National Pet Dental Health Month?

In doing some reading for this month’s posts, I came across a listing of National Pet Holidays.  Did you know January 14 was National Dress Up Your Pet Day, February 23 is National Dog Biscuit Day, and May 30 is Hug Your Cat Day?  These may seem silly or trivial, but there are many national pet “holidays” focused on more serious problems, too:  May 13 to 19 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and all of April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.  What I was after, and what I think is really important – so important we’re going to devote several posts to it – is Pet Dental Health Month. Pet Dental Health Month is just around the corner in February. When I was in veterinary school, teeth and the oral health of animals was virtually ignored.  Our dental course was an elective – we weren’t required to take it – and lasted a mere 4 hours.  Compare that to the 70 hours spent studying in fine detail the Krebs or Calvin cycle and other minutia of biochemistry, information I rarely draw on in day to day decision making as a practicing veterinarian.  Fortunately, times have changed and we now recognize how common dental disease is and how significantly disease in the mouth impacts your pet’s overall health.  

So, why do we care about the teeth and disease in the mouth?

The simple answer is, without proper dental care EVERY SINGLE pet we see will develop dental disease at some point in their life.  In fact, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society, up to 85% of dogs have some degree of dental disease by 4 years of age.  Even this young, I have seen advanced periodontal disease in many of our patients.  That means that at what should be the prime of their life, many dogs and cats are already experiencing the discomfort that is common with dental disease.  We also care because of how dental disease can affect your pet as a whole.  A report released by the Surgeon General back in 2000 sums it up nicely: “The terms oral health and general health should not be interpreted as separate entities” and “you cannot be healthy without oral health.”  While the report was aimed at humans, the same holds just as true for our pets. Bacteria from inflamed, infected gums don’t stay in the mouth; they enter the blood stream and travel throughout the body.  Caught in time, this infection is treatable, but over time, potentially irreversible damage can occur to your pet’s vital organs.  Evidence is mounting about the association between infection and inflammation in the mouth and diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease.  Since these three diseases are common in pets as they age, it makes sense to take care of the mouth as best we can.  

Last week, Dr. Mike extracted nine teeth from an older cat.  

We call clients the night of the procedure to answer questions and address concerns they may have; when our technician followed up with this cat’s owner, the owner was thrilled.  After a long day of anesthesia and oral surgery, the cat had arrived home, ate an entire can of food, and was resting comfortably.  When I called her the next day, she said “I have a kitten again!”  The cat was more playful than the owner had seen in years.  I love hearing these stories!  It’s exactly why I care about teeth and disease in the mouth.  By improving the health of the mouth, we can dramatically improve our patient’s quality of life. Behavioral changes caused by dental pain often go unnoticed because of the gradual onset of dental disease. Once we eliminate the dental pain, the changes can be very dramatic!

Stay tuned and next week we’ll talk about dental disease and prevention!

Cigarettes and Pets

by John Hallett, DVM

When I examine a dog or cat in our treatment room, away from the owner, I can almost always tell if the pet is from a smoking household. The smell of cigarettes lingers on their fur. That's not all that is lingering on their fur though. 

Most people understand that secondhand smoke from cigarettes contains an incredible number of hazardous substances and many of them can cause cancer. These chemicals are found in high concentrations on carpets and furniture around the home. Pets sharing this environment will get these toxins on their fur and then ingest them during normal grooming.

Cats may actually be at higher risk for serious disease when they live in a smoking environment.   Because of their fastidious grooming habits, cats end up ingesting a higher level of chemicals and this leads to a greater chance of several types of cancer.

Lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells and is one of the most common cancers seen in our pet cats. When smokers are present in the cat’s household, the risk for this killer is increased by two or three times over cats living in non-smoking homes.  Sadly, when our feline friends are diagnosed with lymphoma, the prognosis can be poor.

Another serious cancer with links to secondhand smoke is a cancer of the mouth known as squamous cell carcinoma. Studies have linked a higher risk for squamous cell carcinoma in cats living in smoking homes. Again, the prognosis is very grave and most pets won’t survive another year.

Dogs are affected too.  In the early 1990s, researchers found correlations between nasal cancers in dogs and the presence of smokers in the home.  There is a concern that environmental tobacco smoke may increase the incidence of lung cancer in our canine friends as well.

Pets who are developing illnesses from secondhand smoke may exhibit symptoms ranging from lethargy to coughing to the appearance of masses in the mouth.  It’s important to have your pet seen by a veterinarian if any of these signs are noted.

Of course, the best course of action is to give up the tobacco habit entirely.  It’s not only best for the health of the smoker, it will also greatly reduce risks for pets. Understanding that it’s not easy to quit this addictive habit, people who smoke and have pets should attempt to minimize their pets’ exposure by smoking outdoors.

Smoking in the car with pets can create a toxic environment, even with the windows open.  Some states and Canadian provinces even ban smoking in cars when children are passengers.  If you must smoke when you drive, leave your pets and kids at home.

In the past 45 years, the number of smokers in the United States has decreased to less than 20% of the population and almost 70% of those current smokers want to kick the habit. Could an understanding of how secondhand smoke affects our pets help encourage more people to quit? When I practiced in Connecticut, I do remember one client who quit smoking when her cat was diagnosed with feline asthma which was aggravated by cigarette smoke!

Holiday Hazards

Years ago, a friend told me a story.  Her cat Elmer carried a few extra pounds.  He was, in fact, pushing 20 pounds.  One year, Elmer took it upon himself to scale the family’s Christmas tree.  The entire family watched in horror as the tree bent, bent some more, then ultimately crashed to the ground, sending one very surprised cat scrambling and several ornaments scattering.  Fortunately, aside from his wounded pride and a few broken ornaments, there were no injuries and everyone had a good laugh.  While a funny story, it highlights the fact that, as we celebrate the holiday season, hazards abound for our furry friends.  And while many hazards pass after the holidays, many persist through the brisk winter weather we Wisconsinites must endure.  Let’s take a look at some of the more common winter hazards for cats and dogs.

The Christmas tree
Like Elmer, many cats and dogs may think a Christmas tree is a veritable playground.  But be careful with your tree and what you place on and under it.  Ingestion of needles – yes, this does happen – and ingestion of water contaminated with bacteria and chemicals from a live Christmas tree can result in stomach upset. Keep decorations out of your pet’s reach!  Recently, a friend of mine who is an emergency veterinarian, had to perform surgery to remove an ornament hook from a dog’s intestines!  Tinsel and ribbon on the tree and packages are particularly tantalizing for cats, but ingestion can cause a life – threatening intestinal obstruction. Don’t forget that many of the plants we cherish during the holidays including Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are all poisonous to pets.  Candles and lights pose a hazard as well so use caution with curious pups and cats.  

Guests
Yes, I said guests.  Really.  In a former life, I practiced as an emergency veterinarian.  One of the most common problems I encountered was ingestion of prescription medications.  Dogs do this.  A lot.  Often, the medication was intended for the guilty party or a housemate, but I was always surprised at how many times a dog had ingested a houseguest’s medication that was left sitting out.  Houseguests may also be more inclined to slip your pet goodies from the table that can cause a bellyache or even worse, pancreatitis or poisoning. Common culprits are chocolate, fatty cuts of meat, and candy or gum containing xylitol.  Pets, and this is often true for cats, may also become stressed with the extra chaos guests bring to a house.  Set ground rules with guests.  Make sure they know what your dog or cat can and can’t have, remind them to keep medications tucked safely away, and give your pet a safe haven if they seem anxious.

Food 
What’s the saying?  It’s Thanksgiving, time to set the scale back 10 pounds.  Goodies are such an important part of the holidays.  Not only does this wreak havoc with our waistlines, it could end up causing problems for your pets.  Most people are aware that chocolate can cause problems, but many don’t know that xylitol, a sweetener used in gum and other candies can be very dangerous for dogs. See our previous blog for more information on xylitol.  Fatty cuts of meat can, at best cause vomiting or diarrhea, or at worse can cause pancreatitis, a potentially very serious condition.  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in some dogs, so make sure to avoid giving these as treats and don’t let your dog or cats eat significant quantities of onion or garlic as both can cause anemia.  

The Great Wide Outdoors
Whether you like it or not, winter has finally arrived in Wisconsin.  Hypothermia and frostbite are serious concerns in both dogs and cats that venture outdoors.  Thin, older, and sick animals are at higher risk, but don’t be fooled into thinking healthy pets can’t develop problems.  Limit your pet’s time outdoors and consider booties to protect tender tootsies.  Be careful of de-icing products as these can be caustic and cause foot pain and lameness.  Look for products that are pet safe if you need to use anything and clean your pet’s paws well after they’ve been outdoors to remove any residual salt.  And speaking of ice, be very careful of thin ice on our lakes and smaller bodies of water.  Even though it’s finally gotten cold, the mild fall and winter means that when the ice finally comes, it may not be as strong as we would expect this time of year.

There’s a lot going on this time of year and it’s easy to get distracted but taking stock of your house now and removing any hazards could prevent some potentially serious problems.

All of us at Hallett Veterinary Hospital wish you a blessed holiday season and New Year filled with happiness and good health.

Check out this video on Pets and Holiday Foods from our friends at Veterinary News Network.

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Morgan the Missing Cat dies at age 17

Morgan with his brother

Many people have heard me talk about Morgan, the cat who was reunited with our technician/practice manager and her family, five years after disappearing.  Someone found Morgan near a horse barn and he was unable to walk on one leg. He was identified at the humane society by his microchip. His owner, Cyndi, rushed to pick him up and bring him back to our hospital so we could repair his broken leg. Without the microchip he would have been euthanized. It is not surprising that we like microchips so much.

Here is an article with his story.

Morgan recovered completely after his surgery and could walk and run without limping. Morgan liked going outside and just hanging out with the family, including the family dogs, Labrador Retriever Kailey and Doberman Benny. Morgan had a never stop attitude, even while healing from orthopedic surgery.



Radiographs of Morgan's leg before, during and after surgery



Indoor Cat Gets Rabies, Bites Owner

"Why does my indoor cat need the rabies vaccine? He never goes outside."

The short answer is that bats come inside and sometimes indoor cats go outside.  Rabies is fatal and is transmissible to people. Protect yourself and your family by vaccinating your cat!

A Georgia couple found this out the hard way Last month. Their cat was overdue for the rabies vaccine when it bit the owner and then died.   The cat tested positive for rabies so the owner and his fiancé are both undergoing treatment.  If the cat had run away and died, the owners may not have known that they were exposed to rabies until it was too late. Here is a link to more information on that case.

Rabies vaccine is required by law in Oconomowoc, yet many of our clients choose not to vaccinate their cats for rabies. The risk of their cat getting rabies is certainly low but the consequences could be deadly to the cat, and to human family members as well.

As veterinarians, we work hard to keep pets healthy. Many people don't realize that we also take our role in human health very seriously too. Your pediatrician may not think of pet health and how it relates to keeping your children healthy but we do. Rabies and intestinal parasites are the two things we worry about most.  

Veterinarians recommend deworming pets and checking annual fecal exams, not just because worms are disgusting, but because some intestinal parasites can transmit from pets to people.  About 10% of the fecal samples we test are positive! 

Keep your pets healthy, keep your family healthy: keep pets current on rabies vaccine, fecal exams and deworming.

For more information on rabies, see this CDC website

For more on intestinal parasites, see this CDC website

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)