Archive for the ‘Vet’s Corner’ Category

Ask a Vet Question: What should I do when my Shih Tzu or short-nosed dog starts that frightening wheezing noise? Why does it happen? Should people get worried when this happens and is there a definitive method for helping the dog when this occurs?

Thanks to Dr. Geoff Gaunt of Elk Lake Veterinary Hospital for providing us with the following expert answer to this small animal question that has many dog owners wondering what to do.

“This experience can be very frightening when first encountered and can cause a  lot of anxiety for the dog and the owner, however, this is almost never life-threatening.  When it happens, it may be useful to gently massage the throat and neck and offer the dog a small amount of water to drink to stimulate swallowing.  This may help shorten or even end an episode.  You should have your dog examined by your veterinarian to evaluate the causes and possible therapy for this syndrome.

Your veterinarian will likely want to determine if the event was sneezing, reverse sneezing or gagging.  All of these actions are normal protective reflexes to remove irritants from the sensitive tissues in the throat.  These sensitive tissues can include the various airway structures as well as the mouth and esophagus.  Regardless of whether it is sneezing, reverse sneezing or gagging, the usual causes include anything that can cause irritation in the throat.  Common causes include dental disease, excessive dryness and dust, any foreign material (like grass seeds), allergies and parasites.  There are several other less common causes that your veterinarian may identify.

For most dogs it is helpful to remember that these actions can be normal protective reflexes.  If the symptoms are more severe than this, or do not lessen with gentle massage, then a visit to your veterinarian is crucial.  Incidentally, this syndrome can be seen in any breed of dog and in cats, too.  Any age of dog can be involved, although the causes may be very different in older compared to younger animals.” – Dr. Geoff Gaunt, Elk Lake Vet Hospital

Although this reverse sneezing seems to occur more often in short-nosed breeds, such as Shih Tzu’s, as Dr. Gaunt advises, if your dog is experiencing these sorts of episodes on a regular basis, make sure you take your best friend to visit a quality, full service, trusted hospital or clinic that specializes in the care of our precious, small companion animals, such as Elk Lake Veterinary Hospital.

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2010 – All rights reserved.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their questions (keep them coming). The most asked Vet-related question for the month of October 2009 was:

“What should I do if I think my dog may have ingested anti-freeze?” and thanks to Vet Tech, Nicolle Lejeune at McKenzie Veterinary Services for providing us with the following  expert and helpful answer.

“If you think your dog has ingested anti-freeze the first and only thing an owner should do is get your dog to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible. YOUR DOG WILL NOT RECOVER ON THEIR OWN IF A POISONING HAS OCCURRED. If you suspect any kind of toxin has been ingested please bring the container of the substance with you so the veterinarian knows what they are dealing with. Through a thorough exam, diagnostic blood work and sometime an analysis of your dogs’ urine it can be determined whether or not an ethylene glycol/anti-freeze poisoning has occurred. If it has, the appropriate course of treatment for your dog can begin.

There are now pet friendly anti-freezes on the market. Now instead of ethylene glycol you can pick up anti-freeze made of propylene glycol. This can be purchased at any automotive supply store. As of April 1st, 2009 British Columbia became the first province to mandate that a bitter agent be added to all anti-freeze sold at a consumer level to deter ingestion of this highly poisonous substance.”

*The information in this column is not meant to serve as a diagnosis but rather a starting point for understanding and investigating concerns related to your dog. A physical exam and assessment of your dog by a veterinarian is essential.*

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their questions (keep them coming). The most asked Vet-related question for the month of September 2009 was:

“What’s the best way to keep my dog’s teeth clean?” and thanks to Vet Tech, Nicolle Lejeune at McKenzie Veterinary Services for providing us with the following  helpful answer.

“The best way to keep your dogs teeth clean is to brush them. This is easier said than done but it’s worthwhile to invest the time and effort necessary to do it, even if it is only once or twice a week. The goal of a dental care program at home is to maintain a healthy happy mouth throughout your dog’s lifetime. Preventing the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease is the primary goal. Brushing the teeth is the first and most important step in implementing your dog’s homecare program. As well as brushing, there are other practices and products to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

The best way to keep your dogs teeth clean is to brush them. This is easier said than done, but it is less expensive and easier. Depending on who you ask, once a day is best, but other experts and studies have shown that 3 times a week is sufficient.

Try start cleaning your dog’s teeth is right away. Start off slowly. Touch their gums and teeth. Make it fun; make it a game. This will get them comfortable with you touching their mouth and gums. The next step is to take a washcloth and water or tuna juice and massage the gum with your finger. This step is to get your dogs use to brushing his or her teeth.

Please note that if you are training a puppy it would be a good idea to do the steps above even while they have their deciduous (baby) teeth. When the permanent teeth start to erupt stop brushing for a little while, as their gums become inflamed and sore. After the permanent teeth are in all in place you may start the brushing regime.

When it comes to brushing their teeth use a soft toothbrush, many veterinarians sell toothbrushes made specifically for a pet’s mouth. On a 45º angle use a back and forth motion starting at the gums and ending at the tip of the tooth. When it comes to what toothpaste to use, use toothpaste designed for pets only. Using human toothpaste can cause your dog to have and upset stomach. Toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide MUST NOT be swallowed and it can be harsh of the tissues of the mouth. Also make sure that you don’t use any pastes or remedies that contain baking soda as the sodium content is too high and can be dangerous to older dogs.

Another way of promoting a happy, healthy mouth is to choose the appropriate toy for you dog. Stay away from toys with hard finishes or tennis balls. The material that is used to make tennis balls is abrasive and over time can cause the enamel to deteriorate eventually leading to worn down teeth and pulp exposure. Try using the orange hockey balls or handballs but be sure to choose the right size for your dog; make sure the toy cannot be swallowed or the end result could be an intestinal obstruction! When it comes to a Frisbee choose one that is made of soft plastic or cloth. Harder plastic can damage teeth when your dog is playing tug-of-war or catching it in the air. Other items to keep out of their mouths are bones and rocks; these cause the teeth to wear down or even worse, fracture them.

Diet can also have an impact on oral health. Most veterinary clinics carry dental diets. The diets are made in a kibble form. Dental diet kibble is larger than regular dog kibble, and is designed to be penetrated by the tooth surface before it breaks. This provides a mechanical abrasion that helps rub tartar off the tooth surface. Some dental diets also contain chemicals that prevent minerals from attaching to plaque there by slowing tartar formation.

Please be sure to talk to your veterinarian before changing diets to make sure that diet is right for you dog.

As part of a yearly exam the veterinarian will examine your dog’s mouth and teeth and will recommend when a dental cleaning is right for your dog. One more piece of information that owners should know it that keeping your pets teeth healthy and clean can also help prevent future problems such as heart, liver, and kidney disease.”

*The information in this column is not meant to serve as a diagnosis but rather a starting point for understanding and investigating concerns related to your dog. A physical exam and assessment of your dog by a veterinarian is essential.*

Copyright Boris 2009

[Boris keeps his teeth shiny and his breath fresh by brushing every second day with his humans' Sonicare electric toothbrush with a small, soft brush.]

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their questions (keep them coming). The most asked Vet-related question for the month of August 2009 was:

“Why should I have my dog spayed/neutered when they are supposed to be on leash?” and thanks to Vet Tech, Nicolle Lejeune at McKenzie Veterinary Services for providing us with the following very thorough and helpful answer.

First, even though your dog may be on a leash doesn’t mean all other dogs are on a leash, or under the control of their owners. These dogs can still gain access to your dog.

Second there are medical and behavioral benefits to having your dog altered, which will only improve the quality your pets’ health. According to the BCSPCA spaying a female dog will help reduce the chances of uterine infections and breast cancer. Neutering your male dog also reduces the chance of testicular cancer or prostate disease.

Behavioral advantages to the procedure include eliminating the unwanted behavior of wandering or showing aggression towards other dogs of the same sex. This occurs because the desire to seek an active mate is no longer present. With female dogs heat cycles are no longer present, which means a cleaner house for you. In males the desire to mark their territory will diminish as well. YEAH no more lifting his leg on the couch or the curtains!

Another positive outcome, is that your dog won’t be focused on his or her sex drive they will tend to focus more on their owner and family which makes the deal sweeter for both you and your dog!” – Nicolle Lejeune, Vet Technician *

Also…it costs less to license a spayed or neutered dog!

*The information in this column is not meant to serve as a diagnosis but rather a starting point for understanding and investigating concerns related to your dog. A physical exam and assessment of your dog by a veterinarian is essential.*

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their questions (keep them coming). The most asked Vet-related question for the month of July 2009 was:

“Why should I have my dog vaccinated against rabies?” and McKenzie Veterinary Services Vet Technician, Nicolle Lejeune, has kindly provided us with the following very thorough and helpful answer (thanks Nicolle!)

“The primary reason to have your pets vaccinated for rabies is to prevent the transmission of the disease to you or your pets.

Rabies is a deadly disease  caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Rabies is transferred when a rabid animal comes into contact with an open cut on the skin, eyes, nose or mouth of an animal or person.

Any animal that is suspected as a carrier of rabies will be quarantined for no less than 10 days after the bite or euthanized.

If a pet has been bitten by a carrier of rabies (typically bats or sometimes racoons) and is vaccinated, the transmission of rabies is less likely and symptoms of the disease are unlikely to appear.

If an unvaccinated pet is bitten by a rabid animal and is infected, the disease is almost always fatal.

Is it also important to place the rabies identification tag (good for 3 years) on collars of any pet that goes outdoors. If your pet is picked up by local by-law officials and is suspected of having rabies, the tag will prevent your animal from being euthanized or quarantined at your cost.

Also, if you are traveling to other countries including the US, your pet will NOT be permitted to enter the county without being vaccinated and having the proper documentation.” – Nicolle Lejeune, Vet Tech

The above are all very good reasons for making sure that YOUR best friends are always up to date with the rabies vaccinations. Check your rabies tags and make sure your pet gets regular boosters every three years.

© DogAboutTown.ca – 2009 – All rights reserved.