Kim's view...

My experience in Todos Santos was something I will always remember....

My first day was very overwhelming, the chairs were lined with people, children and of course their pets. I was sure we would be there for the night, doing vaccines and surgeries, but by 6 p.m. the team had finished.  It didn’t seem possible, but then I realized it would happen again every day for a week. By midweek routines were down and it was like a fine running machine.  At that point I was able to begin truly enjoying everything about Todas Sandos. The country side is beautiful, and though their way of life is far different than my own, there was always a wave, hola and a smile! The children to me are little gems.  A simple sticker lights up their faces...I can’t express enough how they warmed my heart and made me realize we should all be thankful for what we have, should it be little or a lot! Our mission was to educate the people about pet care, spay/neuter and vaccinate their pets. By Friday afternoon our lines were gone and we had accomplished our goal! I met some of the nicest people that made up our volunteer team, and I can’t thank them all enough for making it memorable.-- Kim

A word from Natalie....

Once again I had the privilege of returning to Todos Santos to be a part of the Rabies/sterilization campaign. It’s a 10 day event I look forward to every year.

Loading up the van, securing the totes.

Educational day in the community

            Last year Allandale took on the responsibility of helping two young boys continue their education. Unlike Canada it costs to continue education past the primary grades in Todos Santos and many are unable to do so as it is a very poor region. We had two young house boys named Mario and Christino at the hotel we stayed at last year.  They always seemed to be there: at 5 am when I got up and 10 pm when we went to bed. We inquired through our translators why they were not in school and found out about the cost of continuing education. Both boys come from an underprivileged background and needed to work to support their families. They were only 14 and 16 years old!! They were such hard workers and always had smiles on their faces.  We felt we had to help them. We approached the program directors to ask what it would take and found out what we needed to raise for the boys to go back to school.

Both boys have done very well and their grades have improved over the course of the year. I was so excited to hear how happy they both are to be attending school and they want to continue to do so. Mario evens plays in the school band!! Some of the money we send is to allow the boys to do their homework at the internet café. They need the computers and a printer to complete their assignments and it costs for the time on the computers. This year we are hoping to raise funds to purchase two gently used laptops and printers so they can do their homework from the convenience of their own home instead of having to line up (and spend money) at the café. The boys worked so hard at helping us when we are in Todos Santos that I think it would be a much appreciated thank you present.

            We were approached by The GAAP program director as the younger siblings of both boys have expressed an interest in continuing their education when they finish their primary school this year. What started out as a project to help the animals has snowballed into helping the humans as well.

Helping to restrain a kitty for vaccines

            I look forward to the year ahead; to receiving updates on Mario and Christino, fund raising for a cause I truly believe in and returning next year to continue the work in a community I have grown to love.

Through education and support we are helping a whole community become a better place to live.

- Natalie

The countdown is on...

Once the team lands in Guatemala City the next morning, they have approximately an eight hour dive into Todos Santos.

The time is near- two week today until our team departs for the long journey to Todos Santos Guatemala. Everyone is getting excited, and we are very busy preparing for the trip. Melissa and Kim are busily going over the inventory and items needed for the voyage. Be sure to stay tuned, as we will be blogging daily (or at least will try to) about our daily adventure and keep you all up to date.


It looks like this year we will be joining veterinarians and technicians from other parts of the world as well helping towards this great cause. Once again we cannot thank the tremendous support from everyone that has helped us along the way. THANK YOU! Signing off until we post again...
Buenos tardes!

"Check" it out- The top pet health needs of 2015!

A loving home goes a long way toward the health but its not the be all and end all. Check out our list of your pets top health care needs in 2015!

A physical exam. This is the most important part of an annual wellness visit.
We wish we could speak with pets so that they may tell us how they are feeling.That isn't the case.We may be able to alter the course of a disease if we catch it early enough. During a physical exam, a veterinarian will do a head-to-toe examination of the pet.
It may be hard to notice while chatting in the exam room with your vet but they start at the pet’s head and work all the way back to the tail.
During the exam, they are looking in  the pet’s mouth for broken teeth or gingivitis, the eyes for cataracts or glaucoma, the ears for infection or parasites, and the neck for the pet’s lymph nodes and thyroid gland.
Listening to the pet’s chest for a heart murmur or irregular beat, which are signs of heart disease and listening to the lungs, feeling the abdomen for irregularities, checking the joints, skin for abormal growths is also a very vital part of the exam. Finally watching your pet move around the room for signs of pain or neurological issues.

Vaccinations. Veterinarians will recommend vaccines based on factors, such as whether a cat stays indoors, if a dog goes swimming, the local climate, and diseases present in your area. Optional vaccines include feline leukemia (recommended for outdoor cats) and canine bordetella, or kennel cough -recommended for dogs who visit a groomer, boarding or if you bring your pet out with you to local parks, Petsmart, or friends who have pets. Did you know that you can even carry in viruses on your shoes and clothes from outside your home?

Dental exam.Dental disease can be very painful, even though your pet may show you they are a real trooper and continue eating. They may focus on eating on one side of their mouth only and you may not even notice it!

Parasite testing. Fleas and heartworm can affect pets, and parasites, such as roundworm and ringworm, can affect people as well. AVH recommends bringing in  a fecal sample to check for parasites in the intestine. Preventive medicine is the key to protect against parasites.

Lab work. Based on a pet’s breed and age, a veterinarian might recommend additional diagnostic testing.
Routine blood work, for example, will check things a veterinarian can’t detect on a physical exam, such as signs of diabetes, an underlying infection, or poor kidney health. Detecting and treating disease at its earliest stage is best for the pet and less costly to the pet owner in the long run.

AVH has also designed "Wellness Plans" of varying stages for your pet. You can call our office to find out more information about them and how they can benefit you and your pet both from a financial point of view to a preventative point of view. The information about our wellness packages is  also located on our Facebook page.

Hack, hack, cough, cough

It's that time of year again, and we have been seeing in inordinate amount of kennel cough cases. 
You might think your dog has something stuck in his throat. The cough associated with acute infectious tracheobronchitis,  or kennel cough, is a high-pitched, honk-like cough, sometimes followed by retching.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tree caused by a contagious virus (adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus) or bacterium (Bordetella bronchiseptica). The disease is associated most often with dogs housed in a high-density population or boarding kennel. The infectious agents can be transmitted through the air or by contact with contaminated surfaces. Puppies and younger dogs are at greatest risk, but even old dogs can acquire kennel cough.

The incubation period from the time the dog first contracts the infection to the time that symptoms develop is typically between 3 to 10 days, and the symptoms can last for days to weeks. A mild to moderate cough without other symptoms is usually self-limiting; however, occasional cases become lingering and cause chronic bronchitis.

What to Watch For

Kennel cough causes a variety of symptoms that can vary in severity.

Signs of upper respiratory problems such as conjunctivitis (irritated eyes), rhinitis (runny nose) or sneezing may be observed.

Cough. The classic symptoms are bouts of a loud, honking cough that worsen with activity or excitement and can persist for minutes. The dog will often act as if something is stuck in the throat and retch or vomit up fluid after coughing. If secondary bacterial pneumonia develops, the dog often shows signs of illness such as loss of appetite, depression, or fever.

Loss of appetite

Depression

Fever

Difficult breathing

Any of these signs should prompt a visit to see your veterinarian in order to be certain pneumonia has not set in.

AVH is now a Cat Friendly Practice!

What does it Mean to be a Cat Friendly Hospital? 

 

Recently Allandale Veterinary Hospital gained a new certification of being a "Cat Friendly Hospital" It entails a detailed application that took quite some time to complete. Once approved AVH may have random checks by personnel involved with the Cat Friendly association. Every two years AVH must be re-certified. 

The AAFP has created the Cat Friendly Practice Program that allows veterinary practices to systematically and effectively address the needs of the feline patient in order to provide the highest quality care. The program aims to help increase feline visits by providing practitioners with the guidelines and resources to become a Cat Friendly Practice.
The program was first introduced in February 2012. Participating practices that have become cat friendly have noticed a considerable difference.

Participating practices will complete a self-assessment checklist that guides the practice to incorporate the essential criteria by using the educational resources provided. Many of the techniques contained in the checklist are readily achievable because they focus on approach and organization. The program does not require remodeling your practice but provides creative solutions for you to help decrease the stress during the visit. The most important step is to recognize that there is a need to make these adaptations in order to provide a higher quality of care to cats.
When a practice takes the steps to become a Cat Friendly Practice, it creates a practice environment that values the feline patient’s needs. At the heart of the Cat Friendly Practice is the potential for building productive relationships with cat owners, which will result in improved care of the feline patient.

As applicants go through the assessment process, they will have the opportunity to:

• Evaluate attitudes and care provided to feline patients.
• Examine the practice environment and equipment by considering the specific needs of cats.
• Assess and implement practice skills, training and education.
•  If you are interested in learning more feel free to come by our Open House on Sunday Oct 19th between 2-5 and tour the facilities, and learn more about how we treat our feline patients.

zzzzz.....

            Why DO dogs snore, and what can be done about it?

 In the most basic terms, the snoring sound itself occurs when there is some type of blockage in the upper respiratory tract. This blockage can be anywhere along the respiratory path from the nose to the trachea (the tube that takes air to the lungs). As air is forced through these passages, it moves unevenly past the blockage and creates the groaning, creaking noise we recognize as snoring.
There are several factors that can make your dog snore including abnormal confirmation and structure of the face, obesity, nasal congestion, infections, polyps, allergies, medications and sometimes even the sleeping position.

Take a look at these common causes for snoring and see if any sounds like something your dog might experience:

Flat Faces – Dog breeds with flat faces (brachycephalic breeds) or pushed-in noses often have several structural abnormalities that affect their noses and airways. Their cute squished up faces typically mean that the same number of body structures must fit into a much smaller space. The nasal cavity, already quite small in dogs, is even smaller in these dogs but must hold similar tissue and structures. Redundant skin folds (like the wrinkles in a Pug's face) often result in blocked passages and snoring. Breeds which are commonly affected include Boxers, Pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs. Some of these breeds require surgery to remove excess tissue and relieve the blockage.       

Soft Palate Disorders - Soft palate disorders are usually congenital defects of the fleshy tissue at the back of the throat (soft palate and epiglottis) these normally separates the oral and nasal cavities. The most common disorders are a defect or "cleft" in the palate or an elongation of the palate. This overlapping causes an obstruction of the airway during breathing. The sound the pet makes (stridor) worsens during exercise. Treatment of an elongated soft palate is surgical. This condition is seen also in the brachycephalic breeds group.

Obesity – A chubby dog isn't always a happy dog. A few extra pounds can cause a lot of extra pressure on a dog's respiratory system and chest cavity. Excess weight can even result in brief interruptions in breathing during sleep, a condition commonly known as sleep apnea in humans. Thankfully, weight loss typically eliminates snoring in these cases.

Nasal Congestion – Just like humans, dogs are more likely to snore when their noses are clogged. Nasal congestion can result from allergies, nasal infections or even nasal tumors. Allergies can be caused by dust, house dust mites, mildew, mold, and smoke.

Medications – Some medications such as muscle relaxants or those used to treat pain can lower respiratory rate or even constrict air passages.

Weather – Dry air can cause nasal tissues to stick together, resulting in snoring from dogs who are typically silent sleepers. In some individuals, changes in altitude due to travel or even varying air pressure can increase snoring.

Sleep Positions – Some people tend to snore more when they sleep on their backs and less when they sleep on their sides. Dogs also can snore more or less based on their sleep positions. Dogs who sleep on their back and stomach typically place more pressure on their respiratory tracts, while those who sleep on their sides usually experience less.

For the most part, snoring in dogs is not a problem as long as they are getting plenty of good sleep and they continue to breathe normally while awake. Snoring becomes a problem if it interrupts or prevents normal sleep patterns or causes difficulty breathing during exercise.

If you are worried about your dog's snoring or see a behavior change, nasal discharge, sneezing or a bloody nose, please see your veterinarian for an examination.