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| If Your Pet Is Older Than Seven Please Read This |
In today's world, pets are living longer. We grow to depend on our pets and treat them as family. Not only are our pets are living longer but new technology is being developed that allows earlier diagnosis and treatment of common health problems. Older pets can experience changes similar to the changes that older humans face. THE MOST COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PETS ARE: OBESITY, DENTAL DISEASE, ARTHRITIS, LOSS OF SENSES- EYESIGHT OR HEARING, CANCER, ORGAN DISEASE OR FAILURE, THYROID PROBLEMS, AND DIABETES. Some of these problems can be detected early with a good physical exam and routine labwork. As pets age it may be important to have an exam twice yearly to monitor the changes, these exams are a great time to bring up any questions or concerns that you have about your pets health to your veterinarian. There are new treatments and ideas emerging every day that may improve your pets quality of life even more. For example, there are numerous medications that can help relieve the pain associated with arthritis.
Although each pet ages at a different rate, we have set the age of seven to be when a pet is considered senior. We recommend that senior pets have physical exams and screening labwork to detect some of the common problems before it becomes an even bigger problem for your pet. There are 5 most common tests that your veterinarian may use to evaluate your pet.
1.CBC (Complete Blood Count): This is a blood test which looks for anemia, infection, and inflammation. It evaluates the number and types of cells circulating in the bloodstream. The white blood cells (WBCs) are the first cells that fight infection or inflammation in the body. The red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen to tissues.
2.Chemistry Panel: This is a blood test, which can help assess liver, kidney, and pancreas function, and blood sugar levels. It also can evaluate electrolyte levels, which keep the water balance of the body in check. Deficiencies or excesses can make your pet feel sick.
3.Thyroid Function Tests: This is a blood test which helps diagnose problems with the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) is a common problem in dogs, whereas hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone) is a common problem in cats.
4.Urinalysis: This is a urine test which looks at the function and health of the urinary tract. It can be used along with the chemistry screen to detect early kidney problems. We test urine for the presence of blood, blood sugar, protein, WBC, other cells, bacteria, and crystals.
5.Parasite Exam: A stool sample can be examined for the presence of hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, coccidia, and giardia. A blood sample can be tested for heartworm disease. Other blood parasites that can be detected on a CBC such as hemobartonella and babesia.
This diagnostic testing may reveal early problems but it also gives your veterinarian a good baseline for comparison to future labwork. If your pet is older than seven, be sure to ask your veterinarian about a Senior Screening Program.
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| Traveling With Your Pet |
Traveling with your pet requires some planning and preparation. First, consult your veterinarian to make sure your pet is healthy enough and is up to date on vaccinations. Many places will require a health certificate which is issued within 10 days of travel. You will need both a health certificate and rabies certificate to cross most borders. Be sure your pet has adequate identification; either a microchip or a current tag. Find out in advance whether your pet is welcome, call ahead to hotels, motels, parks, and campgrounds to make sure pets are allowed. If you must leave your pet alone in a hotel room, place a Do Not Disturb sign on the door and inform the front desk or bring a portable kennel along so you don't have to worry about your pet getting lost in a strange place.
Air Travel- Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned at least 5 days before flying. A health certificate and rabies certificate will be required. Contact the airline well in advance to find out their guidelines. Airlines accept a limited number of animals on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to ask when you are making your reservations. Try to book a midweek, non-stop flight. In warm weather, try to fly in early morning or late evening; in cold weather it is best to fly mid-day. Arrive at the airport early after having fed your pet a small meal and exercise your pet before loading it into the carrier. If your pet is in the cabin with you, let the people next to you know that you have a pet in case they have allergies and need to switch seats.
The Kennel Should:
*be large enough to allow the pet to stand, turn around, and lie down
*be strong, sturdy, and well ventilated
*have a leak-proof bottom, you can place absorbant material in the kennel if you know your pet won't eat it on the way.
*be appropriately labeled with your name, address, phone number and a sign designating live animal with an arrow indicating the upright position of the kennel
Allow your pet to get used to the kennel before the trip. Try to make the trip as calming as possible for your pet, give your pet some quiet time to adjust to the new environment.
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| Poisonous Plants |
There are many houseplants as well as outdoor plants that can be toxic to dogs and cats. The following list is just a partial list of some of the more common toxic plants. If you suspect your cat or dog has consumed any portion of these plants it would be helpful to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The number is below. After contacting them you should call your veterinarian. If possible, take a piece of the plant with you to your veterinarian for ease of identification.
Alfalfa, Almond (Pits), Aloe Vera, Alocasia, Amaryllis, Apple (seeds), Apple Leaf Croton, Apricot (Pits), Arrowgrass, Asparagus Fern, Autumn Crocus, Avacado (fruit and pit), Azalea
Baby's Breath, Baneberry, Bayonet, Beargrass, Beech, Belladonna, Bird of Paradise, Bittersweet, Black-eyed Susan, Black Locust, Bleeding Heart, Bloodroot, Bluebonnet, Box, Boxwood, Branching Ivy, Buckeyes, Buddist Pine, Burning Bush, Buttercup
Cactus, Candelabra, Caladium, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Ceriman, Charming Dieffenbachia, Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves), Cherry, most wild varieties Cherry, ground Cherry, Chinaberry, Chinese Evergreen, Christmas Rose, Chrysanthemum, Cineria, Clematis, Cordatum, Coriaria, Cornflower, Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Croton, Corydalis, Autumn Crocus, Crown of Thorns, Cuban Laurel, Cutleaf Philodendron, Cycads, Cyclamen
Daffodil, Daphne, Datura, Deadly Nightshade, Death Camas, Devil's Ivy, Delphinium, Decentrea, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena Palm, Dragon Tree, Dumb Cane
Easter Lily, Eggplant, Elaine, Elderberry, Elephant Ear, Emerald Feather, English Ivy, Eucalyptus, Euonymus, Evergreen
Ferns, Fiddle-leaf fig, Florida Beauty, Flax, Four O'Clock, Foxglove, Fruit Salad Plant
Geranium, German Ivy, Giant Dumb Cane, Glacier Ivy, Golden Chain, Gold Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Golden Glow, Golden Pothos, Gopher Purge
BR>Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy, Heartland Philodendron, Hellebore, Poison Hemlock, Water Hemlock, Henbane, Holly, Honeysuckle, Horsebeans, Horsebrush, Horse Chestnuts, Hurricane Plant, Hyacinth, Hydrangea
Indian Rubber Plant, Indian Tobacco, Iris, Iris Ivy
Jack in the Pulpit, Janet Craig Dracaena, Japanese Show Lily, Java Beans, Jessamine, Jerusalem Cherry, Jimson Weed, Jonquil, Jungle Trumpets
Kalanchoe
Lacy Tree Philodendron, Lantana, Larkspur, Laurel, Lily, Spider Lily, Lily of the Valley, Locoweed, Lupine
Madagascar Dragon Tree, Marble Queen, Marigold, Marijuana, Mescal Bean, Mexican Breadfruit, Miniature Croton, Mistletoe, Mock Orange, Monkshood, Moonseed, Morning Glory, Mother-in Law's Tongue, Mountain Laurel, Mushrooms
Narcissus, Needlepoint Ivy, Nephytis, Nightshade
Oleander, Onion, Oriental Lily
Peace Lily, Peach (pits and wilting leaves), Pencil Cactus, Peony, Periwinkle, Philodendron, Pimpernel, Plumosa Fern, Poinciana, Poinsettia (low toxicity), Poison Hemlock, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Pokeweed, Poppy, Potato, Pothos, Precatory Bean, Primrose, Privet
Red Emerald, Red Princess, Red-Margined Dracaena, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Ribbon Plant, Rosemary Pea, Rubber Plant
Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Satin Pothos, Schefflera, Scotch Broom, Silver Pothos, Skunk Cabbage, Snowdrops, Snow on the Mountain, Spotted Dumb Cane, Staggerweed, Star of Bethlehem, String of Pearls, Striped Dracaena, Sweetheart Ivy, Sweetpea, Swiss Cheese plant
Tansy Mustard, Taro Vine, Tiger Lily, Tobacco, Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves), Tree Philodendron, Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia, Tulip, Tung Tree
Virginia Creeper
Water Hemlock, Weeping Fig, Wild Call, Wisteria
Yews: Japanese Yew, English Yew, Western Yew, American Yew
Many gardeners use cocoa bean mulch for their landscaping projects. Did you know that this mulch, which smells like chocolate, is in fact just as toxic to dogs and cats as chocolate is?? If your pet eats any amount of cocoa bean mulch you should consult your veterinarian to make sure that it is not a potentially lethal situation. The signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs and cats are drooling, agitation, vomiting, collapse, coma, and death.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435)There is a $45 consultation fee for this service which can be applied to your credit card. You will be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, the substance you pet has been exposed to, amount, and time since exposure. You will also be asked the species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of pets involved and the problem your pet is experiencing.The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a unique, emergency hotline providing 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance to veterinarians and animal owners. The Center's hotline veterinarians can quickly answer questions about toxic substances found in our everyday surroundings that can be dangerous to animals.
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| Joint Supplements |
Joint supplements are used to help dogs and cats with arthritis. They help reduce pain and inflammation in some but not all dogs and cats. The most common of these nutritional supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin, and other glycosaminoglycans, also known as GAGs, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and cetyl myristoleate (CM). All of these products can be given with conventional medications to help you dog or cat experience less pain and inflammation. They also help you pet to move around more easily.
Conventional Joint Supplements:
Many kinds of medications are prescribed for arthritis. Corticosteroids (steroids) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) are the most common medications prescribed. These medications reduce inflammation and pain, but also have side effects that your veterinarian will discuss with you. These medications may be used for short periods of time or intermittently to avoid the side effects.
How do the joint supplements work?
Glucosamine: This is used by cartilage cells to help stimulate the creation of synovial fluid (joint fluid) and cartilage. It also inhibits the destructive enzymes that breakdown cartilage and proteoglycans (the building blocks of cartilage). It may also work to scavenge harmful free radicals.
Chondroitin: This provides cartilage with the building blocks to repair itself as well as block enzymes that breakdown cartilage. It may also increase the amount of hyaluronic acid in the joints. It also seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): This supplies the body with sulfur, which is used in the formation of cartilage.
Cetyl myristoleate (CM): The exact mechanism is unknown but may act similarly to omega 3 fatty acids (which are found in fish oil, dairy butter, and animal fat) and act as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory.
Conventional medications (steroids and NSAIDs) may relieve pain and inflammation within 48 hours. Nutritional supplements may take 4 to 8 weeks before improvement is seen. These supplements may have a residual effect, even after the product is no longer being given. These products are generally considered safe with minimal side effects. It is best to follow the dosing instructions given by your veterinarian and consult your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
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