the result of a particular food ingredient. Be aware that many foods contain the same food ingredients and simply switching brand names does not mean that you are feeding different ingredients. Many pets are actually allergic to the ingredients in some food that are being sold as an alternative food for allergies! Your veterinarian is the best educated person to help with this process. Ask for advice.

The third way and perhaps the best for long term results is to identify the substances that are causing the allergic reaction through allergy testing. Once the allergens are identified, a vaccine that is customized for the individual and their specific allergies is produced. Regular and periodic injections are then given to hyposensitize the pet and to minimize the allergic reaction. These injections are actually very small amounts of the substances that cause the allergic reaction. As these dosages gradually and steadily increase over weeks and months, the patient will develop a tolerance for those substances that create the reaction. This process is familiar to many people because the incidence of allergies in people is approximately the same as the incidence in pets and people are already familiar with hyposensitization from a friend or family member. These injections are very effective in the majority of the cases but the owner needs patience as results may take months to become evident.

Just as people can be allergic to insects such as bee stings, dogs and cats can be allergic to insects. What this means to a pet owner is that a pet that is allergic to the bite of a flea will have a very exaggerated reaction to the flea bite because the pet is actually allergic to the "venom" of the flea. Dogs and cats that suffer from flea allergic dermatitis have a double problem - they are bothered by the fleas themselves and the bite of each flea produces an allergic reaction which intensifies the discomfort. Obviously, pets that are allergic to fleas must be kept as flea free as possible as well as receive treatment for the allergic reaction. Many times the allergic reaction continues after the fleas are eliminated from the pet. For pets that are allergic to the bite of the flea, most veterinarians will recommend a flea control product that is effective in controlling and repelling the adult fleas from the pet. One of the newer products that is now available called Advantage is ideal for this situation. Depending upon the intensity of the allergic reaction, the pet may also need to be treated for allergic dermatitis.

Allergic dermatitis is extremely common in pets in this area for the same reasons that people have allergies. The Ohio River valley has an abundance of substances that create allergic reactions in our local environment. Since allergies in pets creates a bothersome and sometimes intense itching reaction, it is advisable to get the pet under some control before the pet itches itself or licks itself to the point that the hair is missing and the skin is injured.

Lyme Disease in Pets

What is Lyme disease?



Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi. A spirochete is a type of bacterium. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick. Once in the blood stream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints. It was first thought that only a few types of ticks could transmit this disease, but now it appears that several common species may be involved. The most common type of tick to carry Lyme disease is the Deer Tick.

Can Lyme disease also affect people?

Yes, but people do not get it directly from dogs. They get it from being bitten by the same ticks that transmit it to dogs. Therefore, preventing exposure to ticks is important for you and your dog.

What are the clinical signs?

Many people with Lyme disease develop a characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash at the site of the bite within 3 to 30 days. For these people, the disease can be easily diagnosed at an early stage. However, symptoms of Lyme disease are more difficult to detect in animals than in people.

The characteristic rash does not develop in dogs or cats. Because the other symptoms of the disease may be delayed or not recognized and because the symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases, Lyme disease in animals is often not considered until other diseases have been eliminated.

Many dogs affected with Lyme disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Affected dogs have been described as if they were “walking on eggshells.” Often these pets have high fevers. Dogs may also begin limping. This painful lameness often appears suddenly and may shift from one leg to another. If untreated, it may eventually disappear, only to recur weeks or months later.

Some pets are affected with the Lyme disease organism for over a year before they finally show symptoms. By this time, the disease may be quite widespread in the body.

How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

Dogs with lameness, swollen joints, and fever are suspected of having Lyme disease. However, other diseases may also cause these symptoms. There are two blood tests that may be used for confirmation. The first is an antibody test. This test does not detect the actual spirochete in the blood but does detect the presence of antibodies created by exposure to the organism. A test can be falsely negative if the dog is infected but has not yet formed antibodies, or if it never forms enough antibodies to cause a positive reaction. This may occur in animals with suppressed immune systems. Some dogs that have been infected for long periods of time may no longer have enough antibodies present to be detected by the test. Therefore, a positive test is meaningful, but a negative is not.

The second test is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, or DNA testing, which is very specific and sensitive. However, not all dogs have the spirochete in their blood cells. If a blood sample is tested, a false negative may occur. The best sample for testing is the fluid from an affected joint.

How is Lyme disease treated?

Because the Lyme spirochete is a bacterium, it can be controlled by antibiotics. However, a lengthy course of treatment is necessary to completely eradicate the organism. The initial antibiotic selected to treat an infected pet may not be effective against the disease, especially if the infection is long-standing. In this situation, changing to another antibiotic is often effective. Occasionally, the initial infection will recur, or the pet will become re-infected after being bitten by another infected tick.

How can I prevent my dog from getting Lyme disease?

The key to prevention is keeping your dog from being exposed to ticks. Ticks are found in grassy, wooded, and sandy areas. They find their way onto an animal by climbing to the top of a leaf, blade of grass, or short trees, especially Cedar trees. Here they wait until their sensors detect a close-by animal on which to crawl or drop. Keeping animals from thick underbrush reduces their exposure to ticks. Dogs should be kept on trails when walked near wooded or tall grass areas.




How do I remove a tick from my dog?

Check your pet immediately after it has been in a tick-infected area. The Deer Tick is a small tick and only about pinhead size in juvenile stage, but a little more obvious in adult phase and after feeding. If you find a tick moving on your pet, the tick has not fed. Remove the tick promptly and place it in rubbing alcohol or crush it between two solid surfaces. If you find a tick attached to your pet, grasp the tick with fine tweezers or your finger nails near the dog’s skin and firmly pull it straight out. You may need another person to help restrain your dog. Removing the tick quickly is important since the disease is not transmitted until the tick has fed for approximately 12 hours. If you crush the tick, do not get the tick’s contents, including blood, on your skin. The spirochete that causes Lyme disease can pass through a wound or cut in your skin.

Is there a vaccine that will protect my dog from Lyme disease?

A vaccine is now available for protecting dogs against Lyme disease. This vaccine is initially given twice, at two-week intervals. Annual revaccination is also necessary to maintain immunity. The vaccine has been shown to be safe and very effective.

This client information sheet is based on material written by Ernest E. Ward Jr., DVM. © Copyright 2002 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. October 25, 2011

Blue Ash Remodel!

Have you been to our Blue Ash hospital lately? We recently did a little renovating! It's the first major renovation project we've done since we opened in 1995. Thank you for excusing our mess during this time.

We had to tear up 3500 square feet of VCT tile. Over 40 trash cans full of old tile to the dumpster. Due to the type of glue contractors used 15 years ago, the entire 3500 square feet had to be skimcoated with sealer and concrete in order to put down the new flooring.

The new flooring we're installing is called VET tile (Vinyl Enhanced Tile) It is supposed to be more durable and environmentally safe.

Heres some pictures of the floors after all tiles were removed, pictures after the skimcoat and after the first tiles were laid.







More to come! Great work Joey!

Dental Disease

Dental disease is a common and often overlooked problem in dogs. While cavities represent the most common dental disease of humans, dogs are more frequently bothered by tartar buildup on the teeth. Tartar accumulation leads to irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth, ultimately leading to exposure of the roots. Potential outcomes of this tooth root exposure include gum infections and tooth loss.

Contributing Factors

One of the main factors determining the amount of tartar buildup is the individual chemistry in the mouth. Some dogs need yearly cleanings; other dogs need a cleaning only once every few years.

Diet plays more of a minor role in development of tartar accumulation than most people think. Because dry food is not as sticky as canned food, it does not adhere to the teeth as much and thus, does not cause tartar buildup as rapidly. However, eating dry food does not remove tartar from the teeth. Once tartar forms, a professional cleaning is necessary.

Causes/Transmission

Many different disorders can lead to dental disease in the dog. In general, the veterinarian will try to determine whether the problem is limited to the oral cavity (primary dental disease) or has developed as a consequence of another disease (secondary dental disease).

Clinical Signs

In some cases, owners are unaware that their dog has dental disease. The problem may be identified with a routine physical examination or during investigation of another problem.

In other situations, the probability of dental disease is apparent to the owner. The dog may have very bad breath (halitosis), difficulty eating, drooling, or changes in temperament.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of dental disease is usually very straightforward. A visual examination of the oral cavity reveals tartar and gingivitis. However, in most cases, the true extent of the disease cannot be determined unless the dog is under anesthesia. This facilitates a more complete examination of the oral cavity.

Treatment

Proper cleaning of the teeth requires complete cooperation of the patient so that plaque and tartar can be removed properly. Anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean the teeth. Many owners have a high degree of anxiety related to general anesthesia for their dogs. While there is always a degree of risk with any anesthetic, be aware that delaying proper dental care may ultimately compromise the dog's health.

To minimize risk, our hospital uses modern anesthetics that are deemed safe even for older dog. Also, depending on your dog’s age and general health status, blood may be drawn prior to anesthesia to evaluate blood cell counts and blood chemistry.

There are four steps in the cleaning process that will be used on your dog:

1. Scaling removes the tartar above and below the gum line. This is done with hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment. The tartar that is under the gums must be removed for a dental cleaning to be complete.

2. Polishing smooths the surface of the teeth, making them resistant to additional plaque formation.

3. Flushing removes dislodged tartar from the teeth and helps to remove the bacteria that accompany tartar.

4. Fluoride Coating decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.

Prognosis

In the early stages of dental disease, the problems may be reversible. At some point, however, even cleaning cannot restore the mouth to normal. This is not a reason to avoid cleaning!

The prognosis is worsened if tartar is left on the teeth indefinitely. Some of the consequences of delayed dental care are:

1. The tartar will mechanically push the gums away from the roots of the teeth. This allows the teeth to loosen in their sockets and infection to enter the root socket. The teeth will loosen and fall out or have to be extracted.


2. Infection will accumulate in the mouth, resulting in gingivitis (gums), tonsillitis, and pharyngitis (sore throat). Although antibiotics may temporarily suppress the infection, if the tartar is not removed from the teeth, infection will return quickly.

3. Infection within the mouth will be picked up by the blood stream and carried to other parts of the body. Kidney and heart infections frequently begin in the mouth.

Prevention

Several preventive measures can be recommended to aid in oral hygiene for the dog.

1. Seek regular veterinary care and have the teeth cleaned when advised.



2. Try to maintain home dental care with brushing the teeth. Special toothbrushes and flavored toothpastes are available. We will be happy to show you how to do this and to recommend a schedule.

3. A tartar control diet is available through our clinic. It can be used as a maintenance diet or as a treat. It will not clean the teeth but will prolong the interval between professional cleanings (under anesthesia).

If we are planning to clean your dog’s teeth, please follow these recommendations:

In order for us to clean your dog's teeth, we ask that you schedule the procedure a few days in advance. It will be necessary to withhold food after midnight the night before; please do not remove the water. Your dog should be admitted to the hospital early by 9AM and will generally be ready for discharge in the late afternoon. He/she will need to stay indoors that evening to insure that no accidents (falls, etc.) occur until complete recovery from anesthesia. If that is not possible, you may elect to have the dog spend the night in the hospital. Your pet should be fed and watered lightly that evening and returned to normal feeding the next morning, at which time he should be completely recovered from the anesthetic.

Ear Infections- Cause and Treatments

What is Otitis Externa?


Symptoms
1. An excessive shaking of the head or pawing at the ear.
2. Discharge or “wax” from the ear.
3. Odor from the ear.
4. Holding the head at a tilt.
5. Change in color of the ear from a normal light pink or skin tone to an inflamed darker shade.
If your dog or cat has any of the above symptoms, they may have an ear infection.

Causes
Ear infections are divided into 4 main categories:
a.) Fungal
b.) Bacterial
c.) Parasitic
d.) Allergic
It is also common to have a mixture of more than one of the above to complicate the situation.

Diagnosis
It is important to understand the cause of the infection so the veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate therapy and provide the pet owner with information that will help to not only eliminate the problem now, but to help prevent future infections. The veterinarian will determine by examination which type of infection is present. He or she may also use cultures to determine what type of infection is present, or may use allergy testing, or take a sample of the discharge to examine under the microscope. This is very beneficial and can prevent the owner from treating a fungal infection with ear mite medicine, for instance.
Once the cause of the infection is determined, therapy can begin. Each type of infection has its own specific medicine and therapy. What works in one infection may not work in another. Proper diagnosis and follow -through are important.




Fungal infections
The most common type of infection in long eared dogs is the fungal (or yeast) infection. As the dog’s ear gets wet from bathing, swimming, or playing in water, moisture collects and is held in the dog’s ear canal. The ear canal is shaped so that moisture is difficult for the dog to remove on its own. As this type of dog (especially the Cocker or other Spaniels) has long heavy ears, air is prohibited from drying the ear naturally. (This type of infection is similar to an athlete’s foot infection in people.) With moisture present in the ear, and lack of air circulation, the environment for a yeast infection is ideal. This type of infection is very stubborn to eliminate and often requires a minimum of 3-4 weeks of therapy followed by an examination by a veterinarian to make sure the ear is responding. This type of infection is one of the most frustrating problems for the pet owner because they will typically stop treating the ears when they think the infection is under control - only to have the infection return a few weeks or even months later. Most of these frustrations can simply be eliminated by having the veterinarian re-examine the ears with an otoscope every few weeks and continuing the medication until the veterinarian declares the ear to be free from infection.
Bacterial infections
There are many different types of bacteria that can be involved in the infected ear. Your veterinarian will probably take a sample of the discharge from the ear to grow the bacteria in the lab and then determine which type of antibiotic is appropriate to use. Modern lab techniques can not only identify the bacteria, but provide the doctor with a list of medications that will (or won’t) work. If you think that your dog has an infection, do not put any medication into the ear for at least 7 days, as this can interfere with accurate lab results.

Parasitic infections
Ear mites dominate this category and make up the majority of ear problems in the cat. This type of problem is characterized by an intense itching and a very dark brown to black discharge from the ear. Diagnosis can usually be made by examination of a sample of the ear discharge under the microscope and identifying the ear mite or its eggs.

Allergic
Dogs and cats that have allergies often have inflamed ears also. Many times, if the pet’s allergies are managed properly, the ear problems will respond as well. Check with your veterinarian for details on keeping your pet’s allergies under control.

Treatment
Once the veterinarian has determined which of the above categories (or combination of categories) is involved in your pet, a diagnosis is made and therapy is prescribed. Therapy usually consists of cleaning the ear canal from the debris and the mites or infection before applying the medication. The proper medication is then given. It may be a combination of oral, injectable, or topical. Most Otitis cases will not respond properly unless the ear is treated with a topical medication (drops or ointment) twice daily for a minimum of 3 weeks. The treatment should be customized to your pet’s particular problem.

Follow - through exam
A very important (and often neglected) part of the therapy for an ear infection is the follow up exam. Many infections will appear to be resolved to the owner when in fact the infection is still present deep within the ear canal. The canal is deep in the dog and cat and does not lend itself to an easy cure. Many ear infections that we see in practice are the same infection from a prior occurrence that in fact was never completely resolved! Every pet with an ear infection, should be re-examined in about 3-4 weeks to determine if the infection is cleared. Failure to do so only invites chronic and more serious infections. As ear infections become more chronic, the pet will suffer hearing loss, and surgery may be necessary to control the problem.

Summary
1. Recognize the early signs of ear infections.
2. Have the ear examined to make sure a proper diagnosis is made. This will insure that the proper medication is used for the correct amount of time .
3. Use the appropriate medication properly.
4. Schedule follow up exams with your veterinarian to know if the ears are responding and when it is safe to stop medicating.
5. Ask your veterinarian for tips on how to prevent future infections.