Archive for January, 2010

Did you know that oral disease is the number one diagnosed health problem in pets?

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, a time we take to increase awareness of your pet’s oral health, which can affect their overall health.  Dental disease can cause pain, tooth loss and bad breath.  It can also cause damage to other parts of your pet’s body, including the kidneys, heart, liver, and brain!

Brushing your pet’s teeth only takes a minute or so out of your day and the results are well worth the time!  While some pets will take to the brushing right away (my dog thinks brushing is a treat), it is usually best to introduce brushing gradually.  Start training your pet by gently manipulating the lips to view the teeth while using praise.  Don’t use excessive restraint or a harsh voice.  Keep the experience fun and low stress.   When safe to do so, you may start to rub your finger along the surface of the teeth that faces the lips and cheek.

Once your pet is comfortable with your touch, you can place some flavored pet dental paste on a brush (or broth or tuna juice) and gently introduce it to your pet (they will often want to lick the brush).  Using a gentle circular motion, brush the surfaces of the teeth that face the lips and cheek.

Repeat daily and get your pet’s teeth examined at least once a year.  We can recommend timing for professional cleanings and individualized recommendations during their regular annual exam.

If you can’t brush safely, consider using a nutritionally-balanced dental diet (with a VOHC seal), such as Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d.   You may also use a dental diet in combination with tooth brushing!

Not only will brushing help keep your pet’s mouth healthier, but it can make being near your pet a more pleasant experience.  Imagine the nasty morning breath you would have if you never brushed your teeth!  Yuck!

Preparing your pets for outdoor adventure
Greg Benoit DVM presentation at REI Spokane on April 16, 2009

Canine Fitness Immunologic Rabies Leptospirosis Distemper Parvo Bordatella (kennel cough) Parasitism Minimal annual deworming, prefer twice annually. Use a broad-spectrum dewormer. (Fenbendazole or Panacur, for example.) Physical Cardiovascular Hydration Energy What’s Normal? Temperature: 100.5 – 102.5 Pulse / Heart Rate: 60 – 100 for large breeds, 100 – 140 for small breeds Respiration: 10-30 breaths per minute (unless panting) Capillary refill time: less than 1 – 2 seconds Common Injuries Pad injuries Sprains, strains, breaks Lacerations Stings, bites Ears – lacerations and foreign bodies (i.e. foxtail) Restraint Muzzle Headlock Lateral recumbency First Aid Kit Tape Scissors Cast padding Spika or Meta Splint Roll guaze Vet Wrap Telfa pads Antibiotic ointment Benadryl (1mg/1lb) Bandage scissors Quickstop for broken nails Elastikon tape Tweezers or hemostats for ticks or foreign body removal Tissue glue Antiseptic wipes (betadine) Vet-prescribed pain relief (NSAID) – no safe human equivalents! Ear wash Eye flush *Note – we also discussed QuikClot to stop bleeding.	Checking heart rate
	Applying a muzzle
	Lateral recumbency – hold lower leg for control
	Applying a bandage

Washington’s Tick-transmitted Diseases

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Bacterium-Rickettsia) (Dermacentor)
Tick Paralysis (neurotoxin) (Dermacentor, Ixodes)
Babesiosis (protozoal blood parasite) (Ixodes)
Lyme Disease (Bacterial-Borrelia) (Ixodes)
Tularemia (Rabbit fever) (Dermacentor)
Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (Bacterial-Borrelia) (Ornithodoros)

Recommended Prevention:

Frontline Top Spot or Plus
Apply monthly during the warm months, usually starting in March-April.
Ticks will go through a hyperactive period before dying. You may see these ticks or dead ticks on their pets.

Important for any pets that wander through tall grasses, shrubs, any native habitat.
Recommend for pets traveling to west of the Cascades for flea and tick prevention any time of year.

What are ticks?

• Ticks are not insects, they are arthropods (related to spiders, scorpions, & mites). Count ‘em-there are 8 legs!
• Blood-feeding ectoparasites.
• Can transmit diseases during feeding (the BLOOD meal). Ticks transmit more diseases in North America than mosquitoes!

Tick Life Cycle

Most perch on the edges of low-lying vegetation and wait for an unsuspecting animal host to brush against them, while some ticks prefer to do their waiting in the comfort of the host’s nest. Once aboard, ticks crawl until they find a suitable spot to feed, then burrow their mouthparts into the skin for a blood meal. Ticks feed anywhere from several minutes to weeks depending on their life stage, type of host, and species of tick. Amazingly, their bodies slowly enlarge to accommodate the amount of blood ingested. Engorged ticks can be many times their original size! It is during feeding that infected ticks can transmit disease to their hosts.

Southcare Animal Medical Center in the news
Video: Dr. Benoit discusses the recent H1N1 feline case with KREM2 news.
Click here for KREM2 transcript.

Related H1N1 News

• Frequently Asked Questions by Veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus
  From the AVMA
• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus and Pets
  From the AVMA
• H1N1 (Swine) Flu Confirmed in Iowa Cat
  From About.com Veterinary Medicine
• H1N1 and Animals – News Archive
  From About.com Veterinary Medicine

Dogs have their own version of flu virus that is making the rounds. So far, it has been confirmed in several US states.

From the AVMA
Backgrounder: Canine influenza

From the About.com Veterinary Medicine site:

Originally discovered in 2004, the canine influenza virus is believed to have jumped from horses to dogs in Florida. This virus, H3N8, is a subtype of the influenza A virus, a highly contagious pathogen that can cause disease by itself or in conjunction with other respiratory pathogens. Full article

Related: Canine H3N8 Influenza Vaccine