Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital :: November 2009 Newsletter

Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital
November 2009 News Letter

Have a great November and a Happy Thanksgiving. Can you smell the turkey in the oven and the pumpkin pies, see all the food on the table, the family and friends gathered all around you. It is the time of the year to be thankful, thankful for your health, the health of family and friends, and thankful for your life, and the lives of those you love. It is hard to believe that it is only a few weeks before Christmas. Is your shopping finished? Is it started? Time does fly.

Canine Influenza

Canine Influenza Virus, (CVI), is a fairly new virus.

It was first identified in 2004 in racing greyhounds.
It was first identified in the pet population in 2005.
One hundred percent of exposed dogs will become infected.
Approximately 80% of exposed dogs show signs of the disease.
Approximately 20% of infected dogs will not show clinical signs and can be active sources of infection to other dogs.
This disease is fatal in fewer than 8% of cases
Dogs that are infected can spread virus in 7-10 days after the onset of clinical signs.
Signs of infection include pus like nasal discharge, cough, and a low-grade to high fever

Due to the increase of interstate adoptions the disease is spreading at a greater rate than in the past. There is a vaccine for this disease. It is a killed virus vaccines that can be given to dogs 6 weeks of age or older. It needs to have a booster 2-4 weeks from the first vaccine. A yearly booster is recommended. Dogs most vulnerable to the disease are those that are boarded, groomed, in pet stores, sheltered, kenneled or around multiple dogs at any given time. We have the vaccine in stock. Call us for an appointment or if you have any questions concerning the virus or the vaccine, 615-361-4646.

Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital now has a three step plan to keep pets healthy and happy.

A healthy dog or cat is no accident. It takes a commitment from the owners to provide a healthy lifestyle and regular veterinary care throughout each pet's life. In other words- a plan. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1) Twice-a-year wellness exams. Because pets age seven times faster, on average, than people do, health problems can occur in a short amount of time. Six-month wellness exams allow us to diagnose, treat and even prevent health problems before they become serious.
2) Disease prevention. When you bring your pet in for a wellness exam, we'll conduct a risk assessment to determine your pet's exposure to various diseases. We'll also use a "Wellness Checklist" to design a vaccination and wellness plan to help protect your pet from disease threats.
3) Pet Health Insurance. When your pet's wellness exams, vaccinations and other preventive care are covered by pet health insurance, both you and your pet benefit. And, pet health insurance provides greater peace of mind knowing your pet is covered when unexpected medical expenses arise. We can help you determine if pet health insurance is right for your pet. There are several different insurance companies to chose from.

Want to know more about pet aging, wellness exams, vaccination or pet health insurance? Feel free to call us at 615-361-4646, for more information.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

This is a disease that effects both cats and dogs. It is easily diagnosed by blood tests. Many older cats and dogs may have this disease. One of the main symptoms is increased thirst and urination.

Diabetes in Dogs: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body's ability to metabolize sugar. It is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs.
There are two types of diabetes mellitus in dogs. Type I DM occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. This can be the result of destruction of the cells in the pancreas that normally produce insulin. This form does not produce enough insulin and requires insulin injections to control the disease. Type II DM occurs when enough insulin is produced but something interferes with its ability to be utilized by the body. Dogs nearly always (99%) have the type I variety.
Diabetes mellitus usually affects middle-aged to older dogs of either sex, however it is most common in female dogs (twice as common in females as in males). The peak age seen in dogs is 7 to 9 years. Juvenile-onset diabetes may occur in dogs less than 1 year of age. Any breed can be affected. Breeds at increased risk include the Australian terrier, Samoyed, Schnauzer (miniature and standard), Bishon frise, Cairn terrier, Keeshond, Spitz, Fox terrier and the poodle (miniature and standard).

Signs to watch for:         Increased thirst
                                    Increased frequency of urination
                                    Weight loss despite a good appetite
                                    Sudden blindness
                                    Lethargy
                                    Poor body condition

If you notice any signs of the above in your cat or dog, it is important to see your veterinarian right away. Your veterinarian can do several tests to diagnose the problem. Early detection is important for treatment and care. Just like in humans, there is treatment and insulin designed for the pet.

Diabetes in Cats: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body's ability to metabolize sugar. It is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases in cats.

There are two types of diabetes mellitus. Type I DM occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. This can be the result of destruction of the cells in the pancreas that normally produce insulin. This form is identified in approximately 50 to 70% of cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. This form does not produce enough insulin and requires insulin injections to control the disease. Type II DM occurs when enough insulin is produced but something interferes with its ability to be utilized by the body. This form is identified in approximately 30% of cats with diabetes mellitus. This type of diabetes is treated with dietary management, weight control and oral drugs.

Approximately 20% of cats can be "transient" diabetics. This means that after diagnosis with diabetes mellitus, they can have total resolution of their diabetic state months to years after diagnosis. This does not happen in dogs.

DM usually affects middle-aged to older cats of either sex, however it is most common in neutered male cats. The peak age seen in cats is 9 - 11 years. Juvenile-onset diabetes may occur in cats less than 1 year of age. Any breed can be affected.

Signs to watch for:       Increased thirst
                                  Increased frequency of urination
                                  Weight loss despite a good appetite
                                  Lethargy
                                  Poor body condition/poor haircoat
                                  Weakness-especially in rear legs and can be associated with plantigrade stance (where hocks are lower to
                                   the floor than normal)

Holiday precautions

With the holidays around the corner remember to take precautions. This is the time for parties, family gatherings, visiting, baking and preparing. With family and friends coming in and out of the house it is very important to make sure your pet or pets don't make a speedy exit when the door is opened or the gate left unlatched. Be sure to enlighten your guests as to where your pets are in the house and the house rules concerning your pets. It is often a good plan to have your pets stay in one room of the house if guests are arriving and leaving. That would decrease any chances of them getting loose unexpectedly. With all the baking and preparing be sure you and your guests don't give your pets something that can make them ill. Remember that raisins and grapes can be very toxic to pets, onions and garlic can damage the red blood cells, nuts especially macadamias can cause muscle weakness and tremors, chocolate is a heart and nervous system stimulant and cause loss of body fluids, cooked bones from the turkey can splinter and perforate a digestive tract if eaten, and so can toothpicks from hors d' oeuvres. These are just some of the foods that can be harmful to you pets. Guest's medications are another danger for your pets. Make sure all your guests put their purses and overnight bags in a room that the pets do not have access to. Lilies are especially dangerous to cats and can cause kidney failure even death. Be sure those plants are also in an area where your pets can't get to them. If your pets do get into any of the foods or plants call your veterinarian to find out what steps to take next. If it is the holidays, then be sure you have the 24 hour emergency clinics' numbers at hand. I have listed the numbers below for emergency clinics.

Nashville Pet Emergency Clinic                  383-2600
Rivergate Pet Emergency                              859-3778
Murfreesboro Animal Medical Center     867-7575
Brentwood Emergency Clinic                      333-1212

Our clinic makes sure there is veterinary care whenever you need it. These clinics are open when ours is not including weekends and holidays.

Clinic News

The winner of the micro-chip contest was ,the Eslick family and they were awarded a gift certificate for 25.00.

This month's contest is for anyone that has a blood chemistry done on their pets. This includes pre-anesthetic blood work and wellness checks. Any chemistry that includes a glucose screening. This is to encourage diabetic screenings in honor of Diabetes Month. The winner's name will be drawn at the end of November and the winner will receive a gift basket with lots of pet related goodies. Call our office at 615-361-4646 and make an appointment to have your pet checked for diabetes and other life threatening illnesses. These chemistries also check body functions including liver, kidneys and other organ functions. Older pets, over 7 years of age, should be checked at least yearly.   All surgery cases should have a chemistry before anesthetic is given, regardless of their age.

If you would like to be removed from the mailing list please call our office at 615-361-4646 or email me at plvh@bellsouth.net .