Sarcoptic Mange

As temperatures rise, we start to see more flea problems causing itching and in severe cases, infections and permanent skin changes. Prevention is always better than cure and there are now many oral and topical flea treatments that manage fleas. Another advantage is that these products also treat other forms of skin parasites including Sarcoptes and Demodex mites, the mites that cause sarcoptic and demodetic mange, ear mites and ticks.

We have recently had a case of a young dog who was diagnosed with Sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies. Early-stage mange in dogs can be difficult to differentiate from other skin conditions so you should consult with a vet if you notice any signs of skin disease such as scratching, hair loss or scabs on the skin.

Sarcoptes mites are very contagious. Modern flea treatments are very effective at both preventing and treating sarcoptic mange and I am happy to say that our patient is feeling much happier since receiving treatment.

Never underestimated the discomfort of itching for dogs and cats as it can significantly affect a pet’s quality of life. Using a regular flea product licensed against fleas, mites and ticks is an excellent place to start to rule out these pesky creatures. Just because they cannot be seen does not mean that they are not causing a problem.

Meet Suzie!

Suzie is a super senior cat at the grand age of 15. Suzie was one of the first of our patients to start on the new arthritis monthly injection Solensia. Suzie had been on other painkillers previously, but they upset her tummy. Within a week of starting treatment, she was noticeably more active and comfortable. She has recently had her 3rd injection and is a different kitty. She plays with toys, grooms more, has a better appetite, and is much more interactive with the rest of the family.

If you notice your cat is becoming less active, then pop in for a check-up and discuss the new options for managing arthritis in cats.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Dogs

Lad is a beautiful Labrador and a much-loved patient here at the Veterinary Centre. He first came in for being off colour with a swollen tummy. He had a full investigation in which he was found to have a heart that was too large. While it would be nice to think that he had a large heart because of all the love he had to give, unfortunately Lad had a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the second most common heart condition in dogs and the most common in large breed dogs.

Cardiomyopathy is defined as degeneration of the heart muscle. As a result of this degeneration, the muscle becomes thinner, particularly the muscles of the left ventricle which do the hard work of pumping blood around the body. The pressure of the blood inside the heart causes these thin walls to stretch like a balloon resulting in a much larger heart.

In most cases the cause of DCM is unknown. Giant and large breed dogs of middle to older age are predisposed to developing DCM. Some breeds, such as Dobermans and Boxers are predisposed to inheriting a genetic form of DCM. There can be nutritional causes of DCM in diets deficient in taurine and there has been an increase in cases in dogs on gluten-free diets.

Because his heart was not doing the job it was supposed to, Lad’s energy levels had reduced, and he had built up some fluid in his abdomen. These as well as some other signs such as falling over, and coughing can be common signs of heart disease in dogs.

There is no cure for DCM. Lad will need to take it easy and be on heart medication for the rest of his life. Since being on his medication, Lad is doing very well. The fluid in his abdomen has resolved and he is loving his farming life. We can also attest that he knows how to do some energetic tricks when a treat is on offer.

If my Dog’s a bit chubby, does it matter?

More and more commonly we are seeing pet’s carrying more weight than is ideal. And just like in humans, that extra weight can take its toll on the general health and quality of life, affecting ...

• Arthritis - slowing down, painful to move, less active, doesn’t want to play anymore.

• Diabetes - abnormally high glucose in the body, potentially life threatening disease.

• Breathing difficulties – increase effort in breathing seen, reduced exercise, panting.

• Heart Problems – extra load and effort on the heart to do its job when carrying extra weight.

• Surgical complications

• Increases anaesthetic risk

• Constipation

• Increased blood pressure

The good news is we can help alter your pets current exercise level and diet, or look at using one of our weight loss management diets to help you pet lose weight. Contact or team of experienced vets and vet nurses.

Dental Disease

We often think of old pets being affected by a single disease that causes them to age, but like us, it is often an accumulation of lots of little things that affects their quality of life. A broken tooth combined with arthritis from a previous injury and periods of itchy skin, individually may seem benign but together combine to cause chronic discomfort in our pets.

A common thing we see are cats and dogs with dental disease that people under-estimate because the pet is still eating or not showing pain. Owners also worry about anaesthesia in older pets.

The Senior Health Month is a great chance to check your pet’s teeth and discuss any concerns you may have about the general health of your cat or dog. We’ll assess your pet individually. In most situations, with a little added support, older pets are still excellent candidates for having general anaesthesia. Owners often report that their pet has a new lease of life after having their dental disease addressed.

Arlo

Meet Arlo, the much-loved friend of one of our staff members. He recently made the mistake of jumping onto a lit log burner. While he quickly realised the error of his ways, he ended up getting burns resulting in painful blisters on his paws. He was lame and feeling very sorry for himself. He had to come and visit the vets at the Veterinary Centre for some bandaging and pain relief.

The most common causes of burn injuries in veterinary patients are burned pads from jumping on stovetops or fires, and general burns from electric heat pads, scalding water or hot drinks and automobile mufflers.

Fur often masks the severity of burns, so it is important not to underestimate and thermal injury when it happens. Untended burns can continue to cause tissue damage for several days. Please do not delay in providing first aid care and coming to see one of our friendly vets at the Veterinary Centre.

If your pet gets burned remove the animal from the source of heat. Apply cool water to the burns by running the area under cold water and/or apply cold compresses (e.g. frozen peas or an ice pack) for at least 5 minutes. If they will allow, you can place your whole pet in a cool bath, but this is not recommended for large surface burns as it may result in shock. If possible, place a sterile, non-stick pad or a clean moist cloth over the burned area and seek veterinary attention immediately. Do not apply any ointments or creams.

Arlo is making a good recovery and hopefully he has learned his lesson that the best heat is in front of the fire and not on it.

Osteoarthritis in Pets

The weather is starting to turn colder and like us, animals will start to feel the ‘cold in their bones’ after the reprieve of the warmer summer months.

What is Osteoarthritis? It is a progressive disease of the joints. Although most people think of osteoarthritis as a disease of bone, it’s really a disease of cartilage. Normal cartilage is in a constant state of deterioration and repair. In the case of arthritis, factors such as breed, obesity, dysplasia, or trauma, worsens the deterioration leading to cartilage loss and inflammation, which gives rise to the clinical signs of pain. Although normally associated with old age, arthritis can even be found relatively commonly in young animals.

What are your dog’s signs? Canine arthritis can often be misinterpreted as the normal signs of getting old, with …

• Lameness

• Difficulty standing

• Reduced ability to play or walk

• Reluctance to jump

• Increased irritability

• Not wanting to be stroked/patted

What are your cat’s signs? Unlike dogs, cats often have disease in multiple joints, meaning that they don’t favour one side or the other because everything hurts! Although diagnosis is challenging, there are clinical signs owners can look for, almost all the signs are tied to behaviour changes …

• Not wanting to/having difficulty jumping.

• Reluctance to go up or down stairs

• Decreased interactions with owners or other animals

• Increased irritability

• Not wanting to be stroked/brushed

• Elimination accidents – difficulty getting in or out of the litterbox

• Sudden vocalisation and running away for no apparent reason

Also, cats tend to mask the signs of pain as a defensive tactic, so it is important for owners to regard any behaviour changes as a potential sign of disease and get it checked out.

How can we treat Osteoarthritis? While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are numerous treatment options available that help to reduce pain and support joint health and longevity. Treatment involves considering all the factors of weight management, pain relief, joint support, environmental modification, and physical therapy holistically. Also, the best outcomes are achieved, when support is started as early in the course of the disease as possible.

Flystrike in Pet Rabbits

Flystrike can occur in many types of animals but rabbits, even pet rabbits, are particularly prone. This is of importance in the hot and humid days of late summer.

If you do find maggots on your rabbit it is worthwhile bringing them to your vet for assessment to ensure that damage isn’t hiding under the fur. Fly eggs hatch very quickly and the maggots can cause considerable pain to the rabbit without it showing obvious external signs.

The best ways to avoid flystrike in your pet rabbit are:

• Make sure all bedding and hutch areas are dry and change bedding regularly.

• Do not feed excessive green vegetables or fruit as this can result in diarrhoea.

• Handle your rabbit daily in high risk times and carefully check under the tail and between the back legs for any signs of maggots or faecal soiling.

• Groom longer haired breeds to ensure that their back end stays clean and dry.

• Prevent your rabbit from becoming overweight.

• Ensure that there is no dental disease or unmanaged arthritis causing difficulty grooming.

Patella Luxation - The Skipping Dog

On these beautiful summer days, we are likely out walking and running with our canine friends. A relatively common thing that we see in our smaller dogs is skipping, where they intermittently hop on either one or both hind legs. Because they don’t seem to be in any pain and seem normal between episodes, we are at risk of thinking this is normal behaviour. In reality, this is most likely due to a condition called luxating patella (kneecap). In unaffected animals, the patella sits in a groove at the bottom of the thigh bone. When an animal bends its knee, the patella slides up and down the groove, held in place by ligaments on either side. However, some animals are born with a groove too shallow or a ligament that attaches in the wrong place on the shin bone, pulling the patella out of its groove as the knee bends.

Patella luxation is most often seen in toy and miniature breed dogs such as Jack Russell and Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles and Chihuahuas but can also occur in larger breed dogs.

In animals with mild disease, a luxating patella may not cause significant problems and animals may go through life without needing any treatment. However, if the patella is periodically or always luxated, or if the luxation is causing lameness, then surgery to stabilise the kneecap in its groove and allow normal limb function is recommended.

If you have a dog that skips when it runs, then please come and see one of our friendly vets who will be able to check the patella and help you make decisions to keep your dog fit for many years.

Dental Disease

We often think of old pets being affected by a single disease that causes them to age, but like us, it is often an accumulation of lots of little things that affects their quality of life. A broken tooth combined with arthritis from a previous injury and periods of itchy skin, individually may seem benign but together combine to cause chronic discomfort in our pets.

A common thing we see are cats and dogs with dental disease that people under-estimate because the pet is still eating or not showing pain. Owners also worry about anaesthesia in older pets.

The Senior Health Month is a great chance to check your pet’s teeth and discuss any concerns you may have about the general health of your cat or dog. We’ll assess your pet individually. In most situations, with a little added support, older pets are still excellent candidates for having general anaesthesia. Owners often report that their pet has a new lease of life after having their dental disease addressed.