Microchipping: More than just a chip!

Microchipping has become increasingly popular over the years in veterinary medicine because it is such a wonderful tool to help reunite lost pets with their owners.  In recent years, think about all of the major storms we have had and how many pets have been lost to their owners due to dire circumstances.  For the person who has lost everything, finding their pet is one of the greatest gifts indeed.

What is the microchip?  It is a small electronic chip embedded with a number that gets implanted between the shoulder blades of your pet.  At Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod we often implant the chips while they are anesthetized for their spay or neuter procedure; this ensures they do not feel a thing.  Each number is unique and specific to that pet.

But it doesn't stop there, perhaps the  most important part about microchipping your pet is to register with the online database.  This is something the owner must do when they get home.  At our hospital we do a thorough patient discharge with the client for the surgery and we also go over all of the microchip information and the importance of registering your pet online.  This step is crucial because at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod we have the pet's microchip number in our files, but they are not yet in the online database.  The online database is whats going to allow for your pet to have the best chance of being reunited with you should they get lost.  This way anyone who finds your pet can bring him or her to the nearest shelter or clinic where they can be scanned for a microchip.  Then all the clinic workers have to do is search the online database for that pet's microchip number and the owner's information will be readily available.

Registering your pet is incredibly easy.  It can be done online if you have Internet access or over the phone if you do not.  It only takes 5 to 10 minutes and all you have to do is create an account with  your name, address, and the best phone number to reach you.  It is best for the owner to do this at home because they can provide the most accurate information should their pet be lost.

If you have further questions about getting your pet microchipped you can visit the PetLink website at www.petlink.net, or simply give us a call at 508-394-3566 and one of our certified veterinary technicians will be happy to answer any questions!

Patient Spotlight: Grizz Lee

     Grizz Lee  is a 13 year old lab with a condition called laryngeal paralysis.  Laryngeal paralysis is something that is fairly common in older, larger breed dogs.   The larynx is surrounded by separate plates of cartilage that form a box-like shape in the throat.  The stability of the larynx is maintained by laryngeal muscles.  When the nerves of the muscles weaken, the muscles will relax and collapse inward.

     When Grizz Lee breathes in, the larynx does not properly open making it slightly more difficult to breathe.  This condition becomes aggravated when he is excited or stressed.  The more excited/stressed he gets, the more he pants, and the more difficult it becomes for him to breathe.  In rare cases pets with laryngeal paralysis can become so stressed/excited that they will be completely unable to breathe and go into respiratory distress.  This situation in fact happened to Grizz Lee early one morning and his owner had to rush him to CARE where he could be anesthetized and intubated in order for him to breathe.

    Grizz Lee has since recovered from his respiratory crisis and received surgery to correct the laryngeal paralysis called a Laryngeal Tie-Back.  Surgery for this condition involves tying the collapsed cartilage to the side of the larynx to prevent it from obstructing breathing in the future.  Although the surgery often dramatically improves quality of life, as it has for Grizz, it has a few small risks.  Now that the larynx is permanently tied back, the owner must be careful to feed their pet properly so that they do not get food and/or water into their trachea and into the lungs.  This can be done easily with a few minor, but important feeding adjustments.

     Since his surgery Grizz has gone on to be a happy, normal lab.  Although he's not as spry as he used to be, he has a wonderful quality of life and is otherwise healthy.  Not all animals with laryngeal paralysis will require surgery; it is done as a case by case basis and should be fully discussed with your veterinarian.If you have more questions about Grizz Lee's condition we'd be happy to answer them  for you! 

Condition Spotlight: Pancreatitis

What is Pancreatitis?  This is a condition that happens in both cats and dogs that we see fairly often here at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod.  The pancreas is a vital organ located in the right side of the abdomen and  it has two functions:

1. To produce enzymes that assist with digestion of food
2. To produce hormones such as insulin

When the pancreas becomes inflamed it is known as pancreatitis.  The causes of pancreatitis are not known, however, it is believed that eating a rich, fatty meal can be a contributing factor.  In dogs, the administration of corticosteroids is also considered a contributing factor.  Normally digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are activated in the small intestine.  With pancreatitis, the enzymes are activated pre-maturely in the pancreas resulting in the digestion of the pancreas itself.

As you can imagine, this can be a very painful condition.  Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.  Diagnosis is based on three criteria:  clinical signs, laboratory tests, and x-rays and/or ultrasound.   Successful treatment of pancreatitis will depend on early diagnosis and medical therapy.  The pancreas must be able to "turn off" it's activation of digestive enzymes and this can only be done by withholding food and water.  In this case your pet will need to be hospitalized to receive intravenous fluids and other medications to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.  The severity of your pet's case will depend on the length of time necessary for hospitalization.

Prognosis for pancreatitis depends on the extent of the disease, but is generally favorable with medical intervention. 

Pet for Christmas?

   Are you thinking about getting a pet for Christmas?  If so, here's a few things to think about before you bring them home.

   First, you want to prepare your family.   While the idea of surprising your loved ones on Christmas morning sounds wonderful, it doesn't always work out for the best.  It's important to do your research before bringing home a pet.  Will you be getting a dog?  A cat?  A rabbit?  There are many options; each with their own individual needs.  The more prepared you are to meet the needs of your new pet, the easier it will be to handle the responsibility.  Often times it can be more fun that way too!  It's something the entire family can do together and be a part of from the beginning.

   Second, you'll need to consider costs.  What kind of pet can you afford?  If you're planning on getting a puppy or kitten, you need to know that the first year of life can be the most expensive.  Like babies, puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines for their first set of vaccines.  They will need to go to the Veterinarian every 3-4 weeks between 8 weeks and 24 weeks.   They will also need to be de-wormed, have flea and tick treatment applied, and dogs will need heart worm medication as well as heart worm testing.  At six months getting your dog or cat spayed or neutered is strongly recommended.
   Should you choose to adopt a pet from a shelter, most of these things will already be done.  Shelters will often spay and neuter, vaccinate, and de-worm all of their patients.  Remember when you are paying for the adoption fee, you are paying for a lot more than just the pet.

   Finally, you'll need to "pet proof" your home.  Make sure there is nothing that can be easily chewed or swallowed laying on the floor.  Keep breakable objects up high, keep doors closed that you do not want pets going through.  Sometimes getting baby gates to block off certain areas of the house can be really helpful.  

    If you do decide to bring home a brand new puppy or kitten for Christmas, it can still be a wonderful and rewarding experience!  Just make sure you do your research, you prepare the family and the household, and you know you've budgeted accordingly.  If you have questions about adoption, or purchasing a furry family member, one of our trained staff would be happy to help!  At Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod we want every pet and owner to have an excellent experience together and we will do whatever we can to help make that happen.  From all of us at VACC, Happy Holidays to you, your family, and your pet!

Travel Tips for your Pet

     You know you're not alone if you're traveling this holiday season; but you're also not alone when it comes to the question of what to do with your pet.  This is a dilemma for many people and often a stressful one.  Here are a few ideas that will help make things a little easier this holiday season; at least when it comes to your pet.

Boarding Kennel
      One option is to board your dog or cat in a kennel.  But how do you pick the right kennel for your pet? It can get expensive depending on how many pets you have and whether or not your pet has any medical conditions.  Some veterinary hospitals do medical boarding and/or kennel boarding.  It's a good idea to first check with your veterinarian to see if they offer boarding.   At Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod we are currently doing limited boarding, but when our remodel is complete we are going to have a beautiful, state of the art boarding facility!  If your pet has any medical concerns, boarding at a veterinarian is an ideal choice because you know there are trained professionals available to care for your pet.
     Tours of our facility are available upon request, and any boarding business should offer tours of their facility so you can see for yourself where your pet will be staying.

Pet Sitting
           This is a popular option for a lot of people.  There are generally two types of pet sitting; having a pet sitter come to your house, or leaving your pet at a pet sitter's house.  The beauty of pet sitters is that you can go away knowing your pet is comfortable either in their own home or at the home of someone you trust.  There are a lot of pet sitter's out there and it can be difficult to find the right one.   If you don't already have a reputable pet sitter (or know of one) I recommend checking out www.DogVacay.com.  Here you can look up pet sitters in your area, read reviews, and view pricing details.  It's a very user friendly site with a lot of good information and worth looking into.

Just Bring Them!
     Finally, some people opt to say "forget all this pet sitting stuff, I'm bringing my pet with me!"  This is an increasingly popular idea for travelers.  For one thing, you don't have to pay the extra money to board your pet or have the pet sitter come look in on them.  For another, you get to spend your vacation with your furry family member!  If you decide to bring your pet with you on vacation, there is a wonderful website www.petswelcome.com where you can find pet friendly vacation rentals; or if you are driving you can even do a route search for pet friendly places all along your way!  You can also check out www.officialpethotels.com as well if you want to compare more locations and pricing options. 

Most Important
     No matter which option you go with, it is most important to make sure you are prepared for a pet emergency.  If you are traveling with your pet, look up a local veterinarian where you will be staying ahead of time.  If you are boarding, or having a pet sitter care for your pet, make sure to leave appropriate emergency contact information.  It is crucial that your veterinarian be able to contact you in the event of an emergency.  If you can not be reached where you are going, leave the name and number of someone you trust to make important decisions for you regarding your pet.

There is a lot to do this holiday season; we hope this helps make things a little easier!  And we hope you have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!

Giving Thanks to Pet Heroes

     There are many reasons to be thankful for your pet.   Like never having to pick up dropped food for example, or always knowing when someone is at the door.  But there are some pets out there who give their owners a little more to be thankful for every year.  They are hero pets!  And here are the stories of just a few of them.

     Koshka was a kitten rescued by a soldier in Afghanistan.  The soldier discovered him injured while out on patrol, snuck him back to base camp, and nursed him back to health.  Over the duration of the soldier's deployment he became very depressed; his marriage was falling apart at home and the stress of war was getting to him.  He contemplated suicide more than once, but says that Koshka never left his side.  He was a constant companion and at times refused to leave the soldier alone.  The soldier credits Koshka with getting him through those dark days and ultimately saving his life.  He has since adopted Koshka back to the U.S. and the cat now resides with his parents in Oregon.

     A gunman in Florida opened fire, killing a teenage girl and wounding a 27 year old man.  A stray dog, since named "Princess Coco Wing" leaped from the bushes and attacked the gunman, stopping him from killing anymore people.  The dog took two bullets through both of her hind legs.  She was found in the bushes by a responding officer and brought to a local veterinary hospital.  Veterinarians spent five hours in surgery with Princess Coco and she ultimately survived.  After her story hit the news she had numerous calls of families who wanted to adopt this hero dog.  

     Jade is a 9 year-old German Shepherd from Britain who was out on a walk one day in the park with her owner.  Jade suddenly ran away from her owner and refused to return to him.  He found her sitting next to a strange bag resembling a cat carrier.  At first the  man thought there were kittens in the bag, but he soon realized it was an abandoned human newborn!  He called the authorities and the infant was rushed to the hospital and recovered completely fine.  They did not find the parents, but credit Jade with finding and saving that little baby's life.  

     There are so many stories out there of hero pets and heartwarming stories of how powerful the human-animal bond can be.  I hope these three bring a smile to your face and put a little warmth in  your heart this Thanksgiving.

  From all of us to you, we'd like to wish you a very happy, and healthy Holiday Season.

    

Project Samana

The human animal bond is something that all of us at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod value deeply.  Some of us find our pets, either through a breeder, or rescue them from a shelter.  But for some people it's the opposite; their pets find them.  This is the case for many pets in the Dominican Republic.  Street strays are everywhere and often they find themselves wandering into someones home.  They get food and attention and a bond develops.  The rest is history.

So how do people who struggle to feed themselves care for a pet?  Somehow they still manage to provide what little they can because the once street stray is now a member of their family; one they can't picture their lives without.   Project Samana offers those people the opportunity to provide very basic care for their adopted pets; while at the same time helping to prevent more orphaned dogs from roaming the streets. 

Every year in June and November, a team of veterinary professionals head to Samana in the Dominican Republic for a spay and neuter clinic.  We say spay and neuter, and mostly, that's what we do, but really we'll see anything that walks through the door. 

Being a part of Project Samana is an incredibly rewarding experience.  You will work incredibly hard, but you won't want to leave.  There is something so hopeful about the Dominican People.  They come together every evening to eat, listen to music, and spend time with each other.  They are slowly building their country to a better place, and they take great pride in themselves and their fellow Dominican's accomplishments.  (Wearing a Red Sox hat there will definitely earn you a hello and a friendly smile). 

This November we treated 198 patients, and we will be headed back there in June 2014 hoping to do many more.  Some of us may even be found by our own new four-legged family member.