FALL 2006 NEWSLETTER
It seems appropriate to settle into the winter with a thought on a disease
that affects humans and their dogs!!!
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND MY DOG: WHAT CAN I DO?
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but the most commonly affected are the:
WHAT CAUSES OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis happens because of wear and tear or abnormal stress on a normal joint. This can include damage from an injury, being overweight or engaging in activities that require constant twisting and turning, such as Frisbee playing. Osteoarthritis can also result from normal stress on an abnormal joint such as normal activities in a dog that is predisposed to developing hip or elbow problems.
Canine osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease that affects both the soft tissues and the bones of a joint. It is characterized by the loss of the smooth cartilage that covers and protects the ends of the bone. Cartilage has no nerves, so when it touches the cartilage in another bone, no pain occurs. But when cartilage wears away as happens in osteoarthritis, the bone is exposed. Since bone does have nerves, when two bone ends touch, pain and inflammation occur. Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition, meaning that it will continue to get worse over time. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of the disease, easing your pet’s pain.
WHICH DOGS ARE AT RISK?
Any dog can develop osteoarthritis. Large-breed dogs (e.g., Rottweiler, retrievers, shepherds), dogs with certain body shapes (e.g. dachshund, basset hound, shih-tzu), and dogs with very active “jobs,” (e.g., hunting, search and rescue, drug detection) are at greater risk. Also, some breeds are prone to develop degenerative joint disease at a very young age - as young as 6 to 8 months - so ask your veterinarian if your dog fits into that category. Finally, if your dog injures or fractures a joint or ruptures an anterior cruciate ligament there is a greater chance that osteoarthritis will develop.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS?
The signs of osteoarthritis can vary depending on your dog's age, which joints are involved, and how severely they are involved. Some signs are very subtle, including a slight change in the amount of activity your dog normally endures:
1. Reluctance to walk, run, climb stairs, jump, or play
2. Abnormal stance (leaning forward) or abnormal gait
3. Stiffness
4. Limping
5. Decreased activity
6. Difficulty rising from a resting position
7. Soreness when touched
8. Yelping or whimpering in pain
9. Acting aggressive or withdrawn
10. Incessant licking of a painful joint
11. Flattening ears when an affected area is touched
HOW CAN OSTEOARTHRITIS BE MANAGED?
While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, management involves a treatment program designed to improve your dog's physical and mental health. You need to work as a team with our veterinary staff to ensure that your dog enjoys a good quality of life. Young or old, all dogs can improve by following our veterinary team's recommendations:
INTERESTING STATISTICS ON FERAL CATS
Feral cats exist in every town. These cats are not owned or claimed by anyone; they are often fearful of humans. They survive by hunting and foraging, finding shelter where they can. Generations of feral cats survive in the neighborhoods, alleys and buildings of our city. There have been few controlled studies providing estimates of feral populations in any city. A recent study has the feral cat population of San Diego County (which has slightly more than 1,040,000 households) to be an estimated 240,700 cats. This same study also revealed that up to 20% of households in San Diego County set out food for feral cats.
TOXICITY OF SILICA GEL
How poisonous are those little packets of silica gel used to absorb moisture inside products such as vitamins and other medication, as well as such other common items like leather goods? They most often produce only mild stomach upset for our companions, and it typically resolves with minimal to no treatment. However if very large quantities are eaten, obstruction is a possibility. It is certainly best to prevent your pet from having access to these even though the risk of a problem isn’t great. If you suspect your pet may have ingested any potentially poisonous substance, contact us at 631-0880 or call the Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Springfield Missouri Pit Bull Ordinance
The city now has a Pit Bull ordinance in effect. Owners of Pit Bulls are required to have a special license for $50 that also required they be spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies and microchipped. Most veterinarians in the area are opposed to the law and have worked to have it changed. A recent attempt to repeal this law failed to have enough legitimate signatures.
For your information…the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends the following strategies regarding aggression in dogs and breed-specific legislation:
1. Enforcement of generic, non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws, with an emphasis on chronically irresponsible owners
2. Enforcement of animals control ordinances such as leash laws
3. Prohibition of dog fighting
4. Encouraging neutering and spaying
5. School-based and adult education programs that teach pet selection strategies, pet care and responsibility and bite prevention.
TOP TEN REASONS PETS VISIT VETERINARIANS
From Veterinary Pet Insurance Company claims filed in 2005.
DOGS CATS
Skin allergies Urinary tract infections
Ear infections Stomach upsets
Stomach upsets Kidney disease
Bladder infections Skin allergies
Benign tumors Respiratory infections
Osteoarthritis Diabetes
Sprains Ear infections
Eye infections Colitis
Enteritis Eye infections
Hypothyroidism Wound infections
WHY WORMS SHOULD BE PREVENTED
Of the intestinal parasites that can infect dogs, cats and humans, roundworms and hookworms are of particular concern because the microscopic eggs of these worms can lead to blindness and skin disease in humans. Routinely preventing and treating worms in our pets is important to prevent disease in us. With dogs and cats spending more time inside our homes, the risk is even greater.
Just one adult roundworm female can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day. A Purdue University study found that two puppies with low worm burdens still shed an average of 10,983 eggs per gram of feces. Doing the math this leads to nearly 300,000 eggs per defecation. In a week that extrapolates to more than 20.5 million eggs which potentially can be released in one backyard.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) guidelines include:
1. Year-round treatment with broad spectrum heartworm preventatives that have activity against roundworms and hookworms should be given.
2. Pets should not be fed uncooked meats.
3. Appropriately conducted fecal examinations should be performed.
4. Puppies and kittens should be wormed starting at 2 and 3 weeks respectively. Re-worming should be done based on an accurate weight every 2 weeks until they are 8-9 weeks old and put on a monthly preventative.
5. Dogs and cats should be placed on preventative flea and/or tick products as soon after birth as possible for the life of the pet.
6. Annual retesting for canine heartworm infection.
HOSPITAL HAPPENINGS
New Hope Hosts Oklahoma State Veterinary Student
Christy Booth, a senior student from Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine, was a welcome preceptor at our hospital from September 13th through October 7th. Senior veterinary students can earn veterinary college credits and gain practical clinical experience at approved veterinary hospitals during their senior year. Our hospital is chosen as an off campus preceptor site because of the high quality veterinary care provided by our staff, our modern facilities and equipment, and our emphasis on education and innovation. She was an energetic addition to our team and we were glad to be able to share our clinical experience with her.
Continuing Education for our staff’
Our hospital is dedicated to providing you and your pet with quality veterinary care through the most up-to-date information and diagnostic equipment. We routinely send staff members to seminars, workshops and conferences keeping us educated and motivated.
Central Veterinary Conference Kansas City August 25-29th
Dr. Stouffer headed our team to Kansas City with receptionist Amy and veterinary nurses Dani, Melinda, Jamie, and Angie. With over 200 experts in all fields of medicine, surgery and management they all gained valuable information from their trip.
Southwest Conference Dallas September 21-24th
Our delegation to Dallas was smaller, including Barb, one of our receptionists, and veterinary nurses Ashley and Deidra. This seminar was well-attended by many experts in the field of behavior and medicine. Our staff was able to attend educational lectures all day that expanded their knowledge and enthusiasm for quality veterinary care.
Sound Technologies Wet Lab Chicago September 14-29
Dr. Life attended a cardiac ultrasound workshop that gave her hands on experience and training in the difficult realm of cardiac ultrasonography. Our ultrasound skills now include Doppler reading of blood flow. With this knowledge we are better able to diagnose and treat your pet’s heart condition and offer the best medical care for your beloved pet.
T-Touch Workshop Rogers September 23-24
Dr. Belknap refreshed her knowledge and enthusiasm with our second T-Touch workshop led by Kathy Cascade, certified T-Touch instructor. Our office manager, Tommie, was able to attend this workshop, and we were again educated and excited about dog language and the power of positive reinforcement. New Hope Animal Hospital was also happy to invite all area shelters to this workshop at no charge. Rogers Animal Services and the Bella Vista Shelter were able to attend and will be able to pass their knowledge on to the staff at their shelter.
PUPPY CLASSES AT OUR HOSPITAL
Socialization and basic manners should be an important part of every dog’s life. Our continued commitment to the mental health of your dog has led us to establish puppy classes at New Hope Animal Hospital on Tuesday and Friday nights. The classes are led by Deborah Grodecka, CPDT, CDBC which spells out to Certified Pet Dog Trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Her advanced training in behavior and extensive experience as a trainer and behavior specialist makes her an asset to all dogs in Northwest Arkansas. We are fortunate to have her expertise and commitment for our classes. She bases all her training on positive reinforcement; she is accepting adult dogs with behavior problems for private consultation.
DOG EVENTS ENTERTAIN US ALL
Responsible Dog Ownership Day a national American Kennel Club ‘holiday’ was September 16th and the Northwest Arkansas Kennel Club sponsored a celebration event at the Ryan Murphy Dog Park in Rogers on that date. We were honored to have a booth promoting spaying and neutering, and hopefully we encouraged the public to prevent the overpopulation of pets in the United States by decreasing the numbers that are born. We hope this is an annual event for the club, with more dog-lovers taking advantage of a fun day with your dog. (photos online at nhahonline.com)
New Hope Animal Hospital also participated in the Howl-O-Ween Carnival sponsored for the first year by Central Garden and Pet Supply on October 7th. This annual event is a favorite with proceeds going to area rescues and shelters. Our carnival game was musical hula-hoop, and we had a lot of fun with the pets and people who came. Dr. Nancy Belknap was a featured speaker at the event with information on pet health care. (photos online at nhahonline.com)
The Jones Center for Families sponsored a Pumpkin Carving and Pet Parade on October 14, 2006. Pumpkins and carving supplies were supplied by the Jones Center. Dogs and owners showed up in their costumes which culminated in a parade and contest. Dr. Nancy Belknap was a speaker on responsible pet ownership at this well-attended event. (photos online at nhahonline.com)
SPEAKING AT SCHOOLS
Dr. Nancy Belknap was speaker for the Northwest Arkansas Community College Brown Bag Lunch Series on September 9th. Kirby, one of her certified therapy dogs, helped her entertain and educate the staff and students as they munched their lunch. And then on October 5th Kirby and Dr. Nancy were guests at the Rogers High School for their lunch speaker series. Dr. Nancy is always available to speak on pet care or any aspect of veterinary medicine, and Kirby is always ready to entertain!
VISIT US ONLINE AT nhahonline.com