Hips Don’t Lie – Identifying Hip Disease Early

Pain associated Canine Hip Dysplasia is one of the common things we see as veterinarians. The arthritis resulting from Hip Dysplasia occurs commonly in older dogs, but can affect young dogs. Pain and reluctance to walk, jump, or run are common signs but they start gradually.

• Early identifying provides us with the chance to improve outcomes for your dog.

• The Veterinary Centre can perform PennHIP radiographic assessments, the most comprehensive test available.

• This can be done in puppies from as young as 16 weeks.

• PennHIP is a great screening tool for dogs being considered for breeding.

• If your dog is found to have hip dysplasia, one of our veterinarians can discuss management of the disease to provide the best quality of life.

Always feel free to discuss this with our vets.

Lucy goes from Limping to Leaping

Lucy is a 12-year-old Labrador, who was becoming increasingly stiff, limping in her back legs and was slowing down. She was also having some trouble sleeping at night.

Lucy was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and veterinarian Sarah suggested Beransa®, a relatively new arthritis treatment.

Beransa® is a type of antibody that interferes with the pain signalling associated with arthritis, and is safer on the liver and kidneys than other pain-relieving medications.

AND... after only a few days, Lucy’s owner had noticed an improvement in her mobility and energy, even more noticeable following her second injection.

‘Now when I return home from work, Lucy is at the fence leaping up and down with excitement to see me and that is something she hasn’t done for a long time. She is also much more energetic during our walks and can jump up onto things without any fear and has started sleeping better at night’.

Talk to one of our vets about treatment options for your pets.

Small but mighty - Maggie's Battle

Maggie was the smallest in her litter, having three much bigger brothers to contend with. When she failed to gain much weight between her puppy vaccinations Sarah, her Blue Cross vet became concerned. A blood test confirmed these concerns, and at only 4 months old Maggie was diagnosed with a rare liver shunt (portosystemic shunt).

A liver shunt occurs when there is an abnormal connection between the veins that would normally allow blood to the liver meaning liver function is severely compromised. Puppies with this condition have poor growth rates and eventually a build-up of substances that are normally processed by the liver can cause neurological disfunction, seizures and a markedly reduced life span. Her owners were devastated.

Maggie had an ultrasound performed by our vet Felicity which gave an indication of the location of the abnormal vessel which was confirmed by a CT scan. Fortunately, this meant that she was a candidate for life saving surgery with a specialist in Christchurch. During surgery, a cellophane band was placed around her liver shunt. This band stimulates scar tissue formation with the goal being gradual constriction of Maggie’s abnormal vessel allowing a more normal blood supply to her liver.

We are now 4months post-surgery, and although she is still very tiny, Maggie has been slowly growing and is a bundle of energy. While she is not completely out of the woods yet, monitoring blood tests are looking great so far, and the hope is Maggie will live a long and full life.

Puppy Panic - Sid's Swollen Face

Sid, a curious 6-month-old Labrador puppy, was exploring the backyard one evening when his owners heard a yelp. Sid came running back inside with his face rapidly swelling. Concerned, his owner rushed him to see our after-hours vet.

By the time Sid arrived, his muzzle was double its normal size, his eyes were swollen shut and he was frantically licking his itchy paws.

After examining Sid, our vet Sarah diagnosed him with angioedema, a condition where fluid builds up under the skin due to a severe allergic reaction. This was most likely due to a bee sting which is common in young, curious puppies. She quickly administered an intravenous antihistamine and steroid. Following treatment, Sid made a full recovery and within 20mins the swelling had started to improve, and he was wagging his tail again.

Hopefully, Sid has learned to avoid bees in future, but his owner now keeps a close eye on his outdoor adventures and has medication on hand just in case!

Does my Dog have Dementia?

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is best described as the dog equivalent of dementia. It occurs in about 15% of dogs, especially small dogs and those over 8 years old. The structure of the brain changes with age, reducing the dog’s cognitive capacity.

Common signs of CDS are:

• Disorientation

• Soiling inside

• Disrupted sleep

• Variable activity levels

• Anxiety

This can be relatively distressing for elderly dogs and their owners, especially as they often have other conditions occurring at the same time, such as arthritis, incontinence, blindness and deafness. We have resources that can help you monitor changes in behaviour patterns over time and help us to diagnose your pet as early as possible, so we can slow down the progression of the disease.

There are a number of strategies available to manage the signs of cognitive dysfunction your pet is displaying.

• Diets to support healthy ageing.

• Sensible exercise routines.

• CDS support medications.

If you have any concerns as to how your pet is ageing, please come and see us at the Veterinary Centre and we can plan to make their older years the best that we can.

Importance of nutrition!

As vets we see a lot of overweight pets, and owners are often quite surprised when we say that their pets are “well loved”. Carrying too much body weight can put pressure on all systems of the body including hearts, lungs and joints.

A balanced and nutritious diet equals a happy and healthy pet, but getting the right amount of nourishment can be a tricky business. We recommend premium pet foods because we know that these products have been made to be a fully balanced diet under strict quality control guidelines using good quality ingredients. They are an easy way of providing good quality nourishment to your pet with minimal preparation and fuss. When using premium foods, often smaller volumes are required making them more cost effective and competitive than most people think.

A recent study found that home cooked pet meals contain at least one nutritional deficiency in 95% of cases, so we suggest complimenting these diets with a higher ratio of a premium pet food.

Diet can also assist pets dealing with more chronic conditions, not just weight management. Digestive complaints, skin & coat issues, mobility, and even urinary conditions can also be influenced by the foods that our pets eat. With these conditions our vets will often recommend a dietary change.

If you have any concerns about your pet's diet, or any health issues, please feel free to ask for advice from our helpful vets or reception staff.

Skin Cancers and Sun Protection for Our Pets

Animals, like people, can get sunburnt and suffer from UV induced skin cancers.

• The sites commonly affected are those with minimal hair coverage including ears, nose, eyelids and groins of those pets that love to lie on their backs in the sun.

• Animals with white fur on these areas are especially at risk. Squamous cell carcinomas are especially common on the noses and ears of cats. These will initially look like scratches that won’t heal.

• If treated early enough, the team at the Veterinary Centre are able to perform a non-invasive, cryosurgery to remove them before they become advanced and require surgery. Attacking them early is the key!

Pet specific sunblock is available for pets who are at risk. These are made to be safe if your pet happens to lick it. Please make sure that any outdoor pets are provided with shelter and shade. If you have any concerns about any changes in your pet’s skin, especially if small wounds seem to heal and then come back, then don’t hesitate to come and see one of our friendly vets at the Veterinary Centre or pop into the shop for some sunblock today.

Spring & Summer - the time of increased itchiness in dogs

Spring and summer mark a time of increased itchiness in dogs. Not only does the flea population explode, so does the pollen count which can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive dogs.

Pollen allergies tend to manifest as itchy skin and is known as atopy. Atopic reactions can be caused by allergens like grasses, dust mites, moulds, storage mites and even the dog’s own yeast.

The typical signs are itching/scratching/licking/rubbing/ chewing one or more of the following areas: feet, groin, under the tail, axillas (armpits), neck, ears, and face.

Because these are allergic reactions, we can’t cure the disease, only manage it.

When we don’t know what the animal is allergic to, the traditional treatment is with steroids, which dampen down the immune response but can have potential side effects.

Apoquel is a daily anti-itch tablet that doesn’t have the side effects that steroids can have, or Cytopoint, an anti-itch injection given monthly.

If you’re pet is suffering from seasonal itchiness then bring them in to see us at the Veterinary Centre by the Big Blue Cross for a veterinary consultation.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a progressive disease of the joints causing cartilage loss and inflammation which gives rise to the clinical sign of pain lameness, with less work or play activity.

It is commonly age related but can even occur in young animals. Arthritis is estimated to affect approximately 20% of dogs older than one year old and up to 90% in senior dogs. 90% of cats older than 12 will have x-ray evidence of arthritis.

There are numerous treatment options available that help to reduce pain and support joint health and longevity. The best outcomes are achieved when support is started as early as possible.

Medical treatment is targeted according to severity. At risk dogs and early stage disease may benefit from specialised diets. As loss of mobility and signs of pain worsen, anti-inflammatories alone or in combination with other medications become necessary. Archie certainly doesn’t seem to notice being given his monthly pill and it means he is still happy to go to work.

Symptoms are worse in cold weather. If you have any concerns about the mobility of your pet then please visit the Veterinary Centre and we will be happy to discuss and customise treatments for your pet.

The Vet’s Cat Needs a Dental!

Like a mechanic who is always too busy to service their own car, the vet’s cat was well overdue for some attention. Ned had started to develop the common signs of dental disease in the form of bad breath, tartar (dark discolouration along the gumline) and gingivitis (a redness and swelling of gums along the gumline).

Dental disease can cause serious pain and discomfort, reducing appetite and impact on your pet’s quality of life.

Even in mild cases, disease left untreated allows bacteria to invade the connective tissue under the gumline causing hidden problems such as tooth erosion, root exposure, abscesses and loose teeth. Early intervention helps avoid pain and costly extractions.

Veterinary dental treatment requires a general anaesthesia to allow for a full oral exam and dental x-rays. Problems often occur under the gumline which will only showup on x-rays, so imaging is essential.

Ned had his teeth cleaned and polished, with teeth looking pearly white, and now has a fresh pleasant smelling breath.

In future his diet will include a special dental care biscuit and dental treats to improve his oral health before his next visit in a year.

If you notice any of these signs please arrange a checkup and we’ll be happy to discuss the options for you and your pet.