Hi everybody,

My name is Sarah and today I wanted to talk to you about introducing a new pet to your home. Even if you don’t have other pets, there are things that will be stressful to your new pet. You are bringing them into new surroundings they aren’t familiar with, and they need time to adjust to you and everything else in their new home.

I just got a new dog that I am doing this process with right now. The first thing to do to make this process easier on your new pet is to set up a small room in the house for them. I recommend a room that isn’t occupied or needed. You can put blankets, pillows, and toys in there for them, along with food and water, you might even want to add a pet crate that is the appropriate size for your new pet, so that they have somewhere in the room to go if they are uncomfortable. Check in on them and be sure to play with them since it will help you bond.

This should be your pets new room only, while they adjust to the sights, and smells of the room they are in, and from other parts of the house. They can be in their room for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, it is different depending on the pet, and how smooth the transition goes.

Then, when you want to introduce them to more of the house start slow. Take them out to the next room off of the one you made their room, and let them explore a bit. Go slow with them, and make sure they are comfortable. If they show signs they want to go back to their room, take them back to their room, otherwise you will just stress them out and this can cause them to misbehave out of discomfort.

If you have other pets in the house, take your time introducing them. Wait until your new pet has shown they are comfortable in their own room and other parts of the house. This will make introducing them easier, because your new pet won’t be stressed out by the environment too. If you are introducing a new dog to a dog that has been in your home, I recommend having both dogs on leads that aren’t very long. That way it is easier to control both dogs.

When you do introduce your new pet to other pets in the house, make sure you are watching their body language. A word of caution, a dominant aggressive dog will not always give warning before biting. If you see their hair raised,they are standing tall,a stiff tail, they curl their lips up, give low growls or hold ears erect, these are signs they are highly uncomfortable; you should not continue to try and introduce them. Separate them and repeat this process until your new pet and previous pets get along.

If you are introducing a new cat to a new home or previous pets, you can follow the same principles. Again, when you introduce the new cat and previous pet, watch their body language. A cats body language is different from a dogs. If your cat is whipping its tail really quick, lays its ears back against its head, hisses, growls, or puffs up its tail and raises its hair, these are signs they are uncomfortable; you should not continue to try and introduce them. Separate them and repeat the process until they accept each other.

This is one of the best processes I have found and used to introduce a new pet to the home, and other pets. I hope it helps you out as much as it has helped me. Be sure to have fun with your new pet, and keep them healthy and happy.

My pet won’t stop itching!

Does your cat or dog seem to constantly scratch, lick or chew  themselves?  Does your pet have hair loss and/or  bumps or areas of rough skin.  Is your pet’s skin pink to red in color?  Does your pet rub his/her face or groom excessively.  Does your pet have chronic skin or ear infections?  Unfortunately your dog or cat may have allergies.

What exactly is an allergy or allergen?

An allergy is a disease that occurs when a pet’s immune system reacts abnormally to certain substances.  Some of these include:  pollen, mold spores, other animal dander (usually to a parasite such as dust mites and other common household mites), and sometimes food.  The substance that causes the allergic reaction is referred to as an allergen.

Mold spores can also cause allergies.

Why is my pet suffering from an allergic reaction? (The Bathtub Theory)

Picture an empty bathtub.  Slowly it is filling with allergens.  As long as the allergens stay in the bathtub no to mild reactions occur.  When your pet is exposed to allergens frequently, are very allergic to a specific allergen, the bathtub begins to spill over with allergens.  Your pet’s immune system cannot deal with this bombardment of allergens.  This is when an allergic reaction occurs.

How do I treat allergies in my pet?

The first step is to visit your Veterinarian to determine if your pet indeed has allergies.  There are medications such as antihistamines and steroids, along with other types of medications that may be used to treat the symptoms.  These treatments do not address the cause of the problem.

So what can I do to determine the root cause of my pet’s allergies.

There is a blood test from a company called HESKA that determines several specific allergens that your pet may be allergic to.  A simple blood sample is taken by your Veterinarian and sent to the company to have ALLERCEPT testing done.  Within 7-10 buisness days results are sent to your Veterinarian.

So I know my pet’s specific allergens…what do I do now?

HESKA has the ability to create specific ALLERCEPT immunotherapy injections (allergy shots) with a specific formula for your pet’s allergens.  You may be deterred by the thought of giving your pet shots.  You will be shown by the Veterinarian or Licensed Veterinary Technician how to give these simple injections with a very small needle.  Not only are ALLERCEPT immunotherapy injections cost-effective, but it will hopefully save visits to your Veterinarian for chronic allergy problems.

What if my pet is intolerant of injections?

HESKA does have an alternative to immunotherapy injections.  A sublingual drop to be given orally twice daily is available too.

How do I get my pet tested?

Contact your Veterinarian to see if they participate with HESKA’s ALLERCEPT blood testing.  If they do not, the staff at Windsor Animal Clinic would be glad to have a consult with you and your pet.  If is is advisable we will recommend the test.  Our goal is to treat the cause of the allergy issue.  Immunotherapy injections will not cure the disease, but it will most likely decrease symptoms safe and efficiently.

What exactly is a cold laser?

A cold laser is a machine that emits specific wavelengths of light to help treat pain and discomfort in specific areas of your pet.  This light energy enters cells that are damaged and causes activity within the cells.  By increasing activity within the cell itself, pain and discomfort may be diminished by reducing inflammation,  improving blood circulation, as well as enhance cellular recovery.

What is involved in cold laser therapy administration?

The cold laser is specifically set for the area where your pet needs treatment.  Different affected areas need specific wavelength frequencies and time to treat the area of pain, discomfort, or injury.  After the machine is ready, the probe is placed on the specific area and is slowly manipulated around the joint and area of pain.  This process ranges in time due to the area that is being treated and why it is being treated.  It is a painless procedure which may be used in adjunct with medications to treat discomfort.  Cold laser therapy, in some cases, may decrease the need of medication.  The ultimate goal is making your pet feel better and improvement is usually seen after one to three treatments with the cold laser.

How often will my pet need a treatment?

The number of treatments depends on the type of injury or pain your pet has.  For example, a dog with a sprained hock (ankle) may only need one to a few treatments.  Whereas a dog with a chronic condition, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia, may need more treatments initially, then receive maintenance treatments once to twice monthly.  A specific plan will be made for your pet depending on their needs.

The Goal:

The goal of cold laser therapy is to treat pain and inflammation at the cellular level.  This technology has been researched and several case studies have shown a positive outcome by using the cold laser.  No one wants their four-legged loved one to be suffering at any level.  It is very possible that completing a cold laser therapy series (number of sessions specific for your pet) can reduce pain and inflammation thereby allowing your pet to live a healthier and possibly pain-free life.  If you think cold laser therapy may benefit your pet, contact your veterinarian to see if they offer this service or can recommend a clinic that does integrate the cold laser into their pain management protocol.

Need for Dental Care:

Our four-legged friends need dental care too.  Dental disease can cause not only bad breath, gingivitis, tooth decay and loss, but it can also cause damage to your pet’s kidneys, liver, and heart.  Therefore, maintaining a healthy mouth is a great way to help with your pet’s overall health.

What is a dental prophylaxis (cleaning)?

A dental prophylaxis is just like a cleaning for a human, except our patients don’t sit quietly and say ahhh!  General anesthesia is required to complete a dental prophylaxis.  Your pet’s pet’s teeth are scaled, polished, and flouride treatment applied.  In some cases an ultrasonic scaler is utilized to remove the large amounts of tartar, then hand scaling is used to work in small areas and to work under the gum line.

Polishing is done not only to freshen your pet’s breath, but to remove the tiny etching that can occur on your pet’s teeth during the scaling process.  By leaving a smooth surface it is not as easy for bacteria to accumulate which will eventually lead to plaque and tartar.

To finish a dental prophylaxis a flouride treatment is applied.  This helps leave the enamel stronger and also freshens your pet’s breath.

Potential Problems with your Pet’s Teeth

One of the most common problems associated with pets’ mouths is plaque/tartar and gingivitis.  To check if your dog or cat  has gingivitis lift up his/her lip and look for a bright pink to reddish line right above and below your pets teeth.  Gingivitis means bacteria!    Some gingivitis is so severe that the bacteria actually travel through the blood stream to the heart, liver, and kidneys.   By having a dental prophylaxis completed on your pet, gingivitis is reduced when bacteria-ridden tartar and plaque is removed.

Sometimes your pet may have caries (cavity) in which the most common treatment is extraction of the tooth.  Holes in the teeth can lead to pulp and nerve exposure which is very painful for your pet.  By removing the tooth, the source of pain and potential infection is removed.  At Windsor Animal Clinic we utilize the use of dental x-rays to visualize the whole tooth if needed for extraction.

Pre-surgical Bloodwork

In many cases, especially due to the age of your pet, Dr. Cripps may elect to perform pre-surgical bloodwork.   This is a good way to “take a peek” into your pet’s metabolic function of organs such as kidneys, liver, check glucose levels for diabetes, and other important factors such as hydration status.  This allows Dr. Cripps to make sure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

Anesthetic Monitoring

At Windsor Animal Clinic we believe monitoring anesthesia is of utmost importance.  We monitor EKG, pulse oximetry (oxygen saturation in the bloodstream), oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange, and heart rate.  Along with state of the art monitors, there is always a technician present to do “hands on” monitoring.

Prevention is key

As stated above monitoring your pet’s oral health is very important.  If a dental prophylaxis is recommended it is a good idea to pursue.  If oral health is ignored your pet may develop periodontal disease, abcesses, teeth that must be extracted, and of course may negatively effect kidney, liver, and heart function.  All this is prevented by maintaining good oral health.

So at your next visit, pay close attention to Dr. Cripps recommendation regarding your pet’s teeth and oral health.  In the long run you are helping to maintain a healthy pet…after all pets have teeth too!

Hello!

And sorry about the gap in posts, this year has started off with a bang already!

I thought it was a perfect time for me to talk about pet allergies, since I am beginning to suffer from them myself.

Like humans, pets can suffer from allergies. The definition of allergy is a disease in which the immune system reacts abnormally to everyday substances, such as pollens, animal danders, mites and certain foods.  An allergic reaction can be caused by inhalation, digestion, or direct skin contact.

In animals, these allergies are usually categorized as three different types; atopy (environmental), flea allergy, and food allergy.

Atopy – This is what we commonly think of as allergies.  These are the grasses, trees, flowers, etc. that trigger the word allergy in our minds most often.  Pets can be allergic to many things, even other animals’ dander!  They can also be allergic to trees, weeds, grasses, dust and storage mites, molds and fungi.  These can be, but aren’t always, seasonal. The most common symptoms to watch for are:

*Scratching, biting, and chewing at skin

*Excessive face rubbing or grooming

*Hair loss

*Red, irritated looking skin

*Chronic ear infections

These most often occur in “hot spot” areas like the belly, feet, base of the tail, and face. Sneezing and coughing has also been observed, but less commonly than the signs listed above. There are blood tests that can be done to check for this kind of allergy, and those can even tell you what the pet is allergic to so that a treatment plan can be formulated.  Some companies, such as Heska, even make injections for the maintenance of allergies in dogs and cats.  Please consult a Veterinarian for details, as other possible causes can exist to make your pet itch, like skin infections, dry skin, or fleas, and they will discuss testing options for your particular case.

Flea allergy – Aside from the “regular” itch of having fleas ( which should be still be addressed due to other health concerns), some pets can actually have a more severe allergic reaction to flea bites.  These pets can be so sensitive that even one flea bite every few weeks can keep them itching and uncomfortable!  These animals commonly will have more irritation near the base of the tail and the lower half of the spine compared to other areas, but this is something that your Veterinarian can help you to determine.  Many of the blood allergy tests will also check for a flea allergy with the other items, and this may mean a more personalized flea/tick preventative program, or an added treatment option.

Food Allergy – This allergy actually has to do with immune reactions to food ingredients being ingested.  This is usually a protein, can cause inflammation and irritation to the digestive system, and can occur at any age. Common symptoms can include:

*Vomiting and/or diarrhea

*Flatulence

*Frequent scratching and hair loss

*Red, irritated skin and/or chronic ear problems

*Coughing, wheezing and/or sneezing

This one is a little tougher.  After seeing your pet, your Veterinarian may choose to start with a “food trial”.  This would involve starting him/her either on a hydrolysed prescription food (which coats the proteins to help with gut irritation while passing through the digestive system), or a food with a “novel” or “new” protein and grain.  This means trying to find a food that your pet’s digestive system has not seen before.  For example, switching him/her from a beef and wheat – based kibble to a salmon and potato – based one.  Your Vet can help you with this, as many pet foods have multiple proteins and grains in them.  This food trial will need to take place over a long period of time to see if it helps or not, and many recommend continuing with it over the course of about three months.  This also means that the pet can have ONLY that food and water, which means NO people food, NO treats.  These also have some of the ingredients that you are trying to avoid with the new food.  Also, it doesn’t take much to start your dog itching again.  Many times, one small bite of food can cause weeks of itching, proportions don’t matter in the allergy department!  This can also make it harder to decide if the food trial is working or not, since the itching may continue due to a beefy treat, or some dropped chicken from dinner.

Sometimes pets can have multiple allergies, meaning they could have a flea AND a food allergy, or atopy AND food, or even all three!  This is where regular communication with you Vet can come in handy, to see if allergy treatments need to be combined, switched, or new plans need to be formulated to address all avenues of your pet’s allergies.

I am sure that after all of this information, you are wondering “Why bother with all of this when I can just give my dog or cat steroids?”

Well, it is kind of a long answer. All of the tests mentioned above are to find a long-term,  non-steroidal method of treatment for your pet.  While the short-term use of steroids can be safe and effective when given properly, long-term use not only means the underlying cause is not being addressed, it can also have long-term effects on your pet!

Steroids can have short-term side effects that include:

• Increased hunger, thirst and urination
• Increased panting (especially dogs)
• General loss of energy, and less commonly, vomiting and/or nausea
• Development or worsening of infections (especially bacterial skin infections)

And long-term effects can include:

• poor wound healing ability
• development of thin skin, blackheads and a poor or thin hair coat
• muscle weakness secondary to protein breakdown
• development of hard plaques or spots on the skin,which are the result of calcium deposition in the skin.
• increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections, fungal infections and sometimes development of adult onset demodectic mange.
• Predisposition to diabetes mellitus, pancreatitus, blood clots, and ulcers
• A pot belly, which often signals the presence of Cushing’s disease
  

So, I hope you find this information useful, and for more information on skin conditions of many kinds, feel free to visit the Windsor Animal Clinic web page by clicking on the picture below!