Osteoarthritis in Cats and Dogs

An estimated 6.5 million dogs in the UK are suffering from osteoarthritis and the number of pets diagnosed in the last 10 years has increased, which is thought to be linked in the increasing number of obese pets. Certain breeds of dogs and cats are quite commonly affected by inherited anatomical joint disorders (e.g. hip dysplasia) and osteoarthritis may develop as a consequence of the abnormal joint alignment.

What is it?

Aka degenerative joint disease it is the wear and tear of synovial (movable) joints.  It is caused by the erosion of cartilage in joints and increases with age.  It is not curable but can be managed to reduce further pain and erosion.

Symptoms:

A common early warning sign of osteoarthritis is a reduction in your pet’s activity level, or an aversion to certain physical activities. Other early warning signs include:

• Difficulty getting up from a prone position
• Difficulty climbing stairs/getting in or out of a car
• Reduced play or exercise time
• Lying down more than usual
• Stiffness or lameness that disappears with exercise
• Persistent limping or lameness

It is harder to spot the symptoms in cats and so many do go undiagnosed.

Management:

• Exercise- short and often. 10 minute walks 4 times a day is more beneficial than an hour walk once a day.
• Visit your vet for anti-inflammatory drugs
• Hydrotherapy is good as it has the benefits of exercise and aids weight loss but doesn't but the strain of body weight on the joints.
• WEIGHT MANAGEMENT- the most important because the decrease in exercise levels will cause weight gain and that puts more pressure on joints causing more pain and as the diagram above portrays it is a vicious cycle.
• Supplements: There is a huge variety of supplements available for both dogs and cats, but the ones most widely regarded as being beneficial are those that contain glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and/or essential fatty acids. Glucosamine and chondroitin are normal constituents of articular cartilage and are essential for the repair of joints, whilst essential fatty acids have a general anti-inflammatory effect. These products are most commonly available in the form of tablets or capsules, but there are a few special 'osteoarthritis diets' available for both dogs and cats which are designed as complete foods. Green lipped muscles from New Zealand have also been proven very effective.
• Cats are more difficult to manage but often have a tendency just to do what they feel like when it comes to exercise. Jumping up can be difficult in cats with osteoarthritis, so have everything your cat needs (food, water, litter tray) at ground level.

Always keep a close eye on your pets behaviour and if any signs of osteoarthritis go to your vets and if you have been diagnosed keep a close eye as well as anti-inflammatory drugs may need higher dosages later on in your pets life.

Holidays

On my last bit of work experience on Friday we had 2 cases of post holiday problems.  We had a dog with kennel cough and a cat that was very stressed after being at a new cattery. So I thought I would do a post on the advantages and disadvantages of leaving your pet and different options of doing so.

Advantages:

• If travelling abroad other countries are quite strict on animals and it is a lot of hassle.
• Saves long stressful journeys for your pet.
• Some pets such as horses you cannot realistically take on holiday.
• Gives you a holiday from looking after your pet, sometimes after looking after your pet 24:7 a break can be nice!
• It is quite costly taking your pet places.
• Some places have no pets policies.

Disadvantages:

• Of course you will miss your pet.
• Finding it somewhere to go.
• Some pets have separation anxiety issues and find it very hard to be left.
• A change in daily routine or surroundings could be stressful for your pet.
• Kennels may expose your pet to microorganisms-kennel cough etc.

Friend/Neighbour/Family: You could leave your pets with neighbours, friends or family which would be cheaper than kennels and less stressful for your pet as they have a familiar face but make sure your pet is micro chipped if possible and leave with them your vets and your number in case anything was to happen.  It is useful for whoever you are trusting does have some experience with which ever type of animal you are leaving with them so they could spot if anything was wrong.

Boarding kennels/cattery: As long as you have an accredited/reputable one these are very good at spotting any potential problems. (The one I did work experience at took a dog to the vets the prior week as it had suffered a stroke!).  They do ask that your pet is fully up to date with vaccinations.  The one I was at did not insist on the kennel cough vaccine (but as it was a live vaccine it had to be done 3 weeks prior to arrival) but I would recommend you vaccinate your dog against kennel cough if it has contact quite often with other dogs.  The one I saw on Friday had had kennel cough twice, once from a beach and this one from kennels.  But this option is more expensive than having it at family and friends.

One of the kennels at the boarding kennels I did work experience at.

Home boarding: Some people do run a home boarding system that is more expensive than boarding kennels but have less dogs and keep them in a home environment to reduce stress.

And don't forget that if your pet shows any signs of stress or kennel cough after being away to take a trip to the vets.

Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs

I came across something really unusual a few weeks ago.  I was dog sitting a 10 month old doberman bitch that was due to be spayed the week before. However she had a 'phantom pregnancy' (pseudopregnancy).  Her hormone levels were out of balance so she was unable to have the operation and she was producing milk!

According to further research on this topic on the internet, it is not uncommon as around 60% of bitches experience them to some extent in their lifetime, however I was rather surprised by this as I had not heard of this before, but it is quite uncommon in a dog as young as 10 months.

Phantom pregnancy is thought to be a natural act that dates back to when dogs were not domesticated and all the bitches in a pack would go into season at the same time but although only the alpha bitch would mate the other bitches would have enough milk to feed the alpha female's puppies.

It typically occurs around 6-12 weeks after the dog's last heat cycle

Symptoms:

Physical Changes

• One of the most obvious changes brought on by a false pregnancy will be the presence of milk. This is a very common symptom. A dog will develop enlarged mammary glands as the time gets closer to when her phantom litter is due. She may actually gain weight and develop a rounded, full look as well, simulating how she would look if she actually were pregnant.

Nesting Behaviour

 A dog may nest and act as though she already has puppies. 

Mothering

• A dog may start to collect seemingly random items from around the house or yard and bring them to her nest or keep them close to her. It is not uncommon for her to want to take care of her toys, shoes, children's soft toys, or other odds and ends she finds around the house.

Other Signs

• A dog may seem to be mildly ill when she is having a false pregnancy. In addition to gaining weight and having swollen mammary glands, she may seem more tired than usual, and she may have a slight vaginal discharge.

Concerns

• Many of the signs of a false pregnancy can also be signs of other problems, such as a vaginal or uterine infection. If she seems to get depressed or lethargic, stops eating, has a fever or has a foul-smelling or excessive vaginal discharge, a vet should be consulted.
  
  

  

  The dog I was dog sitting

  
  
  Thanks to multiple websites for information on the symptoms.

Horses at the Olympics and Paralympics

Pre-competition:

With horses from 40 different countries on 6 continents it is no wonder prevention of disease is taken so seriously.  The screening process for the horses are even stricter than the riders!  They start with an initial health check off-site which is carried out by a veterinary team to make sure they have no signs of infectious disease or injury. This is standard bio-security procedure at all international events.  The horses are reloaded, and the ramps and doors are then security sealed with tape from the outside.They are escorted to the Olympic park then straight to their stables and given a complete health check by an official from FEI.  They are then checked against their passports to check if it is the horse the passport claims it to be.  They then have a 24-hour veterinary team incase anything does happen. There are four supervised treatment boxes, overseen by the FEI veterinary commission, where onsite experts provide a range of treatments including endoscopy, radiography, ultrasonography and physiotherapy.

During Competitions: 156 jumping horses were tested for hypersensitivity just before the show jumping and the only one that failed was Victor, belonging to Tiffany Foster . He has a small nick on the coronet band, a fleshy ring where the hoof joins the leg. He was disqualified much to team Canada's distress leaving them with only 3 team members putting pressure on all 3.  So hypersensitivity is one of many tests carried out among with detecting heat to try and detect where trying to cheat is happening, however this can cause problems when boots and bandages rub.  The horses are also subjected to multiple health checks especially during the cross country to make sure the horses are in optimum condition to try and prevent as many falls and injuries as possible.

The stables are outfitted with closed-circuit television cameras and round-the-clock security, and the lights go out from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (midnight to 5:00 the night after cross-country) to give the horses a chance to rest. If a groom, say, wishes to enter a stable during the nighttime hours, he or she must be escorted in and out by an FEI steward to ensure proper security.

So it appears horses at the Olympics in 2012 are looked after more than their riders are and it isn't as simple as just seeing what happens in the ring.  Many people are behind the scenes making sure those horses are at their peak condition and to ensure there is no advantage to any riders.

 

Pet Insurance

I have had an amazing school holiday! I had the most amazing time doing work experience, I met loads of new people and gained valuable experience.  I worked with horses, at a kennels and at a small animal vets.  One thing that struck me at the vets was the distress when people find the massive bill waiting for them at the end and not being insured.  

From what I have seen I would never not have an animal insured.  I have seen bills stack up to thousands of pounds worth of treatment (luckily those owners were insured!) But many are not and especially with bigger animals, the cost of general anaesthetic for a bigger animal costs hundreds in itself! 

You may be sat thinking 'but why would my perfectly healthy animal ever need general anesthetic' but going back to the post I made earlier after a talk on gum disease, I was watching operations and consultations for a week at a local practice and almost every day there was a dental in and almost every single animal that came in that week over the age of 10 had gum disease. Then the cost starts stacking up because to put an older animal under GA (general anaesthetic) is a risk so most practices would recommend taking blood samples to check organ function and the level of red and white blood cells so reduce the risk (but they cost around £70) and then on top of that is the cost for the procedure and a simple tooth extraction due to gum disease can cost a substantial amount!  Leaving the tooth in would not be an option if it was grade IV gingivitis as although they seem fine, some will refuse food which causes severe weight loss and it will be causing them pain but they just cannot say like we can.  

That is just the common problems that stack up to substantial amounts, if anything unexpectedly happens to your pet emergency vet treatment can leave a huge hole in your pocket and I find that it is better to be safe than sorry.  

Of course each pet is different so depending on which insurance you use prices will vary so you need to find the cover best suited for your needs and cheaper cover doesn't cover as much but the more expensive may be ridiculous etc. My dog is covered at around £10 a month which is reasonable and better than getting the huge bill if anything does happen.  But I would from personal experience check out pet insurance if you are not already insured.*

*I am not saying you MUST as some people may not find pet insurance a financially viable route as the cost of treatment may be cheaper than the insurance itself but I do recommend you look into it.

The Dangerous Dog Act

Under the original 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act the list of banned breeds or so called 'dangerous breeds' was as follows:

Pitbull

Japanese Tosa

• Any Dog known as a Pitbull type
• Japanese Tosa
• Any dog known to be bred for fighting, or having the appearance of having been bred for fighting.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was then amended in August 1991 to include additional breeds of “dangerous dogs”.  Under the amendment the following dog breeds were added:

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

Fila Brasileiro

Dogo Argentino

and under this act a judge had no option but to order the destruction of the dog if there were grounds to do so.  However due to the judiciary system this had to be amended in 1997 to say that it mainly centers on dog destruction orders.

However surely any case should be judged on the deed rather than the breed.
As what do we class as a dangerous dog? All dogs can bite.  So technically ALL dogs are dangerous.

No domesticated dog breed is inherently vicious.  The single biggest factor that makes a dog aggressive is the training it receives.

I feel the problem with this Act is that even after all of these breeds have been destroyed.  People who train dogs to be aggressive and fight will just turn to different breeds, such as the Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds and many more and they to will be added to the list and many more innocent pets who belong to responsible pet owners will be destroyed through no fault of their own or their owners. As RSPCA veterinary surgeon Mark Evans says:

“Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making, in fact they are wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they are looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie’s desire to please by training them to show aggression.”

The problem of dangerous dogs remains with the irresponsible dog owners and not the dogs themselves.
Animal attacks can also be reduced in the first place by:

•  not leaving children alone with animals. NO MATTER HOW SAFE YOU THINK THE ANIMAL IS.  This is the main cause of animal attacks. 

• Do not reward an animal for showing any kind of aggressive behaviour. 

I feel that the law should judge by the deed rather than the breed and address the problems created by irresponsible dog owners rather than the breed of the dog because there is no breed of dangerous dog, just irresponsible and dangerous owners.

Gum Disease in Pets

I felt obliged to do a post on this after attending an eye-opening talk at my local vets on dental health. It is a little known fact that 4/5 pets over the age of 3 suffer from some degree of dental disease which leads to pain and suffering.

As humans we brush our teeth to keep them healthy around twice a day, floss, use mouthwash and go for dental check ups regularly.  However, these 'homecare' methods for reducing dental disease in humans are often overlooked in pets when really their oral needs are very similar to a humans.

A pet will first develop a condition called gingivitis due to the build up of plaque which causes inflammation and infection of the gums.  After this the pet will develop periodontitis which is when the problem spreads below the gum line.  Periodontitis is separated into 4 stages:

Stage 1: (gingivitis)
 Bad breath is present and there is redness at the gum line.

Stage 2: (advanced gingivitis) 
Inflammation of gums and plaque and calculus present above and below gum line.

Stage 3: (periodontitis)
 Slight tooth mobility may be present, calculus, pocket formation and inflammation.

Stage 4: (advanced periodontitis) 
Marked supporting bone loss, loose teeth, and gum recession.


Stage 1 and 2 can be reversed with professional cleaning and adequate home care. However at Stage 3 and 4, tooth extraction may have to be done and the condition can only be halted rather than reversed. 


So home care is the best way to prevent all of this happening in the first place.  Home care includes:


Teeth cleaning: the best possible method of home care-it is better than all the other home care methods put together. It is the brushing action that reduces the plaque formation. PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE PET TOOTHPASTE NOT HUMAN TOOTHPASTE as 1. Pets do not tend to like minty flavoured toothpaste and can be put off teeth cleaning. and 2. Fluoride is TOXIC.


Oral Chews: Oral chews do help but the pet has to spend around a few minutes chewing it to gain any benefit so if your dog can demolish a chew in 30 seconds it will have no effect.  Also be careful as if your pet is overweight many chews are high in calories so it would be recommended not to use oral chews if this is the case and to use other methods of home care.


Water supplements: There are supplements on the market to decrease gum disease.


Dental Diets: Although this is not always necessary dental diets do aid in the breakdown of plaque however can be quite expensive.

So remember to take your pet for dental check ups at least annually and keep an eye on the condition of their teeth and gums.  Prevention is always better than cure and starting home care at a young age can be highly rewarding for your pets dental health.

National Insect Week

June 25th-July 1st


I know this isn't directly linked to being a vet but it is vaguely biology related and found some of these facts quite interesting!

• There are more than 900,000 species of insects in the world.
• There are more insects in one square mile of rural land than there are human beings on the entire planet earth.
• In the US wasps kill more people than snakes, spiders and scorpions combined.
•  Monarch butterflies feed on the poisonous sap of the milkweed plant then the birds which those butterflies then become ill.
• Some butterflies use their front legs to clean their eyes instead of walking.
• Each year insects eat one third of the earths crop.
• The colour of an adult head louse can depend on the colour of the person's hair in which it is living.
• Dragonflies have as many as 30,000 lenses in each eye.
• A cockroach can live without its head for 9 days and after that dies from lack of water.
• There are more than 200 million insects for each human on the planet.
• Beetles are the largest members of the insect family with more than 350,000 known species.
• Tapeworms range in size from around 0.04 inch to more than 50 feet in length.

• Some worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food.

 
I find some of these facts really scary! Now this is definitely a blog post that makes you want to itch just thinking about headlice and cockroaches.

The Grand National

Now the Grand National is a very controversial topic, and this year with only 15 of the 40 horses finishing and 2 having to be euthanised, Synchronised and According to Pete, the question of horse welfare is apparent. Why in the 21st Century are we essentially needlessly killing horses for entertainment purposes.  Many people argue strongly to ban or not to ban this event some of which I will cover in this post:

Why it shouldn't be banned:

This year the prize money was a staggering £975,000 due to its massive financial side the steeplechase industry employs a large number of people and as the Grand National is the biggest event on their calendar  banning it would have a huge impact on the industry.  It is also the bookmakers biggest day of the year with £300 million spent each year betting on this event there are massive profits to the bookmakers dependent on the result of this 10 minute race.  The Grand National is also one of the most prestigious races in Europe with its iconic fences such as 'The Chair' and 'Becher's Brook' drawing 11 million TV views in 2012.  It has been going since 1839 and only ever being missed in 1941-45 due to WW2 and 1933 due to a false start and people carrying on. The event has a lot of history making it the event it is today.  

Why it should be banned:

The Grand National has 3 times the fatality rate of a normal steeplechase and is in the high risk category for horse fallers due to its 3 most unique features (the size of the field, length of the course and the number of jumps) and there has been 22 deaths in the last 20 years alone on the supposedly "safer" course.  It seems that the Grand National is not a race but instead a game of luck to see who can be left without falling at the end.  

Is this race pushing horses beyond their capabilities? On average a horse that would race in the National would have lungs that at rest contracted and expands between 8-16 times a minute but in the race this could reach 150 times a minute taking in around 21,000l of oxygen and to get this oxygen to the muscles the heart would have to beat 240 times a minute whereas the resting heart rate is 25-30bpm.  As well as the strain on the heart and muscles the horse has to jump 30 solid fences which the smallest of which is 4ft 6inches tall. The problem with this is that the lightweight-speed-racehorse was not intended to be jumped over solid fences and is therefore more prone to injuries such as fractures which are fatal in horses.

What I think?  I think that due to horse welfare I think reducing the number of horses in the field from 40 to 30 would dramatically reduce the number of fallers and reducing number of fallers decreases fatalities, I think this is the only way as I feel the Grand National would be impossible to ban due to its history and the financial aspect of it.  I also think that decreasing fence height would not make a difference as this would in turn force horses into running this course faster and the faster it becomes the more fatalities there will be.  However I fear that it will take too many more horses or even a jockey to die for such a dramatic change to occur.

National Microchipping Month

Sadly everyday hundreds of pets go missing and according to recent figures only 19% of dogs and 4% of cats are reunited with their owners.  Did you know that 1 in 3 pets is lost in its lifetime? Around 90% of pets with an ID return home, while 90% of pets without are never found by their owner?

The traditional collar and tag is good however-as many of us who have adventurous pets know-these do not always stay in place and can often be lost. Which is why the microchip is so brilliant.  If your pet was to be stolen, a collar is easily removed, however, a microchip would require surgery which makes it easier for the police to prove who the pets rightfull owner is. Microchips are hardly bigger than a grain of rice and are simple and quick for the vet to insert into the back of the neck.  The chip will then last a lifetime.

A range of pets can be micro-chipped including dogs, cats, birds, rodents and even fish!

The chip itself contains your contact details so remember having a microchip is useless if it has the wrong information so be sure to update your pets microchip if you move house or get a new phone!

So make sure June is the month you get your pet micro-chipped and be one of the owners of the 90% that are returned home.

Toxic Food for Cats

Do not feed your cat these "people foods" or leave them out
where the cat could reach them. It is wise to just feed cats a commercially prepared cat food and never feed them foods meant for humans, especially "sweets."

Caffeine/Chocolate:

 Theobromine is the offending substance here. Caffeine and other stimulants, including theobromine (found in chocolate), can poison cats.

Onions/Garlic:

Onions contain a substance (N-propyl disulphide) which destroys red blood cells in the cat, causing a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount.

Tomatoes and Green (raw Potatoes): These foods are members of the Solanaceae family of plants, which includes the Deadly Nightshade, and contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine, which can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms.

Milk:

Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have adverse effects. Adult cats fed a nutritious diet don't need milk, and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products produces stomach upset, cramps, and gassiness. If your cat loves milk, and begs for it, a small amount of cream may be okay, two or three times a week. (The more fat in the milk, the less lactose it has.)

Raisins/Grapes:

These foods' toxicity has only recently been discovered, and although the only studies have been with dogs, it is also believed that these fruits may also affect cats adversely.

Raw Eggs:

Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw Fish:

Eating raw fish can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

Mushrooms:

Mushrooms can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

Fish Bones:

These bones can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

Dog Food:

If accidental ingestion, will not cause a problem; if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases affecting the heart.

If you see your cat eating plants/bulbs take it too the vet as many common flowers are poisonous to cats.

Never use dog flea or tick medication on cats unless otherwise stated.

Toxic Foods for Dogs.

I thought I better put a post out here about toxic foods.  A surprising amount of people do not actually know what is poisonous to their pets. 

Caffeine/Chocolate:

 Many owners do not realise this can potentially lead to death.  Coco powder and cooking chocolate being the most lethal followed by semi-sweet chocolate.  A dog that has ingested a large quantity of chocolate will exhibit symptoms that include staggering, laboured breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma or death however these may not occur until several hours after the consumption.

Onions/Garlic:

Onions are more of a danger as they contain more thiosulphate however garlic contains it as well but more of it would need to be consumed.  Any form of onion can cause poisoning including leftover takeaways or baby food.  Symptoms may occur a few days after consumption and include Hemolytic Anemia, laboured breathing, liver damage, vomiting, diarrhoea, discoloured urine.

Mushrooms:

Can be fatal if a certain type is eaten.  Symptoms include Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting diarrhoea, convulsions, coma, death.

Grapes/Raisins:

A HANDFUL of raisins or grapes is enough to cause serious damage. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.


Nuts:
Especially Macadamia nuts.  Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Cat Food:

Is too high in protein and fats for dogs.  Also do not feed fish with bones as they can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

Fat Trimmings:

Can cause pancreatitis.

Milk/Dairy Products:

Some dogs do not have enough of the enzyme lactase that beaks down the lactose in milk.  This can result in diarrhoea.

Raw Eggs:

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw Fish:

Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

So please.  Stick to normal dog food.  Human food is not good for your pet whether it is toxic or not.  If your pet portrays any of the signs above take them to a vet. The smaller the dog is the less it has to consume to be affected.

If you ever see your dog eating any type of bulb or flower please take them to the vets as these can be very very toxic along with ferlilisers.  ALWAYS make sure fertilisers are pet friendly before applying them to your garden.

Why I want to be a vet.

I am currently in year 10 at school (first year of GCSE's) and many of my friends still don't know what they want to do when they grow up.  I have on the other hand known what I have wanted to do for a while now.  Become a vet.  Why? Well, I love to learn, the more unusual the better.  Working in a 9 till 5 job doing the same thing day in day out would drive me mad!  I want to do a job that involves new things.  Not knowing what will walk through the doors could be a case of something really simple like a dog with a tick, or something more unusual.  I would like to know that I am helping in some way, either an animal suffering or giving advice to people on how to stop their pet from suffering. I also really want a job with animals as I find it amazing how they communicate with each other and trying to communicate with us and I would love to learn more and help out when they are suffering.

  Yes, I am a long way off uni yet but I know there is a long battle ahead if I am going to become a vet.  I recently went on a course at Nottingham University on becoming a vet or a doctor.  That course made me want to be a vet even more.  I have been doing the odd bit of work experience so far but now I will be doing a lot more and I shall blog anything that I find interesting or that I learn along the way.