It's cold outside...

With today being the first day of winter, I thought that it would be appropriate to talk about basic cold weather tips.
When there are extremes in temperature, more attention is required for your outdoor pets.  The cold can be as damaging as heat for our furry friends.  With the temperatures dropping below freezing there are a few considerations that need to be taken into account:
1.  All outdoor animals need to have shelter from the weather.  Whether that is a dog house, a barn or a garage, animals need a place to escape the cold and wet.  Animals can get frostbite, especially on their ears and pads of their feet.
2.  Outdoor animals may require more food to maintain their body weight.  This is because food provides energy that is converted into heat.  So it is especially important to watch your animals body condition to make sure it isn't loosing weight during the winter months
3. Access to fresh water at all times is important.  When the weather is freezing, it is important to either break up the ice on the bowl or have a heater for the water.  There are many safe products on the market that can help you meet your specific needs.
4. When it's very cold for extended periods of time, a blanket or coat may be needed to help protect your pet. 
5. If you walk your dog on sidewalks that have been treated with de-icer, make sure to wash the dog’s paws when you get home; these chemicals can irritate the skin. Or if using de-icer at home, buy pet safe de-icer as it causes less problems.
If an animal appears to be having hypothermia or frostbite, it's important to warm them up slowly and to get them to the vet.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays!

Christmas dinner

Christmas is next weekend and many people celebrate Christmas with a special dinner.  I just want to use this opportunity to remind people that they shouldn't include their pets in the special dinner.  There are many reasons to shy away from giving your pet leftovers from dinner. 
The first is people food tends to be higher in fat than most dog foods.  Giving your pet a high fat meal can cause pancreatitis.  The pancreas is the organ that makes enzymes that break down fat in your food.  When a high fat meal is fed the pancreas gets inflamed causing pancreatitis.  The signs of pancreatitis can range from inappetence to severe vomiting and diarrhea.  The abdomen is usually very painful as well.  The treatment for pancreatitis can range from just needing some medication to IV fluids and staying in the hospital until the pet is feeling better.
Another reason is food intolerance.  Some pets have allergies to certain foods.  Those allergies can cause anything from an upset stomach to severe itching which can last weeks.
A third reason to not give Christmas dinner leftovers to your pets is it can cause diarrhea.  Sudden changes in food can cause diarrhea by upsetting the balance of bacteria in the GI tract.  This is the reason why it's always recommended to change food slowly, giving the bacteria a chance to adapt.
A final reason to not feed leftovers to pets is toxins.  Some people food is toxic to cats and dogs.  The most common ones are chocolate and grapes or raisins, but onions and garlic can also cause problems.  Most toxins are dose dependent, but some animals are much more sensitive than others and we don't know which ones will have a problem until it is too late.
I hope you enjoy your Christmas dinner and remember to feed your pets their regular dog food.
Happy Holidays!!

Yes, microchipping works...

This is an article I saw today, that demonstrates the benefits of microchipping.  You rarely hear about returns after this long of an absence...

Dog missing 8 years from Virginia family farm turns up in Yuba County

By ROB PARSONS-Marysville Appeal-Democrat

Posted: 12/03/2011 12:00:57 AM PST

The Virginia owner of a mixed-breed pit bull said she was dumbfounded upon hearing that her dog, missing for eight years, had turned up in Yuba County. "Petunia," who's a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier and pit bull, was found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area near Beale Air Force Base earlier this week after she disappeared from a family farm in Virginia in 2003.
The woman who found her, Meg Eden of Oregon, was working with her dogs in the wildlife area when Petunia approached her, according to the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.
Eden took the dog to Yuba County's animal shelter Thursday, where a microchip scan connected Petunia to a veterinary clinic in Virginia. Clinic staff told Yuba County animal workers who Petunia was.
After the clinic contacted Petunia's listed owner, Kristen Pruitt of Fredericksburg, Va., she called the shelter and said Petunia, who was then 3 years old, had disappeared from the family's farm around Thanksgiving eight years ago.
Despite a large search, the family found no trace of her.
"We had definitely given up hope after eight years," Pruitt said.
A photo convinced Pruitt the dog found Wednesday was the same one she'd lost thousands of miles away, according to the shelter.
There was no explanation of how the dog traveled so far from where she was originally.
But Pruitt said her best guess is because Petunia is "gregariously friendly."
Yuba County Animal Care Services will assist Petunia in getting home to her family shortly, according to the department.
Petunia's Malti-Poo roommate in Virginia, Boo Boo, who is also microchipped, is excited for her canine friend's return, the owner said.
Pruitt said she is "anxious" to find out how the dogs will react when they see each other.
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_19462390

Even santa's reindeer need a veterinarian!

Here's an article that you may find interesting, especially if you have kids!http://www.avma.org/reindeer/default.asp

Holiday decorating

Every day I see more and more holiday decorations going up.  While all these decorations look good, they pose many new hazards to our pets. Here are some safety tips for our furry friends:
1. Don't use tinsel, if ingested it can become caught in the GI tract and require surgery to remove.
2. Hang glass ornaments higher in the tree so they are less likely to be batted off and broken
3. Discourage pets from climbing the christmas tree
4. Try to keep electric cords hidden, many animals chew electric cords and can seriously hurt themselves
5. Try to keep gift ribbons and bows out of sight, if ingested it can get caught in the GI tract like the tinsel
6. Many holiday plants are toxic: holly, mistletoe, kalanchoe, yew, amaryllis, and poinsettias (there is some debate on the toxicity of poinsettias- I prefer to be safe rather than sorry).  This is not an full listing, if in doubt don't let your animals eat it
7. Remember to keep all candy and cookies in a place where your animals can't get to them, even if it's not chocolate, it can be toxic or cause GI upset

More photos with Santa

Look at these cute kittens who got their picture with Santa!!!  We are doing pictures again this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.  This is the 2nd chance to get your pets photos with Santa, we will only be doing this one more Saturday in December.  Hope to see you all here tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a good opportunity to slow down and reflect on the joys of the last year.  We at Jackson Hwy Vet have many reasons to be thankful.  The first and foremost reason is our clients and patients.  We wouldn't be who we are if it wasn't for you.  You trust us with your best friend and family members and we thank you all for that.  The second reason to be thankful is our wonderful support staff.  They are the glue that holds the clinic together and we wouldn't be able to function without them. Don't forget to thank them when you come in too, they play a major part in the wonderful care of your pets.  Last but not least, thanks to all you who are reading this.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Feline Leukemia Virus

Feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, is an often deadly disease found only in cats.  Cats with FeLV can show a large range of symptoms.  Infected kittens often run very high fevers and are lethargic and unwilling to eat.  These kittens often die within weeks of showing these clinical signs.  Other cats can be infected for long periods of time.  This virus is related to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), so the course of the disease can be similar.  Often a cat is infected for a long period of time without showing any signs of disease, but these cats can spread the disease.  Eventually, the cat does start getting sick.

The most common signs of disease are: Loss of appetite; slow, progressive weight loss; inflammation of the gums and mouth; infections of the skin, urinary bladder and upper respiratory tract; and persistent diarrhea.

There are quick blood tests that can check for FeLV. Roughly, 2-3% of all cats in the United States have FeLV.  That statistic appears to be true for Lewis County as well.

The virus can be spread from cat to cat via saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces and milk from an infected female.  So once two cats are living together, it quickly gets transferred from one cat to another through normal daily contact.  Kittens are especially susceptible to the disease. 
The virus cannot live long outside the body, and can be killed with regular household cleaners.

There is a vaccination against FeLV, however it is not considered a core vaccine because not every cat needs it.  The cats most at risk for FeLV are cats that have access to the outdoors where they may encounter feral cats. The best way to decide if your cat should be vaccinated is to talk to your veterinarian.  Also, if your cat is FeLV positive your veterinarian may have some tips that can help you keep them healthy for as long as possible.

Don't Forget!!

Santa's going to be at the clinic tomorrow from 10-2pm for pictures.  Stop by, we want to see you!!

Salmon poisoning

We have a winter run of salmon each year, as you may know they are running now.  In the last week, we have seen four dogs with salmon poising.  Salmon poisoning is a potentially fatal disease.

Salmon poisoning is a disease that dogs get from eating raw salmon and other similar fish.  Salmon have a parasite called Nanophytes salmincola that lives in their gastrointestinal tract.  This parasite can be infected with an organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca.  It is the Neorickettsia that causes the disease.  Only animals in the dog family are affected.  It may take 1-2 weeks after eating the disease before signs are noticed.
Most common clinical signs are: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lack of appetite, weakness and dehydration.  If untreated these can lead to death very quickly.  Even after only a few days of not eating with diarrhea and vomiting, an animal can be in a very dire condition.
Surprisingly, once an animal is started on treatment there can be a drastic improvement with in 24-48 hours.  Sometimes, your pet will have to stay at the hospital with IV fluids if they are sick enough.  Other times, we are able to treat your pet and they can go home the same day.
Please remember not to feed your pet raw fish, and be courteous about where you leave the fish guts after they have been cleaned, because it may be your neighbor's dog who gets into it instead.

Photos with Santa!!

Hey, I just wanted to let you know about an upcoming opportunity.  We will have pet pictures with Santa three times in the next 2 months, the first date will be next week! The dates and times are: Saturdays Nov. 12, Nov. 26 and Dec 10th.  Photos will be taken from 10 am to 2 pm on a first come, first serve basis, so get here early!!

Good food is wise medicine

Quoted  from Alison Levitt M.D., Doctor in the Kitchen.
There are as many ways to feed your pet as there are pets to feed and people who feed them.  There is no right way to feed cat or dog, but there are some things that can be done wrong.
The most common mistake that can be made is to over feed your pet.  Obesity is growing problem for people as well as their pets.  The easiest way to fix this is to use a measuring cup when feeding.  This also makes it easier to adjust how much you feed or tell if there is a problem.  I'll write about pet obesity in depth in a coming blog.
There are many different options for feeding your pet- just walk down the pet food aisle in your local grocery store.  While not all the foods are created equal, any food for sale in a store meets the minimum requirements set forward by AAFCO and the FDA.  AAFCO is the organization that sets safety and nutritional standards for pet feeds.  So that means that all the retail dog and cats foods should meet an average pets basic nutrient requirements.
There are many new trends in pet foods.  One trend is grain free.  Grain free is nice for pets that have food allergies, but is not necessary for all animals (including cats). 
Another trend is the BARF diet.  BARF stands for bones and raw foods.  This is a very controversial diet for a number of reasons.  One primary reason is because if raw foods are not handled very carefully both people and pets have the potential to get sick.  Pets can get Salmonella or E. coli just like a human can.  The potential risk for human infection is not just from handling the food during preparation, but also from the food bowls and even the pet's feces.  Another reason why this is a controversial diet is it is very easy to feed it wrong.  Many people think that raw food just means throwing a raw steak to their dog, but without many other foods this is a very incomplete diet.  If bones are being included, they need to be ground up or the nutrients aren't available to be absorbed and whole bones can cause health risks.
There are also many prescription foods on the market that are designed to treat specific diseases and if these are recommended it's usually best to feed them because like the quote at the top states the right food can make a difference in the long run.
So I guess what I'm trying to say today is think carefully when you choose how you are going to feed your pet.  And there is no right answer to the question "Is this the best food I can feed?"  But your vet can help you with the answer to "Is there a better way to feed my pet?"

Halloween is coming!

Don't forget that Halloween is coming up this weekend! Here's some helpful hints for keeping your pets safe:
1. Keep pets away from candy- remember chocolate is poisonous and other candy may cause diarrhea and vomiting
2. Keep pets in enclosed areas where they can't accidently run out the door when it's answered.
3. Outdoor cats, especially black ones, keep close to home or in an indoor area where they will be safe.
4. Make sure any animal costumes allow your pet to open it's mouth fully and have a normal range of motion while it is moving. 
5. Make sure any decorations are put up in a place where your animals won't have a chance to chew on them.
While these are all very simple things to do, it can make a big difference in the enjoyment of the holiday for everyone.

Why an exam is important

Exams are important to veterinarians for a number of reasons.  Even before touching the animal, vets are already evaluating your pet.  How is it standing? Is it alert? Is it reacting to noise and movement normally? Is the breathing even?  While it may look like the vet is just petting your animal, they have usually already started the exam.  Petting is a good way to disguise checking for lumps and bumps and feeling for any enlarged lymph nodes or other abnormalities.  It is especially important in long haired animals, as that hair can hide many things.  Petting also helps calm down a nervous animal.
During the exam the veterinarian uses most of their senses to detect any abnormalities (we rarely taste anything now days).
Many diseases and disease processes are able to be picked up by the vet during exams, everything from the obvious obesity and fleas to internal problems such as liver and kidney disease- which then require further work up to verify the suspicion of disease.
This is why we recommend at least yearly exams, during that time a lot of changes can happen to your pet, they you may be completely unaware of.

New Blog

Today I'm starting a new blog, hopefully it will have something for everyone.  The plan will be at least weekly posts, but it may be more often if I find I have more to say.  This blog will cover everything from pregnancy and day old puppies and kittens to geriatric patients and their special needs.  The point isn't to diagnose anything over the Internet, but to help clarify what a diagnosis means or how a disease progresses.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at work, here at this blog or even though email at the clinic's website. 
I think this will be enough for this post, but I'll post again this week.  I think I'll start at the beginning- why exams are important and what a veterinarian will get out of just laying their hands on your pet.
Thanks for reading!
Dr. Burns