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Does your Pet have Arthritis? Thu 03/15/2007
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This article has a list of things to watch for to make sure your pet is not suffering from arthritis.
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- With winter’s chill, and the cold and damp weather, any pet with joint problems may have increased discomfort.
- One out of every five dogs and a lesser number of cats suffer from arthritis.
- Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease with many causes, even normal aging.
- Pets of any size and age may be affected.
- How do I know if my pet has arthritis?
- Limping
- Tires easily during walks
- Reluctant to jump up or climb stairs
- Difficulty getting up
- Worsening of symptoms in cold or rainy weather.
- If you see any of these signs, ask your veterinarian to examine your pet. Your pet should get a complete physical examination and consultation. An arthritis work-up may include x-rays and blood tests.
- Sooner is better than later! Treatments have a better chance of succeeding if diagnosed early.
- Your veterinarian may make a variety of treatment options, such as:
- A weight loss program
- The best exercise is walking and it can be a fun time to share with pets
- Nutritional supplements
- Medication to ease the pain, so they can be a happy family member again.
- To help decide what is best for your pets’ needs, seek the help of your veterinarian.
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Cold Weather Can Affect your Pet Thu 03/15/2007
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Here are a few things to be aware of in the winter, to make sure your pet is safe.
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Here are a few things to be aware of in the winter, to make sure your pet is safe.
Frostbite: Remove ice and snow from your pet's paws and coat at once. Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white or gray, and it may be scaly or sloughing. If you suspect frostbite, take your pet to a warm place immediately. Thaw out frostbitten areas slowly by applying warm, moist towels that are changed frequently. Continue until the affected areas become flushed. Contact us as soon as possible; as your pet should be seen by a veterinarian to evaluate the seriousness of the condition.
Snow Removal Salt: Some substances produced to melt ice and snow have low to moderate toxicity, depending on the ingredients an amount ingested. Read the labels and take necessary precautions. Keep these products stored in tight containers out of your pet's and children's reach and be sure to remove salt from your pet's paws immediately.
Antifreeze: Even a very small amount of antifreeze can be fatal. Precautions are necessary with all antifreeze products on the market. Read labels and warnings carefully. Thoroughly clean up spills at once. Keep containers closed tightly and store them where pets cannot get to them.
Napping Cats: Cats sometimes climb into vehicle engines for warmth. Before starting your vehicle, knock on the hood and honk the horn. Even if your own cat does not have access to your vehicle, a neighbor's cat might have taken shelter there.
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Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holidays Thu 03/15/2007
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Holidays are a fun time for everyone. Make sure your pet is safe and has fun too.
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The holidays can create special dangers for your pets. Here are a few tips to help keep your pets safe during this special time of year.
- Increased activity and visitors during the holiday season can upset your pet's routine. Try to keep your pet on his regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure he gets plenty of love.
- If you are planning to take your pet with you when visiting friends and relatives during the holiday season, be sure to contact them in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. Because of the excitement during this season, it might be best for you and your pet to board your pet or hire a reputable pet sitter.
- Alcoholic beverages, holiday treats such as chocolates, rich, fatty food scraps and bones can be harmful or toxic to pets. Keep your pet on his regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats" to help avoid upset stomachs.
- Never put ribbons or yarn around your pet's neck and do not allow your pet to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders.
- Cover or tack down electrical cords.
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Questions to Ask When your Pet is Having Surgery Thu 03/15/2007
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The following are questions that a pet owner should ask before there pet goes into surgery. Here are some brief answers of what to expect.
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1. Will my pet receive a complete physical exam before surgery?
An animal that suffers from a disorder such as a parasite infection, an infectious disease or a heart murmur presents a different risk factor that must be taken into consideration prior to the surgery. A pre-surgical exam and pre-anesthetic blood test is your pet’s chance to have adverse conditions detected. Age-appropriate blood tests also reveal problems that aren’t obvious. Our doctors make sure each pet is a good candidate for surgery with a complete physical exam and pre-anesthetic blood tests.
2. What safety precautions are taken during surgery?
While most surgery is uneventful, emergencies sometimes occur. During surgery, the medical team at OCVH includes your pet’s veterinarian and a dedicated veterinary technician. Detecting problems early improves our ability to intervene and correct them. We place a breathing tube on all anesthetized pets to keep the airway open and allow for supplemental oxygen or gas anesthesia as needed. A heart (ECG), blood pressure and oxygen monitor allows the surgeon to track your pet’s heart rate and rhythm, as well as the amount of oxygen in the blood to ensure that respiration and circulation are normal. In addition, patients receive IV fluids during surgery to support circulation as needed. Even the anesthesia and sutures we use are carefully evaluated and selected based on safety, effectiveness and reaction potential.
3. What safety precautions are taken after surgery?
Surgery patients lose body heat through anesthesia and the opening of the body cavities. We monitor patient temperature at regular intervals during and after surgery and provide supplemental heating as needed. We also monitor your pet’s gum color, pulse and respiration to ensure that respiration and circulation are normal.
4. How is my pet’s pain managed?
Surgery hurts! The anesthetic does not provide pain control once the pet wakes up, so in addition to analgesics provided during surgery, we provide pre- and post-operative pain control medication.
5. Will I receive written post-surgical care instructions?
Follow-up care is crucial for proper healing. A comfortable pet experiences less stress and a lower likelihood of injury during recovery. A doctor or team member will discuss your pet’s post-operative care, provide clear, written discharge instructions and pain medications. And of course, we’ll answer any questions you might have whenever you might have them because your comfort is just as important to us as your pet’s.
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What to Expect for your Pets Ultrasound Thu 03/15/2007
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Ocean County Veterinary Hopsital offers both thoracic ultrasound and abdnormal ultrasound. These procedures are non-invasive, painless methods that can diagnose and stage many diseases.
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Ocean County Veterinary Hospital offers both thoracic ultrasound (also called cardiac ultrasound or echocardiogram) and abdominal ultrasound. These procedures are non-invasive, painless methods that can diagnose and stage many diseases.
Ultrasound allows our veterinarians to visualize the internal structure of many organs. Internal abnormalities such as nodules, tumors, cysts, fluid pockets and abscesses that are not always visible on x-rays can be detected with ultrasound. The pumping action of the heart and movement of its internal valves can be evaluated through moving images revealed by the ultrasound machine. Lesions can also be counted and measured accurately. An additional advantage of ultrasound is the ability to obtain needle aspirates or small biopsies of tissues or fluid with tremendous accuracy, safety and without the need for a complicated surgical procedure.
The typical ultrasound examination requires NO tranquilization or anesthesia and is easily performed on animals that are fully awake. Prior fasting is usually NOT required. The only patient preparation necessary is clipping of the hair overlying the area to be scanned (ultrasound waves will not penetrate through hair) and placing a special gel on the skin surface just prior to the exam process. During the ultrasound examination, the doctor gently rubs a device that looks like a small microphone over the pet’s skin. The entire scanning process is painless and takes 30-40 minutes in a relaxed environment. Ultrasound images which are seen in real-time on the monitor at OCVH may also be captured and sent to an internal medicine specialist over the internet for review and analysis.
Cardiac Ultrasound (echocardiography) is an ultrasound examination of the heart. This is a real-time, moving image that allows our veterinarians to measure cardiac contractility (estimate of heart function), as well as identify abnormal valves, enlarged chambers, abnormal muscle wall thickness, tumors within the heart and fluid surrounding the heart. Cardiac ultrasound in conjunction with chest x-rays are recommended for animals that have a heart murmur detected on physical examination, animals that have had difficulty breathing, and some animals with a persistent cough. An animal with heart disease will often have a cardiac ultrasound performed every six months to evaluate progression of the disease and response to therapy. The type of therapy that an animal is receiving may need to be changed based on the results of a follow-up ultrasound exam.
Abdominal Ultrasound evaluates the organs of the abdomen; liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, kidneys, urinary bladder, prostate (in males), uterus and ovaries (in non-spayed females), adrenal glands and lymph nodes. The internal structure of these organs can be examined and they can be accurately measured and compared to normal ones. Free-fluid in the abdomen (such as blood) can be identified and sampled during this procedure. Numerous types of diseases within particular organs have a specific appearance on ultrasound (such as cirrhosis of the liver and some kidney problems). This can aid greatly in the diagnosis and treatment of your beloved pet. An abdominal ultrasound can frequently identify masses or tumors, abnormal fluid, cysts, urinary bladder stones, kidney stones, gall bladder stones, pregnancy, uterine infections (pyometra), enlarged lymph nodes and gastrointestinal obstructions.
When used in conjunction with a physical examination, laboratory work and x-rays, ultrasound can often help to quickly discover your pet’s problem and to assure appropriate therapy is started as soon as possible.
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