Is your Pet in Pain?

There are many causes of pain in pets: injury, arthritis, surgery, and disease can all make your pet uncomfortable. Thankfully, these days veterinarians know more about recognizing and managing pain than ever before. 

 If your pet is not interested in going through her normal daily routine, it could be a sign that she is painful. 

 You know your pet better than anyone else, so if you suspect she is in pain, you are probably right.  Although you are the best person to determine that your pet is painful, your veterinarian is the best person to pinpoint the exact cause and to decide the best treatment. Do not give your pet any medications without first consulting with your veterinarian. Human medications like naproxen, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen are toxic to pets, and veterinary medications can also be toxic if the wrong dose is given.

The following are some common signs of pain in cats and dogs:

      Pain in Cats

• Decrease in appetite
• Decreased or no grooming behavior
• Shallow and rapid respiration
• Eliminating outside the litter box
• Hiding for long periods

      Pain in Dogs

• Decrease in appetite
• Lethargy 
• Panting excessively while at rest
• Eliminating inside the house
• Licking a specific area excessively 

If you suspect your pet is in pain, see your local veterinarian or contact us here at VACC (508) 394 3566.

Hops is Toxic to Pets

Home brewed beer is becoming more common.  Unfortunately, this means that incidents of hops toxicity in pets are also on the rise.  Dogs are more likely to eat hops than cats, but it is toxic to both species.  Hops is toxic in all of its forms, including fresh or dried cones, and pellets, but dogs seem to be more likely to eat it after it has been used in the brewing process.  If you or a neighbor grow or brew hops, make sure to keep your dog away from live plants or brewing waste.

Symptoms of hops poisoning include the following:

• Elevated body temperature
• Rapid breathing, or panting
• Racing heart rate
• Anxiety
• Vomiting

If you suspect your pet has eaten hops, bring them to VACC or your local veterinarian right away. Be sure to have the number for the Pet Poison Helpline (800.213.6680) in case your pet ingests anything toxic.

Adopt a Shelter Dog!

Some people are reluctant to adopt a dog from a shelter due to the perception that many dogs are left there because of behavioral problems. According to a survey published in the winter 2013 issue of Tufts Veterinary Medicine magazine, this just isn't true. Over 800 animal shelters were surveyed by PetHealth, Inc.  Following are the top reasons people give for leaving their dog at a shelter:

• The owner died, or has health issues that prevent them from caring for the dog
• A family member was allergic
• The dog had puppies that the family can't keep
• The owner brought the dog to the shelter for euthanasia
• The owner could no longer afford to take care of the dog
• The family moved, or changed home insurance and was no longer allowed to keep the dog
• The dog was a stray
• The owner simply did not want the dog anymore
• There were too many pets in the family

If you are thinking of bringing a dog into your family, consider giving a shelter dog a second chance. Millions of dogs are euthanized every year because there are just too many for the shelters to handle. If you adopt a dog from a shelter, you are literally saving its life.

Dangers of Smoking Near Your Pets

Common sense would tell us that secondhand smoke is dangerous to pets, and now there are several scientific studies that support this idea. Smoking around your pets also creates the possibility that they may ingest the tobacco product, which is highly toxic.

Many dogs have allergies to tobacco smoke, and secondhand smoke can cause asthma in cats.

Cats who live with smokers are more likely to develop oral cancer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma. Smoke gets trapped in your cat's fur and when he grooms himself, the cells in his mouth are exposed to the carcinogens in the smoke. Cats who live with smokers are also more likely to develop malignant lymphoma. Oral squamous cell carcinoma and malignant lymphoma both have a poor prognosis, and most cats do not survive the first year.

Dogs who live with smokers are also in danger. There is a greater risk for them to develop cancer in their nasal passages. Dogs with short noses, like pugs and bulldogs, are more likely to contract lung cancer.
Pet birds are particularly sensitive to any pollutants in the air, and those who live with smokers have a higher incidence of lung cancer and pneumonia. Birds living with smokers can also develop problems of the skin, eyes, and heart.
If you are a smoker, the best thing you can do to protect the health of your pet, your family, and yourself, is to stop smoking. If that is not an option for you, try to restrict your smoking to one pet-free room, or outside. Be sure to keep all tobacco products out of your pet's reach, and throw your butts in the trash so they can't be eaten.

Meet Yaz, Latest Member of the Hero Pet Club!

Our friend Yaz was having chronic skin infections on his abdomen. Even though his skin was obviously very uncomfortable, Yaz never let that stop his tail from wagging! Antibiotics didn't help, and the doctors here at VACC diagnosed him with an immune mediated disorder. Now Yaz is on medication that is helping to clear up his skin infections. As you can see in the pictures below, Yaz's skin is continuing to improve.

Winter Foot Care

Winter can be rough on your dog's feet. Here are some easy things you can do to protect them.

• Booties! The best way to protect your dog's feet from snow, ice, and road salt is to put boots on their feet. Introduce your dog to the boots gradually, and make wearing them a positive experience. Many dogs will learn to tolerate boots once they go outside and realize that their feet feel better.

• Foot wax. Some dogs will absolutely not tolerate boots. If you apply a small amount of vegetable oil, or a commercially available foot wax before your winter walks, your pet's feet will be protected from the elements. Be sure to use a product that is food grade- your dog will be likely to lick it off and ingest some.
• Trim that toe hair. Dogs with lots of fur between their toes can develop balls of snow and ice that can be painful to walk on. Simply trimming the hair between the toes can prevent this. Trimming your dog's foot hair can also reduce the amount of salt your dog picks up when walking outside.

• Wipe your feet! When coming in from a winter walk, clean your dogs feet with some warm water and then wipe with a dry towel. This will remove any salt residue and prevent your dog from ingesting it. You should also be sure to wipe the snow off your own boots. Many dogs love to eat the clumps of snow that fall off of your shoes when you come inside in the winter. This can be a problem if there is salt on your shoes.
• Moisturize! There are many dog paw moisturizers available. Try to avoid using moisturizers for humans, as these usually aren't made with edible ingredients. Moisturizing your dog's paws in the winter can help prevent painful cracking of the pads.

Pet Dental Health Month

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, but Dr. Burns says, "At VACC, every month is dental health month!"
Why not celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month by training your pet to allow you to brush his teeth?
Brushing your pet's teeth will be most beneficial if they do not already have a lot of plaque built up. If your pet will let you, look in his mouth. If the gums look red or inflamed, or if the teeth are discolored, make an appointment with your veterinarian to determine if dental disease is present. Brushing alone will not remove plaque that has already built up, but it will slow additional build up.

Plaque can be removed with an ultrasonic scaler while your pet is under anesthesia.

How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth
Start by getting your pet comfortable with having his mouth touched. If you have never done this before, GO SLOW! You want this to be a positive experience for everyone involved, and if your pet bites you it defeats the purpose. Massage around your pet's muzzle and gently lift his lips while you talk to him in a soothing voice. Give him some treats when you are done. You may have to do this every day for a few days.
Once your pet has learned that having his mouth touched is a good thing, you can start rubbing his teeth and gums with a piece of gauze or a small cloth.

Use the same reassuring voice, and reward with some treats at the end of each session. The next step is to add some toothpaste. Be sure it is a toothpaste formulated for pets- unlike human toothpaste, pet toothpaste is safe to swallow. It is perfectly fine to continue using the gauze or cloth to clean your pet's teeth, but once they are used to it, you can change to a toothbrush.
Ideally, you should brush your pet's teeth once a day, but once or twice a week is better than not at all.