Beginning in May, we will be offering in-room appointments with the owner present, social distancing, and masks on. Everything else will still be curbside (for now). Clients with appointments will call from the parking lot, history taken over the phone, and they will be escorted into an exam room, where they can be present with their pet. This is only for appointments, not medication refills, grooming, food, etc. And if the client does not wish to come in, we will be happy to offer curbside appointments like we have been doing for the last year.
This is our plan to transition back to “normal” since the Covid-19 case numbers are very low now in Denton County. Even the Lewisville Library has opened to normal visitation, with masks and social distancing.
Vet practices nationwide are experiencing problems with curb side care. The biggest one we have been encountered this week is loose dogs. Several dogs have simply slipped out of collars that were too loose, and even harnesses that were too loose. And we had one pit bull in the car for moral support for the tiny dog who had an appointment, and when the owner opened the door, it hopped out of the car, and ran around the parking lot. Fortunately, it was not fearful, didn’t bit any people, dogs or cats, and didn’t run out onto Garden Ridge Blvd. We have never had this many loose dogs on our parking lot before. So help us out my making sure your cat is in a carrier (we have loaners if you need one), and dogs are on a leash attached to a well fitted collar.
Call now to book your In-room appointment starting Monday, May 3, 2021
Category: Wellness
#167 April in Heartworm Awareness Month
Most pet owners have heard about heartworms but may be fuzzy on the details about the nasty little critters. I hear clients ask ”why should we do a blood test when they look at their dog’s poo and don’t see worms”, or that they are “just backyard dogs” and never encounter other dogs. Here are 5 IMPORTANT FACTS EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARTWORM DISEASE (but were afraid to ask)
#1: Blame the mosquito! Pets do not infect each other with heartworms; pesky mosquitoes spread the disease. In fact, just ONE BITE from an infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your pet with heartworms.
#2: Heartworm infection has been diagnosed in all 50 states, but it is very prevalent in Texas. (Link to HW incidence maps- https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/incidence-maps)
We routinely diagnose 3-6 cases of canine heartworms a year at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital.
#3: Cats as well as dogs get heartworm disease. Fortunately, there is a monthly topical prevention for cats called Revolution, and it controls fleas and intestinal parasites too! Unfortunately, cats are not the correct host, and their immune system goes into high gear to fight the migrating larva, which causes severe, and often fatal, lung disease.
#4: There’s no season for heartworm disease. That is why the American Heartworm Society recommends year-round prevention.
#5: Heartworms are deadly, but heartworm prevention is affordable, highly effective and (usually) easy to give. The America Heartworm Society and Garden Ridge Animal Hospital recommend testing dogs for heartworm infection every 12 months and giving heartworm preventives all 12 months in a year. Here at Garden Ridge, we carry 2 affordable complete heartworm/intestinal oral preventions for dogs, and you can order ANY heartworm prevention brand from VetSource, our online pharmacy with a link on our website front page. (http://gardenridgeanimalhospital.vetsourceweb.com/site/view/HomeDelivery.pml)
Some dogs are extra picky and require some “pill pockets” or human food to hide the medicine. Our goal is for your dog to just think he is getting a “special treat” once a month.
Or we have a 12-month injection to prevent heartworms called Proheart 12. https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/proheart
For more information about heartworms: https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources
147 Lessons from the Parvo Epidemic in 1970s
All the news about the human novel Corona virus outbreak is bringing back faint memories of the Canine Parvo Epidemic in 1978/79. Actually, dogs do get a Corona virus, mostly with mild GI signs like mild Parvo. It was never contagious to humans. Humans get a respiratory parvo disease, called Fifths Disease, that has a rash like a face that has been slapped.
Way back in the dark ages of 1979, I was just being accepted in the Texas A&M Veterinary College, so I wasn’t in clinical practice yet. There was a mutation of a suspected feline or mink parvo virus, CPV2, that ran through dogs of all ages all over the world with severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, shock, and death if not aggressively treated. It stripped the linings of the gut, allowed for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, caused septicemia, and wiped out the white cells that fight infection, which often lead to death because NO dogs had any immunity. It hit puppies and even old dogs, with a high fatality rate. Fortunately, Parvo is mostly an unvaccinated puppy disease. Many of us seasoned citizens remember with horror how devastating this disease was. And how bad it smelled.
First we discovered it was transmitted from the vomit and diarrhea, not airborne. We had to figure out the incubation (5-10 days), and how long the recovered dogs shed virus AFTER recovery(2-3 weeks!). We had trouble getting good confirmatory tests and the treatment (though mostly fluids and antibiotics for days) was expensive and cost prohibitive for many. Many dogs died. Fortunately, it didn’t affect people or cats. Some vets had whole parvo wards. I treated a 12-year-old dog for parvo in 1981 at vet school. We had a special Isolation Ward for highly contagious cases. We used a lot of bleach to disinfect cages, so we wore gloves and boots. We were worried about tracking around the hospital or bringing it home to our own dogs.
Initially, vets reached out to the only vaccine we had, feline panleukopenia. It was for the wrong species and didn’t work well. It was several years before we had good vaccines, that had lasting immunity. I remember when we vaccinated every 6 months for parvo. The technology for diagnosis took years to mature, but now we have a quick in-house swab test that gives us results in minutes. It still has flaws, and have false negatives early in the disease, or if the puppy is still nursing and has maternal antibodies. We even rarely see a false positive for a few days after vaccination. The virus had a few more minor mutations over the last 40 years, so we do see occasional outbreaks, but we have it mostly under control now. Some breeds seem more susceptible, like the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Labs, and Pit bulls.
I hope and pray we get this Covid 19 virus under control quicker than we did Canine Parvovirus. I am optimistic about improvements in testing, treatments, and vaccination. But I am realistic, so for now am focusing on sanitation and avoiding this novel virus in humans.
146 Early Spring
The calendar still says February, but everything outside is saying it’s Spring. And that means bugs and allergies (for some). We are already seeing fire ants, and next will be the fleas and ticks. Ticks really don’t die in the Winter and in some parts of the country are worse than Spring for deer hunters.
So, this is a reminder to everyone who has pets that go outside- start you flea and tick medicines NOW. Don’t wait until you are picking them off Fluffy, yourself, or your children. The new modern class of oral insecticides (isoxazolines) like Credelio, Simparica, Nexgard, and Bravecto are effective, safe, and easy to give. Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, we carry Credelio since it pairs with Interceptor for larger rebates and makes it the least expensive per dose. The other products are made by different manufacturers, are excellent as well, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use them on my own pets. If your dog is on Trifexis, remember that it kills fleas, heartworms, and many intestinal parasites, but NOT ticks. You can easiy order any of these products on our online pharmacy through VetSource. They are priced comparable to Chewy.
Topical flea and tick medicines like Frontline and Vectra also work but are a little less effective than the oral meds in heavy infestations. Just be very careful NOT to apply a dog product on a cat. It can be fatal. And make sure you have the right weight range on the box if it is an OTC product. When I used topical products years ago, I chose to apply just before bedtime so I wouldn’t be accidentally petting the dog and removing it with my hand.
Not all dogs are at risk for ticks. If Fido never leaves the yard, doesn’t walk around wooded areas, doesn’t go traveling/camping, and you have never found a tick on him, you probably don’t need tick prevention. But always be on the lookout. I have had many pet owners complain over the years that they suddenly got ticks in their yards/fences, and usually blame the neighbor. Ticks don’t hop and jump like fleas, but the do climb up on trees, shrubs, and fences and then “drop” on to pets. And many bugs hitch a ride on wildlife like squirrels, rabbits, possums, and stray cats that come into our yards when we aren’t looking.
Cat certainly can get fleas and ticks, but we just don’t see them on the pet as often because are such awesome groomers. Many times, I think the indoor/outdoor cat is the culprit that brings bugs into the house, where we then find them on the dog (or baby). We are using Revolution Plus on cats for topical flea and tick prevention, and it get some intestinal parasites, ear mites, and prevents heartworms from mosquitos! Bravecto also makes a topical product for cats.
So enjoy the Spring weather outside, but protect your pets.
145 Blog Review of Texas laws on Rabies Vaccination
I have been getting quite a few hits on my blog website about rabies vaccinations, and it’s been a while since I have written about it. Here is an updated review of Texas laws concerning Rabies.
All dogs and cats in Texas must be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months of age by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian using a vaccine licensed by the USDA. The vaccine must be approved for that species and given after the minimum age requirement and by the right route of administration. There are no exemptions to this requirement, even for medical reasons or by demonstrating measurable rabies antibody titers.
Animals should be boosted according to the recommended interval as established by the manufacturer, unless limited by local ordinances. Most rabies vaccines are boosted at one- or three-year intervals. For a USDA licensed triennial (3 year) vaccine, the typical interval is booster 1 year after initial vaccination, and then every 3 years. For a 1-year vaccine, boosters are given annually. As far as I know, all the local cities and counties recognize the 3-year vaccine interval.
What is the minimum age for dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies?This is usually regarded as 12 weeks. The sweet spot is to vaccinate for rabies between 12-16 weeks of age.
What vaccines does Garden Ridge Animal Hospital use? For dogs, I use Defensor 3 by Zoetis, approved for dogs, cats, and ferrets, has a 3-year label, and have use it for over 20 year with no problems. But for cats, I currently use Purevax Feline Rabies by Merial since it is adjuvant free, but it only has a 1 year label. The non- adjuvant vaccine is recommended to reduce inflammation at injection site and prevent injection site sarcomas. No one wants their cat to get cancer because of a vaccine, but it can rarely happen. For ferrets, the Defensor 3 is approved with annual boosters.
What about very old pets or “inside only” cats? The law is clear that they must be vaccinated and stay vaccinated. Realistically, an inside only cat isn’t going to spontaneously get rabies, but if they bite or scratch a human a series of events will happen that puts your unvaccinated cat in rabies quarantine for 10 days, usually at a shelter. If a vaccinated pet bites a human, the quarantine time can often be served at home. All rabies vaccines are killed, dead, not alive. They seldom make pets even run a fever. The human rabies vaccine that I have been given is so safe I could get boosted even when I was pregnant. (Yes, vets are vaccinated against rabies)
What if my pet was vaccinated over 3 years ago, and overdue a booster? Upon receiving a single dose of vaccine, they will be considered current, and assigned the maximum vaccination interval based on the license of the vaccine.
Why does the state care about rabies vaccination and no other diseases like parvo and distemper? Rabies affects humans, is 99.9% fatal, no cure, and the other diseases don’t. We vaccinate pets to protect humans.
How does the state test for rabies in an affected animal that is euthanized? The head (brain) is sent off to the state laboratory. There is no blood test to confirm rabies for pet, livestock or wildlife.
How can I find out if my pet’s rabies vaccines are up to date? If you pet was vaccinated at Garden Ridge, we have record. You can access your pet’s vaccines history online through our Pet Portal, found on our website. You do have to log in the client number that is on your receipts, and then create a password. Many clients who board their pets elsewhere or use doggie daycare find the online portal convenient and always available.
For more information:
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/rabies/vaccine/pets/
Actual legal state regulations; https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=25&pt=1&ch=169&sch=A&rl=Y
142 February is National Pet Dental Health Month
Good oral health is more than just a pretty smile.
Poor dental hygiene can put both your pet’s health and your pocket book at risk. “Dog breath” – or a cat with a foul-smelling mouth – can be a sign of untreated dental conditions. If left untreated, you may put your pet at risk for greater problems such as periodontitis or heart disease.
Routine cleanings can help prevent periodontal disease and save money in the long run. A 2014 analysis conducted by Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. showed that the average cost per pet to prevent dental disease is just one-third of the average cost of treating dental disease.
More importantly, a complete oral examination can detect hidden health problems. Even if your pet’s breath smells fine, there still could be dental conditions that are hard to spot without a complete veterinary exam.
Schedule your pet’s dental checkup with us now. We’ll do a thorough checkup to make sure your pet is at optimum health. We also can show you how to brush your pet’s teeth in between exams. Brushing is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your pet’s teeth healthy between dental cleanings.
We’re committed to your pet’s health and wellness, and we know that you are as well. Book your appointment today!
Periodontal disease video-https://www.youtube.com/embed/j6gNkXpRZkE
How to brush your dog’s teeth- https://www.youtube.com/embed/wB3GIAgrTPE
141 January Weather Tips
I know it is January, and we have had a few cold days/nights, but not really bad. Yet. Here are some refresher points about cold weather and pets
Sweater weather. Some dog need some extra insulation when it is really cold. Other dogs seem to love it and are friskier. My Sheltie is one of those cold loving breeds, but he was bred for it with a snow proof coat. My short coated terrier/doxie just seems cold all the time. He really shivers and won’t spend more than a few seconds outside. I wish he wouldn’t eat any sweaters I try to put on him. I see numerous small patients that are just more comfortable during the winter wearing a sweater even inside. So, look at your dog after being outside in the cold or rain and dress him appropriately.
Activity. Few of us want to play outside when it is cold, wet, or super windy. Too much indoor inactivity makes us all a little crazy. In people we call it cabin fever. Indoor dogs can get it too. My puppies manifest it by acting out, zooming around more inside, and generally being naughty for attention. I am trying to counteract that with lots more indoor play, interactive toys, and allowing them to just zoom around. I used a laser pen for my Sheltie years ago. It is important to match the play with the dog’s interests. Ball chasing is great for Labradors, but my terriers want to bite and shake stuff. I am using a lot of stuffed KONGs lately or big rawhides, but sometimes they fight over them. Food puzzles are great if your dog is food motivated, and not overweight. Many of my clients are still going to dog parks, they just pick the right day and time for comfort.
Frozen water. Make sure any drinking water outside doesn’t freeze or your pet can get dehydrated. Insulate any outdoor dog houses. Most dogs can tolerate a light freeze if they can get out of the wind and rain, off the ground, and can cocoon themselves in some material like hay or blankets.
Antifreeze/deicing compounds. It is true that antifreeze can taste sweet and attract dogs and cats to lick it. Avoid yellowish puddles in streets and driveways. Be careful applying deicing products (rock salt, “ice melt”) on driveways and porches as the chemicals can burn sensitive bare feet. There are pet safe deicing products available.
Emergency kit in the car. It is always a good idea to have an extra leash, blanket and some water for pets. You never know when the car won’t start, slips off the road, or you might be stranded somewhere.
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Cold-weather-pet-safety.aspx
https://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_dg_sweaters_for_dogs
https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-dec/ice-melt-products-harmful-to-pets-and-kids
https://www.chewy.com/safe-paw-ice-melter-dogs-cats-35-lb/dp/138554
https://barkpost.com/life/12-rainy-day-entertainment-ideas-for-dogs/
140 How Much Should My Pet Eat?
I get this question almost daily. The answer is “it depends.”
We have a complicated formula to calculate the Resting Energy Requirements (RER) of dogs and cats in kcal/day. It isn’t a straight-line graph, but we have chart. Some points on this chart is the RER for a 10-pound critter is 218 kcals/day, 20# is 366 kcal/day, 30# is 497 kcal/day, 40# is 616 kcals/day, 50# is 729 kcals/day. My chart goes up to 200#.
The number we really want is the Daily Energy requirements (DER). This represents the average daily energy expenditure of animal, depending on life stage and activity (work, gestation, lactation, and growth). To get DER from RER, we multiple RER with a number from 0.8 to 4.0, depending on the species, growth vs maintenance, obese vs weight loss, light work vs heavy work.
For examine, for an average 20# house dog with normal weight, we multiple 366 kcal/day x 1.6=586 kcal, but it is already obese and need to lose weight at 20#, we multiple by 1.0 for just 366 kcal/day. If this was a fat 20# cat needing to lose weight, we multiple by 0.8 for only 293 kcal/day.
So how many cups of food is that? First, we need to know the calorie density of the food. I seldom see it on the bag, but it should be available on the manufacturer website. My young dogs eat a Science Diet adult food for tiny dogs, and the website lists the calorie density at 291 kcal/cup. So, my little guys should eat about 2 cups/day each. I do meal feedings so each should eat about a cup, twice a day. Right now, I feed them together, but if one starts getting chubby, and the other thin, then I will need to feed them separately. I checked the feeding guide on the website, and it suggested 1 .5 cups/day. Usually I find the feeding guides to be “generous” in their portions, but it never hurts to do the math.
Another part of the equation is that not all days have equal activity. If you have a high energy dog, that gets walked every day, that is great. Many have different activities depending on the day of the week and the weather. The weekend walker or dog park goer could have a little more on those high energy days but remember to cut back if we have a run of nasty weather with no playtime. Mine get extra chow on the high energy days after running around the pasture chasing cows or digging for hours after gophers (not sure if they are eating gophers, hard thing to calculate).
The last part of the equation is how any “extra” calories a day they get in treats or food from the table (or stolen from kids). A quick search on Chewey for popular dog treats listed Milk Bones Large original at 125 kcals/treat, Denta Sticks at 76 kcal/treat, and Pup-peroni at 28 kcals/treat. Just like fun sized Snickers bars, they are that many calories, but they can add up over time.
So, the short answer is “it depends.”
139 The Year in Review 2019
As the year winds down, I pause to look back on 2019. Here are the new things that happened in 2019 at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital:
New exterior sign with new logo.
Added Portal on a new website (gardenridgevet.com) for new ways to stay in contact with us. Check it out, create a log in and experience the options. You will need an old receipt with your client number to access your pet’s data.
Proheart 12- an annual heartworm prevention injection for dogs was approved in the US and we started using it in August.
New Allergy control shot (Cytopoint ) that lasts 4-8 weeks. This gives us another option to Apoquel, and sometimes in cheaper than Apoquel.
Different flea product (Credelio) that are now by same manufacturer as Trifexis and Interceptor for better rebates
VetSource, our online pharmacy, now does autoship on food, even prescription ones.
The Flower Mound Emergency Clinic by Sprouts changed ownership, and we still recommend it
Windows 10 upgrade/new computers- pardon our printer glitches as we work through this one.
New air conditioners- we apologize if you experienced a warm exam room last summer. Things wear out after 29 years
I personally racked up 62 hours of continuing education. My personal best in 38 years of practice. One of the most interesting online courses was about cannabis and CBD. See the blog on CBD for more information. I am currently using a specific CBD oral product for my old sheltie, Sarge, for his arthritis but I see its main effect on his alertness.
And my puppies are now a year old, but still wild rodent hunting, digging, running, and sometime destructive little terrors. And I love them.
133 How to Trim a Dog’s Toe Nails with a Dremel Tool
As vets, we kind of take nail trimming for granted. How hard can it be to trim a dog, cat or bird’s nails? We have plenty of staff, big towels, and even anti-anxiety medicines to help in some cases. The reality is it is hard for most owners to do. And long nails, especially in dogs, can break off accidentally and cause the dog a lot of pain and bleeding, or they can scratch owners and flooring. Cats seem to have fewer problems with long nails, but I did have an aged Siamese cat brought in for inability to walk/possible euthanasia that was just long nails growing into the pads.
The latest trend I see for nails is grinding a dog’s nails with a Dremel tool. Show dog owners have been doing this for years, starting with young puppies to overcome the noise factor. Those dogs always had great short smooth nails. A few years ago, a battery powered product called Pedipaws was marketed to grind nails. I found it to be under powered to grind nails, but was satisfactory to smooth the rough edged AFTER a nail clipping.
Lately I have revisited the Dremel tool (or any brand powered craft tool – mine in a Craftsman) on dogs in the hospital and my own young adult, Chuck. We are finding it does work with the right coarse sanding drum attachment. It leaves a nice smooth nail, is less scary for many dogs than clipping, but takes a lot more time. I think most owners could do this at home, with the right tool, and a lot of patience.
Before you head out to the grinding process, you must familiarize your dog with the Dremel tool. The introduction should be simple and slow. Don’t rush, since you could create a bad association of the tool and your dog.
The first part of the introduction involves using special high value treats that your dog is crazy about and can eat slowly. Some of the treats to use include salmon, steak, and grilled chicken or even peanut butter. Once you have the food, turn on the Dremel tool while feeding your dog with the delicious foods. Then turn off the Dremel tool and stop the feeding. The association becomes Dremel off /no food, and then Dremel on/ special treats. Also, let your dog sniff and touch the Dremel tool while it is off. This investigation of the tool makes your dog less fearful around the Dremel.
Next, While running the Dremel tool (noise),have your dog get used to having his or her feet touched. Feed treats. We want the noise and foot handing NOT to be a scary experience. You may only be able to touch a foot, or a few nails at first. Be patient. With time your dog becomes accustomed to the noise. With multiple practice sessions, your dog is now ready to be trimmed off its nails.
Also, try to get your pup to lie on its side on the floor, rather than standing up. This provides a relaxation mood to the dog and a perfect position for the trimming activity. Taking the process slow is both beneficial to you and your dog. I found with Chuck, standing up with his foot flexed and flipped back like a farrier does a horse worked better. He does NOT like for me to pull on his feet.
Once these steps are accomplished, you are ready for the crucial part : trimming of the nails.
1) Prepare your Dremel tool with the little sand paper drum. The treats should be ready and nearby. Ideally, have a partner to offer treats while you concentrate on the nails. Your dog should be in a comfortable position.
2) At this stage ask your dog to give you his or her paw, and then hold the paw firmly without squeezing it. Separate the nail from the rest of the part, by pushing gently at the top of your dog’s paw.
The nail will extend slightly from the pressure applied. If your dog has a longer coat the fur might be caught by the spinning Dremel. It is recommended to either trim the hair first, or put a “sock” on the foot with the a hole for the nail. This keeps the fur out of the spinning Dremel spindle.
3) Turn on the Dremel tool, on low power, and touch the tip of your dog’s nails with the spinning Dremel. The tip of the nail will be ground awayl. Take care not to apply too much pressure as this will injure your dog or cause the tip to slip.
Start grinding across the underside of the nail. This removes the uneven edges and the rough stuff. Then grind on the tip of the nail to an angle so it will be flat on the floor when the dog stands. Take off the sides, corners and the rough edges that are surrounding the tip.
While doing this your grinder should be moving, not just holding in one place too long. Get close to the quick without nicking it. When the quick recedes further back, the nail will get much shorter.
In order to smooth the nails, grind the small loose layer that runs alongside each nails bottom gently. Do this by rotating the Dremel in one or two swipes around the nail. The smoothing achieves perfect rounded corners and prevents the cracking of nails.
4) During and after finishing the trimming process, reward your dog by offering treats and praises. A second person makes this much easier at first.
Shorter sessions are less traumatic and comforting; hence take a little break after trimming each nail. Even if you just do a few nails the first time, without fear, it will be easier. Wait a day or two and try for a few more. Overtime, most dogs will tolerate the higher speed setting, and the whole process is much faster. With practice, you will be able to trim perfectly the long nails.
Dremel tips-https://rotarytoolsguy.com/trim-dog-nails-with-dremel-tool/
Trainer tips- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18UjGBiMpQM
Vet video-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRVhIOqjeU