All Tails Wagging

OBESITY

Anna Garner — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:29:53 +0000

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder affecting pets today. It is estimated that 25% of cats and dogs seen by veterinarians are obese. The most common causes of obesity are over-consumption of calories and lack of adequate exercise, but it’s important to realize that obesity has become increasingly recognized as a disease itself.
Fat cells produce hormones called Adipokens that decrease metabolic rate, making it more difficult for obese animals to metabolize energy. Adipokens also inhibit the normal appetite suppression seen in non-obese animals, making obese animals more likely to overeat. Adipokens can affect various organs and put overweight animals at risk for other diseases such as: heart disease, respiratory and urinary disorders, diabetes, arthritis, joint disease/injuries, anesthetic complications, and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) especially in obese cats. Aside from being significantly at risk for other diseases, overweight animals typically have a poorer quality of life. These animals experience fatigue, intolerance to heat and exercise, and increased levels of pain due to excess strain on their joints.
There are certain factors that may increase your pet’s risk of being overweight. Genetically, some breeds are more prone to being overweight. Common breeds include the Golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Beagle, Bassett Hound, Sheltie, Cocker Spaniel, Cairn terrier, and mix breed cats. In addition, lifestyle is a factor. Does your pet get enough exercise? Are they physically able? Altered metabolic rate is yet another consideration: Metabolism not only slows naturally with age, but also after a pet is spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering is always recommended as it provides many health benefits, but after the procedure it is important to be aware of changes in your pet’s dietary requirements.
There are many preventive measures that can be taken to avoid weight gain and obesity. We recommended measuring meals to monitor how much food your pet is getting per meal/per day. Animals that graze are typically prone to over-eating. Therefore, twice-a-day feeding regimens can often prevent future problems. In addition, Human food should be avoided as a treat. You may not realize that the calories from human food affect our pets greatly. For example: one ounce of cheddar cheese in a twenty pound dog equates to two and a half hamburgers in an average human. A cup of milk given to a ten pound cat is equivalent to a person eating four and a half hamburgers or 5 chocolate bars. Just 1 hot dog for a twenty pound dog is like a person eating 3 whole hamburgers.
Obesity is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. If you have questions about obesity or weight management, please do not hesitate to discuss these issues with one of our veterinarians. We offer several low calorie diets and can help you formulate a plan to get your obese pet to a normal, healthy weight.

Leptospirosis Is On the Rise in Our Area By Anna Garner

Anna Garner — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:29:12 +0000

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be contracted by both animals and humans. There are 8 strains that can infect dogs and cats. The multiple strains produce different levels of disease depending on the animals they infect. Lepto is much more of a problem in humans, dogs, and livestock than it is in cats. Cats can be infected, but rarely shows signs of disease.
Lepto is most commonly transmitted through contact with the urine of infected animals, as this is where the bacteria are shed. Soil and Standing or slow moving water may become contaminated, and the bacteria can survive there for weeks to months. Ingestion of contaminated flesh is another common way to contract Lepto. It can also be spread through bite wounds and venereal contact, as well as placental transfer to the fetus in pregnant animals.
Symptoms of Lepto infection include fever, shivering, muscle pain, vomiting, depression, and dehydration. More severe infection will affect the liver and kidneys. When the liver is affected, icterus (a yellow tinge to the skin, mucous membranes, and eye sclera) may be present. If Lepto is suspected, it can be diagnosed through a blood test. This test can be negative within the first 10 days of infection, so multiple blood tests may be needed. It is also important to run blood work to check the liver and kidneys, since these organs are commonly affected by the disease. If an animal tests positive for Lepto, they are treated with antibiotics, fluid support, and for any corresponding kidney and liver disease.
Prevention of Lepto involves keeping animals out of contact with potential sources of infection. We are faced with a challenge, living in location that has so many beautiful parks and other wildlife-inhabited areas. Taking our animals into these environments is not the only threat. Many of us live in areas where wild animals are coming into our own backyards and neighborhoods, possibly introducing contamination and infection. Raccoons, skunks, squirrels, opossums, and rodents are all potential carriers of the bacteria Leptospirosis.
The best line of defense against Lepto is to get your dog vaccinated. There is no vaccine that protects against all 8 strains of Lepto, and no vaccine is guaranteed. The Lepto vaccine that we use protects against 4 strains, cutting the risk of infection in half. It is also designed to have a low incidence of vaccine reaction. The vaccine is initially given as a series of 2 shots. Boosters are administered 3 to 4 weeks following the first vaccine, then yearly to offer the most effective protection. There is currently no vaccine available for cats due to their low infection rate.
Please feel free to call us if you have any further questions regarding Lepto. If you are interested in getting your dog vaccinated or your dog is overdue for a Lepto booster, please give us a call and we would be happy to assist you in scheduling an appointment for vaccination.

Revolution For Fleas, Heartworms, Ticks and More!

Anna Garner — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:28:24 +0000

All Tails Wagging is proud to offer Revolution for both cats and dogs. Revolution is a very safe, FDA approved, once a month topical preventative and treatment of multiple internal and external parasites. Unlike other topical products that leave behind messy oil spots, Revolution is an alcohol based product that is rapidly absorbed and dries quickly. Because Revolution is a prescription medication it requires an up to date yearly physical exam by your veterinarian. Both dogs and cats should be on heartworm, flea and tick prevention year round. Revolution is a great option for finicky pets that may refuse to eat heartworm prevention as a treat. In addition, it is a great way to save money because it controls multiple parasites, thus eliminating the need to buy multiple products.
Revolution is safe to use in dogs starting at 6 weeks of age and cats at 8 weeks of age. In order for Revolution to achieve tick control, it will need a few months to build up in your pet’s system. Pfizer (the company that produces Revolution,) recommends applying an additional dose two weeks after initial treatment, followed by regular monthly use. Complete tick control should be seen after 2 months of use. Revolution will supply a free Preventic collar (for use in dogs only) to aid in tick control while resistance is building. Preventic collars last up to 6 months. Unfortunately, there is nothing additional that can be used for cats while resistance is building. Your cat may not fully be protected from ticks during this time. If ticks are not an issue for your pet, Revolution should be used monthly as directed.
Revolution makes it easy to control multiple parasites with just one monthly topical application and Revolution guarantees their product. Contact us to find out about the current promotion that Revolution is offering.