Visit us often to find out what's happening at the Pinegrove
Animal Hospital and for updates on new developments in the
world of Veterinary Medicine.
If you would like
to provide your name, email address, and type of pet(s)
we would be happy to email you any news bulletins that could
potentially impact your pet's health. Simply email your
information to petnews@pinegrovevet.com.
"What
lovely teeth you have."
"The
better to eat with my dear."
(Red
Ridinghood)
Fact:
Approximately 80% of dogs over 2 years old already have
clinical signs of dental disease. Many that are present
at our clinic for vaccinations or for the treatment of minor
problems have an oral health status that is cause for concern.
Most, but not all, owners seldom take a good look inside
of their pets mouth. So when we point out the loose teeth,
the tarter, and gingivitis they are often quite shocked.
Here's
the scoop: The mouth, including our own, is not exactly
the cleanest place on earth. With the warmth, moisture and
food, it makes a great place for bacteria to grow. Most
are normal flora, but when plaque and calculus start to
form, disease causing bacteria can take hold and trouble
soon starts. The foul breath is just a "forerunner"
to more serious problems like periodontitis.
Periodonitis
is the term for the pathology that occurs to the gums, bones,
and delicate tissues that surround the teeth. People who
suffer from periodontitis claim that it is painful, but,
unfortunately dogs and cats are unable to let us know when
they hurt. Even if the effects of gingivitis and periodontitis
are only pain and discomfort they have a great impact on
the quality of life.
Teeth
need to be worked. Pressure and movement help strengthen
the fibers that hold the teeth in the bones. This may be
accomplished with "chew toys", rawhides and specialty
foods such as Medical Dental Formula. The design of these
biscuits also helps to scrape away early plaque which is
forming almost all the time.
If
plaque is left on the tooth, the next step in the downward
spiral is the build-up of calculus (tarter) that results
in the recession of gum and areolar bone. Pockets that form
around the tooth become filled with food particles and bacteria
and the change in acidity further complicates the problem.
The proximity of blood vessels allow bacteria to gain entrance
to the blood and this can cause infections in organs like
the kidney, liver, heart or the brain. I knew a woman who
developed a brain abscess and her neurosurgeon felt that
it probably originated from an infected tooth.
At
Pinegrove Animal Hospital, February is "Dental Health
Month". We try to encourage our clients to become more
aware of this potentially big problem, and take action before
it's too late. Just give the hospital a call or drop in
to see us. We will give you the information that you need.
Ticks
and Lyme Disease in Pets
Ticks are arthropods related to spiders, insect-like in
appearance, and feed on the blood of animals, including
humans. The tick Ixodes scapularis, commonly
known as the "deer tick" or "black-legged
tick", is the primary carrier of the agent that causes
Lyme disease in eastern Canada. In the wild, and before
deer ticks have ingested blood, they are the size
of a sesme seed. Different species prefer different
types of animals. On occasion, a tick will bite a
person instead of an animal.
Lyme disease may occur whenever a human or an animal is
bitten by a deer tick infected with spirochete bacteria,
Borrelia burgdorferi. The habitats associated
with Lyme disease are wooded sites, especially hardwoods,
and places with diverse wildlife, especially white-tailed
deer and small mammals. The primary carrier tick,
Ixodes scapularis (IS), may be found in many parts
of Nova Scotia. However, the only area in this province,
to date, where it has been confirmed that infected IS ticks
have become established is in the Lunenburg area.
In addition, not all ticks carry the spirochete B. burgdorferi.
The likelihood of encountering infected IS ticks is much
greater in the area surrounding the town of Lunenburg.
For several years now, IS ticks from this area have tested
positive for B. burgdorferi. During 2005, in Lunenburg
County approx. 25% of small mammals (mice, squirrels etc...)
were infested with BLT's, both larval and nymph stages.
A slightly larger number of small mammals showed infection
with B. burgdorferi. Prior to 2006, there have been
4 cases of Lyme disease confirmed in humans. All cases
lived in an area near Lunenburg.
Numerous clinical syndromes have been seen in domestic animals,
including limb and joint disease, neurologic, cardiac, and
renal abnormalities. Lyme disease is most commonly
diagnosed in dogs and people. On occasion, the disease
may be found affecting cats, horses, and cattle. Some animals
that contract the disease display no symptoms.
Canines:
Most infected
dogs never show any significant signs of Lyme disease.
In endemic areas, up to 90% of dogs may be infected; however,
only 5 - 10% of these become symptomatic. Most dogs
resolve clinical signs spontaneously; but, some exhibit
multiple, clinical episodes. Lameness, mild fever,
anorexia, lethargy, depression, and swollen lymph nodes
constitute the most common syndrome. Renal Borreliosis
(Lyme disease) is a rare occurrence in dogs, and is usually
fatal. The latter syndrome is characterized by uremia,
hyperphosphatemia, and severe "protein-losing"
nephropathy.
Felines:
Even in endemic
areas, cats seldom develop Lyme disease.
Steps
for Tick Removal
The pet owner may find ticks during routine grooming, especially
after a run through tall grass or in wooded, shrubby areas.
As well, during the course of a routine physical examination
by a veterinarian, ticks may be found unattached, or attached
to the skin. Attached ticks should be remove, as follows:
1. If possible,
wear latex gloves when handling an engorged tick.
2. Use tweezers
or forceps to gently get hold of the tick as close to the
skin as possible.
3. Without
squeezing the tick, pull slowly to allow the tick to release
its mouthparts prohibiting breakage within the skin.
Avoid "jerking it out"
4. Avoid
twisting or turning the tick because this alone may cause
mouthparts to break off. Note: If the head or
any part of the mouthparts are lost, species identification
of the tick becomes more difficult; and the risk of the
bite becoming infected increases.
5. Once
a tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and
water, then disinfect the wound with an antiseptic cream.
Wash hands with soap and water.
How NOT
to remove a tick
DO NOT try to
remove a tick by covering it with grease, gasoline, or by
using some other substance; or, by the application of a
hot match or cigarette. These procedures only serve
to irritate the tick and cause it to spit up contents of
it's stomach into the bite site.
Early
Puppy Socialization
Most puppies are not in the
hands of owners until age seven weeks or more. Breeders,
therefore, play an incredibly important role.
Veterinary behaviourist Ian
Dunbar has suggested that a primary criterion for breeder
selection be the location where the litter is whelped. He’d
like to see all litters reared in a relatively high-traffic
area of the home, such as the kitchen or family room. No
kennels, garages or back rooms. The reason? To provide the
benefit of constant passive exposure to household sights
and sounds: appliance noises, conversation, TV, people walking
around, vacuum cleaner, etc., from day one.
Dunbar has also urged puppy
buyers to be smart shoppers and request quantification of
socialization efforts from breeders, i.e., how many new
people per day puppies have met and in what demographic
categories. If the number is low (e.g., the family members
and a few friends or neighbors), move on.
Another intriguing snippet
of research that points to ultra-early intervention is the
work of Carmen Battaglia on early puppy stimulation. He
found that neonates that receive mild, specific tactile
stimuli on a daily basis grew up to be more stress-resilient
as adults. This finding begs for replication and expanded
research to determine what exactly, breeders could be doing
to further optimize early environment for the puppies they
produce.
As far as training goes,
there is a lack of research regarding optimal ages to start
or complete various tasks. In spite of this, there is still
a strong and fairly widely held feeling that earlier is
better. It has been demonstrated that puppies aged two or
three weeks can learn, so the ideal starting age may creep
downward even more from the current “begin the day
you bring your puppy home.” Once again, this points
to the vital role of breeders in the education of puppies.
Puppy classes for puppies
aged seven to 11 weeks are gaining momentum. Two factors
are driving this. One is the increasing sense of urgency
to exploit the earlier-is-better dictum. And, if authorities
who postulate an end to the socialization period at 12 or
14 weeks are correct, the urgency is even greater. The other
factor is the increasing evidence that the disease risk
to puppies attending classes isn’t as great as once
feared. Epidemiologist and veterinary behaviorist R.K. Anderson
and veterinarians at Purdue University, among others, have
said that not only do the behavioral benefits outweigh the
risk of exposure to pathogens in a puppy class, but that
the disease risk of a properly run class means 1) all puppies
are healthy and have had an initial vaccine against parvo,
distemper and Bordatella; 2) puppies are not walked to class
on the ground outside, where they may encounter feces of
unknown-quantity dogs; and 3) the puppy class premises are
kept clean.
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