The first step in treating pain in animals is recognizing pain.  This can be difficult since they are geared to hide it.  Pets are very good at going about their daily lives in spite of sometimes significant pain.  Since everything seems normal, we can miss their pain and they may suffer because of this.  However, there are many subtle (and no-so-subtle) clues that your pet may be in pain:

• Abnormal posture: hunched, praying, sitting or laying abnormally
• Abnormal gait: limping, stiff, carrying a leg
• Abnormal movements: thrashing, restless, inactive when awake, escape/hiding
• Vocalization: howling, crying, barking.  Pets that are normally vocal may become quiet
• Licking/chewing one area
• Twitching skin in response to touch
• Snapping/biting when painful area is touched, overall irritability
• Failure to stretch, shake, or yawn like normal
• Trouble jumping up or down, maneuvering over stairs or into car
• Lack of interest or changes in daily routine—not greeting their owner at the door, failure to use cat box, loss of housetraining, disinterest in play or walks, sleeping in strange places, less interaction with family (or suddenly clingy)
• Aggression
• Lack of appetite
• Trouble sleeping/restlessness at night

Any change in behavior can indicate there might be pain.  And if a pet has experienced something that would be considered painful in a person, like an injury or surgery, it is likely that pet is experiencing pain.

The fact that our pets can’t talk and tell us what might be bothering  them means we must be especially diligent in monitoring for and treating pain.  To allow them to suffer silently is no longer appropriate.  Many solutions exist to help minimize pain in our pets and help them live more comfortable lives, and we’ll go over these in our next blog.  If you think your pet may be experiencing pain, please contact us at 303-432-8551.  We’re here to help!

I hear it all the time–“My pet’s limping, but she’s not in pain” or “Surely he’d cry out if something hurt”.

How many times have we ourselves suffered our pains in silence?  Do we scream and moan every time something hurts?  And why do we limp, unless something hurts?  Its easy to fall into the trap of believing our pets don’t experience pain simply because they don’t tell us about it.  However, a recent study showed  that 90% of cats over the age of 12 have significant arthritis on x-rays,  with most of their owners reporting their cat is “fine”.  This level of arthritis on a human x-ray is associated with moderate to severe levels of pain, requiring medications and other treatments for relief.  Most animals are wired to hide their pain so they are not perceived as “weak” by other animals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t experience pain.

The physiology of pain production, transmission, and perception is nearly identical between people and animals.  A cascade of hormones and other substances are involved in translating a painful stimulus into a nervous impulse that is ultimately perceived by the brain as painful  So we can make the general assumption that if something is painful to a person, it will likely be painful to an animal as well.  You might ask the question “Is it really that bad that our pets experience some pain, especially if they don’t complain about it?”.  Numerous studies have shown the consequences of untreated pain in pets include:

• increased risk of infection, suppressed immune system
• delayed wound healing
• decreased food and water intake (which have their own consequences)
• decreased mobility
• altered sleep patterns
• behavioral changes such as irritability, hiding, guarding postures, restlessness, etc.
• increased blood pressure
• increased heart rate
• increased respiration rate
• changes in white blood cell counts
• increased catabolism (protein breakdown)
• hair loss
• weight loss
• accelerated aging and shortened lifespan

Untreated pain can also lead to windup, where the nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain stimuli.  In cases of chronic or severe pain, the nervous system can become sensitive to non-painful stimuli , meaning a gentle touch can be perceived as painful.   We wouldn’t appreciate experiencing this ourselves, so why put our pets at risk for this?

In the next blog, we’ll talk about how to recognize when our pets are in pain.

October is senior pet month, honoring those dogs greater than 7 and cats greater than 10 as they enter their senior years.  While our senior pets can remain vibrant and healthy for years to come, there are changes and problems that can develop during this stage of life.  Some issues that can arise include changes in vision or hearing, stiffness upon rising, inability to jump up on furniture or slowing down on a walk, limping, changes in food or water consumption, changes in urine or bowel habits, accidents in the house, bad breath, changes in sleep patterns, weight loss, and behavior changes.   Dogs and cats can’t talk to us when something isn’t right, so its up to us to recognize subtle changes and intervene early, before small problems become larger ones.  So what can you do to help your senior pet fully enjoy the “golden years”?

• Twice yearly vet visits are recommended to help detect and treat subtle issues like painful joints and dental disease
• Annual to twice-yearly bloodwork, urinalysis and fecal exams to monitor internal organ function
• Optimize nutrition through a high-quality diet
• Weight contol–obesity can shorten a pets life by up to 2 years
• Regular exercise, tailored to the pet’s ability, to maintain muscle mass and joint function
• Pain management–90% of cats over the age of 12 have arthritis, but only about 10% receive any form of pain managment.
• Provide comfortable bedding
• Maintain easy access to outdoors or the litter box
• Assist pets onto beds, into cars, or up stairs with ramps or smaller steps
• Monitor environmental temperature as older pets get hot or cold more easily

These are just a few of the small things you can do to help keep your senior pet healthy.  To get you started, during the month of October a senior lab screen including blood chemistries, a complete blood count, a thyroid test, and a full urinalysis, is only $125, a savings of over $30.  Call to schedule your appointment today!  And as always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about your senior pets.

 I never understood where that phrase came from until I graduated from vet school and started performing dentistry on my patients.  It turns out pulling teeth is really hard.  Since our pets don’t brush and floss regularly, bacteria build up and produce plaque, a thin film on the teeth.  Plaque left on the teeth eventutally hardens into tartar, which can’t be brushed off.  As this process continues, it starts to work between the teeth and the bone, loosening the tooth attachments.  This creates loose, painful, abscessed teeth.  With severe tartar, baceteria can gain access to the bloodstream, creating infection and disease in the liver, kidneys, heart, and other organs.  So plaque and tartar aren’t just a matter of some dirty teeth–they can seriously affect the health of your pet. 

Which is where pulling teeth comes in.  Once the teeth are loose, painful, or abscessed, they can’t be saved.  But the body has a funny reaction to loose teeth.  While one or two roots of a tooth may be loose, the body tries to save the tooth by fusing the remaining root(s) to the bone.  This makes the tooth extremely difficult to remove, often necessitating an hour of work to remove this fused root.  Yes, I admit to feeling a little sorry for myself during these extractions, with my hand cramping and my face beaded in sweat.  But it’s my patients I’m really concerned about.

Thankfully, the pain from the extractions only lasts a few days and often pales in comparison to the pain these teeth were causing before treatment.  In fact, clients often report their pet is like a “new pet” after the extractions.  I love that we can help these patients feel better.  But after dental month in February, where we performed 29 dentals requiring a total of 69 extractions, I feel we need to do a better job at intervening earlier, before the teeth become so bad.  So how do we accomplish that?

First, home dental care needs to become a priority.  There are toothpastes, oral rinses, special dental treats and even water additives that can help slow the progression of plaque and tartar.  Regular use of these products can increase the time between professional cleanings and make these cleanings quicker and easier.  No one really wants to do these things, but we don’t really want to clean cat boxes either.  It comes with the territory of having one of these special beings in our lives.

Second, we should perform a dental exam on your pet every 6 months to catch tartar and gingivitis (red, irritated gums) more quickly and intervene before extractions become necessary.  Our technicians can perform a quick dental assessment at no charge and make recommendations for your pet’s oral health.

And regular professional cleanings are a must.  We brush our teeth twice daily and still we go to the dentist once or even twice a year for a thorough cleaning.  Why would our pets be any different, especially when their teeth aren’t subject to the same home care?  Cleanings are expensive and everyone worries about the anesthesia.  But the expense and the risk go up with greater tartar accumulation and bad teeth due to longer anesthetic and procedure times.  Not to mention the toll painful, abscessed teeth can take on your pets health and quality of life.  So embrace dental care as a part of your pet’s overall wellness plan.  And as always, call me with any questions you may have about your pet!  Dr. Brown

We all worry about our pets being exposed to cleaners, air pollution, and water contaminants.  After all, we live in an environment that is filled with thousands of synthetic chemicals, from auto emissions to floor cleaners, plastics to wood protectants, paints and non-stick pans.  Every day we are exposed to these substances on a minute-by-minute basis.  It makes sense that our pets would be exposed to them as well.  But until now, no one has studied this.  A new study by the Environmental Working Group set out to answer just how much chemical exposure our pets have.

The study, performed at a veterinary facility in Virginia, tested urine and blood samples of 20 dogs and 37 cats that ranged in age from pediatric to geriatric.  The results were startling.  Of 70 industrial chemicals tested, dogs and cats overall were positive for 48 of them (69%).  43 of those chemicals were at higher levels than are normally found in people, and many were substantiall7 (2.4 to 23 times) higher than those found in people.    Why so much higher?  Likely due to our pets’ lifestyles–living close to the floor, eating things off the floor, licking carpets or furniture, and grooming among others.

The chemicals tested fell into 3 main groups:

• Teflon chemicals, also known as perfluorochemicals, are those used in teflon and grease and stain-proofing products.  These were the chemicals that tested highest in dogs.  Heating teflon-coated pans allows gasses to be released that can be inhaled into the system or land on the fur, where they can be ingested by grooming.  These are also found in products like scotch-guard, stain resistant carpets and fabrics, and other similar products.
• Phthalates, used as plasticizers and plastic softeners, are found in plastic toys, plastic bottles, shampoos, and a wide range of other products.
• Fire retardants, found in bedding, house dust, linings of pet food bags, foam furniture, and treated fabrics (even including children’s pajamas).  They are also found in air and water, and have accumulated in seafood secondary to water contamination.  These were found in the highest levels in cats, most likely due to their propensity to groom themselves, but may also be elevated because they eat more fish in their diets.

Before you throw out everything in your house and build a bubble around it, it is important to put this information in perspective.  Because there are virtually no safety standards in the industrial chemical industry, we do not know what levels of these chemicals may be safe or harmful.  While some of these chemicals have been linked to development of specific diseases, most have not.  And since living in a bubble is not exactly an option, you and your pets will be exposed to some of these substances.  However, there are some things you can do to keep yourself and your pets safer:

• Use bottled water.  This does not guarantee your pet won’t be exposed to synthetic chemicals but bottled water is generally more “pure”.  Keep in mind bottled water can have higher levels of natural chemicals such as arsenic.
• Buy high-quality pet food.  As we found out from the pet-food recall of a few years ago, chemicals like melamine may be added to pet food as a cheap way to boost protein content.  Reputable companies will do their best to avoid ingredients that may have contamination (such as wheat gluten).  These foods are generally better for your pet’s overall health anyway.
• Avoid plastic food and water bowls.  Use natural ceramic or glass with no glazes or coatings.
• Avoid plastic toys.  Buy toys made of natural materials.
• Choose beds, blankets, and scratching posts of natural materials.  Make sure these items don’t have fire retardants on them. (You will need to read labels and ask).
• Cook with cast iron pans and avoid non-stick if at all possible.  This is vital if you have birds, as teflon fumes will kill birds quickly and without warning.  For other pets, if you can’t avoid using non-stick then run exhaust fans and open windows as much as possible, and keep your pets far away from the kitchen.
• Clean green.  There are many “green” cleaners that use essential oils and other natural substances and are much safer for pets.  Be aware that essential oils may have strong odors that may become overwhelming to our pets’ acute sense of smell so use sparingly and remember if it smells too strong to you, its probably way to strong to your pet.
• Wipe your pet down with a damp cloth once a day.  This will help remove some residues from your pet’s fur.

It is impossible to avoid chemicals and they aren’t all “bad”.  After all, they allow us to live with all the conveniences of  modern technology, travel, medicine, and gadgets we have.  But a little prudent adjusting of your pet’s exposure can’t hurt.

 

September 7, 2011 was a special day for some puppies and their owners! We couldn’t be prouder of Dexter, Harley, and Obi. Check out the photos of them displaying their good manners at our Facebook fan page!

It’s hard to believe, but Harmony Veterinary Center is turning 1 year old!  What a whirlwind year it has been, full of  fun and challenges.  We are grateful to all of   our wonderful clients and the neighborhood of Five Parks for your incredible support.   We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people and share in the special relationships they have with their pets.  This Saturday, July 30th, we will be having an anniversary celebration from 12 to 3pm at the Center.  Join us for grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixings.  You can have a tour or just sit down and have a chat with us.    The more the merrier!

In this coming year, we will be implementing some exciting  developments.  Look for our new website in late August or early September.  This improved site will have a wealth of information on pet-related issues.  We are also developing an online store where you can order supplies and supplements, and refill prescriptions.  Check back on our website periodically.  www.harmonyvetcenter.com

We are also proud to announce the launching of E-pet Health, an online tool that allows you to visualize your pet’s vaccination history, labwork, pet health reminders and more.  Call the center with questions on this valuable service.

In August, Dr. Brown will be attending the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association’s annual conference to learn about the latest and greatest complementary therapies.  Dr. Katie Smith will be filling in for her during this time.  Dr. Smith is also a CSU graduate and attended the CSU course in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture.  Thank-you Dr. Smith!  Look for blog updates from Dr. Brown after the conference.

Thanks to all of our supporters for a wonderful and successful first year!

A recent study in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association compared the homeopathic product Zeel to the prescription anti-inflammatory drug Rimadyl (Carprofen) in cases of canine osteoarthritis, the most common musculoskeletal disease in dogs.  Zeel is a homeopathic medication, a combination of multiple, highly diluted extracts of plants, animals, minerals, and biochemical substances (i.e. enzymes).  Homeopathy has been around for hundreds of years, but until lately has been poorly studied. 

This study covered a total of 70 days, with treatment lasting 56 days; monitoring continued for 14 days after the end of treatment.  Owners used 9 factors to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.  In addition, each dog was evaluated several times by a veterinarian.  While dogs in the Zeel group took longer to show improvement (28 days, vs 14 in the Rimadyl group) the overall level of improvement was similar between the two groups in lameness, stiffness, and pain on palpation (touching) of the affected joints.  The Zeel group had no adverse events (side effects), while the Rimadyl had 9 events (32%).  The interesting point in the study is that once treatment was removed, the Rimadyl group returned toward their baseline levels of pain and discomfort, while the Zeel group continued to improve.  This may indicate that Zeel has long term effects on the joint itself, rather than just on the inflammation created by the arthritis. 

While this study is very promising, it is important to note that is was a very small study.  Only 62 patients were included in the study.  In addition, this was not a “blind” study–the evaluators knew what each dog was being treated with.  And there was no placebo group to help determine the level of bias (people think the animals are better just because they are taking something).  But this is a very promising start and evidence for the role homeopathic medications can play in animal (and human) health.  Zeel appears to be a safe and effective option for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Ok, so we couldn’t keep up with the blog during the craziness of construction, and we opened to a tremendous response from the community.  The clinic turned out beautiful, and we have the best clients in the world.  We could not ask for a better place to be!  We have 2 clinic cats, Slick and Mateo, who have been with us since our 3rd week in business.  They were part of a ferral litter one of our clients had rescued.  They desperately needed socialization, so we took them in for a play day.  3 months later, we adopted their brother and sister out to a wonderful home.  But we couldn’t bring ourselves to let the other two go–they had wrapped themselves around our hearts and hung on.  It’s a good thing they are cute, because they have managed to tear open about $300 worth of prescription cat food, and eat the temperature probe off the surgery monitor.  But they are super sweet and we can’t imagine life without them.  Slick thinks it’s his job to care for all the patients, and we will often find him on the dentistry table snuggling up to a patient having a teeth cleaning, or scaling the fronts of the cages to check in and say hi.  He is definitely the class clown, although he takes his healing seriously.  Mateo is the serious one, but he has taken to greeting the clients when they walk in the door.

We are now on Facebook  and Twitter.  Check out our Facebook page for lots of cute animal pictures!

We are still behind in our blogging, but we are getting closer to being caught up.  Not much happened in week 4, except that the framing was finished and the plumbing, electrical and HVAC work continued.   It is fun to watch the subtle day-to-day changes of the space.  We met with the millworker, who will build all of the cabinets and countertops.  We are excited by his drawings, which show what the finished product will look like.  We also made our final flooring choices, not an easy task.  Who knew there were so many types of flooring out there?  Things are definitely coming together and we are on target to open June 23rd as planned!

View of exam rooms from front entry

View of exam rooms and pharmacy from reception area

 

View of surgery from the entrance to the treatment area

View of Radiology and Isolation from outside entrance to treatment area.