Friday, July 24th
In the dog world at age 7 they are considered to be seniors. Same as with humans, dogs can experience pain, arthritis and cognitive dysfunctions as they age.
Cognitive Dysfunction signs to watch for in older pets are:
Disorientation – appearing lost or confused in the house or yard
Wandering aimlessly, pacing
Staring into space or at walls
Sleep-wake cycles changing such as sleeping more in the day and less at night
Urination/defecation accidents in the house
Altered activity level
Increased anxiety
Decrease in grooming themselves
Altered appetite
Decrease in learning and memory
It is important not to jump to conclusions because many of these signs can be due to other medical problems. Environmental factors, physical health and drug side effects need to be ruled out by your veterinarian before diagnosing your pet with cognitive dysfunctions. Some of these signs can be due to increased pain or arthritis so it is important to rule out all other possibilities before assuming cognitive dysfunctions. Always treat for pain first and if no improvement in 3 to 4 weeks then it may be time to consider a cognitive disorder.
Proper diet is important in cognitive health of older pets. Dogs 7 and older should go on a senior diet because many of these foods are antioxidant enriched and have supplements that can help joint and cognitive functions such as Vitamin E and C, L-Carnitine, Glucosimine, Chondrotin and Omega 3 fatty acids
Pets can dwell on physical changes as they age such as sight and hearing loss and/or stiffness & pain if not given other things to do or think about.
Exercise can help with joint and cognitive problems. Exercise stimulation increases blood flow to organs and nerve firing which can reduce sleep issues and pacing. Using short periods of exercise with senior pets multiple times a day and/or week can help with cognitive dysfunction by introducing new sites and smells engaging your dog’s brain. Using toys can also help with cognitive issues. Rotate toys, play interactive games like find it or purchase interactive toys that require your dog to move things with its nose or paw or ones where they have to work to get parts/treats out.
If your pet is having cognitive problems you can help them by:
Following a predictable daily routine - if changes to the routine are to be made, make them gradual not sudden,
Use rugs and TV or radio cues to help your pet maintain orientation and navigation around the house.
If your pet doesn’t use it they can lose it so set up an appointment at the Veterinary Medical Clinic and have Dr. Pajl give your pet a senior wellness exam. Remember Healthy pets are happy pets!
Friday, July 17th
Every day we see dogs and cats that have problems with their ears. Signs of these ear problems include:
· Odor
· Scratching or rubbing of ears and head
· Discharge in the ears
· Redness or swelling of the ear flap or canal
· Shaking of the head or tilting it to one side
· Pain around the ears
· Changes in behavior such as depression or irritability
Pets can have ear problems for many different reasons. When we see a pet with ear disease we need to think about the possibility of:
· Allergies
· Parasites
· Bacteria and yeast
· Ear environment, e.g., excess moisture and ear anatomy
Because there are many potential causes of ear problems, we cannot just say it is a bacterial infection, dispense antibiotics, and it will go away. Often, more work is needed. Your veterinarian examine your pet to to determine the amount of inflammation present, if the ear drum is ruptured or if there are any foreign bodies, tumors, or other potential causes of the problem.
Your pet's ears are more L-shaped than ours, and debris loves to collect at the corner of the L. To remove this debris, fill your dog's ear canal with a good ear cleaner. Massage the base of the ear for 20-30 seconds to soften and release the debris. Wipe out the loose debris and excess fluid with a cotton ball. Repeat this procedure until you see no more debris. Depending on your pets's ear condition, you may have to start out doing this twice a day. Always follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.
Cotton applicator swabs can be used to clean the inside of the earflap and the part of the ear canal you can see. They should NOT be used farther down in the ear canal since that tends to pack debris in the ear canal, rather than help to remove it.
You may find your dog does not like to have his ears cleaned because it is uncomfortable. You may need another person to help hold your pet while trying to clean their ears or try to giving them treats throughout the cleaning process to keep their minds busy. After the ear is clean, let your pet shake his head and allow time for the ears to dry. Then you can apply any ear medication that was prescribed by your veterinarian.
The key to healthy ears is to keep them clean. Check your pet's ears weekly. A slight amount of waxy buildup may be present in normal ears. If your pet swims a lot, has floppy ears, or a history of ear disease, routine cleaning (often once to three times per week) is recommended. Use the same procedure as described above. Excess hair around the ear can be clipped to allow more air flow. Follow your veterinarian's recommendation on how to treat any underlying condition that predisposes your pet to ear problems.
Remember, if your pet is showing signs of severe discomfort, the ears have a bad smell, or the ear canals look very abnormal, do not delay in contacting your veterinarian. If your dog has a ruptured or weakened eardrum, some ear cleansers and medications could do more harm than good.
If you have concerns about your pets ears contact Dr. Pajl and his staff at the veterinary medical clinic for an appointment
Friday, July 10th
Regular professional veterinary care is essential to the health of older pets. Preventive veterinary care can add years and quality to the life of your older pet.
The healthier we can keep a pet when they are young, the more likely they’ll be healthy as they grow older. Every visit to your veterinarian should include a measurement of your dog's weight. Weight gain and unexplained weight loss may be the first signs of disease, and remember, obesity is one of the most common (and preventable) diseases in older dogs. If you are concerned about changes in your dog's weight or appetite, be sure to let your veterinarian know.
Your veterinarian or veterinary staff should be able to recommend which foods and supplements your older dog should receive based upon his weight, health status, and breed. The digestive systems of older dogs do not react well to sudden changes. If a change in diet is recommended, make the change slowly over the course of a week or more, gradually adding the new food to the old.
Older dogs should receive regular physical exams. How often these exams should occur depends upon the health status of your pet. Whatever they age or health of your pet, these exams should be done at least one a year. Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any conditions you have observed and want evaluated.
A physical exam should include an examination of the mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, and throat. Older pets tend to have more plaque build up and should have routine teeth cleanings done.
As your pet ages, routine eye exams are recommended. Older pets are more at risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma and dry eye.
Because the immune system of older animals may not be functioning as well as it did when they were young, it’s very important to keep your dog up-to-date on his vaccinations. Consult with your veterinarian regarding which vaccines your dog should receive, and how often.
If you have noticed any change in the color, odor, or amount of your dog's urine, difficulty urinating or if they have 'accidents,' it is very important that a urinalysis be performed.
If you have any questions about your pets health contact Dr. Pajl and his staff at the veterinary medical clinic for an appointment today
Friday, July 3rd
Every year many pets will end up injured from the result of fireworks. Keep pet away from matches, open fires, and fireworks - especially ones that are lighted on the ground. Pets may try to sniff (or eat) fireworks, and pet hair can easily catch fire if too close to the fireworks.
As many pet owners know fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for some animals.
Some commonly seen signs include:
- Shaking, trembling
- Excessive drooling
- Excessive panting and yawning
- Barking, howling, whimpering or meowing
- Pacing
- Trying to hide or get into / out of the house, fence, or other enclosure
- Refusing to eat food
- Some animals may loose bladder or bowel control or experience temporary diarrhea from prolonged stress
Follow these simple tips to easy the stress, anxiety and suffering of your precious pet
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferrets and birds need to be treated with special care when fireworks are being let off because these animals are easily frightened.
Their cages should be moved into a quiet indoor room, garage or shed.
If you are unable to move their cage, turn it to face a wall or fence. Also covering the cage with a thick blanket to block the sight and deaden the sound of the bangs but make sure they have proper ventilation
Give them extra bedding to burrow in so they can feel safe
Never bring your pet to a firework display. Even if your dog doesn’t bark or whimper at fireworks it doesn’t mean they are happy. Pets have very acute hearing. Loud bangs and whistles may cause them actual pain in their ears.
Never leave your pet outside or your car while fireworks are being let off.
Never walk your dog while fireworks are going off. Make sure your dog is walked earlier before the fireworks start. If you have to have them outside during firework activity make sure they are always on a leash!
Never shout at your pet if it is frightened or barking due to firework stress it will only make the situation worse for your pet.
Keep dogs and cats indoors when fireworks are being let off
Never try and coax or force your pet out of a place they are hiding or huddling in.
Many times pets will seek out a small den-like place (such as a crate), if they are fearful or stressed. It is a good idea to create that safe place your pet can call his own and familiarize them with it as a means of reducing stress during fireworks.
Close all windows and doors and draw curtains to keep pets from escaping and to keep the noise to a minimum. Sometimes putting on the TV or a radio to block out some of the noise from fireworks
Make sure your pets have a readable id tag on even in the house incase they accidently get out and get lost so they can be returned to you in a timely manner.
It is getting more common for cats and dogs to have to be put on medication (in the form of a tranquilizer) may be warranted to help with the stress such as acepromazine, diazepam or holistic drops. Tranquilizers are not for every pet. Talk to your vet about medical options that are suitable for your dog or cat. A patient-doctor relationship is needed before dispensing medications, so if your pet hasn't seen the vet yet, an appointment will need to be made to examine the animal to ensure that there aren't any underlying heart or other problems, and base any medications on current weight.
This 4th of July call Dr. Pajl at the Veterinary Medical Clinic with any questions or concerns regarding firework stress and get your pet ready for the festivities well in advance!
Friday, June 26th
Caring for a puppy requires knowing how to take care of their coat, skin, and nails. Tips on these topics are offered here. If you start grooming your puppy right away, they’ll get used to it and comfortable with it. Many owners think it’s a mistake to bathe or brush dogs who are under six months of age. They worry that bathing will dry out the coat or that brushing may be too rough on a puppy at this age. The truth is actually the complete opposite.
Many puppies will come from the breeders or humane society with a dirty or smelly coat. These dogs need to be bathed and it will do no harm. There are numerous shampoos on the market designed to be gentle on a puppy’s skin and hair plus most of these will not burn or irritate the eyes. Just like children, when your pet gets dirty, its good to give them a BATH.
Modern shampoos designed for pets of all ages and coat types enable the owner to bathe their pet as often as desired, in some cases, daily. The average puppy requires a bath at least once a week, this not only helps control odor by removing excessive dander, oil, and bacteria, but also is hygienic in helping to prevent dirt-related skin infections. Hypoallergenic shampoos are also available for puppies and adult dogs that have sensitive skin. The bottom line is - with the proper shampoo, the normal puppy can be bathed as often as necessary.
Most puppies, especially the very young ones, enjoy the bathing process. You always want to begin by brushing or combing the coat to remove dead hair, dirt, mats, and burrs. Wet the hair coat thoroughly all the way to the skin. Use warm water not hot water. Once wet, apply shampoo and lather just as you would your own hair. Let the shampooed pet sit (under supervision) for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Rinsing is the most important step, if you don’t rinse thoroughly the left over shampoo will irritate the skin and dry out the hair.
At normal room temperature, it is fine to simply let the puppy air dry once the excess water has been removed with a towel. If a hair dryer is used, be sure to set it on a cool (not warm or hot) setting. Dry shampoos are available for use on a puppy that does not like water. Dry shampoos are applied without water and brushed through the hair coat. They help, but are not nearly as effective as a wet bath.
Brushing the hair coat of young pups will feel just as good to them as it does to older dogs. It has similar effects on puppies in that it cleans the coat, removes loose hair, and stimulates the oil glands of the skin. At this age, the puppy will see the brushing as just another form of petting. Get them used to it now so they will let you do the same when they are adults.
Puppies should have their nails trimmed, their nails have tiny sharp points on them and these can easily scratch you, the children, or your furniture. After this initial trimming, puppies are usually active enough to keep them worn down for four to six weeks. After that, check them and trim them just as you would the nails on older dogs
When you get a new puppy call Dr. Pajl and his staff at the Veterinary Medical Clinic to set up their first check up visit. Let us help you get on the right path so your puppy will have the healthiest, safest and happiest life available!
Friday, June 19th
With the warm and humid summer temperatures just around the corner, be sure to have your pet ready for the heat. Remember when your pet is outside keep them in a cool shady area and keep plenty of cold fresh water available at all times. Dogs have a limited ability to cool themselves – 90% of their thermal regulation comes from panting. Pets are unable to control body temperature as well as humans. They do have sweat glands throughout their body, but they aren’t as efficient. If the temperature gets too extreme, they can’t breathe fast enough to keep themselves cool and end up having a heat stroke which usually leads to death.
Short haired pets and those with pink skin and white hair are especially susceptible to getting a sunburn and over heating! Limiting their exposure is VERY IMPORTANT. Pets can suffer from UV damage just like people; use pet safe sunscreen on your pets, especially on ears, around the eyes, on the nose and their tails.
Hot surfaces such as pavement or truck beds can singe an animal’s stomach and crack its paw pads. So check your pets’ pads after walks to make sure they are not getting injured.
Never leave your pet in a car when it is warm outside, just a few minutes in a hot car could cause heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most common threat to pets; it can lead to internal damage, coma or death.
Swimming in a lake or pond is a fun way to cool off your pet during the summer. Make sure swimming conditions are safe for your pet, no strong current, underwater hazards or high bacteria count. After swimming, rinse and dry your pet thoroughly, especially inside the ears and near open wounds to prevent infections. If you don’t have access to a lake you can purchase an inexpensive kiddy pool for your yard.
If you have any questions about your pets health this summer please contact Dr. Pajl and his staff at the Veterinary Medical Clinic
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Robert Pfund & The Drive Home
