Falmouth Veterinary Howler
Summer 2012
Falmouth Veterinary Hospital, 174 US Route One, Falmouth, Maine 04105
falmouthvet.com [email protected] 207.781.4028
With summer arriving, now is a good time to look at
some summertime tips which will help make life just
that little bit more comfortable & fun for our furry
family members.
One of the best ways to get a dog cooled off is to have
a little fun with water!
Here are a few ways to put water into play:
Spray or mist your dog with a hose, or turn
the sprinkler on low.
Your cat’s worst enemy, the spray water
bottle, could be your dog’s best friend – other
than you of course!
Buy an inexpensive heavy-duty wading pool,
perhaps with a built-in slide to run hosewater down. Voila! A mini canine water park.
Shop for toys made for sporting breeds, such
as floating retrieving dumbbells, buoys, or
DockDogs training toys, and put them to use
in your pool, the lake, or ocean!
Cut off the tops of quart cardboard milk or
juice containers, fill most of the way with
water, and freeze. Once you remove the
cardboard, your dog will have a nice block of
ice to enjoy in a wading pool or yard.
Make “pup”-sicles by freezing a few pet safe
ingredients in an ice cube tray. For a more
portable snack, use freezer safe cups! Foods
that can safely be eaten in moderation and
freeze well include; plain, low-fat yogurt,
meat flavored baby food, clear chicken or
beef broth (preferably low sodium),
unsweetened applesauce, canned pumpkin,
or natural peanut butter.
For kitties, a really fun game is to toss a couple of
ice cubes on the floor in front of your cat. Watch
him play with them as they scatter away from him
and he chases them. Most cats will enjoy a flavored
ice cube as well!
Ensure that your garden or yard has some shady
spots for your outdoor cat to enjoy. If your plants
are too young to throw enough shade yet, or you do
not have a garden, at least set up some shade cloth
over a comfortable spot under which your cat can
lie; choose somewhere that gets a gentle breeze.
The Importance of an Annual Exam in Dogs and
(even indoor!!) Cats!
Just as annual physical exams are recommended
for humans, they are recommended for our pets as
well.
A year is a long time in an animal's life – they age
significantly faster than people. For example,
depending on the breed and age, waiting 2 years to
have a physical exam done on your pet would be
like waiting over 10 years to see a doctor yourself!
And the older the pet, the bigger that number
becomes.
Depending on your pet’s age and health, your
veterinarian will suggest an appropriate physical
examination schedule to help keep your pet in tip-top
shape.
Since your pet cannot vocalize his feelings, you must rely
on your veterinarian and your at-home observances to
assess your pet’s health. The problem is that sometimes
reading their cues can be difficult, but what really adds to
the challenge is that animals are built by nature to hide
symptoms of illness – even when they appear to be doing
fine, a health problem could be developing.
Luckily, despite these challenges, catching disease early
on in our four legged family members can still be done
with regular physical exams.
Please see Annual Examinations on page 4
Page 2
The HOWLER
Obesity and Our Pets
As if the obesity epidemic weren’t already a
weighty enough issue, it turns out we’re not the
only ones getting heavy and risking our health.
With our bulky babies, there’s certainly more to love but
there may be less time to do so. The Purina Lifespan
Study found that obesity takes two years off a pet’s life
so it is important to keep your pet trim.
Help your dog live a leaner life starting today with
Purina’s Project Pet Slim Down!
More than half of the nation’s dogs and cats are
now overweight, according to a recent study by the
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Its survey
found 54 percent of cats and 55 percent dogs were
overweight or obese in 2011.
Obesity is the number one nutritional disorder
among dogs & cats. These conditions create or can
contribute to a wide range of health issues, such
as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney
disease, certain cancers, heart and respiratory
disease, and more for your pet.
Pet Slim Down makes it easy to get started, and to keep
going. Work with your veterinarian and your pet’s
weight loss coach to help your pet achieve better health
and a better quality of life.
What’s to blame? The same factors making people
fat and boosting human health insurance costs
are at work for pets — too little exercise and too
much food.
What’s more, many pet owners remain in denial —
22 percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat
owners said their pets were normal weight, when
the dogs and cats were actually overweight or
obese.
Your veterinarian will assess dogs and cats for a body
condition score #1- #9, where ideal is #4-#5. They will
then calculate the proper amount of food for these
animals to lose weight safely and hopefully reach their
ideal percentage and body weight eventually.
As it is for countless people, many weight loss programs
fail at home for our furry friends. With the proper food
and our help your pet can have a healthy and safe way
to shed fat, not muscle. The overweight management
Purina Veterinary food is low in calories and fat, high in
protein, an optimal level of fiber helps pet feel full and it
tastes great!
Need help putting your pet’s weight in
perspective? Here are two interesting facts from
Purina:
Three pounds to a 15 pound Boston Terrier
equals 30 pounds to a 150 pound person.
Three pounds to a 10 pound cat equals 45
pounds to a 150 pound person.
The program is actually a lot of fun! Your pet will come
in once a month for weight checks, measurements, and
can even win prizes as they are working toward their
goals. Not every pet will succeed right away, but with
patience and the right approach we can help them shed
those extra pounds.
It is never too late to help your pet get closer to his ideal
weight. Call us today to learn more about Purina’s
Project Pet Slim Down and how your pet can benefit!
Sources: PetObesityPrevention.org Lacrossevet.com TopDogHeath.com RSPCA.org Ezinearticles, dosomething.org
Page 3
The HOWLER
Leptospirosis:
How Dogs Catch It, How We Can Help Cure It, and How We Prevent It
Not many people have heard of the bacterial infection
Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect
humans and animals, including your pets. The bacteria
that cause Leptospirosis are spread through the urine of
infected animals, which can get into water or soil and
can survive there for weeks to months.
Since the disease can look like so many other diseases,
it is a challenge to diagnose quickly. Your veterinarian is
the best person to identify and treat leptospirosis. The
diagnostic process can be frustrating and costly. The
process is based on clinical signs and laboratory tests,
including tests for the disease-causing organism,
urinalysis and blood screens.
To effectively treat this disease, dogs are treated with a
course of antibiotics plus intravenous fluids to overcome
dehydration, as well as other aggressive therapies
depending on the severity of the case.
All animals can potentially become infected with
Leptospirosis. While for many years occurrence among
pets was rare, the disease has been diagnosed more
frequently in the past few years. Humans and animals
can become infected through contact with this
contaminated urine (or other body fluids, except saliva),
water, or soil.
Our cat lovers out there are probably wondering if we
need to be concerned for our feline friends. Tests for
antibodies show that though cats are exposed to the
disease, for whatever reason cats almost never show
clinical signs of leptospirosis. Some experts believe that
cats have developed a kind of immunity to leptospirosis
from their longtime association with rodents.
Because of increased building and development into
areas that were previously rural, pets may be exposed to
more wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels,
opossums, or deer that are infected with leptospirosis.
If your pet has become infected, she most likely came
into contact with the bacteria in the environment or was
exposed to infected animals. Your pet may have been
drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated
water. Summer and early fall are the most likely times
for leptospirosis transmission to dogs since these
seasons are the times dogs are in or near water the
most.
The disease resembles the flu with fever, headache,
chills and myalgia (muscle pain).
Wherever dogs and wildlife cross paths, from the dog
park to your own backyard, exposure to leptospirosis is
an ever-increasing risk.
Remember… Protection = Prevention!
To help protect your dog from this potentially fatal
disease, vaccination is the key. By vaccinating your dog
before exposure to the disease, you may avoid the
emotional and financial trauma of dealing with disease.
Vaccines are affordable, convenient, and safe. Talk to
your veterinarian about which vaccine is best and how
to incorporate it into your dog’s routine vaccination
program.
Dog owners may notice vomiting, lethargy, depression,
muscle pain and sometimes diarrhea or bloody urine in
the pets. It has also been noted to cause Jaundice,
which is marked by a yellow cast in the gums of the
mouth and whites of the eyes. In most severe cases,
Leptospirosis can lead to kidney failure or liver failure
and may be fatal if left untreated.
Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/ Pfizer, & Cornell
University College of Veterinary Medicine
Page 4
The HOWLER
Annual Examinations from page 1
Think about it, even our cars get
regular tune-ups!
Stomach and intestines - any vomiting,
diarrhea, constipation, gas, belching, or
abnormal stools
Breathing - any coughing, shortness of breath,
sneezing, or nasal discharge
During this comprehensive physical exam you
should review these aspects of your pet's health
with your veterinarian:
Vaccination status and potential for
exposure to disease.
Parasite control for intestinal parasites,
fleas, ticks, mites, and heartworms
Dental health - care you give at home; any
mouth odors, pain, or other signs of
disease you may have observed
Nutrition - including what your pet eats,
how often, what supplements and treats
are given, and changes in water
consumption, weight or appetite.
Exercise - how much exercise your pet
receives including how often and what
kind; and any changes in your pet's ability
to exercise
Ears and Eyes - any discharge, redness, or
itching
Behavior - any behavior problems such as
inappropriate elimination, aggression, or
changes in temperament
Feet and legs - any limping, weakness, toenail
problems
Coat and skin - any hair loss, pigment changes,
lumps, itchy spots, shedding, mats, or anal sac
problems
Urogenital - any discharges, heats, changes in
mammary glands, urination difficulties or
changes, neutering if it has not already been
performed
Blood tests - especially for geriatric pets, those
with medical problems, and those who are
receiving medications
An annual (or for older pets, bi-annual) physical
examination is not just a chance for us to see how cute
your pet is; a thorough exam can pick up on a variety
of illnesses and prevent potential life-threatening
diseases. These regular examinations will help your pet
live a longer and healthier life, so do your part to care
for your furry friend by scheduling an exam today!
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