25August2012

In Italian, a belladonna is a beautiful lady;

in English, it's a deadly poison
Ambrose Bierce

[Animal Doc AM Multi-Media with Dr. Don DeForge is now being presented at Silver Sands Veterinary on FB and Twitter]

Avoiding Pet Poisoning

There are many poisons in and around our homes that can be lethal to our pets.  Non-secured medicine cabinets and human medicines that are left out on counters are very common pet poison exposure areas.  Be sure to secure all of the medicines that you take.  Remember, many of the over the counter medicines you take can be just as lethal as prescription medicines.

Here are some categories of Human Medicines that are very dangerous for your pet to ingest:

• Painkillers of all types
• Cold Medicines
• Diet Supplements
• Antidepressants
• Allergy Medicines
• Supplements
• Muscle Relaxants
• Sedatives
• Medicines to Induce Sleep

Many times these medicines are dropped on the floor and the pet comes along and licks and swallows them thinking they are eating a treat.  You must make sure your house is pet safe at all times.

Chemical Hazards in the home can also be life threatening.  If you do not have the following products under lock and key in secure cabinets do it tonight.

Potential Chemical Poisons in your home can come from contact with:

• Drain, sink, and tub cleaners
• Paint products as well as spirits for cleaning paint spills or brushes
• Ethylene glycol in antifreeze
• Floor cleaners
• Disinfecting agents including bleach 
• Ammonia cleaning agents
• Petroleum Products

The next category of poisons that could lead to an ER visit or death concerns Agents Used In And Around The Yard.  As we move into fall, we groom our yards and complete our fall garden cleaning and lawn treatments.  Be cautious.  Read product descriptions carefully.  Do not place products that are toxic to children or pets.

 Pest and Garden Toxins could come from contact with:

• Rodenticides,
• Herbicides 
• Fertilizers

Your own Veterinary Medications can become a poison if ingested at toxic levels or ingested by a pet that the medicine was not prescribed for by accident.

Veterinary Medicines that can lead to a poisoning by improper usage are:

• Heartworm Medicine
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medicines
• Antibiotics
• Nutritional Supplements
• Antibiotics
• Skin and Ear Preparations
• Pain Killers of all types
• Allergy Medicines
• Anti-Anxiety Drugs
• Cardiac Medicines
• Anti-Hypertensive Medications

 There are many Plants, inside and outside the home, that can be very toxic to pets.

Some of the Common Plants that are toxic to dogs and cats are:

• Lilies-very toxic to cats-they can cause life-threatening kidney failure
• Rhododendrum
• Sago Palm
• Azalea
• Kelanchoe
• Schefflera

Take a moment and Google these plants to study their toxicity to your cat and dog.  This is only a sampling.  Visit the ASPCA Poison Control Center to study other plants that are poisonous to dog and cats.

Here are some important guidelines:

  If you suspect a poisoning in your pet do not attempt to treat it yourself.  The Internet is blanketed in home cures.  Get HELP immediately!  Call your health professional, your local doctor of veterinary medicine, and get the correct advice.  If there are already serious signs of poisoning such as weakness, lack of motor coordination, vomiting of blood, seizures, difficult breathing, or coma get to your local 24/7 ER Center for immediate intervention.

If you have questions and your pet is not experiencing signs of poisoning but it is suspected call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.  For a nominal fee, a toxicologist will consult with you and your veterinarian about the suspect poisoning.

Many poisonings can be stopped by being pro-active.  Poison proof your home.  Think that you have an investigative two year old in your home and consider how you would act to prevent a poisoning in your child.  Our pets are our children!  Enjoy your pets and have a safe life with them for the good of your pet!

Dr. Don DeForge

26August2012

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media

Silver Sands Veterinary Center

17 Seemans Lane

Milford, Ct. 06460

1-800-838-3368

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com

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"Life is a Combination of Magic and Pasta" 

-Federico Fellini 

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media with Dr. Don DeForge

21August2012

What is our happiest time of each day?  It is when we gather to eat as a family or find a moment of silence away from the maddening world to have a cup of coffee; a sweet treat; or maybe a large scoop of our favorite ice cream.

Our pets also seek the wonders and magic of the varied food that we present to them.  Unfortunately, our selection of foods is not always the best.  We overload our pets diets with treats that are loaded with fats and carbs leading to obesity.  Obesity is a trigger for many medical conditions including the problems listed below.

Here are just a few side effects of obesity in our pets that can be prevented with a close scrutiny of diet:

• Diabetes
• Heart problems
• Orthopedic problems
• Arthritis aggravation
• Breathing problems
• Liver disease
• Lethargy and tiredness

Ignore the guaranteed analysis on food bags.  The food you feed your pet should be AAFCO approved.  AAFCO stands for the {Association of American Feed Control Officials} Look for either AAFCO formulated or Animal Feeding Testing Trials performed using AAFCO Guidelines.  If this is not on the bag, do not purchase the food without speaking to a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition [DACVN].  Call Tuft's School of Veterinary Medicine and ask for a Consultation appointment with Dr. Lisa Freeman who is a DACVN.  There is a fee for this consult but it will be one of the best investments in your pet's care your have ever made.

All puppies and kittens should have an AAFCO Complete and Balanced Puppy or Kitten food till 12 months of age; this should be extended in giant breed dogs till 18 months of age when your companion's growth potential is completed.  At that time, with your veterinarian's consult, change to an AAFCO Complete and Balanced adult food.

Try these healthy treats for your pup or adult dog as a treat:

• Sweet Potato-cooked and diced or mashed
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Cooked Pumpkin
• Non-fat Plain Yogurt
• Baby carrots
• Banana
• Watermelon 
• Apple slices
• Stringless sugar snap peas
• Broccoli cooked
• Melon slices diced

These treats must be fed in moderation at first; the amounts can be increased once your dog is used to them.  Also, remember some cats love yogurt and will eat blueberries, melon slices, and strawberries.  These are so much better than the biscuits and treats that are on every super market shelf which are just explosions of calories.

See CHOW HOUNDS, a resource book on pet obesity, by Dr. Ernie Ward at Amazon.com

It is Dr. Ward's personal plan to save our pets by controlling pet obesity.  For the good of the pet you love~~ make a commitment today to research and modify your pet's diet.

Dr. Don DeForge

Animal-Doc AM- Multi-Media

DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com

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Silver Sands Veterinary Center

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com

1-800-838-3368

Blogger-21August2012

Identifying Pain in Your Pet: 

Ending Your Pet's Bad Dream Forever

by Dr. Don DeForge

Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media

14August2012

“Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.” 

― Markus Zusak

Pets have NO recourse but to "smile" even though they may be living in pain.  As your pet's advocate, you must work hard to identify "signs" of pain and remove this pain with the counsel and help of a veterinary professional.  Your Local Doctor of Veterinary Medicine may seek help from a pain specialist if the cause or the pain center is difficult to diagnose.  Pain specialists exist in veterinary medicine just as they do in human medicine.

There are two COMMON TYPES OF PAIN in our companions: 

First, there is ACUTE PAIN:

Common Examples of ACUTE PAIN are:

• Crying-Howling-Bleeding from trauma
• Broken bones; a ruptured ligament; a slipped disc
• Auto accidents; falling large distances; being hit by an object
• Being shot or wounded as part of malicious mischief
• An obstructed urethra and not being able to urinate
• An abdominal infection or blockage in our gastrointestinal tract
• Ear Infections
• Impacted Anal Glands
• Oral infections and abscessed teeth
• Crushing chest injuries
• A ruptured eye or an eye ulceration
• Skin abscesses
• Other neurological disorders besides the slipped disc
• Muscle and joint pain
• Osteoarthritis

Most ACUTE PAIN has a "red flag sign" that makes you think something is wrong.  That should then drive you to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian who can pinpoint and treat the discomfort.

BAD PAIN or CHRONIC PAIN is much more difficult to ascertain.  Your veterinarian's input or the input of a specialist is needed in this type of pain.

Here are some of the signs of "BAD PAIN" that you must look out for as you pet's advocate.  You love your pet as much as a child.  Read these warning signs and make a mental note to look carefully at your pet today to see if any are evident.

Some Common Signs of "BAD PAIN" are:

• Not eating as much as usual
• Picking up and dropping food
• Not interested in playtime or toys that were always important to your pet
• Trouble jumping into the car or truck
• Trouble going up or down stairs
• Not wanting to jump up on a couch or a bed to be near you
• Sleeping more that normal
• Howling or hyperactivity
• Drooling excessively
• Squinting or not opening an eye
• Sleeping in the winter near a radiator
• Not wanting to get up in the morning for breakfast
• Eating in a different position
• Eating on one side of the mouth
• Strong abnormal mouth odor
• Teeth grinding and clicking when eating or after eating
• Snapping at you or your children which has never occurred before
• Growling when being touched
• Scratching doors, furniture, or walls in a normally well-behaved pet
• Not using a leg; holding it up at times
• Stiffness when getting up from sleeping
• A different sleeping posture with the hind legs in a "frog-leg" position in a pet that has not slept that way before
• Blood in the urine; or multiple urinations
• Straining to defecate
• Difficulty moving the head up and down or from side to side

If your pet is showing any of these subtle "SIGNS OF BAD PAIN," you must get to your veterinarian immediately.  "BAD PAIN" is difficult to diagnose and your doctor may have to run some tests or take some x-rays.  Other times, referral to an Internal Medicine Doctor or a Pain Specialist in Critical Care might be the road to discovering the source of the pain.

Once the pain center is found, a prescription for pain control is then initiated.  Many clients are concerned about narcotics and drug dependence.  Other clients do not want to give medicines at all.  Remember Zusak's quote about being slapped in the face and smiling and doing that for 24 hours a day.  Your pet wants a quality-pain free life and does not want to live in pain.  Let your doctor guide you to the best pain prescription for your pet.  There are many options today than can be utilized without drug dependence.  Do not be fearful of medicine for pain.  Allow your veterinarian to be your support-system and guide.  Ask for a referral to a pain specialist if the medicine your local doctor has prescribed in not helping.  Become a pain-control advocate starting today for the good of your pet.

14August2012

Dr. Don DeForge

Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com

Ph-203-877-3221

DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com

Become a Friend at Silver Sands Veterinary

Join us each Tuesday on Blogger-Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media

WHICH ITCH IS THE WORST?

Which ITCH is the Worst?

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media
Dr. Don DeForge
07August2012

Have your allergies been bothering you? As you stop by the OTC area for allergy medicine at your local supermarket or drug store you will note that there has been a major run on allergy medicines this month.  People are sneezing, coughing, rubbing their itchy eyes, and complaining about sinus headaches.  What about our PETS?  Do they have the same allergies?

Yogi Berra once said, "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore!"  The information to follow is definitely worth a dime because it can help your pet return to a normal quality of life.  Dogs, specifically, can have a multitude of allergy problems.  In the dog and the cat, the reactions to allergies are usually dermal [i.e. involving the skin] in nature.

Some of the signs you might see with a dog or a cat with allergies are:

1. Licking or chewing of the feet or pads
2. A reddened skin with crusty areas from secondary infections
3. Rubbing of the face
4. Scratching of the sides or belly
5. Rubbing the anal area
6. Pawing or rubbing the face and ears
7. Ear Inflammation and/or infections
8. Red irritated eyes

What causes allergies?  Consult with your LDVM about a referral to a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist to find the cause of your pet's allergies.

There are areas of concern that the Dermatologist will address:

• Flea Allergy
• Seasonal Allergy
• Food Allergy
• Bacterial and Fungal Skin Infections
• Thyroid Disease-Low Thyroid
• Other parasitic problems
• Immune Mediated Diseases

Common Seasonal or Inhalant allergies can be classified according to the allergen that causes the patient to be uncomfortable.  Some of the allergens are:

• Grasses
• Weeds
• Trees
• Fungi and Molds
• House Dust
• Wool-Cotton-Kapok-Tobacco Smoke-and cockroach

The Dermatologist eliminates these one at a time with either Allergy Blood Testing-[one system used in people and animals is RAST testing] or by Intradermal Skin Testing.  How these are utilized and which is the best testing system for your pet is explained by the Dermatologist at the time of your visit.

The Dermatologist may suggest Hyposensitization once the exact allergen[s] have been 

identified.  A vaccine prescription manufactured according to the Dermatologist's instructions by the Immunology Lab will attempt to retrain your pet's immune system to deal with future exposure to their allergens.  The final result of reducing the symptoms of discomfort is directly related to your pet's immune system..  Not all patients are helped with Hyposensitization.  Some are only partially helped; some receive minimal to no assistance; and others are dramatically resolved of their symptoms.

You must remember that Hyposensitization is an allergy management system required in most animals for life because allergies are a life long program.  Not utilizing the vaccine properly or not following the Dermatologist's recommendations will lead to failure.

Is your dog or cat itchy?  Call your LDVM today for a consultation appointment and listen to their recommendations.  Let them advise you about referral to a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist.  Make the phone call today for the good of your pet!

A Cat's Deepest Secret Revealed

Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media 

Dr. Don Don DeForge

31July2012

One of the DEEPEST SECRETS of the cat that we love is pain and discomfort caused by impacted anal sacs.

Each cat has two anal sacs.  If you lift the tail of your cat and look at 3 PM and 9 PM, as if you are staring at a clock, you will be face to face to the openings of these sacs.  Many times the veterinarian everts the anal mucosa to see the opening clearly.  In most instances, a mild sedative is needed for a complete exam of this site.

No one knows their purpose but they can become impacted.  Everyone knows about the problem in dogs.  Normally in a dog or cat when there is a bowel movement the pressure allows the secretion found in these sacs to be expressed.  In some animals, this does not occur.  

There are many reasons postulated why in some animals the sacs get impacted and cannot empty normally.  Here are some of these possible causes:

• Infection
• Inflammation
• Parasites
• Overweight animals
• Diarrhea
• Dietary Change
• Dermatitis of many types
• Allergy
• Genetics

The problem becomes serious when the impaction is not noticed which can lead to abscessation and rupture of the sac.  The cat does not show the classic sign of anal dragging or scooting seen in the dog when the sacs are impacted.  Many times the only way to recognize the problem is to have your veterinarian examine the area with sedation.  If you notice a malodor from the anal area or your cat is chronically licking the anal area, you should see the "red light" and call your doctor immediately.

Always ask for a referral to an animal dermatologist before considering removing the glands-i.e. anal sacculectomy.  Let the allergist or dermatologist let you know if this is warranted.  Just removing a structure will not always alleviate the rubbing, licking, and sucking of the anal area.

Do not try to empty or clean the glands yourself.  The Internet is full of articles on "how to" and this is one you do not want to attempt.  One mistake and you can rupture the anal sac which can lead to the necessity of a surgical intervention by your veterinarian.  Also, always ask your veterinarian to have an analgesic-sedative administered when the sac is examined and/or emptied.  Finally, ask your LDVM for an oral analgesic [pain-killer] to give your cat at home after this procedure is done.  It will be up to your veterinarian if an antibiotic or a topical local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory product is needed post-treatment.  We, as a profession, are always searching for pain control and quality of life.

 THE DEEPEST SECRET has now been revealed.  Take this secret and share the answer with all of your friends who are cat lovers.  Do it for the love of your cat today!

Dr. Don DeForge

Animal Doc AM-Multi-Media

31July2012

Silver Sands Veterinary Center

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com

203-877-3221

FACEBOOK-Become a Friend at Silver Sands Veterinary

E-Mail DonDeForge@aol.com

Intervention: Saving Your Pet's Life

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media-Dr. Don DeForge

24July2012

In 2009, a human study showed that the top two death problems that were preventable by INTERVENTION are smoking and high blood pressure.  Both have effective interventions

yet they are responsible for the highest numbers of deaths in the United States each year.

What about our companions.  Do they develop Hypertension--i.e. high blood pressure?  The answer is YES!  Hypertension can be just as dangerous to pets as it is to humans.

At your next wellness exam or routine veterinary visit have your veterinarian check your pet's blood pressure.  An isolated high blood pressure reading is not a diagnosis of hypertension.

Many pets go through "white coat syndrome" the same as people and have very elevated blood pressure because of anxiety or stress in the doctor's office.  If your veterinarian gets a high reading it must be repeated a number of times to see if the reading is consistent.  If consistently high, other tests are run and a consult with an animal internist or cardiologist is recommended.

There are two numbers that make up the blood pressure reading.  The SYSTOLIC, or first number, is the larger of the two and measures the force of blood from the heart to the arteries.

The DIASTOLIC or smaller number measures the force as the heart relaxes as blood flows back to the heart.  In animals most Internal Medicine doctors and cardiologists feel that diastolic pressure is not as reliable as systolic, therefore veterinarians mainly measure systolic pressures.  Your veterinarian may recommend that your purchase a Doppler non-invasive Blood Pressure Unit to allow you to measure your pet's blood pressure at home on a daily basis and then report the readings to the doctor for analysis.

Hypertension can effect the heart, kidneys, eyes, and the central nervous system.  There is primary hypertension which is the disease itself and then there is secondary hypertension which means that some other condition is contributing to high blood pressure.

Here are some of the signs and problems that can occur with high blood pressure in your pet:

• Disorientation
• Dilated Pupils
• Rolling of the eyeballs that is involuntary
• Stroke and Cerebral Vascular Accidents
• Retinal Detachment
• Blindness
• Seizures
• Motor weakness of the legs

Discuss with your veterinarian the normal or abnormal blood pressure readings in the dog and the cat you love.  As stated, these readings can vary with age, breed, obesity, excitement, and medical problems present.

Hypertension can occur in older cats.  It is many times coupled with kidney disease or hyperthyroidism.

There are many drugs available to the general practitioner, internal medicine doctor, or the veterinary cardiologist to treat hypertension in animals.  Beta Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers are just two categories of many that are called upon to help adjust blood pressure.

Never self-medicate your pet with your own medicines.  You can cause serious harm to your pet.

Finally, please REMEMBER, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media is only a guide or a tool of knowledge and is not written or meant to replace a professional consultation with a veterinarian or a veterinary specialist.  If you are concerned about hypertension in your pet and want to find out more about the diagnosis or treatment of animal hypertension contact your veterinarian today.

Dr. Don DeForge is Animal Doc AM Multi-Media

Silver Sands Veterinary Center

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com

Become a friend at FB-Silver Sands Veterinary

Ph 203-877-3221

E-Mail DonDeForge@aol.com

Have a great summer with your pet and thank you for becoming a part of Animal Doc AM Multi-Media Blogger 2012.

Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory:

Not a Place for Dog's To Visit

Dr. Don DeForge-Animal Doc AM Multi-Media

17July2012

Chocolate Toxicity:

Chocolate contains Theobromine, a natural stimulant, found in the cocoa bean.  Unfortunately, dog's metabolize Theobromine very slowly.

When ingested by pets in large quantity chocolate can cause:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hyperactivity
• Increased Thirst
• Increased Urination
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm
• Seizures
• Even loss of life 

Dark chocolate and Baking Chocolate are the most dangerous; one ounce of dark chocolate in a ten pound dog is life threatening.  If you cannot reach your own veterinarian call your local ER Center to see if the type of chocolate and the amount ingested is life threatening.  If you wish, you can call Poison Control for Animals-The ASPCA Poison Control Center has a 24 hour Emergency Veterinary Poison Hot line -at 888-426-4435.

Xylitol Toxicity:

Xylitol is another very toxic sweet substance that dogs are drawn to commonly.  Xylitol is used in sugarless gums and candies and is generally safe for human consumption. Xylitol in pets can be rapidly fatal even in low dosages.  In the dog, Xylitol can cause liver failure, internal bleeding, and a fatal low blood sugar hypoglycemic reaction.  Signs of Xylitol toxicity may include:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Uncoordinated movement
• Depression
• Seizures
• Coma
• Liver dysfunction or failure
• Even loss of life

Xylitol, as stated is common in some sugarless gums but can also be found in diabetic candies, certain baked goods, some pharmaceuticals, dental products, mouthwashes, mints, and toothpaste.

If you believe your pet has consumed a Xylitol related product contact your regular DVM, your Animal ER Center, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away.  Do not wait.  Do not see if the initial signs pass.  Get help right away.  The signs can develop 30 minutes after ingestion.  Your veterinarian can initiate an emetic drug to expel the Xylitol if do not waste precious moments.  Veterinary involvement centers on Critical Care, monitoring, fluid therapy, treatment of the hypoglycemia and evaluating clinical lab data to correct other toxicity problems.

If you need help with any poisoning problem in your pet keep this phone number in your Cell Phone Memory and utilize it immediately after any suspect poisoning:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435

Questions?

Feel Free to Contact:

Dr. Don DeForge

Silver Sands Veterinary Center

17 Seemans Lane

Milford, CT 06460

Phone 203-877-3221

E-Mail DonDeForge@aol.com

Dr. Don DeForge is Animal Doc AM Multi-Media

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com