Dear Santa letters from the dog and cat

Dear Santa, 

I’ve been such a good, good, dog this year!  My humans say so nearly every day.  I have kept the yard free from squirrels, only chewed up one couch since last Christmas, and I have stopped chasing the cat (well, OK, I’m down to only once a week but still better)!  I am the best snuggler, sloppy kisser, tail wager for miles.  So if possible could I have the following for Christmas?  If not, that’s OK too, we can still be friends.

1. TOYS! – Bring it on – chew toys to keep my teeth healthy, balls for fetching and much needed exercise, puzzle toys for my mental health.  I’m not picky.

2. Treats – I love treats.

3. Walks – I know I have a yard but I love to get out and meet people, sniff a lot, keep my weight down, and get my wanderlust out of my system.  It is so good for me and my human.  So maybe you could bring some extra cold weather gear for my human so we can get out every day!

4. New collar, new leash, and a microchip to make sure I don’t get lost on my walks or while ridding the yard of invading squirrels.

5. Grooming – I want to look great for my Christmas pictures!

6. A professional dental cleaning by my veterinarian – My human sometimes turns their face away during my awesome kissing.  They say I have bad breath, whatever that means.  I don’t always like going to the vet but it keeps my mouth healthy which in turn keeps my other organs healthy as well!

7. More cats to chase, …uh…, I mean play with.

8. Year round heartworm prevention – It tastes delicious and keeps me free of parasites including intestinal parasites that are present year round.  I don’t want to gross out my family.

9. Did I list treats yet?  OK fine, healthy ones like carrots, no salt green beans, apple slices, Cheerios.  I can share them with the Reindeer so we can all be friends.

Love,  

The Dog

______________________________________________________

Dear Santa, 

Oh poor guy, you can’t read my mind and know what I want for Christmas?  I guess I can help you out with that.  It goes without saying that I have been a good cat this year.  I let the humans pet me sometimes, I keep a spot on the couch warm, and I only swat at the dog once a week now.   So here is what I require for Christmas:

1. Sufficient litterboxes – We should have as many litterboxes in the house as we have cats + 1.  They should be scooped daily, cleaned weekly, filled with unscented litter,  uncovered, and away from noisy areas of the house.  This helps me be as happy as I can be and minimizes the chances that I will not use the box.

2. A cat tree – I love different levels to play and perch.  It makes me feel safe and allows me to survey my realm.  Who knows, it might even keep the dog safe from me.

3. An annual check-up – I haven’t been to the vet in years.  Yeah, I know I’m low maintenance and I don’t go outside, but I’m also really good at hiding my illnesses and things such as dental disease until much later in their course than the dog.

4. A scratching post – Apparently, the humans don’t like it when I scratch their couch and drapes.  A scratching post will help me direct my natural behavior appropriately.

5. Feather toys and laser pointers – I need exercise and mental stimulation just like the dog!  I only act like I don’t care.  I mean, would I be grooming myself all day if I didn’t want to look my best?

6. Take the dog with you back to the North Pole.  He loves the snow anyway.

7. Catnip

8. Catnip

9. Catnip

With Regards,  

The Cat

article written by:
Jessica Smith, DVM
Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

When to consider acupuncture for your pet

Acupuncture is a healing modality that has been used for thousands of years in animals, mostly horses, and people. Acupuncture did not become widely used in pets until the 1990's. Although it's an eastern modality, more acupuncture treatments are done on pets in Europe and the US than anywhere else in the world.

How does it work? Some of the mechanisms are well understood. For pain control, acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s own Endorphins, which is our own internal source of Morphine, and Enkephalins which is our bodies own aspirin. Painful muscle spasms are also lessened by modulating the nervous system. The way I explain this to my clients is that placing an acupuncture needle in a spasming muscle is like turning off a light switch. I can tell you from my own experience, that this feels great! The ways in which acupuncture helps the healing processes are less well understood. Acupuncture modulates Qi, which is energy that circulates through our body. Qi flows through channels, or meridians. By placing needles at specific points in these meridians, we can alter the flow of Qi and assist our body (or our pets bodies), in the healing process.

The decision to begin acupuncture includes several factors. The most important to me recommending it is, does it work?, and have I used this effectively in the past?. I have performed about 10,000 acupuncture treatments in the last decade. I'm always open to trying acupuncture for something new, but most likely, whatever your pet is experiencing, I've tried acupuncture for this before. As a general rule, I don't use acupuncture as often on young pets or for acute problems. For me, the specifics of your pet’s physical exam and history are extremely important in deciding if acupuncture can be of help.  Another factor to consider is your pet’s response to previous medications, or problems associated with specific medications. Cost is always a factor in considering treatments. A few hundred dollars may be a lot to pay for a case of simple urinary incontinence when an inexpensive medication may do the trick. On the other hand, an MRI that costs $3000 or more for a neurological problem that may not yield a diagnosis, is a lot to pay for a procedure that won't make your pet better.

Here are the conditions I treat with acupuncture: Neurological problems including disc disease, Degenerative Myelopathy, seizures, fecal and urinary incontinence and strokes, arthritis, bronchitis, asthma, inappetence, organ related disease like Liver and Kidney problems, and any night time problems.

The problems I usually do not try acupuncture on are skin and ear problems. Herbal medications, supplements and diet changes can very often be helpful with these problems.

As a general rule, I'll perform acupuncture weekly for 3 weeks and if we do not notice some significant change, we try something else.  

article written by:

Joe Whalen

Hyde Park Animal Hospital & Clinic

Companion Animal Hospitals

How to have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season

With the holidays fast approaching, we know what a busy time of year this can be.  By taking a few precautions, you can make sure that everyone in your family (including your furry friends) enjoys the holidays! Below are some ideas to help avoid timely and expensive emergency visits to the vet.

1. Keep your holiday plants away from your pets. While there are many beautiful plants we associate with the holiday season, some of these can be quite toxic to our pets. Holly and mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and even abnormalities with the heart. Ingesting only a small amount of certain types of lilies can cause kidney failure. If you suspect your pet has consumed a toxic plant, seek veterinary attention immediately.
2. Be very careful about feeding table scraps. While it is never a good idea to feed your pets table scraps, some of the foods we associate with the holidays can be especially dangerous. For example, turkey bones can pose as choking hazards or obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. Fruit cake may contain grapes or raisins, which can cause kidney failure. Chocolate can cause an array of symptoms ranging from vomit and diarrhea to death. Also, we see a spike of “pancreatitis” (inflammation of the pancreas) around the holidays because of pets often getting fatty scraps; this disease is quite uncomfortable for your pet!
3. No alcohol! In addition to avoiding table scraps, be careful your pet doesn’t get into the alcohol. Alcohol can cause dangerously low drops in blood pressure, blood glucose, and body temperature.  Even some desserts made with alcohol (rum cake for example) can cause these signs, along with GI upset from ingesting the dessert!
4. Firmly anchor the tree. A nosey pet can potentially knock a Christmas tree down if not firmly anchored, which can injure your pet. Also for those of you with live trees: be sure that your pet is not able to assess any water you may have in the base, as this may contain fertilizers that can be toxic to your pet.
5. Consider skipping the tinsel on the tree. What cat doesn’t love something shiny and stringy to play with?? Unfortunately, your cat may decide that the tinsel is a fun toy. If your pet ingests the tinsel, there is little risk of toxicity but a big risk that it can block up their intestines and result in an expensive surgery to remove it!
6. Prep your house guests. Make sure that all holiday visitors understand how to appropriately interact with your pets. For example, if you have small children visiting that do not have pets at home, make sure the child understands how to engage with the pet and that they are closely supervised. Also make sure guests are careful to close main entrance doors behind them quickly so that there is no chance for a pet to escape. Ask all visitors to lock up any medicine or food they may have in their luggage, so that a nosey pet doesn’t get into something they shouldn’t!
7. Have fun! The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy time with your pet. Consider getting them a stocking and fill it with appropriate treats (talk to your veterinarian if you need recommendations on what to fill it with!). Maybe take your pet for pictures with Santa. Play in the snow. Do whatever makes you and your pets holiday season merry and bright and SAFE!

 References:

1. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips
2. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/seasons/winter-holiday-pet-poison-tips/

article written by:

Erin Walsh, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

Does my dog have arthritis?

With the changing weather, you may soon start to notice that your older dog seems a little “stiff” in the joints.  Arthritis is a progressive degeneration of the joints often seen in older dogs. It may start with subtle signs, such as your dog is no longer willing to jump up on the furniture or into the car, or maybe they are hesitant to use the stairs. You may also notice your pet seems very stiff when they first wake up, but then seems to loosen up as the day progresses. Cold or wet weather can make these changes more apparent.

If any of the above sounds like your pet, a veterinarian can help you determine if it is arthritis that’s bothering your pet. While we can’t undo your pet’s arthritis, the great news is that there are a number of things we can do to slow it down and keep your pup comfortable! The following is just some of the ways we can work to keep your pet comfortable in the face of arthritis:

1. The biggest thing is weight loss! Excess weight puts excess strain on your pet’s joints. Ask your veterinarian about your pet’s ideal weight and how many calories per day your pet should be consuming to help reach that weight.
2. Dietary supplements, such as fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin, can help with decreasing inflammation in joints. These can be obtained through your veterinarian (remember that human over the counter products were designed for people, not cats and dogs, so dose adjustment is needed!). You may also find these ingredients in some senior diets.
3. Anti-inflammatories, such a as Rimadyl or Deramaxx, are great methods of controlling arthritis. These medications help to lessen the inflammatory processes associated with arthritis. These medications can be used short or long term. With long term use, your veterinarian will likely recommend periodic blood work to check internal organ function.
4. Injections such as Pentosan or polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAGs) can be given to your pet weekly initially and then every month or so as determined by your veterinarian. These injections have anti-inflammatory properties and also help to stimulate production of hyaluronic acid (which helps to lubricate your pet’s joints).
5. Pain medication may also be incorporated into treatment protocols for pets who are not responding well enough to the above.

If you are concerned your pet is suffering from arthritis, reach out to your veterinarian. We want your pets to be happy and comfortable as they age!

article written by:

Dr. Erin Walsh

Companion Animal Hospital, Mount Prospect, IL

I never knew Fido was painful!

Almost daily I find dogs on routine physical exam that show signs of chronic pain unbeknownst to their owners.  Arthritis and back pain are two very common causes of chronic pain in middle age to senior dogs, yet their pain is rarely recognized by their human caretakers.  Why is this? The reason is simple.  Pets do not express pain in the same ways that humans do.  Pets do not grimace or have facial expressions we might equate with pain when we observe this in our fellow human beings.  Pets do not complain, gripe or grumble and rarely whine about their pain.  They certainly cannot communicate to us where their pain is at on a scale of 1 to 10.

Decades ago even some veterinarians felt that animals do not feel pain.   That is just not the case.   We know that pets absolutely suffer from pain and it is very real.  They just do not express their feelings of pain in the same manner people do.  I have found that the most common sign of chronic back or rear limb arthritic pain in dogs are lack of desire to be active and decreased interaction with other pets and people.  Some people may construe this as simply “my pets just getting older” when it could be that the pet is experiencing chronic pain. 

Some people feel that their dog is just getting stiff with age because they are slower to rise or get to their feet.  I will submit to you that if your dog is stiff in the morning, or slow to rise from a lying position, or gets up on the front legs then needs an additional effort to get the back legs up and moving, your dog likely is exhibiting symptoms of pain.  I will submit to you that if your older dog no longer greets you at the door when you get home, or just does not seem to interact with your family the way he used to, he may be experiencing chronic pain.  I will submit to you that if your dog seems reluctant to take the stairs or jump into the car like he used to, he may be experiencing pain.

There are so many treatment modalities to help pets with pain issues that significantly improve their quality of life, unfortunately, the biggest barrier to providing this benefit is that most of us humans fail to appreciate that our pats may be experiencing pain, and thus go untreated.

article written by:

Scott Petereit, DVM

Companion Animal Hospitals of Mount Prospect, Kenosha, Vernon Hills, and Oak Park

Switching your Cat to a Healthier Diet

Cats can be addicts!! The dry food that we feed to our cats is high in fat and salt, and even the shapes can trigger the response of turning down other, healthier foods.

Because of the tendency toward addiction on these dry foods, they can be very resistant to change.
It is VERY important that you change your cat very, very slowly to a healthy new diet.  Cats WILL starve themselves rather than switch and this can lead to Fatty Liver Disease, a life-threatening condition.  If your cat fasts, he runs the risk of this disease.
Please take this warning seriously!!

First either ask us how much you should feed ( if your cat is overweight) or measure the total amount you are currently feeding( if your cats’ weight is normal).
Divide your cats’ complete measured daily allowance into 3 meals.  Give one portion in the morning, one in the afternoon, and the final feeding in the evening.
Be tough, that is all he gets for the daily feeding.  It may take several weeks for him to adjust to the feedings, but your cat will learn that this is all he will get to eat.

When kitty learns that that is all they are going to get, replace one of those feedings with canned food.  They will get enough from 2 feedings of dry to keep up the necessary nutrition that they need.

Don’t give in to your cat.  If he gets hungry enough, he will try the canned.  It may take weeks, even months for your cat to eat the canned food, but you are doing this for the health of your kitty.

When your cat is eating the one meal of canned food for several weeks, take one of the meals of dry food and replace with canned.  Be sure to adjust the amount for calorie intake.

After several weeks of  2 canned meals, replace the final dry feeding with the canned.

Another way to introduce your cat to canned food is to measure the total amount of daily dry food, then give 1/3 the amount at each of  2 dry meals, one for breakfast and one at dinner, and leave a bowl of canned food out all day.  This is good for an all day nibbler, and when the dry is gone, they will try the canned.  Then gradually replace the remainder of the dry with canned food.
Take as much time as your cat needs to make the transition from dry to canned.

article written by:
Dr. Joe Whalen
Hyde Park Animal Hospital and Clinic

Leptospirosis

Chances are, when you have been to our clinic for your dog’s annual wellness care, we have either recommended or administered a Leptospirosis vaccine to your furry friend.  But what exactly is Leptospirosis, how does it affect dogs, and how can we best prevent it?   Let’s start with the fact that Leptospirosis (or Lepto for short) is a spirochete type bacteria that is transmitted through the urine of infected animals.  Some of the animals that can spread Lepto through their urine include raccoons, skunks, squirrels, rodents, opossums, and deer.  As you can see, we have no shortage of those animals in our yards and parks, so nearly every dog that comes to see us is considered “at risk”!  In turn, the infected urine can then contaminate ground water, puddles, and soil where it can potentially survive for months.

Dogs become infected when the bacteria enters their body through breaks in the skin or their mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).  Some examples include getting contaminated soil in a wound or drinking or swimming in contaminated water.   After infection, some dogs do not get ill but those that do can display a wide variety of signs including fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal signs, but unfortunately some dogs progress to the hallmark signs of kidney and liver failure.  This makes Lepto a potentially life-threatening disease and not to be taken lightly!

Testing for this disease once a pet becomes ill involves a combination of bloodwork, urine, Lepto titers (which check the body’s antibody levels to an infection), and imaging of the internal organs through x-rays and ultrasound.  Treatment is aimed at supporting the affected organs and the patient while starting antibiotics.  This is best accomplished with hospitalization for IV fluids, anti-nausea medications, monitoring, and injectable antibiotics.   Fortunately, the Lepto bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics and typically a combination is used to both clear the blood infection and eliminate the bacteria from the kidney.  It is worth noting that even though we can kill the bacteria, the patient’s overall prognosis depends on the degree of organ damage and response to treatment.

However, the best treatment is prevention, and thank goodness we have vaccines for the most common strains of Leptospirosis.  They can be started as young as 12 weeks of age and initially are a series of two vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart.  It is boostered annually thereafter.  Unlike many of our viral vaccines which can produce an immunity of up to 3 years, Lepto is a bacteria and durations of immunity longer than one year have not been able to be established.  So that annual booster is a must!
Recently, at our Mt. Prospect Hospital, we have had a couple of positive cases of Lepto that were late on their annual vaccines.   After consulting with veterinarians at the vaccine manufacturer, we have started recommending re-boostering if your dog is more than 6 weeks late for their annual booster.  This ensures they are protected for the strains in the vaccine and allows the manufacturer to back their guarantee on the vaccine.

If you have any further questions, please ask our team or visit http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/

article written by:
Dr. Jessica Smith
Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect