Category: Cat

134 What’s New with Diabetes in Pets

The role of diet in treating and possibly preventing diabetes in dogs and cats is undergoing lots of scrutiny lately. The old thinking on treating diabetes was to use insulin, decease simple carbohydrates to prevent blood glucose spikes, and eat high fiber diets to smooth out the whole glucose curve. Higher fiber diets could also help pets lose weight since obesity is often associated with the onset of diabetes, even though they might be sick and skinny at the time of diagnosis.

The latest theories on cats with diabetes is that free feeding high carbohydrate dry food to inactive indoor cats can lead to obesity, higher glucose levels after eating, and higher insulin concentration. These blood levels of glucose and insulin are believed to lead to pancreatic cell failure and ultimately diabetes. We know that weight loss to an optimum weight will help manage the diabetes, and sometimes can lead to remission of diabetes in cats. The weight loss ideally is slow and steady, ~ 1%/week, usually on a high protein/low carb diet to maintain muscle mass.

The latest studies on dogs didn’t show much difference between normal fiber and high fiber diets in regulating glucose levels on diabetic dogs. The most successful study was feeding any diet the dogs would eat consistently before in insulin, with no snacking between meals. Of course, weight loss in obese diabetic dogs is always recommended, but that is another whole can of worms about the “best diet” to lose weight.

On a high tech almost sci-fi note, I have one patient who has the human Libre Freestyle Sensor implanted under the skin of her back and the owner can track her glucose with her cell phone app! It isn’t approved for dogs and has to be replaced every 14 days, but it is a big leap in glucose monitoring technology.


To learn more about diabetes in pets https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Diabetes-in-Pets.aspx


https://catfriendly.com/feline-diseases/diabetes/

http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/november-national-pet-diabetes-month

130 Halloween Tips for Pet Owners

Halloween is almost here.  We have some tips to keep the holiday safe for our pets.

1) Lock candy safely away. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. If you buy that Halloween candy early, he WILL find your stash. If you kids have candy left after Trick or Treating and keep it in their room, he WILL find the sack. The biggest dangers in the candy are the chocolate, xylitol sweeteners, and the wrappers. I have seen problems with all 3.

2) Don’t leave glow sticks lying around. Glow sticks are a handy safety device to have around for the kids to wear while Trick or Treating, but some pets, especially cats, love to play with them. Most have a non-toxic liquid, that is bitter, but still some pets will bite them, race around the house and drool.

3) Keep your pet identified and visible. If you take your dogs out Trick or Treating, make sure they stay on a leash, with a reflective collar. It can be frightening out there with strange scary costumed children. Or better yet, leave them at home unless they like Halloween, walking in the dark, noise, and lots of strangers.

4) Calm your pet. Many dogs and cat have rough time on Halloween with the doorbell ringing and noisy strangers at the door. It makes them go a little crazy trying to alert and protect the family. Why not give them the night “off” and keep in the back bedroom, away from the door, with a loud TV show on for distraction? Some pets even need calming pheromones like Adaptil or prescription medicines to make it through the night. Ask your vet ahead of time if medicines are needed.

5) Check those costumes. Dressing up pets is just fun. Even I have indulged in a costume for my little black terrier, Sally. If you are planning on dressing up your fur baby, make sure that the costume fits well, isn’t going to slip and tangle the pet, or cause a choking hazard if chewed on. Never leave a costumed pet unattended. Or you might have a trip to the pet emergency room!

https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/top-5-halloween-safety-tips-vets-and-pets

129 Pumpkin, Pumpkin everywhere

You can’t go to any store without seeing Pumpkin Spice flavored everything. It is a seasonal gourd that is usually harvested in the fall, so it is plentiful about now. What does this have to do with dogs and cats? The answer is Fiber.

Cats and dogs don’t need much fiber for normal GI health, but occasionally they can get a gastrointestinal/colitis problem that will benefit from fiber. The usual sources of fiber are OTC weight loss diets, Metamucil, Miralax, bran (like in high fiber breakfast cereal), and canned pumpkin. Diet food is boring, Metamucil has a weird texture, and bran just tastes like sawdust to me. Miralax is a tasteless powder and works even in tiny (1/8 tsp) amounts for our pets. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is sweet and most cats and dogs will eat it willingly. Who knew? You never see a dog or cat stealing pumpkins out of the garden.

Not all GI problems need fiber, and some will get much worse with it. A lower GI or colitis case with straining, frequent mucoid stools, or constipation usually will benefit from added soluble fiber like pumpkin. The recommended amount to add to a meal varies, but usually 1 TBP/can of cat food, or 1 TBP /meal for large dog, or 1-2 tsp/meal for smaller dogs. I find most pet owners only have to do this for few days to get a case of stress colitis resolved. If one has to do this for days or weeks, one trick to keep the can from spoiling after opening is to fill an ice cube tray with the puree, freeze, then only pop out a “cube” to add to the food.

Now you CAN buy a pumpkin, scoop the seeds out, cut it up, cook/bake it and then puree it, OR you can just buy a can of cooked pureed pumpkin at the grocery store. If you buy the pie filling, use it for Thanksgiving dinner dessert, not the cat.

for more information-  https://now.tufts.edu/articles/people-giving-pets-pumpkin-it-good-them

128 Awesome October Wellness Bloodwork Specials

Every October, our reference laboratory, Idexx, gives us some fantastic discounts on wellness bloodwork bundles.   It usually included a CBC, some blood chemistries, Heartworm testing for dogs, fecal parasite check, urinalysis, and some extra testing like thyroid and new early detection kidney testing. We get different bundles for dogs and cats, young and old. These are 35-50% off regular prices, and are a great value.

I strongly believe in catching illnesses early so we have better chance to treat and cure diseases in ourselves and pets. Preventative care save so much money in the long run, and improves quality of life.

Last year in October, we picked up several cases of EARLY kidney disease, and several cases of EARLY heart disease. We found thyroid problems in both dogs and cats. Several dogs had asymptomatic urinary infections. Lots of dogs had some elevated liver enzymes. One dog even had leukemia! When we find an abnormality, sometimes there is medicine; sometimes there are more tests to run. Even if everything comes back in the normal range, there is peace of mind knowing all is well.

The bloodwork special is running the entire month October. I call it my “vampire” special because we collect a lot of blood. Plus it is easy to remember with Halloween coming up. If we have seen your pets recently, they don’t have to have an exam to have bloodwork. After we get the results, we will call you. We don’t make you come in to see the doctor(unlike some MDs). Some clients request an email with the results and interpretation, and we can do emails. Please call for an appointment to schedule the blood collection, and ideally bring in a fresh stool & urine sample.

125 Lest We Forget

Today, on Sept 11, 2019, I am reminded of the tragic events that happened 18 years ago. That terrorist attack made me really think about my personal and professional emergency preparedness. What if it happened here? What if something happened to me, my business, or my family, including my pets?

So I began a focus every September on Disaster Preparedness, and here we are again. Our most common disasters aren’t big national or regional catastrophes. But a local tornado, house fire, or plumbing leak/flood could happen at any time, without warning. So I encourage everyone to look again at their family disaster plans, and adjust as necessary. Practice if you have young children.

Many events need the same planning. A house fire and flood are both reasons to leave the house with your pets, crates, leashes, food, and records/medicines. Those people in last year’s wildfires in California had only minutes to get out. A tornado or ice storm might leave you stranded inside your home. You still will need food and meds, but ideally you have some water stored and a first aid kit. Be ready.

This is a great time to check your microchips contact info. Many people have disconnected their land line telephone, or changed emails. If Fluffy goes missing due to down fences after a storm, you want for the rescuers to have the correct contact info on the chip. My two little pups climbed over the fence last month, and we were returned thanks to the microchips.

This is a great time to check out the Pet Portal on our website, gardenridgevet.com, and create an account. With that Portal, you can access you pet’s vaccines anytime, anywhere. Forgot to pack the proof of rabies vaccine for boarding? You can pull it on your phone and show the kennel.

This is great time to talk with the all the family members about our plans. As adults, we may know them, but do our teenage children (or spouses) know the details? Where is our tornado shelter in our home? Where is our rendezvous spot outside the house? Who is in charge of the crates, etc? Who is our point of contact outside our area that we can call or check in with?

This is a great time to reflect on the loss of life that fateful day in 2001, but also to be constructive about what we can do to mitigate personal disasters to keep them from becoming tragic.

For a digital 28 page booklet, Saving the Whole Family,
For a Texas perspective of disasters

124 Rebates on ProHeart 12 and Apoquel

Would you like to get money back after spending your hard earned cash during a vet visit? Now you can, if you spent it on select products made by Zoetis, specifically Apoquel tablets, new ProHeart 12 injection, and Convenia injection (long lasting antibiotic).

Zoetis has a rebate program called Zoetis Petcare Rewards that is easy to set up. You get on your mobile device, create an account with a password at zoetispetcare.com/rewards, and upload a photo of your vet receipt. Then wait for your reward.

Many dogs are taking Apoquel tablets to help manage their moderate to severe allergies, often long term. Plus this new medication is expensive. With the Rewards program, you can get back $5-37, depending on how many pills you purchased in the last 60 days.

The Reward for ProHeart 12 is even simpler. You get $20 back (200 points) after your dog gets the new simple twelve month heartworm prevention injection. I think of it as a rebate, like we have with many other heartworm prevention tablets.

The Convenia rewards depends on the dose based weight of the dog, starting at twenty pounds. The reward could be $10-30. And for cats, a box of Revolution Plus ( 6 doses) is worth $15.

The details are that you generate Reward Points based on their website, and the Reward Values are 10 point to $1. So the ProHeart 200 points = $20. The money is sent to you in the form of a debit Mastercard that you can only spend at any vet, good for your next purchase of the any product or service, for the next year.  Sounds better than Kohl’s cash.

123 Blue Green Algae Toxicity and Dog Days of Summer

You have read about it on Facebook or heard it on the news this month. Three dogs died in Austin after playing in a water front dog park called Red Bud Island, where 40% of the water was covered by blue green algae, and they died shortly afterward. Three more dogs died in North Carolina, beginning with seizures after only 15 minutes of exposure. These are the stuff of nightmares, for pet owners and veterinarians. I have thankfully never seen a case of this rare toxicity, but it is real.

Blue-green algae are single cell organisms, but make large colonies and filaments. They grow in a wide variety of conditions and can thrive in nutrient-rich stagnant bodies of water. They can form blooms so thick it appears that blue-green paint covers the surface of the water. Blue green algae are found all over the world, and there are many kinds.

Two forms, Anabaena and Microcystis, are found in Texas that are known to produce substances which cause taste and odor problems in water supplies, and they can produce toxins that are poisonous to fish and wildlife that drink water contaminated with the toxins. Fish kills have occurred in private stock ponds as a result of blue-green algal blooms and there have been a few reports of livestock dying from drinking water contaminated with blue-green toxins. In addition to toxicity to fish and wildlife, there are documented cases of blue-green algal toxins harming humans in other parts of the world through the consumption of poorly treated waters.

Symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning depend on what type of toxin (,microcystin vs. anatoxin) is present. Clinical signs of blue-green algae that produce microcystins, typically include:
• Malaise/lethargy
• Weakness
• Not eating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Black-tarry stool
• Collapse
• Pale gums
• Jaundice (yellow) gums
• Shock
• Seizures
• Death
With blue-green algae that produce anatoxins, symptoms include:
• Inability to walk
• Hypersalivating
• Excessive (eye) tearing
• Tremors
• Muscle rigidity
• Difficulty breathing or blue gums
• Death
Either way, these are bad toxins, with no specific antidote. Best advice is to keep your pets away from stagnant mossy green ponds.

The City of Lewisville has our water checked out by state regulatory agencies and it always passes with flying colors. We normally have outstanding water here in Lewisville, but it can have a “dirt” taste in August. Some people say it is the lake “turning over”, others say it is from algae blooms that are harmless. But it is undeniable that sometimes in August the water can taste funny.

What I see as a vet is more bladder infection and stones in August that I believe might be related to decreased water drinking because of the off taste. Even dogs and cats can taste water and have preferences. If you see that your pet is drinking less water in the hot weather, please offer them filtered or bottled water, or maybe even put some ice cubes in it. We need to do anything to encourage lots of water drinking during these “dog days of summer.”

For more information:
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/blue-green-algae-a-deadly-danger-dogs

https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/pets-and-health-news-531/toxic-pond-algae-is-killing-dogs-how-to-protect-your-pooch-749354.html

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.

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

115 New Kidney Test

We are now able to run the new kidney function test, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), in house instead of sending it out. The new renal biomarker identifies the onset of kidney disease months or even years earlier than traditional methods. Last year, SMDA was included in our October senior bloodwork special that we sent out to Idexx, our reference laboratory.

In a recent clinical study, Oregon State University researchers showed that SDMA identified disease much earlier in the disease progression, when the kidney had suffered far less damage that results in permanent loss of function—up to four years earlier in at least one animal. Typically, a diagnosis is made when 75% of kidney function has been irreversibly lost, at which point, the prognosis can be poor. However, on average, SDMA detected kidney disease when only 40% of function had been lost and, in some cases, 25% of function.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of suffering and death in cats and dogs. In time, one in three cats and one in 10 dogs will develop some form of the disease. Certain risk factors might make pets more likely to develop kidney disease, such as Lyme disease, kidney stones, infections, toxins, injuries, genetic abnormalities, cancer and others. Warning sign might be very subtle like drinking more, urinating more, weight loss, vomiting, and bad breath. Early diagnosis can be a key in identifying the base cause of kidney disease. This provides more time to treat the underlying cause or to slow progression of the disease. It may also help your pet feel well for as long as possible.

Until today, kidney disease has been routinely diagnosed in part by measuring blood creatinine. However, creatinine alone cannot detect kidney disease until late in the disease process, limiting the opportunity to extend the life of the pet through treatment options. This new SDMA kidney test may help us to identify chronic kidney disease in cats and dogs months or even years earlier than before.

For more information, pethealthnetwork.com