Vet Archives - ILoveDogsAndPuppies

Vet Comforts Dog After Surgery By Rocking Her Like A Baby

Mr.Dog — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 23:10:05 +0000

I can understand why some dogs are scared of the vet. It must be terrifying for them because they don’t understand why they have to go to this place where people poke needles in them.

And can you imagine how frightening it must be for a puppy to wake up from surgery?

That’s why when a shelter puppy woke up very scared from her surgery, a vet immediately calmed her down and comforted her by rocking her like a baby.

The puppy named Baby Meesha was coming off from her anesthesia and she was very scared because of how weird her body felt. A surgical assistant named Dennis Moses took action by taking her into the quiet hallway, hugging her tight, and rocking her like a baby to comfort her. One of the volunteers happened to catch the sweet moment on video. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/BARCSbaltimore/videos/10153962504689869/

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Ask A Vet: What Is Hip Dysplasia?

Mr.Dog — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:10:32 +0000

Hip Dysplasia is a term that we are all somewhat familiar with, but do you really know what it is? It is an important source of pain for our dogs. Affected dogs often act stiff or sore on their rear legs. They may have difficulty rising or walking on slick surfaces. They may also resist jumping onto furniture or into vehicles as the disease progresses. Sometimes, dogs are so brave that they hide their pain from hip dysplasia completely, but that does not mean that it doesn’t hurt.

The hip joint is made up of a ball and socket. Ball and socket joints typically allow rotary movement in every direction within reason. The ball (the femoral head) fits into the rounded cuplike socket (acetabulum) and when the hip moves, the ball rolls around inside the bounds of the socket. This set up allows for a good range of movement…when all is well.

Hip dysplasia is a term that applies to malformation of the components of the joint. The malformations lead to instability of the joint itself. There can be abnormalities in the either the ball or the socket (or both). A loose joint in which the components lack symmetry produces abnormal wear. Think about how the soles of your shoes wear in odd places if you walk without perfect symmetry. The abnormal wear eventually leads to significant osteoarthritis in affected dogs.

There is a strong genetic correlation for hip dysplasia in certain breeds, including many large breed dogs. Awareness of the disease has promoted changes in breeding programs worldwide and a study in New Zealand found that the German Shepherd Dog has shown statistical improvement in the breed for the prevalence of dysplasia.¹ Other breeds are making changes to try to eliminate this debilitating disease.

Because this is a painful disorder that is genetic in origin, testing and responsible breeding practices are our only way to reduce the occurrence in our dogs. The signs in affected dogs can be reduced and managed, but most cases require lifelong management. You should be aware of hip dysplasia risk for any large breed dog and ask if you choose a purebred large breed dog, ask educated questions and do your research prior to making a purchase.

Mixed breed dogs are certainly also affected by this disorder, but as always, it is much better to adopt than to shop. Statistical chances of hip dysplasia are reduced if you choose a dog of mixed lineage and saving a life is best for many other reasons. If you think that your dog may be suffering from hip dysplasia, ask your vet what is available to help.

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Rescue Dog Needs Emergency Treatment to Save His Life

Mr.Dog — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 23:10:50 +0000

Many of us have rescued dogs (or raised puppies) that were suddenly stricken with a life-threatening illness and desperately needed medical treatment to keep them alive. Samantha De New’s Shiba Inu, Cudi, is the most important thing in her life, and right now she’s fighting to save his again.

This plea comes from Samantha:

I’m a recovering addict and have always had dogs growing up. I got sober and was trying to cope with the extreme feelings of loneliness. I decided to rescue a dog while living in a sober living house.

I got Cudi from Palm Beach Animal Care and Control. They told me he was a stray, they weren’t sure how old he was and he didn’t take well to people. Shibas are very independent. I immediately fell in love with him.

I was able to rescue him and things have been going great. On Monday, I went down to my car to go to work, and my car had been broken into. My wallet was stolen which had every dollar I had to my name in it because I do not have a bank account.

I went to work, came home, my power was off, and Cudi was stumbling around, walking into walls – falling all over. I couldn’t figure out if I should call FPL or a vet first.

We thought he might have had a seizure or stroke by his symptoms. I was able to bring him to a vet today and they said it was kidney failure. He won’t eat or drink. I have to bring him back to the vet every day for the next few days for IV fluids. Then he needs to be on meds as well, and special food. It’s a lot for someone who just had had their money stolen from them. Cudi means the world to me. I would go without food and everything else to make sure he is ok and has what he needs.

I don’t have the money to get him all the treatment he needs and it can’t wait. He needs it now. Especially now he won’t eat or drink. He’s so weak and can barely stand. I tried to make him his favorite, scrambled eggs, and he just takes his nose and pushes it away.

All he wants to do is sleep. He has no energy and I know he’s extremely dehydrated. It’s causing me physical pain knowing, at the moment, I can’t provide for him the way I should be able to because of the circumstances that someone felt the need to break into my car and take everything I had!

Anyone who knows me knows that Cudi is my whole world, my child, the love of my life, my everything. Anything helps. I’m so grateful for everyone who’s even taking the time to read this. Thank you so much. – Samantha De New

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Ask A Vet: Why Does My Dog Pee In Weird Places Around The House?

Mr.Dog — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:20:09 +0000

Owners will invariably notice if their dogs urinate in odd places like a spare room, kitchen or in their beds. It makes for a stressful morning when your pillow or bed linens are soiled and no one wants to be getting ready for sleep at night only to find that they have to strip the whole bed before they can rest.

Unfortunately, there is no one answer to why a dog might urinate in odd places. There are a myriad of medical reasons for this sign. Urinary tract infections (UTI) with or without urinary stones (called uroliths) can cause an affected dog to be unable to retain urine or choose to eliminate in unusual places. In these cases, the dogs can sometimes be seen straining to urinate or moving to several spots to go with not much urine produced at each site. You might notice a reddish tinge to the urine spots on the bedding if there is blood in the urine. A urinalysis and maybe even radiographs will be required to be sure that UTI or urolithiasis is the underlying issue. You will need your vet’s help to be sure that your dog is not in danger of urinary obstruction (complete urinary blockage) which is a life-threatening situation.

Urinary incontinence is when dogs unconsciously leak small amounts of urine. Ask your vet to help you figure out if your dog has an active infection or could just be leaking. There are treatments aimed at improving these problems. Some middle-aged female dogs experience urine leaking that can be managed medically with prescription medications. Some dogs lose sphincter tone as they age as an expected part of the aging process. Even though it can be a consequence of normal aging, there are still ways to manage or minimize urine leaking.

Congenital abnormalities are issues that develop when structures fail to develop normally in a juvenile animal. Some of these are genetic abnormalities and some are actual birth defects. If you have a young dog who pees in your bed or eliminates inappropriately and does not respond to the first line treatments, he may need to have further imaging of his bladder and ureters to be sure that all is anatomically normal. In many cases, congenital problems can be addressed surgically and corrected.

AdvertisementOnce you have ruled out all possible medical causes for urinating in your bed, it is time to consider a behavioral cause. Sometimes dogs are poorly house trained or have learned inappropriate habits from time in a shelter (with little one on one handling). Perhaps your dog has learned a marking habit or developed no habit at all and just goes wherever and whenever the urge hits. These situations may require a complete house training overhaul.

To start over with house training, your dog will have to be able trust you completely to maintain the schedule of letting her out. If she thinks that there is no point in holding her urine because you will not come to let her out, she won’t. When she is not being watched, she should be in her crate (which needs to be small enough that she views it as her “den” and instinctively does not want to soil it) or tied to your belt loop, so you will quickly notice her if she seems like she needs to go out. When she does eliminate where you prefer, she should be quickly rewarded with a high value treat. Reward must be consistent and fast so she attaches the treat with the appropriate choice. If inappropriate elimination begins, immediately interrupt and remove to a better place.

Crating her is not cruel when done correctly with consistent breaks. What is most cruel is allowing your bond to erode away because she is wetting your bed. You owe it to her get to the bottom of it and give her a chance to make better choices.

Remember, make sure all medical causes are discovered and addressed. Never scold your dog when you find a mistake. Once medical causes are dealt with, start over with house training completely. Consistently take the dog out attended and reward appropriate elimination. Mistakes might happen, but do not punish. Simply interrupt the behavior and move him to the spot you want. Your goal to give your dog a chance to get the answer you want and encourage good choices moving forward. Once the choices are better, your bond with your dog is no longer in danger and you can both be happier and healthier.

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When He Realizes He’s At The Vet And Not The Park, This Dog Has A Hilarious Reaction

Mr.Dog — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 22:51:53 +0000

Dogs are never thrilled when it’s time to go to the vet, so most humans have to use a little trickery to get their pooch into the office. Treats are a nice option, but this owner relies on his pup’s naive nature to get the job done.

Here he’s documented the moment his hilariously expressive cutie realized there were no frisbees in his near future.

“Can’t wait to see all my buddies!”

“Wait…I recognize that flea collar brochure.”

“…how could you?”

Sorry, sweetie, but it’s important to keep a clean bill of health. Hopefully his human made it up to him on the way home.

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Ask A Vet: My Dog Was Diagnosed With Spondylosis. What Is It? What Do I Do?

Mr.Dog — Sun, 31 May 2015 00:43:31 +0000

What is Spondylosis? Spondylosis deformans is a term that describes when the body has attempted to form a bony bridge over a vertebral space. It is visible on the ventral (bottom) surface of the spinal column as a solid bar linking two vertebral bodies and spanning the space between them.

Spondylosis is a very common disease middle-aged to older dogs. It is sometimes an incidental finding on radiographs taken for a separate reason, but I usually have a suspicion of osteoarthritis or intervertebral disc disease when I see it. Many times my patients will show sensitivity on palpation of the spine or have exhibited stiffness noted by the owners.
Research has suggested that Boxers have a genetic predisposition to spondylosis, but I see it in many types of dogs. Studies have not definitively proven a direct cause, but I usually think of the bridge formation as the body’s reaction to the presence of instability or inflammation. Obviously instability in the spinal column would be a bad thing and the body strives for stability.

AdvertisementMost dog owners just want to know what to do to make their dogs comfortable. I usually try weight management because excess weight puts pressure on all the joints, the spine most of all. People ask me about exercise and many think that their affected dog can no longer be active, but activity is always important. If your dog has spondylosis, you may want to choose lower impact choices, like swimming and walking over running and retrieval games.

Any dog exhibiting signs of pain would probably benefit from a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prescribed by your veterinarian. You might not even realize how much pain your dog was experiencing until you address it. I have many grateful clients call to thank me for these types of medications.

Another method of addressing pain is through disease modifying agents. This class includes joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. There is variable response to each of these agents and one should not expect 100% control with these alone. They can serve as an adjunct to therapy, reducing the amount of other medications that are required to control pain. If you find that one particular type of these agents is ineffective, it is reasonable to try others because each dog is an individual.
In some cases your veterinarian may find the disease and its associated signs so severe that steroids are the choice for treatment. In these cases it is important to talk with your veterinarian about side effects, long-term management and future plans. I usually reserve steroids as my last step for restoring quality of life. But you should ask your own veterinarian about his or her opinion of the role steroids can play in the management of spondylosis.

As time passes, some patients with spondylosis may require narcotic class agents to control their pain and maintain their quality of life. These medications must be prescribed by a veterinarian and you should be sure that you know exactly what you were getting and what to expect for control of pain. Make sure you understand possible side effects and directions for use.

Any patient with joint pain could be a candidate for physical therapy. Ask your veterinarian if there is a veterinary certified physical therapist in your area. I have seen miraculous response for these patients when I added physical therapy to their control regimen.

There could be a place in your dog’s management for alternative therapies like acupuncture. Each dog responds differently to an individual treatment protocol and depending on its availability to you, could be a viable option for inclusion in your dog’s treatment.

AdvertisementThere are many options for management of Spondylosis pain ranging from what you feed (and how much) to a variety of things your vet can prescribe or recommend. First make sure your dog is not at all overweight, then review the diet quality and whether or not it already contains supplements to support joint health. Ask your veterinarian about non-steroidal medications versus steroids and narcotics. You might consider alternative therapies, like physical therapy and acupuncture. Remember, every dog is individual and like people, some will respond well to one protocol and not another. Do not give up. There is a combination that will help restore your dog’s quality of life.

About The Vet: Dr. Kathryn Primm is a practicing small animal veterinarian. She has consulted on articles for national magazines, done numerous radio interviews and appeared on local television. She has contributed to an article for Prevention magazine and Woman’s Day in Feb 2014 and June 2015 on shelves now.

She has a social media presence on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ and enjoys interaction with others about her passions, animals and communication. She is a regular contributor to Boomeon, the online community which can be found at www.boomeon.com . She has also written a book, Tennessee Tails:Pets and Their People. The book received recognition as Runner Up in the Memoirs category at a national book festival. You can read more about Dr. Primm and how to get the best value for your pet care dollar at her website, www.drprimm.com.

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10 Tips For Keeping Your Dog Healthy And Avoiding the Vet

Mr.Dog — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 01:05:41 +0000

We all want to save money and keep our pets happy. One way of doing both of these things is to keep our pet healthy and out of the vet’s office. Here are some tips to do just that.

1 – Feed High Quality Food

Your dog’s food directly relates to his health. Be sure you are feeding a high quality (no grocery store brands) food that is giving your dog everything he needs.

#2 – Titering & Vaccines

There is a lot of controversy around vaccines and titers right now. Just make sure you have talked to vet and done what it is necessary to prevent a costly vet visit later if your dog gets one of these preventable diseases.

#3 – Caring for Skin

Jamie Ippolito, owner and founder of Paw Naturals says “much like the way winter weather can lead to dry, chapped skin in people, it can wreak havoc on your pup,” says Ippolito. “Moisturize their paws and skin with Coconut Oil to prevent the itching and cracking brought on by cold weather-related dryness. When it comes time for grooming, try using a moisture-rich shampoo like Earthbath Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera Shampoo.”

#4 – Exercise

Of course, don’t forget Exercise! Ippolito reminds us that some breeds need more exercise than others, so be sure yours is getting enough to satisfy his energy level.

#5 – Watch Their Step

Something many of us do not think about: be aware of what your dog is walking on. Ippolito says, “Many lawns are treated with chemical-laden pesticides. The animal walks through it and licks his paws, ingesting the pesticide. It’s best to wipe their paws with a damp cloth after walks.”

#6 – Canine Conditioning

More than just exercise, these classes teach you how to work out your dog appropriately, so he doesn’t get injured doing any activity –from hiking to agility. It also helps you learn more about the way your dog moves, so you can catch any small problems early, before they become big vet bills.

#7 – Keep Them on Leash

Keeping your dog on leash is not only law, but it can keep him health and safe. Loose dogs can get lost, injured (hit by a car, attacked by another animal, etc).

#8 – Brushing Teeth

Dental health issues in dogs are very expensive. Help prevent them by brushing your dog’s teeth daily.

#9 – Keep Nails Short

It’s surprising how many people neglect their dog’s nails. Overgrown nails can get infected, break, and even dig into your dog’s paw pad, requiring surgery. Keep those nails trimmed and avoid the vet.

#10 – Dog Proof Your Home

Another one of the top vet bills are surgeries related to dogs eating things they shouldn’t: garbage, toys, wood, plastic, socks, you name it, it’s been swallowed. Keep your house doggy proofed to avoid a vet bill.

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