Supportive care is the act of providing the pet with the care required to continue a meaningful, comfortable life while allowing the pet owner to enjoy that special relationship we all have with our pets. This care is not directed at curing the condition but rather allowing the pet to retain a status quo and a good quality of existence.  Many illustrative examples come to mind when discussing supportive care.  A cat with chronic kidney disease is perhaps one of the most common examples in feline medicine.  Although chronic kidney disease is not  reversible, in many instances supportive care will provide longevity and meaning in the pet and pet owner’s life.  Supportive care in this instance may include special diets, daily or occasional  subcutaneous administration of fluids and/or medications by you the pet’s guardian or a sporadic hospitalization in the event of a setback. Although it is unlikely that this pet will enjoy a cure from the condition, continued supportive care can significantly extend a good quality of life for the patient.

An apparent simpler but actually complex condition in the dog that could qualify for supportive care is osteoarthritis.  There are a myriad of options available in pursuit of maintaining a viable and fulfilling life for the pet and his family.  Although we are dealing with a non-curable disease, supportive care may allow us to continue or relationship with this pet for many years.  Options that are available to achieve this goal include diet, medications and a host of Complimentary Alternative Treatments.

In seeking out supportive care for your pet with an acute or chronic medical condition it is imperative that you and the health care provider form a relationship in understanding the mutual goals.  What may be reasonable in one person’s mind in the pursuit of supportive care may seem excessive in the eyes of another. The converse may also be true. This approach in the treatment of long term conditions is not just confined to older pets.  Your pet could suffer from hip dysplasia or kidney disease at a very young age. It is important to continually reasess your pet’s condition, quality of life and your own mindset.  Pet care is a continually evolving process and the lines of communications between the pet care provider and the family must always be open.

In keeping with our goals of providing the maximal amount of high quality veterinary care possible the Brockton Animal Hospital  recently completed the construction of a dedicated veterinary dental suite within our facility.  This procedure room houses state of the art high speed dental equipment, a dentistry procedure tub as well as digital intra oral x-ray unit.  Oxygen is piped into the suite so that anesthesia can be easily performed and any procedures such as root canal, dental cleanings and extractions  can all be accomplished without need to leave the suite.  Since some dental procedures can take one to two hours to complete the presence of the dental suite allows for increased flexibility when scheduling specialized dental procedures.

Dr. V. Morgan Hurley, a graduate of Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine joined the Brockton Animal Hospital in June of 2011. Dr. Hurley focused on dentistry during her formal education.   Since graduation she has continued to expand her knowlege of veterinary dentistry.  Dr. Hurley has completed a dental externship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital as well as attending multiple educational meetings.  We are fortunate to have her expertise and dedication to the field of veterinary dentistry in our facility.

Please feel free to contact our hospital at any time with any questions you may have relative to dental care for your pet.

As noted in the previous posts make sure they are kept out of harm’s way given the excitement of the season. If it should occur that things do not seem quite right seek urgent care immediately.  The old adage “a stitch in time” is never truer than when dealing with our four legged companion’s health.  There is a tendency to “see if he/she  is better in the morning”.  This is a dangerous position as many conditions that occur can be rapidly progressive.  Dietary indiscretions, foreign material ingestion, accidental injuries can all be  dealt with nuch more easily when handled immediately.

So enjoy your pets this holiday season.  Give thanks to the companionship they provide and the unique roles they play in our lives.  They are truly one of the greatest blessings we have been given.   Remember it is up to us as pet owners (and we as medical care providers) to keep them safe and happy for a long time to come.  Happy Holidays.

Similarly inflammatory bowel disease is one condition of dogs which exacerbates with increased stress in their lives.  Dietary indiscretions, hyperactivity in households as well as upset exercise schedules can undo the delicate balance of our canine friend’s lives. Most living things are creatures of habit.  Certainly holiday time is one of the most “out of the ordinary” times of year as far as schedules are concerned.

What can we do to take care of our canine and feline friends during this potentially stressful time?  First make every effort possible to ensure that our four legged friends’ schedules stays consistent.  That includes feeding times, exercise schedules, waking hours and even litter box cleaning.  Secondly, if you know that there is going to be a lot of activity in your household and one or more pets don’t tolerate this well, then consider having your pet confined to another part of the house during the activity.  If your pet does not respond to children well then ensure that they are isolated from any behavior that they may find upsetting.  Finally be very aware of any abnormalities in your pet’s behavior during these times.  Inappropriate urination, fecal accidents, episodes of aggression may all be related to an increasing stress level in your home.  If you should observe any suspicious signs of illness, seek urgent veterinary care immediately.  Don’t ignore symptoms because you think they may pass or because “he is just upset”.  Stress related illnesses are very definitely serious.  A trip to your local vet for a thorough physical exam may be all that is needed to put your mind to rest.  Laboratory evaluations may also be indicated if the signs are of a more varied nature.  But above all remember that holiday time for you may be anything but  a happy time for your pet.  Take precautiions to ensure their safety and long life.

Once these evaluations are concluded and your pet had been given a clean pre-anesthetic bill of health, your dog or cat will be premedicated and then placed under general anesthesia.  A breathing tube will be introduced into the trachea and anesthetic gas will then be used to keep him or her asleep during the procedure.

A thorough oral exam should next be performed to check for any obvious dental abscesses, broken or partially resorbed teeth, inflammed or diseased gums or gingiva and very importantly the mouth, tongue and all other oral structures examined for growths.  Next a veterinary technician will use an ultrasonic cleaner to remove the tartar from all tooth surfaces as well as cleaning deeply above or below the gum lines.  This is very important as hidden tartar contributes greatly to the damage that takes place. Following this scaling a polisher will then be used to complete the cleaning process.  A scaler, while cleaning the teeth, also creates microscopic scratches in the tooth surface or enamel.  If polishing is not done these scratches can act to allow tartar to accumulate at a much faster rate than previously.  Therefore scaling without polishing should never be done.  It has been shown that it is better for your pet to have nothing done if polishing does not follow scaling. During the dental cleaning process the teeth and roots will continually be evaluated for disease as well as signs of degeneration.  Dental x-rays may be necessary to thoroughly evaluate your pet’s oral health. 

Once the cleaning, evaluation, extractions (if needed) and x-rays are completed your pet will be allowed to wake up and recover.  A few hours will generally be required before your pet is released to you with instructions.  Depending upon the severity of the dental procedure antibiotics may be sent home.

The above outlines the dental cleaning and in hospital care required to promote your pet’s dental health.  This prophylaxis or cleaning may be required as frequently as every 6 months or as infrequently as once every few years.  The interval is dependent on the ongoing dental care you provide at home as well as your pet’s diet and oral chemistry.  The importance of this care is essential.  Remember that an heavy load of bacteria that resides in the mouth becomes spread throughout the body. This can result in serious kidney, liver or cardiac disease.  So remember, a healthy pet needs a healthy mouth.

Veterinarians have long thought that there was a connection between inadequate oral hygiene and many diseases. However there is now increasing evidence that the longevity enjoyed by many pets is directly related to the quality of dental care provided the pet during the bulk of their lives.  When a mouth has teeth with abundant tartar or roots that have partially resorbed, and gums that display severe gingivitis we know that the bacterial population of the mouth increases dramatically.  This heavy bacterial load can circulate throughout the body and result in kidney disease, heart disease and even skin disease.  One can imagine that if a pet chooses to lick a sore on the skin with saliva teeming with bacteria, the result could easily become a lesion that is now infected. The most obvious sign of abundant oral bacteria noted by the owner is a strong odor to the mouth.  This halitosis may be obvious when the pet is merely present in the room,  or perhaps more when he or she is panting.  In milder cases it may be necessary to gently lift your pets lip and smell the breath.  A cursory dental exam can be accomplished by the owner in most cases merely by checking the pet’s breath, looking for evidence of redness of the gums as in gingivitis and observing to see if there is discoloration on the teeth or a build up of tartar. When your dog or cat has a yearly physical exam your veterinary should note all of these areas as well checking the tongue and the back of the throat.

In addition to routinely checking your pet’s mouth it is important to take additional steps in improving oral hygiene. Brushing your dog’s or cat’s teeth is the single most effective step you can take in promoting  oral health and the benefits that accompany it.  While children’s toothbrushes are easily used in most dog’s, specially designed brushes for cats are more effective in that species.  Brushing with a wet toothbrush concentrating on the teeth furthest back  for 15 or 20 seconds is all that is required.  There are specifically designed and flavored  pastes or gels which are specially formulated with enzymes that can be most helpful.  The saliva activated enzymes significantly reduce bacterial population in the mouth.  These as well as enzyme oral sprays help to compensate for the inability to brush your pet’s teeth. as throughly as we would often like.  Above all it is important to note that any steps in the direction of oral hygiene, regardless of how cooperative your pet is, is far superior to doing nothing.

In future posting we will look at the pet dental prophylactic procedure as well as discuss the occasional need for x-rays and extractions.

As with many serious diseases in dogs, cats and other pets, prevention is often simple and superior to hospitalization and critical care.  Strings that may have been used in food preparation hold a special attraction for pets since they often carry the flavor of a roast or turkey.  But when it comes to cats, anything that is long and thin can become a life threatening weapon.  The list is endless and the challenge great especially with children of all ages in a household.  When it comes to strings, yarns, elastics, threads, wires, ribbons, cords and hair elastics remember that these are not acceptable toys for your pets.  Most importantly if there is any possibility that your pet has swallowed any of these linear foreign bodies, don’t wait for the vomiting and lethargy to start.  Seek veterinary care immediately. Never attempt to pull a string out that may be hanging out of your pet’s mouth or rectum.  What you may think is a short length could stretch for several feet into the digestive tract. Merely putting tension on the cord could result in a laceration to the intestinal wall speeding the course to peritonitis. It is best to get veterinary care before the onset of symptoms.  By preventing contact with these linear objects and seeking urgent care in the event of any suspicion of ingestion you can help to ensure your pet has a long and healthy life.  

There are two primary toxins that occur in chocolate.  One is the commonly known chemical Caffeine and the other is the less familiar substance Theobromine.  Both of these potentially powerful substances can act as stimulants causing hyperexcitability, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac problems and ultimately  death if the dose is sufficient. The ingested amount is not the most important feature of chocolate intoxication but rather the type of chocolate that is consumed.  While a sixty pound dog may be able to consume a  pound or more of milk chocolate without any serious effects, as little as three or four ounces of baking chocolate may be sufficient to cause serious and potentially fatal illness. 

So how should you handle a suspected chocolate ingestion?  The first step is to contact your local vet or urgent care veterinary facility.  If you have any information regarding the type and the quantity of chocolate make sure to have that available. What may seem like a large quantity to you may in fact be a lesser quantity if the chocolate is mixed with nuts and or other substances.  Similarly small amounts of dark chocolate can be very significant. Be prepared to transport your pet quickly to the hospital where a thorough physical exam will be performed and  laboratory testing will occur.  Electrocardiogram  ECG as well as neurological evaluation may also be undertaken. Dogs that are treated quickly and efficiently will usually recover as long as the ingested amount is not too great.  Of course, as always, prevention is the best line of defense.

So as the holiday season approaches, ensure that your pets are safe and secure to share the fun with you.  When the chocolate arrives…..keep that treat for yourselves.