River Rocks

...or bladder stones...

This morning, I took these out of this:

Notice this bladder has a red appearance and an "angrier" portion at the tip.


This was from a small dog that had 5 river rock like stones and about 15 smaller ones. The bladder wall was very thick. These factors left little room for urine, making the dog feel the urge to urinate all the time.  


We will send the stones out for a mineral analysis to determine what they are composed of and help us change the diet to hopefully (not a GUARANTEE) prevent others from forming. There are some breeds more predisposed to stones and this one is among the top: the Bichon Frise.


This sweet girl only starting showing signs of bloody urine despite the fact that it probably took many months to form these stones.  The owner feels guilty but should NOT. There is no way to "know" unless our pets let us know. Sometimes a physical exam can reveal these but not always. 


She's recovering quite well!

Just a Quick Reminder

Today I killed a mosquito. In my bathroom. The windows weren't open recently but I suspect it got in with all the comings and goings of late. 


My point?


Your cute little fluff ball dog who never touches the ground and doesn't even go out (uses "wee wee pads") CAN get heart worm disease.


All dogs should be on a monthly preventative, year round (the intestinal deworming is another wonderful benefit that protects your family's health too). It doesn't matter the breed or size of dog. It doesn't matter it we sometimes sort of have a winter. 


It's just part of responsible pet ownership. 

Fish and Pedicures..the Connection?

Frankly I didn't know there was ONE..until I read this...


"Doctor" Fish Carry Dangerous Bacteria

Gratuitous Cake

Sure this is animal related. It's a snow leopard.  AND it was for a certain *cough cough* veterinarian's 40th birthday. 


This delicious piece of art work is from The Pink Cake Box. The link is to the blog on MY special cake, and has a great picture of the back too, but please check out their other cakes. You will be impressed. They are all beautiful. I strongly urge you to consider them if you are in NJ, NY or PA for YOUR next special cake needs. THEY are amazing.


I am sure this is a one of a kind cake for them. Who asks for a snow leopard...AND a crab? A wild kitty like me, that's who! Actually my wonderful husband did this all behind my back..but he obviously knows me :) He and the wonderful folks at the pasticceria (my Rosetta stone lessons..love this word - Italian for pastry shop) came up with this design.


I'm an ailurophile (cat lover!). I have a passion for all things feline, love the big kitties and am enamored especially with the snow leopards. These gorgeous, elegant, secretive and elusive cats are in danger of extinction. I've been a big supporter of The Snow Leopard Trust as long as I have known about them.


And for those that really know me, I have been a bit of a Deadliest Catch groupie. I've met Captains Sig Hansen, Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, Keith and Monte Colburn, and Phil Harris (RIP!)  as well as a host of other crew members. I've had photos signed, pictures taken with them, partied with some in Philly and others in Seattle and got to be on the Northwestern and Wizard in Seattle a few years ago. 


This cake was the true epitome of me in so many ways. 


Thanks to the Stone Bar Inn for hosting this party. The owners are clients of mine and lovely and amazing people too - and boy can THEY make some amazingly delicious food!  

Awww

This adorable panther kitten is lucky that people stepped in and are going to try to nurse him back to health.


He's not out of the woods but at least he has a fighting chance.
Check out this link which includes a very short video clip

It Doesn't Go Unnoticed

A client called me today on my cell phone. I don't give that number out to just anyone or offer being available to anyone, anytime without knowing the person. 


This client has been someone that has taken good care of MY dog in another pet related industry. In any case, I saw one of her dogs recently for an illness and she was quite concerned about the progress of improvement. We talked a time or two during the week but I told her to call me if there were any questions over the weekends as well. 


I can pretty well tell who would abuse the privilege at this stage in my career and she is not one of those people.


She called because another pet had stolen the treat containing the sick - but now significantly improved - dog's medications. This dog also is on some other medications for a chronic medical condition. In any case, I was able to reassure her that the pet was going to be fine. Fortunately these medications wouldn't pose a problem one time at that dose in this other dog.


In addition to expressing gratitude to be able to talk to me on a Sunday evening, she also told me about how a few other clients of mine from a previous job have spoken of me. One was eager to find me and see me with her pets again but was taken quickly by aggressive cancer. Her husband told my client that she would be upset if her pets saw anyone other than me, so I apparently will be seeing them soon. 


My client told me that I am a compassionate vet who always FIRST gives kisses and love to the pets and that THAT is so important to so many pets owners and that I am also a smart cookie. 


I say this NOT to toot MY horn, but simply to say that all the "little" things we do, day in and day out, in our daily jobs and in our meetings with people in everyday life, makes more of an impact that we often know. A kind word like that, while maybe seemingly not a big deal or simply the "truth" to the speaker, can impart such a boost to the heart of the receiver. It only encourages me to not to FAIL to tell someone when they do a good job, go the extra mile, look nice, etc. You really never how much that person may need to hear that AT that time. 

Cool Kitty Story

If you spend anytime with me, you'll eventually hear me tell you that cats are amazing. They are. They prove time and again they are survivors. Even when I count them out..and after 14 years in practice, I simply VERY RARELY do. 


We had a kitten come a few weeks ago, that had lost part of  both her back legs because the umbilical cord from her and her sister had wrapped around her legs, cutting off the blood supply. Once freed from this, all she had left of her back legs stopped just below the knee. The bones were sticking out slightly but it was clean and not infected. And she didn't know or care.


She was very tiny and needed to be bottle fed. One of our health care team members took her home and did all she could, but as is the case with many even "normal" very young kittens, she faded and passed away. It is possible she was becoming septic despite antibiotics. Still, I think she also had a chance of making it. Cat and kitties do that.


Here's a story with a happier ending (at least thus far!):


http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/04/kitten-gets-new-legs-and-lease-on-life/

$25 Goes a Long Way

I realize I may have brought this up before but it's important enough that I need to say it again.


This part of the US - Northeast PA - has one of THE highest - competing closely with our neighbor, NJ - incidences of Lyme disease.  Don't believe me? Check out the CDC Lyme Disease Data


We have a large deer population. We have a lot of ticks that carry Lyme. Many of us live near or in the woods or at least travel to and play in them with our pets.


The vaccination against Lyme disease in dogs is about 85% effective AND combining that WITH good, veterinary recommended topical tick repellent products, like Vectra, is very good way to protect your pet.


Dogs that are vaccinated against Lyme may still come up positive on the in house test we run (this is NOT affected by being vaccinated) and we still treat every positive dog. In some practices, they'll send blood out and run another, antibody level test, called a C6. Depending on that number they may or may not treat. The point is that you may get a dog with an "above" normal number. No problem.


The vaccinated dogs are generally either asymptomatic or mildly affected.


The unvaccinated group are either acutely down or like the 2...yes TWO..cases I had today - are in irreversible kidney failure. Yes, not fixable. Yes, euthanize is the nicest thing to do.


They are sick from the buildup of toxins the bloodstream leading to gastric ulcers, nausea and vomiting. They often don't eat and lose weight. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics MAY help for a few days. Then, when they are off fluids, they crash again.


In my 14 years of experience and in talking with other practitioners, dogs with Lyme nephritis do not recover. 


So please, if you live in a high Lyme area - vaccinate. The initial vaccination is a series of 2, followed by yearly vaccinations. You are looking at very little cost for potentially the LIFE of your pet. The vaccine is in the $22-30 range - depending on your vet, location, etc. But not a LOT. 


I had to deliver sad news to two clients today and I feel bad for them and the dogs - one 5 old, the other 4 years old. Last year, we lost a 5 year old Rottie and a 3 year old Scottish Terrier to this - again nearly 100% preventable. 

Wash Your Mouth Out With....????

I found this article today and thought you'd be interested in what may be coming to your local grocery or drug store...and what it may be made from...but hey, if it works, why not?!


The Lining of A Pig's Stomach....

It's NOT Ear Mites

One of the things I commonly hear from clients is that when they see their pet having an issue with the ears - be it shaking the head, discharge from the ears, etc, they ASSUME it's due to ear mites.


If these pets are not kittens or puppies, it is very unlikely.  I have seen a few outdoor cats that have chronic ear mite issues. But even in the outdoor cat population I see, it's simply not a problem. The funny thing is I often hear this from my clients with adult dogs. 


They go Wal-Mart or seek the advice of a friend, relative, etc and get "meds" to treat ear mites. Guess what? It doesn't work. Guess why? Well, it's not these little parasites:

Ear mite seen under a microscope. You won't see these with the naked eye!

It's usually a yeast and/or bacterial infection. I'd say nearly all the time there are SOME yeast seen on a slide. We take a small swab and roll the material onto a slide and then stain it.  We can tell if there are yeast and what types of bacteria, if any, are present (cocci - round, rods - long, well, rods!). 

The purple "peanuts" are yeast organisms.

This will dictate the course of treatment we recommend. It almost always involves a topical treatment. That is key. It can sometimes include oral medications but generally not initially.

Some dog breeds - namely those with "down" or floppy ears - Labs, Goldens, Cockers, etc - have a high incidence of CHRONIC ear issues. Yes chronic. Often these true infections are tied to allergies. Food allergies are the most common cause even if it's just one ear that always plagues your dog. Finding which allergens your dog is reacting to is not a simple task and I'll save that discussion for another day.

Cleaning with an unscented baby wipes - versus putting any liquid down into the canal or using Q-tips - is what I recommend. Also seeing your vet to get the proper diagnosis and follow ups needed is crucial for successful management. 

A Few Thoughts

I always want to post or write about stuff that is relevant and yes, close to my heart or at least something I've confronted that day or week.


Nothing has inspired me lately. I admit. And yet, I know there is so much that people need to be educated about. And I say that with no "superiority" type complex. Just that over the course of the past few months, I have heard and seen some things that tell me that even in THIS day and age of what I "affectionately" (not really) call Dr. Google, people still don't know things.


Ok, so what do I mean?


1.  Rabies is a serious public health threat. Yes, every pet..EVERY pet..needs to be vaccinated. It's about $20 for peace of mind for EVERYONE. No big deal. Yes, even indoor kitties and spoiled Chihuahuas.


2. Over the counter meds: why, oh why, does the phone only work after 3 weeks of doing this versus before we start. I had this moment this AM before I fully woke up where I felt compelled beyond belief to say this: there was a time when I used to recommend to my clients to START with buffered aspirin for arthritis. NOW, NOW, we know, through endoscopic evidence, that even if your pet is "fine" he or she very very very likely has small GI bleeds. This is significant and over time can and will cause issues. And yes, we have better drugs now. Veterinary specific, tested, and time tested drugs. If any of my pets come up lame - they will NOT be getting aspirin. Oh and yeah, we DO need periodic blood work for pets on ANY NSAID.


But there are others that people go with too - ibuprofen: NO. Tyelenol: NO. If you have a cat, congrats, do you want individual or simple cremation? Really.


3. Lyme disease is HUGE where I practice. HUGE. Ticks are bad. Vaccinate and use a product like Vectra. AND test. Yes test. We still get positive dogs. It's that bad. And yes, it can affect their kidneys so I don't hesitate to URGE clients to do this.


4. Pets cost money. Yes. And pets are a luxury. And yes, it's great that people rescue pets but they need to know their limits too!


5. Last but not least today: Cats - they need check ups. Perhaps even more than dogs. Know why? They are master manipulators - meant with love here - because they act fine when inside they are a giant mess..until they cannot hide it any longer. Please don't get a cat and use the "he's only indoors" , "he hates the carrier" or "I don't want to spend money on my cat but I will on my dog" (ok frankly no one ever admits to the latter one but I SEE it all the time) excuse. A cat is a living breathing LOVING animal who deserves care too.

Who?

....when the vet walks in says "Oh you are the vet my dog doesn't like" ??

And then when the vet says, "Oh well, i'm the only vet on today"
then says "oh but your the vet we had to muzzle my dog for, my dog likes and is fine with X (other vet in practice)."


..and then when the other vet says AGAIN, "well, I'm the ONLY vet on today, so I'm all you've got." just sorta semi smiles..


AND..get this..who is this vet (me) seeing? A friend's dog today. NOT HER dog. A friend.


By the way, by the end of it all, the friend loved me and HER dog was fine with me. But really? You keep saying that crap to the doctor? What kind of people are out there? Keep that stuff to yourself. It doesn't endear you. It doesn't make ME feel good. It doesn't "buy" you anything. If you are "joking/playing" than Gosh please try sound like it. Otherwise, it's simply hurtful.


I don't get that stuff. 

Overheard at Vaccine Clinics #2

So, yesterday we had a very successful vaccine clinic. This would not be possible without all the volunteers that help out. Their duties include filling out paperwork for each patient, taking payments, helping folks with the microchip paperwork if they want one, and answering basic questions. Some of them helped us out with vaccinating and drawing blood as well. 


The line was out the door and to the road MOST of the 3 1/2 hours - basically until the end of things, which went into overtime.


There were no major issues - 2 cats were a challenge. One we simply could not do. The risk of this cat getting out (these things are often held in township municipal garages - in this case, doors were open because of the weather and set up) was too great and someone might've gotten hurt as well. The second cat we were able to take into a small office and vaccinate.


Anyhow, these things are always interesting because of the variety of pets and people that come through.


This time, these are some of the things that got my attention. Some of them weren't overheard but spoken to me...


1. What's the difference between rabies and distemper? I say this with no disrespect for the questioner. It's one of those things that makes me realize how much we have to continually educate. This is especially true in some areas or populations that have less contact with a veterinarian. I guess what caught me off guard was her lack of understanding regarding rabies. She really had no idea about it. She knew her pet needed a vaccine for it. That's a big public health one and most of the people, including clients, I run into, understand the basics of where it comes from and how it's transmitted, etc.  


2.  Speaking of rabies, I had a guy ask me if they develop the vaccine from rabid animals. He said he tried to find out on the internet but Let me just say, he was..a bit odd.


3. A general concept: breeders  - either go to vet school or stop pretending you did. (note: some breeders are awesome and wonderful and don't' try to pretend they are vets and breed for the right reasons..sadly, not the majority). 


4. One lady wanted me to give a rabies vaccine in the dogs freakin abdomen. Ok, not quite but she was convinced this dog developed hot spots when it was given where it's usually given - subcutaneously in the right hip. Know why? Because frequently, it WILL cause a small lump a few weeks post vaccine. That's normal but then we KNOW why the dog has a lump and don't run to surgery. You can have skin reactions that cause hairloss, etc but that's rare. And often, it doesn't grow back. This dog had a perfectly nice hair coat. Oh and these dogs are show dogs. And breeding dogs. Makes you wonder why they aren't going to a vet office for this stuff...


5. Lastly - that I can remember for now after a hectic weekend of animal care - the number of people that think they are going to hold their animals for me while I draw blood or give 4 vaccines is astounding. First of all, the little dogs generally do not tolerate this stuff. I need a good holder. I need someone I trust. And for liability reasons, my tech or I need to be the ones bit. Not to mention, I really hate having to stick them 8 times to do something that would've taken me one time with proper restraint. Now I realize there are SOME pets that do better with the owners. But the VAST majority..VAST VAST VAST..do not. And owners have no clue at all how to hold. Again, especially with our little itty bitty pets but truly even some big guys with their Rotties - clueless. Attempting to muscle them down is NOT proper restraint and usually only upsets the pet more. I refuse to take any chances and simply say, NO, my technician will hold. No one has gotten offended so far, and if they do, oh well. 

Cool Story: Cute Dog!

Before I share this little find of a story with you, I wanted to apologize for being absent this week. It certainly went by a lot quicker than I thought. Other commitments have taken on a bigger role in my life lately, so the blog has taken a bit of a back seat. I appreciate my loyal followers checking in and reading what I have to post or share. I hope the weekly "Purr View" review helps too. 


This weekend I am neck deep in animal stuff: later today I am doing the last spring vaccine clinic for the Pike  County Humane Society. These vaccine clinics can raise thousands of dollars for this wonderful group. A few very dedicated people literally spend their entire day, week after week, taking care of and taking in animals that are abandoned, sick or just dropped off by the owners. 99% of these cats and dogs are sweet, beautiful creatures. A few will have major medical issues. This never stops Barry and Janet (who run the shelter and live on site) from doing what needs to be done - oftentimes, this means going to the specialists at Valley Central in Whitehall, PA or coming to us for the stuff we handle in general practice. All this means they need to continually raise funds. 


I visited the shelter this past week since I am now the official veterinarian on record for them. The place is really neat. Dogs don't live in cages but have free roam of several areas. They all get along great and are very happy. The cats have some cool rooms to just hang and sleep and be kitties in and they too, get along well. They have a few isolation areas for those animals that need to be sequestered due to illness or questions on behavior.  


I hope we can continue to raise money for these fine folks. They literally LIVE for the animals.


Tomorrow, I am doing another Operation Catsnip with a few other vets down in Allentown. We spay and neuter kitties at a low cost for the owners. 


Anyhow, this is a neat story about a surgery on a cute little dog named Blueberry.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all my blog readers!

Of course, you know, I have to be the one to give warnings about today. It's my nature. I do not want to see your pets sick this week because of today's activities! Especially when many things can be avoided like:


1. Chocolate - this wonderful stuff is available EVERY holiday it seems but again, especially dark and baking chocolate is toxic to our pets causing cardiac and neurologic effects.  Milk and white chocolate often causes gastrointestinal upset and can cause pancreatitis (bad!).


2. Easter grass - kitties love this stuff. Often causes obstructions.


3. Ham and other wonderful foods WE consume - again, gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis - yes, even a "small" amount and YES, even if they had it last year and were fine. 


4. Easter lillies - cause kidney failure in cats.


5. Trauma - just be smart. With the nicer weather approaching, it's also "hit by car" season. Yes, accidents happen but be aware of your pet's tendencies and where you live or are visiting and make smart choices.

Do NOT Attempt To Be YOUR OWN Vet

Read this. I don't know what else I can say. Made me ill.

MD's Advice on Pet Ownership

This article  is written by a pediatrician. It gives some "overall" ok advice but I'd like to expound on a few things Doc didn't say and I think he should've said them because frankly, he should know them.


One: While pets do carry "germs" it's been shown that kids exposed to MORE have better immune systems, then those raised in a fear induced bubble of germophobia.  Yes, appropriate precautionary sanitation measures are indicated. But many children and adults a like have gotten licked, scratched and rubbed on with NO ill effects.


NOTE: Immunocompromised people are a different group and I am NOT referring to them.


Two: He never mentions keeping the pet on a monthly deworming protocol which IS key because there are some nasty zoonotic infections that often hit children - i.e., roundworms which can migrate to the eyes and other organs in children - called Ocular and Visceral Larval Migrans. Yeah, I learned that in vet school too. Not sure how much of this stuff gets covered in med school.  I always emphasize this fact to families especially - it's good medicine anyhow but most people want to protect their kids above themselves.  

Not a Surprise

The title of this article caught my eye because, well, I think a lot of us humans feel that way and can see that, yes, when we are tired or distracted, we make bad decisions. I am sometimes amazed at the "studies" on the obvious that are done, but here it is - dogs do it too apparently:


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402093940.htm

Another Look

On March 19 I posted a story about a Golden Retriever with a weird growth on his head. Taking a biopsy was not easy because of the consistency of the tissue. I meant to take a pre-op picture so you could see what this thing really looked like.


I finally got one today at the recheck appointment. The growth is the same and the eye on that side is a bit more distorted in position. The dog is as happy as ever though.  Eating, drinking, active, playful, etc.


Here's the sweet dog:

Cool Customers

I wanted to share a few pictures of some patients I saw this week:


This group of beautiful and sweet Standard Poodles is always a pleasure to see. The owner is wonderful too! He's one of those you wish you could clone!

Then there was this pretty kitty who has a non healing lesion on her right hip but is still a princess!

Last but not least is a gorgeous sweet cat that got adopted from us on Christmas Eve and is living the life of Riley (though his name is Willie) at another "clonable" client's home farm. He came to visit us and is right at home as the front desk greeter!