Alex's Blog

Harper

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:51:00 GMT

Harper is one very relaxed, super gentle, and clever little Kelpie. This one year old has been going through all his puppy stages with his loving parents on Auckland’s North Shore, wrestling their two large teenage boys to a standstill, any puppies dream life. He was however increasingly ravenous, toileting all the time and struggling to put on weight, which although common to a small degree in some pups seemed pretty extreme.

A couple of months prior his condition had started to look poor and his stools were getting really runny. After not responding to antibiotic treatments and dietary change he was presented as a one year old patient to VetCare towards the end of May for help with his illness. In the last few days he had also started vomiting, salivating, was depressed and had gone off his food, very unusual for his normally massive appetite plus we identified significant focal pain involving his intestines.

We admitted Harper into our hospital for blood tests, sedation and x-rays of his abdomen. While he was chemically relaxed we could palpate solid masses that definitely shouldn’t be there. X-rays showed he had a lot of trapped gas in his stomach and intestines and a few lumps of dense foreign material in his intestines. No wonder he couldn’t keep anything down, nothing of any size could pass through his partially obstructed gut. The danger signs we had identified meant we needed to rapidly prepare this trusting little dog for a laparotomy. Multiple pieces of rubber were found and removed delicately through incisions in blocked bowel that was beginning to deteriorate as blood supply reduced and toxins built up.

While examining all of his abdominal organs, part of a thorough laparotomy, we noticed his pancreas looked very abnormal and sparse so a biopsy sample was taken of the minimal pancreatic tissue. The pieces of offending rubber were identified as an old volleyball that Harper had recently being tearing strips off. His long standing illness and climbing appetite had driven Harper to make some serious mistakes with his dining choices.

He was supported with I/V fluids, antibiotics, given a pain patch and other drugs to help him recover comfortably from the surgery. Being one tough little cookie he recovered rapidly and was up walking well that night, eating and having no more vomiting.

The sample of formalin preserved pancreatic tissue was analysed at the pathology lab and showed this lovely little dude had a condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to the destruction of his pancreatic tissue. A blood test called TLI that we had also requested confirmed a very low level of digestive enzymes and was consistent with EPI.

The pancreas normally produces enzymes to digest Harpers, and our food. These enzymes include amylase to digest starches, lipases to digest fats, and trypsin and proteases to digest proteins. They are stored in inactive forms inside special granules in the pancreatic tissue and are secreted into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine after the stomach) when ground up food begins its passage out of the stomach. Once nutrients are broken down into smaller molecules they can be absorbed down the length of the GI tract, but …without adequate production of these enzymes Harper could not break down, digest and absorb his food. Dogs with this condition typically become skinny, have especially nasty rather greasy diarrhea and often develop a dry dandruff coat.

Our loving little patient had a wee upset when he tried to eat his pain patch about 8 hours after going home and had to come back to VetCare as he went very pale and wobbly with his morphine overdose. We’d never seen that before, he really does have a dangerous palate. He recovered very quickly after going back on a drip and being warmed up though and was back to his usual happy self in no time.

As Harper’s digestion is not working we need to add pancreatic enzymes to his food. He’s currently getting those in the form of a capsule with each of his meals. We still found it difficult to stabilize the condition of this great little Kelpie until we realised he had a complicating condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth which dogs with EPI are prone to. When he was put back on antibiotics his diarrhea resolved and his owners are now celebrating his solid stools! He is having blood tests to check his Vitamin B12 levels, a common side effect of having EPI and he has also started a drug that reduces the acid in his stomach to aid digestion and reduce nausea. He is on a highly digestible diet (Royal Canin Gastrointestinal) which is very palatable, has a high energy content and top quality ingredients to promote digestive security. We are hoping that he will start putting on weight very soon. The management of EPI is for life and without enzyme supplementation all the unpleasant symptoms would recur. Most dogs will respond quickly and lead a normal life span. Despite Harper’s particular complications he is doing really well, back to swimming on those great North Shore beaches and wearing out his two human brothers.

Pearly whites or dog breath?

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:33:00 GMT

Why do I need to worry about dental care? Dental problems will affect nearly all cats and dogs at some point in their life to differing extents. This could range from just the inconvenience of bad breath to more serious problems such as gum disease or severe tooth ache.

Dental disease can also cause problems in other areas not associated with the mouth – bacteria can potentially enter the blood stream cause kidney damage or even certain forms of heart disease. Animals are very good at hiding that they are in pain, just because they are eating well doesn’t mean they aren’t having pain in their mouth.

When do I start examining the mouth and teeth?

From an early age, you will need to get the animal accustomed to having his or her mouth examined (especially dogs). It will make your life easier as owners will learn what is normal for their pets and when the vet comes to examine their mouths they won’t mind so much as they will be used to it.

What should I look for in the mouth?

Again this is why you should be familiar with what normal is like, as only then you will spot when something is wrong. When examining mouth and teeth always be careful and be aware that any animal can inflict a nasty bite or scratch if they set their mind to it! Dogs Lift up the upper lips on the side of the mouth and look at the surface of the teeth – especially the big canines and the carnassials which are the big grinding teeth at the back of the mouth. You should look for excessive tartar build up (teeth look yellow or brown). Signs of sore or infected gums (redness, recession) signs of broken or chipped/fractured teeth and also look for any unusual lumps bumps or swellings. Some older dogs will also have worn teeth from chewing on toys, rocks or tennis balls. Try to examine both sides as they can be very different. If they are very cooperative you can open their mouth and look on the inside as well. Here is what a normal dog’s mouth looks like.

Cats They can be notoriously difficult to examine the mouth, often the best way is to take a quick peek when they are yawning! If you can gently hold the head and pull the lips back and apart at the side of the mouth, doing this you should be able to see the canines and molars. Don’t worry if you can’t get a good look –sometimes even us experts struggle! Here is what a normal cat’s mouth looks like.

What else should I look for?

Other than examining the mouth physically there are lots of other things you can check: What is the appetite like? If they are not eating do they look hungry? Are they looking interested in the food but just aren’t able to eat it properly. What is the breath like? Usually bad breath is caused by problems in the mouth, either teeth or gums. Is the animal selecting soft food over hard food or seems to only be eating on one side? Is there any excessive dribbling? Have there been any signs of weight loss? Occasionally if a tooth gets a tooth root abscess the pet will get a swelling below their eye on their face and the tooth can still look normal in the mouth, so get your vet to investigate any sudden swellings on the face.

What can I do to prevent dental disease?

As with many other conditions, prevention is better than cure, and this certainly applies to dental disease - as we humans know all too well. Often it is not possible to completely avoid dental problems but certain steps can be taken to limit problems and reduce the need

for dental procedures under anaesthetic at the vet clinic. The best thing you can do is physically brush their teeth. Some animals tolerate this better than others and we have special toothbrushes and flavored toothpaste that pets like. Here are some web sites that go through how to brush your pets teeth but you usually need to start when they are young and some animals will not tolerate it no matter how patient you are!

Check the teeth and mouth regularly – many problems if caught early will not be serious but can progress to tooth loss and occasionally even a broken jaw if ignored and neglected.

Feed the correct diet. – avoid sweet treats, ensure the pet has enough hard objects to chew on, special chews and dental diets are readily available that will help keep the teeth in good shape. Bones will help keep teeth clean but do make your pets at risk of breaking teeth and some animals will get upset stomachs (vomiting, diarrhea or constipation) on bones. Never feed small cooked bones. If you are going to give a dog a bone get a raw cannon bone and only let them chew on it for a hour then take it away (you can put it in a bag then in the freezer) and if they seem ok after 48 hour they can have another go in a few weeks. Don’t give them one more than once a month as too many will wear down their teeth.

What to do if you are worried?

If you are concerned about any aspect of the mouth or teeth you should seek veterinary attention. The nurses will be happy to discuss dental care with you and are able to help you examine the mouth and help decide if the animal should see a vet. What can be done to help if my animal has a mouth problem? If there is a problem with the teeth or gums we can help! Our dental services range from a clean and polish (which removes all the plaque/tartar from the teeth and then polishes the surface so the teeth are nice and white and clean again) to more serious dental work (such as extracting rotten teeth and investigations into tooth root abscesses). It has to be appreciated that no animal will lie back and say “aaagh” so for this reason we have to give your pet a general anaesthetic to perform these treatments. Now days these are very safe and a nurse will monitor your beloved pet the whole time they are asleep and in recovery. Age isn’t a barrier to an anaesthetic – we always give the patient a thorough check over and often the older animals have blood tests to make sure all their organs are working well and they may be put on i/v fluids to help them recover from the procedure. We are very aware of the pain dentals can cause and make every effort to ensure your pet has good pain relief and appropriate drugs to go home on. We often want to see them back after a few days to check how they are recovering. Regular dental checks are an important part of our physical examination when we give our patients their yearly check up but some pets with bad teeth may need checking more often.

It is again worth mentioning that prevention is better than cure – it is better to do a simple clean and polish than to wait until the tartar has built up and caused serious tooth decay and gum infections. This month we have several products available for your pet to try and competitions to win free stuff to help with this common problem.

Pirate Puppy

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:22:00 GMT

When Angus was only 10 weeks old he got too close to a cat who unfortunately scratched his left eye and it went right through the clear protective surface known as the cornea.

Despite emergency treatment immediately and a consultation with a specialist nobody could save his vision and as his eye was extremely painful his owners made the difficult decison to have his eye removed. (Enucleation)

This delicate procedure was performed in our sterile surgery and Angus was given fluids and strong pain relief, antibiotics and antiinflammatories. After a day to recover from the surgery he went home and was a much happier puppy without a sore eye.

He bounced back so quickly and although he banged into a few walls with his elizabethan collar on he was soon back at vetcare to attend puppy preschool and has no bad memories, he is always so happy to visit and once his hair grows back it will be hard to tell he is missing an eye, it doesn't slow him down at all.

It is very important to be careful with dogs or puppies around cats they are not familar with. If you bring a puppy home to a house with a cat who is not good with dogs we recommend you bring the cat into us so we can trim the claws which will limit the damage they can do.

Angus's mum and dad were very grateful that they had insured him with petplan about 3 weeks before his injury.

This meant that they only had to pay a $100 (the standard excess) for all the vet bills. This included the cost of the emergency after hours treatment, the specialist and all of his surgery and follow up care.

This would have cost over $2000 if he was not insured. If you are interested in finding out how to insure your cat or dog please click the petplan logo on the right hand side of this page or go to www.petplan.co.nz

Thanks to Kate for the lovely photos.

Arthritis In Your Pets

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:12:00 GMT

Degenerative joint disease is the number one cause of pain in our pets. 20% of all pets of any age have arthritis. This figure climbs to 90% for the over-tens, afflicting both dogs and cats, particularly large breed dogs. The condition is the result of long-term stresses, from an old injury or from a poorly conformed joint during the growth stages of a puppy or kitten. A pet doesn’t have to be a senior citizen to benefit greatly from joint care supplements or anti-inflammatories.

Surgery may be able to help in some situations e.g. with bone or cartilage chips floating around in the joint (ouch - what we call joint mice!). However most of the time the degeneration of the joint cannot be reversed and treatment focuses on preventing the progression of damage.

Arthritis is best addressed by what is called a multi-modal approach, meaning that safely combined treatments yield better results than any single therapy.

As prevention of the progression of arthritis is all about maintaining the normal structures of the joint it is critically important to first understand joint structure.

The articular surfaces of the joint have cartilage caps on the ends of each long bone. These are the smooth surfaces that must glide across each other. Cartilage decreases joint stress by reducing impact on the ends of the bones in joints, like a gelatinous shock absorber.

When there is an injury or simply poor conformation, the cartilage becomes roughened and can chip, flake off, or even wear down. When cartilage is damaged, a cascade of inflammatory changes occurs, eventually leading to destruction of the cartilage and subsequent damage to the underlying bone. Cartilage contains no nerves – if your pet is showing any signs of pain, the damage and changes in underlying bone have already begun.

There is also a joint capsule that encloses the joint, creating the structure of the hinge. The capsule has an outer tough, fibrous layer and an inner layer that secretes joint fluid, a fluid that provides both nutrition and lubrication to the enclosed joint. The joint capsule must keep unwanted materials out of the joint and only let the desired nutrients inside.

The joint capsule becomes inflamed and thickened and no longer functions normally. Impurities enter the joint, the lubricating fluid loses its natural properties and ultimately a progressively abnormal and painful joint is created.

This degenerative disease may affect any joint but is commonly found in a pet’s hip, elbow, shoulder, stifle (knee) , carpus (wrist), hock (ankle) or intervertebral joints (in the spine).

Signs of arthritis to watch out for include:

Reluctance to take walks of usual length
Stiffness (that may disappear once the pet has ‘warmed up’)
Difficulty climbing stairs, climbing in the car, on the bed or a sofa
Difficulty rising from rest
Limping
An abnormal gait
Licking of a single joint or part of a limb
Acting withdrawn, spending less time playing with family
Soreness, yelping or flinching when touched or moved
Out of character grumpiness when touched or approached

As vets and pet owners our goal is to alleviate the pain and inflammation and provide the biochemical building blocks that allow the joint to heal itself.

There are many therapeutic options to help dogs deal effectively with this common condition.

Lightening the load on joints will help decrease the pain associated with arthritis, so if your dog is overweight, proper diet, exercise and weight control are essential. As veterinarians we can recommend a therapeutic diet and exercise program to safely and steadily reduce your dog’s weight.

Providing a padded bed, a warm, dry environment for your dog can also help control discomfort.

Warming up before exercise and providing passive physiotherapy should become part of your pet’s routine. Warming the muscles decreases stiffness, and increases blood flow. It also directly reduces pain. A warm wash cloth in a plastic baggie makes an excellent warm compress (test it on yourself to be sure it is not too hot) for application to stiff joints. The joints can be flexed and extended passively and the muscles gently massaged. A good five minutes of this is helpful prior to exercise.

Arthritic joints rely on strong muscles for support, yet arthritis pain leads to disuse and poor muscle conditioning. For this reason, regular exercise is an important foundation. Short walks or swims that do not leave the pet unduly sore the next day should be part of the daily exercise routine.

If the pet is more sore or stiff after exercise, or on rising the following day, do not exercise until the pain seems to be resolved and re-start at 50% of the duration. Pets will guide you as to what level of activity their bodies can handle. Ideally a final 5 minute slower pace of exercise is followed by 5 minutes of massage.

Medications for arthritis pain can be divided into two groups: Slow-acting drugs and fast-acting (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone-type drugs).

Slow-acting drugs for arthritis ultimately improve joint function and help with pain relief, but they require a time frame of weeks to months to exert their effect. These products are typically what are called Neutraceuticals, meaning that they are nutritional supplements that have medicinal properties. All arthritis patients can benefit from their use and they are considered a basic starting level for joint care. These products often complement treatment with anti-inflammatory medications and in most studies allow a 50% reduction in prescription drugs required to adequately manage inflamed joints.

Glucosamine:

These products are cartilage components harvested chiefly from sea slugs. By taking these components orally (pills in the mouth), the patient is able to have plenty of the necessary building blocks needed to repair damaged cartilage. It is also felt that these products may have some anti-inflammatory properties separate from their structural uses. They can be given as a powder or already incorporated into special veterinary cat and dog diets.

Omega Three Fatty Acids:

Certain dietary fats, typically cold water fish oils, have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. While this finding has primarily been used in the treatment of itchy skin, many arthritic dogs and cats have also benefited from supplementation.

MSM:

MSM is another Neutraceutical anti-inflammatory agent. MSM occurs naturally in most plant and animal tissues and is a natural source of sulphur. For commercial sale MSM is derived from DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). MSM provides the framework for glycosaminoglycans that enable cartilage to soak up water and thus act as a cushion for articulating bones, which are all sulfates. MSM also has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Anti-oxidants and Free Radical Scavengers;

Free radicals are harmful biochemicals that can attack us from external sources (such as pollution, sunlight, etc.) or when we make them ourselves as by-products of oxygen use. These little molecules are highly reactive and attack our structural proteins as well as cause production of a number of inflammatory proteins. Supplementing or bodies naturally occurring scavengers with additional anti-oxidants can retard age-related change. Anti-oxidants that are readily available include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, SAMe, MSM, and Superoxide Dismutase.

Most pets with arthritis pain need relief now, not in 1 to 2 months when the cartilage building blocks and nutritional anti-inflammatories have had a chance to build up.

NSAIDS

act quickly by suppressing the inflammatory molecules that ultimately lead not only to the pain of arthritis but also to cartilage damage. None of these medications can safely be combined with one another. Furthermore, human NSAIDs tend to be toxic to pets, especially cats, and safer medications developed specifically for pet use have become the standard for joint pain management. Never use a human medication of any kind in your pet. One quarter of a Panadol is enough to horribly kill your friendly neighbourhood cat.

Newer NSAIDS work by distinguishing between two cyclooxygenase enzymes curtailing production of harmful inflammatory prostaglandins, wihile leaving intact “good” prostaglandins that help promote kidney circulation and intestinal health. Pre-treatment screening blood tests are still important before long term use of an NSAID as a dangerous pre-existing kidney or liver condition may preclude their use. Monitoring blood tests are recommended every six months for pets on NSAIDs.

Corticosteroids

inhibit production of all prostaglandins and of leukotrienes as well. The result is relief from just about any type of inflammation but in the long run side effects are problematic. Using these medications to control arthritis pain is not desirable in the long term.

Cartrophen Injections

contain an injectable cartilage component, mostly chondroitin sulfate, derived from cattle cartilage. They inhibit harmful enzymes, stimulate cartilage repair, and increase joint lubrication. They are best given as an initial series of injections, then as a single booster every one to two months and can be safely combined with any of the other medications.

Our arthritic pets have a large menu of medications to select from and while proper medication (guided by your vet) is an important part of therapy, weight control and proper exercise should not be forgotten.

Key points

Signs of osteoarthritis may be subtle and easy to miss, so use regular examinations by your vet as an important tool in diagnosis

Early treatment is critical to effectively slowing progression of the disease

Maintaining ideal body weight is absolutely critical for arthritic patients

Newer concepts of arthritis management include controlled moderate regular exercise to maintain muscle mass and decrease pain

Neutraceutical agents are most effective when started early and then maintained for life

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, and physical therapy are of great benefit in controlling later stages of the disease

What is your dog's IQ?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:11:00 GMT

When a mother feeds her puppy he receives the perfect mix of antibodies and nutrition to protect and develop his immature protective systems - the digestive system, the skin and coat, immune system, and also his brain. Once weaned, his antibody levels drop, leaving a gap in his immune protection.

On top of optimising immune function recent studies have proven that a puppy’s ability to learn and be trained is influenced by the nutrient DHA. To back this up we set up an puppy IQ test, developed in Australia by Dr Cam Day, honest, here in the clinic with a gang of our puppies.

Tip for scientists; 1/ there are too many distractions at an animal hospital to do this well and 2/scratching an itch half way through the test really wrecks a puppy’s chances of winning. Our favourite test was Toilet Roll Turmoil. Try this in your own home. You will need; at least one puppy (though it’s more fun with a full wolf-pack), a tape measure, some tape, three empty toilet roll centres, treats, a stopwatch and an assistant.

Don't forget to use empty toilet rolls!

Choose a spot on the floor where you will place treats etc. Mark a line on the floor with some tape four times the body length of your puppy away from that zone. Have your assistant hold puppy at the line Let puppy smell treats then place them in the zone and let puppy go get it. Repeat a few times. Then place 3 rolls in the zone with a treat in the exact middle of one. Release pup and time how long it takes for them to retrieve the treat. Repeat 6 times, placing the treat in different rolls and average the three best times.

Any times under 4 seconds means youv'e got a real braniac ...... or a food obsessed dod, hmmm i'm spotting a bias in this experiment.

Vets and nutritionists have developed puppy formula foods with OptiStart, rich in colostrum with its natural antibodies and DHA, so a puppy can grow to his full potential. It’s what I feed my puppy, hope he doesn’t become smarter than me too quickly.... too late.

Birds Have Feelings Too

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:24:00 GMT

The Raven is capable of showing a degree of empathy towards its peers, previously thought only to be present in apes. Ravens console each other after conflicts!

After a friend has a stressful event in their lives, it is human nature to want to console that person. Maybe give them a hug, or just spend some time with them to ease their distress. A new study suggests that ravens have a similar emotional depth. In the study, after a conflict between ravens (defined as chase-flight, hitting or forced retreat), they found that the victim would often be approached in a friendly way by another raven, or sometimes the victim would seek out another raven. These interactions were terms bystander affiliation and solicited bystander affiliation.

The researchers attempted to answer the question: Does this behavior suggest empathy or does it serve some other function? After observing the birds in an aviary over a two-year period, the authors suggest that the birds are actually feeling empathy.

“According to the predictive framework, our findings are consistent with a distress-alleviating function for bystander affiliation and should thus be considered to be consolation,” the study says. “The term ‘consolation’, however, infers not only the function of the interaction, alleviating the victim’s post-conflict distress, but also its mechanism, empathy for the distressed victim.”

They found that in both bystander affiliation and solicited bystander affiliation situations, the birds affiliating often shared a valuable relationship.

Lead author Orlaith N. Fraser, said the ravens’ behavior was surprisingly similar to that of other species’. “The most surprising outcome of the study was that the ravens seemed to behave in exactly the same way as apes in terms of deciding whether and when consolation should be provided and by whom, despite the large differences in their evolutionary history and the way in which they live,” she said.

Another reminder to treat all living things with the utmost respect!

Puppy Biting

Tue, 25 May 2010 04:51:00 GMT

Controlling That Pup! Here's a few useful pointers from Simon, the Dog Guru, our puppy class teacher. Sometimes our wonderful puppies just want to get our attention and they will do it any way they can.

These tips are when your puppy, with the lovely puppy teeth, is biting just a little bit too much.

They are sourced from Ian Dunbar a behaviourist in America and a
pioneer in the training world. We went through these steps with you at the training and
I find these notes just pin point the next steps.

Step One – Minimising Pain
It is not necessary to hurt or frighten your pup to teach her that biting hurts. A simple
"Ouch!" is sufficient. If your pup acknowledges your "ouch" and stops biting, praise her,
then resume playing. If your pup ignores the "ouch" and continues biting, yelp
"Owwwww!" and leave the room. Your puppy has lost her playmate. Return after a 30-
second time-out and make up by lure-rewarding your puppy to come, sit, lie down, and
calm down, before resuming play.

Do not attempt to take hold of your pup’s collar, or carry her to confinement; you are
out of control and she will probably bite you again. Consequently, play with your puppy
in a room where it is safe to leave her if she does not respond to your yelp. If she ignores
you, she loses her playmate.

Step Two – No pressure at all, No Pressure
Once your pup's biting no longer hurts, still pretend that it does. Greet harder nips with
a yelp of pseudo-pain. Your puppy will soon to get the idea: "Whooahh! These humans
are soooo super-sensitive. I'll have to be much gentler when I bite them."

The pressure of your puppy's bites will progressively decrease until play-biting becomes playmouthing.
Never allow your puppy to mouth human hair or clothing. Hair and clothing cannot feel.
Allowing a puppy to mouth hair, scarves, shoelaces, trouser legs, or gloved hands,
inadvertently trains the puppy to bite harder, extremely close to human flesh.

Lulu Belle - May's Star Patient

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:44:00 GMT

Lulu Belle is a 6 year old female, chocolate point Persian. For years she has had problems with vomiting intermittently but in the last 6 months it had got very bad. She was loosing weight, sometimes collapsing when she vomited and generally feeling very sorry for herself.

She was admitted to our VetCare hospital for blood tests and examination. The blood tests did not show up any abnormalities with her liver or kidneys, so Jody was suspicious she had a problem in her stomach or intestines. She was referred by us to The Veterinary Specialists Group for an ultrasound exam on her abdomen. They were able to see areas of thickening of her intestines and stomach and were worried she could have a type of cancer. They recommended that she have surgery to look at the abnormal areas and take samples to find out what was causing her to be so sick.

She was admitted to our hospital for surgery and placed on intravenous fluids and pain relief. She was anaesthetised and an operation called an exploratory laparotomy was performed to look at all the structures inside her abdomen. Steve found that she had several red inflamed swollen areas inside her stomach and intestines and we were all suspicious that it was a type of cancer. Biopsies were taken of the abnormal tissue and lo and behold 3 days later we got the good news that it wasn’t cancer, but an inflammatory disease called eosinophilic gastroenteritis, which is very rare in cats.

This condition can be treated with medication and special diets and can often be controlled but not cured. Lulu Belle has started her medication and will be on tablets for about 3 months until we can start trying to wean her off them slowly and see how she does. At the moment she is staying in our cattery and we happily report that she is eating really well and we have seen no vomiting in the last few weeks.

We hope that she will put on weight and stay a happy Persian for the next 10 years at least! Dr. Jody Burchall.

Paw Justice

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:13:00 GMT

Paw Justice is an animal welfare organisation based here in NZ which is attempting to stiffen the penalties for mistreatment of animals in our community. They have released a fantastic DoggyDaycareTV DVD for your pooches.

From this 100% of sales go to the Paw Justice campaign.

Check it out at their website, there is a peaceful calming video (i've seen it put dogs instantly to sleep!) and a fun entertainment video.

Great idea for Christmas.

They have a huge wave of support behind them, over 30,000 Facebook supporters and tens of thousands of signatures behind their petition. Tons of stars have added their weight to the cause including Outrageous Fortune's Siobahn with her dog Bentley (pictured).

Get behind them like we have.

Slip Slop Slap

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:42:00 GMT

Although you may not realise it, our pets can also be susceptible to diseases related to excessive sun exposure. Numerous cancers can affect the skin of animals and most are linked to spending time in the sun. Sunburn is painful to animals too, so keep your pet out of the sun in the middle of the day during our harsh New Zealand summers. In pets, sunburn can appear as red skin or hair loss, and in severe cases can progress to blistering or the formation

of multiple rounded, non-healing erosions and crusts. Sunburn will also irritate or exacerbate existing conditions, such as allergies and eczema.

Sunscreen should be used on animals that have light-coloured noses or ears, and thin, very short or missing fur. Cats with sparse hair, such as the Sphynx, or dogs with light-coloured hair and skin, such as West Highland White Terriers, are most in need of a protective sunscreen as they are more susceptible to sun-related diseases. The underbelly, especially, requires sunscreen because hair is very thin there and UV light can reflect off light surfaces and penetrate the skin. Be aware that pets that have temporarily suffered hair loss from allergies, hot spots and dermatitis, or have undergone a surgical preparation at their vet, may require the diligent application of sunscreen to those areas for one to two months.

Sunscreen should routinely be applied to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, the skin surrounding the lips, and any area
where pigmentation is low. Choose fragrance-free, non-staining sunscreen that contains a minimum UVA and UVB SPF15+.

Use PABA-free, baby-approved sunscreen products, or those created specifically for pets, to limit any side effects from accidental ingestion. Some have insect repellent added, which can be useful to reduce insect-bite lesions.

Two relatively common conditions can result from excessive sun exposure:

melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a tumour involving the pigmented cells of the skin, the melanocytes. In pets, canines are usually affected most, although cats are prone to developing melanomas in their eyes. How a melanoma behaves depends on where it develops. The good news is that most areas of skin grow benign versions of the melanoma called melanocytomas.

These tumours typically do not spread and only minimally attack the surrounding tissues, giving an opportunity to get in early and remove the offending tissue before it becomes something much more destructive. Once removed, all tumours must be

analysed by a pathologist for future planning of treatments. Melanomas developing on the face and close to the mouth can behave more aggressively and should be dealt with immediately.

There are several areas of a pet’s body where particularly invasive and malignant melanomas can also spread cancer to the lungs, liver and other areas. Melanoma development is particularly threatening on the:

mouth – often situated in the upper soft palate or growing off the side of the gum tissues and difficult to see. Bad breath or slight bleeding from the mouth are earlysigns to watch for.

toes – a particular risk for black dogs. The cancer is very destructive to the bones of the toe and is very painful, initially presenting like a rapidly progressing, ulcerating nail-bed infection.

eyes – the most common site of malignant melanoma in cats. The iris is the mostcommon area, with the melanoma appearing as a dark-brown bump on the surface.As these develop, they can induce lens luxations and painful glaucoma.

The growth is surgically removed, biopsied and, if it’s determined to bea melanoma, the aggressiveness of the tumour is graded from one to three. Moreextensive surgery may be required to cure the disease or at least postpone recurrence by removing a larger volume of surrounding tissue.

Radiographs will also be taken to checkfor signs of it spreading to the chest and abdomen. In a cat with an ocular melanoma,removing the eye is often curative and although this sounds dramatic, it is a fantasticoption for the cat compared to its likely rapid death if surgery is not undertaken.

If full surgical removal isn’t achieved, a veterinary oncology specialist and radiation therapy can be used for further chances of a cure. Unfortunately, chemotherapy has been disappointing and malignant melanoma is felt to beresistant to the drugs available at the moment.

squamous cell carcinoma

The squamous cell carcinoma is often one of the most heartbreaking tumours our pets can develop. Initially the tumour is local and rapidly invasive, and doesn’t spread to other parts of the body until late in its course. Potential surgical removal
and cure is possible but only if the animal is presented for veterinary treatment early when the tumour is at a small size. Sadly, these tumours tend to arise in locations where surgery is challenging, for example the nose, or where the tumour isn’t

detectable until surgery is no longer possible.

Initially, these cancers present as a red ulceration or erosion of the skin surface, often not raised, usually sensitive, and prone to repeated episodes of bleeding or crusting. They can begin as tiny red patches, a few millimetres across, most
commonly on the bridge of the nose or margins of the ears. Later they can become larger, swollen distortions of the surrounding tissue, in some cases eating away largesections of raw, inflamed tissue.

If you notice any new, small red erosions or scabs, especially on a white or unpigmented area of skin, get them checked. Because of their very slow internal spread via blood and lymphatics, these tumours offer a fantastic chance of complete

surgical cure, but only if they are treated early enough.

Be very suspicious of any wounds or scratch-type lesions on your pet that don’t heal within a couple of weeks. A simple skin scraping can be done on any small suspect area to gather cells for microscopic examination, to accurately confirm or

deny the presence of cancer or pre-cancerous cells.

Keep your pets out of the sun, especially in the middle of the day, and apply safe sunscreen daily during the summer. Check them over regularly and thoroughly for any skin lesions, and get veterinary help and advice if something pops up. As it is
impossible for any vet to know what skin lesions may be by simply looking at them, request to have samples collected. These can be done painlessly, safely and simply –and can help you and your vet choose the right path for your pet’s future.

An amazing vaccine has recently been developed in the United States for melanomas. An enzyme called tyrosinase has been found to be crucial to the melanocyte’s ability to produce pigment. By using human tyrosinase as a stimulator, the patient’s immune system can be tricked into attacking the melanoma cells. It is given in four doses at two-week intervals, with booster
shots given every six months, doubling the life expectancy in some patients. However, the vaccine is exceptionally expensive and at present is only available in New Zealand through a single veterinary oncology specialist.

Acupuncture At VetCare

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:25:00 GMT

Acupuncture, in some form or other has been around for 5000 years. Records show fish-bone needles were used in China around 3000BC, then around 650 BC during the Zhou Dynasty, the first veterinary text was written including discussions of acupuncture techniques in cavalry horses.

At this time there are two main schools of thought about acupuncture: biomedical and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach. There is no real need to choose one aspect over the other. Science can now explain most of how acupuncture works, however that does not negate thousands of years of careful observation and collection of patterns and therapy that provide the foundations of TCM.

Acupuncture started to be used in Western human treatments in the 1970’s and now has also become widely accepted as beneficial in western veterinary treatments (albeit it 5000 years later).

Acupuncture affects the nervous system in many ways. The idea that energy travels through invisible lines near the body surface arose as a result of a mistranslation of the Chinese word "qi" into "energy", rather than "vital air", and of "jingluo" into "meridians" rather than vascular channels. George Morant, a French bank clerk working in China, provided some of these earliest translations of Chinese acupuncture texts and his errors in word selection still haunt us today. He created a metaphysical foundation for acupuncture that not only failed to exist previously, but one that would misinform future acupuncturists for generations.

Acupuncture points occur at over 360 sites found on the human body and similar charts have now been created for our pets bodies. Acupuncture points have a higher density of neural and vascular components than do non-acupuncture points and are near a nerve trunk or large nerve branches and blood vessels. Thus, needle stimulation of acupuncture points excites nervous system fibres including those contained within the walls of blood vessels.

The introduction of a thin, sterile, metal acupuncture needle into body tissue provokes inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and circulatory changes at the site. At the level of the skin and the deeper tissues beneath, this activates neurologic responses and healing activity.

Sensory receptors associated with the mechanical introduction of an acupuncture needle include mechanoreceptors and nociceptors. These sensory receptors transduce the physical stimulus of needling into an electrical signal that encodes the physical stimulation and local tissue damage into neural information.
This signal is then delivered to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and interconnects with other neurons all along the entire length spinal column. This can give the feeling of a tingling sensation that is "travelling" along the body surface.

Signals ascend from the spinal cord to the brain carrying information related to the conscious recognition and localization of painful stimuli and participate in pain modulation by releasing neurotransmitters and naturally occurring morphine-like compounds within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

Modern MRI images can illustrate the changes in brain and peripheral nerve oxygenation, demonstrating that acupuncture influences vascular supply to all neural centres, beginning at the periphery and arriving at the brain’s cerebral cortex.

Other investigations into the effects of acupuncture point stimulation on certain organs, have demonstrated spinal cord influence for the heart, stomach, gallbladder, bladder, and uterus. Acupuncture can consequently also affect internal organ function.

Acupuncture offers a unique and effective means of stimulating endogenous pain control mechanisms and this is one of the most common ways we as vets enter the sphere of acupuncture, using it initially for pain control.

It is very effective especially for arthritis, lameness and back pain, for support during chemotherapy, for very active canine athletes, and for support of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive problems.

Let’s look at a couple of cases from my colleagues which illustrate acupuncture in-use. Clint, a 7-year-old Australian Cattle Dog with a large lump on his left side, had a biopsy which showed a grade 3 Liposarcoma. His owners opted against trying a massive surgical removal. Clint was very painful to the point of sometimes crying out and feeling very subdued. Acupuncture treatment was begun around the mass to increase flow of Qi, stimulate the immune system, clear heat, and address pain. The needles were left in for the standard 20 minutes. At the end of that first treatment, the mass was no longer hot, and Clint had slept on the ride home, then run into the back yard and raced around and grabbed his lead, keen for a walk. He had not exercised willingly in the previous several weeks. Clint was treated weekly for 7 treatments then every 2 weeks. Clint loved his treatments, and would flop down on his bed for each visit. Clint lived a very active, happy lifestyle off drugs of any kind for nearly a year after that first treatment and while his cancer eventually cost his life, Clint had another year (6 human equivalent years) of very active, happy times with his family, during which he had no pain medication until the last couple of weeks.

Our second case study is Max, an 8-year-old Dachshund. As is common in his breed (with such an elongated body) Max had experienced a spinal disc protrusion and corresponding back pain and loss of co-ordination. This made Max very grumpy. Despite prednisone and rest Max had remained painful and acupuncture was added to his treatment when his owners opted against spinal surgery. His back was very painful and arched. The acupuncture points used were those surrounding his narrowed disc space, as well as TCM points for pain, for bone, and for the back area.

Immediately Max had less pain on palpation of his back, perhaps due to lessening of the muscle spasms. As is common post-treatment, Max slept very soundly. When he awoke, Max was using his rear limbs better again. He was weaned completely off his prednisone and it has been over two years now with Max re-visiting for acupuncture every three months now. Max continued to improve with treatment, he can run again and even lift his leg to urinate. Max is happy again!

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME TO VETCARE GREY LYNN FOR YOUR PET’S ACUPUNTURE THERAPY

You will be seeing Elaine Bennett who has been an osteopath and an acupuncturist for the last 20 years and is fully qualified through the Australian College to apply both types of treatment to animals. Over the past few years she has built up a wealth of experience successfully treating horses, cows, goats, cats and dogs.

Prior to your pets visit Elaine consults with us, your vet, to obtain any necessary information on their medical history that could influence the treatment. During the appointment an extensive case history of your animal will be taken, including details of the injury or any change in behaviour.

During the physical examination Elaine will observe your pet’s natural movement and then manually palpate and articulate various joints of the body to elicit areas of reduced mobility, muscle spasm, wasting, inflammation and pain.

At the consultation your animal is checked from the feet upwards and from the nose to the tail. In many cases an animal has learnt to compensate from an old injury and over time this can manifest as pain elsewhere. In such cases the area of pain and the root cause is treated. Treatments often combine osteopathy, acupuncture and laser therapy to provide the best results in the quickest time.

Yes I did say “Laser”. Elaine’s new low power laser machine from the UK is a totally pain free treatment option. It can be used to stimulate acupuncture points in animals that do not seem too keen on needles (especially some of our feline friends) and also treats, and accelerates healing a wide variety of soft tissue injuries.

Treatments last up to 30 minutes once we’ve got to know your pet and ensure they are relaxed and settled. Patients are often treated once a week with a positive response often noticed within the first 3 visits.

We’ve come a long way from fish-bone needles and our early misconceptions and finally have a sound understanding of the science behind acupuncture. Keep this treatment option in mind for your pets. Ask us about acupuncture, it works.

Dog's Sniff Out Cancer

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:07:00 GMT

"Breast and lung cancer have been confirmed in people who are already diagnosed by conventional testing methods by trained dogs using their highly sensitive nose in research studies. Our canine companions are still not officially used in clinical detection but with further positive research this would be a likelihood.”, says veterinarian and ANKC spokesman Dr Peter Higgins.

Studies undertaken in the United Kingdom, the USA, and Canada took a large group of people, half with a certain type of cancer, and half without to conduct the tests. Dogs were trained to signal by sitting or lying down when they smell a person’s breath who they suspect has cancer. Success rates were extremely high, with up to 97 percent of cases being successfully reconfirmed by the dogs.

Anecdotal evidence of dogs having this ability has been rumoured by dog owners for decades. In the past, people have sought medical advice because their pet dog has taken an unusual interest in a particular mole on their skin, or provided signs to compel owners to visit the doctor to check.

“This represents a less invasive form of detection, and a quick and efficient way of helping to confirm early detection of cancer. Conventional tests aren’t always 100 per cent accurate, so this provides another means of confirming test results to allow greater scope for early intervention.”, believes Dr Higgins.

Akarana Championship Agility Show

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:38:00 GMT

VetCare continued it's sponsorship of top agility dog events, culminating this year in the Akarana Championships out at Ardmore. Clubs and their fun-loving pooches came from all over the top of the North Island to test their athletic abilities. As predicted Border Collies dominated the senior ranks with their blend of smarts, speed and powers of concentration.

The weather turned it on and It's always great to see such a massive number of dogs having the time of their lives.Highly recommend joining your dogs up and reaping the training benefits. Might have to get Prince into it when they start the micro-sized dogs classification this year!

Akarana Agility Club

Canine CSI

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:09:00 GMT

A newly formed database of dog DNA is expected to help in legal battles against organized dog fighting.The database was established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

The database contains DNA profiles from dogs that were seized during dog fighting investigations as well as profiles from samples collected at suspected dog fighting venues.

The way the system works is that when a dog is seized from a dog fighting raid, cheek swabs are collected and submitted to the laboratory for DNA testing. Investigating agencies may also submit DNA from unknown sources such as blood drops.

The DNA profile is then searched against the Canine CODIS database. If there is a match, or “hit,” the agency submitting the new sample and the agency that submitted the original CODIS sample are given each other’s contact information.

“From there, it is up to those two investigating agencies to discuss their confidential case information,” Merck said. “They may find ways their cases are linked that may enhance or bolster their investigations. When we did this on the original 400 dogs, we found links between multiple defendants from the different crime scenes – all through the dogs’ DNA.”

In court, the DNA evidence can be used to link a suspected dogfighter’s dog to the bloodlines of other known fighting dogs in the database, or to a previously unknown sample found at a suspected dog fighting site. Wictum said the VGL has testified in animal cruelty cases before, and the new database should work to strengthen future cases.

“Veterinarians can play a role by urging law enforcement to submit samples from seized fighting dogs, even if those cases aren’t going to trial,” Wictum said. “Their DNA may help to put someone else in jail.”

Jody Joins Our Vet Team

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:54:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Jody Hall. I am the new face at Vetcare and would like to tell you a bit about myself. I graduated as a vet from Massy University in 1991 but for the last 6 yrs I have been living and working as a vet in Rugby England.

Over in England I gained valuable experience with some challenging cases in feline and canine medicine and surgery. I also developed an interest in reptiles and other small furries and enjoy seeing these different pets as a change.

I also bought back my husband to be – Dave and a 6yr old Italian Greyhound called Blue, who you may see hanging out at the clinic on occasion.

We are enjoying living in Auckland for the first time and looking forward to some better weather and hopefully a few music festivals over the summer.

Both Dave and I enjoy scuba diving, I collect NZ contemporary art and Dave can bee seen at local theatres or the small screen as a part time actor.

I am looking forward to meeting you and your pets at Vetcare soon.