FROM YOUR VETERINARIAN

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1 what is a wellness screen? More than 10 percent of pets brought to veterinary clinics for checkups have some type of underlying disease or abnormality, according to published research. Many of these pets appear normal upon physical examination, and their abnormalities would go undetected without a wellness screen a blood test designed to detect these silent problems. The process of disease development in pets can be slow and insidious. When an organ system starts to fail, that organ will compensate to bring function back to normal. Over time, this compensating mechanism will fail as well and the pet will become ill. Once the pet is in organ failure, treatment options are limited and the prognosis is poor. Our staff can perform a simple in-house blood test that will check your pet s: liver kidneys pancreas electrolytes minerals blood sugar. The test also can alert us to infection, inflammatory disease, and anemia. Early detection of disease is key. Once a problem has been identified, we can make appropriate treatment recommendations at a point when treatment will make the most difference. Often, a simple diet change is all that s needed to avoid major health problems. Our wellness screen is a simple blood test. We usually have results in 20 to 30 minutes. If you have questions, please talk with a team member. Early detection of disease is key. Once a problem has been identified,we can make appropriate treatment recommendations at a point when treatment will make the most difference. Getty Images Source: Michael Rehm, DVM

2 JUNIOR wellness testing includes: Complete blood cell count (CBC) to evaluate red and white blood cells and platelets Biochemical profile to evaluate liver and kidney health and blood proteins and to screen for diabetes and evidence of Cushing s disease Heartworm/Lyme disease/ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis test (canine patients) Heartworm/feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus test (feline patients) Source: Dr. Robert Stannard, Adobe Pet Hospital in Livermore, Calif.

3 rabies: still a threat Over the years, we ve made progress preventing rabies in our furry friends, but we re not entirely in the clear just yet. are still roughly 7,000 cases of animal rabies mostly in wild animals reported in the United States each year. Here are some tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association and World Rabies Day to keep you and your pets safe. What is rabies and how is it transmitted? Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is transmitted via saliva from an infected animal, typically through a bite wound but occasionally through an open cut on the skin or the eyes, ears, or mouth of a person or animal. What animals can become infected with rabies? Rabies is only seen in mammals, and most cases occur in wild animals skunks, raccoons, bats, coyotes, and foxes are the most commonly infected in the wild. In recent years, cats have surpassed dogs as the most common domestic species to be infected with the virus, primarily because some cat owners don t vaccinate their cats or supervise them if they go outdoors. What are the clinical signs in animals? most common signs in dogs, cats, and ferrets are fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, and seizures. Horses, cattle, sheep, and goats may also display those symptoms in addition to depression, self-mutilation, or hypersensitivity to light. Wild animals may only exhibit unusual behavior (for example, nocturnal animals seen wandering in the daytime). How can I prevent my pet from getting rabies? Vaccinate. All dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses should be vaccinated against rabies, along with livestock that are in frequent contact with humans. Spay and neuter. Pets should be spayed or neutered to reduce their tendency to roam. Keep pets indoors when possible. Cats and ferrets should be kept indoors and dogs should be supervised when allowed outdoors. Avoid littering. Don t leave garbage or pet food outdoors, as it can easily attract dangerous wildlife. Keep out bats. Bat-proof your home and surrounding structures to prevent bats from gaining access to living spaces. What if my pet gets bitten? Seek help. Consult your veterinarian immediately. Contact animal control if your pet is bitten by a wild or stray animal. Revaccinate and/or quarantine. If your pet is up-to-date on its rabies vaccines, revaccinate immediately and keep the pet under close supervision for 45 days or more, as determined by state law or local ordinance. If your pet is not current on its rabies vaccine or has never been vaccinated, your pet may need to be euthanized or kept under strict quarantine for six months. Information courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association and World Rabies Day Don Farrall /Getty Images

4 Watch for these signs of illness in your older dog Typically, once pets are 7 years old or older, they re considered seniors. And as your pet ages, you may start noticing some lifestyle or behavior changes that could signal a problem or need attention. If you notice any of these signs in your pet, give your veterinarian a call. Gaining or losing weight; decreased grooming Lumps or changes in areas of skin color Changes in appetite, such as eating more or less than usual Increased urination; loss of bladder control or noncompliance with house training; unusual bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation Increased thirst; repeated vomiting; bad breath or drooling Excessive panting or exercise intolerance Reluctance to jump, walk up stairs or rise from the floor Changes in behavior, such as disorientation or excessive vocalization; avoiding human interaction or hiding

5 a lifetime of canine wellness Preventing disease or catching it early is preferable to allowing disease to develop or progress. Pet Name 8 Weeks Comprehensive physical examination Weight Body condition score Vaccinations* Discuss puppy s environment, diet, behavior, and dental care Deworming Heartworm prevention** Flea and tick prevention 12 Weeks Comprehensive physical examination Weight Body condition score Vaccinations* Discuss puppy s environment, diet, and behavior Check fecal sample Deworming Dental examination 16 Weeks Comprehensive physical examination Weight Body condition score Nutritional assessment Behavior assessment Vaccinations* Check fecal sample Deworming Dental examination 4 to 6 Months Spay or Neuter Presurgical blood work Heartworm prevention** Flea and tick prevention Please remember that this is a wellness schedule and if your pet ever becomes ill, additional examinations and diagnostic tests will be necessary. Seventy-five percent of pets over the age of three have dental disease. Dogs and cats are not supposed to have bad breath. Dental plaque, oral diseases, and other conditions can cause bad breath. Brushing your pet s teeth and having regular dental cleanings are beneficial for your pet and your pocketbook. Advanced dental disease can be painful to your pet and costly to treat. 1 to 4 Years Comprehensive annual physical examination Weight Body condition score Nutritional assessment Behavior assessment Heartworm test and prevention** Check fecal sample Deworming Vaccinations* Flea and tick prevention Dental cleaning when needed Wellness and/or preanesthetic blood work Check urine sample M F N S Senior at Seven Pets age much faster than people do. Most pets are considered seniors at seven years of age. Dogs should visit a veterinarian once or twice a year throughout their lives. 5 Years and beyond Twice-a-year physical examinations Weight Body condition score Nutritional assessment Behavior assessment Heartworm test and prevention** Check fecal sample Deworming Vaccinations* Flea and tick prevention Dental cleaning when needed Complete blood count and serum chemistry panel Check urine sample Thyroid check Optional Senior Wellness Tests ECG Blood pressure measurement Eye pressure measurement Abdominal radiographs Thoracic (chest) radiographs * May be adjusted based on age of puppy at first visit and based on individual risk of exposure. **Preventives are available and effective against other parasites as well Advanstar Communications. All rights reserved. Source: Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT, VMC Inc., Evergreen, Colo.

6 how to housebreak your new puppy Follow these guidelines to make housebreaking as easy as possible for you and your pet. Start at the ideal age. The best time to begin housebreaking a puppy is when it is 7 1 /2 to 8 1 /2 weeks old. At this age, you can teach the puppy where to eliminate before it has established its own preferences. But don t worry if your puppy is older when you start housebreaking; it will still learn, though it may take a little longer. Six to eight times a day, take your puppy outdoors to eliminate. Choose an appropriate spot to take the puppy immediately after it wakes up, after play sessions, and 15 to 30 minutes after meals. If you take your puppy to the same spot every day, previous odors will stimulate it to urinate or defecate. Many puppies need 15 to 20 min- - fore they eliminate. Stay with the puppy the whole time. Housebreaking problems can result if you re unsure whether the puppy actually eliminated and you let it return to the house too soon. And remember the puppy needs to focus on the job at hand, so don t play with it until it has eliminated. Use a key phrase while your puppy eliminates. If you repeat the same phrase (e.g. go potty or take care of business ) every time your puppy eliminates outdoors, it will learn that this phrase means that it s the right time and place to eliminate. Once the puppy eliminates outdoors, immediately reward it. Reward the puppy by praising it, giving it a treat, or playing with it. But remember to reward it right away. The puppy will not learn to eliminate outdoors if the reward comes when it returns to the house. Instead, the puppy will think that it s being rewarded for coming inside. Supervise the puppy indoors as well as outdoors. Find a room in your house that allows you to watch your puppy as much as possible. This will help you catch the puppy if it starts to eliminate indoors. You can also leash the puppy or place a bell on its collar to help you keep track of it. When you leave home, put the puppy in a crate. When you can t supervise your puppy, leave it in a small puppy-proof area such as a crate. If the crate is large enough to accommodate the puppy as an adult, partition it to avoid having the puppy soil one end and sleep in the other. And remember that young puppies bladder and bowel capacities are limited, so let the puppy out at least every four hours. Don t punish after the fact. If your puppy has an accident in the house, don t go get the puppy and rub its nose in it. This doesn t do any good because the misbehavior has already occurred. Instead, try to catch the puppy in the act. If you see the puppy getting ready to housesoil, don t swat it, but stomp your foot, shake a e puppy by yelling outside! The puppy will likely stop what it s doing, and you can take it outdoors to eliminate. Don t leave food out all day. Feed your puppy at set times every day, and remove the food bowl after 20 minutes. This will create regular intervals at which the puppy will need to eliminate. Thoroughly clean areas where the puppy has eliminated in the house. e product that removes both odors and stains. It s important to clean a soiled area completely, otherwise your puppy may return to it and housesoil again. Stick with the training program. Most puppies can be successfully housebroken by 14 to 20 weeks of age. But a pet may take longer to housebreak for several reasons.. Information provided by Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, Veterinary Behavior Consultations, 12462G Natural Bridge Road, Bridgeton, MO Getty Images

7 important reasons to spay or your pet neuter More than 4 million pets are euthanized in U.S. animal shelters each year simply because they have no home. Many are puppies and kittens less than 6 months old. Help stop this needless loss of life. Spay or neuter your pet. Spaying your female pet (ovariohysterectomy): Removal of the ovaries and uterus. Ideal age is 4 to 6 months. Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. Eliminates unwanted pregnancies. If spayed before the first heat cycle, your pet has a less than 1 percent chance of developing breast cancer. If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an 8 percent chance of developing breast cancer. If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 26 percent. After two years, no protective benefit exists. Pets with diabetes or epilepsy should be spayed to prevent hormonal changes that may interfere with medication. Neutering your male pet (castration): Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord. Ideal age is 4 to 6 months. Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common tumor in male dogs. Greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis. Reduces the risk of perianal tumors. Reduces roaming and fighting. Eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered before 6 months of age or before the onset of these behaviors. Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Eliminates unwanted litters. Common myths Spaying or neutering your pet does not: Cause laziness or hyperactivity Cause immature behaviors Reduce its instinct to protect your family and home Postpone or delay normal behavioral maturity Alter its personality in any manner Our staff members can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure your pet may undergo at our hospital. Please don t hesitate to ask.

8 behavior assessment checklist Getty Images Please check the box at left if your dog or cat: Is aggressive toward people (bites, growls, snarls, bares its teeth). If so, how often? Soils in the house or outside its litter box. If so, how often? Escapes from the yard. If so, how often? Is destructive in the house. If so, how often? Is destructive outside. If so, how often? Is disobedient. If so, how often? Is aggressive toward other animals. If so, how often? Vocalizes too much (barks, howls, whines). Is too active. Is unfriendly. Needs too much attention. Are you planning to add a pet to your home? Yes No Source: Salman MD, Hutchinson J, Ruch-Gallie R, et al. Behavioral reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to 12 shelters. J Appl Anim Welfare Sci2000;3:

9 Home alone: Signs of separation anxiety in your dog Does your dog resort to annoying or even destructive behaviors when you leave the house? If so, it may have a condition known as separation anxiety, meaning that your dog gets extremely nervous when you are away and often finds an inappropriate outlet for that anxiety. Look out for these signs: Barking or whining. sign begins soon before or after departure and persists for a large percentage of the time your dog is alone. Your neighbors will definitely let you know if this behavior is occurring. Inappropriate elimination. Your dog deposits its urine, stools or both in various locations around your home, as opposed to in a single, consistent looccurs when you dog is alone or perceives that it is alone. Destructive behavior. - acterized by damage to exit points from your home such as doors and windows or destruction of personal items such as pillows, clothing and remote control units. Confining your dog to a cage often escalates the destruction and can result in your dog injuring itself (e.g. its teeth or toenails). Excessive salivation. - sidered to be highly suggestive of separation anxiety when the behavior is restricted to those times when your dog is alone or perceives that it is alone. How do you know when your dog is exhibiting these signs? After all, they happen when you re not home. Well there is circumstantial evidence of signs of destruction, elimination or drooling. But even better is video evidence. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a video is worth a million, at least to a veterinary behaviorist. Use your tablet, your phone or your laptop to get video, or use an online service such as Dropcam or Facetime. If your dog is exhibiting any of these behaviors when you are away, schedule a visit with your veterinarian. He or she can help you curb or completely eliminate your dog s anxiety with behavior exercises, often in conjunction with antianxiety medications. Information provided by John Ciribassi, DVM, DACVB, Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants, Carol Stream, Illinois. GETTY IMAGES/DIANE DIEDERICH

10 Myth 1 Myth 2 Foods labeled premium are always better for your pet. 3 pet food label myths With so many pet food options, choosing the right diet can be tricky. As your veterinary team, we can help you select the best foods based on our experience with many pets, ignoring the blizzard of marketing ploys designed to appeal to your emotional needs rather than your pets nutritional needs. Truth: Some premium food companies may call out other manufacturers for using ingredients like corn or meat meals, knowing full well that pets do not need ingredients; they need the nutrients that are contained in ingredi- - facturers, nutritionists and pet owners simply can t predict a food s performance based on its ingredient list. the exact identity and nutrient composition of the ingredient. Truth: Some manufacturers also make unsubstantiated claims about ingredients and manipulate their own ingredient lists. For example, some dry food manufacturers tout real chicken, fish or beef as their first ingredient because the food contains more of this ingredient by weight than any other ingredient. What they don t say is that real meat is mostly water weight, which is removed when the food is made, moving it way down the inalso known as white slime! Myth 3 Truth: Another trick some manufacturers play is called ingredient splitting, where they will list different carbohydrates separately corn, rice, barley, wheat or oatmeal, for example or list out different forms of the same carbohydrate, such as ground wheat and wheat flour, so these individual carbs appear lower in the ingredient list. Doing so makes it appear as if carbohydrates are not the first ingredient. Fact: Your veterinarian chooses your pet s food based on your pet s physical exam, lifestyle, medical condition and other factors related to your pet s health. So before you reach for the food you heard about on a commercial, call your veterinary team first for a recommendation tailored to your pet. Source: Tony Buffington, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVN GETTYIMAGES/RETALES BOTIJERO

11 WEIGHT LOSS in cats Why a healthy weight is important If a cat is just two pounds or so over its ideal weight, it s at risk for developing some serious medical conditions. When a cat is overweight or obese, it s not a question of if it will develop a related illness, but rather how many and how soon. Some of the common disorders and conditions associated with excess weight include: Type 2 diabetes an obese cat is three times more likely to develop this disease than a normal- weight cat Osteoarthritis Heart disease High blood pressure Many forms of cancer, especially intra-abdominal cancers Veterinarians expect overweight and obese cats to live shorter lives than their fitter counterparts. Heavy cats tend to be less energetic and playful. It s common to think cats that lie around are just lazy, making it easy to overlook the lethargy that results from being overweight or obese. If your cat doesn t run and jump, it might be overweight. But don t worry, your veterinary team can help your cat get in shape and feeling better. Start with calories A weight-loss formula seems simple enough: fewer calories in, plus more calories out, equals weight loss. Unfortunately, it s not that simple. For starters, ogy is different than people and dogs, and if they go without food for just two days in a row, they can develop a life-threatening form of liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis. Obese people starting a diet program are also vulnerable to this serious condition. For this reason, never put your cat on a diet without your veterinary team s assistance. start is by calculating the calories your cat needs. First, the veterinarian will examine your cat to deshould weigh about 8 to 10 pounds.) Your veterinarian will use this weight to figure out how many calories your cat should eat each day. After you and your veterinarian have determined how much your cat should eat, the next step is deciding what it should eat and how often. For many cats, the best way to feed is to offer canned diet food several times a day. Remember, it s vital to count calories during a weight-reduction program. If you feed too much, your cat won t lose weight. If you feed too little, your cat could get sick. To figure out exactly how many calories are in your pet s food, check the label. If the label doesn t tell you what you need to know, visit petobesityprevention.com and click on Food and Calories at the left side of the page. The art of changing foods You ll most likely need to offer your cat a diet food if it s overweight. When you re introducing a new food, allow several days for the transition. In general, we recommend gradually adding the new diet over a one- to two-week period. Start by substituting one-quarter of your cat s diet with the new food half old food, half new for the next two to four days. for the final three to five days before completely switching to the new diet. To make dry food more appetizing for your cat, try warming the food or even adding a splash of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or salmon juice on top of the food. Finicky felines often prefer wet food over dry, so if your cat isn t eating dry foods, canned diet foods may work better. Getty Images Source: Dr. Ernest E. Ward Jr., Seaside Animal Care, Calabash, N.C.

12 How can I tell if my pet is overweight? Try these simple at-home tests to see if your beloved pet should see the veterinarian for weight control. If you re unsure what your pet s optimum weight should be, perform this simple test at home: Place your hands on your pet s rib cage with your thumb on the back. > If you feel your pet s ribs easily, your pet is probably at a normal weight. > If you can feel some fat between the skin and ribs or if the ribs are difficult to detect, your pet is probably considered overweight. > If you can t feel the ribs at all, your pet may likely be obese. In some pets, particularly cats, a large abdoman that hangs down toward the ground may indicate obesity. It s important to have this judgement confirmed by your veterinarian; he or she can rule out other diseases that can sometimes look like obesity but instead are heart, kidney or glandular disease. Your pet is a probably a healthy weight if... - You can easily feel its ribs - It has a tucked abdomen and no sagging stomach - You can see its waist from above Your pet might be overweight if... - You have difficulty feeling its ribs - It has a sagging stomach, and you can grab a handful of fat - It has a broad, flat back and no visible waist

13 The pet food guessing game Once you get past the marketing and product claims, what are you really feeding your pet? When it comes to the best nutrition for your dog or cat, always start at your veterinary clinic. There isn t one right food for every pet, but your veterinary team can guide you to what s best for you and your pet. Then use this quick guide to help decipher the vast array of marketing claims that often overwhelm the pet food aisle so you can make an informed decision about your pet s nutrition. THE NAME GAME What s in a name? > If an ingredient is used in the name of the pet food, such as Salmon Dog Food, at least 95 percent of the product must be that ingredient. It should be the first ingredient that appears on the label s ingredient list. > If the name includes a combination of ingredients, such as Chicken n Liver Dog Food, the two ingredients must total 95 percent of the product, and there is always a higher percentage of the first ingredient included than the second. > If it s not an ingredient of animal origin, it doesn t count. Products such as Lamb and Rice Dog Food must still contain at least 95 percent lamb. Ring the dinner bell! > When a pet food name reads Beef Dinner for Dogs or any fancy-sounding title that includes dinner, platter, entrée, nuggets or formula, the named ingredients must comprise at least 25 percent of the product. > A combination of ingredients, such as Chicken n Fish Dinner Cat Food, must equal a combined 25 percent. However, the second ingredient named only has to make up 3 percent of that total. > The dinner rule includes all ingredients, so if a pet food name is Lamb and Rice Formula for Cats, lamb may be the predominant ingredient, but at least 25 percent is made up of both lamb and rice. > An ingredient named in pet food dinners may be the third or fourth ingredient on the product s ingredient list. Read the label to ensure the primary ingredients are ingredients you want to feed your pet. GETTY IMAGES

14 With cheese! > When a pet food name includes with, the ingredient that follows, such as Beef Dinner for Dogs with cheese, only has to be 3 percent of the product. > Buyer beware: A can of Cat Food with Tuna means tuna may only be 3 percent of the product, whereas Tuna Cat Food must contain at least 95 percent tuna. Super-ultra-premium > Label claims including the words premium, super-premium, even ultrapremium or gourmet are not required to contain any different or higher quality ingredients. > Natural is usually assumed to mean a lack of artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, but it too is not required to contain any different or higher quality ingredients. > Currently, there are also no official rules governing the use of the word organic in pet food labels. Packed with flavor > The use of the word flavored in a pet food means very little. As in, a pet food named Chicken Flavored Cat Food, only must have chicken detectable in the product. No specific percentage of the named flavor is required. > Digests (materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors), stocks and broths and whey are often used to flavor pet foods. When in doubt, ask CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN Talk to your veterinary team about your nutrition questions and how to appropriately transition your pet to a new food. If you think your pet is showing signs of illness related to his or her pet food, call your veterinarian. CALL THE MANUFACTURER The manufactured by label statement identifies the party responsible for the quality and safety of the product, along with contact information. Don t hesitate to contact the company with questions or complaints about a product. LABELING REGULATIONS SOURCED FROM THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)