Thursday, October 10, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Retractable Leashes: A Dangerous Idea
Article by Sara Enos
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Written for Examiner in April of 2011, I covered some of the dangers related to the misuse of retractable leashes. With concern for the growing popularity of this style of leash, it seems appropriate to tackle this topic again to help dog owners avoid a few devastating mistakes.
Originally designed to let owners choose how far a dog can go and offer more freedom for canine companions on walks; retractable leashes are proving to provide a false sense of security and pose a danger to both dog and owner.
There have been thousands of human-related injuries reported from use of retractable leashes such as:
Retractable leashes prove to be constantly cumbersome in vet hospitals. Owners and dogs often become entangled when other dogs are entering or exiting the clinic. Countless cases of entanglement have resulted and staff finds themselves having to cut the dogs free from their entwined leads. Getting two dogs untangled that have come to a disagreement during the commotion can prove dangerous to the pets as well as the owners and staff trying to untangle them.
In the case one would need to quickly pull their pet away from danger, (car, bicycle, aggressive dog, away from cliff while hiking) doing so with a retractable leash proves frustrating, slow, and often ends undesirably without complete cooperation or ability from the dog.
From a safety perspective, retractable leashes offer very little control over a pet. One never knows if the next dog walking by is friendly or not; it is important to be in control of your pet at all times not only just for their well-being and safety, but for the well-being and safety of other dogs as well.
Safer alternatives to retractable leashes for safe areas of play are lunge lines, training leads, or simply allowing your dog off-leash to exercise and play in a fenced area.
Overall, the safest way to leash your pet is a thin, comfortable lead, (such as a leather lead or soft nylon lead) that positions your pet by your side for walks in the neighborhood, veterinary visits, or trips to your favorite local pet stop.
Originally designed to let owners choose how far a dog can go and offer more freedom for canine companions on walks; retractable leashes are proving to provide a false sense of security and pose a danger to both dog and owner.
There have been thousands of human-related injuries reported from use of retractable leashes such as:
- blindness from the clasps breaking and snapping back to the face
- amputations to fingers when the cord gets wrapped and a dog jerks
- rope burns
- deep cuts
Retractable leashes prove to be constantly cumbersome in vet hospitals. Owners and dogs often become entangled when other dogs are entering or exiting the clinic. Countless cases of entanglement have resulted and staff finds themselves having to cut the dogs free from their entwined leads. Getting two dogs untangled that have come to a disagreement during the commotion can prove dangerous to the pets as well as the owners and staff trying to untangle them.
In the case one would need to quickly pull their pet away from danger, (car, bicycle, aggressive dog, away from cliff while hiking) doing so with a retractable leash proves frustrating, slow, and often ends undesirably without complete cooperation or ability from the dog.
From a safety perspective, retractable leashes offer very little control over a pet. One never knows if the next dog walking by is friendly or not; it is important to be in control of your pet at all times not only just for their well-being and safety, but for the well-being and safety of other dogs as well.
 | ||||
| Perfect walking position for canine companions | - Diane Jessup |
Overall, the safest way to leash your pet is a thin, comfortable lead, (such as a leather lead or soft nylon lead) that positions your pet by your side for walks in the neighborhood, veterinary visits, or trips to your favorite local pet stop.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Anal Sacs - Will my dog ever stop scooting?
Is your dog scooting and licking at her hind end? Perhaps she is emitted a foul odor reminiscent of dead fish? That indicates the anal sacs are irritated or too full. Maybe you already know this and find you need to have your dog in to the vet every 4 to 6 weeks to have those glands expressed? Sometimes the anal sacs experience an overproduction of secretion that leads to this scenario. But expressing them on a routine basis when your dog is not showing signs they bother her may not always be the best plan. If this is a NEW problem, then your dog may have an anal sac infection that needs medication.
THE BASICS
What are the anal sacs? Popularly called "anal glands", these are two small pouches located on either side of the anus at approximately 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. The sacs are lined with numerous specialized sebaceous glands that produce a foul smelling secretion.
What's their function? The anal sac secretion acts as a territorial marker or could be seen as a dog's "calling card." The sacs are present in both male and female dogs, and are normally emptied when a dog defecates. This is why dogs are so interested in smelling each other's stool.
WHAT TO DO?
NEW PROBLEM: Bring your dog in for an exam with her veterinarian. She may have an infection that needs treatment. If not, then you can discuss long-term strategy to help your dog naturally express her anal sacs.
OLD PROBLEM, NOT INFECTION: Treating overproduction of anal sac fluid can be handled either by frequent manual evacuation of the anal sacs, or increasing fiber therapy. If frequent anal sac expression is chosen, please remember that the more often the dog's anal sacs are expressed, then the more likely she will be to need them expressed. The body will adjust to frequent expression and produce more secretion. This is not an ideal scenario. Please phone to consult with us on how to increase your dog's fiber therapy, if you think this is what your dog needs: (704)220-0226.
Monday, September 2, 2013
WHEN IS IT TIME TO GO TO THE VET?
Sometimes it is tough to know when to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your pet. What symptoms should cause
the most concern or even warrant a trip to the emergency clinic in the middle
of the night? The most important thing you need to know is ask, ask, ask. Call us at (704) 220-0226 with any
questions you may have. It's always better to make an appointment, have your pet examined, and find out that your
pet is fine. Peace of mind is of great value!
There are times when it is obvious that emergency care is
necessary, such as traumatic injury, severe bite wounds, difficulty breathing,
seizures, collapse etc. But what are some things that you can do, to help you
to decide, when you aren’t so sure?
GUIDELINES FOR AT HOME TO KNOW WHEN TO HAVE YOUR PET SEEN:
If your pet allows you to safely take a rectal temperature
with a digital thermometer, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly, and gently
insert only the small metal tip. Normal values are between 100F to 102.5F
for cats and dogs. Temperatures above or below these values indicate your pet needs to be checked by your veterinarian ASAP. A dry or wet nose is of little value. Also,
if you can safely lift your pet’s lip and check their gums, they should appear
pink, not red, yellow or white/pale. You can also gently press on the gums with your
fingertip. It will briefly turn white, but should return to pink in less than 2
seconds. Three seconds or greater is a concern.
If your pet has ingested anything other than their normal
food and treats, please call to find out if treatment is necessary. Items of significant concern include chocolate (especially dark),
macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, xylitol-containing chewing gums, homemade play
dough, paintballs, fertilizer, rat poison, etc. Some of these can result in death if not
addressed immediately. Please bring in the bag, wrapping, label, etc. for the
product. This can be a critical piece of information.
Never give human medications without consulting a
veterinarian. If you feel tempted to open your medicine cabinet, give us a call first. If there is an accidental ingestion of medications or supplements,
please call to be sure they are safe.
A few instances of vomiting or diarrhea are not likely to be
a concern unless your pet is not acting normally. If there are more than 2-3
episodes it is time to make an appointment.
Anytime your pet has
difficulty urinating, especially male cats, please bring them in immediately.
This may also appear as vocalizing or even hiding.
Pain may not always be easy to assess. Some symptoms include
restlessness, panting, not eating, whining, loss of appetite, acting withdrawn,
aggression, or hiding.
Injuries to the eye should be taken seriously and treated
quickly. Look for squinting, tearing, cloudiness, rubbing, or sudden loss of
vision.
Since our pets can’t tell us when they don’t feel well, we
have to be knowledgeable of signs that they need our help. Your pet’s safety
and your peace of mind are important to us. Call us with your questions, we are
here to help.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Cats get chin acne?
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)
SIGNS: Early clinical signs include crusts
and plugged hair follicles forming "blackheads" on the chin and lower
lip. Some cases stay in the blackhead
phase, while others progress to form infected, draining pustules, nodules, or
cysts. In severe cases, a cat may
develop painful swelling of the chin and lips.
Cats that develop the infected pustules will often act itchy and rub or
scratch the chin. The problem often
recurs in susceptible cats and seems related to the hair growth cycle.
Notice any black debris on your cat's chin, or maybe even pimple-like lesions? Then your cat has chin acne. This is not a hormonal problem. Actually, we are not entirely certain why some cats get these lesions. Some cats only experience one
episode in their life, while others may have cyclic or near-constant disease. There are several suspected causes,
including poor grooming habits, abnormal hair follicles with overproduction of
sebum, virus infection (calicivirus, herpes virus), stress, chin trauma (due to
excessive scent marking by rubbing the chin on vertical objects, or from
scratching the chin due to underlying allergy), plastic food dish contact
allergy, underlying immunosuppressive disease or bacterial contamination from
rubbing the chin in food (especially in old dried canned food).
TREATMENT: Treatment varies according to the severity and
extent of lesions, and how much the condition is bothering the cat. Cats with only a few blackheads often require
no treatment, but may benefit from cleaning the chin once a day with a
medicated antibacterial wipe, changing to a dry diet, and feeding out of
ceramic or stainless steel bowls that are washed with soap and water daily,
rather than plastic. In more severe
cases, antibiotics may be necessary for 4 – 6 weeks to clear a bacterial
infection.
Call us if you are worried about this problem in your cat: (704)220-0226.
Pictures courtesy of Cat World: http://www.cat-world.com.au/feline-acne
Pictures courtesy of Cat World: http://www.cat-world.com.au/feline-acne
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Top 3 Dog Allergy Questions We Hear
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Why can't my dog's allergies be cured?
Allergies, whether due to fleas, food or something in your pet's environment are caused by the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened or "sick" immune system. With flea allergy dermatitis, allergy shots (immunotherapy) doesn't work. The only treatment is avoidance, which means keep your pet on monthly flea control year round. The same is true for food allergies (your pet needs to stay on a prescription hypoallergenic diet).
For environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis), pets can be desensitized with allergy shots (immunotherapy). This type of treatment helps down regulate the body's overreaction to items in the environment, but even if it works these dogs require treatment for the rest of their lives. In rare cases after years of therapy, the dog may no longer need to be treated.
Why does my pet need such a high dose of antibiotics for such a long time to treat his skin infection?
Most pets, especially dogs, with skin infections have pyoderma (or bacterial folliculitis) which means bacteria have colonized the hair follicles. This is not a classic "hot spot" an allergic dog may create after hours of scratching at one location where the infection is usually superficial. These pyodermas are deep infections. This is why topical therapy alone does not work well and antibiotics are needed. For a pet with standard pyoderma, at least 3 weeks of antibiotics are needed, and the rule is to treat at least one week beyond resolution of clinical signs (rash, itching).
Is my pet's condition contagious?
This depends on what type of infection your dog has. If your dog has an infection secondary to allergies such as yeast (Malassezia) or bacterial infection, then this is probably not contagious. We have rarely identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus infections in dogs, usually only those with very long-term recurrent infections; these do have potential to be contagious. But with these resistant infections there is some newer information to suggest the dog may have contracted it from a person.
There are certain skin conditions, such as sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei) that can cause lesions in people. The canine Demodex mites are not contagious to people, but Cheyletiella mites can be. Some ringworm infections can be contagious.
If you have any questions, give us a call: (704)220-0226!
Information for this article provided by Veterinary Medicine, June 2013 Vol 108, No. 6, p.13.
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Why can't my dog's allergies be cured?
Allergies, whether due to fleas, food or something in your pet's environment are caused by the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened or "sick" immune system. With flea allergy dermatitis, allergy shots (immunotherapy) doesn't work. The only treatment is avoidance, which means keep your pet on monthly flea control year round. The same is true for food allergies (your pet needs to stay on a prescription hypoallergenic diet).
For environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis), pets can be desensitized with allergy shots (immunotherapy). This type of treatment helps down regulate the body's overreaction to items in the environment, but even if it works these dogs require treatment for the rest of their lives. In rare cases after years of therapy, the dog may no longer need to be treated.
Why does my pet need such a high dose of antibiotics for such a long time to treat his skin infection?
Most pets, especially dogs, with skin infections have pyoderma (or bacterial folliculitis) which means bacteria have colonized the hair follicles. This is not a classic "hot spot" an allergic dog may create after hours of scratching at one location where the infection is usually superficial. These pyodermas are deep infections. This is why topical therapy alone does not work well and antibiotics are needed. For a pet with standard pyoderma, at least 3 weeks of antibiotics are needed, and the rule is to treat at least one week beyond resolution of clinical signs (rash, itching).
Is my pet's condition contagious?
This depends on what type of infection your dog has. If your dog has an infection secondary to allergies such as yeast (Malassezia) or bacterial infection, then this is probably not contagious. We have rarely identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus infections in dogs, usually only those with very long-term recurrent infections; these do have potential to be contagious. But with these resistant infections there is some newer information to suggest the dog may have contracted it from a person.There are certain skin conditions, such as sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei) that can cause lesions in people. The canine Demodex mites are not contagious to people, but Cheyletiella mites can be. Some ringworm infections can be contagious.
If you have any questions, give us a call: (704)220-0226!
Information for this article provided by Veterinary Medicine, June 2013 Vol 108, No. 6, p.13.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)