Dawg Business: It's Your Dog's Health!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Dog Cartoon Of The Week: Welcome Aboard

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.

Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Billy Is Not Well

If you are following Billy's story, we don't have a next chapter today.

Billy is not doing well.

He is eating over three cups of food daily but losing weight and muscle mass. He is shrinking before the eyes and becoming bony. His digestive system isn't happy and he has up to 10 bowel movements a day. He remains terribly itchy.

Initial tests for pancreatic function didn't show a problem.

The prime suspect is out of control IBD; but Billy cannot tolerate steroids. There is some worry that there might be even more serious problem behind this.

Hopefully they'll be able to get to the bottom of this and turn things around.

Please keep Billy in your thoughts and feel free to share any insight or experiences you might have.

Here is a recap of Billy's medical history:

Billy has been suffering with skin allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and intolerance to foods and medications. Billy ended up at the Vets Toronto emergency with a life-threatening infection on his paw.

Just when that was under control, he developed a large inter digital cyst on his other front paw.

As soon as this was addressed, Billy started licking and chewing at the paws on his hind legs.

Was it all a fall out of his severe allergies?

The allergy medications he was put on brought about some unexpected, serious side effects for which no rhyme or reason was found.

Try steroids? Think again. Another unexpected serious negative response to treatment.

Billy may have had a seizure.

Lot of testing but no answers and no relief.

All the negative test results were a comfort but having no answers to go on were not comforting at all. Could Billy suffer from Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)?

Were those seizures or something else?

Nothing wrong with Billy's brain was found. What is causing his symptoms then? Some elusive inflammatory process? Pain?

New plan and new symptoms and side effects.

Skin problems hit hard. What is he allergic to?

Billy ate bunch of plastic. But his digestive problems seemed both acute and chronic.Billy has inflammatory bowel disease.

Options are running out.

Billy cannot find a relief. The great idea of allergy injections back-fires. Diarrhea, flatulence, frequent and urgent trips outside and abdominal cramps on top of the terrible itchies. Then vomiting.

Another endoscopy. There was trembling and discomfort without medication, and gurgling, diarrhea and straining with medication. Also Billy's prostate kept getting progressively larger.

Limited options and no firm diagnosis.

Billy has colitis. All while the battle of the itch continues. And a brand new eye problem.

Frantic attempts at licking of the rear end. Billy's anal sacs revealed a green, purulent, foul-smelling liquid. High protein content in urine.

Billy develops lumps in each of his armpits. Lipomas. But why growing so fast? Masses are removed but Billy's incision sites puff out. Large seromas.

During this time Billy is also battling a bacterial infection revealed through urine tests and cultures.

Billy gets an injection of antibiotic but, as usual, doesn't react well. Following the injections masses start forming on Billy's flanks. Masses removed to be biopsied.

Tremors return, probably indicative of pain.

Masses turn out being necrotizing and fibrosing steatitis lesions. (inflammation and death of fat tissue) Reaction to the antibiotic?

No common denominator to explain why Billy had so many reactions with so many commonly used medications..

The itchies return with a vengeance. His skin was also loaded with yeast and bacteria.

Billy begins wetting his bed along with increased thirst. He also starts losing weight. And his prostate looked peculiar.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Adoption Monday: Kia, Rottweiler, Monticello, NY

Kia is a beautiful 5 year old female rottie! She currently weighs about 70 pounds. Just look at her sweet face!

Kia pulls a bit on leash but was friendly during her assessment at the shelter.

She was not interested in toys or rawhide and was relaxed when she meet a friendly dog. It's hard to figure out why this beautiful girl ended up in a kill shelter in NYC. Hopefully she'll find her forever home soon.

Please help finding a wonderful forever home for Kia, where she won't ever have to worry about being abandoned again!

If you're interested in adopting Kia, please submit an adoption application or email klambert9@yahoo.com. You can also visit Kia's Petfinder listing.

Kia is spayed and up-to-date with her routine shots.

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Mountain Rottie Rescue of New York, Inc is A 501(c)3 non profit organization, dedicated to re-homing homeless Rottweilers.

Some of their dogs are owner surrenders , but most come from kill shelters in The New York State area. They also pull dogs from out of State Shelters, such as Virginia , Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia -where the Gas Box is still used to euthanize dogs!

Some of the Mountain Rottie Rescue of New York, Inc dogs are cruelty cases & come from abusive pasts. Mountain Rottie Rescue of New York, Inc offers rehabilitation & training to these dogs and have successfully placed most of their cruelty cases into new loving homes.

All Mountain Rottie Rescue of New York, Inc dogs are temperament tested before acceptance into their program. Their members consist of Certified Dog Trainers, experienced animal handlers & experienced Rottweiler owners. Any dog adopted from Mountain Rottie Rescue of New York, Inc has been fostered in a home prior to adoption. All of their dogs are up to date on vaccines, Heart-worm tested, on prevention, spayed /neutered, micro-chipped & activated .

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Knee Surgery Post-Op Helper: Bottom's Up Leash

Preventing mishaps after a surgery, while allowing the legs do some work, can be a challenge. Particularly if both knees had been operated on simultaneously.

If you have a little dog, you're likely tempted to carry them everywhere. If you have a large dog, you don't even have that option.

It is important that the legs do get used but as safely as possible.

The main challenges are stairs and slippery surfaces. (By stairs I mean the couple of steps to get in and out of the house to potty, flights of stairs should be avoided all together)

The traditional way of supporting the rear end was so called towel-walking. You make an improvised sling by running a towel under your dog's belly. It works. But I find it quite awkward to use as well as to keep it where it belongs.

Some people get creative and design their own slings.

If you're not that creative, you might want something that is ready to go.

A product I like is Bottom's Up Leash. It supports the rear end at just the right place. I have not tried it myself. But after our experiences with knee surgeries and towel-walking, it would be something I'd consider if my dog needed rear end support, whether because of surgery, injury or other orthopedic issues.

Unlike a towel, Bottom's Up Leash also allows your dog to be supported while eliminating.

Depending on your dog's situation, that can make a big difference, trust me.

You might find other similar products out there. Either way, great idea for rear end support.

It's your dog's health,

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Talking Teeth

by Nancy Kay, DVM

Is your dog’s bad breath sabotaging your cuddle time? Is your kitty drooling while nibbling her kibble? If so, your four-legged family member likely has dental disease. A recent study of Banfield Pet Hospital’s 770-hospital network identified dental disease as the most common malady among pets, affecting 68 percent of cats and 78 percent of dogs over three years of age.

Sorry, this doesn't qualify as toothbrushing.

Most dental diseases, including halitosis (bad breath) and gingivitis (gum disease) are caused by tartar accumulation.

All cats and dogs can develop dental tartar, but small breed dogs are particularly predisposed. Toy Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Pomeranians and Shetland Sheepdogs are at greatest risk, according to the Banfield study.

Be sure to inspect your pet’s teeth and gums on a regular basis just as you would his or her skin and haircoat.

Here’s the key to getting a good look- don’t try to pry your pet’s jaws open lest you desire to engage in a wrestling match. Rather, with the mouth remaining closed, simply pull those flabby lips up, down, and then back (as if he is smiling) to get a good view of the gums and teeth. Look for tartar accumulation (brown colored material that’s adhered to the teeth) redness or swelling of the gums, and broken or loose teeth.

If your pet does develop significant tartar and gingivitis, he’ll need a thorough dental cleaning.

Dental X-rays may be recommended to detect abscesses or bone loss. Should such significant abnormalities be found, your vet will discuss antibiotic therapy and the pros and cons of removing the affected teeth versus a root canal procedure.

The best way to prevent tartar buildup is to brush your pet’s teeth (including those way in the back) at least two to three times a week.

Ask your vet or members of the clinic staff to share their secrets for success when it comes to brushing. Have them observe and provide critique as you demonstrate how you brush those canines (in cats they should be called “felines”), incisors, and molars.

What can you do besides brushing?

Dental chews, additives to your pet’s water, products applied to the teeth and gums, and specially formulated dry foods that have received the Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance can help prevent tartar buildup. However, nothing beats regular brushing (sorry!).

Part of your pet’s annual physical examination performed by your veterinarian should include careful inspection of the teeth and gums.

Early identification and treatment of dental disease goes a long way in preventing serious consequences.

Now it’s your turn to talk about teeth. What have you experienced with your dogs and cats?

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Nancy Kay, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook

Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot is available at Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.

Articles by Dr. Kay:
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning
Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
Even The Best Veterinarian Can Make A Mistake
A Different Way to Spay
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story

Related articles:
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning
Speaking For Spot: The Single Most Important Dog Book You Will Ever Read