Remember yesterday's post? Well, we did get the disc and the analyzer worked well today. Surgeries were able to proceed normally, and we got through the day without any further technical difficulties. But the whole thing made me think of another topic of discussion.Many people might say "well, you're dealing mostly with young, healthy pets. Would it really have been that big of a deal to do the surgery without the blood tests? Isn't it really unnecessary? After all, vets used to do surgeries without anything like this." All of these are great questions. To answer them in short...yes, it would have been a big deal, yes it's necessary, and yes vets used to do without it but also had a higher complication rate.When we do an exam on a pet, we can only evaluate certain things. One of the...
The Best Laid Plans
Some days things just don't seem to work out like you expect them to. Today we had a busy surgery schedule, with a total of eight procedures. For us that's a very busy day, and doesn't include any of the other patients we see. I even came in about 45 minutes early this morning to make sure we got started and stayed on schedule.With every surgery or dental cleaning we require pre-anesthetic blood testing. This involves a simple blood chemistry panel and blood cell count, and doesn't take very long to run. We do this as a screening for any hidden organ dysfunction, and consider it an essential part of the procedure. In fact, we won't do the procedure if we can't run the tests. Like today....I walk in and my head tech says that the chemistry analyzer is on the fritz. I then take a look...
The Christian Ninjate
What the heck is a Ninjate, and how does that relate to Christianity? If you read my profile, you'll see that I am a big geek, as well as a Christian. Though I do touch on these subjects in this blog, I also concentrate primarily on life as a vet. I've been having a growing desire to have a forum for more pointed discussions of faith and fandom, so I have started a second blog.What is a ninjate? There is a popular argument/discussion on which is cooler: ninjas or pirates? Sometimes it's phrased as who would win in a fight. Recently I gave a message on this subject, and ended up coining the term "Christian ninjate". I've Googled the phrase, and can't find it anywhere else, so I think I'm the first to use it ("ninjate" has been around a little, but it's not common). A ninjate is the...
How Often To Breed
It seems like breeding questions are popular. Here's another one.I have two yorkies, the female is almost four and the male almost two. They have had two very successful litters of puppies no health problems from parents or puppies. They have sold asap and I have had several request from people wishing to purchase a puppy from me. My question is should I allow these two dogs to bread at will or should I space the breeding apart? Thank's for the help. Definitely don't breed at every opportunity. Pregnancy and nursing take their toll on a dog's body, and breeding too frequently can adversely affect their health. Without proper rest, the body may not be able to handle another pregnancy and you may increase the risk to the mother and puppies.I normally recommend breeding no more often than...
In West Palm Beach
I've just returned from Florida where I completed the second of three courses leading to a certificate in canine rehabilitation therapy (see previous post on canine rehab). Canine rehabilitation uses different modalities (like ultrasound, laser, stretching, manipulations, and various exercises) to physically rehabilitate dogs with various musculoskeletal disorders, those recovering from surgery, obese animals, or to increase performance in working dogs. The course was taught by a spectacularly entertaining instructor: Laurie Edge-Hughes, a physiotherapist (physical therapist for those in the US), certified in canine rehab, with a Master's degree...
Zoonosis Week: Leptospirosis
Zoonosis: An infectious disease in animals that can be transmitted to people. The natural reservoir for the infectious agent is a animal.When your dog receives his or her "distemper-parvo" combination vaccine, there is usually a list of letters that you'll see on your receipt or medical record. If there is an "L" in the list, this stands for "leptospirosis". Commonly shortened to just "lepto" when talking about it, this part of the vaccine protocols is actually controversial. There is a belief among some in the veterinary community and many breeders that the leptospirosis vaccine has a high risk of causing an allergic reaction, potentially leading to serious consequences for the dog. Since it's not the focus of my topic today, I won't get into all of the specifics of this discussion, but...
Zoonosis Week: Scabies
Zoonosis: An infectious disease in animals that can be transmitted to people. The natural reservoir for the infectious agent is a animal.From rabies to scabies! You'd think I planned my alliteration.Today I saw a pair of dogs, one with scaly patches on her ears and the other with extremely itchy skin. One of the main things I considered in this case was scabies, also called sarcoptic mange. The name comes from the microscopic mite that causes the disease, Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite burrows under the skin and will usually cause a localized allergic reaction and intense itching. As the mites grow and spread, the itching can be severe enough for the pet (or person) to cause sores because of self-trauma, as well as reddened or scaly skin due to the mites' effects.Skin mites such as scabies...
Toxic Onions
This is a topic that most pet owners are likely unaware of, and an event today reminded me of that.My receptionist came back from lunch, and almost in passing asked me if onions are dangerous to cats. She had taken an onion off her hamburger and laid it on the counter since she doesn't like onions. Her cat jumped up and quickly ate it. She didn't think anything about it at the time, and almost didn't ask me. I had her immediately go back home, get her cat, and bring him in.As soon as she arrived back at the hospital, I placed a feeding tube down his esophagus and gave him about 48cc of hydrogen peroxide. This is what we commonly give to induce vomiting, which he did within a few minutes. When a toxin is ingested, if you can get to the pet within about 60 minutes, you can often get them...
Zoonosis Week: Rabies
Zoonosis: An infectious disease in animals that can be transmitted to people. The natural reservoir for the infectious agent is a animal.I'm starting to realize that I'm on an "R" pattern with these diseases. Don't worry, it won't stay that way.Rabies is one of the "big baddies" of zoonotic diseases. In fact, it's such a concern that in the US and many other countries, animals are required by law to be vaccinated for it. This disease is treated so seriously because there really is no treatment once symptoms are evident, and it is almost always fatal. So let's learn a little more about it.Rabies is a virus transmitted through saliva. The virus replicates in the salivary glands of an animal with advanced disease, and can then become infective through either a bite or through contact with...
Zoonosis Week: Ringworm
Zoonosis: An infectious disease in animals that can be transmitted to people. The natural reservoir for the infectious agent is a animal.One of the first misconceptions that I have to clear up with some of my clients is that ringworm isn't actually a worm. It's a type of fungal infection of the skin and is related to other fungal diseases such as jock itch and athlete's foot. The name comes from the ring-like progression of the lesion once it becomes established in the superficial layers of the skin. Many kinds of animals can get ringworm, including dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. The fungi that cause ringworm can be found contaminating the environment, and this is usually how humans and animals become infected. Once infected, that animal then becomes contagious, and can transmit...
Zoonosis Week: Roundworms & Hookworms
Zoonosis: An infectious disease in animals that can be transmitted to people. The natural reservoir for the infectious agent is a animal.I thought that I would go back to a theme, doing an informational one this time. Zoonotic diseases are something that we don't talk about as much as we should, and are extremely important. There is much misinformation out there, and human doctors are often not as knowledgeable about these topics as are veterinarians. That's probably because we vets are the most likely to be exposed to them! So we're going to make darn sure we know what we're at risk for and how to prevent it.So let's begin by talking about roundworms and hookworms. These are common intestinal parasites in dogs and cats, especially kittens and puppies. When we do a fecal exam, one of...
Killing stray dogs
What is there to do when dogs attack civilians in a country without adequate resources? Police and veterinarians are killing stray dogs in Baghdad as there are too many strays to save and many are extremely aggressive towards people, often attacking them.There is no mention in the CNN article of the SPCA International proposing how veterinarians in Baghdad would implement mobile spay and neuter clinics. Perhaps they can propose and pay for novel and painless ways to have some of these dogs euthanized instead of having them shot. Since these dogs are not dying instantly, they must be experiencing some moments of pain and sheer terror. I think...
Training Secrets For Any Situation
Several years ago I attended a management class to help me be a better leader at my hospital. One of the main principles I learned there is a phrase that has really stuck with me. "Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated."This was intended as a way to manage people in the workplace. The idea is that you reward the behaviors you want people to do, and they will continue to do them. Sometimes this is also called "positive reinforcement", but I like the other statement better. What is really interesting to me is that this phrase is appropriate to pretty much any situation involving people and pets.Talk to any good pet trainer, and they will tout the benefits of positive reinforcement as the best method of training. When you're trying to discipline a dog, train it for a certain behavior,...
This'll make you laugh
I would like to subject you to a video that made me laugh out loud. As you will see, cats are not the perfect, poised, calm acrobats we think they a...
A Kid's Perspective
One of the things I enjoy doing is talking to children and young adults about veterinary medicine. I have done presentations to all age groups from pre-k to pre-vet college. Last Friday I spoke to some preschool students about pet care. Today I went to my own children's school and talked to six kindergarten classes about what it's like to be a vet.When we practice for a long time, we sometimes loose some of the awe of what we do. We have seen and done so many things that we forget when it was all new to us. And we have so many clients that don't seem to listen to us or respect our medical judgment that we forget that most people highly respect veterinarians. Being around children can remind us of the "cool" factor of our job.When I was talking to the classes today I explained that vets...
Euthanasia: at home or at the vet hospital?
If I were not a vet, I would only trust a veterinarian I know well to euthanize my pet. I would not call upon somebody I didn't know to perform such an intimate, solemn, and heart-wrenching procedure. Where would you have this done? What if you didn't know a veterinarian very we...
One Of Those Days
Everyone has had "one of those days". You don't really need to elaborate more than that, because regardless of your profession or interpretation, we all know that this phrase means that it wasn't a good day. Well, today I had one. Let me give you some insight into what "one of those days" might mean to a vet.Firstly, I am not kidding when I say that the majority of dogs I saw today needed to be muzzled in order for me to examine them. I was almost bit at least three times. It's not unusual to have a patient or two in a day where this is needed, but pretty rare for it to be most of them. All of us in the profession have to deal with aggressive, fearful, or otherwise "difficult" patients, but we always hope that most of the pets we see will be pretty tolerant of our services.Secondly,...
"Don't talk to the animals," says autistic professor
Here I'll lazily direct you to an article published in the Globe and Mail. A must read.Her basic tenet is this:What she really wants us to do, if we're at all interested in providing animals with a decent life, is to approach them more on their terms than on ours - to see and feel the world completely as they do.As I maintain in many of my posts, we need to stop treating our pets, livestock, and all animals, as humans beings. Click here to read the article.Professor Temple GrandinListen to an interview with her on NPR he...
FYI
is less closely related to thisthan this isto Now guess the breeds... Ok, here's a hint, but apparently there's some debate as to the breed depicted here - confus...
Welcome Home, Inara
For the last few months my family has been talking about getting a new dog. Our lab, Guinevere, is almost 4 years old, and the kids don't really remember her being a puppy (they were 2 and 3 when we got her). So I've been on the lookout for a new puppy to join our family, mostly looking at shelters and rescue groups (yes, I do try to practice what I preach).Earlier this week a client brought in a very sweet and cute lab mix puppy that I thought was adorable. We were talking, and I found out that she was one of a litter of three that was at a local shelter. I called the shelter (Dog Pack Rescue), and then yesterday we went and took a look...
Both the vet and the client
Soon before I left NYC, my cat's diabetes became quite uncontrolled. His previously controlled blood glucose became consistently high, and could not be regulated, even with increasing doses of insulin. This is called insulin-resistance. While he didn't have "text-book" insulin resistance, I knew something was awry. Diabetic cats' insulin requirements can dramatically increase when they have a concurrent illness. Things to rule out are: urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis), chronic pancreatitis, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's), acromegaly (increased production of growth hormone), dental disease, heart disease, and different...
Waxing Loquacious
loquacious /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [loh-kwey-shuhs]–adjective 1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest. 2. characterized by excessive talk; wordy: easily the most loquacious play of the season.I have been looking back over some of my previous entries, and have realized that a character flaw I have in person exists in print as well. I enjoy teaching and lecturing, and look for opportunities to do both. Most of my staff over the years have liked this, as I willingly detail to them the "whys" and "hows" of pet care and veterinary medicine. I...
Euthanizing Because Of Cost?
Deciding to euthanaize a pet is rarely an easy thing. Which brings the following question from Scott.Have you had clients resort to financial euthanasia? I read an article that said millions of dogs and cats are put down each year because their owners won't (or can't) pay for the treatment to save them. How do you fell when an owner makes that decision and you have to carry out the procedure? I'm not sure that "financial euthanasia" is the best phrasing, but I understand what you're trying to say. This is not an uncommon situation, and in most cases I can't fault the owner. However, that's not to say that I like doing it. Always keep in mind that the veterinarian is the final decider about whether or not the euthanasia will be performed. Most of us try to respect an owner's wishes, but...
Should I Breed My Dogs?
I talk to people about spaying and neutering their pets on a daily basis. And almost every day I talk to someone who has an interest in breeding their dogs, and don't want to have them "fixed" because of this desire. However, most of them really shouldn't be breeding, and have misconceptions about breeding. Which brings us to today's question from a reader.I bought a male teacup poodle and a female tiny toy poodle. It turns out that the male is now 7 pounds at 6months and the female is a very petite 4 pounds - just the opposite of want I thought. Can I breed these two poodles? I really wanted to poodles I could mate.First, I would recommend and going back in the archives to ready my entries on breeders and spaying or neutering. These posts will give you a good idea about my opinions...
More Aching Joints
Here is another set of questions that are a good follow-up to my previous discussion about osteoarthritis.Quick question...have you heard of a procedure where you actually clean the joint? I think it involves removing some of the scar tissue or build up that is causing the pain. I've heard it was a less invasive option. Also, that are your thoughts on giving the animal a cortisone shot?Remember that osteoarthritis is a complex of problems, and is rarely treated or controlled by a single simple option. There are also various degrees of the disease, from mild to severe. The progression of the disease can begin with inflammation and cartilage erosion, and proceed to spurs and remodeling of the bone around the joint. However, it is never just a single factor. Pain comes from several factors,...
Something I didn't learn in vet school
In vet school, I was taught extensive anatomy, physiology, histology, pathology, and medicine in dogs, cats, ruminants, birds, and equines. I learned how to auscultate the heart, lungs, and digestive tract of all of these species. I learned how to treat IMHA, GDV, colic, conjunctivitis, Addison's disease, VPCs, and the ABCs of resuscitation. I learned how to make radiographic diagnoses, when to vaccinate animals, how to spay a cat, and how to remove a portion of a cat's small intestine.What I was not taught was how to deal with career exhaustion, burnout, and compassion fatigue. I blissfully entered the field sporting an invisible cape and...
A documentary the world needs to watch.
While this doesn't pertain to veterinary medicine per se, it is something that has provided me with more food-for-thought than virtually anything else I have seen or read. Ever.Here's a documentary that examines a chilling scenario. Chilling for us, perhaps. Stunning for the planet and, save us, all of its inhabitants.The documentary is based on the international bestseller,"The World Without Us," by Alan Weisman.I wonder if the planet will ever again thrive in our presen...
Pros & Cons Of Pet Insurance
Now that I'm back in town, let's start the week with a question from a reader.I'm thinking about getting a dog for my mom and concerned about the expense of vet care. What do you think about getting pet insurance? She is resistant to the cost. What are the arguments in favor of it? Do people who have pet insurance tend to care for their dogs better? Are dogs with pet insurance generally healthier? Pet insurance is actually a very good idea, but it may not be what people expect it to be. Insurance is much more common in Europe than in the US, but even there a majority of pets are not on a program. I can't speak for how insurance programs work outside of the US, so my comments may only apply in my own country.There are multiple pet insurance providers, and you will need to look around and...
