Prepare for Disaster with Your Pet in Mind

Thankfully we don't get hurricanes in Wisconsin, but we do see flooding, tornadoes and other disasters, sometimes with no warning at all.  While many of us are sending money for relief efforts after Superstorm Sandy, we should also take some time to prepare here in Wisconsin. A little disaster preparation can really help, especially for pet owners.  Listen to Linda's story about Rock River flooding a few years ago.

Many pets are left behind when disaster strikes. When food and water are in short supply, it can be hard to provide for our four legged friends. Here are some suggestions to help prepare:

• Have your pet microchipped. If you are separated from your pet, the microchip will help you find them if they end up at a shelter or veterinarian's office.
• Make a disaster kit. Include things like a flashlight, cash and food and water for both you and your pet. Banks and ATM's may not be functioning if the power is out and pet food may be hard to find. Clean drinking water is most important in survival situations.
• Leash and pet carrier. Pets and people can get very stressed and upset in disaster situations. Keeping pets contained can keep them safe. 

Check out other suggestions at hallettvet.com and start building your pet friendly disaster kit now.

This Product Kills Pets!

 This Product Kills Pets!
Internet Rumors: Are They True or False?

by Dr. Michael Fagan

When was the last time you encountered a sensational-sounding internet pet health alert?  Swiffer?  Sugar free gum?  Any number of pet foods alleged to be harmful?  Rumors are very common and spread at nearly the speed of light.  So how can you discern whether a particular rumor should be ignored or heeded?

Let's look at an example that illustrates a few of the classic signs of a FALSE rumor (some are true!): 

"Swiffer kills pets! "

"Birkie" Eyes the Swiffer

A google search of that phrase turns up several versions (this particular rumor has been around for years), but this post is still in the top 5 search results:

                "I was just informed today that my Sister's young cat has just passed away. Coincidentally, after using SWIFFER for the first time. Her death was described as "just keeled over and died." When my Mother told me this, she also said her friend's dog died from using SWIFFER. Outraged, I googled "SWIFFER KILLS ANIMALS", and produced some results with other allegations! Has anybody heard of this happening???? I was actually going to buy a SWIFFER in the near future. NOT ANYMORE! I have three furbabies! Thought I'd pass this info along."

She followed a few posts later (after others assured her that Swiffer is safe) with, "Sorry for the dramatism. I just got very scared and wanted to share with everyone the news I had just heard."

Signals that skepticism is due:   

• The Fear Factor   
  
• Second or Third Hand Information - (my sister's, my mother's friend's, etc.) is less reliable.  Note that there was no verification of the cause of death.
• Vague,Improbable, or Multiple Symptoms - ("just keeled over and died")  Don't you think the manufacturer would have noticed if this were a common symptom?  
• Claims of Similarity to Other Scary Chemicals - Swiffer was reported by other emphatic posts to be "one molecule away from antifreeze" and "causes liver failure".  We can probably assume that they meant that propylene glycol is one carbon atom away from ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which is irrelevant since propylene glycol is a safe food additive.  Besides, antifreeze causes kidney failure, not liver failure.

The verdict:  Swiffer products are safe for use around pets.

So, if you encounter an alarming claim about a product, a little research can often ease your mind.  Some useful websites includewww.snopes.com, ASPCA Poison Control , Centers for Disease Control , FDA recall notices, and OSHA's Material Safety Data Sheets (search by company name and "msds").  Of course, you can also call us!  (262-569-0801) We have addressed many of these stories before, so we may have a quick answer, or if it's new to us, we have a network of specialists and other veterinarians available  for consultations.

By the way, sugarless gum with xylitol can cause major problems in dogs! (see our previous blog post)

Antlers and Bones?

Are Antlers or Marrow Bones Good Chew Toys?

Absolutely not! Every week we see dogs with fractured teeth from chewing on hard objects. Sometimes there is just a chip in the crown without exposing the pulp canal but sometimes the pulp canal is open, the nerve is exposed and the tooth is bleeding. Owners are usually amazed when we show them the fractured tooth because the dog is still eating and not showing any outward sign of pain. Dogs hide their discomfort very well.

What Can Dogs Chew On?

We recommend hard rubber chew toys that you can hide treats in. Rope toys are good too. As with any chew toy, make sure to throw it away if your dog starts to tear pieces off of it. Rawhide chews are soft but when they start to fall apart, it is time to put them in the trash. Rawhide will eventually digest, but if a large piece is swallowed it can stay in the stomach and cause vomiting, or even move into the small intestine and cause an obstruction. 

What If My Dog Has a Broken Tooth?

Have the tooth examined by your veterinarian. If there is pulp exposure or if a dental radiograph (x-ray) shows there is evidence of disease (like a root abscess) below the gumline, then extraction or root canal are needed.  Dental radiographs can show hidden disease that is not visible when looking in the mouth. This radiograph shows a tooth that looked normal on the outside but both roots were fractured below the gumline.

Will Chewing Clean My Dog's Teeth?

Chewing on bones, rawhide or toys is not a substitute for regular tooth brushing. Brushing the teeth and gums removes plaque and stimulates circulation in the gums, reducing gingivitis. Here is a video to help get you started with brushing your pet's teeth. Most dogs love to chew and it is important to have things that are appropriate to chew on, but don't expect bones to crack the tartar away - they might just crack part of the tooth away.

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Choosing the Right Pet Food

A few weeks ago we posted about how much to feed your pet. This video from Veterinary News Network has some great information on selecting the right food for your pet. Check out the American College of Veterinary Nutrition website at www.acvn.org for additional information.

Grain Free?
There seem to be as many fad diets for pets as there are for people. Recently many clients have been telling me that they have switched to a 'grain free' diet.  There really doesn't seem to be any decent research that says grain free diets are better for dogs. Dogs are omnivores, meaning they are built to eat both meats and grains (unlike cats). Corn is rarely responsible for food allergies in dogs. The "grain free" label seems to be more marketing than science.

One Food Fits All?
I have also been hearing from clients that pet food stores are recommending 'all life stages' foods. This concerns me because we know that puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs and large breeds need different diets than small breeds. To suggest that there is a single dog food on the market that can meet the needs of a Chihuahua puppy and an elderly Great Dane is just not right. Again, marketing over science.

Ask Your Veterinarian About Diets
Our techs and doctors discuss diet with all our clients when they are in for their pet's physical exam. Please contact us for information if you are thinking of changing your pet's diet, especially if you want a medical opinion on that food that the pet store is recommending.  

Imported Medication

Foreign Product

A client recently dropped off two empty packages of flea and tick preventive for me to look at. One had a label from our hospital and the other had a label sticker that looked like  it was written in Arabic. The client stated that a friend had given him a phone number to call and order the product that was really cheap.  He said "Look, the ingredients are the same!"   

U.S. Product

I explained that product from foreign countries doesn't have the labeling required to be sold in this country and might not even contain the product indicated.  There are reports of  counterfeit human and pet meds with very professional looking labels imported from foreign countries.  My client had never even considered this when ordering his "cheap" frontline.

The next week a client with young children at home told me "I buy my heartworm preventive from a Canadian pharmacy that doesn't require a prescription." I explained that a prescription is required to dispense these medications.  If a company doesn't contact your veterinarian for a prescription,  it should make you wonder what they are trying to  hide.  I mention the client's young kids because the heartworm preventives that we recommend also have intestinal parasite treatments in them. This reduces the risk that the dog might bring parasites into the home that could make children sick. Is it really a good idea to order medications like these from questionable sources?

Here is an example of a foreign manufactured human arthritis supplement that actually had prescription drugs in it (but not on the label): FDA Med Watch

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Parvovirus Outbreak in Milwaukee

Parvo Outbreak 
We are getting calls from clients who are worried about the canine parvovirus outbreak that has been reported in Milwaukee. Two shelters in Milwaukee have reported that up to 30 dogs have died from the virus in the last few weeks.  One shelter is euthanizing any strays that test positive for the virus.

What is Parvo? 
Canine parvovirus is a serious, often deadly disease of dogs that does not transmit to people.  The virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and is especially deadly in puppies.

Prevention!

Fortunately there is a vaccine for canine parvovirus which is part of the DHLPP vaccine, commonly called the 'Distemper' vaccine. Most puppies receive a series of three DHLPP vaccinations by the time they are 16 weeks old, then get a booster a year later.  After the 1-year booster, we recommend vaccinating every three years. The DHLPP vaccine is one of the core vaccinations that we recommend to all our canine patients.

Treatment:

Sick dogs are treated with supportive care while the virus runs its course. Intravenous fluids, antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections and anti-nausea medications are all used. Some dogs may require transfusions and other therapy. Infected animals must be kept in isolation since the virus is highly contagious and is spread through microscopic amounts of stool and vomit. Treatment is very time consuming and expensive. Without treatment, death rates as high as 91% have been reported. With aggressive treatment, survival rates may approach 80-95%. I remember treating several parvo pups just after I graduated from veterinary school and I will never forget the smell. We also treated a litter of puppies here in Oconomowoc several years ago. It is especially gratifying to save a pup when they have been so sick but it is also exhausting. The isolation room at Hallett Veterinary Hospital was built for these types of cases. It has special air handling and an exterior door so we can keep our other patients safe and not carry the virus through the rest of the hospital.  Even with these precautions and special procedures like gowns, gloves and disinfectants in place, I still would rather prevent the disease with vaccination than treat it.

Recovery?

Once their immune system fights off the infection and they recover, dogs typically have excellent immunity against future canine parvovirus infection.  We have not seen any cases in our hospital yet this summer.  It is important to keep puppies at home until their vaccinations are complete. Please don't take your puppy to the dog park or other places where unvaccinated dogs might have been, until after their last puppy vaccination. Remember, the virus is in stool from infected dogs so it is possible for transmission to occur even if there is no direct contact with an infected dog.  Wolves, coyotes and foxes can also transmit canine parvovirus.

How Much Should I Feed My Pet?

"How much should I feed my pet?"
I get asked that question every day and it is a hard one to answer. I'm sure that my clients are expecting an answer in the 'cups per meal' format. When I was a kid and I asked my Dad a question expecting an answer, I always cringed when he replied with a question back to me, or perhaps with the dreaded, "Let's look it up" reply. I would roll my eyes and think, "Why can't he just give me the answer?"  Usually because there was more than one right answer or because it was complicated. I try not to make my clients roll their eyes, and I usually give them a 'cups per meal' answer eventually, but it is just not easy to get there.  

Ideal Body Condition                Overweight

Body Condition Score

Before I even enter the exam room, my technician has already started by assessing the pet's body condition score and noting a target weight in the medical record. This is not done with the eyes alone. Fluffy dogs and cats often look heavy but until you put your hands on them, it can be very hard to tell if they are overweight. We feel along the spine and over the ribs on the sides of the chest to see if there is a thick layer of fat, or if the bones are palpable under the skin.  We should be able to feel the ribs and spine in a pet with an ideal body condition score. The pet should also be thinner in the abdomen than in the chest when viewed from above.  Cats are sometimes tricky to evaluate. They might look thin from the top but will often have large fat pads in the belly area. Sometimes these fat pads even drag near the ground, swinging from side to side when the cat walks.

Treats Anyone?
My technician also asks what kind of food is being fed and if treats or table food are common.  We are really concerned about total daily calorie intake, not just what is in the food bowl. Many people are shocked when they find out the number of calories in each treat.  Even with the low calorie treats we use in our office, four treats is like 1/4 cup of food! 

Mealtime
By the time I am in the exam room doing the physical exam, we are ready to talk about how much food is in the bowl at meal time. Sometimes clients tell me they just keep the bowl full all the time. How can I give them a cups per meal answer if they don't even know how many cups their pet eats in a day? Another difficulty is that when some owners say they feed one cup per meal, they are talking about a large coffee cup or other vessel that holds more than 8 ounces!  This is when I pull out the free souvenir 8-ounce measuring cup for them to take home. 

Food Choices
Next, we open our pet food notebook and  look up calories per cup for the brand of food they feed and compare that to the recommended calorie intake based on ideal body weight.  If the pet is constantly begging for food, we might recommend a lower calorie food so there can be more volume fed without increasing calorie intake. Kind of like a person eating salads and low fat foods versus eating a high fat desert for their main meal.  Some pets beg, but will take attention or exercise instead of food. Unfortunately it is easier and less time consuming to give a treat than to give exercise or attention so the pet gets the treat. This adds up over time.

Blood Tests
Sometimes we draw a blood sample from dogs and run a chemistry profile or thyroid panel to see if there might be a medical reason for weight gain. Screening labwork is almost always a good idea to check internal organ function since pets are experts at hiding illness.

Exercise
Lastly, we discuss exercise. Most people have good intentions of increasing exercise for themselves and for their pet.  I do think exercise is extremely important for both physical and mental health in people and in pets. It's just hard to walk a Labrador Retriever on a leash and get them enough exercise. Even running on a leash at our pace is too slow for many dogs. Dog parks are wonderful for getting off-leash exercise.  You can almost see the calories getting burned as they run. Exercising cats is more difficult. Remote control mice are fun and there are even laser toys that shine a dancing light on the wall for cats to chase.  Type of food can also be very important for cats since they are "obligate carnivores", meaning they must have meat. Low carb, high protein diets are very important for maintaining healthy weight in cats and can even help in treating diabetes.

So how much should you feed your pet?
The short answer is, "if your pet needs to lose weight, feed less and exercise more" and the long answer is "bear with us while we ask a few questions, examine your pet, and do some math".