There's an App for That!

Last year Merial launched the Heartguard dose reminder app. Due to the success of the application, Merial is introducing the same app for Android users and an updated app for the iPhone. The updated features allow pet owners to set individual reminders for each dog, share accounts between phones, use the phone's camera to assign pictures to reminders, and add custom dog barks. In addition, the app will tell you how much you have remaining on your current prescription (or heartworm medication) and prompt you to contact your vet when you need more. When it's time for your dog's medication, his or her picture will pop up and bark to remind you. And the best part? The app is free! It's a fun and easy way to remember your pets medications and doses. The Android version can be downloaded via the Android Market online or on the phone, the iPhone version can be downloaded through iTunes for the App store on your smartphone. Happy Shopping!

Holiday Plant Hazards

December has come upon us fast, and with it comes all those wonderful holiday decorations. While they make our home pretty and festive, they may also be a temptation to our four legged family members! Cats will climb the Christmas tree and chew the branches, dogs will eat the tinsel and garland. Gastro-Intestinal obstruction is a fairly common occurrence here at VACC, but so is toxicity. There are three very popular holiday plants that, when ingested, are quite toxic to dogs and cats.

Peace Lillies are a lovely plant and a favorite around the holiday season. Unfortunately, they can cause a lot of problems if eaten by your pet. The most common symptoms are GI related symptoms. Peace lillies cause significant swelling of the oral tissues and intestines. Most often we will see excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. In rare cases tongue swelling, trouble swallowing, and difficulty breathing may also occur. Sometimes they may also cause acute kidney failure in cats. Treatment will depend on the severity of the reaction and ingestion, but your pet may need to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids and monitored for any signs of respiratory distress.


English holly, also known as Christmas holly, is another festive holiday plant that is toxic when ingested. Like the peace lily, clinical signs include excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. However in rare cases with holly if the berries are ingested seizures or tremors may be seen.

Mistletoe may be a fun Christmas tradition with your sweetheart, but it should be kept high and out of pets reach. Also causing gastro-intestinal upset, mistletoe when ingested can lead to a drop in blood pressure and low heart rate. Depending on the amount ingested and the severity of the reaction, pets will need to be treated for dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. In very severe cases seizure, coma, and death can occur.

If you know or even suspect that your pet has ingested a potentially toxic plant call poison control immediately, followed by your veterinarian. The pet poison helpline number is 1-800-213-6680. If you have any further questions about toxic plants, the ASPCA website, http://www.aspca.org/, is a valuable resource of information!

Happy Holidays to you, your family, and of course your pets from all of us here Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod!

Flu Fever

The holiday season has brought with it an influx of patients getting the Canine Influenza vaccine. Now that most boarding kennels are requiring it, dog owners are rushing to get their pets up to date, but many don't know much about the disease.

Canine influenza is a newly emerging infectious disease caused by a flu virus. The strain is known as H3N8 and it is highly contagious between dogs. It is spread the same way as the human flu; direct contact, sneezing or coughing, or through contaminated surfaces. Symptoms of canine influenza include persist ant cough, low-grade fever, nasal discharge, lack of energy, and loss of appetite. In about 20% of dogs more serious signs may occur like high-grade fever and pneumonia, however most dogs will only get a mild form of the disease.

Diagnosing canine influenza can be difficult because it has similar symptoms of other diseases such as kennel cough. Owners don't usually suspect the disease until the symptoms become severe or last an unusually long time. Like most viruses, canine influenza should eventually run it's course. Some dogs may need the help of intravenous fluids to keep them hydrated or may develop secondary infections and need antibiotics. Whatever you do, do not use human medications in your dog unless directed by your veterinarian.

The best way to avoid canine influenza is to get your dog vaccinated. The first vaccine should be boostered within three to four weeks, followed by an annual revaccination. If you have any further questions, your veterinarian is the best person to answer them, however you can also check out this website, http://www.doginfluenza.com/. Thanks for reading!

Giving Thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (although a day late), this blog will be dedicated to a few of the many reasons to be thankful for our pets. Pet ownership is a challenge in the beginning, often unexpected. Puppies and kittens will tear through the house leaving a path of destruction in their wake, but when the dust settles, the love that they give you in the years to come is worth more than any carpet, any favorite shoe, any glass vase, or anything and everything else you may have lost to their innocent, playful ways.

10 Reasons I'm Thankful for My Pet

1. Drop your dinner on the floor? At least you don't need to clean it up. Rest assured that every last drop or crumb will be taken care of.



2. Just in case you didn't hear it, a dog will always let you know when someone is at the door.



3. Even when you're by yourself, you are never alone. No matter how you look, or what you're mood, all they care about is being with you.



4. Any piece of paper, string, or sock can be a toy. If it's small and it's within reach, it's likely to be batted around or pounced on.



5. Pets will never waste an opportunity to enjoy life. If there's even a chance for a walk, to eat, to play, or to sleep, they will go after it with gusto.



6. Pets will forever inspire forgiveness. Despite all the trips to the vet, the baths, the nail trims, the punishments, they will still treat you with love and devotion.



7. Pet's lower your blood pressure! It's true! Just ask the CDC...



8. Pets will greet you like they haven't seen you in twenty years, even if it's only been twenty minutes.
   


9. Pets can sense our emotions. If you are excited, they are excited, if you are sad, they try to comfort you.


10. Pets just make us better people. Like the saying goes, "I aspire to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." So True.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your furry family members.

Pancreatitis And Your Pet

The Pancreas is a small but very important organ responsible for producing enzymes that help with food digestion as well as hormones such as insulin. Normally, digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are activated when they reach the small intestine. Sometimes those enzymes are activated pre-maturely in the pancreas, resulting in inflammation and a disorder called pancreatitis.

The exact cause of pancreatitis is not known. In dogs, it is often associated with eating a rich, fatty meal or administration of corticosteroids, however these associations have not been found with cats.

Clinical signs of pancreatitis include nausea and vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. However, these clinical manifestations can also be associated with other diseases. This is why it's important to do blood work and x-rays or ultrasound to ensure a proper diagnosis of pancreatitis.

To successfully treat pancreatitis depends most on early diagnosis and medical treatment. It's important to "rest" the pancreas from it's role in digestion by withholding oral fluids and food. Your pet will need to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids to maintain a normal fluid level and electrolyte balance; they will also need to receive pain medication by injection because it is a very painful condition. Most pets with pancreatitis are hospitalized for two to four days and food is gradually re-introduced.

Generally patients suffering from acute pancreatitis will make a full recovery with no long term effects. However, it is important to note what can happen if your dog or cat goes too long without receiving medical treatment.

Sometimes if a significant number of cells that produce digestive enzymes are destroyed, a lack of proper food digestion may follow. This is known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and can be treated with daily administration of enzyme replacement. If a significant number of cells that produce insulin are destroyed, diabetes mellitus can result. A few dogs that recover from acute pancreatitis may continue to have recurrent bouts of the disease called chronic relapsing pancreatitis. The result of this chronic inflammation allows digestive enzymes to spill into the abdominal cavity causing secondary damage to the liver, gall bladder, bile ducts, and intestines. In severe cases, untreated pancreatitis will result in shock, depression, and even death. However these cases are rare because most people seek treatment before their pet gets to this point.

Prevention of pancreatitis is not entirely possible given we don't know it's exact cause. In dogs you can at least reduce their odds of getting pancreatitis by not feeding them human food or really fatty rich foods. It is important to keep this in mind especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner. Our four legged friends will be sure to hide under the table for as many scraps as they can get. Feeding them in that moment may be satisfying, but the long term risk may not be worth it.

Declawing Your Cat

Declawing is a surgical procedure performed on cats in which the toenail and portion of bone from which the toenail grows is removed. The most important thing to understand about declawing is how it will affect your cat and how to care for him or her if they are declawed. Declawing is essentially an amputation, five toes on each front limb, therefore appropriate pain management must be used. Often your cat may need to stay overnight for more than one night to ensure that he or she stays quiet and continues to receive regular pain medication.

Here at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod, declaws are performed with a surgical laser. The laser works by producing a small but very strong beam of light that works by vaporizing tissue. It seals off nerve endings significantly reducing pain, as well as blood vessels and lymphatics reducing bleeding and swelling. The sanitizing affect of the laser beam also reduces the risk for infection. If you are thinking about declawing your cat, laser surgery is strongly recommended. Even with the laser, your cat should still go home with antibiotics and pain medication for a week or or more following surgery. Special kitty litter, or shredded newspaper, must be used at least one week post operatively in place of your regular kitty litter. Regular litter can stick to your cats paws and get imbedded in their incision increasing their risk for infection.

A cat that is declawed must remain an indoor cat for the rest of it's life. When you remove a cat's claws they lose one of their main lines of defense. Cats use their claws not just for scratching but climbing and gripping as well. Without their claws cats will have very little to protect themselves against all of the predators that live outdoors. There is speculation that cats without claws may bite more than cats who have claws. It could be that cats bite more because they are declawed, or that cats are declawed because they are aggressive, we aren't sure what the exact correlation is. However, cats who are declawed are much easier to find homes for. Homeowners and landlords prefer a cat who is not going to damage their home by scratching. There are so many great cats that need homes currently living in shelters. If being declawed means they can find a home, many people feel declawing is worth it.

If you're thinking about declawing your cat, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you come up with a plan to properly care for your cat, declawed or not. If your veterinarian does not have a surgical laser, we are happy to take referrals here at VACC. Simply give us a call at 508-394-3566.

Trick or Treat! - Biscuits Only Please

Most people already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, however with Halloween just around the corner, the temptation for our canine friends to nose through the candy bowls and trick or treat bags may be too much to resist. Here are a few important things to understand about chocolate and your dog.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains an alkaloid called theobromine. This alkaloid is similar to caffeine and can act as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and smooth muscle relaxant. While chocolate ingestion is rarely fatal, it can cause significant illness due to the theobromine. The amount of toxic theobromine in chocolate depends on the type of chocolate. Cooking or Baking chocolate along with high quality dark chocolate contain much more theobromine per gram versus regular milk chocolate.

For example, a small dog weighing five pounds would only have to eat 2 ounces of baking chocolate to become ill, whereas a big dog weighing fifty pounds would have to eat 20 ounces. For milk chocolate, a five pound dog would need to eat fifteen ounces and a fifty pound dog would have to eat 40 ounces.

Even if you think your dog only ate a small amount of chocolate it's still very important to have them seen by a veterinarian right away. The sooner the doctor sees your dog, the sooner they can induce vomiting and the less likely your dog is to feel any toxic effects. Clinical signs from chocolate toxicity can take up to 12 hours to develop, so even if your dog seems fine a few hours later, he or she may not be out of the woods yet. Once the theobromine is absorbed into the body it can remain for up to 24 hours causing damage. Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, panting or restlessness, muscle spasms and occasionally seizures. In older dogs with a preexisting heart condition, consuming large amounts of chocolate can result in cardiac arrest.

Treatment for chocolate toxicity is based on the amount and type of chocolate ingested. If treated early, your veterinarian can induce vomiting and that may be all that is necessary. Often they will administer activated charcoal to block the absorption of the theobromine. Intravenous fluids may also be given to help dilute and promote excretion of the theobromine. All dogs who have ingested chocolate should be closely monitored for the first 24 hours for any signs of an irregular heart rhythm.

Households with children may find it especially challenging to keep their dogs from getting into the Halloween candy. If you suspect your dog has ingested chocolate, no matter what amount, you should always have him or her seen right away. Inducing vomiting early on is far easier on you and your dog than having to deal with the complications that may occur from chocolate toxicity. Halloween should be a safe and fun time for everyone, and the staff here at VACC would like to wish you all a very Happy Halloween.