Mary asks a good question...If I have barbecue, is it safe to allow my dog to eat the bones afterward? The quick answer is "nope, definitely not". Here's the long answer. Bones in general are not good for dogs. Yes, that may be a surprise to many people, as it's the traditional thing we give dogs and you can even buy them in pet stores. But just because it's "always been done" or "my parents did it" doesn't mean it's right. It was common for many centuries for doctors to bleed their patients, believing that doing so helped fix any imbalances in their bodies. This was the height of medical knowledge, yet it resulted in some people's death (including George Washington), and never really helped. Fifty years ago scientists just described the structure of DNA. Current medical knowledge...
Fat Cats (and Dogs)
Obesity is a major problem among Americans, and is often called an epidemic. So it shouldn't be a surprise that there is a similar problem among American pets. And like in the human owners, this is a problem that is usually completely preventable and cureable, though it takes effort. So here are a few hints and tips in how to recognize obesity and how to manage it.First, let's address how to tell if your furry friend is carrying a few extra pounds. There are three characteristics that I look for when I'm examining a pet, and it holds true whether I'm looking at a dog or a cat. The ribs should not be visible, but when running your fingertips lightly over the chest, you should be able to feel each rib individually. The chest should be the widest part of the body. As you move from the...
Time To Get Exotic
Most people in the US have dogs and cats as pets. But there are rapidly increasing numbers of so-called "exotic" pets. Exotics pets include pretty much anything you can have in a standard home besides the canines and felines. These animals could be lizards, snakes, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, frogs, turtles, fish, hedgehogs, and many others. These pets can be very interesting and rewarding, but are much different than having a traditional pet. They require special care and housing requirements, and many people get these animals on impulse without properly researching them. It's estimated that 80-90% of health problems in exotic pets are related to husbandry (housing and diet). That means that the majority of illnesses in exotics are very preventable.Now, going into the ins-and-outs...
Vote or Don't Complain
Here in Georgia, like may places nowadays, we are able to vote before the official date. I did that today. I think way too many people in our country take voting for granted, which is why the numbers are so low. And I'm not sure that I completely understand it. I've voted in every major election since I turned 18, and have found it even more important to do so as I get older (now *shudder* twenty years later).Going along with yesterday's post, it's so important for everyone to be involved in this process. Like my parents taught me, if you don't vote, you don't have any right to complain. What I'm really worried about in this election is that many people will vote, but will do so for emotional reasons rather than looking at the issues. When I was preparing to vote, I got a copy of the...
A Taxing Issue
My family has discovered a bit of a problem with our current American government's system of taxing. Earlier this year I was teaching at a local college, and my wife was working as a bank teller. With our combined income we were making considerably less than when I was a practicing veterinarian. However, we still managed to make ends meet by scrimping and saving every penny. For a number of reasons, I left teaching to go back to practicing medicine and my wife quit work to stay home with the kids. In doing this, our household income jumped by around $10,000 annually. Pretty good, right? Obviously we're doing much better, right? Well, wish I could say that was true. Actually, we're bringing home (net income) about $500 less than when our gross income was lower! Now how in the heck...
Pet Peeves #2 & 3
Excuse me while I rant. Today I had to face my other pet peeves (see September's entries for my first one).Pet Peeve #2When you go to a doctor's office, do you expect to be in and out in a matter of 10-15 minutes? I'm talking about any human doctor. Of course, this is a pretty ridiculous expectation. When I go to the doctor, I take a book and consider myself phenomenally lucky if I get out in less than 30 minutes. Yet for some reason, people expect this speed from veterinarians. I can't for the life of me figure out why.Today I had a client scheduled for a 2:00 appointment. She came in at 1:30 and was checked into the computer shortly after. We're at lunch from 1-2, so she had to wait until we came back. She was back in the room at 2:00, and came out complaining about the wait at...
Got Stones?
Brac is a papillon that is a patient of mine, weighing only 5.6 pounds. For the last couple of months, she has had a problem with recurring blood in the urine. Antibiotics didn't seem to help, so we took some x-rays. Look at what we found (I've highlighted the area of interest).If you look carefully, you can see two small objects in the back part of the abdomen. They will be small, irregular, and slightly more white than the surrounding tissue (the urinary bladder). These are bladder stones. And this is what they looked like after I removed them surgically today.Bladder stones are a common cause of recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs),...
Ear Issues
Ear infections are one of the most common problems I see in dogs. Sometimes it's an occasional problem, and with other patients it's chronic. Now, the first thing I want to make clear is that ear mites are uncommon to rare in dogs. Yes, it happens. But if your dog has itchy, smelly, dirty ears, odds are that it's NOT ear mites. See your vet for certain, and don't waste your money on over-the-counter medications.The main thing I want to address today is the problem behind continual or chronic ear infections. If your dog has two or more ear infections in a year, then we consider this a chronic problem. Please understand that in these situations the infection is not the problem. The ear infection is the symptom, and there is some underlying problem that is causing the infections. You...
Heartworms....Not Just For Dogs!
Most dog owners are at least somewhat aware of heartworms. These are parasites carried by mosquitoes, and can be fatal. The worms are around 10 inches long when mature, filling the heart and vessels leading to the lungs with up to 30-50 worms. This can cause severe inflammation in the lungs, and lead to congestive heart failure. Dogs with advanced heartworm disease die slowly and painfully. Luckily, this can all be prevented with a monthly pill and annual testing. The testing is important because in the early stages of the disease there are no outward signs or symptoms. But did you know that dogs aren't the only ones susceptible to heartworm disease? We are seeing an increase in the number of cases of heartworm disease in cats. It's been known for years that cats can contract the disease,...
Have Enough Time?
There is a young man in our church named Joseph (everyone calls him Jo-Jo). He has always been very nice to everyone, and the kind of person that always smiles at you. He didn't always live his life the best he could, but in the last year has been turning that around. He has been one of our most regular members, became a Christian, and was baptized. His heart truly changed, and he began seeking to be closer to God. He already had a young son, and earlier this year his second son was born. Two weeks ago he married his fiance.Yesterday Jo-Jo was killed coming home from work when a car ran into him on his motorcycle.That has really made many of us think about ourselves. Here was a young man (in his 20s) who was really trying to turn his life in a better direction. He had two young children...
Ketika Ayam Dijual Murah
Peristiwa Infovet edisi 175 Oktober 2008Ketika Ayam Dijual Murah(( Sebuah dilema muncul lagi ketika menjumpai ayam dihargai murah. Benarkah daging itu baik dan sehat? Padahal kita ingin ayam murah, sehat dan segar. ))Drh Suhartono dari PT Japfa Comfeed Makassar mengungkap kalau harga ayam hidup 13000 per kg di pasaran, maka menjadi karkas harga 20800 per kg. Katakanlah dibagi menjadi 8 potong maka harga per potong menjadi 2,600 rupiah. Jadi, menurut Hartono, “Masih masuk akal kalau ada penjual nasi + ayam goreng + teh botol = 7500 rupiah.”Itu baru karkas, kata Hartono, “Belum jerohan (hati empela), kepala leher atau pun ceker yang harganya jauh lebih murah dari pada karkas utuh. Kalau potongan nyalebih kecil lagi misalnya dibagi menjadi 12 kan jatuhnya lebih murah lagi.”Drh Junta Emilia Sondakh...
Fleas: more than just annoying little critters
One clear difference between Toronto and NYC (only 480 miles south-east of the former) is the number of fleas per square inch of dog or cat. In Toronto, I simply did not see the huge numbers of pets with fleas that I see here in NYC. Holy smokes.I'd say at least 50% of the patients I see have fleas - at least. What's more striking is the nonchalance in reaction of their pet owners - holy smokes. What I tell owners about fleas: 1) they will be on planet Earth when humans are long gone, possibly ruling it, 2) 5% of the flea population are the actual adult fleas - those critters we actually see with the naked eye; the other 95% percent are...
History Is Fun!
How many of you out there like history? My wife and I find it fascinating, especially the small details of how life was lived. As you may have read last time, we had our 10th anniversary in Charleston, SC. The city was founded in the late 17th century, and played important roles in the American Revolution, pirate lore, and American Civil War. Needless to say, there is history aplenty in this Southern city!We toured a few historical homes, went to a plantation to walk the grounds, went out to Fort Sumter (where the first battle of the Civil War was held), and simply walked around the historic section. It was amazing to think that some of those homes were over 200 years old! They have survived wars, hurricanes, an earthquake (in 1886), and time. But as I said, some of the most interesting...
The First 10 Years
In March of 1998 I met the woman that I would marry. Our story is a bit of an interesting one. We met through a radio station singles line, where you could register and leave messages for free, but had to call a 900 number to retrieve messages. I had just started, and she was about ready to give up on it. She was the only person who called me back, and we talked on the phone for a few weeks before meeting in person. I found out later that she almost stood me up, and after that date she wasn't planning on seeing me anymore. Well, things changed, and she did go on a second date with me. Things developed very quickly. Two months later we said "I love you". A month after that I proposed to her. Then four months later we were married. First contact to wedding day was only seven months.That...
New Kitty Questions
Timpani sent in several questions, so I'll break this down and answer them by section.I had a question because we recently took an abandoned cat into our home. Our neighbors moved out and left about 6 cats, including the cat we took in. She has been in our home for a few weeks. We gave her a flea shampooing, and her own litter box, since we have two other cats (ages 10 & 11). Should we have done anything else before bringing her inside?Since you have two other cats, I would have her tested for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline AIDS (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus...FIV). This is a quick and simple blood test that any vet can do in their clinic in about 10 minutes. Both of these are contagious diseases for which there is no cure or effective treatment. Casual contact shouldn't...
Socialization Part 2....The Cats' Turn
Liz writes the following...what about cats? do they have similar behavioral developement? how do you get a cat used to different kinds of situations? my cat is awesome with our family, and if one or two adults comes over, she's just fine. add another kid however, and she freaks. this is partly due to some mishandling of other people's kids, and i totally understand her behavior. i just would like to know if there's a way to get her to calm down in those kinds of situations, or if i should just continue what i'm doing, which is locking her away in our room whilst company is over to avoid the situation altogether. normally, this wouldn't bother me, but she's such a social cat. the most social i've ever seen. she just hates being locked away from all the excitement, but again, if there are children...any...
The Importance of Socialization
Have you known dogs that get too excited when they see people and jump all over them? Dogs that are fine around their home, but can't stop trembling when they go anywhere else? Dogs that pee nervously when anyone new comes around? Ones that jump at the slightest noise or shadow? Or ones that snap or bite in situations or around people they don't know? And did you know that all of these behaviors are pretty set by about 4 months old?Veterinary behavioral specialists are becoming more vocal about the importance of early socialization in dogs. There are developmental "windows" where a dog's brain is very receptive to certain kinds of stimuli. In the case of socialization, this window is open the greatest until about 14-16 weeks old. During this time, a dog learns how to handle new and...
VAKSIN ANTHRAKS NASIONAL DAN DUNIA
AnthraksInfovet 2008VAKSIN ANTHRAKS NASIONAL DAN DUNIA(( Vaksin Anthraks yang berkualitas memang pekerjaan penuh tantangan, sekaligus peluang bagi peneliti Tanah Air Indonesia untuk berbicara di tingkat nasional dan dunia untuk kemahslatan hajat hidup manusia dan kemanusiaan. ))Belum lama ini seorang ilmuwan pemerintah Amerika Serikat bernama Bruce Ivins dari Lab Research for Biodefence di Ft. Detrick Md ditemukan bunuh diri, menghindar dari kejaran pemerintah. Pasalnya, ilmuwan ini telah berlaku ugal-ugalan (kriminal) dengan memperbanyak benih Anthraks di laboratoriumnya dan disebarkan ke mana mana melalui surat.Demikian cerita Dr Drh Soeripto MSV dari Balai Besar Penelitian Veteriner (Bbalitvet) yang berkunjung ke Amerika Serikat belum lama berselang seraya bertutur, “Hal ini dilakukan Bruce...
Chapter 2: a little off.....
I met a client whose dog had a mild to moderate intermittent lameness of a front limb. The dog was young and otherwise healthy. After a week of strict rest (those were my instructions), the lameness persisted. A few vets had seen this dog already, taken radiographs, used anti-inflammatory medication, and had not found the exact source of the dog's lameness. Nor could I. When I recommended she see an orthopedic specialist (a surgeon - not for surgery but at least to try to achieve a diagnosis), the owner said that she had visited with a "pet psychic", had spoken to her dog (you heard me), and that the dog asked to see an acupuncturist (note...
It's A Gas, Gas, Gas
One of the points of this blog is to give people insights into the mind of an average veterinarian. This means that not every post will be about veterinary medicine, as you gain some insight into my mind. (Yeah, a scary place, I know...I live there every day)I'm not sure how things have been where you live, but here in the Atlanta metro area, gas has been pretty scarce. After the last hurricane, we had a major supply shortage in the area. For a while, most gas stations were out of gas, and finding some would often involve a lot of searching and 20-30 minutes of waiting in line. Thankfully, the supply lines got back to normal, and we have plenty of gas in the area. But I've noticed an amazing and welcome trend. About a week and a half ago gas was about $4.00 a gallon. Gas prices have...
It Makes A Difference
Life isn't easy. I think it's safe to assume that everyone knows that. As you get older, it often seems harder. You have bills, a mortgage, house upkeep, kids, and so on. Lately, it seems like the world is going crazy. The economy is in trouble, the stock markets around the world are crashing and burning, gas prices are high despite decreasing oil prices, and the presidential candidates are probably the worst choices we've had. Sometimes I want to turn off TV and ignore the world because of all the bad news that constantly bombards us. Stresses at work never seem to let up, and it's a struggle to make ends meet. It can really be hard to find the joy in life.That's why I'm glad that I'm a Christian. The Bible never says that when we become a Christian that life will suddenly be sunshine...
A Day In The Life
Have you ever wanted to know what a vet's typical day is like? That's pretty difficult, as each day is quite different. Today was a pretty crazy one, but let me give you a little insight.For an experienced vet, it's pretty easy to see 20-25 patients in a day. Today I saw 43. It was busy, but started out with some pretty routine vaccines and well pet exams. However, it kept building up, with lots of pets dropped off for us to see as we had time. There were a few who had some minor problems like diarrhea or itchy skin. A very geriatric golden retriever who was losing weight came in. A hyperthyroid cat needed periodic blood testing to assess whether his medication was working or causing an problems. A young puppy came in with limping that had been going on for a week, so we kept him...
Chapter 1 - Are pet owners... a little off?
This is an excerpt from a larger piece of work I am writing regarding veterinary medicine, and veterinary care in general in contemporary society. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but publishers feel free to contact me. In 1994 Americans spent $17 billion (US) on their pets (1) . This climbed to just under $40 billion in 2006, equal to about 1/325th the United States’ GNP, half that of Romania, and nearly 20 times the GNP of Rwanda. Today, there is at least one cat in 38 million homes, while a dog can be found in nearly 45 million homes. Six million American homes have a “small animal,” that is neither a fish nor a reptile. In the U.S. in...
The Blessing of Pets
Those of you who have pets know what I'm talking about here. I called on my way home from work to let my wife know that I was leaving, and she put the phone up to the ear of our Labrador retriever, Guinevere. I started speaking to Gweny (as we call her), and she got excited and started looking out our front window to see if I had come home yet. When I finally did get home, our kids opened the door, and she came bounding out to the car to see me. Seeing that joy and excitement helps lift away the stress of the day. Our youngest cat, Ash, came to see me a little while ago while I was on the computer, and was purring as I scratched his ears. Right now he is curled up next to my wife, who has her arm over him as she's on her laptop. Simple things like this are so wonderful. The little signs...
Learn From Yoda, You Will
How many times do I get to channel my geek side while being a vet? Several years ago I had a client with a dog named Yoda. Yoda was a geriatric long-haired chihuahua, about 14 years old. Despite her age, she was a spunky and sweet little girl. Unfortunately, she was plagued by severe periodontal disease. True periodontal disease occurs when infection from dental tartar becomes so severe that the bone of the jaw (upper or lower) starts to erode away, making the teeth loose. Small breed dogs are especially prone to this, with chihuahuas being one of the worst. The first time we did a dental cleaning on Yoda, we had to remove a little over half of her teeth due to severe infection of the bone and teeth literally falling out at a touch. The next year, more teeth came out. The year after...
Bugged By Fleas?
This is a topic that I or my staff have to discuss multiple times per day. The severity of fleas varies around the country, and the further southeast you go, the worse it gets. It's a daily occurrence to have a client say that a certain flea product isn't working. The large majority of the time, this isn't the case. Most of the time the client isn't doing something appropriately or doesn't realize something about fleas. So today's entry is going to try and educate you about this topic.1. All flea products that you purchase from a vet work well. All of them work MUCH better than any of the store-bought products. The main ingredient in Advantage and K9 Advantix has been investigated , and no fleas are resistant to it. None of the other products have been specifically studied, but there...
KIttens in garbage can
A client came in the other day with a plastic bag she found in a trash can. There were two screeching kittens in the bag, alive and kicking, and likely starving.What does it take for a human being to drop a few newborn kittens in a plastic bag and throw it away in a garbage can, like a bag of used litter? Is this an act of desperation? Of sacrifice? Of stupidity? Of ignorance? All of the above? Did their mother belong to someone who did not have the savoir-faire to have her spayed, allowed her out, to discover one day that she had surprisingly given birth to a few kittens? Or was this all a money issue? Could the person who found the kittens...
An Arthritic Dog
Renae sends in this question:I have a 7 year old, female yellow lab, weighing about 97ish lbs. She looks a LOT like your dog! (Labs are just the best dogs ever, are they not? I couldn't ask for a more perfect pet!)Anyway, I used to take her on 3, 4, 5 mile walks semi-regularly. Several months ago, I noticed that after a good walk, and a rest-up (time enough for her to get stiff), she'd limp around for a couple of days. I asked the vet about this the last time I took her in, and they said it was probably just arthritis. So, I started giving her a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement. It seemed to help some. However her limping is always on the same leg, one of her front legs, and she has a knot on it, right at the ankle joint. I've given her plenty of time off, but she still gimps...
I Hate Ivy
I have spent the last couple of Mondays discovering that decorative ivy is a gardener's nightmare. We moved into our house two years ago, and the previous owner had set up several bird houses and bird feeders on posts. Around the base of several of them there was ivy. At first, I thought it was pretty, and left it there. But I have since learned that ivy isn't content to stay where it is planted. Several times I've had to trim it back, as it crept out of its bed to spread into the lawn. Most recently it decided to start climbing the posts. When I pulled it off, paint came with the vine. Not exactly fun or attractive.So I decided that I would get rid of the ivy completely, and plant something different in the beds. That's when I discovered that ivy doesn't have a single root. My goodness,...
Iron Man
Have you read my profile? I clearly pre-warn everyone that I'm a big self-proclaimed geek. That means I'm into comic books, science fiction, fantasy, and most movies, books, and TV shows related to those subjects. My wife and I dress up for Renaissance Faires and fan conventions (such as Dragon*Con).So it should come as no surprised that I absolutely love the Iron Man movie. I bought it this week and just watched it again with my son today. I enjoyed it more the second time around, and I was pretty pleased when I saw it in theaters. In my opinion it hits on all cylinders perfectly, and is extremely true to the comic books. It's obvious that the director and producers have a love of the genre and character. And I don't think that anyone else could have played Tony Stark better than...
