Most of us remember being told that 1 year of a dog or cats life is equal to 7 years of a human’s life.  While this averages out it is not a direct 1 for  1 correlation.  Dogs and cats mature very fast so that by 6 months of age most of them can reproduce.  By year 1 to 2 they are comparable to humans in their 20′s to 30′s  The aging process then levels out for a number of years but toward the later years of our pet’s life the rate of decline is quite accelerated.  Another factor affecting the aging process is the size of the animal.  Toy breed dogs and most cats can live well into their mid to late teens if well cared for.  Giant or large breed dogs are good to make it to double digit ages in many cases.  Therefore a 6 year old Great Dane is much “older” physically than a 6 year old Chihuahua.

     As our pets age there are a number of diseases and conditions that can impact them and shorten their lives and decrease their quality of life.  As is true in human medicine, early detection allows for early intervention thus helping to prevent serious harm and/or slow the progression of the disease and thus increasing your pet’s quality of life and adding to the number of years you enjoy your pet.  This is a key reason we recommend screening health tests for your pet.  Think of these tests as an “internal physical examination” of your pet.  We can evaluate organ function and screen for many of the problems facing pets in their later years.  One frequently asked question is why do I need the tests done every 6 to 12 months?  In the later years of their life your pet will age in 1 calendar year as much as a 75 to 80 year old person will age in 5 or 6 calendar years.  If you stop to think about this, a lot of decline can happen to our pets in a matter of months since their rate of decline is much faster when compared to people.  Therefore, most senior pets should have routine “internal physicals” minimally every 12 months, more often if they have a chronic compensating disease like diabetes, kidney insufficiency, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, chronic arthritis, liver disease, etc.   A health plan formulated to meet the needs of your aging pets will provide a higher quality of life for them and add years to the time you have to enjoy them.  Also, early intervention in most disease processes will minimize or slow the damage from disease and thus help avoid those major health emergencies pets face when these diseases go undetected.

So, how old is your pet?  Think about this information and if your small or medium dog or your cat is  7-8 years old then they are a senior pet.  If your large or giant dog is 5-6 they are entering their senior years as well.  We encourage all owners of senior pets to get them on a regular plan of preventive health care to maintain them as happy, healthy and active for as many years as possible.

Halitosis (bad breath) in cats and dogs is nothing to ignore.  It is most often associated with plaque and tartar on the teeth.  This leads to periodontal and endodontal disease (inflamed/infected gum tissue and cavities and abscessed teeth.  Unlike us, our animals can not tell us they have a tooth bothering them until it is advanced to a serious stage and can cost the loss of the tooth, so regular home examination of your pets mouth and teeth are important to dental health.

In addition to the health of the mouth, periodontal disease is a primary source of bacteria that invades the blood stream.  The mouth has a very rich blood supply so infections of the teeth and gums can spread via the blood to infect other areas of the body including the heart, kidney and liver.  Animals (and people) do get infections inside their heart from infections in their mouth.  Bacterial kidney and bladder infections can arise from the infection in the mouth as can bacterial hepatitis.

One of the best precautions you can do for your pet is to brush its teeth.  If your pet won’t allow the tooth brushing you can at least swab the tooth paste into the cheeks of the mouth with a cotton swab.  This will mix with their saliva and the enzymatic action of pet tooth paste breaks down the bacteria and plaque that form tartar.  Once or twice a week application of the pet tooth paste often makes a huge difference in the health of the mouth and teeth.  Do not use human tooth paste as it contains fluoride and should not be swallowed.  Also, after you swab the tooth paste into the cheeks, do not feed or water your pet for at least 30 minutes.  This will allow the enzymes a chance to work before your pet rinses it with drinking water or eating food.

Another area of concern for dental health is fractured teeth.  I see a lot of teeth broken due to chewing or nyla bones and hard, natural bones.  These are often harder than the teeth and when the pet chews on these tooth fractures are often a common result.  I recently saw a young, 4 year old dog that had 3 fractured teeth that led to abscessation (infection) of the adjacent teeth which required extraction of 13 teeth total!  This dog had regular access to nyla bones and had broken many of its teeth.

Bad breath is not always associated with tooth problems.  It can show up in cases of kidney failure, lung infections, lodged foreign material in the mouth,  and certain cancers.  So, never ignore or tolerate “bad breath” in your pet.  It is not normal and is usually an indication of more serious disease that, when detected early, can generally be treated and provide a higher quality of life for your pet and add years to the time you are able to enjoy your pet.

Leptospirosis continues to be a very serious threat to dogs and their owners.  I consider it one of the core vaccines your dog should have yearly.  This is a disease that you can contract from you dog as well and it can cause serious illness, permanent kidney damage and death in both dogs and humans.  There is a very good article from Michigan State University regarding a recent outbreak in the Detroit area.  The information applies to our area as well.  Go to  http://news.msu.edu/story/9952/  .  I hope this is useful for every one.

Once again cold weather is on the way and, as always, there are potential hazards for our pets.  First of all, this time of year many people are adding antifreeze to their vehicles.  This is highly poisonous to pets (and people too) in that it destroys the kidneys.  Most antifreeze has a sweet smell/taste so animals and children will readily drink it.  Anther potential source for antifreeze is in the garage where you store your car.  When the engine is turned off, occasionally a small amount of antifreeze/radiator coolant can drain from the overflow from the car and leave a small puddle under the car where you may not notice it.  Your cat or small dog can find this and consume it.  Small amounts consumed over time will results in kidney damage as well so it is important to not let your pets roam the garage unattended. 

Secondly, even though colder weather is approaching, fleas are still a threat.  They can harbor in leaves, etc and it takes a really hard freeze to kill them.  It has to get cold and STAY cold.  Even then there are sources of fleas for our pets such as stray cats, opossums, raccoons, coyote, etc.  It is best to protect your pets year round in order to keep your house flea free.  Remember, all pets in the house have to be on prevention.  Mixed pet households (dogs and cats) often think to only treat the dog since it is the one usually going outside.  Fleas are not instantly killed and if they jump off the dog and onto the cat that does not have flea protection, this is a source of food and the fleas will establish themselves inside the home.  Once established, it can take MONTHS to rid the house of the fleas.  There is no medication that will kill the pupa stage of the flea cycle.  These can remain dormant for several months and then hatch when temperature and moisture conditions improve.  Therefore, it is best to keep all your pets on year round prevention so that you don’t end up with a flea infested home. 

Another cold weather related problem can occur when the weeds mature and produce their seeds.  Many of these seeds have thorns or stickers that adhere to clothing and pet fur.  This is a favorite time of year to take our dogs for romps in the woods and fields.  Always check their paws, pads and toes for any weed seeds and remove them.  Another area to watch is the eyes.  Tiny seeds and plant awns can be trapped under the upper and lower eyelids as well as the third eye lid (the fleshy membrane at the inner part of the eye).  Always check the eyelids and if you see weed seeds, gently flush them out with a sterile saline eye wash.  If you see persistant squinting of the eye or excessive eye discharge immediately have your pet examined.  There could be a penetrating object in the eyeball or a scratch or an ulcer to the cornea of the eye.  These should not be ignored and should be treated immediately to prevent serious damage as well as relieving the extreme pain associated with these conditions.

So, enjoy the coming season.  I hope this information has been helpful and helps keep your pets safe and healthy.

Dr Walsh

With advancements in veterinary medicine, there are many options for you to maximize your senior pets health and quality of life.  Depending upon whether you have a cat or dog there are certain health conditions that can negatively impact them.  In addition, large or giant breed dogs need these evaluations sooner than a smaller dog or cat due to the shortened life span associated with these larger pets.  In general a small dog or cat is considered to be a “senior” when they reach the age of 7 or 8 years.  Large and giant breed dogs the “senior” status begins at age 5-7. 

What do we look for in senior pets?  Just as in people we are checking for early signs of kidney, liver, and heart disease.  Additionally we evaluate for the beginnning of arthritis and diabetes.  Weight evaluation  and management are important as well.  Dental health is critical at all stages of life but especially as our pets age.  Poor dental health is a leading source of infection that enters the blood stream and can spread to the liver, kidney and heart causing major damage and disease.  It also HURTS to have bad teeth and gum disease!  Pets do not let us know they have a cavity in a tooth until that tooth is so far gone that we smell the odor or the pet is in severe pain.  When we have a small cavity, it HURTS us, too and we can tell our dentist which tooth and where it hurts.  Regular dental exams including cleaning and xrays can pinpoint these problems early leading to better dental health, improved overall general health and a much happier pet.

The health screens can be custom tailored to your pet’s needs, but in general, all pets should have a urinalysis, urine albumin screening, CBC (blood count) and Chem 10 (basic organ function tests).  Additionally, all senior cats should have a blood pressure and a Thyroid evaluation.  Early detection allows for early intervention thus maximizing the health and longevity of your pet, adding years of enjoyment for you and a higher quality of life for your pet.

We are encouraging all owners of senior pets to begin early monitoring and we are happy to explain in detail how we can assist you.  Together we are your pet’s health care team and we all want to preserve their health and well being.  Be sure to ask us next time you visit. 

During this extremely hot weather it is vital to protect our pets from overheating.  This can occur very quickly and can be life-threatening.  For outside pets, SHADE  is vitally important.  A dog house does not count as most pets avoid these in warm weather due to the lack of air flow.  A sun barrier should be provide so the pet can lay in the shade and still have fresh air circulating about.  A suspended sheet of plywood or an old door works nicely for this purpose. 

Fresh, clean, cool waer is also necessary for proper cooling for our pets.  This too should be shielded from the sun and changed multiple times a day to keep it cool.  Cats and dogs do not sweat, they pant and exchange heat through evaporation from the moisture on their tongue.  Cool drinking water helps in this cooling process and also keeps them hydrated.

Minimize forced exercise.  This includes taking your dog for a walk, even a short one.  In this extreme heat very little exertion can soon overheat a pet.  Also included in this list would be visits to the dog park, playing frisbee, fetching a ball, etc.  Dogs that are driven to perform and play will overdo and can be suddenly overcome with heat stroke.  You must be very observant and vigilant to prevent this and make wise decisions for you pet.

If your pet becomes overheated, immediately move it ot a cooler place, preferably in an air conditioned area.  Cool the belly and the inside of the rear legs with cool water repeatedly and try to get air movement over the pet by using a fan.  BE CAUTIOUS TO KEEP ALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AWAY FROM WATER/MOISTURE TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL SHOCK! 

In the event your pet collapses from overheating, THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!  Take your pet immediately for professional veterinary treatment.  Dogs and cats can die or sustain permanent kidney or brain damage very quickly when overheated.  Do not delay!  If in doubt, seek help sooner rather than later.  Taking a “wait and see” attitude in this instance more often than not is fatal to your pet.

With vigilance and wise decisions we can help our pets through this extremely hot weather.  Check your pets often throughout the day and remain alert for any sign of heat stress.

Our Online Pharmacy and Store has been available for the past 2 weeks and so far has been well received! As with any new venture there is a learning curve but it has been a smooth transition. The technical help from Vetsourse has been great and we are getting much better at using the system. When you use our online pharmacy/store, drop us an email and let us know how it went for you. We value your input as it enables us to better serve your needs. Vetsourse has told us that they hope to broaden the product line in the future possibly expanding into other supplies such as leashes, collars, crates, and other equipment. Our online Pharmacy and Store is just one more tool that we are pleased to provide to you, our valued clients, so that you receive the best in customer service and your pets receive the highest possible care to maintain their health and well being.

We are pleased to announce that we will have our own online pharmacy and store available for use in the next 6-8 weeks.   You will enjoy all the benefits of the mega stores such as Pet Meds, etc but with a MAJOR exception and benefit… all the medications will be fully backed by the manufacturer through our store.  This is something that does not occur with Pet Meds, etc.  There are numerous accounts of bogus medicines and placebos coming through these outlets.  None of the manufacturers of the medications will stand behind their products sold through these sites for this reason.  We have joined with Webster Pharmaceuticals and they have secured the backing of all manufacturers so that any products purchased by you through our store is fully back by the manufacturer.  This is a no brainer…………..same convenience, competitive pricing, same shipping and a major advantage, you have  the full manufacture backing of their product.  We will announce very soon when our store is open for your use.  We are very excited as this is the delivery system of the future for veterinary medicine.  Once again, Oak Hill Animal Clinic is setting the pace for excellence in veterinary care with a warm personal touch!  We want only the BEST for our clients and their pets.  We won’t settle for anything less and you shouldn’t either!

A quick little note to welcome Spring. Winter has been long and everyone is excited about getting outside and enjoying the warm weather.

Some things to consider when it comes to your pet’s health with the coming warmer weather. Mosquitos will be here soon (I have even seen a couple already) so be sure to get your dog on heartworm prevention. We recommend every month giving heartworm prevention even through the winter but we realize some of you discontinue use due to the less likely chance of contracting the disease in the winter months – well now is the time to start back again if you did discontinue prevention in the winter months. We would also recommend a heart worm test to be sure your dog did not contract heartworm during the winter months. Also with the ground being wet and warmer weather coming intestinal parasites will be more prevelant as well – our heartworm prevention does help with several types of intestinal parasites so it is one more reason to be giving your pets monthly heartworm prevention.

Have a great Spring! The weather is going to be great.

When you bring your pet to the veterinary clinic, safety is a concern.  Many times I see cat owners carry in their pets in their arms, no collar or leash.  We have had 2 occasions where a cat, loose in the car, escaped from the car upon arrival at our clinic.  The cat never made it into the clinic.  In one instance the cat found its way home after 5 days.  Sadly, the other cat was never found.  Cats loose in a car are also a driving hazard. You never know when they may become excited thus distracting you and causing a traffic accident.  Please have your cats secure in a carrier.  This protects it in the car if there is an accident.  Secure the carrier with a seat belt so that it does not become an airborne object during a crash.  Having a carrier prevents escape from your auto.  Additonally I have had clients holding their cat on their lap or shoulder in the waiting area when a dog shows up for its appointment.  The cat, already on high alert, freaked out and bit the owner on the neck.  You must remember that your usually sweet, affectionate cat from home is now in a totally new environment and will not act the same as he/she does at home.  So, for everyones safety and peace of mind, ALWAYS have your cat in a carrier anytime he/she is transported outside the home.

For our dog owners,  always have your pet on a leash and collar, under control.  This does not include a 16 foot flexilead that allows your dog to explore the waiting area while you are answering questions at check in or check out.  You never know what will be coming through the door and your pet could be injured or injur another pet entering the area.  It is just common courtesy to not let your pet run all over the area.  Not every dog or person is comforatable with strange dogs running up to them.  Keep your dog on a short leash, by your side.  If you have a highly excitable dog, one prone to barking at other dogs or strangers then try to position your pet out of eyesight of other dogs.  Controlling the vision lines of dogs is the easiest way to prevent them from becoming excited and barking at other dogs, especially in a strange environment. 

We love your pets and want only the best for them.  This includes a safe and enjoyable visit to our facility.  So please keep these tips in mind to protect your pets and to make your fellow clients visit to our facility a safe so that everyone has a pleasant visit.