Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

Aldie Veterinary Hospital Aldie Vet Pet Gazette 1 1 Volume:4, Issue: 1 Sept. 1, 2007 OWNING A GERIATRIC ANIMAL WrittenBy: Michelle Jones Pets are an important part of the family. As they get older, there are many health issues that can affect their ability to continue to be active members of the family. Among these are arthritis, organ function problems, endocrine/hormone changes, and cognitive (senility) issues. When your pet becomes geriatric, we recommend having an annual geriatric health screen so that we can detect any potential health problems before they affect your pet s quality of life. Although, these health issues can affect pets at any age, the likelihood increases as they become older. There are signs you can watch out for at home that are early indicators of disease. At what age is your pet a senior citizen? Large breed dogs who are older than 7-8 years old. Small breed dogs who are older than 9 years old. Cats who are older than 9-10 years old. Signs to watch for at home: Changes in your pet s normal routine can be a sign of a change in health status. A loss of appetite can be a sign of an organ function problem like kidney or liver disease, or a sign of a primary gastrointestinal (stomach or intestinal tract) disease. Vomiting or diarrhea can also be signs of those types of conditions. An increase in appetite in cats can be a sign of a change in thyroid gland function. An increase in water consumption can be a sign of an endocrine condition like diabetes mellitus or Cushing s disease or of a change in kidney function. Changes in ability to get up and down the stairs or stiffness first thing in the morning can be a sign of arthritis. Changes in the hair coat can be a sign of an endocrine condition, allergies, or a decrease in the animal s ability to groom itself. A difference in the stool could show a decreased ability to digest his or her food well, or a gastrointestinal issue. Coughing can be a sign of lung disease or a sign of cardiac (heart) disease. Restlessness or panting at night can be a sign of cognitive function changes or a sign of a heart problem. Weight loss could result from an organ function problem, or a chronic disease like cancer. Changes in housebreaking can be a sign of cognitive dysfunction (senility) or of a kidney or urinary tract condition. What is the geriatric health screen? This is a series of health tests that allow us to check on the overall health of your pet. These test give us a good idea of your pet s current health, Continued on Pg. 3 Throughout September Receive 20% off Geriatric Work Up s Valerie Crocker, Kennel Assistant Inside this issue: Owning A Geriatric Animal Meet Our New Employee s Companion to Competitor: Dock Diving Test your knowledge: Quiz Time for a PAWS: Primping between Pampering P.1,3 P.1,2 P. 2 P. 4 P. 5 Treat Corner P. 6 Meet Our New Employee s Valerie joined our practice in June as a kennel assistant. Valerie really likes working here because of her love for animals. Valerie is enrolled at NVCC and will be taking some veterinary classes. After college she would like to be a Veterinarian. Valerie likes watching movies, Italian food and sleeping. Continued on P. 2 P. 1 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

Companion To Competitor This issue Dock Jumping Written by: Michelle Jones 2 2 What is North America s fastest growing canine competition? That s right, you guessed it: Dock Jumping. Dock Jumping or Big Air as it is commonly known, is a relatively new sport. Started in the late 1990 s, dock jumping has grown rapidly in just a few short years. The concept of big air is simple: A handler and a dog work together as a team. The handler throws a retrievable object into the pool. The dog runs down the dock. Jumps off and... Retrieves the object. The Winner? The dog that jumps the farthest. tions just as in any other sport. So be sure to do your research. There are several organizations or clubs in the area that I have found such as Dock Dogs and Splash Dogs. These clubs are a great way to meet people and learn more about the sport. Pictured below is Kayla Thompson. Kayla and her family recently joined the dock dog big air family. Kayla is 4 year old yellow lab, at her first Dock Dogs Air Dog Competition at Smith Mountain Lake. Kayla placed 2nd in the Junior division and got a total The Thompson Family What's great about this sport is that its open to all breeds or non-pure breeds, regardless of age or size. There are rules and regulations for big air competiof 3 medals: Meet Our New Employee s Continued from p. 1 2nd place in the Junior Division A qualifier medal in the Junior Division A Senior Division qualifier medal. So if your dog loves to run, jump, fetch and splash this may be the sport for you and your four legged companion. For further information go to Websites: www.dockdogs.com www.splashdog.com www.performancedogs.net Some floatable retrievable devices. Katie Gaspard, Kennel Assistant Katie moved here from Louisiana in 2005. Katie has 3 dogs Patches, Ben and Sugar. Who by the way are her world. She joined the Aldie Vet team in 2007 as a kennel assistant and states She couldn t have been blessed with a better job. P. 2 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

OWNING A GERIATRIC ANIMAL, Continued from Pg. 1 and acts as a baseline in case your pet becomes ill in the future. They are also important to assess your animal s risk level for anesthesia for routine procedures like dental cleanings or for an emergency situation. Included are a CBC, a chemistry profile, a thyroid function test, radiographs (x-rays) of your pet s chest and abdomen, and a urine test. The CBC (complete blood cell count) tests your pet s red blood cells that carry oxygen to the cells of the body. A low red blood cell count (anemia) can cause signs of lethargy, fatigue, and susceptibility to disease. The CBC also tests white blood cells that fight infection, and platelets that affect the blood s ability to clot (stop bleeding) if the animal is injured and bleeding. The chemistry profile checks for organ function by evaluating the levels of certain enzymes (proteins) in the blood that are affected by different organs in the body. If these values are normal, we can determine that these organs are healthy and functioning normally. This is a screening test, meaning that if abnormal values are found, then we may need to do additional testing to determine why those values are abnormal. The chemistry profile also checks for blood glucose levels (sugar), which is a way to test for diabetes. The thyroid function test tells us about the function of the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone affects the animal s overall rate of metabolism, and therefore can affect your pet s energy level, weight, and appetite. Radiographs of the chest and abdomen give us a picture of the size and shape of the lungs, heart, liver, stomach, kidneys, intestinal tract, bladder, and the bones of the spine, hips, and ribs. They can help see signs of early heart disease that can show up as an enlarged heart. They can help us see anything from a mass in the abdomen, that could be a tumor to conditions like kidney stones, or arthritis in the spine. A urine test can be used to monitor kidney function as well as to check for signs of kidney or bladder stones, urinary tract infections, diabetes, or diseases that cause protein loss through the urine. Preventative health care for your senior pet: Schedule an Annual geriatric Advancedpetfoods.com health screen as discussed above. If your pet has an existing problem, we may need to do check-ups more often. The veterinarian will create a treatment plan personalized for your pet s individual case 3 3 Vaccine protocol this may change for your senior pet compared to what is recommended when your pet is a middle-aged adult, just as it changed from when he/she was a puppy. Ask your veterinarian about what vaccines are appropriate for your geriatric pet. Dietary needs are different for older pets, especially ones with health problems. Ask the veterinarian about your pet s case. In some cases, vitamin or other nutritional supplements may be appropriate. Ask your veterinarian. Throughout September Receive 20% off Geriatric Work Up s Call and schedule your animals appointment today!!! Pooh Stevenson Karen Stevenson P. 3 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

Test Your Knowledge: OWNING A GERIATRIC ANIMAL QUIZ By: Kim Haugli Bellow is our Owning a Geriatric Animal Quiz. What to do? Answer the questions correctly. Send your answers to: aldievet@email.com ATT: Quiz 4 4 First 10 submissions with the correct answers will win a: FREE NAIL TRIM (Winner s will be contacted by phone) 1. At what age is my cat considered geriatric? A) 6-7 years B) 7-9 years C) 9-11 years D) 11 + years 2. True or False? All dogs around the age of 9 years are considered geriatric. 3. Why do we test for thyroid problems in particular, along with the normal geriatric health screen? 4. Why is it necessary to take x-rays of my geriatric pet? 5. Why should I do a geriatric health screen on my pet every year? 6. True of False? A geriatric health screen is not necessary, as long as your pet looks and acts healthy. 7. Should my pet be vaccinated at all if it is geriatric? P. 4 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

Time for a PAWS Primping between Pampering By: Pam Gibson, CPG The last article started off introducing Fefe and the groomer, with an introduction to the 5 5 grooming process. In this article I would like to take a few minutes of your time to take this a step further. Most dogs should be groomed every 3-8 weeks depending on the breed. If this is not in your budget, you might like to do some of this at home to stretch out professional grooming appointments. Here are some tips to consider when grooming at home, and what you can do between routine visits to your professional groomer. You are the proud owner of Fefe, and have committed yourself to the best care you can provide for her. This happened the day you brought her home. She has her routine veterinary visits, and sometimes the not so routine ones. She has her routine grooming visits as well. In between regular grooming visits you can also take some time to keep Fefe looking her best. You can check Fefe s coat, skin, teeth, ears, and nails making note of anything you find that appears to be irregular then let your veterinarian or groomer know. Let s start off with the basics: Brushing/Combing, Bathing, Ear cleaning, Eye cleaning, Teeth Brushing, Nail Trimming/Clean pads and Anal Sacs. The breed and type of coat will determine how often you will need to pay attention to her coat. It does not matter if Fefe is an Afghan Hound or a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless); this is a way of bonding with Fefe and socializing with you the Owner. Brushing/combing: Depending on the breed there are several kinds of brushes available. The best by far for a breed with hair/fur is a Universal Slicker Brush. Used properly this will get out most undercoat or matting/tangles. A Greyhound comb should also be used. The comb can help you find the mats/tangles you may have missed with the brush. A pin brush may be required if you have a long coated breed. These items can be found at most pet stores or on line. Ask your professional groomer for recommendations on which brushes to use. Regular brushing allows you to check for foreign bodies, parasites and any skin irritations. Regular brushing also helps to keep shedding/matting under control. Bathing: Only use shampoos that are recommended for dogs, or your particular breed. A Schnauzer Corgi mix will need a different shampoo than a hairless Chinese Crested. Read the label, ask your groomer or your veterinarian what they recommend. Always rinse thoroughly with clean water until the water runs clear. Do not forget to rinse the under belly and armpits, this is a place where shampoo can build up. Use only warm water; the outside hose is too cold. Towel dry Fefe off, and blow-dry if needed. Hairless breeds require oil this would be the time to apply some. Once dry, brush and comb out Fefe. (Ask your groomer about the different types of oils that are out there) Ear cleaning: This should be done at least once a month again depending on the breed and type of activity. Only clean the outer part of the ear, using cotton ball with veterinarian approved ear cleaner. If Fefe is prone to ear infections this may need to be done more often, as prescribed by your veterinarian. Never put any probe inside your dogs ear canal. If your veterinarian has recommended it, pluck the hair out of Fefe s ears. Eye cleaning: Use a moist cotton ball to clean away any discharge away from the corners of Fefe s eyes. Teeth Brushing: Use toothpaste designed for dogs (no human toothpaste). Any toothbrush will do, but there are some designed just for our pets. This can make it easier to accomplish the task at hand. Starting Fefe off as a puppy will also help to make the job easier as she gets older and may even cut down on the amount of tartar build up. Check with your veterinarian on how to properly brush Fefe s teeth, they will be more than happy to show you. Nail trimming/clean pads: Depending on the type of surface Fefe is walking on (concrete or asphalt) will help determine how often this needs to be done. Keeping the nails trimmed will help keep the paws healthy. Trimming the hair on the underside of the pads is an important part of balance and grip. Could you imagine a basketball player playing basketball on a court in socks? Mojo before his groom The Myers Family Anal sacs: These are scent glands that are normally expressed during a regular bowel movement.. You may notice while bathing Fefe that each side of the anus is unusually swollen or may have a lump under the skin. Sometimes they can be come irritated and Fefe needs help expressing them. You may have noticed Fefe skiing or scooting across the carpet, licking or trying to scratch the anus. You may even smell a foul odor. At this point a trip to your veterinarian is recommended. By primping Fefe at home between professional grooming appointments, you may notice that she looks better and seems happier. Whether you wish to keep Fefe in that nice long coat that you have seen on the Westminster dogs, or a short hair cut, personal care for Fefe at home between professional grooming appointments can help make this happen. Mojo after his groom The Myers Family P. 5 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette

ALDIE VET PET GAZETTE FALL NEWSLETTER: SEPTEMBER 1, 2007 Send us your favorite pet pictures, stories and jokes for our future newsletters. 66 Please include name, bio (of pet) and brief story on how the picture came to be. We look forward to your entries. 43083 Peacock Market Plaza # 140 South Riding, VA. 20152 Email: aldievet@email.com Att: Newsletter Phone: 703-327-0909 Fax: 703-327-3969 E-mail: aldievet@email.com We Treat Your Animals as we do our own! The VanDyke Family Yodatwango.com Treat Corner By: Dr. Jodi Carlson, VMD This is a recipe I developed for one of my dog s with chronic anal sac problems. The pumpkin helped, but watch out these are NOT low calorie cookies so they should be offered in limited numbers. FROSTY PAWS 32 oz plain or vanilla yogurt 1 ripe banana 2 tablespoons smooth all natural peanut butter (no sugar or salt) 2 tablespoons honey SILLY TILLY S PUMPKIN COOKIES 2 cups flour ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup rolled oats 2 eggs 1 and ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 cups canned pumpkin (not pie mix) ½ teaspoon nutmeg 1 and ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon baking soda 2/3 cup vegetable oil Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl beat eggs, add vegetable oil, vanilla and pumpkin. Mix well. Gradually mix in dry ingredients. Batter will be stiff. Place teaspoons of batter on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Combine all ingredients in food processor and puree. Transfer to Dixie cups, filling about 3/4 full. Place on tray or baking sheet and transfer to freezer. Once frozen place in zip-lock bags. To serve, pop the paws out of the cups into dog bowl. Note: Kind of messy to eat so be prepared for the mess!!! P. 6 Aldie Vet Pet Gazette