The Perfect Pet Might Be the Imperfect Pet

It is safe to say veterinarians take work home in more ways than one.  My husband and I are not exceptions as more than one patient has spent a night at “Camp Jones” for monitoring or treatment. Then there are animals, owned or homeless, that find themselves on death row that also get taken home by their veterinarians---and never leave.  These animals may be sick, old, defective, or just plain “not right,” and yet they are full of life and lovable.

Imperfection certainly paved the way to “The Good Life” at Welshire Farm for our pets Precious, Bandi, Stinky, and Ruthie.  Precious, was our loving, apple-faced, tortoiseshell cat that sustained bite wounds to her hindquarters, leaving her permanently unable to urinate independently.  With antibiotics and regular manual expression of her bladder, one would never know she was a “special needs” cat all of her life.

Bandi was a beautiful Border Collie that entered our lives when she was presented to be helped across The Rainbow Bridge.  Bandi, you see, was an achy senior citizen with an ulcerated skin tumor whose owners thought she did not want to live anymore. 

This golden girl was simply suffering from a broken heart caused by heartworms, and stiff joints associated with osteoarthritis. With heartworm treatment, the wonders of glucosamine chondroitin supplementation, and minor surgery to remove her tumor, Bandi blossomed in to a beloved member of our family.  In return, we enjoyed six more years with this grateful dog that asked politely if she could sleep on our chair, instead of in the mulch. Of course, we said “Yes.”

Stinky’s story highlights one of my husband’s greatest weaknesses…kittens! His owner brought this young, yellow kitten to be examined for two reasons. For one, he could not stand or walk; instead, he flopped from side to side.  And, did I mention that Stinky’s second affliction was smelly diarrhea?  Imagine this little kitten, unable to eliminate while standing...with diarrhea.  But, my husband was his veterinarian and so Stinky had a new home.

Stinky was a victim of circumstances. He was born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls coordination. His diarrhea was a parasite problem that was readily corrected, but the inability to stand and walk could not be. For 11 years, this special needs cat was carried everywhere he needed to go, rested in his own cushioned basket (often with companions), and was assisted with litter pan visits on a regular basis. Ironically, Stinky again developed intractable diarrhea at the end of his life.

Our most recent special needs adoption, unlike the others, is still alive.  Ruthie, a small, beautiful, fluffy calico kitten also had the good fortune to meet my husband first when she was brought to our hospital by a Good Samaritan.  While her size was compatible with a three month old kitten, her teeth showed her to already be six months old. 

At the time, my “rodentophobic” husband was feeling like his barn was “cat-deficient” so he readily offered to take this kitten for his own to be a mouser.  A few days later, I visited the barn to find Ruthie rolling around on the floor, eyes dilated, and drooling.  As a trained investigator, I took one look at her and immediately knew she was not going to live in the barn at all. 

This gorgeous, dwarf of a cat was suffering from inadequate blood supply to her liver that was allowing protein she consumed to turn into ammonia-like products in her blood.  Her most likely diagnoses were a liver shunt or microvascular liver disease.  Ruthie needed special food and supplements to prevent her from being poisoned by the very food that was supposed to make her thrive.  Seven years later, she is indeed thriving, and except for her small stature, you would never know she had special needs.

I am sharing these stories with you to bring to light the plight of so many pets that reside in shelters or foster homes waiting for a second chance at life. Visit your local shelters and rescue groups if you feel that you, too, could open your heart to a special needs pet. All too often these pets are prematurely euthanized because they are deemed unsalvageable, especially when compared to healthy roommates.  But, I promise you that if you do take a chance on an imperfect pet, the payback will be priceless.                                                                                                                      

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones

 

 

A Humble and Cautionary Tale

                        My friend Harold, of Q-fever fame, for Christmas gave me a bumper sticker that reads:  “It’s hard to be humble when you own a Border Collie.”  Without shame or apology, that is true.

                        Border Collies are great dogs.  Hard-working people-pleasers, devoted, intuitive, they are at the top of every list of smartest breed of dog.  I have often thought the world would be a much better place if only Border Collies had opposable thumbs.

                         As wonderful as they are, though, Border Collies are not for everyone.  High energy dogs, they require a great deal of exercise and attention from their owners.  What they really need is a job.  Sheep herding, Frisbee catching, and chasing geese at airports are some of the vocations at which they excel.  If they don’t get this job release, Border Collies often resort to other activities which can land them in trouble.  Sadly, many Border Collies end up in rescue shelters.

                        My wife and I currently have two Border Collies.  They help me everyday with my chores, doing general sheepdog tasks like herding, gate monitoring, and “watching my back” from charging rams.

                        Robbie came to live with us four years ago.  At the age of three months and one week, she became a sheepdog.  I walked her, with a piece of twine for a leash, out to the sheep pasture, not so much to train her, but to get the sheep used to her presence.  Robbie, disappointingly, wasn’t intrigued much by the sheep, but was more interested in eating sheep manure.

                        Suddenly, a small group of ewes made a break for the barn.  Robbie’s head came up, I let the twine slip through her collar, and she was off like a flash.  She caught up to the ewes, turned them as if directed by something deep in her brain, and brought them back to the flock.

                        From that moment, Robbie hasn’t slowed down on her herding.  When she gets the notion it’s time to herd sheep, I can’t make her stop; I can’t make her not want to herd.  The desire and instinct are too strong.

                        Jimmy, Robbie’s younger brother, just celebrated his first birthday on January 19. He became a sheepdog at the age of four months with an experience similar to Robbie’s.  Jimmy shares Robbie’s enthusiasm for the job, if not quite the undying dedication.  But, he is still a teenager.

                        For more than 400 years, Border Collies have been bred for one purpose: to herd sheep.  The manner in which they herd is not unlike that of a wolf stalking its prey.  In fact, it is exactly that, only enhanced and, hopefully, controlled.

                        The reason for this wolf behavior is simple.  Border Collies and all domestic dogs were developed from wolves.  Genetic selection, with a few good mutations thrown in, has resulted in the vast array of dog breeds that we have today.  Like Border Collies, each of these breeds was created for a specific purpose or need, from companionship, to hunting, herding, working, guarding, or fighting.  When selecting a breed of dog for your family, it is imperative that this purpose be understood.

                        Much has been written recently about pitbulls and what nice dogs they can be.  I agree.  Some of the nicest, sweetest dogs in our practice are pitbulls.  The same can be said about German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Chow Chows.  Unfortunately, in too many cases, the opposite can also be said.  These are guarding or fighting breeds.  Mean and aggressive is what they were bred to be.  However, not all of them are.  To find the nice ones may require some effort, but the effort will be worth it.

                        Learn as much about your desired dog breed as possible.  Visit and talk extensively with breeders.  If you have a puppy in mind, carefully observe the parents’ temperament.  If there are any doubts about their actions, forget that puppy and move on.

                        You can’t know too much about any dog when choosing a pet for your family.  Every breed is not right for everyone, or every situation.  Do your homework, ask your veterinarian lots of questions, and really think things through, if for no other reason than I can’t make my dog not herd sheep.

Author: Dr. John Jones

How Sweet It Is

                        Probably each of us is acquainted with or related to someone who has Diabetes Mellitus, a disease caused by a deficiency of or resistance to insulin, resulting in high blood sugar.  But, did you know that diabetes can occur in pets as well?

                        Diabetes is one of the most common hormonal disorders in dogs and cats and can be very debilitating if left undiagnosed and untreated. Fortunately, diagnosing diabetes in pets is easy, while treating the disease can sometimes prove to be a little tricky.  Our feline family members can be especially challenging when it comes to treatment of this disease.

                        As in humans, pets experience different types of Diabetes Mellitus.  Type I diabetes results from a deficiency of insulin in the body due to an insufficient number of insulin-producing cells located in the pancreas.  Type I diabetes is not preventable, is the most serious form of the disease, and most often develops in younger pets. Type I diabetes is most likely genetic, occurring commonly in Samoyeds, Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, and Pugs. In cats, no breeds are more at risk than others.

                        Veterinarians commonly diagnose Type II diabetes which occurs when a pet’s body is resistant to the effects of insulin. Older, obese pets are more prone to Type II diabetes because fat cells often become resistant to insulin.  Weight control through diet and exercise may help prevent the onset of Type II diabetes.

                         In dogs, diabetes is at least twice as common in females, especially overweight females, while in cats neutered males are at greater risk. Diabetes can develop at any age, but peak onset is usually around eight years old.

                        Symptoms of diabetes in pets are very similar to those seen in humans and may include weakness, increased thirst, increased and frequent urinations, weight loss, appetite changes (initially increases and later declines), depression, vomiting, cataracts (in dogs) and blindness. Some pets are diagnosed only after their owners begin to notice that a previously well housetrained dog or litter-trained cat begins to have accidents in the house.

                        If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, take it to your veterinarian for a complete physical exam. Your veterinarian will perform blood and urine tests to quickly and easily diagnose diabetes. Be advised that annual physical exams and wellness blood screening of your apparently healthy pet performed by your veterinarian can provide early diagnosis for this very treatable disease before symptoms occur.

                        Once your pet’s diabetes has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will recommend an appropriate course of treatment that may require one or two daily insulin injections to lower the blood glucose (sugar) levels. Your veterinarian can train you in proper injection techniques to make the experience more comfortable for you and your pet. Treatment of your diabetic pet may also include a diet change and proper weight management through diet and exercise. All diabetic dogs require supplementation with insulin while about a third of diabetic cats may be managed by dietary changes and/or oral hypoglycemic agents such as Glipizide.

                        Treatment of a diabetic pet requires close daily monitoring to determine treatment success and prevent hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes associated with insulin overdosing.  Signs of hypoglycemia in pets include weakness, staggering, disorientation and seizures.  These symptoms are readily treated with immediate administration of a sweet substance such as Karo syrup or honey, either ingested by the pet or applied to an unconscious pet’s gums. You should then contact your veterinarian for further recommendations.

               
                        Developing a routine for your diabetic pet and adhering to it closely will reduce the likelihood of mistakes in insulin regulation.  Keeping a journal of daily activities, insulin administration and food intake can prove very helpful in diabetes regulation as well.  Never take your diabetic pet away from home without Karo syrup or honey in case your pet experiences a hypoglycemia attack. Also, provide your pet with a “Diabetic” identification tag (include your veterinarian’s name and number) in case the pet gets separated from you.

                        Caring for a diabetic pet can be a fulfilling experience, and diabetic pets can provide just as much companionship and enjoyment as other pets.  Diabetic pet owners always seem to develop a good relationship with their veterinarian as the two work closely to monitor and regulate the pet’s diabetes. Don’t let your pet suffer needlessly from a treatable disease such as Diabetes Mellitus. Your “sweet success” in diagnosis and regulation of your diabetic pet is as close as your veterinarian.

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones

The Best Advice I Have

                        First, I want to apologize to readers who feel I don’t offer enough advice in my columns.  The reason for that and I’m sure you’ll understand when you read this, is because the last guy I gave advice to actually took it.

                        My brother-in-law, Gary, has a bad back.  So bad, in fact, that he needed surgery---a dorsal laminectomy of four of his vertebrae.  Why his surgeon agreed to this, I don’t know, but he let Gary keep the removed pieces of bone.  Gary casually phoned me shortly afterward, his wife would probably say under the influence of his pain medication, and asked how best to clean the shreds of meat from the bone.  Although I can’t claim to have been under the influence of anything, I am guilty of my response: “Boil them!”

                        Weeks went by, and Bonnie and I were attending the Midwest Veterinary Conference in Columbus.  Gary and his wife, Cindy, Bonnie’s sister and a registered veterinary technician, live not far from there, so we stayed at their house for the weekend.

                        On Saturday, Cindy went with us to the conference.  Upon returning to their home that evening, the comforting smell of chicken soup greeted us from the kitchen.  But, Gary wasn’t making supper.  And, he wasn’t cooking chicken, either.  Sadly, chicken soup has lost much of its appeal.

                        Recently, though, I did have another opportunity to offer some more advice.  Only this advice wasn’t given in jest, and it was advice I wish I had given myself many years ago.

                        My patient, a young, female English Bulldog, had just ended her first heat cycle.  Her owner’s complaint was that she had a greenish vaginal discharge.  Notes in her chart from previous visits indicated that she had this condition twice before as a younger puppy.  The phrase “intends to breed” was written as well.

                        From the almost constant petting, hugging, kissing, and I believe “sweet nothings” whispered in her ear, I could tell her owner really loved his dog.  I explained that this was probably a simple case of vaginitis, but that it could ascend to become a urinary tract infection or worse yet, be a foreshadowing of a much more serious problem seen in older, unsprayed, females, called pyometra.  This uterine infection itself can become life-threatening, or lead to kidney failure.  The “life-threatening” part seemed to grab his attention.

                        Knowing his intention to breed, I added that pregnant English Bulldogs usually required a caesarian section.  That didn’t faze him.  He was, he insisted, only going to breed her once.  I further explained that while we have done numerous caesarians in our practice, and most have gone well without complication, it is not an innocuous procedure, and there are no guarantees.

                        The concern returned to his face, and in a soft spoken voice he asked, “What should I do, Doc?”

                        In the nanoseconds it took to process his question, my first thought was that of an old friend.  Chrissy was one of the greatest dogs who ever lived.  Born in 1982, she was the granddaughter of my original Border Collie, “Old Chrissy.”  I had given one of her puppies to my brother, and he in turn gave me little Chrissy when I worked for him that summer.

                        Chrissy would literally jump through hoops for me. Everyone who met her wanted one of her puppies, including, and especially me.  I planned to have one of her family members in my life forever.

                        After several failed attempts to breed her, we tried one more time when she was seven years old.  Two to six years of age are considered the best and safest breeding years.  Bonnie thought Chrissy was too old, so I take full responsibility for what happened.

                        Chrissy went into labor on a Sunday afternoon. Things didn’t progress normally, however, and after too many hours and a couple injections of oxytocin, we decided she needed a caesarian.              

                        The first part of the surgery was uneventful.  We removed seven live puppies from the uterus, and Bonnie began to suture the wound.  Then suddenly, without any warning, Chrissy's heart stopped, and she was gone. Thank you to our neighbors, Denny and Rosie, for their help that awful night.

   
                        We raised six of the puppies and kept two.  Jake had his mother’s kind and gentle heart, and Chrissy III, her steadfast devotion.  Although we loved those dogs with all our hearts, if given the choice, I don’t think either Bonnie or I would have traded their mother for them.

                        “Have her spayed,” I told him.  “Have your dog spayed and avoid any possible complications of pregnancy.”  And maybe a whole lot of heartache and guilt.  That’s the best advice I have. 

Author:  Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Debunking Myths about Pets and Pet Care

One of the primary roles I have as a veterinarian is to be an educator.  With that responsibility foremost in my daily toiling, I would like to take this opportunity to debunk several myths about pets and their care.  These wives’ tales are not only incorrect, but can also be dangerous to a pet’s well-being.

 Probably the most common false belief that my clients share with me is that a female dog needs to have a litter of puppies to be a “better” pet.  On the contrary, a female dog spayed prior to her first heat cycle will have a greatly decreased risk for malignant breast tumors and life-threatening, uterine infections. Unspayed female dogs have messy vaginal bleeding for a three week period while they are in heat. During this time, male dogs may arrive from far and wide asking “to marry” the resident female dog in heat. The fact is pet heat cycles are not always a pleasant experience for pet owners, and having puppies does not alter the dog’s temperament.

Along that same line of thinking, the second myth I frequently address is that sterilizing a pet will cause the pet to become fat.  While sterilizing pets can slow metabolism as much as 25%, the reality is the pet does not feed itself!  So, if your neutered pet is plumping out, you need to reduce your pet’s daily food allowance to accommodate this change.  A good rule of thumb would be to reduce your pet’s food intake by 25% at the time of sterilization. Like humans, animal metabolism slows with age; your pet will likely require even less food as it ages.  Simply adjust the pet’s daily ration accordingly.

Speaking of aging, one year in an animal’s life does not equal seven human years. Pets actually age more quickly in their first two years of life, then each successive year approximates four human years in the aging process.  Also, toy and small breed dogs age more slowly than giant breed dogs.  A Saint Bernard or Great Dane will be considered a “senior” at five years of age with an average life span of seven to ten years. Small breed dogs such as Pomeranians, on the other hand, frequently experience lifespans extending into their teens.

With this pet aging concept in mind, consider this fact: a one year old dog could be a mother just as well as a nine year old dog could be.  I don’t know of any seven nor 63 year old human mothers!  This is yet another strong argument for early sterilization of pets.

Another myth that makes me cringe is that feeding bones to pets is acceptable and good for the pet.  No bone fed to a pet is ever risk-free.  While pork chop and steak bones are probably the worst, any bone has the potential to get caught in the teeth or throat, obstruct or perforate the intestine, act as an intestinal foreign body, or cause gastroenteritis and/or constipation. Why would you want your pet to experience any of the above maladies?  By the way, rawhide has all of the same risks associated with its ingestion as bones. Please don’t give your pet bones or any type of rawhide chew.

Okay, so you fed your dog a bone yesterday.  Now you are worried that Rover might be sick.  So you quickly feel Rover’s nose and…aha!  Rover’s nose is cold and wet so he must be just fine.  You have fallen victim to yet another wives’ tale.  Rover’s cold, wet nose is only a reflection of his environment, not his health status.  By the same token, warm ears don’t always indicate that your pet has a fever.  A very ill pet that is dehydrated and depressed may have a very dry nose, but only your veterinary professional can determine if your pet is feverish or dehydrated.

And, since you fed Rover the bone and now he has begun to “break dance” on his butt, could it mean that Rover now has worms??  Actually, scooting is an indication that any of a number of things could be irritating the anal area, including digested bone material and intestinal worms.  More commonly, scooting is a sign that your pet’s anal or scent glands are full or infected, and need to be emptied.  Your veterinarian can help you determine the need for your pet to have its anal glands expressed.  Other causes of scooting include yeast skin infections around the anus and stool “tag-a-longs.”

Your pet could also be break dancing because it has fleas, opportunistic bloodsuckers that like to hang out around the rump area where it is difficult for the pet to reach.  However, you can’t see any fleas, so your pet doesn’t have them, right?  You’ve succumbed to yet another myth!  Fleas are often so elusive that you may only find their feces on your pet via a thorough flea combing.  Flea feces or “flea dirt” looks like pepper, often in a comma or curly-q shape. If you find flea dirt on your pet, it is safe to assume that your pet has or had fleas.

Finally, this column would not be complete without a discussion of the myth of “spiteful” a.k.a. inappropriate eliminations by cats.  Everyone knows that cats cease using the litter box because their humans have done something the cat didn’t appreciate, like adding a new spouse to the household, or better yet, a new baby…wrong again.  Understanding cat elimination behaviors can be very complex, but I’m not so sure cats are capable of the act of “spite.”  More likely, your cat’s inappropriate elimination stems from its strong sense of territoriality, and the fact that we have domesticated and contained a free-ranging, independent species in the confines of our homes. Your cat is expressing a need…a need to be a cat in the complexity of a human-dominated world.

I hope that by debunking the aforementioned myths, I have been successful in educating you about pets and their care. If not, just check out your dog’s “smart bump” on the back of its head.  If the “bump” is really large, your dog is likely very intelligent and could probably teach us both a thing or two.  Or… is that just another myth?     

 

Author: Dr. Bonnie Jones
Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

                     

 

 

Cosmetic Surgery is Not Just for the Rich and Famous

                               

                               Yes, it is conceivable that even your pet could benefit from cosmetic surgery, especially if that pet is a Pug, Shih Tzu, Bulldog, Boston Terrier, or Persian cat. The common thread for all of them is they are naturally brachycephalic or short-muzzled breeds.  “Smushed-faced” pets are purposely bred to accentuate this trait, resulting in endearing, but often troublesome facial features.

                                “Nose Jobs,” regularly performed on human patients, are also done by veterinarians for brachycephalic pets born with “stenotic” or narrow nasal openings.  Pets with this defect struggle to breathe and often compensate by open mouth breathing.  This problem is corrected via a procedure called “nares resection” that removes a triangular piece of nasal tissue from the nostril openings. 

                                Another common veterinary “nose job” is surgical reduction of nasal skin folds just below the eyes of brachycephalic pets.  The very folds that make or break the appearance of a shortened muzzle, can become deep pockets of moist, stained, smelly skin infection known as “nasal fold dermatitis.” Removal of extra skin in the nasal folds makes the pet more comfortable and attractive, while still maintaining the brachycephalic appearance.

                                “Facelifts” are also a real possibility for wrinkly breeds like the Sharpei, Bulldog, and Bloodhound that have extra abundant lip and forehead skin. Like nasal folds that become problematic, pockets created by too much skin along the lower lip line can become infected with yeast and bacteria. The resulting odor from these infections is extremely offensive. Surgery to eliminate the lip folds is safe, simple, and successful.

                                 Similarly, forehead skin on wrinkly dogs can be so bountiful that it will hang over the eyes, obscuring vision and compromising eye health.  This fault is corrected by cutting out a diamond-shaped piece of skin from the forehead to lighten the load. The resulting forehead scar will then be cosmetically hidden by hair.

                                Speaking of vision and eye health, dogs and cats can be born with two opposite extremes of eyelid defects that require “Eye Lifts.”  Entropion, or a rolling in of the eyelids, is far more common than ectropion, or eversion, of the eyelids. Entropion can be painful when lashes and eyelid hairs constantly contact the eye surface, causing tearing, corneal ulcers, and scarring. By removing a thin strip of excess skin parallel to or around the eyelid margins, entropion can be entirely resolved.

                                The opposite condition, known as ectropion, gives certain breeds their beloved forlorn eye appearance.  The lower lids sag in a “V” shape, resulting in deep pockets where mucus and infection accumulate.  Ectropic eyes appear reddened because the inside of the eyelid, or conjunctiva, is constantly exposed (think Bloodhound or Cocker Spaniel). Your veterinarian can make your pet look younger and healthier with a simple eyelid “tuck” that eliminates the redundant eyelid skin.  

                                 “V-plasty” is another “Eye Job” or surgical procedure to get rid of disfiguring oil gland cysts or tumors that grow on the eyelids of pets.  These eyelid growths are a frequent finding when pets are presented for complaints of red eyes. Veterinarians remedy this problem by removing a V-shaped piece of the eyelid margin that encompasses the growth.  The end result is very cosmetic if the defect is less than a third of the eyelid width. Larger defects require more sophisticated procedures.

                                What about “Tush Jobs?” Could your pet need a butt lift…the answer is “Yes!” Not to pick on the brachycephalics, but they are also afflicted with unique defects like deep tail base folds or tight corkscrew tails.  Both abnormalities create pockets of skin infection that make “personal hygiene” impossible. Surgical correction of these faults through tail amputation and fold removal can give your dog a behind to be proud of.

                                A second “Rear End Re-alignment” involves removal of skin located above and around the vulva on female dogs with recessed or underdeveloped vulvas.  This is yet another personal hygiene issue for dogs, especially those with urinary leakage or obesity problems.  The resulting skin pocket around the vulva is often large and deep and will harbor odorous skin infections that are soiled by urine, and become uncomfortable.  Medical management of the incontinence, along with an “episioplasty” to reduce the “hood” of skin obscuring the vulva will resolve this condition.  Your pet will definitely thank you for this cosmetic procedure!

                                To aid healing and minimize scarring after “Rear End Re-alignment” or any cosmetic surgery, your pet will likely be required to wear a “Cone of Shame.” The end result of all of these cosmetic procedures, as well as the donning of the Cone of Shame, will be certain to turn heads and put a swagger in your pet’s gait!

 

Author: Dr. Bonnie Jones
Image courtesy of patrisyu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net