New Year’s Resolutions

 

 

 

So many of us make a resolution for ourselves to get in shape and get healthy. Why not make the same resolution for our pets?

Obesity in pets can have many of the same health implications as in people. One of the most common problems is arthritis. Overweight animals carry more weight on each of their joints. As they age, the extra weight can lead to more difficulty getting up, walking, jumping or getting on beds or in cars.

The other most common problem among obese pets is diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a very complicated expensive disease to control. Not only that, unregulated diabetes can have several health consequences which can include death.

Overweight and obese dogs, like people, have shorter life expectancy and are at risk for many other health problems, including cancer, kidney disease, and Cushing’s disease.

Diet: It is among the dreaded four letter words.  Weight loss can be such a difficult thing in which to succeed.  Many times, we use food to satisfy any quilt for not paying attention to our pets or if we have been gone all day. It is hard not to give in to those sad, desperate eyes staring deeply at us. We know this at Greenbriar and we want to help you succeed.

We have put together a complete diet and exercise program to help your pet achieve a long happy life.

First your biggest loser package will include an initial evaluation with a veterinarian, where you will receive, measurements, a goal chart, a feeding plan, information on the correct diet for your pet, an exercise plan, weight loss instructions, and before/after pictures.  Your package will also include once a month weight rechecks for 3 months, 1 bag of sample Hills Metabolic food, 1 bag of Hills Metabolic treats, 10 underwater treadmill exercise sessions, and As needed help along the way  (have any question give us a call anytime during business hours and we can assist you in your pets weight loss program)

Ho Ho Ho

“Do you know you have antlers on your head? You look weird.”

‘Tis the season to support your community! Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort is honored to have the opportunity to host different events and continue to support organizations in need.  This holiday season we are supporting the children of Frederick Manor by taking donations in the form of money as well as stocking stuffers to be opened on Christmas morning. Join us and show your support tomorrow,  Friday, December 12^th  from 4:30-6:30 pm and get your photo taken with Santa just in time for your Christmas cards this year! For only $10.00 will receive a family photo with Santa, a nail trim for your pet, holiday snacks, and more! With the help of our loyal family of clients, Greenbriar will continue to work together to ensure the success of our events.  Thank you for being part of our family!

 

Contributed by Amanda Lynch

What to know before bringing your pet for boarding at Greenbriar Pet Resort

The Holiday season is upon us and you are getting ready to drop off your furry, feathery or

scaly family member to stay with us while you travel.  Here is a checklist of things to

consider before you leave your beloved pet during your holiday travels.

 Food

You may bring your own food for your pet if you want but we do ask that you place it in individual baggies per meal with the pet’s name on it so we know it is for your pet and that is the amount you would like us to feed them.

Any time you or your pet are away from home, it can be stressful. When pets get stressed, they often stop eating.  If you think your pets may have this kind of stress reaction, please bring a can of your pets favorite food or let us know when dropping off that if they do not eat we have permission to add something to entice them to eat. We also supply treats but if you want to bring your own, there is not charge.

Bedding and Blankets

There is no need to bring anything with your pet as far as blankets, bedding, or toys because we have everything your pet needs for their say.  We have a wide variety of bedding, towels, therapeutic beds, and every kind of toy your pet can imagine

Medication  

We take extra time here to be sure your pet gets the medication you bring.  We ask you to bring your pets medication in the prescribed bottle and make sure it is labeled correctly.  If there are any discrepancies in what you are telling us to give and what is labeled by your veterinarian, we will call your veterinarian to double check that it is okay to give the medication the way you have requested.  We have peanut butter and cheese here to help administer the medication, but you are more than welcome to buy a bag of our “Pill Pockets” available in several delicious flavors.

Health Issues 

Please let our front staff know if there are any health issues off which we should be aware.  We have a special wing of the resort our special needs pets are kept to make sure they are monitored frequently.

Nervous Pets 

If, at the time of drop off, your pet is very nervous, we will take the extra time to be sure your pet settles in and is comfortable.  Please feel free to call us anytime during our open hours to check on your pet.  One of the resort staff will let you know how your pet is doing.  If your dog or cat is known to be very nervous away from home or in new situations, they may benefit from a treat called Composure. “This treat contains three main ingredients that work together to support calming and relaxation without affecting the dog’s energy levels or personality.The C3™ colostrum calming complex supports stress reduction and cognitive function; L-Theanine helps the body produce other amino acids to bring certain neurotransmitters back into balance; and B vitamins (thiamine) affect the central nervous system to help calm anxious animals. Composure™ Bite-Sized Chews are available in a delicious chicken liver flavored chew to provide easier delivery.”

Going Home 

After a short or a long boarding stay when you pick up your pet, they may be tired.  Although we try our best to keep the stress level to a minimum, there is no place like home.  so your pet being tired when they get home is not uncommon.  Please also remember that leaving boarding and a car ride home may upset their stomach.  Don’t give them food or water as soon as your get home, wait a little bit and let them settle in.  Then offer them small amounts of food and water.

Tours During High Volume Times 

When our house is full, we try not to do tours to protect our guests.  It is stressful to have a stranger staring at you while you are trying to take a nap. We LOVE giving tours, but our guests come first so we keep our tours to a minimum during these peak times.

 

We want to provide the best care of each and every one of our guests.  We take extra time to be sure all of your pets are as comfortable as we can make them. Please have patience when checking in your pets for their holiday stay. We want to take the time to make sure all their accommodations and needs are met

Thank you for Boarding with us! We look forward to seeing you

Contributed by Jen Stup, Resort Manager

Ice water, is it really a problem?

Can giving my dog ice water cause bloat?

Simple answer… no.

Longer answer….Gastric dilatation-volvulus(GDV) or bloat is a result of the dog swallowing too much air, fluid or both and the stomach “twists”.  It is not caused by a spasming of the stomach as the article would suggest. The stomach would actually have to twist to cause the bloat and not allow air to escape from the stomach. It is much more likely the dog gulped water down too quickly and with the big gulps, swallowed a lot of air causing the stomach to expand.  This is what can lead to bloat.

What to do when your dog is hot…

When your dog is overheated make sure to give them water, but monitor the intake. Dogs who drink too fast, especially larger dogs, are more likely to drink down large amounts of water with the air and lead to bloat.

Safer yet would be to hose them down or apply cool packs to their chest or inside their thighs.

So if you see this link going around facebook (http://wendtworthcorgis.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/no-ice-water-for-dogs-please-read-asap/), please know it is not entirely true.

Karen R Pearson, DVM

National Pet Week

This is National Pet Week! In 1981, the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) began this week to celebrate the bond between us and our pets.

We, as pet owners, need to remember our pets rely on us for EVERYTHING. Not just food, water and shelter. Most of all, we need to take care of their health needs.  Dogs and cats are natural predators and naturally hide any symptoms of pain or illness. It is up to us to take them for annual check -ups and if they are older, twice a year check ups. As we all know, pets do not live as long as humans, but what many people do not understand is that this means they age that much faster than us too.  Six months between check ups, a lot can change.

To help celebrate National Pet Week, the AVMA is recommending people show the world what is unique and different about their pets by changing their Facebook profile picture to a picture of their pet(s)

 

Karen R Pearson, DVM

Spring is in the air…and so are allergens!

Here is some information about Spring’s most common problems: ALLERGIES.

Coping with an itchy pet can be an extremely frustrating experience for you, the pet owner, and can truly test the limits of the human-animal bond.  Persistent scratching and chewing by the pet can also result in self-excoriation and open wounds.  The following information is intended to provide the pet owner with a basic understanding of the most common underlying causes of itching and allergies in small animals.

 

The Most Common Causes of Chronic Itching

The common causes fall into two groups: external parasites and allergies.  External parasites that most commonly cause chronic itching dermatitis include fleas and sarcoptic mange.  We often recommend therapeutic trials for sarcoptic mange in chronically and severely itchy dogs.  We always recommend stepped-up flea control and monitoring for fleas, as flea infestation can really make allergy worse!

 

What are Allergies?

Allergy is a state of hypersensitivity in which exposure to a harmless substance known as an allergen induces the body’s immune system to “overreact.”  The incidence of allergies is increasing in both humans and their pets.  People with allergies usually have “hay fever” (watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing) or asthma. While dogs can rarely also have respiratory allergies, more commonly they experience the effects of allergic hypersensitivities as skin problems.  Though there are a variety of presentations, this can often be seen as redness and itching, recurring skin or ear infections, and hair loss.  This is sometimes called eczema or atopic dermatitis.

What are the Major Types of Allergies in Dogs?

1.  Flea Allergy

Flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in dogs and cats.  For the flea allergic patient, 100% flea control is essential for the pet to remain symptom-free.

 

“But doctor, I never see fleas on my pet.”   You may not see them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.  The allergy is caused by the flea’s saliva, and it only takes a few bites to induce the problem.  Also, the itchy pet often scratches so much that adult fleas are removed, making them hard to find.

 

“If fleas are the problem, why is my pet still itchy in the winter?”  In warm climates or in our homes, fleas may survive in low numbers year-round.  Because flea allergy is so common, we recommend that complete flea control be instituted before proceeding with diagnostics for other allergies and that year-round flea control be maintained for all allergy patients.

 

2.  Food Allergy

Some pets develop specific hypersensitivities to components of their diets.  The allergen usually is a major protein or carbohydrate ingredient such as beef, chicken, pork, corn, wheat, or soy.  Minor ingredients such as preservatives or dyes are also potential allergens.  The diagnosis of food allergy requires that we test your pet by feeding special strict diets that contain only ingredients that he has never eaten before. This is often achieved by feeding a prescription diet for a period of 10 to 16 weeks.  If the signs resolve, a challenge is performed by feeding the former diet and watching for a return of the itching.  If this occurs, a diagnosis of food allergy is confirmed.

 

3.  Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inherited predisposition to develop skin problems from exposure to variety of commonplace and otherwise harmless substances including the pollens of weeds, grasses and trees, as well as house dust mites and mold spores.  Diagnosis of AD is made based on the results of intradermal skin testing or by in vitro blood testing.  Evaluating the results of these tests helps us compile a list of allergens for a “vaccine” to decrease the pet’s sensitivity.  Sometimes multiple skin and/or blood tests are necessary to accurately assess the patient’s allergies.

 

4.  Secondary Infections

Allergies are often the underlying cause of recurring skin and/or ear infections.  Bacterial and yeast infections, though secondary to the allergy, can cause an increase in your pet’s level of itching. Long-term treatment with antibiotics and anti-yeast medications is commonly required, along with medicated bathing programs.

 

Can Allergies be Cured?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergy and it is usually a life-long problem. We seek to control allergies and improve the quality of life for both you and your pet.  We will formulate the best program of management that suits all involved with your pet’s care.

 

Can I have the Itching Treated without the Expense of Diagnostic Testing?

Symptomatic drug therapy can help to reduce itching.  Steroids, such as prednisone tablets in particular, are often employed to stop the itch.  However, without addressing the underlying cause, the itching will return.  Long-term use of steroids can result in many health problems.  This is the reason that we encourage diagnosis of the underlying cause of the allergy and more specific or less potentially harmful treatments.

By Carol S. Foil, DVM, MS, Diplomate A.C.V.D.

Courtesy of veterinarypartner.com

NEW DRUG!  In my next blog, I will talk about a new drug that was developed for allergic dogs that has had some promising results! Until next time…

Karen Pearson, DVM

Keep Your Cats Safe this Easter Season

 

One day the snow will end….

…. and then we are left with Ticks! Ugh! Those little blood suckers give me the heebie jeebies. Not only do I have to worry about my dogs getting them, but I have to worry about my kids, and even me getting them. The worst: Lyme disease. According to the CDC, over 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. Each year! Holy cow, that is a lot. In dogs, I am pretty sure it is even higher. The problem with dogs is so many are exposed but so few show symptoms.

 Is my dog at risk? I mean, I only walk it on the side-walk and she only goes in my backyard which is well cared for?  In short, YES. All dogs who come in contact with grass in this area are at risk. I have seen all the scenarios and I have seen them come up positive for Lyme disease. Your dog is not safe from those little blood suckers. Now you know why I hate them! They are everywhere!

I can see ticks on myself, what about my dog?  The small Ixodes (‘deer tick”) tick can sometimes be only the size of a pin head and can be close to impossible to detect. There are several ways we can try to prevent the ticks from spreading Lyme disease. The first, kill the suckers! There are several tick preventatives that can be applied monthly that kill these ticks. Our practice leans towards Frontline. It is a product that has been leaned on for several years and still does a good job killing ticks in 24-28 hours. The makers of Frontline, Merial, have even come out with a new product that is ORAL, yes ORAL. Woohoo! Nexgard is an oral chew which can be given once a month. Although it is currently labeled only to kill the American Dog tick, I bet it is in the works to be approved for the Ixodes tick as well. I do not know about most owners, but for me, I have been waiting for an oral preventative. The topical is a great product, but with little kids, I have to find the right time to apply the product so my dog hugging children do not get it all over them. The second thing we can do to protect our pets that is not available for humans anymore, is vaccinate. The yearly vaccine is safe and can help prevent your dog from contracting Lyme disease.

How do I know if my dog has Lyme disease? Most veterinarians recommend yearly testing despite monthly preventatives and yearly vaccines. Lyme disease is everywhere around here so we would like to know if your dog is at risk for developing signs and symptoms.

Well, since you brought it up, what are the signs and symptoms? For people, the most common symptoms are flu-like.  Not for our furry friends. Dogs exhibit symptoms which are more arthritis-like. If you see your dog struggling to get up one day or limping with no known injury, contact your vet.

My dog has Lyme disease! How do I treat it?  Luckily, Lyme disease in dogs responds very well to doxycycline or minocycline. They do need it for a 30 day course, but it is worth it to see them feel much better.

Lyme disease is a difficult disease because it is very little understood. Experts are still doing studies to determine a solid protocol for dogs and Lyme disease.  Even with the antibiotic, the Lyme disease can linger and even though the dog has antibodies to Lyme disease, it does not necessarily protect them from getting it again.

New Contributor

I am new to the blogging world, but I am really excited to be the main contributor to Greenbriar’s running blog.

I thought for my first blog, I would introduce myself to everyone. My name is Dr. Karen Pearson.  I just joined Greenbriar’s caring staff in January. I may be new to the team, but I have lived in this area my entire life (except those years spent away at school).  My husband Greg and I have two sons, Charlie(7) and Joe(5). They are growing too fast as kids do. We have two dogs, Lilly and Ruby. Lilly the labrador retriever was a graduation present from my parents, my aunt, and uncle.  She is a wonderful dog who is very tolerant of my little kids. Ruby joined our family last spring. She was a rescue and suffering terribly from mange. She really embraced being the “Mangy Mutt.”

My goal for this blog is to update you on all the amazing happenings at Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort as well as keep you updated on any late breaking news or helpful hints from the veterinary world.

I am really excited to be taking part in this and hope you enjoy!

Come visit me this weekend, March 29th, at the Harry Grove Stadium 5th Annual Easter Egg Hunt from 11am-2pm. It’s free, bring the kiddos. I am bringing mine!

“Give us a kiss”

Nothing says “love” more than a big lick across the face.

However, lets take a step back and think about what is really in a dog or cat’s mouth.  I don’t know who came up with the myth concerning dog’s having cleaner mouths than humans, but they could not have possibly had a dog. For one thing, they love to clean up the yard and to clean out litter-boxes. Ew! Then, dogs and cats lick themselves. All over. They do not discriminate what part of their body they are licking. Above all, they do not even brush their teeth. Humans brush their teeth twice a day and get dental cleanings and check ups every 6 months. So, our pets are left with…

There are two main reasons people do not want to clean up these awful mouths. 1. Cost 2. Anesthesia 1. Many people think when we offer to have their pet’s teeth cleaned, we just scrape off the tartar under anesthesia and that’s it. What they don’t realize is what a comprehensive process it truly is. Each pet is screened with blood work to make sure their organs are up for the anesthetic challenge. They all receive an IV catheter and fluids. We develop patient specific anesthetic protocols.  Then, imagine you are at the dentist. Every little step your dentist performs, is the same service your pet is getting. Once under anesthesia, the teeth are thoroughly scaled with an ultrasonic scaler, just as your teeth would be. Then, the polish is applied. It is extremely important to protect the teeth from all the scraping which has just been performed. This helps strengthen the teeth. Once these two phases are complete, the doctor does a comprehensive exam of every tooth and the entire oral cavity. So although people feel this procedure is expensive, the dog or cat is receiving extensive care to help with keeping your pet healthy. 2.  Anesthesia has carried many myths associated with its use. It is not as dangerous as many people think. People and pets daily undergo anesthesia for several different procedures. Many people even use sedation dentistry to help with the anxiety associated with the dentist. It is the same with our little creatures. We take all the necessary precautions to make sure your pet is safe. These include blood work, IV catheter for venous access during the anesthesia, IV fluids to keep the blood pressure up and keep the patient hydrated.

So next time Fido goes to give you a kiss, think twice before letting him. It is bacteria city in there. Do not be afraid or thwarted from getting their teeth cleaned. It removes the bacteria, protects their teeth from severe infection and can help them live longer, happier lives!