Saying Goodbye
The following article focusing on the emotions of losing a family pet was written by Diana Arnold, who kindly offered to share this piece with our clients. The article was published in Feline Focus, the newsletter of the Feline Control Council of Victoria Inc, of which Diana has been a member since 1962 and a judge since 1964.
Companion animals have assumed an elevated status in the lives of so many people. There is an intrinsic bond between animal owners and their pets which can often be stronger and more enduring than many human relationships. Our pets are a part of our family, and often become our surrogate children. Thus the subject of a pet’s impending death is something none of us wants to think about, and it doesn’t get any easier as the time inevitably approaches.
For children, a beloved pet’s passing is often their first experience with significant loss. The powerful feelings of sadness and aloneness that frequently occur after the death of a pet can be difficult for a young person to process. For adults, the grief can seem almost unbearable. Many of us don’t anticipate how devastating it can be to lose a non-human family member. Pet owners are often embarrassed by how overwhelmed they feel at their loss – especially in the presence of people who’ve never shared a special connection with an animal. If you or someone you know is mourning the death of a pet, understand that whatever you are feeling, to whatever degree, is normal and expected. These painful feelings are not meant to be avoided – acknowledging and allowing them is the only healthy way to progress through your grief. Ultimately you will come to accept your loss and find the strength to move on from it.
Denial is a stage many owners travel through after their pet has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Denial is your mind’s way of temporarily protecting you from information that is simply too painful to accept at the moment you hear it. In the short term, denial can help you steel yourself to gradually acknowledge the fact your beloved animal is reaching the end of his life. However, if denial persists, it can rob you of the ability to prepare emotionally for the inevitable. Taken to extremes, denial can prevent you from seeking medical help for your sick pet. It can also prompt you to prolong the suffering of a dying animal, which is not something you want to look back on with regret for the rest of your own life.
Since animals can’t tell us when they hurt, it’s up to each of us as guardians of our pets to be observant and proactive in ensuring their quality of life is as comfortable as possible as they near the end. You also need to be informed about the options of surgery, extended treatment, no treatment, end of life palliative care, or euthanasia for aged pets or those with cancer and other terminal diseases. The final chapter in a beloved pet’s life is just as meaningful as the rest of its life, and the dying process can be experienced with dignity and acceptance. The most important thing you can give your aged pet is security, loving care and understanding.
A crisis is not a good time to meet a new vet. Hopefully you and your vet already have established a good professional relationship and he/she has already built up a history on your cat/dog while it is still healthy. If visiting a vet for the first time, he/she will conduct a physical exam and certain tests. He will talk to family members about the prognosis, then put together a care plan that might include prescriptions, physical therapy or other treatments. The goal is to make the pet patient physically comfortable and pain-free to ensure the best quality of life during its remaining days.
For some pets, pain management may only last for a few days prior to death or euthanasia; others may enjoy several more months of good quality life. Serious illness impacts profoundly not only on the patient, but on the owner and family as well. Vets take a compassionate and positive approach to terminal illness and work with owners to support the emotions of family members while providing treatment for their animal friends.
Naturally you want to keep your companion with you for as long as possible. As difficult as it is to think about losing your furry family friend, you would not want to subject it to prolonged pain or discomfort, so it is important to be realistic and compassionate when facing end of life issues.
When life becomes a burden, the greatest thing you can do for the one who has given you so much pleasure and companionship during its lifetime is to fulfil your last obligation to end its suffering. A lethal injection is quick, painless and stress free. To help an animal end its life in comfort and with dignity, veterinarians can provide euthanasia services in your home.
Do not leave your old friend to die with strangers because you ‘can’t bear to watch’. Hold him in your arms, talk to him, comfort and reassure him while the merciful needle is given and he peacefully goes to sleep forever. This has the advantage of upsetting both of you far less than a trip to the surgery, and can save you the embarrassment of crying your eyes out in front of a waiting room full of strangers. Your vet can arrange for disposal of the body. You may prefer cremation, or burial in the home garden marked by a special plant or plaque; but the best place to preserve your best friend is always in your heart.
Our beloved pets are only lent to us for a relatively short time, and hopefully they will enjoy a long and happy life, but we must face the fact that death is a normal part of life, and eventually the time will come when accident, old age, or terminal illness will oblige us to make the difficult and heartbreaking decision to end their suffering. Certain very special animals enrich our lives, and while we will never forget them, often the acquisition of a new furperson can help to ease the pain of separation and grief.
- © Diana F Arnold 2012
International All Breeds Judge with the Feline Control Council of Victoria Inc
Adapted with permission from an article by Dr Karen Becker DVM online at http//healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/default.aspx
Dental Care
Dental pathology is one of the most common conditions we see in Veterinary practice, but usually unnoticed by pet owners. We all understand the importance of good oral hygiene in ourselves, but sometimes forget that it is just as important in our furry friends. The most common dental diseases we see in our clinic are tartar and gingivitis, fractured teeth, periodontal disease, and feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL). These conditions can not only cause chronic and often unnoticed pain and discomfort, but can also lead to severe diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs. Dental hygiene should therefore be taken very seriously and is one of our main focuses in preventative medicine.
Dental Anatomy
Dogs and cats develop deciduous or “baby” teeth at 2-3 weeks of age and permanent teeth which start to appear at 3 months of age. Adult cats will end up with a set of 30 permanent teeth, and dogs up to 42 teeth. Lost deciduous teeth are not usually seen as they are often lost or swallowed. Dog and cats teeth are made up of a set of incisors, canine teeth, pre-molars and molars.
Identifying Dental Disease
Halitosis or bad breath is a common finding with many forms of dental disease in our pets. Tooth pain is another symptom, but is not as easily recognisable. Some pets will have trouble eating or be completely off their food if they are in pain, others will just appear “off colour” or even become “grumpy”. Some of the visual signs to look out for are:
Tartar and gingivitis
Fractured teeth
Discoloured teeth
Caries or tooth decay
Furcations (exposed gap between the tooth roots)
Appearance of gum growing into a cat’s tooth is suggestive of feline odontoclastic resporptive lesions (FORL).
If you notice any of the above signs or symptoms, it is recommended that you have your pet check by your Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Caring For Your Pet’s Teeth
There are multiple things you can do at home to help prevent dental diseases. One of the most effective methods of keeping your pets teeth clean is by brushing. Brushing should begin early, between six and eight weeks of age, to get your pet used to it. Try starting with your bare finger, then upgrading to a finger brush and finally a proper tooth brush. You can then introduce pet toothpaste, which is designed to be swallowed, so never use human toothpaste. Try brushing your pets teeth as frequently as possible, but is most effective if done daily. You only need to brush the outside of the teeth as the tongue usually keeps the inside surfaces very clean. A Veterinarian may also recommend an antiseptic dental gel to apply to the gums after brushing.
There are also a number of chewable toys and treats which can not only help keep your pet’s teeth clean, but also keep them occupied for hours. Bones also work very well in removing plaque, but they should always be fed raw and in rare occasions they can result in a fractured tooth. Dry foods are a lot less likely to cause tartar build up compared to wet food. There are also a number of specially designed dry food available which work extremely well in preventing plaque and tartar build-up, and are very useful for those pets that are prone to dental disease. If you feed your pet fresh meat, it may help to feed it diced or in strips, rather than minced to promote chewing.
Watch the following videos by Dr Mike Ontiveros for a demonstration on how to brush dog’s and cat’s teeth.
Veterinary Dental Care
An important part of your pet’s annual health check is a dental exam. This should be performed at least yearly and will allow the early detection and prevention of dental disease or more serious painful conditions which may not be immediately obvious. If early plaque or gingivitis is discovered, your Veterinarian may reassess your pet’s diet or discuss other oral hygiene measures. For more serious tartar, a dental clean under general anaesthetic may be necessary. Fractured teeth, periodontal disease and FORLs may lead to extractions of the effected teeth to prevent pain and other consequent conditions. Root canal and filling treatments can also be performed on certain damaged teeth to avoid extraction. This can be discussed further with your Veterinarian.
Tell Tails
March 29, 2012 Leave a comment
The tail is a great mood barometer and can be the bringer of good news and bad from our pets. The perky “tail up” position is used by happy cats in combination with a bouncy trot when they greet their owners. A fluffed-up cat’s tail held aloft over raised hackles indicates fear and anger. It gives the impression of a much larger animal and is used to intimidate an enemy. Prior to pouncing, a cat will hold its tail rigid and just let the tail tip twitch.
Dominant and aggressive dogs will approach a potential conflict situation with an upright tail that may be wagged slowly. This is a totally different wag to the exuberant wag of a happy dog. Unfortunately some dogs’ relentless happiness can lead to a medical condition commonly known as “happy tail”. This occurs when repetitive smashing against hard surfaces chronically damages the wagging tail tip. Some of these animals end up requiring amputation of the damaged tail tip.
Shy and submissive dogs use a low quick wag as they crawl along whilst really frightened dogs stop wagging all together and tuck their tail firmly between their legs.
Who needs language when you have a tail!
False Pregnancy in the Bitch
It is possible for any bitch that has not been spayed to exhibit symptoms of pregnancy without actually being pregnant. Some bitches can completely fool their owners with convincing displays of maternal behaviour. Just like a real pregnancy, false-pregnant bitches gain weight, produce milk and make nests. They may be listless, off their food and will often “mother” toys.
It is unclear as to why some bitches experience false pregnancies, but we do know that any bitch that ovulates, whether pregnant or not, will experience the same blood levels of a hormone called progesterone. Around two months after ovulation, the progesterone levels drop and the “milk” hormone prolactin starts to increase in concentration. It is prolactin that is responsible for milk production and maternal behaviour.
False pregnancies generally run a course of 2-3 weeks and treatment is not usually required. In severe cases, where large amounts of milk are being produced, a reduction in daily food intake may help the milk supply to drop. The bitch must not be allowed to lick at her nipples as any stimulation of the mammary glands promotes milk production.
False pregnancies are a normal phenomenon and are not associated with fertility problems. They frequently recur but can be prevented with sterilisation. If the bitch is intended for breeding then she should be bred from at her next season and then sterilised once her breeding days are over.
Vaccinating Dogs
One of the most important things we do in our clinic is the practice of preventive medicine. Immunisation, together with other measures such as regular health checks and good nutrition, allows us to minimise the occurrence of disease in your pets. But what is it that we vaccinate against and why do we do it?
What Do We Vaccinate Against?
The core vaccines we routinely use in dogs are Parvovirus, Distemper, Parainfluenza and Bordetella which both cause Infectious Tracheobronchitis, and Adenovirus which causes Infectious Tracheobronchitis and Hepatitis. The combination of these vaccines is what is commonly known as the C5.
CANINE PARVOVIRUS
Parvo is a very contagious, debilitating disease, causing haemorrhagic diarrhoea and death if not treated. Symptoms include high fever, listlessness, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Spread through infected faeces, this highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many months.
CANINE DISTEMPER
Although now very rare, Distemper is a highly contagious and very difficult disease to treat. The virus is spread by discharges from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. Distemper produces gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological symptoms including listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhoea and vomiting, convulsions and paralysis. Dogs that recover from Distemper may be left with permanent neurological damage.
INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS
Infectious Canine Hepatitis is caused by Adenovirus Type I. This virus is transmitted between dogs by contact with bodily secretions including saliva, urine and faeces. Causing damage to the liver and other organs, the symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, fever, coughing, jaundice, vomiting, eyes pathology and neurological signs. The severity of this disease can range from mild to fatal.
INFECTIOUS TRACHEOBRONCHITIS (KENNEL COUGH)
Also known as Kennel Cough and Infectious Canine Cough, this is a highly contagious and common disease caused by many viruses and bacteria. The ones that we immunise against include Parainfluenza virus, Adenovirus Type 2, Bordetella Bronchiseptica, and Distemper virus. Similar to the flu in humans, vaccination does not completely prevent this disease but will greatly reduce the chance of contraction and minimise symptoms.
Importance of Vaccinating
Vaccinating your dog not only helps protect your pet from the above infectious diseases, but also helps keep the prevalence of these viruses to a minimum. Due to the fact that a majority of dogs are regularly vaccinated, most of these deadly diseases are now uncommon. If the proportion of vaccinated dogs drops too low, it would not be long before we start seeing outbreaks of these diseases again. Current vaccination is usually mandatory for your dog to stay and various boarding facilities and attend obedience classes or shows. The health check your dog receives prior to immunisation is also extremely important as this allows Veterinarians to discover abnormalities or diseases in their early stages, allowing us to intervene early and sometimes prevent potentially fatal outcomes.
Vaccination Protocol
Young pups required up to three vaccinations to maximise immunity and the course is normally completed by 16 weeks of age. Adult dogs will require regular boosters to maintain immunity. We have vaccines available which are registered to be given every three years (triennial) for Parvo, Distemper and Hepatitis. To maintain immunity against Parainfluenza and Bordetella, an annual booster will be required.
If you have any questions regarding the immunisation of your dog, please feel free to contact us at the clinic and we will be happy to assist.
Cruciate Ligament Disease
Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is one of the most common orthopaedic conditions we see in dogs. Located within the stifle (knee) joint, the cranial cruciate ligament is one of the structures that prevents abnormal movement between femur and tibia bones. Rupture of this ligament causes instability of the stifle joint, resulting in severe pain, damage to cartilage within the joint, and ultimately osteoarthritis. In most cases, surgery offers the best prognosis for cranial cruciate ligament disease with most dogs regaining full use of their leg within a few months.
Causes of cranial cruciate ligament rupture…
Cruciate ligaments can rupture when subjected to excessive forces or trauma, but in most cases is due to Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease. Cranial cruciate ligament disease is a chronic condition resulting in deterioration and weakening of the ligament, leading to persistent lameness and gradual tearing of the ligament, or in some cases a sudden complete rupture. For this reason, dogs that rupture a cruciate ligament have a high probability of rupturing their other cruciate ligament sometime after the first.
Treatment options…
The treatment options for cranial cruciate disease will vary depending on your pet’s individual situation. When assessing your pet, we will take into account their age, size, medical and physical health, and radiographic findings. Although some dogs will do well with conservative treatment, surgery will offer the best prognosis for most dogs with cruciate ligament disease. At the Mornington Veterinary Clinic we routinely perform two different surgeries for ruptured cruciate ligaments; the Extracapular Repair and the Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO).
EXTRACAPSULAR REPAIR
The extracapsular technique involves multiple steps. Firstly the stifle joint is inspected and the damaged cranial cruciate ligament is removed along with any damaged cartilage. The joint is flushed, joint capsule sealed and then infused with a long acting local anaesthetic to numb the joint. A nylon filament is then attached specific locations on the femur and tibia bones so that it emulates the function of the cranial cruciate ligament. Finally, the fascia/tissue that runs alongside the joint is altered slightly to further stabalise the knee when fibrosis develops.
Although most dogs will do extremely well with this surgery, certain dogs are at risk of breaking the nylon filament before fibrosis and healing has completed resulting in instability and need for repeat surgery. Those and highest risk are medium to large breed dogs, very active dogs, and dogs with abnormal joint conformation. These dogs usually do much better with the Triple Tibial Osteotomy technique.
TRIPLE TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY
The Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO) is a much more complicated surgery and one of the newest techniques developed for the stabilisation of knees with ruptured cruciates. This procedure results in stabilisation of the stifle joint by altering the shape of the tibia bone, hence changing the mechanics of the joint. The inside of the joint is inspected and the damaged ligament and cartilage removed similar to the extracapsular technique. The tibia bone is then cut in precise location and a wedge of bone remove prior to the tibia being realigned fixed with a stainless steel plate and screws. The location of the bone cuts are determined prior to surgery by measurements and calculations taken from XRays of the affected knee.
At the Mornington Vet Clinic, we have been achieving fantastic results performing the TTO surgery, with most dogs gaining almost complete normal usage of the affected leg within a few weeks.
If you would like further information on Cruciate Ligament Disease and its treatments, please feel free to call Dr Adam Stefani on 5975 3811.
Chocolate and Dogs
April 14, 2011 Leave a comment
It’s coming up to Easter which means, amongst other things, chocolate and lots of it! So what happens if our sweet-toothed four-legged companions help themselves to the bowl of chocolate on the kitchen table?
Is chocolate really toxic to dogs?
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and other animals, but like with most other toxins the effect if any depends on the amount ingested. Theobromine is the toxic chemical found in chocolate, which dogs are much more susceptible to than humans are. The concentration of theobromine varies depending on the type of chocolate, with milk chocolates having the lowest concentration and cooking chocolate have up to ten times the concentration of theombromine of milk chocolate. Therefore, the overall effect of chocolate ingestion depends on the size of the dog and the amount and type of chocolate eaten.
What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning?
Although small amount of chocolate may not cause any noticeable effects to your dog, larger amounts can cause severe and life threatening symptoms. Moderate amount of theobromine can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and as the amount ingested increases can cause symptoms such as excessive urination, hyperactivity, depression, coma seizures and even death.
What do I do if my dog has eaten chocolate?
Although small amounts may not cause any harm, it is best to play it safe and at the very least call your Veterinarian for advice. If your dog has recently eaten a potentially harmful amount of chocolate, a visit to the clinic to induce vomiting may be all that is needed to prevent complications. If symptoms do develop, hospitalisation, intravenous fluid therapy and other supportive treatments may be necessary. If treated early, the prognosis of chocolate poisoning is usually good.
So remember, chocolate is toxic to dogs so be sure to keep it out of reach. If your pet does happen to indulge in your secret stash of chocolate, take him or her to your local vet ASAP or at least give them a call for advice.