Archive for the ‘Pet Health’ Category

Enter the operating room and see a canine castration, more commonly known as dog neuter surgery. This procedure utilizes sterile technique and requires general anesthesia, most often maintained with inhalation (gas) anesthetic.

Photo: Dog neuter surgery © Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM

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Has your dog experienced anal sac problems (i.e. “scooting”) or other diseases of the anal area? If so, one of my Twitter pals, Edie Jarolim, also known as @WillMyDogHateMe, needs your help.

What she is looking for:
For an article about diseases of the anal area for Your Dog magazine, the newsletter of the Tufts University veterinary school, journalist Edie Jarolim is looking to interview owners of dogs who:

a) have been trained to express their dog’s anal glands by their vet and do it regularly
b) have had their dog’s anal sacs removed because they got infected regularly
c) have had their dog successfully treated for  perineal hernias
d) have had their dog successfully treated for perianal fistulas

Please contact Edie at ejarolim at mac.com if you fall into any of these categories and would be willing to discuss  either via email or phone.

Edie’s contact info:
Edie Jarolim
Pet Travel Correspondent, KVOA TV
Author: AM I BORING MY DOG (Alpha/Penguin, 2009)
http://willmydoghateme.com
http://ediejarolim.com

Two new news stories about feline H1N1 from the AVMA were released on December 8, 2009. An 8 year-old female (spayed) cat in Oregon died from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus on November 24, 2009 after being brought to a veterinary emergency clinic showing signs of “severe weakness and pain.”

In international news, France’s Director General of Health announced that a 5 year-old male (neutered) cat has tested positive for the H1N1 virus after children in the household had been ill with influenza symptoms. This cat has recovered.

Read more on Veterinary Medicine at About.com

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This is my dog, Sophie. She is calm, cool, collected. She loves people (especially kids), pets, hikes, and hanging out. Until a firework goes off or a thunderstorm hits. Then she  is a pacing, panting, trembling, got-to-hide-in-small-spaces dog. She is terrified. Nothing will calm her down. In fact, trying to “calm” a dog like this only reinforces the fearful behavior. She has a noise phobia.

I recently tried the DAP Collar – a pheromone-releasing collar designed to provide a “sense of well-being” for dogs. Did it work? Learn about our two week trial in this new review.

From Veterinary Medicine at About.com
Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis (HGE) is a sudden, severe case of bloody vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. There are case reports of HGE in cats as well.  Prompt veterinary care is essential, and the mainstay of treatment is supportive care (fluid therapy and antibiotics).

HGE is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. Learn more about HGE here to be aware should your pet develop similar signs.

Any time your pet isn’t “quite right” or experiencing bloody vomiting, diarrhea, urination/can’t urinate, painful cries or extreme lethargy, an emergency call to  your vet is warranted. Minutes and hours can make a difference. The sooner, the better — for your pet and for your pocketbook.

Have your dealt with a case of HGE with your pet? Please consider sharing your story to help others be aware of this rare but real disease.

Photo: Sick Dog on IV Fluids © Miguel Vera on Flickr

August 22, 2009 - Barn cat story update

This is part one of the story of my newest addition, a completely matted long-haired cat I found living out in our barn. He has many names… Barnie, Stinky Boy, Baby Kitty Boy, all of them not what I envision as the perfect cat name. (Got an idea?  We obviously need help here.)

He is brimming with personality and cracks us up on a daily basis. But those stories will be saved for part two. For now, here is how he came to be a member of our family.

Life on the farm…

My geese, Giselle and Harold
Son and father (yeah, don’t ask)

They are big bossy noisemakers
Here they are pestering my new found stray kitty.

My Barnie – in his natural habitat

I actually saw him crawl out from between the floorboards. He can’t meow, and made odd hissing/barking sounds. I wasn’t sure of what to make of him when I first encountered him. It was at night, pitch black out, and I was doing the before-bed-chicken-check. He came hissing out of nowhere and scared me.

I tamed him over a few days. What a love! He purrs, drools, kneads all of the time and followed me around on chores like a dog. I almost stepped on him several times.

Then came the big day to get cleaned up…

Let’s remove these pesky things

I neutered him and shaved off all of those mats. The mats covered his entired body, except for his legs and tail.  He was tested for FELV/FIV (both negative – whew!) and vaccinated him for Rabies and FVRCP.

He then began his new life as a house cat.

Lemur cat!

The standoff

Sophie the dog insterted herself as referee.
Greta is 18 years old, and… not so happy ’bout this new guy.

On my desk. Note the extended paw. Always kneading! So cute.
Even when he is grooming himself… kneading and kneading.

Yes. Quite comfy.
Please try not to type so loud.

Could this blankie be fluffed a little, please?

Barnie’s story continues…

updated 5/29/09

Sarcoid Treatment

Recently on Twitter, @KarenMcLain asked if there was anything “new” regarding treatment of equine sarcoids.

Knowing that I had a wonderful equine vet right at my fingertips, I typed on over to @EquinePractice and asked for his opinion. He graciously allowed me to print it here.

1. Nothing has changed in the sarcoid world.
2. Do not touch or massage it cause it will spread.
3. Size matters – the smaller the easier to remove.
4. X-Terra is an ointment that seems to work.
5. Injection of BCG always worked for me.
6. I asked clients to sign a statement that said that nothing would happen for 5 months after the injection, then an enormous battle will occur, and by 6 months the tumor will slough off.

Additional comments from Dr. Tucker:
I think the X-Terra cream really works on a good number of them.

They will return especially if treating an established tumor.

Thank you, Dr. Tucker for taking the time to answer this question.

More about Equine Sarcoids:

• What are sarcoids?
  Learn about the six different presentations of this skin tumor, some are quite dramatic.
  From LocalRiding.com
• What causes sarcoids?
  From LocalRiding.com

Photo: Adobe’s sarcoid. Gray area, and small bumps. Click to open larger view in new window. Thanks to @KarenMcLain for the use of Adobe’s photo.

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About Geoff Tucker DVM
Learn more about Dr. Tucker and his equine dentistry practice here.

• Twitter: @EquinePractice
• Web Site: Equine Dentistry Without Drama™
• Our interactive interview on my About.com Veterinary Medicine site:
  Veterinary Careers – Interview with Geoff Tucker DVM

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