Small Animal Newsletter I N T H I S M O N T H S I S S U E : Neutering why you should get your pet neutered and what s involved Lifting the lip on dental disease Firework Anxiety What might be harmful to your pet at Christmas Passive Smoking the risks to your pet Opening hours (consultations by appointment) Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm Sat: 9am-12.30pm 24-hour emergency cover is provided by our own vets during the week and by Vet 999 in Stirling at the weekend 01786 841304 W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 Neutering your pet Why neuter your cat or dog? The main goal when neutering a pet is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, neutering also has several health benefits for both male and female cats and dogs. Decreased risk of certain cancers including mammary, ovarian, uterine, testicular and prostate cancer. Prevents false pregnancies in bitches Prevent pyometra (a nasty and potentially life-threatening infection of the womb) Reduction in roaming resulting in less road traffic accidents Reduction in fighting in cats so preventing infected wounds, abscesses and spread of FIV (feline AIDS) Less aggressive behaviour in males Bitches are usually neutered from 3 months after their first heat and male dogs from 6 months of age. Cats can be neutered from around 4 months of age. What is involved in neutering my pet? This is a relatively minor procedure for males but is a bigger op for females. Recovery time is around 10 days during which time they will have to wear a Buster collar and their exercise restricted. Neutering is a day procedure and most animals bounce back from the operation very quickly. Find out more at www.struthersscott.co.uk/companion Are there risks involved with neutering? Any anaesthetic and surgical procedure carries some risk however complications with these routine procedures are extremely rare. Animals are examined by a vet on the day of the procedure and closely monitored by a qualified veterinary nurse throughout the operation and recovery period. Many people are concerned that neutering will cause their pet to gain weight, however dietary management should prevent this. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about neutering. Did you know? 20 stray dogs are put to sleep in the UK every day neutering your pet can reduce the number of stray and unwanted animals. Neutering your pet can increase their lifespan by 1-3 years in dogs and 3-5 years in cats!
P A G E 2 Dental disease Dental disease affects over 87% of dogs and 70% of cats over three years of age. Gum disease can result in gum recession and root exposure leading to loosening of teeth and abscesses. Often animals with dental disease will eat normally signs to watch out for are general lethargy, excessive salivation, swelling around face, changes in eating or playing habits and bad breath. Preventing dental disease is through preventative care ideally regular toothbrushing. This should be with a soft toothbrush and a special pet toothpaste which will not foam in the mouth unlike human pastes. Other options include dental chews or special diets such as Hill s t/d food which has a larger kibble size to prevent plaque build-up on the teeth. Dental disease affects 87% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3 years Severe tartar build-up on a dog s canine tooth Loose incisors due to severe gum disease Tartar build-up, gum recession and gingivitis Tartar build-up and gingivitis in a cat S M A L L A N I M A L N E W S L E T T E R
W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 P A G E 3 What happens during a dental on a dog or cat? Dental work is always done under general anaesthetic in dogs and cats. Your pet s mouth is examined to assess loose or fractured teeth. The teeth are then scaled using an ultrasonic scaler to remove tartar. This allows better visualisation of the teeth and a further assessment is carried out to check if any further treatment such as extractions are required. Extractions are carried out and carefully recorded. Molar teeth often need to be split in to 2 or 3 sections to allow them to be removed more easily. In order to extract larger teeth and canine teeth, sometimes the gum and underlying bone is cut so that the root can be fully removed. The gum is then sutured closed with a dissolvable suture. Lastly the teeth are polished to smooth out any rough areas of the teeth that would make plaque more likely to adhere to. Your pet will be monitored throughout the procedure and recovery time by a qualified veterinary nurse who will then discharge your pet with advice on how best to care for their teeth in the days and weeks to come. You will also receive a chart detailing any extractions your pet has had. Many clients notice a big improvement in their pet s wellbeing following dental treatment suggesting that often there is pain present which does not necessarily prevent the animal from eating. What about rabbits?! Because rabbit s teeth grow continuously, regular dental checks (at least every 6 months) are essential to prevent and monitor for problems. Signs of dental disease in rabbits are problems eating (especially hard foods), excess salivation, not grooming themselves properly affected bunnies may appear to have diarrhea and are prone to maggots in warm weather. Preventing dental problems in rabbits is mainly by diet feeding a pelleted rather than muesli-type food and ensuring there is free access to grass or hay. Above right: overgrown incisors Below right: sharp spurs on molars can cause ulcers on the cheeks and tongue Dental disease in rabbits can cause weight loss, abscesses and predispose to maggot infestations. Top Tips for coping with fireworks November 5th may be over but New Year can also be a stressful time for your pet. Here are a few tips on how to help: Make sure your dog or cat always has somewhere to hide eg under furniture or in a cupboard During firework seasons, walk dogs during daylight hours and keep cats and dogs indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off At nightfall close windows and curtains and put on music or the tv to mask and muffle the sound of fireworks If your pet shows any signs of fear, try to ignore their behaviour. Leave them alone unless they are likely to harm themselves Never punish or fuss over your pet when it s scared as this will only make things worse in the long run Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in a safe and secure environment and can t escape if there s a sudden noise. Have your pet microchipped in case they do escape Medications available include pheromone collars/diffusers (Adaptil & Feliway), a triple action natural calming supplement (Yucalm) and anti-anxiety drugs such as Diazepam. This is only available under prescription from a vet and pets need to have been seen by a vet within the 3 months prior to dispensing
P A G E 4 What could be dangerous for your pet at Christmas? With the festive season fast approaching there are many potentially toxic substances around, that could prove fatal to your pet if ingested. We have a put a list together of the most common Christmas poisons to try and increase owner awareness this season. Chocolate Poisoning Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common toxicities seen at this time of the year. Chocolate contains theobromine which is very toxic to pets and is at its highest concentration in dark chocolate. The most common clinical signs of chocolate poisoning are vomiting and diarrhoea however, theobromine stimulates the central nervous system and the heart so animals can often appear hyperactive with increased heart rates. In the extreme cases animals can develop tremors and convulsions. Plants Although not a festive plant, lilies are very toxic to cats and ingestion can result in kidney failure. Mistletoe ingestion by your pet can cause retching, vomiting and salivation. Although holly berries and ivy are of low toxicity risk to dogs and cats, ivy can be very toxic to rabbits. Ivy can cause muscle twitching, paralysis, convulsions and can cause muscle twitching, paralysis, convulsions and even death if consumed by your rabbit. Grapes, Raisins, Currants and Sultanas The above fruits are very toxic to your pet and ingestion can result in kidney failure. The toxic dose is very variable between individuals. Some dogs are able to eat large quantities with no effects, while others can develop kidney failure after eating only a few grapes. Beware that Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, stolen and mince pies all contain currants, raisins and sultanas! Onions, Garlic, Leek, Shallots and Chives All of the above can cause toxicity even when cooked. Initially vomiting and diarrhoea can occur but a few days later more severe signs such as anaemia can develop. Beware of foods such as onion gravy or sage and onion stuffing! Nuts Peanuts and Macadamia nuts are both poisonous to pets. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle twitching, agitation or occasionally convulsions. If you are concerned your pet may have eaten something poisonous please phone us immediately! The sooner we can see your pet the better! If your pet has recently ingested something poisonous often we can give them an injection to make them vomit and therefore prevent any toxic substance being absorbed into the body. If there is a prolonged time period between ingestion and a vet seeing your pet further treatment may be necessary such as hospitalisation for fluid therapy S M A L L A N I M A L N E W S L E T T E R
W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 P A G E 5 The Behavioural Service We now offer a range of puppy classes to help develop your new pup into a confident and friendly companion. The puppy parties are for young pup s 9-16weeks old and are an opportunity for them to carefully socialise with other dogs and their families. We also go over all different aspects of puppy care such as healthcare & training. These are held on Thursdays 5-6pm. The Puppy School is training classes for young dogs to learn the skills they need to be good canine companions. We teach basic obedience, good manners and some fun mini agility. We have classes on Wednesday evenings in Thornhill or Thursday afternoons in Doune. Clare our resident behaviourist is also on hand to offer advice and training for more complex issues. We offer behavioural consultations and practical training sessions with her, where you can deal with your pet s problems in their home environment. For more information or to book an appointment please contact clare@struthers-scott.co.uk or ask at reception. Christmas Opening Hours Friday 23rd December - Normal Opening Hours Christmas Eve - Normal Opening Hours 9am-12.30pm Christmas Day - Closed - 24hr Emergency Service Only Boxing Day - Closed - 24hr Emergency Service Only Tuesday 27th December - Normal Opening Hours Wednesday 28th December - Normal Opening Hours Thursday 29th December - Normal Opening Hours Friday 30th December - Normal Opening Hours Hogmanay - Normal Opening Hours 9am-12.30pm New Year s Day - Closed - 24hr Emergency Service Only Monday 2nd January - Closed - 24hr Emergency Service Only Tuesday 3rd January - Normal Opening Hours In the event of an emergency please phone 01786 841304 The 24 hour Emergency Service over the Christmas and New Year weekends will be provided by Vet 999, based at Broadleys Veterinary Hospital in Stirling. Please use the above number and your call will be re-directed to them.
P A G E 6 Passive Smoking: the risks to your pet If you are thinking of giving up smoking for your New Year s Resolution, research shows it will not only be beneficial to you but also to your pet s health! An ongoing study by the University of Glasgow shows a direct link between the effects on pets living in a smoking environment and a higher risk of health problems including some animal cancers, cell damage and weight gain. Professor Clare Knottenbelt, Professor of Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at the university s Small Animal Hospital, has been studying the effects of smoking and the health impact it has on family dogs and cats. Professor Knottenbelt said: Our findings show that exposure to smoke in the home is having a direct impact on pets. It risks ongoing cell damage, increasing weight gain after castration and has previously been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers. We have already shown that dogs can take in significant amounts of smoke when living in a smoking household. Our current study in cats, (funded by BSAVA Petsavers) shows that cats are even more affected. This may be due to the extensive self-grooming that cats do, as this would increase the amount of smoke taken in to the body. As an incidental finding, we also observed that dogs living with a smoker owner gained more weight after neutering than those in a non-smoking household. Victoria Smith MRCVS, who is investigating the links between passive smoking and lymphoma, a cancer of the blood cells in cats, said: Our work so far has shown that cats take in significant amounts of smoke and even having outdoor access makes very little difference. Owners who consistently smoked away from the cat did not protect their cat from exposure but did reduce the amount of smoke that was taken into the body. The study has also shown that when owners reduced the total numbers of tobacco products smoked in the home to less than 10 per day the nicotine levels in the hair dropped significantly but were still higher than those in cats from non-smoking homes. When Glasgow researchers examined the testicles of male dogs after they were castrated they found a gene, which acts as a marker of cell damage, was higher in dogs living in smoking homes than those in non -smoking homes. The gene has been shown to be altered in some dog cancers in other studies, so the concern is this could be a worrying indicator. The effect on this gene was reduced when owners chose to smoke outside the home to reduce their pet s exposure. Professor Knottenbelt, commenting further on the research, concluded: We are all aware of the risks to our health of smoking and it is important we do everything we can to encourage people to stop smoking. As well as the risk to the smoker, there is the danger of second-hand smoke to others. Pet owners often do not think about the impact that smoking could have on their pets. Whilst you can reduce the amount of smoke your pet is exposed to by smoking outdoors and by reducing the number of tobacco products smoked by the members of the household, stopping smoking completely is the best option for your pet s future health and wellbeing. S M A L L A N I M A L N E W S L E T T E R