Tuesday, April 26, 2011

5 common myths about veterinary anesthesia

Myth: Anesthesia complications are common.
Fact: Don't let horror stories prevent your pet from recieving necessary vet care. Complications do occur but are rare. Studies suggest that for normal healthy cats and dogs the risk of death is 1 in 2000. For animals with pre-existing disease that number increases to about 1 in 500. Here at AVH we have a well trained veterinary staff that take every precuation. We even have a Registered Vet Technician with a specialty in Anesthesia. We have appropriate monitors to help minimize these risks.


Lisa our RVT, VTS (Anesthesia) monitoring a patient while
Dr. Neilan performs a surgical procedure.
 Myth: Most complications occur during a procedure while my pet is asleep.
Fact: Almost half of anesthesia deaths occur after the delivery of anesthetic drugs during the recovery period. Ask the veterinarian of a rundown of how your pet will be cared for. Here at our hospital we actually have a designated recovery ward nurse dedicated to each patient in the recovery ward.

Myth: Most veterinarians provide a similiar level of anesthetic care.
Fact: Each veterinary clinic has a different way of doing things. Some may have boarded veterinary anesthesiologists while others rely on an in house team. If you have questions or concerns ask your veterinarian before your pet undergoes any anesthetic procedures.

Myth: The internet is the most reliable sorce for information about potential risks.
Fact: While some sites offer riliable information plenty can contain inconsistancies or flat out mislead you. So don't be fooled by misinformation which can spread quickly from website to website. Do your research, ask the veterinarian for the most accurate picture. This should help you get rid your mind of a few unfounded fears.

Myth: Certain anesthetic drugs could harm my pet.
Fact: In fact monitroing the pets condition (like anesthesia depth, blood oxygenation, respiration, blood pressure, body temperature and electrical activity of the heart) during a procedure is much more important than which drug protocol is used. Seldom is one drug better or worse than another since they all have benefits and risks. Certainly if the patient is compromised ( ie. liver or heart disease) then the selection of dugs that we are able to use,  decreases.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Keep your pet safe this Easter!

As Easter approaches, many of us look forward to the excitement of Easter festivities like Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, and parades. But the joys of Easter can mean danger for your pets. To keep your pet safe, you should be aware of some common Easter pet problems.

Easter Lillies (and others such as the day lily and the tiger lily). For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life -- the spiritual essence of Easter. Cat owners, however, need to be especially careful with these beautiful flowers because their leaves contain toxins that can cause severe kidney damage. So far, toxicity has not been reported in dogs.

Eating just one leaf of this toxic plant can result in severe poisoning and within a short time your cat will exhibit signs of toxicity.Minutes to hours after ingestion, your cat may stop eating and begin vomiting. As the toxins begin to affect the kidneys, your pet may become lethargic, and within five days, kidney failure will cause death.

If you suspect your cat has eaten part of a lily plant, it is important that you contact your veterinarian immediately. If treatment is started early, chances for recovery are good, but once the kidneys have been severely affected, your cat may not survive.

Obviously, the best prevention of lily toxicity is to keep the plants away from your kitty. If you bring Easter lilies into the house, keep them in a separate room where your nibbling cat cannot enter.

Plastic Easter Grass and Other Goodies. Like children, cats and dogs love to nibble on goodies in the Easter basket. Unfortunately, our curious pets enjoy everything in the basket, even the colorful plastic grass, toys and foil-wrappers on candies.

Take care to keep Easter baskets away from your dog and your cat. The plastic in Easter grass is non-digestible and can get caught in the intestines, leading to blockage and possible perforation. Cats love string-like objects and often play with the grass before eating it. Once ingested, the grass, as well as small plastic toys, can cause choking or become lodged in the stomach or intestines and create an obstruction.

Your pet may also ingest ribbons, bows, streamers and other decorative items – even ribbons and bows tied around their necks. Don't be tempted to decorate your puppy or kitty; they don't enjoy it and it may result in choking or strangulation. Keep these items away from your pet and throw candy wrappers in a covered trash can.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested something that may not pass through his intestinal tract, contact your veterinarian. Waiting until your dog or cat starts to vomit will make removal of the object more difficult and costly. Also, if you notice a sudden loss of appetite, vomiting, excessive drooling or abnormal bowel movements, consult with your veterinarian immediately.

Chocolate Toxicity. Did you know that chocolate can poison your pet? Chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs, and other candies and wrappers can become lodged in the stomach or cause your pet to choke.

Chocolate has a high fat content and contains caffeine and theobromine, which stimulate the nervous system and can be toxic if taken in large amounts. Depending on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount eaten, various problems can occur.White chocolate has the least amount of stimulants and baking chocolate has the highest. Here is a list of the most common sources of chocolate and the amount leading to toxicity:
  • White Chocolate: Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 45 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe toxicity occurs when 90 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that a 20-pound dog would need to ingest at least 55 pounds of white chocolate to cause nervous system signs. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 27 pounds. These high amounts mean that theobromine toxicity from white chocolate is highly unlikely.

  • Milk Chocolate: Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 2 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that a little less than one pound of milk chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 1/2 pound.


  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 1/3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 1 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that as little as 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 3 ounces.

  • Instant Cocoa: Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 1/3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 1 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that as little as 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 3 ounces.

  • Baking Chocolate: Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.1 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 0.3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Two small one-ounce squares of baking chocolate can be toxic to a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 1 ounce of baking chocolate. This type of chocolate has the highest concentration of caffeine and theobromine and very little needs to be ingested before signs of illness become apparent.

    Once toxic levels are eaten, you may notice restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination, and excessive panting. The high fat content in chocolate can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

    Make sure that chocolate is kept in a safe place. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate, consult your veterinarian immediately. Animals treated for chocolate toxicity generally recover and return to normal within 24 to 48 hours.

  • Thursday, April 7, 2011

    Spring is here, and so is thunderstorm season! Is your pet ready?

    Thundershirt's are an excellent treatment for most types of dog anxiety and fear issues. For many anxieties, we recommend just putting on a Thundershirt and observing the results (No training!). You very well may see significant improvement for noise, crate, travel, barking and others with absolutely no training. For more complicated anxiety cases, we recommend using Thundershirt as part of a behavior modification program.
    One thing is for certain, for a very large percentage of dogs, Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a terrific calming effect. This has obvious benefits for most types of anxiety. But Thundershirt is also a very useful tool for managing excitability or hyperactivity with strangers, on the leash, or in a training environment. Thundershirt’s calming effect helps a dog to focus (or refocus) her energies in a more constructive direction, allowing training to be more effective.

    Frequently Asked Questions               

    Why does Thundershirt work?



    Thundershirt’s patent-pending design is a pressure wrap that applies a gentle, constant pressure on a dog’s torso. A survey of Thundershirt users shows that over 80% of dogs show significant improvement in at least one anxiety symptom when using Thundershirt.
    Using pressure to relieve anxiety has been a common practice for years. For example:
    • dog trainers use pressure to address a variety of anxieties.
    • Veterinarians use pressure to relax cattle and cats when they are administering vaccinations.
    • Some autistic people use pressure to relieve their persistent anxiety.
    Until now, there just hasn’t been a well-designed, inexpensive pressure wrap commonly used for canine anxiety.

    What training is required for using Thundershirt for anxiety and fear issues?



    For many types of anxiety… none! Just put Thundershirt onto your dog and you will likely see results with the very first usage. However, for some dogs, it may take two to three usages to see results. For some more serious anxiety cases, such as severe separation anxiety, you should consult a good trainer for how to integrate Thundershirt into a training program.

    Can I wash and dry Thundershirt? Remove hair from Velcro hooks?



    Thundershirt is made with durable, washable fabric. When necessary, Thundershirt may be washed in a regular cycle using regular laundry detergent and warm water. Hang to dry.

    How long can I leave a Thundershirt on my dog?



    Thundershirt is designed to be safe to leave on your dog for extended periods of time when appropriate for the situation or issue that you are addressing.  Thundershirt is made out of light-weight, breathable fabric, so over-heating is very rarely an issue.  It is typically safe to leave a dog unsupervised while wearing a Thundershirt.

    How do I put Thundershirt onto my dog?



    The Thundershirt is designed to be easy to put on your dog, even if she/he is already in a state of anxiety.

    Is there any special sizing and fit considerations for male dogs?



    When fitting a Thundershirt on a male dog, the straps that go around the stomach area should not cover or push on the genitals or prepuce.  If the Thundershirt rubs against the genitals or prepuce, irritation may result.

    What size is right for my dog?




    Size
    Chest Size
    Weight
    XXS
    9"-13.5"
    < 12 lbs.
    XS
    13"-18"
    10-18 lbs.
    S
    16"-23"
    15-25 lbs.
    M
    18"-26"
    20-50 lbs.
    L
    24"-32"
    40-70 lbs.
    XL
    31"-40"
    60-110 lbs.
    XXL
    38"-50"
    > 110 lbs.

    Measure “Chest Size” as illustrated by red arrow below



    Thundershirt comes in seven different sizes… XXL, XL, L, M, S, XS, and XXS. See the table to find the right size for your dog. Like people, dogs come in many different shapes and sizes, so if your dog has unusual proportions, you may need to go up or down a size versus the “standard” measurements. But the Thundershirt is designed to be very adjustable to accommodate different dog shapes and still be easy to put on.

    Is overheating a concern when using a Thundershirt?



    Except in extreme conditions (e.g. 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the sun), overheating is not typically a concern when using a Thundershirt. Dogs cool themselves primarily through their mouths and paws, and a Thundershirt is constructed of a thin, breathable fabric. The state of Florida is one of our biggest markets. But if you feel that overheating might be a problem for your particular circumstance, please monitor your dog for any signs of overheating such as heavy panting or tongue hanging out of the mouth. Remove the Thundershirt if you see any signs of overheating.

    Thundershirt is designed to be safe to leave on your dog for extended periods of time when appropriate for the situation or issue that you are addressing.  Thundershirt is made out of light-weight, breathable fabric, so over-heating is very rarely an issue.  It is typically safe to leave a dog unsupervised while wearing a Thundershirt.

    For many types of anxiety… none! Just put Thundershirt onto your dog and you will likely see results with the very first usage. However, for some dogs, it may take two to three usages to see results. For some more serious anxiety cases, such as severe separation anxiety, you should consult a good trainer for how to integrate Thundershirt into a training program.


    Call us today if your are interested about Thundershirts for your pet!