Check back here frequently as we strive to keep you updated on important news about your pets.
Case of the Month - Foreign Body
See what happens if your cat swallows something as seemingly harmless as a piece of string.
Case of the Month - Gunshot Wound
What does a gunshot wound look like, and how is it treated?
10% Discount on Heartworm/Tick panel
In April, 2010, get 10% off the in-clinic test for Heartworm, Lyme, and 2 other tick-borne diseases for dogs. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment. Read more here.
ASK THE VET on FACEBOOK!
RRVC is now on Facebook. Follow the attached link to our Facebook page.
Canine Influenza vaccine - now available!
Learn more here about Canine Influenza Virus(CIV) and the new vaccine.
H1N1 confirmed in a cat
For the first time, H1N1 virus has been confirmed in a cat.
Holiday hours
River Road Veterinary Clinic will be closed for regular appointments during the following days and times of the upcoming holiday season.
Hunting Season safety for your pets
Read here for tips on keeping your pet safe, and links to hunting season dates in VT and NH.
Kittens available for adoption
We have 2 adorable kittens available for adoption. Read more about them here!
Let the Dr. do the driving!
We offer house calls! Small animal medical care is now available in the comfort of your own home. Read more about what services are offered.
Puppy First Grade
Erin Donahue will be offering puppy first grade for puppies between 4 and 12 months of age, who have already had a puppy socialization class. Click on the link for more information
Rabies Clinics
Bring your cats and dogs to the RRVC Rabies Clinic on Saturday, March 13th from noon to 3pm.
Pet Products Recalls
Several pet food products that contain peanut products have been recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.
Health alert! Rabies update
Your pets and animals should be vaccinated annually against Rabies. So far in 2009, 45 animals have tested positive for rabies in 36 towns in Vermont.
Dental health for pets
As dogs and cats are living much longer, good dental care is becoming essential. At River Road Veterinary Clinic we offer a complete dental scale and polish, and tooth removal as necessary, under anesthesia. You can also prevent or slow some dental problems by brushing your pets teeth and/or using a special dental diet dry food. A dental examination will be a part of your annual visit to the veterinarian.
Is your pet overweight?
Excess weight on pets can contribute to health problems such as early onset of joint pain and diabetes. It can shorten the life span and comfort level of your pet. Read here for more information and ways you can help your overweight pet.
Red Maple poison alert!
All red maples are believed to be toxic to horses and ponies. Read more here.
Fleas and Your Pet
How do fleas affect your pet, what are the warning signs, and how do you do treat? The following information will help to notice the signs and what to do if your pet has fleas.
Fleas, Ticks and Lyme Disease
Learn more about fleas and ticks, warning signs and how to treat.
Heartworm Preventive Product Comparison Chart
There are multiple products that help prevent heartworm within your pet. They can also control other parasites.
Anal glands
Dogs and cats have anal glands which often require medical attention. Read here for more information about what they are and how to care for them.
Boarding
River Road Veterinary clinic is not a licensed boarding facility. We are able to board animals only with these special medical needs: a kitten or puppy less than six months of age; geriatric animals; animals with a serious illness such as diabetes, seizures, kidney failure, etc.; or any animal that receives regular medications.
Chocolate
Many pet owners have heard that chocolate is toxic to their dogs, and the holidays are a time to be particularly careful about keeping chocolate away from dogs. A wrapped package is not likely to stop a dog who smells the chocolates inside. However, the severity of the effect of the chocolate is dependent upon factors such as the kind and quantity of chocolates and the size of the dog. Click on the link above for more information about chocolate toxicity and your dog.
Client Education - Zoonosis
Zoonosis, also called zoonotic disease refers to diseases that can be passed from animals, whether wild or domesticated, to humans.
Common household toxins
This section of our site has been established to share some important information on common household toxins.
Easter Bunnies
Around this time every year many bunnies are purchased for Easter with little thought or preparation for their care and well-being. Before bringing home a bunny it is wise to do a little research into what owning a bunny really involves. Bunnies should not be given to children under 8yrs old as they will not be able to properly handle and care for them. Here are a few things you should know...
Euthanasia and Cremation Options
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we are unable to provide a suitable level of comfort for our companions. At these times we find it necessary to make the difficult choice of euthanasia. It may be a fast decision, like an animal irreparably injured by a car accident, or it may be a long time in preparation, like an animal with terminal cancer. Euthanasia is always an option in the clinic during appointment hours or emergency hours. Our veterinarians are also happy to make house calls for planned euthanasia in the privacy and comfort of your home or farm.
Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats
This is a serious illness that can occur in cats that have stopped eating.
Internal Parasites - Testing and Treating
Cats and dogs are subject to a variety of internal parasites. They can be identified in a fecal sample and treated with oral medications. Click on the above link to read about the most common internal parasites of companion animals.
Porcupine Quills
If your animal comes home with a lot of quills, it requires immediate veterinary care - even if it is during emergency on-call times. Please do not cut off the quills yourself. Cutting the porcupine quills is not effective because the rest of the quills would be left in your pet. Click here to read more.
Skunk Spray
Spraying is a skunk's only line of defense when threatened. If your dog or cat has been sprayed by a skunk, it can be very uncomfortable for you and your household, but it is not a medical problem for your pet. This is not a cause for an emergency call to a veterinarian. Click here for advice on dealing with your stinky pet.
Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2008
Please call the poison center at 800-222-1222 or the clinic at 802-649-3877 immediately after discovering that your pet has ingested a possible toxin. Read here about the top 10 poisons of 2008 for pets - some of them may surprise you!
Wildlife - Rehabilitators
Wild animals, even babies, are best left alone by humans. If you find a hurt or injured animal, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Follow this link for a list of rehabilitators in NH and VT
When a cat swallows something it's not supposed to, it's rarely a minor problem. Cats can be very playful; it's one of the reasons we love them as pets. But when a cat goes too far with the string it's playing with and swallows it, serious trouble can arise. Cats can rarely pass a large coil of string (and whatever it may be attached to) on their own. String can coil in the intestines and stomach, obstructing normal digestive flow and causing the cat pain, nausea, weight loss, fever, and eventually death.
What the conscientious cat owner needs to be aware of are the warning signs that a cat will exhibit when it's eaten something it's not supposed to. These signs include lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If you suspect that your cat may have swallowed something, call your veterinarian right away.
As you can see below, cats will eat the strangest things.
Charlie is a sweet, orange cat who was found by the owners after they came back from a short vacation. They found Charlie lying around the house, not eating, and acting very unlike his usual friendly self. He had also been vomiting. Worried, they called Dr. Pinello, who then took a radiograph of Charlie. This is what it showed:
Apparently, Charlie had decided to do a little fishing while his folks were gone and got a little carried away. How the fishhook had made it all the way into his stomach before becoming lodged there was a mystery. The only way to remove it was through surgery. The surgery was successful and Charlie recovered fully.
Charlie pictured with family.
Fortunately, surgery isn't always required to rid your cat of a foreign body. If the object was swallowed recently, often the best course is to make you cat vomit, before the item has had time to enter the intestines. That is exactly what happed to this orange cat after his owners caught him swallowing a long green ribbon. Though they were able to pull around six inches of green ribbon out of the cats' mouth, they had no real idea of how long the ribbon was before it was chewed in two. Since little time had elapsed, they called Dr. Pinello and brought the cat to the clinic. After trying for almost two hours to get the cat to vomit, he finally threw up a long (around ten inches) piece of wide, green ribbon. Given the size of the ribbon, it was almost a certainty that the cat would have needed surgery to remove it, had the owners waited until the cat was symptomatic.
This pitbull was found by its owner late one night after it had escaped the property. The dog had been shot, but had made it back safely home. The wound looked grievous; though it appeared to have gone straight through, it was very close to the spine. The dog did walk into the clinic on its own, which was a good sign that the spinal cord had not been seriously damaged.
Radiographs were taken to verify that the bullet had indeed gone all of the way through and that the spine was intact. They showed that the bullet had clipped the very top of the spine and shattered. Some of the fragments had gone straight out the opposite side of the dog, while others had lodged near the dogs' shoulder. None of the fragments were located near any vital organs, so rather than subject the dog to the long surgery that would be necessary to remove them, they were left in place.
The hair around the wound was clipped short, and the wound was then flushed and cleaned. Rather than suture it closed, the veterinarian chose to tie a loose bandage around it. This allows bacteria to drain out of the wound rather than fester within. The dog was then sent home on antibiotics and pain medication.
Springtime is here and so are the ticks that spread Lyme disease. River Road Veterinary Clinic is offering a 10% discount on a Heartworm/Tick Panel for your dog during the month of April. This panel requires a small blood sample that we will draw from your dog.
Lyme disease is caused by the bite of an infected tick. Lyme disease is regarded as the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. The disease is spread primarily during tick season (May through August) but ticks can be active any time the temperature is above 32 degrees F.
This disease in dogs is most commonly characterized by the sudden onset of lameness. One or more joints may become swollen and painful to the touch. The lameness may last only a few days, but in some cases it becomes chronic and persists or recurs for months. Some dogs may run a fever and experience weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite and weight loss. Kidney problems or acute cardiac syndrome can be fatal.
In the past year we have had 100 dogs that tested positive for Lyme disease with one fatality. River Road Veterinary Clinic recommends testing your dog(s) with a Heartworm/Tick Panel then taking preventative measures by having your dog(s) have a Lyme vaccination and using a monthly preventative such as Frontline to decrease tick infection to your dog.
Call us with any questions or concerns, or to make an appointment, or go to your new Pet Portal and long on today to discover the benefits of managing your pets healthcare online with a private, personalized, secure-and free website of your own.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Sincerely,
The Doctors and Staff at River Road Veterinary Clinic
Follow this link to see our new Facebook page where Dr. Walls (formerly Veitch) will answer your questions, and you can learn lots of new information about your pets!
November 4, 2009
A 13-year old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill. Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29 and the results were confirmed on November 2. This is the first report of a cat infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The cat is recovering from its illness. To date, there is no evidence that the cat passed the virus to any people. Read more about this at: Cat gets H1N1
The following information is excerpted from the American Veterinary Medical Association website, "Frequently Asked Questions About 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus" (updated October 21, 2009)
Q:What is swine flu?
A:Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. The "classical" swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. Swine flu viruses cause illness in pigs, but the death rates are low. This new virus, although it is being called "swine flu," is not the same virus.
Q:How does this virus differ from bird flu?
A:The 2009 H1N1 flu virus is an entirely different virus than the bird flu (H5N1) you've been hearing about in the news. Among these differences is that humans infected with bird flu were infected by direct contact with sick birds, and this new virus is not spread by contact with animals. In addition, the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus that causes the bird flu in the news has not been reported in North America.
Q: Can I catch H1N1 from pigs?
A: Although this new influenza is being called "swine flu," it is being spread mainly from person to person. None of the U.S. cases had contact with pigs.
There have been two confirmed cases of swine-to-human transmission of the 2009 H1N1 virus. Two Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspectors became ill with the 2009 H1N1 virus while investigating an outbreak of the virus on a swine farm in Alberta in late April 2009.
Q: Can this flu infect birds? Can I get it from birds?
A:Yes, it apparently can infect birds. In August 2009, authorities in Chile reported 2009 H1N1 influenza in two turkey farms near Valparaiso. In October 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed 2009 H1N1 in a turkey flock in Ontario, Canada. It is not yet known if infected birds can pass the 2009 H1N1 virus to humans.
Q:Can my pet get the 2009 H1N1 virus?
A:To date, there is no evidence that cats or dogs are susceptible to this new strain of influenza; it appears to be transmitted only from person to person or from human to swine. On October 9, 2009, a USDA laboratory confirmed 2009/H1N1 infection in a ferret. The ferret's owner had previously been ill. At this time, there are no reports of 2009/H1N1 flu being transmitted from a ferret to a person.
The best advice is to always follow common sense guidelines when dealing with animals (eg, washing your hands). In addition, it's more important than ever that pet owners keep a good eye on their pet's health and consult a veterinarian if their pet is showing any signs of illness. Keeping your pets healthy reduces their risk of becoming ill.
Q:Can my pot-bellied pig get the 2009 H1N1 virus and give it to me?
A:To date, the 2009 H1N1 virus has not been reported in pot-bellied pigs. However, the possibility of human-to-pig transmission of the virus warrants extra caution by pig owners. After all, pot-bellied pigs are considered swine, and therefore may be susceptible to the virus. For the time being, a cautious approach would include all contact between your pig and anyone who is ill or has recently been exposed to an ill person. Remember that pot-bellied pigs can become ill from a number of causes, and keeping your pig healthy and free of disease helps protect your pig as well as you. If you have a pet pig and it appears ill, consult a veterinarian immediately.
Q:What if my pet needs an antiviral drug? Will my veterinarian be able to get the drugs?
A:This new H1N1 virus is spreading mainly by human-to-human contact. Keep in mind that pandemic planning, by necessity, must place a priority on treating infection in people"for that reason, antiviral medication supplies will be closely guarded and there may be strict guidelines in place that will determine how they are dispensed. Availability of antivirals may be low for non-pandemic response use. We encourage veterinarians to use their clinical judgment and weigh these factors when considering the necessity of an antiviral drug for a client's pet. The use of antiviral medications in food animals is strictly regulated"and is prohibited in some species"and food supply veterinarians are already aware of these regulations.
Q:I show pigs, and I'm worried about the H1N1 influenza virus. Should I stop showing my pigs?
A:The choice is really up to you. You don't have to stop showing, but you should take proper precautions to protect your pigs. The National Pork Board has released some guidelines for managing risk at swine exhibitions, and these are recommended reading for you.
These two sites have excellent information about the Canine Influenza Virus:
http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_Bgnd.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
Please call the office for more information or to make an appointment.
Thanksgiving
closed, Thursday, Nov 26th
Christmas
closed at noon, Thursday, Dec 24th
closed all day, Friday, Dec 25th
New Years
closed at noon, Thursday, Dec 31st
closed all day, Friday, Jan 1st
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR!
River Road Veterinary Clinic offers emergency veterinary care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 802-649-3877 to have one of our veterinarians paged.
Fall is an especially beautiful time to be outside in Vermont and New Hampshire. Your dogs will be grateful for the opportunity to go on a long hike; or take your horses into the country for a ride.
But fall is also hunting season, which means extra precautions are needed to ensure your pet's safety. First, check the 2009-2010 schedule to find the dates for hunting in your state:
Vermont
New Hampshire
For your dogs:
Go to your local feed store or pet store for blaze-orange coverage for your dog in many available items: bandanas, vests, leashes, etc. An inexpesnive alternative is to fit a blaze orange t-shirt on your dog. Be sure it fits snugly and the dog is not tripping on it. Do not use white bandanas or any other white items on your dog, because the white is easily mistaken for the tail of a deer. Keep your dog on a leash while walking or hiking.
For your horses:
Keep your horses as close to your house and stables as possible. When riding, avoid know hunting areas, ride in open fields, and avoid riding during peak hunting times, such as early morning. If you do come across a hunter, inform them of your planned route. It is best to ride with a buddy. Wear a hunter orange vest and a brightly colored helmet cover. You should also get a brightly colored rump sheet for your horse.
Is it difficult for you or your pets to make the trip into the clinic? This may be the perfect solution for your geriatric dog or terrified cat. It can also simplify the lives of multi-pet owners - get everyone's vaccinations done without loading the car!
Dr. Berger will treat small animals with the following medical procedures in your own home: exam, vaccinations, minor surgery and euthanasias. He can also take urine, fecal, and blood samples back to our labs for analysis.
Call us to find available times and set up an appointment.
There is an adoption fee of $50 per kitten.
Please note that it is the policy of this clinic that adopted cats be kept as indoor-only cats, and not be declawed. We also require a 24-hour "think about it" period from visiting to adoption.
When: Mondays, 6:30-7:30pm, starting January 12, 2009
Where: Rest N Nest Campground (off I-91 and 113, near the Thetford park-n-ride lot)
Cost: $15/class on a drop-in basis
RSVP: Please let Erin know if you will be attending (h) 802.785.4021 (cell) 802.779.
Rabies clinic - March 13, 2010
River Road Veterinary Clinic will be hosting our annual rabies clinic on Saturday, March 13th, from noon to 3pm. (The clinic will be open for regular appointments 8am-noon)
Animals will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Our full staff is here that day to serve you, but there are occasionally busy times when lines form. Feel free to call ahead and let us know if you will be coming and with how many pets; this is especially helpful if you are a new client so we can get your information ahead of time.
In addition to rabies, your pet can receive any vaccinations that it is due for, but we will not be available to trim nails, do heartworm or other blood tests, or give lengthy exams. If your pet is ill, please call to schedule an appointment during normal business hours.
Vaccine prices during the clinic:
Rabies $12
Distemper $12
Lyme $18
Leukemia $18
The Norwich town clerk will be here to register pets that live in Norwich.
Please call for more information: 802.649.3877
Salmonella scare causes recall
P&G Recalls Two Lots of Prescription Renal Diet Cat Food due to a Possible Health Risk: important information for pet owners- please follow this link to find out more:http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm220204.htm
PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.
Click here to search a current list(Feb 20, 2009) of the pet food product recalls from the United States Food and Drug Administration.
You can also read about it on theAmerican Veterinary Medical Associationwebsite, as well as find other links there.
MEDICAL NOTE:
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian
ANIMALS TESTING POSITIVE FOR RABIES
SO FAR IN 2009 IN VERMONT
(According to the Vermont Department of Health,
Agency of Human Services)
1. Gray Fox in Putney
2. Raccoon in Ferrisburgh
3. Raccoon in Townshend
4/5. Cows in Charlotte
6. Raccoon in Ferrisburgh
7. Raccoon in Grand Isle
8. Raccoon in Bennington
9. Raccoon in Charlotte
10. Big Brown Bat in Middlebury
11. Raccoon in Hartford
12. Calf in Westmore
13. Raccoon in Stowe
14. Raccoon in Dover
15. Raccoon in Baltimore
16. Raccoon in Cornwall
17. Cow in Addison
18. Calf in Greensboro
19. Raccoon in Dorset
20. Raccoon in Greensboro
21. Skunk in Elmore
22. Raccoon in Franklin
23. Raccoon in Ferrisburgh
24. Cow in Hyde Park
25. Skunk in Milton
26. Raccoon in Royalton
27. Skunk in Charlotte
28. Raccoon in Manchester
29. Raccoon in Stamford
30. Raccoon in Dummerston
31. Skunk in Rockingham
32. Skunk in Royalton
33. Skunk in Fairfax
34. Raccoon in South Hero
35. Big Brown Bat in Newfane
36. Raccoon in Bridport
37. Raccoon in Ferrisburgh
38. Raccoon in South Hero
39. Skunk in Craftsbury
40. Raccoon in Woodstock
41. Raccoon in Northfield
42. Raccoon in Brattleboro
43. Skunk in Pawlet
44. Skunk in Brattleboro
45. Skunk in Williston
46. Skunk in Sheffield
Please make sure your animals are vaccinated.
Article written by: M.J. Lommer and F.J.M Verstraete
Periodontal disease (problems in the area around the teeth) is one of the most common health problems in companion animals. It is estimated that 80 per cent of dogs and 70 per cent of cats older than 3 years of age suffer from some level of periodontal disease. Just as in human mouths, the process begins with plaque, which is made of salivary proteins and bacteria. The bacteria irritate the gum, causing an inflammatory reaction, which is known as gingivitis. If the plaque is removed by tooth brushing, the gingivitis resolves and the gums return to normal. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar or calculus. The calculus provides a rough surface for even more tartar to accumulate. Bad breath may be noted. Inflammation continues in the gums and can also affect any bone in the area, resulting in destruction of the bone around the tooth roots. Eventually, the teeth become loose and may fall out.
In addition to tooth loss, periodontal disease had other, more serious, consequences. The millions of bacteria present in an unhealthy mouth can spread to other parts of the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver causing disease in these vital organs. In small breed dogs with tiny jawbones, the bone destruction caused by periodontal disease can weaken the jawbone enough to cause a fracture.
The good news is that periodontal disease is completely preventable! Removing the plaque reverses the inflammatory process in the gingival and restores the gums to health. As we know from our own experience, plaque removal is best achieved by brushing the teeth. Dog and cat teeth are not as close together as ours are, so flossing is not necessary. However, to be effective, brushing must be done every day. A soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head is the best tool for removing plaque from your dogs or cats teeth. Special pet toothpaste is available in flavors such as malt, poultry, and seafood to help your pet enjoy the experience. Human toothpaste should not be used, because pets do not like the mint flavor and because the foaming agents in human toothpaste can cause stomach upset if pets swallow the toothpaste. Because dogs and cats rarely get caries (cavities), fluoride is not necessary. Feeding special diets such as Hills T/D and encouraging chewing activity with toys such as the Dental Kong also help reduce plaque accumulation.
Daily tooth brushing, special diets, and chewing activity help prevent plaque from hardening into calculus. Once calculus is present, however, a professional cleaning is required. Although the bone destruction caused by periodontal disease can not be reversed, the inflammatory process can be stopped or slowed with proper treatment. Routine periodontal treatment involves sonic or ultrasonic scaling above and below the gum line. Because your veterinarian can not simply tell your pet to hold still, these procedures require that your pet be placed under anesthesia. Anesthesia always has inherent risks. However, your veterinarian is experienced and the risk related to anesthesia is minimal. To further minimize this risk to your pet, your veterinarian may recommend blood and other tests prior to sedation. These are done before anesthesia to reveal any problems that may not be obvious from a physical examination. Dental x-rays are important to determine the amount of bone destruction present. Teeth with significant bone loss may benefit from periodontal surgery. Extraction is usually recommended for teeth with little bone support remaining.
In addition to periodontal disease, cats can develop resorptive lesions, which can lead to pain and difficulty eating. These lesions are sometimes called cavities, but they do not result from bacteria and sugars as peoples cavities do. Cells such as the one responsible for removing deciduous (baby) tooth roots become activated and start to attack permanent teeth. The result is destruction of large amounts of the tooth and exposure of the nerve, or pulp, inside the tooth. Pain may be evident in behavior such as pawing at the face, dropping food, drooling, or reluctance to eat. These areas of destruction can be seen on careful examination of the teeth. Resorptive lesions cannot be filled like human cavities, as the cells continue to work under the filling to destroy the remaining tooth. The current recommendation for affected teeth is extraction. At this time, because we do not know why the cells become activated, there is no known way to prevent resorptive lesions. Regular examinations by your veterinarian will help to detect these lesions early, before they cause significant pain to your pet.
By brushing your pets teeth every day and scheduling regular examinations with your veterinarian, you can provide your companion with a lifetime of fresh breath, clean teeth, healthy gums, and strong jawbones. In addition, you will be helping to keep your pet pain free and in overall good health.
Our pets are often suffering the effects of our own sedentary lifestyles. Increased caloric intake and decreased exercise has the same result in our pets as in ourselves: weight gain!
Excess weight in pets is a serious medical concern that can lead to:
arthritis and chronic pain
respiratory problems
diabetes
heart disease
liver disease
reduced insulin sensitivity
chronic inflammatory state
reduced life span
decreased quality of life.
Whether your pet is on a gradual upward trend, or already obese, we can help! Talk to your veterinarian about a weight-loss plan that works for your pet. Your veterinarian can help you with strategies, special food, even medicine if nothing else is working - that can help you to get your pet down to a healthier weight, in a gradual healthy way.
Also, you can come in anytime for a Free weigh-in!
Food and Love
For many of us, food is a means of communicating with our loved ones. We cook for friends and family; we console ourselves by eating when we are lonely or depressed.
Be careful if this is your tendency with your pet, and look for other ways to express your love and enjoy your relationship:
Take your dog for a long walk
Give your cat some catnip
Rub your dog's belly
Buy an interactive wand toy and play with your cat
Get a harness for your bunny or ferret and go outside
Take your dog for a car ride
Let your cat help with the Christmas ribbons
Gently brush your dog
Take a long nap with your beloved companion
Special information for cat owners:
Weight Management in Cats
Obesity, or the state of being seriously heavy, is a common condition in cats today. Cats lifestyles have changed dramatically since they became domesticated. In the wild, cats spent the majority of their time hunting for food and very little time eating. Now, most cats are not required to hunt for their food, and spend more time eating than exercising. The decrease in exercise along with over-consumption of food is the leading causes of feline obesity. Some cats are predisposed to obesity because of their personality, breed, or disease state.
Obese cats show specific physical characteristics that differ from the normal feline shape. A cat with an ideal weight will be well proportioned. His waist will be distinguishable from his ribs. His ribs should be noticeable, and have a small amount of fat covering them. As a cat becomes heavy, the ribs are less noticeable, and the fat covering the ribs increases. It becomes more difficult to be able to tell the waist apart from the ribs, and the belly takes on a round shape. When a cat becomes obese, her ribs are no longer noticeable, and the fat covering her ribs becomes thick. She becomes heavy over her entire body and her waist is no longer distinguishable. Her belly is very round.
Obese cats are more likely than slimmer cats to develop health problems. Overweight cats are prone to developing type II diabetes. Cats with type II diabetes usually requires a twice a day treatment with insulin injections. Obese cats are also more likely to have arthritis, liver disease, and breathing and circulatory troubles.
Cats diagnosed with obesity are generally put on a diet to decrease their weight. It is very important to consult with a veterinarian when starting a weight loss program for your cat. Cats should lose weight gradually, and need to be monitored during the process. Cats that lose weight too quickly can develop life-threatening hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disorder). Hepatic lipidosis occurs when the liver accumulates an excessive amount of fat. This fat accumulation can lead to problems such as liver dysfunction, vomiting, muscular deterioration, and brain function impairment. Symptoms include weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes), vomiting, excessive salivation, and depression. If left untreated, hepatic lipidosis will lead to further metabolic dysfunction and death. It is very important to transition the food over to diet food gradually in order to avoid developing this disease. Cats may actually starve themselves to death rather than eat a new food, so the transitioning process is imperative.
There are several obstacles to successful weight loss in cats. The first obstacle is awareness. In order to begin a weight loss program, the owner must be aware of the fact that there is a weight issue. Once the owner is aware of the problem, a solution plan can be made. The second obstacle to successful weight loss is being a cat in a multiple cat household where each cat is at a different weight. The first step in this situation is to change the feeding behavior of the household. The cats should be taught to eat two meals a day, rather than letting them have access to food all day. This will make monitoring food intake much easier. After that, generally, the quantity of food can be decreased by 10 percent to produce weight loss in the overweight cat without negatively impacting the slimmer cats. Next, cats that require a special diet will need special consideration when administering a weight loss plan.
Finally, owners may be faced with the difficulty of trying to decrease the weight of a cat that is always hungry. Usually, weight loss can be achieved by decreasing the food consumption by 10 percent. Measure the amount of food provided (provide more than the cat will eat), then measure the amount of food left at the end of the day. Subtract the amount left from the amount given (to find out how much was actually consumed). It is this final figure that you will decrease by 10 percent. With obese cats that are always hungry, it is sometimes advised to change their diet to either M/D diet food or DM food. These foods are higher in protein than carbohydrates and help to decrease hunger. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you as to how to safely proceed for your cats unique situation.
Contact your Veterinarian if your pet: wont eat her diet food; is acting weak or depressed; is abnormally hyper or agitated; or has a change in over-all health.
We recently experienced a very sad case of red maple poisoning in a pony. The owner had trimmed some of her maples, and not realizing they were poisonous, allowed them to fall into the fenced in area of her pony.
Symptoms of red maple poisoning include: anemia resulting in weakness, depression, pale mucous membranes, and dark urine. Untreated, the animal's red blood cells are unable to transport oxygen to the tissues and death results. Pregnant mares may abort.
Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your horse or pony has ingested any red maple.
Tiny, almost invisible pests, fleas can make life miserable and disrupt your household with a continuing cycle of biting and scratching of your pets.
Black specks on your pet or their bed may be "flea dirt" - the fecal matter from adult fleas. Check for black specks: use a flea comb on your pet, making sure the comb reaches the skin through the coat. If black specks are on the comb, they might be fleas. Drown them in a bowl of soapy water before they can get away or jump back on your pet.
Adult fleas are only part of the problem. Immature stages, such as eggs and larvae, contribute to flea infestation, too. Your pet does not have to go outside to be in danger from fleas.
Fleas can be hard to find and can be a serious problem for your pet. Consult your veterinarian if you think your pet may have a flea problem. Some pets are allergic to fleas and experience server itching, but other pets may have only mild itching or none at all.
The veterinary staff is a reliable source of information on effective flea control products for your pet and home.
There are many informational web-sites on fleas and flea control.
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Ticks attach themselves to a pet's skin and feel like bumps when you run your hands through their hair. Find out more from the information below.
Ticks attach themselves to a dogs skin, and feel like bumps when you run your hands through your dog's hair.
Most ticks spend the bulk of their life on or near the ground, waiting for a suitable host animal. Since they cannot run, hop, fly or move quickly, ticks must climb onto an appropriate object such as tall grass or weeds or up onto fences and siding of buildings. It is from these advantageous positions that they wait for a suitable host to pass by. When they detect vibrations and chemical cues such as host odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, ticks will fall from their perch or stretch out (holding on to their perch with only 2 or 4 of their rear legs) and hope to snag or attach onto a passing host (e.g., a mammal with a fur coat or pants and socks worn by humans.) Ticks are also capable of detecting shadows cast by a passing host.
Ticks crawl up exterior or interior surfaces of homes and often lodge in cracks and crevices below shingles, clapboard siding, window molding, baseboards, etc.
Attached ticks can be removed using small tipped tweezers. Grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible will give you a better chance of removing the tick whole. Ticks can excrete substances that help the pest adhere to its host and they also have mouthparts that help them to hang on their host as they feed.
Holding the tick with your tweezers, slowly but firmly pull the tick away from the skin. If you have health concerns of any kind you can release the tick into a container of alcohol. The container should be labeled with any information that could be helpful to medical professionals. This information can include date, location or other related facts including the victim's name, age, etc.
Once you have removed the tick from skin and the tick has been disposed of or placed in a container, wash your hands as well as the tweezers or any other object the tick (or fluids from the tick) may have contacted. Objects used to remove or dispose of ticks as well as the sight of the tick bite should be disinfected.
Ticks may carry and transmit diseases, including Lyme disease, that can cause serious health problems for pets and people.
A vaccine is available to prevent dogs from developing Lyme disease. Signs of Lyme disease may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, loss of appetite, heart disease, inflamed joints, and kidney disease. A veterinarian may be able to determine if a dog has Lyme disease after performing a blood test. Treatment for Lyme disease involves the use of an appropriate antibiotic, such as doxycycline, for at least three to four weeks.
In people symptoms of Lyme disease can be severe, including acute headache to more serious nervous system impairment, symptoms resembling rheumatoid arthritis, expanding red rash on or near the tick bite, low grade fever, abdominal and joint pain, dizziness and stiff neck. Most of the cases occur during the summer, because this is the time people will be out hiking in areas infested by the tick vector, and might receive a bite from an infected tick. Persons living in or visiting the Lyme disease areas who develop these symptoms after receiving a tick bite should consult their physician, and explain that they received a tick bite and suspect Lyme disease. Effective treatments for the disease are available to physicians.
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Dogs and cats have a scent gland on either side of the anus that gives their feces a smell that is unique to the animal and in the wild was for the purpose of marking their territory. Dogs and cats may also express the glands themselves when frightened or startled. You will know it has happened by a very strong, distinct smell and some fluid discharge. Dogs should have these glands checked by a veterinarian at least annually. Many dogs need to have them regularly manually expressed or they can become infected. If you are interested, a veterinarian can teach you how to do this at home. An infected anal gland will become red and swollen and smell bad. On a long-haired dog, you may first notice a large mat forming where the hair has become dirty and sticky from the discharge. This dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. For chronic problems with anal glands, especially in dogs, your veterinarian may recommend surgery; we perform this surgery at River Road Veterinary Clinic.
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Theobromine and caffeine are the ingredients in chocolate that cause problems for dogs. Theobromine is found in varying amounts depending on the kind of chocolate: White chocolate has negligible amounts; sweetened milk chocolate has approximately 45-60mg/oz; semisweet or dark chocolate has about 130-185mg/oz; unsweetened baking chocolate has 450mg/oz; and cocoa powder can have from 150 to 600mg/oz. So you can see a very dark chocolate ingested by a chihahua would be much more toxic than the same quantity of milk chocolate ingested by a St. Bernard. Other sources include baked goods with chocolate, chocolate candy, and even mulch (made from cacao shells). The other harmful ingredient in chocolate is also found in non-chocolate drinks such as coffee, tea, and some soft drinks. Call your veterinarian immediately if you know your dog has ingested any of these products. She can help you determine the severity of the problem, and the level of emergency. A high level of exposure to theobromine per body weight can cause death within 6 to 24 hours
Zoonotic diseases are those diseases shared by animals and humans. Approximately 150 zoonotic diseases are known to exist. Wildlife serves as a reservoir for many diseases common to domestic animals and humans. Persons working with wildlife should be alert to the potential for disease transmission from animals. Neither animal handlers nor the general public have reason to be alarmed or frightened, but everyone should respect the potential for disease transmission and use sound preventive measures. Generally, disease is more easily prevented than treated. This discussion reviews common zoonotic diseases, including those ailments that are often erroneoulsy cited as being closely linked to wildlife. Many zoonotic diseases are so common in nature, so rare in humans, or so mild in their symptoms, that wild animals pose a minimal health risk to people. The diseases listed are grouped according to their causative agent or mode of transmission.
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Bunnies need exercise
Many bunnies spend their lives in small cages with very little to do. This is not a good environment for an animal evolved for a life of foraging for food in a complex world. Bunnies can be litter trained, and with proper rabbit-proofing of the house, be given some supervised free-roaming time in the house. A large, solid-floored pen with toys can keep bunny active and entertained when he has to be confined. Rabbits can also learn to take walks outside on a harness.
Bunnies need good nutrition
The most common health problems of house rabbits are nutrition related. Not surprisingly, obesity is the number one problem. Other diet-related problems include kidney and bladder stones, diarrhea, and trichobezoars (very firm hairballs in the stomach). The proper diet for bunnies is unlimited access to fresh grass hay, and 1 cup of mixed fresh vegetables per day. Vegetables should include dark green leafy veggies, root vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables. Very high water content vegetables such as lettuce should be avoided or given in very small quantities. Commercial pelleted rabbit food should be limited to 1/8 of a cup per day at most for a 4lb rabbit. Water should be in a water bottle, checked daily to make sure it is dispensing water properly and not clogged.
Bunnies should be spayed or neutered
Before you purchase a bunny check in your area for a veterinarian who sees rabbits. Neutering helps prevent aggressive tendencies in male rabbits, and spaying (removal of uterus and ovaries) prevents serious health problems in female rabbits. Uterine cancer is very common in unspayed rabbits over 4 years old. If you have more than one rabbit, spaying and neutering will prevent you from being quickly overrun with rabbits. It can be difficult to tell male from female when they are young, and many people who thought they had two females have been surprised to find babies in the pen before too long.
Safe Handling
Bunnies have very long backs that can break if they kick or struggle when picked up. One good way to carry a bunny is the football hold- with the entire rabbit supported by your left forearm, head toward your elbow and left hand under his rump, with your right hand on top of the bunny to keep him from jumping. It is important to handle bunnies daily from the time they are small so they become accustomed to it.
Safe Housing
Pens or hutches should have solid bottoms, not wire. Wire can cause injury and infections in rabbits feet. Bedding should consist of quantities of fresh grass hay sufficient for nesting in. Wood shavings are not recommended, because they can be physically irritating, and some contain natural chemicals that are toxic to rabbits. If housed outdoors hutches need to be predator-proof and sheltered from the weather. Bunnies are especially prone to heatstroke and should not be outside if it is hotter than 75-78F. Access to shade and Main-HomePhotos-and-Videos
