Weighing In On New Year's Resolutions

                                                                   
                     It is hard to believe January is right around the corner. You know what that means...it's time for New Year's resolutions to be made---and broken---across the country. Without a doubt, the most common resolution we hear from friends, family, and coworkers is the goal to lose weight. While this aspiration is a common one, it's also a difficult one, and soon gyms will be filled with new members counting calories.

                   This blog isn't about resolutions, but perhaps it is time to look at our four-legged friends to assess whether they would benefit from a weight loss plan. Pets that are overweight see a decrease in life span of an estimated 20-35%.  Everyone wants their pet to be at their side as long as possible, and reducing their weight is one way to make that more likely. The following are some tips to help you be successful with your pet's weight loss program:


1) Use a REAL measuring cup, versus a glass, coffee can, bowl, etc. to help you get a grasp on what you are actually feeding your pet. In general people feed more than they realize...

2) Don't free feed! If your pet needs to lose weight, schedule meals with set amounts of food, versus just keeping the bowl full at all times.

3) Feed pets separately.  Do what it takes...feed pets in separate rooms or feed them in their crates. Don't let one pet (usually the one who needs to lose weight) eat its food AND half of its companions' food as well.

4) Switch foods.  Most dog food brands also have "light" or "weight management" formulas. Look for the food you feed your pet in a lower calorie formula.

5) Cut out table scraps! Human food is very high in calories for pets! In many cases, cutting this out can make a really big difference.

6) Add fiber.  Providng fiber through plain, canned pumpkin or green beans can help decrease the calories your pet consumes, while making it feel full. 

7) Ration treats.  Set an amount of treats to be given during a day and get everyone in the family on board! An easy way to do this is to have a jar for the allotted daily treats. Fill it in the morning with an appropriate number of treats for everyone to feed. When they're gone, they're gone!

8) Feed healthy treats.  Green beans or carrots can make great treats that are healthier than milk bones. You can also consider using part of your pet's regular kibble as allotted treats for a given day.

                    If you aren't sure if your pet is overweight, it may be time to make an appointment with your veterinarian. We are always happy to discuss weight loss techniques, and we welcome you to bring your pets for weigh-ins to track progress as well. We will give you advice and the motivation to keep going! Weight loss for pets takes time and dedication. Let us help you help your pet live longer.

By Dr. Jill Dentel

Dr. Jill Dentel is an associate veterinarian at Delphos Animal Hospital.

I Can't Believe It's Mrs. Beachy

Dr. John H. Jones

             I like chickens. In fact, I've liked chickens for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest recollections is of a Columbian Wyandotte bantam hen that came from my great aunt Minnie. My family had just moved to rural Dublin, and, like many people who move to the country, decided to make the raising of chickens their first agricultural pursuit. 

            Flash forward more than fifty years, and I am amazed at how popular this avocation has become. Although most sources will say the percentage of Americans directly involved in agriculture is less than 2 percent, if the number of folks who raise backyard chickens is considered, that number would increase exponentially. Much of this has to do with a real, innate desire many of us have, which is to know where our food comes from. After all, there's very little in life more important than that. 

            Of course, there are other reasons to raise chickens. They are great to teach children basic animal husbandry skills, responsibility, and that all too important lesson about the "circle of life." Chickens are inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to feed, and make wonderful 4-H projects. Many a meat pen of birds has helped subsidize more costly projects such as a market hog or steer.

            But chickens are not only good for kids; older people can benefit from raising them as well. Besides the obvious nutritious, delicious eggs hens provide, to care for them daily is a reason to get out of bed and start moving. I'm reminded of that every morning when I see my father's face in the mirror.

            One thing I was not prepared for with this resurgence of chicken raising is the emotional bond that some people share with their birds. They actually love their chickens, and will go to any length, no matter whether the malady is from injury or disease, to bring them back to health. I feel a twinge of guilt about this because I have only "liked" my chickens, not loved them. There was one, though, that I was quite fond of.

            His name was "Lester," and he was a small, Black Cochin bantam rooster. I bought him for $3 from a lady named Ada Beachy, who lived a bit south of Plain City on U.S. Route 42.

            Lester became part of my eighth-grade science project which was based on the Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov's work on conditioned responses. Lester was conditioned to ring a bell when he saw nuggets of corn. He was so successful that we qualified to go to the district science fair at Ohio State's French Field House, and he even had his picture in the newspaper. Lester was the most famous chicken in Dublin.

            For some reason, I thought of Lester one afternoon in September, while tending to my current flock of Columbian Wyandottes. Apparently, I was reminiscing about chickens from my youth and wondered: Wouldn't it be fun to get some more Black Cochins like Lester? But from where? Surely Mrs. Beachy would have passed away.  Forty-three years is indeed a long time.

            So imagine my surprise that evening, shock really, as I was leafing through the pages of " Rural Life Today," a Lima News supplement, and came to page 21. "Oh my God. It's Mrs. Beachy!" Not only  was she alive, she was " A Plain City institution." And at 91 years young , she is still going strong growing vegetables.

            The next morning I called my sister-in-law, Cindy, who, coincidentally, lives a few miles north of Plain City, just off Route 42. I asked  for a favor. Cindy not only agreed, she surpassed my request. She knew exactly where Mrs. Beachy lived, having seen the "bantams" and "vegetables" signs  mentioned in the story countless times before. She also would be happy to stop that very afternoon.     

            Cindy said she had a nice visit with Mrs. Beachy. They talked at length about vegetables, and Cindy even threw out that Mrs. Beachy remembered me. When I replied, "Really?" with some disbelief, she quickly brought me back to reality. "No!"

             Unfortunately, Mrs. Beachy didn't have many chickens left, either, none for sale, and only one little black hen. She did say she might have more in the spring, and that I should check back. That sounds like a good plan. I think I see a field trip in my future.

 

By Dr. John H. Jones

John H. Jones, DVM has practiced mixed animal medicine at Delphos Animal Hospital in Delphos, Ohio since 1987.

Oh, Deer...It's That Time of Year

                                                                               

                       

                                With Thanksgiving past, I have taken inventory of my blessings. Some fall on a short list---family (two- and four-legged), good health, education and a career that I love. On the long list are walks in our woods, beautiful landscapes and nature in general.

                                Oh, and did I mention Daylight Savings Time? While it can be a hassle for our bodies to adjust to "falling back," I see this as a blessing, for farmers and for me. It's about beating the clock to get home to "play outside" before the sun sets.

                               
                               However, when my work days run long in the fall, sometimes the clock still wins. I remind myself on my drive home in darkness to keep a watchful eye for romantic or hungry deer. I am especially cautious when approaching areas close to woods, recently harvested fields and ditch banks, knowing these are places deer are traversing. The sad sighting of the occasional carcass lying along my route becomes a rude reminder to keep my eyes peeled for that heart-stopping moment when deer appear seemingly out of nowhere, as startled to see me, as I to see them.

                                All of this reflection about deer reinforces my need to educate everyone not just about  the automobile hazards deer present at this time of year, but also the disease risks they bring all year round.  As a profession, veterinarians are charged with educating people about preventing "zoonoses," or diseases  transmitted from animals to humans directly, or indirectly via an intermediate host (vector), such as a tick or mosquito.

                                Lyme Disease or "Borreliosis," is a zoonosis transmitted to humans and animals via the common deer tick,  Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick). Borrelia  burgdorferi , a spirochete bacterium  introduced into the tissues of humans and animals when a deer tick feeds, causes Lyme Disease. Symptoms in humans and animals may be absent for weeks, then may be vague at best, making recognition and diagnosis of Lyme Disease difficult.

                                In pets, Lyme disease is more common to dogs, although cats may be infected as well. Both species share similar symptoms of Lyme Disease with humans, primarily lethargy, fatigue and joint pain, with or without swelling. In canines, we may only see symptoms in 5-10% of infected patients. This makes routine screening of pets, especially dogs who are seen in veterinary facilities more commonly than cats, very important. Having a pulse on the positive cases of Lyme Disease in dogs, gives us a perspective on how prevalent the disease might be in our human population as well.

                                Ohio is considered an "emergent state" for Lyme Disease due to a growing incidence of Lyme positive human and animal cases diagnosed in neighboring Pennsylvania and Indiana, and now in Ohio. Positive human cases in Ohio date back to 1986, but are on the rise, presumably due to an increase in the deer tick population.  According to the Ohio Department of Health, as of November 1 of this year,  1,825 human cases of Lyme disease have been diagnosed in Ohio, with 100 to 150 cases being diagnosed  each year since 2014.

                                Veterinarians have the important responsibility to screen, diagnose and treat any positive cases of Lyme Disease in their patients. A "Test, Treat and Vaccinate" protocol should be in place in every veterinary hospital. Lyme blood testing is commonly performed annually at the same time as canine heartworm testing and will include screening for other tick-borne diseases as well. Treatment of tick-borne diseases with oral medication, can be simple and economical, especially when diagnosed before symptoms occur.

                                Most importantly, several vaccines are now available to prevent Lyme Disease in dogs. Your veterinarian may also make a recommendation to improve your pet's tick prevention with the advent of several newer, safe, highly effective, ORAL flea and tick control medications, such as beef-flavored Nexgard chews.

                                Some final words of caution...while veterinarians can diagnose, vaccinate and treat your pet for Lyme Disease, we can't entirely protect YOU, the pet owner! Please remember to protect yourself from tick bites by avoiding areas of tall vegetation and woods where ticks thrive and "dine." When frequenting such areas, tuck your pants inside your socks, wear long-sleeved clothing and hats, and walk in the center of trails. According to the Center for Disease Control, insect repellents containing 20-30% DEET may be applied to exposed skin and clothing. After visiting high risk areas, perform an immediate, thorough examination of your body and scalp, and bathe within 2 hours to find and wash off ticks. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of Lyme Disease cure, too!        

 

By Dr. Bonnie Jones    

 Dr. Bonnie Jones is co-owner of Delphos Animal Hospital which she operates with her husband, John H. Jones, DVM. She was valedictorian and Outstanding Senior Clinician of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 1985.