Newsletter

Dental care is vital to your pet's health! If you've already established a dental care program for your pet, you're off to a great start. But if your pet hasn't received a dental exam from your veterinarian, it's time to get started. February is National Pet Dental Health Month, the perfect time to schedule a dental exam for your pet and develop a home care regimen for your best friend.

Why is dental care so important for your pet? Periodontal disease is the number one diagnosed problem in pets - by the age of two, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have periodontal disease in one form or another. The buildup of plaque and tartar on your pet's teeth leads to bacterial infections that can enter the bloodstream and infect other parts of your pet's body. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, osteoporosis and other problems.

The good news is that periodontal disease is easily prevented. Routine dental cleanings and a home dental care regimen can eliminate the plaque and tartar that lead to gum disease and oral infections. During a dental cleaning, your veterinarian also performs a complete oral examination of your pet. This includes screening for oral cancer, broken teeth and cavities. Spotting these problems early on makes them easier to treat and improves your pet's overall oral health.

Your pet's dental cleaning is more involved than the same process you go through at the dentist's office. Anesthesia is required to keep your pet still and comfortable during the procedure. Because of this, your pet undergoes a thorough physical examination before each dental cleaning. Laboratory blood tests, as well as other diagnostic procedures are also used to screen for potential problems and risks before anesthesia is administered. Using these results, we develop a safe anesthetic protocol specifically for your pet.

During a dental cleaning, tartar is removed from your pet's teeth with a hand scaler. Next, a periodontal probe is used to check for pockets under the gumline - where periodontal disease and bad breath start. An ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline and a curette is used to clean and smooth the teeth under the gumline and in the crevices. Finally, the teeth are polished and an anti-bacterial solution is used to help delay future tartar build-up.

Dental care doesn't end in your veterinarian's office. Brushing your pet's teeth at home is an added level of protection against gum disease. In order to be most effective, brushing must be done at least three times a week; however, daily brushing is ideal. Brushing your pet's teeth can be supplemented with antiseptic rinses. Some pet foods and treats are also effective in preventing plaque and tartar buildup. However, there is no substitute for regular brushing and professional dental cleanings.

Schedule a dental examination and cleaning for your pet today. Your best friend will thank you!

The staff at our hospital would like to develop a close relationship with you and your pet. You will find that among the members of our staff, we have interest and expertise in many species and specialties. Hopefully, your pet will never require more than routine care, but sometimes more complex issues arise.

In many cases, early detection and monitoring can help prevent problems and provide long-term management of existing conditions. We have found great satisfaction in keeping our patients comfortable and happy! Because some health conditions have a genetic basis, we know that puppies of certain breeds are more likely than average to show specific problems. We would like to offer you help with early detection of these, so that their effects, if present, can be minimized. Please scan the list below; it is an illustration of how pervasive genetic diseases are. If your breed is listed, please ask a member of our staff about the linked disease, screening test(s), and recommendations.

German Shepherd

This list is just a sample and is not exhaustive; ask us if your pet is pre-disposed to something so that we can discuss how to help. Some problems, such as heart valve disease, dental/periodontal disease, and skin allergies are seen in many breeds. Some of our suggestions may be hospital-oriented (lab-work, X-rays, etc.) while some may relate to home management. For example: a large breed puppy that is checked for hip dysplasia may have a long, relatively comfortable life if he/she avoids games of Frisbee and long runs; a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel placed on cardiac drugs pre-emptively may significantly increase its life expectancy.

King Charles Cavalier Spaniel

When should these problems be addressed? Before the problem is so severe that your pet is showing symptoms. More often than not, a few simple tests can give a diagnosis. From there, we work with you to keep your pet comfortable and symptom-free.

Boxer

As veterinary medicine has become more sophisticated, nurturing your pet has become the rule rather than the exception and the population of elderly pets has grown steadily. As an animal (or person, for that matter) advances into the twilight years, inevitable aging changes take place in all organ systems, including the brain. Dogs, dependent upon breed, are considered senior citizens when they reach 7-10 years of age. Does this mean that when your dog has exceeded this arbitrary limit he will necessarily show signs of senile dementia? Absolutely not!

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) or Canine Cognitive Disorder (CCD) is commonly referred to as senility or "old dog" syndrome. While loss of mobility, reduced immune system function, slower metabolism, loss of muscle and bone mass, and reduced hearing, sight and smell are normal signs of aging, a gradual, progressive loss of thinking (cognition) processes such as awareness, perception of surroundings, ability to learn, and memory are the major components of the disorder. CDS can lead to a break in the close bond shared between pet and family members as changes in temperament or house-training can occur. Many people think that it is normal for their elderly dog to gradually lose its energy and interest in life, and choose to tolerate cognitive aging far longer than is necessary. They either avoid veterinary advice all together or wait until bladder or bowel control is gone before seeking an opinion.

Signs of CDS are fairly straight forward, but it also requires observation on your part. As a responsible care giver, noting changes in behavior of your elderly dog should not be difficult if there is already an established bond. Blood tests, urine analysis, radiographs, and other tests may be necessary to diagnose CDS once symptoms appear, as many times other illnesses may make diagnosis challenging due to an overlap in symptoms. Not all dogs show these signs; however, one thing is certain: as in humans, the signs are progressive and will completely incapacitate your dog in time.

Symptoms:

• Weight loss / Appetite changes
• Confusion, disorientation, anxious look, staring into space, getting lost in the house
• Difficulty navigating the environment (e.g. stairs)
• Altered pattern of sleeping and waking
• Loss of learned behaviors such as obedience commands and house training
• Reduced responsiveness or a change in relationship with family such as aloofness, aggression, apparent loss of recognition of familiar people or sounds
• Increased thirst
• Excessive panting
• Abnormal vocalization such as howling or monotonous barking

Prior to the advent of deprenyl, a prescription-only drug that helps minimize symptoms by enhancing brain dopamine levels, there was no treatment available. Dopamine is an integral part of brain function because it increases cognitive awareness. If depleted, it results in lower cognitive ability. While deprenyl is not a cure, it can symptomatically reverse the signs of aging by increasing dopamine in the brain and turning back the aging clock. The goal of treatment is to provide a better quality of life for your dog and slow the progression of symptoms. Like any drug treatment, however, not all dogs respond to deprenyl. Statistics show that one-third of canine patients respond extremely well, one-third respond reasonably well, and one-third do not respond at all. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell prior to drug therapy if your dog will respond to treatment.

Mentally speaking, some dogs appear to be fine long after the empirical cut-off for elderly dogs. Some remain bright and "with it" to the end of their natural life span, earning them the title of "successful ager". Dogs that are unable to weather the cerebral storms of life successfully and show obvious signs of mental deterioration constitute "unsuccessful agers". Regardless of which group your dog may fall into, CDS is a very real disorder that can affect any dog of any breed. As your dog ages, be aware of changes both physically and mentally. Adjust his lifestyle to better suit his decreased abilities. By consulting with your veterinarian and providing your elderly dog with comfort and compassion, you are making his quality of life the top priority. That is the best treatment any pet can receive.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is the size of a grain of rice, and it is easily and safely implanted into the skin of an animal with a hypodermic needle. Once the animal is "chipped" he can be identified throughout his life by this unique number. Microchips are read by a scanning device which recognizes a unique identification number. Through registration of the animal with a national database, the owner can be contacted and this is an important step many pet owners forget. The bad news is that this technology is not foolproof. Watch this quick video and learn more about what you can do to make sure your pet is properly identified using a new free service.

When your cat feels threatened, he may have a variety of responses. Generally he follows a pattern or displays one of three reactions: fight, flight or freeze. Each cat has a preferred way of dealing with a crisis. Knowing how your cat reacts to a perceived threat and what may cause your cat to consider a situation threatening helps you better understand your cat.

Common fearful reactions include hiding, freezing in place, loss of bladder and/or bowel control and aggression. Aggression can manifest in spitting, hissing, growling, swatting, biting, scratching and puffing up of fur. These are all normal behaviors if your cat feels scared or threatened. Your reaction to your cat's behavior is most important. Wanting to help and comfort your cat when he is frightened is natural; however, it isn't necessarily the best thing to do. Providing your cat with a safe and protected place (a box, space in the closet, under the bed) is often the best decision. Allowing your cat to deal with his fear is healthy as long as his aggression is not destructive and/or directed at you or other pets.

Many things can trigger fearful behavior in cats. The trigger could almost be anything, and until you learn what it is that initiates this behavior in your cat, you need to closely observe him when faced with new situations. Common triggers can be a particular person, a stranger in your home, another animal, a child, loud noises, household appliances and so on. It is important to note if your cat's behavior changes when faced with potentially frightening situations. In other words, the vacuum may draw an initial fearful response, but gradually change into acceptance. By noting your cat's ability to adapt to scary situations over time, you can learn quite a bit about his personality.

So what can you do to reduce your cat's anxiety or fear? To help him become more confident and secure, follow the steps described below.

• Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough physical exam to rule out any medical reasons for your cat's fearful behavior. Cats very often show symptoms of sickness in their behavior. Any sudden behavior change could mean that your cat is ill. Common symptoms that appear in sick cats include unusual aggressiveness, frequent hiding and eliminating outside the litter box.
• If your cat is healthy but hiding, leave him alone. He'll come out when he's ready. To force your cat out of his hiding spot will only encourage fearful behavior. Make sure he has access to food, water and a litter box from his hiding place, and avoid "checking in" on him. By giving him space, you will not be conceived as a threat, therefore giving him a sense of security.
• If you have identified a specific person or circumstance that stimulates fear in your cat, minimize contact with that particular person or situation.
• Keep your cats routine as regular as possible. Cats feel more confident if they know what to expect daily. Feeding, playing, cuddling, grooming and napping generally round out a cat's existence. Interfering with you cat's routine may cause him to behave as though threatened.

One of the most common diseases of our pets can also be one that causes some of the most severe long lasting effects. Most pet owners are not aware of just how advanced their pet's dental disease might be and how that dental disease can affect other organs, such as the heart or kidneys. Most pet owners would admit to not being overly concerned about their pet's teeth. After all, "wild animals don't brush their teeth!" But, studies are now showing that not only can the advanced dental disease cause problems in the mouth, but also other major body systems. It has even been proposed that poor dental care can actually shorten the pet's life.

New advances in pet dentistry, such as OraVet Barrier Sealant, are helping to protect our pets. Watch this video to learn more.

We all claim that we have the smartest cat. And maybe you do. But is your cat a musical genius?

Ketzel, a cat from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, sure was. Ketzel died this summer at the age of nineteen, but has left in her paw steps a musical legacy. Ketzel was a composer – an award-winning composer, in fact, who won a prize at the Paris New Music Review’s One-Minute Competition for a piece she pawed onto her owner's piano one morning in 1996. Morris Cotel, one of Ketzel's owners, was the chairman of the composition department at the Peabody Conservatory, who claimed Ketzel as "one of his best students." Cotel was shocked the morning Ketzel composed her one-minute-wonder, which he claimed to have a "structural elegance … with a beginning, middle, and an end." Cotel took note of his cat’s masterpiece and submitted it to the competition. Although he explained the composer's identity in the entry form, the judges were not told that "Piece for Piano, Four Paws," truly was written by four paws.

Ketzel's piece premiered in 1998 in Peabody. It was later performed in Europe, over public radio, and at the Museum of the City of New York, where the composer herself was in attendance. After announcing Ketzel's piece, a meow was heard from the back of the hall acknowledging her new claim to fame.

Now that is one smart cat.