Happy 2014

Let's Start the New Year Off With Great Dental Care!

Dental care is critical to your pet's overall health and well-being. Dental disease may damage your pet's heart and chronic infection can adversely affect all vital organs. Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria from the mouth form on the teeth in a substance called plaque. The plaque makes it's way under the gum line and sets in motion a vicious circle, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. The bacteria in the sub-gingival plaque will secrete toxins. These toxins damage the periodontal tissues and can decrease the attachment. However, the bacteria will also elicit an inflammatory response from the animal's gingival tissues. White blood cells and other inflammatory mediators will leak out of the periodontal tissues and into the periodontal space (between the gum or bone and the tooth). The white blood cells will release their enzymes to destroy the bacterial invaders, but will also damage the attachment of the tooth. As this progresses, the pocket will get deeper and deeper. This will weaken the bone in the area, and if it is in the lower jaw it can weaken it to the point of causing a pathologic fracture. This is most common in older small breed dogs. The end stage of this disease is tooth loss, however the disease has caused problems well before this.

Don't forget Holly Tree Animal Hospital has dental month specials of 20% off on all services associated with a dental prophylaxis during January and February.

Call us today for your pet's dental appointment 864.288.8908

So You Have a Senior Pet?!

 

Once pets reach 7 years old we consider them to be geriatric or senior patients! At this point it is extremely important to have check ups every 6 months. There can be old age changes that, if caught early on, can be slowed to help extend your pets quality of life. We recommend having annual blood work once a pet reaches 7 years and twice yearly after age 10. Also, at this stage of life it is extremely important to keep your pet on all prescribed or recommended medications as your Veterinarian suggests. Some things to look for which could indicate a problem would be behavior changes, differences in appetite or thirst (either increased or decreased), changes in urination or stool production, lethargy, and problems seeing or hearing to name only a few. Remember, you know your pet best so, if you feel there is cause for concern please don't hesitate to call your Veterinarian to set up an appointment.

For more information on your senior pet please visit any one of these websites:

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogSubCategory.aspx?section=Dog_Care&category=Behavior&subcategory=Geriatric_Pets

 

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/doggeneral/a/caringseniordog.htm

 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/feeding-older-dogs

 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/aging

 

 

Jackie Yedesko, LVT

Crystal Hensley, LVT

 

Halloween and your Pets

Halloween is a fun time of year for dressing up and special treats. This can include our furry friends (hot dog costume, anyone?), but there are precautions that all pet owners should take to ensure a safe holiday. Keep candy away from your pets- chocolate intoxication can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting/diarrhea to heart problems and death. Even sugar free candy can cause problems if sweetened by xylitol. Remind children of this rule as well; keep those bags of treats on a counter or closed in a bedroom to keep “Fido” from playing the disappearing candy trick! Bring pets indoors if possible and put nervous pets or “door-dashers” in a bedroom/laundry room to avoid runaways. You can turn on music or a television to drown out the noise of the doorbell. Follow these simple guidelines and have a happy Halloween! ~ Susie Powell, DVM

Fireworks + Pets = Anxiety!

A time for fun and exciting traditions, such as 4^th of July, can cause anxiety to dogs. Several dogs have anxiety problems when it comes to fireworks because they are loud and unpredictable.  As 4^th of July approaches, owners should make sure their dogs have on an updated tag in case they get lost.  On 4^th of July, there are several ways to help calm your dogs.

·         Keep your pet inside with distractions such as playing, chewing on rawhides, or peanut butter in a kong.

·         Place your pet in a dark confined area with loud music or TV, such as bathroom or a crate.

·         Buy a thunder shirt to help reduce anxiety

o   Must be placed on dog early in the day

§  www.thundershirt.com

·         Can try hormones such as Adaptil D.A.P. collar to help reduce anxiety

§  Holly tree website

To help you reduce your pet’s anxiety, you may have to try one or several of these ideas to comfort your pet.  For extreme anxiety, you need to make an appointment with your local veterinarian. Your veterinarian might prescribe ant anxiety medications or an oral sedative.  The main thing to remember is to keep your pet safely inside at all times during this fun celebration.

~Elizabeth Lockwood - LVT

Why you should spay or neuter your pet

Why should I spay or neuter my pet?  The first, and most obvious, answer is to prevent pet overpopulation.  According to HSUS and ASPCA, between 6 and 8 million pets enter shelters in the US each year.  Half of them, 3 to 4 million dogs and cats, are euthanized every year.  There are also many health benefits to your pet from these procedures.  Spaying a female prior to her first heat can reduce her lifetime chances of breast cancer by up to 85%.  Also, as females age they become much more likely to develop infections in their uterus (pyometra), a very dangerous disease which is fatal if not treated.   Neutering a male dog will not only reduce roaming and marking behaviors (as well as some aggression problems) by up to 50%, but it will virtually eliminate prostate enlargement and infections.  Be sure to discuss any concerns you have with your veterinarian.

Links: http://www.aspca.org/
http://www.humanesociety.org/

Flea Prevention

With the recent warm winters, fleas populations have boomed in our area. Even indoor-only pets have been seen with fleas this year. In many cases, pet owners are needing multiple strategies to combat fleas in their homes and yards. For dogs, we recommend a combination monthly oral heartworm/flea prevention called Trifexis. This can be combined with topical treatments such as Frontline Plus or Advantix (both sold over the counter) or a Scalibor collar for full flea and tick prevention. Cats have several topical options, such as Advantage Multi, Revolution, ( both prescription only) or Frontline Plus (over the counter). There is also a new oral prescription treatment approved for cats called Comfortis. Please avoid over the counter products containing pyrethrins in cats- these can cause a neurologic reaction. Also, consider having your home or yard professionally treated for fleas and ticks if you are having a particularly challenging infestation. We recommend Sargents or Gregory's Pest Control. ~ Susie Powell, DVM

Dentistry and Your Pets

Can you guess what the most common disease of dogs and cats is? If you guessed dental disease, you’re correct. It is estimated that up to 85% of dogs suffer from some degree of oral disease ranging from mild tartar and gingivitis to severe periodontal disease and tooth loss. This can lead to much more than just "doggy breath". Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth and appears as redness and swelling of these structures. Tartar is a calcification of bacteria on the teeth that can spread under the gum line and then enter the bloodstream, causing infections of the liver, kidneys, and heart. These bacteria cause gingival recession and bone loss which will result in pain and tooth loss. What can you do? Have you pet’s mouth checked to determine what stage of oral disease is present. Treatment may be as easy as starting a brushing or dental chew regimen. It may require a complete dental prophylaxis under general anesthesia. Don’t forget that Holly Tree Animal Hospital has dental month specials of 20% off on all services associated with a dental prophylaxis during January and February. Call us today for your appointment. ~ Steven R. Shrum, DVM.