Veterinary Services, Pet Illnesses

Our job is to teach you how to care for your pet. The core of all medicine is wellness and prevention. In our website, we've discussed vaccines, seasonal problems, parasite protection, behavior etc. In this section, we discuss the most common and unusual pet illness. Skin and ear problems are number one but nutrition, heart and kidney problems, endocrine issues -our pets suffer from these also. It is not unusual for clients to ask us "How did my pet get so seriously ill so fast?" Our pets hearken back to their "roots" and survival of the fittest is a life-saving instinct. They will disguise their illnesses and compensate any way they can until sometimes it's too late. Their heart is failing or untreated Diabetes kills them. Appetite activity and attitude tells you a lot about how your pet is feeling. Learning to recognize illnesses in your pet is crucial for diagnosis and care. Read on for help in catching a problem fast so that curing it is fast, uncomplicated and less expensive!

Obesity - A Growing Problem

A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. It turns out that adage applies to dogs and cats as well as people. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our pet population, and, interestingly, it parallels that observed in humans. Most owners do not realize that our pets have a longer life expectancy when they remain lean throughout their lives. With obesity comes problems, like: arthritis, cardiac disease, respiratory conditions, Diabetes and liver problems in our cats, heat or exercise intolerance, skin problems and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with anesthesia.

Canine (and feline) obesity, similar to human obesity, has less to do with genetics than simply eating too much high-calorie food and a sedentary lifestyle. Is it really surprising that a pet will pack on extra pounds if its owner has a hectic schedule, poor eating habits and doesn't’t exercise? Do you really think your fat pet is happy being a couch potato rather than running and playing?

See the pictures below and see if you can recognize obesity in your pet. Oftentimes, in the yearly examination, we point out that the pet has gained several pounds. “Oh, that’s not much, Doc” the client exclaims. If your cat weighed 15 lbs last year and now weighs almost 17 lbs, that’s a 12% increase which IS significant. If the weight continues to increase 10-12% each year, we will have a “meatloaf” appearance in short order.

B. Weight: 62.4 lbs ( lost 12% of initial body weight) - lameness issue resolved.

A. Weight: 88 lbs once a very active dog, she had lost interest in fetching her ball

B. Weight: 76.9 lbs ( lost 13% of initial body weight)- has regained interest in fetching & being active

Without commitment, motivation and dedication on the part of owners, any weight management program will fail. Think positively and know that you will make a difference in your pet’s life and longevity if you help him lose weight. This is accomplished in several ways. We need to rule out any underlying metabolic disorders (e.g., hypothyroidism) that could interfere with a weight loss program. We need to combine exercise restriction with caloric restriction as the cornerstone for weight loss. Prescription diets (high fiber with low protein and fat) work beautifully. And, lastly, we have added a medication, called Slentrol to our arsenal for dogs (not cats). It is not a long-term solution. If owners do not modify behaviors that led to their dog becoming overweight in the first place, weight rebound can occur once the drug is discontinued.

Skin - The Largest Organ of the Body

And does it cause a lot of problems! In fact, problems with the skin and the ears are the most common reasons for a visit to the veterinarian. Skin problems can be caused by a myriad of different reasons. Unfortunately, it may take you awhile to realize that there really is a problem with your pet’s skin and, what started out as simple and straightforward, has become a nightmare.

I think you can envision how one symptom can spill into another. Mange, fleas and infections can cause the pet to self-mutilate with scratching and biting. Does the hair loss result from the pet chewing itself or from a hormonal disorder? Where in the world are these allergies coming from that make my pet miserable and bald? One thing is for certain – skin disease is uncomfortable.

There are quite a few causes for skin conditions and we are frequently told, “Just give my dog a shot, Doc, and get him to stop itching”. No way! What you’re asking for is a steroid shot. Yes, it will stop the “itchies” but it does nothing to cure the problem. We will not give steroids unless absolutely needed because long-term usage can cause other problems. Allergies (outdoor allergens from grasses and pollens or indoor allergens from carpet cleaners or detergent, even food!), parasites (fleas, mites in a puppy or an elderly pet), hormonal imbalances, yeast or bacterial infections, obsessive compulsive behaviors are all causes of skin problems.

Be patient! Sometimes the treatments are many and will take time. Allergy testing and desensitization injections, dermatology shampoos, antibiotics, careful dosing with steroids or antihistamines, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, unique food formulas – all are possibilities.

Heart Disease - We've Run Out of Power

The heart is arguably the most important organ in the body. Plain and simple, it’s a pump that pushes blood throughout the body. This circulating blood delivers vital nutrients and oxygen to cells. While some pets are born with heart problems, we most often see older pets develop problems later in life. Clinical signs of heart disease include: coughing (particularly at night), labored or open mouth breathing, lethargy, exercise intolerance, bluish discoloration of the tongue and gums and reluctance to lay down to rest.

Our older patients most often develop problems with the valves and less often, the heart muscle. With age comes the degeneration of the heart valves - they struggle to form a seal between the chambers (atrium and ventricles) of the heart and consequently blood leaks. This leakage causes turbulence in the blood flow and a murmur develops. As heart disease progresses, heart failure results. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer maintain adequate blood flow and blood begins to back up either in the lungs or in the abdomen.

To help our heart patients, we must know how sick their heart is – ausculting (or “listening” to the heart and lungs) isn’t enough. Therefore, we do a cardiac work-up – a full blood profile with urinalysis, EKG and chest x-rays. We commonly discuss referral for an ultrasound (echocardiogram or “echo”). An echo is the most sensitive and specific test that we have for evaluating our heart patients. Once these tests are performed, we then recommend a treatment plan. This involves several oral medications and frequent follow-up exams. We also recommend a special diet low in sodium. Hearing the diagnosis of “Congestive Heart Failure” can be devastating to the pet-owner, but we can slow the progression of heart failure and improve the pet’s quality of life.

Kidney Disease

The Filter doesn't Work

Kidney (or Renal) failure is sneaky. The most common type of kidney failure is due to aging and is of a chronic nature – a gradual, slow process seen in our older patients. It is one of the most common problems we see in our geriatric cat patients. Clinical signs of this disease include: excessive urination (yet people mistakenly think that production of lots of urine is a sign of good kidney function!), decreased appetite, weight loss, bad breath, lethargy and vomiting. Kidneys work hard to filter harmful, toxic waste products from the blood and excrete them into the urine. They also regulate blood volume/composition and control blood pressure.

Kidney function is tested by performing a full blood profile (to measure waste by-products) and a urinalysis (to measure urine concentration). It also allows us to assess red blood cell concentration and electrolyte abnormalities. Blood pressures complete our diagnostic work-up.

Kidney disease is one of the most common problems

we see in our geriatric cat patients.

We can’t cure kidney disease but we can certainly make our patients feel better and live longer with an aggressive treatment plan. Our first plan of attack is to hospitalize the patient and give large amounts of intravenous fluids (“diuresis”). This will increase the filtering ability of the kidneys and effectively flush out the toxic waste products. Following diuresis and a reassessment of the kidney values, the patient can go home with new diet recommendations, a lesson on administering subcutaneous fluids at home and medications to control blood pressure, stomach ulcers, electrolyte supplementation (and more!). Frequent recheck exams to monitor kidney values, blood pressure and body weight enable us to continue the fight against this disease.

Cancer - The Most Common Problem of All

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pets and accounts for nearly half of all deaths in cats and dogs over the age of 10. Dogs suffer from more kinds of cancer (at least 100) than any other domestic animal, and one in four will develop the disease in its lifetime. Just like people, pets can develop cancer from exposure to sunlight, smoke, asbestos, chemicals, hormones, radiation and viruses, and from immune-system failures. And some canine breeds have hereditary risk factors, among them Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Bulldogs.

Some canine breeds have hereditary cancer risk

among them are Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Bulldogs.

Don’t panic if your pet is diagnosed. Certain cancers can be cured if caught early, and most can at least be treated. Operations include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery, hyperthermia, immunotherapy or a combination of treatments. Preventing, of course, is better than any treatment. Here are five tips to reduce the risk of your pet developing cancer.

For both people and animals, the sooner a cancer is detected and treated, the better the chance of a cure. That’s one of the reasons why a check up every six months is recommended for animals over the age 7. All others should have annual exams.

Regular exercise helps keep pets lean and is essential for optimal health. It also may strengthen their immunity to chronic diseases such as cancer. The incidence of cancer is 50% higher in overweight pets than it is in those that are at a healthy weight.

White-haired cats and dogs and those with short hair are at higher risk for sun-induced skin cancer. Protect them by using an SPF 30 sun block on sensitive areas like the nose and tips of the ears. You also should avoid outside exposure during the hours of stronger sunlight, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Known carcinogens include herbicides, insecticides and tobacco smoke. Avoid house and garden pesticides or use the least-toxic products, and remove pets from passive smoke environments.

5. Spay and Neuter pets
Spaying a female dog before her first heat cycle decreases her risk of breast cancer to almost zero and neutering completely eliminates the risk of testicular cancer in males.

Heartworms

Heartworm is a deadly, but easily preventable disease that too many pet owners are not taking seriously. Heartworms, as the name implies, live in a dog or cat's heart and are transmitted by mosquitoes. The adult heartworms produce offspring, called microfilariae, which circulate in the infected animal's blood. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks out blood containing the microfilariae that become larvae. When the mosquito bites another animal the infected larvae are then transmitted.

Most pet owners wouldn’t knowingly put their pet at risk of becoming infected with a potentially deadly disease. Yet according to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), millions of pet owners fail to protect their pets by not using a heartworm preventative year-round. With more than 240,000 dogs and 4,095 cats testing positive for heartworm, pet owner noncompliance to heartworm prevention creates a serious problem that is putting America’s pets at risk!

A recent survey found that only 55% of pets in the US are on a heartworm preventative (down from 66%). Additionally, far too many pet owners have a false sense of security because their pets do not go outside or because they can’t see the worms (in the feces). All pets need protection — nearly 55 percent of all reported feline heartworm cases are diagnosed in indoor cats.

Each year cats die needlessly from complications related to this very preventable disease. Heartworms in cats are very hard to diagnose, and most cases are only confirmed after the death of the cat. The most common signs in the cat include difficult breathing, coughing and vomiting. These signs can be associated with a wide range of other diseases. Dogs may become listless, tire easily, develop a cough, become anemic and in severe cases develop complications in the liver, kidneys, lungs and other major organs.

Heartworm disease is far easier to prevent than treat and all pets are at risk for exposure. Heartworm preventative is recommended for ALL puppies/dogs, and all indoors or outdoors kittens/cats. It is important to remember that heartworm preventatives are drugs, which by federal law require a prescription. A doctor-patient relationship must be established before a prescription can be written. Dogs are required to have a yearly heartworm test, cats are not. Pet owners must also be aware of purchasing heartworm preventatives from on-line pharmacies. Though you will save few dollars, you will lose the manufacture’s warranty on the product, which will pay for your veterinary bill if your pet were to become positive.

Heartworm prevention is easy!

A simple once a month tasty treat

or topical application is all that is needed.

Heartworm prevention is easy! A simple once a month tasty treat or topical application is all that is needed. Many pet owners also do not realize that some heartworm preventatives can also prevent other common intestinal parasites. Revolution for cats kills ear mites, fleas and gastrointestinal parasites. Tri-Heart Plus kills hookworms and roundworms both of which can be transmitted to humans.

Heartworm disease in its early stages has no symptoms. Inevitably it will cause illness and possible death. A treatment is available but doesn't prevention just make sense?

Diabetes Mellitus - Pets get it too

People are often surprised to learn that pets get diabetes too. Just like people, dogs and cats develop diabetes when there is a lack of the hormone insulin or improper use of available insulin. Insulin is responsible for transporting glucose (sugar) from food to the body’s cells. Consequently, when there is not enough insulin, the cells become malnourished and glucose builds up in the blood (hyperglycemia) and urine (glucosuria). Since every cell in the body needs glucose, including the brain cells, diabetes left untreated can be fatal.

So, how will you know if your pet has diabetes? The most common signs are increased thirst, increased urination, and reduced activity level. Obese pets are at a greater risk of developing diabetes, but as the disease progresses you may notice weight loss in spite of a ravenous appetite. Since there are other diseases that can cause these signs, there is still a need for an exam, weight check, and blood and urine test. This will confirm whether your pet has diabetes.

What should you do if your pet is diagnosed with diabetes? Most pets will require daily insulin injections (we will teach you how to do this); although some cats can be managed with diet changes. Once your pet is diagnosed with diabetes we will need to work together to develop an appropriate treatment plan that works for both you and your pet. This plan may include: regular exercise, an appropriate diet, and daily insulin. The importance of a regular schedule cannot be overemphasized – eating the same amount of the same type of food at the same time each day helps regulate glucose levels. It also helps to give the insulin injections the same time each day. Developing a regular exercise program helps the body use insulin more efficiently and lowers the body’s insulin requirement. Too much exercise can be just as dangerous as too little, so consult with us before changing your diabetic pet’s exercise program. Part of the treatment plan involves regular check ups, as it may take a few months and some adjustments in insulin dose, to regulate your pet’s blood glucose. This allows us to watch for some of the possible complications of diabetes, such as cataracts or kidney disease.

People with diabetes monitor their

glucose level several times daily.

Pets have to depend on us.

What can I expect for my diabetic pet? A well-managed diabetic should have normal thirst and appetite. As your pet becomes regulated, his/her weight should stabilize. Some things to watch out for are: inappetence, vomiting, lethargy, ataxia (unsteady gait), or seizures. These are indications that your pet’s blood sugar has dropped too low (hypoglycemia). This is an emergency and you should always keep some Karo syrup or honey on hand for this situation. If you suspect your pet is hypoglycemic, then rub the syrup on your pet’s gums and seek immediate veterinary attention.

Veterinary medicine presents its unique challenges, especially since our patients cannot tell us how they feel. People with diabetes monitor their glucose level several times daily. Because this is not feasible in pets we have to depend on each other to ensure the best for your pet. There are steady advances being made to formulate better, longer-lasting insulin and other glucose-lowering medications and at-home glucose monitoring tool (especially helpful to cats who have a propensity to revert to normal glucose status). The hope is to discover a cure for diabetes. In the meantime, together we can develop a plan to manage your pet so that he/she can live a happy, healthy life.

Ear infections - Wait until you hear!

Ear infections are some of the most common and frustrating problems that veterinarians see. Most often dogs are affected, but cats can have infections as well. You may have heard the term, "otitis", referring to inflammation of the ear. This inflammation sets up the stage for infection.

What causes the inflammation in the first place? Answering that question may mean the difference between successful treatment or just management of chronic ear problems. When you notice your pet shaking her head excessively, scratching at her ears, or if her ears are red, has excess discharge or foul odor then she needs to be examined. Part of the clinic visit involves an overall exam of your pet as well as a thorough exam of her ears. Another part of the visit involves some history that we get from you. We use this information to try and determine predisposing factors, primary factors and/or perpetuating factors that contribute to the development of otitis.

Predisposing factors are those which prime the environment (the ear canal) for the establishment of primary or perpetuating factors. For example, the conformation of the ear canal can be a predisposing factor. Dogs, such as spaniels, are at an increased risk due to their long, torturous ear canals that easily collect dirt and debris. A pet that swims regularly or lives in a moist environment is more susceptible because the moisture facilitates overgrowth of some microorganisms. While ear conformation and environmental moisture are things over which you have no control, regular cleaning with an appropriate ear cleaner can help counteract some of those effects.

Primary factors are those conditions that induce inflammation in the canal. Parasites, such as ear mites, are a common cause of otitis in the cat. Ticks and scabies that cause itching and irritation can also lead to inflammation in the ear. Foreign materials including grass awns or household items can initiate an inflammatory reaction that leads to otitis. The most common cause of otitis in the dog is hypersensitivity reactions (i.e. allergies). Furthermore, one of the reasons ear infections can be so frustrating is because the offending allergens can be of multiple origins (food, household, outdoors). Your pet may even be allergic to some ear medications. Pets with allergies may have recurrent ear infections and/or skin problems until the allergies are identified and treated.

Perpetuating factors are those situations that work to maintain the inflammatory process in the ear canal. The most common are bacterial and fungal (yeast) infections. Bacteria and yeast are found in low numbers on the skin of healthy ears; the problem occurs when the immune system is altered and other bacteria are permitted to invade or the numbers of normal bacteria/yeast are not controlled. Other factors include those that cause occlusion of the canal such as polyps or chronic inflammatory changes.

After an exam and history, a swab of your pet’s ear debris is collected for microscopic analysis (cytology). From this we can determine if there are bacteria or yeast present, and if so, what type. With this information we can prescribe the appropriate ear cleaner and topical medications. Be prepared to treat your pet for several weeks. For the pet with chronic, recurrent ear infections, treatment may include systemic antibiotics and may last for several months. We understand and share in your frustration. However, in consideration of all the above-mentioned contributing factors (and these are not anywhere near all of them), we hope you get an idea of how complex ear infections can be. We have to work together to ensure the health and comfort of your pet.

We very rarely have a dull day. The challenges, the heartbreaks and the "Eureka! I know why you're sick!" moments remind us daily of the privileges of caring for our patients. We love what we do. The following are some very personal and unusual stories that we think will be educational for you, the reader. Join us "behind the scenes".

The Heartbreak of Heartworms

We are often amazed at how gentle and sweet animals are in the face of illness. Even when feeling badly, they will often muster up a tail wag or a soft purr. This was Jake’s way.

Jake, a 3-4 year old Labrador mix, was adopted by a family in August, 2005. He was “free to a good home” (believe your mother when she says “there is no such thing as a free lunch”). He was very, very thin and seemed to have a swollen stomach. His humans thought he wasn’t used to good food and that he had worms. However, he had a heart murmur, was coughing and had fluid in his abdomen – all signs of Heart failure. He had heartworms.

We considered him a poor risk for heartworm treatment and suggested blood work and chest x-rays. His x-rays showed the biggest heart that we had ever seen in a dog. It took up his entire chest. How could this dog run, jump, lick your face or even breathe when his heart and lungs were already severely damaged? Could he even survive the treatment and return to normalcy? His humans decided to take the chance. Due to the severity, Jake would have a split treatment – treatment would take place in 2 stages, over 5 months.

The first half of treatment went well. When he returned the next month for the second half, his abdomen was still enlarged and he was coughing up blood. He was starting to show signs of thromboembolism and/or clotting problems. The discussion of euthanasia was brought up. His family said, “No, not yet.” They took him home for more rest and medications of Aspirin and Lasix. Jake returned for a recheck the next month. The tincture of time hadn’t made a difference. We decided to manually remove the fluid from his abdomen. We removed 1 ½ liters of fluid. Another month passed, Jake returned for a recheck. He was his usual happy self and finally looked wonderful – 9 lbs lighter with little coughing. We completed the last part of his heartworm treatment.

Jake boarded with us in 2006 and tested negative for heartworms. Unfortunately, that was the last time we ever saw him. His family emailed us to let us know that he had passed away in February, 2007.

Some pets leave a lasting impression. Jake had the biggest heart (literally and figuratively) we have ever seen.

Lymphoma - a Common Cancer in Uncommon Area

All Labs are “puppy dogs” – meaning, they are full of silliness, good cheer and absolute adoration for their owners. Charlie exemplified all that was “Lab”. He was a big boy, always seeming to hover around 100 lbs, and whenever he visited our clinic he would bust through the double doors and head for the scale and sit down, as if to ask “have I lost any weight yet?”.

Unfortunately for Charlie, his genes for good bones weren’t as good as his genes for good character. Following our suggestion to x-ray his hips following his neuter procedure, dysplasia was found in both hips. Due to his young age and being clear of any arthritis, Charlie had the first of two hip reconstructions. We referred him to the S.C. Veterinary Specialists in Columbia and a TPO was done (Total Pelvic Osteotomy). His pelvis bone surrounding the hip joint was cut into 3 places, rotated over his femur to give a better and tighter “fit”, then pieced back together with a special curved plate and screws. Charlie came through both surgeries (a year apart) wonderfully, and the stage was set for a long life with no pain.

It wasn’t meant to be though. In November, 2006, Charlie developed a lameness in his left hindleg. For fear that his hips had been strained or the metal was moving, we referred him back to the surgical clinic. This time he had torn his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament). Just as in human athletes who twist and turn at the knees, so do dogs. Once again, Charlie had surgery and did great. Except for one thing…he developed chronic diarrhea.

We tried everything…diagnostics, consults, medications, diet changes and yet nothing seemed to work. Over a six week period, Charlie lost 23 lbs and still his cheerful disposition remained. The timing of this problem, closely associated with his ACL surgery, baffled everyone. His owners and I had to face the fact that cancer was lurking. Despite all of our diagnostic aids and referrals to Board certified veterinarians, sometimes a diagnosis cannot be made – especially with cancer. The basic, indisputable symptom of unexplained weight loss can always point to cancer.

Rather than subject his wonderful, aging dog to another surgery (where questionable results can occur), Charlie was euthanized on January 24, 2007. What a sad, sad day. We had to know though – was it truly cancer that was slowly killing Charlie? Had we made the right decision? Permission was given for an autopsy.

Five abnormal areas were found in the small intestinal wall. Samples were sent to the Clemson Diagnostic Lab. Charlie had had Lymphoma, the most common cancer that affects our dogs. We all breathed a huge sigh of relief. The right decision had been made for Charlie.

Insulinoma - A Rare Pancreatic Cancer

Jessie was a problem child to begin with, but she was adopted from the SPCA by a lady with a heart of gold who wouldn't give up on her. She was lucky.

It was difficult to get the real story on Jessie because she came from a broken home and was left behind when her second family moved from Aiken. She was, literally, a throwaway. Her behavior ranged from being timid to aggressive. She suffered from separation anxiety. We consulted with several Behavior Therapists and her human read a lot more. She eventually become a well adjusted, loving family member.

She started having seizures which were not being controlled well by conventional medicine. Her diagnosis didn't definitively suggest a cause so she was referred to the SC Veterinary Specialists. She was going to have an MRI, but the Internist noticed a consistently low glucose level with a high insulin/glucose ratio. She was diagnosed with a rare Insulinoma, a very difficult to find tumor located in the pancreas. Massive amounts of insulin is secreted, which, literally, consumes the body's glucose stores. Jessie's tumor was a 4 mm in size and was successfully removed.

Jessie's story continued though. Her glucose stayed low. She still had problems with her energy level and mild seizures continued. Special nutrition and steroids seemed to make little difference. A microscopic Insulinoma was still lurking in her lymph or pancreatic tissues.

Her humans decided against chemotherapy and more surgery. They didn't want to combat the side-effects or the resultant Diabetes. The Insulimona continued to grow with a vengeance and Jessie was lovingly put to sleep in her own home on March 25, 2005.

It took 17 years to have the first patient with an Insulinoma. We have had 3 more diagnosed. Strange.

Wobbler's Syndrome - Going the Extra Mile

Howie, the big red Dobie that could look at you , standing over our front counter, could be quite intimidating. He weighed 110 pounds and was as gentle a dog as we have ever known.

In January, 2004 he began to sway and not be able to coordinate his hind legs very well. His mistress, a marathon runner, wondered if her running buddy had simply over trained with her. We knew better. Howie had Wobbler’s Syndrome. His neck vertebrae were unstable, and he was likely to continue his downward spiral into total paralysis regardless of the conservative treatments we had started. Referral to the SC Veterinary Specialists was made and serious discussions concerning surgery and the aftercare of such a big dog started. Surgery to stabilize the compressive vertebrae by grafting and plating was done within the week. Nothing seemed to go right. He was totally paralyzed after the surgery and his graft broke down. The plating had moved so another surgery had to be done. His pain was constant and he HATED the neck brace he had to wear. He was unable to urinate well.

He spent approximately the next 6 months at the Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness Center under the expert hands of Dr. Maria Glinski and her staff. They used acupuncture, electrical stimulation, underwater treadmill, swimming…everything imaginable was done to change the direction of his healing. It was a race against time. Would he EVER get well? His humans were exhausted and not sure if they had made the right decision. They were not, however, about to quit.

And so, the deadline of 6 months (regardless of tears shed and money spent) neared. Could Howie, the Dobie, who loved to run and eat, continue to live prostate and dependent upon humans? The answer was clear to everyone, and Howie heard us. The light switched on, and he began to respond. He began to move his limbs on his own!

Howie died unexpectedly on Nov 10, 2006 of reasons unknown. He exemplified hope and will be missed by all of us.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)

“Something is wrong with Rosie, Doc. I’m not sure, but she is acting as if she’s run out of gas in the last couple of days” said her owner. My exam of this sweet, Springer Spaniel showed nothing except a possible paleness to her gum color. Her owner was convinced something was terribly wrong and I had a feeling that he was right. I drew some blood for analysis and I gave her a massive dose of steroids intravenously. In retrospect, the owner’s sixth sense and the prompt steroid injection saved Rosie’s life.

Rosie had Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA). Her immune system had turned on her and was destroying its’ own red blood cells. Normal PCV (the percent of red blood cells) for a dog runs between 35-55%. Rosie only had 15% that first day. Her heart was unable to oxygenate her body. Soon her kidneys would begin to fail and toxins would overwhelm her body. Rosie’s condition worsened. Her PCV would drop to 6% in the next 24 hours. A product called Oxyglobin (a super charged, oxygen carrying fluid derived from cow’s blood!) was the last hope for Rosie.

Veterinarians are unsure what triggers the hemolysis or destruction of red blood cells in these healthy dogs. AIHA is in the family of the diseases that we call “Blood Dyscrasias”. Some whole red blood cells are destroyed, platelets are destroyed or clotting factors are disrupted. We rely upon steroids and chemotherapy to stop the destruction. Transfusions are usually not enough. Oxyglobin saved her life. It worked and she is indeed a miracle.

The Bionic Dog (Almost)

Tess is a young, “sorta” Catahoula Leopard dog that doesn’t have a clue as to what “bad attitude” means. She is the perfect example of kindness. When her family met her they didn’t want or need a fourth dog but who could resist her?

When she was 10 months old, her owner noticed that she didn’t walk well after exercising. She would push up her body with her front legs instead of scooting her back legs underneath her. She seemed “out of alignment”. Taking x-rays confirmed the worst. She had Hip Dysplasia and her femur was on the verge of popping out of the hip socket with the mere act of walking.

Hip Dysplasia is a problem that affects the hip joint in primarily large breed dogs. When the ball-shaped portion of the top of the thigh bone (femur) does not fit the socket of the pelvis, the joint becomes loose. Loose hip joints are unstable and likely to deteriorate and develop degenerative joint disease (DJD) which brings on a life time of pain and limitations to the dog’s ability to jump or even walk. The best way to prevent this painful disease is for breeders to avoid breeding adults that have loose hip joints. One way to determine if the potential breeding dogs have Hip Dysplasia is with The Penn Hip examination. For this test x-rays requiring anesthesia are performed and then submitted to the University of Pennsylvania for a careful analysis and computer measurement of the hip joints. This exam can be performed as early as four months of age.

The appropriate treatment for Hip Dysplasia depends on the severity, age and size of the dog. A limited exercise program and medications like Rimadyl or Etogesic can be used to reduce inflammation and pain. Aspirin is commonly used but it can cause stomach irritation and gas. Some dogs are placed on joint supplements (Cosequin, glucosamine, chondroitin-sulfate). Dogs with extremely severe hip dysplasia can benefit from surgery. Tess needed surgery! Her condition would require a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). It would be a difficult surgery, but luck was actually on her side! She was so young and had no degenerative bone changes. During the surgery her pelvis was sectioned into pieces, put together with plates and “rolled” over her femur to tighten it up. Total hip replacements and Femural Head Osteotomy are other options for dysplasia.Tess is doing great! She and her owners look forward to a lifetime of painless Frisbee tossing.

Hyperthyroidism - When More is not Better

Posey had a textbook case of Hyperthyroidism. Hyperactivity, weight loss in spite of a ravenous appetite, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, occasional vomiting, lack of grooming and overgrown claws are common as well. Hyperthyroidism is easy to diagnose with a blood test which measures the level of one of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4). It is a very common disease in our aging cat population. Thankfully, if treated, the cat has a good prognosis of growing even older. If left untreated, hyperthyroidism kills. The disease severely affects virtually every organ system in the body, with the heart and the kidneys taking the biggest hits.

Surgical removal of the overactive gland (not always a good choice in an older cat)
Daily medication (either with a pill or an ointment rubbed on the ear) for the rest of the cat’s life
Treatment with radioactive iodine-131 (you will NOT have an unsafe, “glowing” cat!).

This is our treatment of choice because the problem is quickly and completely eradicated.

Unfortunately, Posey's owners had another cat that was diagnosed with the same endocrine disease. Irradiation is a referral to specialists and costs approximately $1200. Because these owners have 8 other cats and lightening struck twice, they opted for oral medication with frequent blood tests. Both cats are doing fine.

Skin Cancer - the Great Imitator

Scabs on the ears, nose scratches, blackhead pimples, and itchy allergy bumps all have one scary thing in common. When you find them on your cat, they may not be those things at all. They may be skin cancer. Skin tumors, either on the surface or just underneath, imitate other conditions. About 90% of these tumors are treated surgically with good survival rates. When they grow into bone and tissue, the cells spread throughout the body and skin cancer then turns deadly. “Skin cancer is very common in both dogs and cats, but in cats it is more often malignant” says Kenneth Rassnick, DVM, assistant professor of Oncology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

1. Squamous cell carcinoma - the most common malignant form in cats and curable if treated early. It usually affects white, sparsely coated cats at the nose, ear tips and eyelids.

2. Mast cell tumors - are usually benign if appearing singly (these can, unfortunately, be numerous in the skin which leads to a poorer prognosis). If mast cell tumors develop internally, the prognosis is even worse and depends largely on location.

4. Melanomas look like black skin lumps and spread wildly. They are rare and very aggressive.

5. Fibrosarcomas appear anywhere under the skin and grow quickly, extending deep into adjoining tissue. Surgical excision is difficult. One type seems to be related to the Feline Leukemia vaccine - the reason we do not vaccinate indoor cats for this disease.

Oh! My Aching Back!

“I don’t know what in the world is wrong with Jasmine, Doc. She lives to play with her ball and now she just looks at it. Her stomach feels hard as a rock too”. Ah, the “sounds” of pain. But where is it coming from? Our pets exhibit basic pain in many ways e.g., pacing, rapid and shallow breathing, tenseness in the abdomen, whimpering, changes in activity and gait.

Jasmine is a Dachsund and a VERY active one. She looked like she was walking on glass and taking very tiny, tentative steps. Anal glands (glands at the rectum that become blocked, full of stinky debris, which put pressure on the lower back), constipation, back pain, bladder infection or stones - all of these might be the cause of pain in Jasmine. After doing some basic neurologic tests, bloodwork and x-rays, it was evident that Jasmine was on the verge of a ruptured disc. Ask any human how painful this is! Thankfully, we did not have any spinal impingement so that paraplegia (weakness) or paralysis were not present. It could happen any time though. Massive intravenous injections of steroids, continued oral use of steroids, muscle relaxants, crate rest and limited playtime were all prescribed. It didn’t work. After another 7-10 days, she was still painful. Referral for chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture helped minimally. At-home usage of an electrical stimulator (tiny electrodes attached to a battery-type, hand-held unit) twice daily for 20 minutes changed the physiologic movement of electrolytes needed for muscle contraction and electric potential of muscle cells. Success!

Usual (or Common) Pet Illnesses