Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Beware of Tricks or Treats
The upcoming holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas provide great joy, family reunions, a lot of celebration and plenty of gifts and candy. . Here are some tips on how to avoid a trip to the animal ER!
By: David G. Beauchamp, DVM
Drs. Beauchamp, Brazik, and Claypool can all recount cases where pets eat too much of the wrong type of food and develop a severe condition called pancreatitis. We will treat more pancreatitis cases during this time of year than any other season.
Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. When pets consume foods that are extremely fatty (like the skin of turkey or chicken), this can lead to inflammation. Enzymes normally released by the pancreas can cause both local and systemic effects. Although some cases are mild, all of our staff can recall far too many situations where the pet died from this condition. The sad thing is, many of these deaths could be prevented by taking simple precautions. This includes immediate examination by our veterinarians!
Pets with pancreatitis can quickly become painful in their abdomen and often have persistent vomiting. Certain breeds of dogs, dogs on specific medications and pets with immune problems are more prone to this condition. This is especially true with cats. Veterinarians will recommend blood work and several days of hospitalization and treatments for pets with pancreatitis.
But, it’s not only the skin of the turkey or any excessively fatty foods that can cause problems. Obstructions and perforations of the intestines from eating the bones of the bird are very common.
Of course, the holiday bird is not the only food issue at this time of year. With an abundance of chocolates and even sweet foods containing Xylitol, these wonderful holiday treats can cause serious problems. Chocolates can cause heart issues or seizures and xylitol treats can set off potentially fatal blood sugar crashes or liver failure in dogs.
Other holiday favorites, like rum balls, eggnog or even fruitcakes might contain alcohol. Intoxicated pets can experience seizures and respiratory failure.
Grapes, raisins, currents, macadamia nuts, extremely salty foods or foods prepared with a lot of onions and/or garlic are all potentially dangerous as well.
Use pet friendly treats like green beans, carrots or even a handful of dog kibble if you want to share your holiday feast. Let your guests know the family rules about sharing from the table so that friends don’t unknowingly cause a problem.
If you can’t trust your pet, or maybe your dinner guests, it might be best to let your pet have his own room during mealtime. When dinner is over, be sure to remove all temptations from tables or counters and place all trash behind a secure door. Far too many pets are drawn to the smell and raid the trash can when the owner is not watching.
During the Halloween season, some pet owners like to dress their pets in "scary costumes". It is best to remember that pets can scare as easy as people so in many cases it is best to let the pet wear his/her "birthday suit". As the pet owner, you are legally responsible to prevent your pet from endangering any neighborhood guests. Having your pet updated for rabies vaccination can prevent many a legal problem during the holidays.
As many cat owners can attest, cats are very attracted to hanging decorations. Unfortunately, cats can swallow these decorations leading to an intestinal obstruction and expensive surgery.
Remember, our veterinary staff is the best source of information if a holiday emergency occurs. So have our phone number handy (910-371-3440). Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions if you are concerned. However, be warned, using online “pet forums” for advice could end up costing you valuable time.
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Dr. David Beauchamp owns Leland Veterinary Hospital, 508 Village Rd, Leland, NC 28451. You can visit our practice on the web www.myvetonline.com/lelandvh. Like Us on Facebook.
Monday, October 8, 2012
How Frustrating Can A Pet's Allergy Be?
From springtime through the late fall, many people are subject to seasonal allergies. But people are not the only ones suffering. For our dogs and cats, these same seasons can bring intense itching and discomfort. Yes, it seems our pets can get their own “hay fever”.
By: David G. Beauchamp, DVM
It’s a very frustrating and somewhat common situation. Pet owners by the millions flock to their veterinarians in the hope of relieving their pet’s itchiness. For many people, the constant chewing, licking, and scratching can test their love for their pets.
Current estimates show that about 20 million pets suffer from some sort of skin condition and many of these are allergies. Allergies are an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen or flea saliva. For people with allergies, we sneeze and sniffle as our bodies respond to histamine released by immune cells. These symptoms are due to the reaction of histamine with receptors in our nose and upper airways.
Our pets, however, react somewhat differently. Dogs and cats have many more histamine receptors in the skin and fewer in the nose. As histamine is released, the receptors cause an itchy feeling and the pet reacts by scratching at that site. Scratching can generate more histamine release, thereby causing more scratching. The constant assault on the skin by the pet’s claws can actually damage the skin, leading to bacterial infections. Areas of hair loss and oozing sores known as “hot spots” are very common with allergies.
Fleas are often found to be the reason for a pet’s itchiness. However, the pet who is truly allergic to fleas will often appear to have no fleas at all! Why? Because these pets are the ultimate flea catchers, doing everything in their power to bite or scratch the discomfort of the flea away. The flea’s saliva sets off an allergic reaction leading to a flurry of chewing and digging at the skin.
Allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen and mold spores, are another reason for itchiness in pets. This is known as atopy and affects many pets from springtime straight through until fall. This condition can be inherited in certain breeds.
If your pet has signs of allergies year round and you see little or no improvement with certain medications, you may have a pet that has food allergies. Contrary to popular belief, food allergies take time to develop and are not due to recent diet changes. Most pets who develop food allergies have been eating the offending food with little problem for years. Common food allergens can include any major protein or carbohydrate source in the pet’s food.
In some mild cases, the itchiness can be treated with anti-histamines or even steroids for a short period of time. However, pet owners need to be aware that allergies are not a condition that can be cured. The good news though, is that they can be well-managed with a team effort from the pet owner and Drs. Brazik, Claypool, and Beauchamp at Leland Veterinary Hospital.
Utilizing diagnostic tests such as blood testing and even skin allergy tests, veterinarians can often find ways to reduce the pet’s discomfort level. In some cases, we may refer you and your pet to a veterinary dermatologist. This specialist has many more diagnostic and treatment resources available to bring relief to your pet. In all cases, you, the pet owner, are a vital part of the team. It will be up to you to make sure that all pets in the household are treated for fleas or that your pet stays on the recommended hypo-allergenic diet and doesn’t sneak other treats!
Allergies are not only one of the most frequent reasons for a trip to the veterinarian, but are also a big reason for pet owners becoming frustrated with their pet. Working with your veterinary team to identify what is causing your pet’s symptoms will help keep your four-legged family member right where he needs to be…with you! Paste this link into your browser a video of how pet owners deal with their pet’s allergies: https://www.myvnn.com/page.asp?id=39&media_type=11&story_id=13#.
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David G. Beauchamp, DVM is owner of Leland Veterinary Hospital, 508 Village Rd, Leland, North Carolina, 910-371-3440. LIke us on Facebook and check out our webpage at www.myvetonline.com/lelandvh.
By: David G. Beauchamp, DVM
It’s a very frustrating and somewhat common situation. Pet owners by the millions flock to their veterinarians in the hope of relieving their pet’s itchiness. For many people, the constant chewing, licking, and scratching can test their love for their pets.
Current estimates show that about 20 million pets suffer from some sort of skin condition and many of these are allergies. Allergies are an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen or flea saliva. For people with allergies, we sneeze and sniffle as our bodies respond to histamine released by immune cells. These symptoms are due to the reaction of histamine with receptors in our nose and upper airways.
Our pets, however, react somewhat differently. Dogs and cats have many more histamine receptors in the skin and fewer in the nose. As histamine is released, the receptors cause an itchy feeling and the pet reacts by scratching at that site. Scratching can generate more histamine release, thereby causing more scratching. The constant assault on the skin by the pet’s claws can actually damage the skin, leading to bacterial infections. Areas of hair loss and oozing sores known as “hot spots” are very common with allergies.
Fleas are often found to be the reason for a pet’s itchiness. However, the pet who is truly allergic to fleas will often appear to have no fleas at all! Why? Because these pets are the ultimate flea catchers, doing everything in their power to bite or scratch the discomfort of the flea away. The flea’s saliva sets off an allergic reaction leading to a flurry of chewing and digging at the skin.
Allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen and mold spores, are another reason for itchiness in pets. This is known as atopy and affects many pets from springtime straight through until fall. This condition can be inherited in certain breeds.
If your pet has signs of allergies year round and you see little or no improvement with certain medications, you may have a pet that has food allergies. Contrary to popular belief, food allergies take time to develop and are not due to recent diet changes. Most pets who develop food allergies have been eating the offending food with little problem for years. Common food allergens can include any major protein or carbohydrate source in the pet’s food.
In some mild cases, the itchiness can be treated with anti-histamines or even steroids for a short period of time. However, pet owners need to be aware that allergies are not a condition that can be cured. The good news though, is that they can be well-managed with a team effort from the pet owner and Drs. Brazik, Claypool, and Beauchamp at Leland Veterinary Hospital.
Utilizing diagnostic tests such as blood testing and even skin allergy tests, veterinarians can often find ways to reduce the pet’s discomfort level. In some cases, we may refer you and your pet to a veterinary dermatologist. This specialist has many more diagnostic and treatment resources available to bring relief to your pet. In all cases, you, the pet owner, are a vital part of the team. It will be up to you to make sure that all pets in the household are treated for fleas or that your pet stays on the recommended hypo-allergenic diet and doesn’t sneak other treats!
Allergies are not only one of the most frequent reasons for a trip to the veterinarian, but are also a big reason for pet owners becoming frustrated with their pet. Working with your veterinary team to identify what is causing your pet’s symptoms will help keep your four-legged family member right where he needs to be…with you! Paste this link into your browser a video of how pet owners deal with their pet’s allergies: https://www.myvnn.com/page.asp?id=39&media_type=11&story_id=13#.
-------------------------------------------
David G. Beauchamp, DVM is owner of Leland Veterinary Hospital, 508 Village Rd, Leland, North Carolina, 910-371-3440. LIke us on Facebook and check out our webpage at www.myvetonline.com/lelandvh.
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