Month: July 2019

120 Pet Portal

We have just launched a new website with a special new feature- a Patient Portal. This link allows you to set up your personal access to sign up for email reminders, text messaging, look up your pets vaccines, request medicine refills, and much more! Many clients have wished for multiple ways to receive reminders and request medicine refills, and this portal should allow that to happen.

You will have to go to the website, gardenridgevet.com, and click on the link at the bottom of the page for the Patient Portal. The link will ask for your client number, which should be on any receipt. You will have to create an account, add your email address, and password,  and then you have access to many features on each of your pets. I have already uploaded pictures of my dogs that will now become part of their database in my practice software! Plus now I can get text reminders or emails instead of post cards.

We chose a Portal company that is closely associated with our Practice Management Software, which I know and trust. I didn’t go with one of the big generic portal companies that do human medicine, dentistry, etc. This company just does vets. And they don’t share your data with other “big data” firms. Keeping your information and your pets information private and secure if very important to me.

This is new technology for us, but will can still do things the old fashioned way like answer the phone and talk with you. Even if you are “old school”, I invite you to check out the new Portal. It will open new doors for communication between us.

119 Update on Grain-free Diets and Heart Disease in Dogs

Last year, grain free diets were in the news because of an association with a rare heart disease, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), in dogs. The FDA just published a report this month with ongoing investigation. Many other University studies are underway to try to figure out WHY some dogs develop this heart disease, WHICH diets it is associated with, and WHAT can be done to fix this problem.

There seems to be more than one factor causing heart disease after a year of study. These as association with Grain-free, legume rich, “exotic meat”, or “boutique” dry foods.   This is sometimes called a BEG diet for  Boutique, Exotic, and Grain-free. We won’t debate the pros and cons of grain free dog foods, but if you take out the grain based carbs, something must be substituted, and the 2 most common ingredients are sweet potato or legumes (peas). Most dog foods have been based on chicken, beef or lamb for years, but new sources like kangaroo and pork are popping up. Some nutritionists theorize that legumes and/or these novel protein sources might not have all the taurine needed or too much of other nutrients. Another theory for the Golden Retriever breed may be that they simply require more taurine than other breeds, so normal levels in food just isn’t enough for this popular breed. University studies are underway, and hopefully soon we will have more information.

Whatever diet you feed your dogs, it is always a good idea to look for the AAFCO label on pet foods. This means the diet has been either tested by field trial to meet minimum standards, or lab tested to meet minimum standards. There is a difference between “minimum” and “optimum”levels. And some products pass AAFCO when manufactured, but fail after it has been shipped and stored in non-ideal conditions (Texas heat).

The veterinary cardiologist and nutrition group has pieced together a few brief guidelines to help pet-owners navigate this complex issue:

1. Evaluate the diet that you are feeding your pet. If the diet is boutique, contains exotic ingredients, or is grain free, you may consider a diet change to one without these properties. Talk to your veterinarian about the FDA announcement and what diet may be best for your dog.
2. If you are concerned about your dog based on what you are feeding, watch closely for signs of heart disease such as weakness, slowing down on walks, coughing, fainting or trouble breathing. Your veterinarian may also recognize early heart disease by hearing a heart murmur or abnormal heart rhythms. If you observe these things or your veterinarian is concerned, additional testing may be indicated such as x-rays, blood tests, EKG, or heart ultrasound (echocardiogram).
3. If your dog is diagnosed with DCM, particularly if eating a diet that meets the criteria listed above:
• Ask your veterinarian to test blood taurine levels.
• Report the findings to the FDA.
• Change your dog’s diet as directed by your veterinarian’s recommendations.
• Ask your veterinarian to help you identify a dose for taurine supplementation.
• Seek guidance from a veterinary cardiologist.
• Follow the instructions from your veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist as repeat evaluations and other medications may be needed. It can take multiple months to see improvement in many cases of diet-related DCM.
More info and a statement from Nutrition Support Services at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital here.

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/12/questions-you-should-be-asking-about-your-pets-food/
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-investigates-link-between-dog-diets-and-deadly-heart-disease

118 July 4 Safety

This is straight from the AVMA website.

Fireworks, picnics and other Fourth of July traditions can be great fun for people; but all of the festivities can be frightening and even dangerous for animals. Noisy fireworks and other celebrations can startle animals and cause them to run away; holiday foods can be unhealthy; summer heat and travel can be dangerous; and potentially dangerous debris can end up lying on the ground where pets can eat or play with it.

Whether or not you’re planning your own Independence Day celebration, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after Fourth of July festivities.

Preparing in advance:
• Make sure your pets – cats and dogs alike – have identification tags with up-to-date information. If you have horses, you might consider marking a safety (breakaway) halter with your contact information and leaving it on your horse during this stressful time.
• If your pets aren’t already microchipped, talk with your veterinarian about microchipping. This simple procedure can greatly improve your chances of getting your pets back if they become lost.
• If your pets are microchipped, make sure your contact information in the microchip registry is up-to-date.
• Take a current photo of all of your cats, dogs and horses – just in case.
• If your pet has historically been anxious on this holiday, or if you have reason to expect potentially harmful reactions, consider behavioral therapy to desensitize your pet and reduce the risk of problems. Some pets may need medication. Consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.
• Make sure the environment is safe and secure. If your neighbors set off fireworks at an unexpected time, is your yard secure enough to keep your pet contained? Are pasture fences secure enough to keep horses or other livestock confined? Evaluate your options, and choose the safest area for your animals; and make improvements if needed to make the area more secure.

Safety during July 4 celebrations:
• Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.
• Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.
• Keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible.
• If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
• Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets.
• Don’t let pets get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot.
• Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scraps or other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from these common foods that are actually toxic.
• Remember that too much sun and heat (and humidity!) can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside when it’s extremely hot/humid; make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors; don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather; and know the signs that a pet may be overheating.
• Never leave your pet in your car when it’s warm outside. Vehicle interiors heat up much faster than the air around them, and even a short time in a locked car can be dangerous to pets.
• If you’re travelling out of town for the holiday, consider leaving your pets at home with a pet sitter or boarding them in a kennel. If you need to bring them with you, be sure you know how to keep them safe.
• Follow safe food handling and hygiene practices to protect your family and guests.

After the celebrations:
• Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
• Check your pastures and remove debris to protect horses and livestock.
• If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers.

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/July-4-Safety.aspx?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=smartbrief-assoc-news