Fluffy needs her teeth cleaned. What does this entail?

The entire periodontal procedure or dental begins with a physical examination and blood work to determine whether or not Fluffy is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

When Fluffy is admitted to the hospital, she is given a pre-anesthetic medication to reduce pain and stress. After an intravenous catheter is placed, a short acting anesthetic injectable is given to make her fall asleep. At that point a breathing tube is inserted and a human grade gas anesthesia / oxygen mix is administered directly into her lungs. During the entire procedure she will be kept on a thermal warming blanket to assure that her temperature stays within normal limits. In addition, her heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure are all closely monitored by highly trained technicians. Intravenous fluids are also given during and after the procedure to maintain blood pressure, and to keep her hydrated.

Once Fluffy is under anesthesia, a complete oral exam is performed to check for any growths or abnormalities. With the same instruments used in human medicine all of the teeth are cleaned, scaled, and polished to remove the calculus and tartar above and below the gum line. This is known as subgingival scaling. Once the entire mouth has been cleaned, each tooth is inspected for any deep pockets. Pockets are indicators of periodontal disease which causes bone loss around the root of the tooth.

If a pocket is found, a digital dental xray is taken of the tooth to determine the level of bone loss. If minimal bone loss is noted an antibiotic gel is placed into the pocket to prevent infection, further bone loss, and possible future extraction. If more than 50% bone loss is noted the tooth will be extracted. Without extraction this tooth will eventually become infected and very painful.

If a tooth or teeth need to be extracted, great care is taken in preventing and controlling pain. In addition to two different injections of powerful types of pain medication, a local nerve block is performed around the extraction site.

When the procedure is over, Fluffy will spend the remainder of the day recovering and resting while being closely monitored by our trained staff.

Above is a picture of what Fluffy's teeth looked like before her cleaning. Below is the after shot. The difference is almost unbelievable.



Every February, several veterinary groups, including the The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA),and the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) join together to educate pet owners to the importance of regular care of their pets dental needs during Pet Dental Health Month. Here at Vet Associates we also take dental care very seriously. If you have any questions or would like further information on pet dental care please feel free to contact our office.

New Year resolutions for pet owners....

If you do not already have a regimented schedule for all the needs our pets count on us for, there's no better time to start then a new year. Time seems to fly by if you live a busy life and before you know it weeks and months have passed. It is important that your pets get all they need throughout the year to keep them healthy and happy.
These include:


*monthly heartworm preventative
*monthly flea and tick preventative
*6 month fecal parasite check
*yearly heartworm blood test
*yearly exams
*yearly vaccinations
*yearly blood work (seniors/chronic)


Sometimes we just have too much going on at once and it is easy to forget things. The most convenient way for me to remember is to sit down at the beginning of the year and mark the calender of all the regular events and animal treatments for the entire year. If you don't have time for that, maybe try a marking a month at a time. Most importantly always remember that no matter what life brings, no matter how crazy we may get, our pets are never too busy for us. We owe it to them to prevent anything we can and keep them healthy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2009

Obesity can be a problem for everyone.

Nearly 35% of cats and dogs are overweight. Is yours?? Overweight cats and dogs are more susceptible to a wide range of health problems like:

DIABETES -Early warning signs can include weakness, increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, depression or abdominal pain.

ARTHRITIS AND OTHER JOINT DISORDERS - Signs can include behavioral changes, limping, stiffness or difficulty climbing stairs.

HEART DISEASE - Signs can include coughing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, intolerance to exercise, loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - As there are no visible warning signs, regular checkups are recommended.

SKIN PROBLEMS - Early signs include unkempt coat. Look for repeated itching and scratching.

* Give us a call if your pets weight is a concern.

Merry Christmas!

...... from all us here at Vet Associates.

Not so sweet.....

Meet Cagney. Cagney is a 7 year old cocker spaniel that got a surprise visit to his vet after he decided to help himself to some chocolate covered cranberries. Now that the holiday season is upon us, many of us are surrounded by all sorts of chocolate. Normally this isn't a bad thing, however, for all the dog owners out there it can become disastrous. Chocolate is toxic in dogs because it contains the alkaloid theobromine. Theobromine is similar to caffeine and is used in medicine as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and a smooth muscle relaxant. Theobromine can be poisonous in large amounts. Cagney ate a questionable amount. Once at the vet, he was given a medication that made him vomit up the chocolate. This medication usually only works if it is given soon after ingestion. Once we saw how much Cagney had eaten, the amount was no longer questionable. He ha consumed a potentially dangerous amount. Treatment is based on amount. In cases where the chocolate was eaten hours before, or the time is unknown, activated charcoal is given to block the absorption of theobromine. Depending on the history and the response of early treatments, other supportive care (fluids) may be in order.

In the pictures above you will see Cagney getting activated charcoal. A messy but very effective treatment. Cagney went home the same day and is doing great.

Please be careful all year long but especially around the holidays. Keep track of how much chocolate you have and keep it out of reach. If there is any question, it is better to play it safe.

Christmas Cookies!

Below is a recipe for some tasty homemade dog biscuits. They make a great Christmas gift for our furry loved ones. Please be aware that these are special occasion treats and shouldn't be given as regular year round cookies. Also, if your dog has a sensitive stomach or any allergies please check with your vet first. For most dogs, this is a perfectly safe recipe that will be greatly appreciated.

biscuit dough:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup water

glaze:

1 large egg

2 Tablespoons milk

1. Preheat the oven to 275°.

2. In a large bowl: combine the flour, oatmeal, wheat germ, peanut butter, vegetable oil, honey, baking powder and water.

3. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined.

4. Roll the dough out to a ½-inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheets.

5. In a small bowl, mix together the egg and milk. Brush the glaze on the biscuits.6. Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the pans, and bake for an additional 20 - 30 minutes, until biscuits are golden and firm.

Answers to food quiz...

1. Many people give this fruit to their dogs as a treat. However, just a few bites can cause fatal kidney failure in some dogs.

*Grapes
Both grapes and raisins can be toxic. Some dogs eat them with, seemingly, no ill effects. However, some dogs become ill after ingesting only a few grapes or raisins. The first symptom is vomiting, followed by acute kidney failure, from which many dogs do not recover. As of yet, the toxin is unknown, nor do we know why some dogs become sick and others eat grapes or raisins without a problem.

2. Which raw fish can cause poisoning in dogs?

*Salmon
Salmon and trout can be infected with a parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola, a type of trematode worm. The worms themselves can be infected with a type of bacteria known as Neorickettsia helminthoeca. The bacteria only infects canids; other animals show no symptoms from eating it. When dogs eat raw fish infected with this bacteria, they can show symptoms including weakness, vomiting, loss of appetite, swollen glands, and fever. Ninety percent of untreated dogs die. Cooking kills the worm and the bacteria.

3. This food is sometimes used to season dogs' meals, but can cause anemia.

*Onions
Onions and garlic contain a chemical called thiosulfate. When ingested either in large quantities or in small quantities over a long period of time, they can cause an anemia called Heinz body anemia. This is reversible if you stop feeding the onions or garlic.

4. In some dogs, this sweetener can cause hypoglycemia.

*Xylitol
This toxicity usually occurs when dogs eat large amounts of sugar-free candy or gum. In humans, xylitol does not cause a drop in blood sugar; in dogs it does. This can lead to weakness, staggering, and other symptoms of hypoglycemia. There is also some evidence that some dogs may develop liver failure after ingesting xylitol.

5. Dogs- especially dogs that are fed a straight diet of dry food with little variety- may get an inflammation of the pancreas called "pancreatitis" if they eat certain foods that they are not used to. Which of the following is most apt to cause pancreatitis?

*Turkey skin
In dogs, pancreatitis often results from eating a very high-fat meal. While dogs that are used to eating a high-fat diet, like sled dogs, can eat pure fat with no problems, dogs that are not used to such foods often cannot. When such a dog eats a high-fat meal, its pancreas overproduces enzymes, to the extent that they actually begin to "digest" the pancreas and inflame it. Common culprits are turkey skin and ham fat. Symptoms include vomiting and stomach pain. This is a medical emergency, and such dogs must be treated by a vet. Some breeds, like miniature schnauzers, are genetically predisposed to pancreatitis.