Caring People Helping Pets
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2082 Cheyenne Court, Grafton, WI 53024 = phone: 262-375-0130 = fax: 262-375-4196

Pet Care Tid Bits
Lawn Chemicals- A recent study revealed that Scottie dogs, who have a genetic predisposition  to bladder cancer, are three times more likely to actually develop bladder cancer if their yards have been treated with lawn chemicals. It seems that herbicides and pesticides can act as a trigger for transitional cell carcinoma, the most common bladder cancer of casts and dogs. This is the first study to show such a connection-we don't know if other cancers could be  more common with such chemical exposure as well. Our recommendation is to not use a lawn service or chemical products on your lawns if pets are part of your household. Because they have high exposure via walking, sniffing and rolling in the lawn, they have higher exposures to toxins present on the grass.

Kidney Transplants- Veterinarians from Auburn University have discovered that kidney transplants can be done successfully on dogs with much less organ rejection when a bone marrow transplant is performed simultaneously. Because there is so much genetic diversity among dogs, and tissue matching is difficult and expensive, reducing the need for exact organ matching will greatly expand our ability to do organ transplants, including kidney transplants in dogs. End stage kidney disease is one of the top three reasons dogs are euthanized.

Cats and Post Injection Sarcomas- The latest research supports the hypothesis that some cats have a genetic tendency to develop sarcomas, the type of cancer that occasionally arises at the site of a vaccination. Of particular interest is the finding that other injectable medications, not just vaccines, can cause tumors in some cats, including long-acting corticosteroids (DepoMedrol), and long-acting penicillins. No individual manufacturer or vaccine brand was found to be more problematic. As with lawn chemical and bladder cancer in Scotties, cats who develop post-injection sarcomas are probably genetically predisposed to do so, and vaccinations or injections act as a trigger.

Obesity... not only increases arthritis risk but is now recognized as an inflammatory condition. Adipose, or fat, tissue contains cells called macrophages, which produce chemicals that trigger inflammation. Over time, increases in inflammatory chemicals increase the risk for cancer, arthritis, arteriosclerosis and other problems.

Salmonella- Salmonella species commonly cause food-borne gastroenteritis. In the United States, it has been estimated that Salmonella is responsible for 1.4 million illnesses and 600 deaths annually. Outbreaks have been associated with a variety of foods, including eggs, cheese, dry cereal, undercooked ground beef, fresh sprouts, fresh vegetables, juice, cantaloupes- and now a commercial pet treat consisting of dried steak patties. Five individuals that handled the treats in one household became ill.

Alcohol Poisoning- According to the writings of a veterinarian at the Edinburgh Veterinary College way back in 1804, whisky contains 50-58% ethanol, and dogs can be poisoned simply by breathing  air charged with it. The toxic dose is 8 gm of ethanol per kg of body weight. Thus, a 20 lb dog consuming a 4-5 oz of whisky becomes comatose and dies within a few minutes. One to two drams can induce reeling and stupor, which lasts about 30 minutes. Don't let your pet drink alcohol, even in small quantities.

Pet Health Insurance- Although only 1% of pet owners currently carry health insurance policies for their pets in the U.S., their numbers are growing. In the past two years the number of pet health insurance policies has doubled. Is pet health insurance for you? Ask yourself if you would be able to afford $1000-2000 t treat a catastrophic illness in your pet. The cost of repairing a bone fracture, treating a serious illness, surgery to remove a foreign object from the intestines or diagnosing a brain tumor often runs that high. If you would want to spend the money, but would probably be unable to afford it, pet insurance may be for you. Many policies also cover routine care, such as blood testing and dentistry for pets.

Low Thyroid- Behavior problems in dogs have recently been linked to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid, is a common condition of middle aged and older dogs. Symptoms known to be part of the disease include skin conditions, weight gain, lethargy, infertility and poor wound healing. A new study showed that dogs with behavior changes occurring in middle age, including increased aggression, fearfulness or separation anxiety, frequently  have hypothyroidism, Supplementing with thyroid medication solves the behavioral problem. In fact, it is now thought that 80% of dogs with adult-onset behavior problems my be hypothyroid. We have recently begun recommending thyroid testing as part of any behavioral consultation at Best Friends Veterinary Center.

Dog Dancing- Looking for a new way to bond with your dog, and get some exercise in the process? Get on the dance floor and start training your dog in canine freestyle! This fun exercise in dog training involves basic obedience steps plus tricks, self-created steps, and costumes, set to music, Dog and handler perform the choreographed routines together. For more information, visit www.worldcaninefreestyle.com .

Lab Screening Results- Laboratory screening identifies problems in 10% of young, apparently healthy pets. In pets over age seven, it 27%. For pets over age twelve, it is more common to find abnormalities than it is not to. In addition, blood screening should be performed for every pet that is receiving long term medications, such as Rimadyl, steroids, heart medication or thyroid pills, If organ dysfunctions or drug levels are found to be a problem, dosages can be adjusted before problems arise, In high quality veterinary practices, routine screening involves more than just a heartworm  test and a stool sample, Blood tests save lives by diagnosing diseases early!

Fatty Acid Supplements... marketed for treating skin problems also benefit the joints. A small study of 22 dogs revealed improvement in arthritis symptoms in 13 of the dogs within two weeks of starting a fatty acid supplement, using the manufacturer's recommended dose. Another study showed reduced levels of prostaglandin in the joints of dogs fed fatty acid supplements after knee surgery. Prostaglandins cause inflammation, pain and cartilage destruction within the joint. Glucosamine supplements have effects similar to fatty acid supplements.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs... such as aspirin, have been used in purified or natural forms for over 3500 years. However, we have only begun to learn how they work in the last 30 years or so. These drugs also target prostaglandins.

When puppies of breeds at risk for osteoarthritis... (the common old age type of arthritis) were fed ad libitum, meaning as much as they wanted to eat, they exhibited an increase in incidence and severity of hip joint laxity and hip dysplasia, compared to puts fed 25% less. Over time, those dogs fed to maintain lean body condition throughout life exhibited a delayed need for treatment and reduced severity of arthritis in their hips and other joints compared to their siblings.