Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

How do I look after my pets dental health?

Here at Goddard Vet Group, we see a lot of dental problems in both cats and dogs, and in fact dental disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases throughout the UK. But is there any way to prevent this horrible disease? And how can we help your pets?

Dental Diseases in Pets

Dogs can have a variety of dental problems throughout their lives. When they’re young, problems with the deciduous (‘baby’) teeth can mean they’re left with too many teeth in their mouths. This leads to food becoming stuck and causing gum disease. Some dogs are mad chewers – they’ll break teeth or wear them down, which is not only painful but may result in a tooth root abscess. Most commonly, though, dogs suffer from periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease affects dogs of all ages, although it’s more common in older dogs as it takes a while to occur. It’s also more common in some breeds – generally the smaller breeds. Bacteria in the mouth live on the teeth and gums in the form of plaque, and over time they eat away at the gum and get down beneath the gumline. Here, they start to affect the periodontal ligament, which is the connection between the teeth and the jawbone. When this ligament is damaged the teeth become wobbly, which inevitably results in tooth loss.

Cats also get periodontal disease, but they’re also prone to resorptive diseases. This is where the body, for a currently unknown reason, breaks down and re-absorbs the tooth root, resulting in a painful tooth very prone to breaking.

How Can I Prevent Dental Disease at Home?

Whilst resorptive lesions are hard to prevent, some simple changes to lifestyle can make a big difference to the other diseases. Since worn and fractured teeth are a result of dogs chewing on abrasive or hard materials, talk to one of our nurses about appropriate chews that are less likely to cause dental problems. Baby teeth that fail to fall out should be removed under general anaesthetic. They’re often still firmly attached and great care needs to be taken not to damage the root of the nearby adult teeth. This can often be done at neutering or as a separate procedure.

Tooth Brushing

Brushing the teeth is the single most useful thing you can do to prevent periodontal disease. Toothbrushing removes plaque before it has a chance to harden into tartar and cause gum disease. It’s also a great excuse to check your pet’s teeth daily (yes- daily!) for any problems. We always recommend trying to introduce tooth brushing to pets as soon as possible, and to start slow and build up – just like with anything new. Don’t forget, never use human toothpaste (it’s not good for our pets!). Our nurses are fantastic at giving you top tips for tooth brushing, so if you think you can make time in your day to brush your pet’s teeth, please give them a call or book in for a free dental check to go over it.

Dental Dog Chews

Some dental chews have been shown to reduce the level of plaque in the mouth. However, there are a lot of brands out there that may not have the same benefits. We recommend choosing from the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s list of approved products, or talking to our nurses. Don’t forget that these chews contain extra calories which should be accounted for in your pet’s daily allowance to avoid obesity.

Can Water and Food Additives Help?

Water and food additives to prevent plaque build-up do exist and some even have evidence that they help. Whilst they’re not going to be as good as tooth brushing, they’re a good added extra, especially in pets that won’t allow anything else. Again, the VOHC have a list of accepted products, so choose from this list or discuss with one of our nurses at your next dental check.

Diets for Dental Disease

For those animals very prone to dental disease, specific diets have been created to reduce plaque and tartar through a combination of ingredient choice and kibble that breaks up in a particular way. These diets are prescription diets, so if you think you’d like to try them please have a chat with our team.

How Can my Vet Help?

Despite doing some, or all, of these things at home, it’s still possible that your pet will suffer from periodontal disease. This is especially true if your pet is genetically predisposed or has already lost teeth to the disease.

Regular check-ups with your veterinary nurse can keep track of the level of plaque and tartar in your pet’s mouth and allow an early-warning sign if disease is starting. However, our animals are masters at hiding the signs of disease and sometimes a dental check-up under general anaesthetic is necessary to allow us to do a more thorough exam.

Problems such as fractured teeth, exposed pulp, wobbly back teeth and resorptive lesions can be missed on a conscious check-up, especially if your pet objects to the examination. Putting them under a general anaesthetic allows us to examine more thoroughly and even test the teeth for problems using a dental probe, just like a human dentist. And during the check-up, just like at the dentists, they’ll also get a scale and polish. This enables us to remove any tartar build up from the hard to reach places before it starts to cause a major problem.

For most pets, a scale and polish are necessary every 6-12 months. After all, we humans brush twice daily, but we still miss spots and need a professional clean at least annually. Whilst it is theoretically possible to clean the teeth conscious, the most important area to clean is under the gum line. This is uncomfortable for pets and the majority will not tolerate it without an anaesthetic, meaning that cleaning without anaesthetic results in a sub-standard clean.

When was the last time your pet had a dental clean? If they’re overdue, why not book for a check-up with our vet team and we’ll talk it all through with you!

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What is ‘Lifestage’ feeding and why is it important for my pet?

‘Lifestage’ feeding is a relatively new term that means feeding your pet what they need at each stage of life. This blog should give you an insight into the interesting world of nutrition, help you to determine what stage of life your pet is in and how to tailor their diet to that stage.

Life stages are broken up into the following:

Kitten or Puppy

This is the first 1-2 years of life, the major growth period. The larger the adult weight, the closer to 2 years this will be. For example, a large breed dog will be in this stage for 2 years whereas a cat or small dog will only be in the growth period for a year. Sometimes, this is divided into ‘puppy/kitten’ (the first half) and ‘juvenile’ (the second half, roughly analogous to the human teenager phase).

Adult

This is from the end of the kitten or puppy stage and until their senior years.

Senior

In cats this is over 7-9 years old. In dogs, there is a bit more variation due to the big variation between breed life expectancy (small breeds have a longer life expectancy, so the senior period starts later than in larger breeds) but in general:

  • Small dogs – this stage begins at 12 years old
  • Medium dogs – this stage begins at 10 years old
  • Large dogs – this stage begins at 8 years old

Pregnant or Nursing

This stage is obvious, but it is very important that it has its own category. In the last trimester of pregnancy, and throughout the lactation period, there is a much higher demand for calories on the bitch/queen. If she is not fed to account for this, then she can lose a lot of weight and she may not be able to produce plenty of high-quality milk.

Now you know which stage of life your pet is in, let’s move onto the nutrition side of things…

Puppy and kitten food is high in calcium and phosphorus which promotes good bone health. It is also high in calories which is needed for growing. These diets are perfect for a growing animal because they prevent any deficiencies and you know that they are getting everything that they need. They can also be used in the last trimester of pregnancy and lactation, as the extra calories make sure that Mum has all the energy she requires, and this diet gives her the extra calcium needed for milk production.

Adult food is a well-balanced diet that contains everything that a healthy adult cat or dog needs. This has fewer calories than the puppy/kitten food so that they can maintain a healthy weight. Neutered animals have lower energy requirements, so they may need to go on a ‘diet’ or “neutered pet’ food to maintain a healthy weight. It is worth the investment so that they don’t pile on the pounds during their adult life.

Senior food is usually reduced calorie but with a blend of vitamins, minerals and supplements to support the immune system and promote healthy kidneys and joints. The reduction in calories is because our senior pets are less active than they used to be, if we also reduce the calories this should reduce weight gain (and more importantly, excessive weight on old joints).

On a side note, for many conditions (such as liver or kidney problems) there are also specific diets. If your pet has any long-term conditions, ask one of our vets if they would recommend a diet to help manage the condition.

But the question you are all asking is – does it actually matter? Yes it does! The most important stage is the growth (puppy/kitten) stage; if you feed an inappropriate diet the animal will likely have stunted growth and some deficiencies. So, if you take anything away from this at all, feed your puppy/kitten right so they develop properly.

Maybe the question you should be asking is – why not? These diets are formulated to give your pet everything they need and support them in whatever stage of life they are in. If there is a diet better for your older pets, why not give it a try? Hopefully, you will see the difference it can make and never look back.

Our vets and nurses are always happy to discuss and recommend diets that would be best for your pet. Call us or drop in to discuss it anytime, we think nutrition is very important and will always make time to talk to you about it. Find your local Goddard practice here.

Common Toxins Dangerous To Your Pet

Certain types of food and household items can be unknowingly toxic to your pet — read our list of the most common toxins dangerous to your pet below.

If you think your pet has ingested one of the following please contact your vet immediately. If you are concerned your pet has eaten something poisonous not listed please use our online poisons guide for advice.

FOOD AND PLANT TOXINS

  • Chocolate – causes heart rhythm abnormalities and nervous system signs (eg excitement, tremors, seizures). Just 15g of dark chocolate can be toxic to a 10kg dog.
  • Onions – cause anaemia by destroying red blood cells.
  • Garlic – believed to have a similar effect to onions.
  • Macadamia nuts – in dogs, cause weakness, inability to stand, vomiting, depression.
  • Avocado – fatal in birds and rabbits. Avocados contain a substance called persin which is highly toxic.
  • Grapes and raisins – can cause kidney failure in dogs.
  • Raw or undercooked meat – diarrhoea and/or vomiting (due to Salmonella or e.coli bacteria).
  • Fungal toxins (mouldy food) – diarrhoea, tremors, seizures.
  • Bread dough – disorientation, depression, weakness, coma.
  • Acorns – diarrhoea, kidney failure.
  • Lilies – have been shown to cause kidney failure in cats.
  • Brunsfelsia – (“yesterday-today-and-tomorrow”) – diarrhoea, seizures.
  • Oleander, rhododendron, azalea, crocus, foxglove, hyacinth bulbs – Heart problems.

HOUSEHOLD TOXINS

  • Antifreeze – causes kidney failure, cats and rabbits need to ingest only very small amounts to show symptoms.
  • Tea Tree Oil – depression, weakness, incoordination, muscle tremors.
  • Pyrethrins, Permethrins – usually found in supermarket / pet shop flea products, toxic (especially to cats) if ingested; causes salivation, tremors, and seizures.
  • Paracetamol (panadol) – toxic to the liver and interferes with oxygen transport, can be very quickly fatal in cats.
  • Ibuprofen (nurofen) – depending on amount eaten, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney failure, and/or seizures.
  • Aspirin – can cause gastrointestinal ulcers.
  • Bleach and other cleaning products – many of these chemicals are highly acidic or alkaline, and can cause tongue and mouth ulcers when licked by dogs or cats.
  • Rat poison– causes blood clotting problems, seen most commonly as internal bleeding, or blood in stools or urine, or vomiting blood.
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Pet Health and Wellbeing: why regular checkups matter

Your pet seems healthy, so why should you bring them in for regular checkups?

There are three main reasons why we advise regular checkups:

1) To prevent health problems,
2) To detect any new problems as early as possible,
3) To monitor any existing conditions and maintain good health.

To give you an example of how regular checkups have really helped an animal, here’s the story of a little dog called Mouse.

Last year Mouse came in for her vaccination and checkup. Based on her examination, there was nothing wrong with her, which was good news! During the appointment, her vet asked about Mouse’s worming schedule and looked at her records to see which one she usually gets and when it was next due. These aren’t unusual questions for a vet to ask, but then Mouse’s vet is concerned about lungworm and goes on to explain that this is a new kind of worm, which has slowly travelled around the country and has come close to where Mouse lives. This new worm can grow inside Mouse’s lungs and make her cough, or even cause very serious, life-threatening problems. But they can also protect Mouse from it if they switch her wormer to a different one. So, by simply changed her old tablets to a different product, they have a way to prevent a potentially fatal disease from ever happening.

After changing her wormer, Mouse seems to be doing well – she loves her food; she loves to play. Every day she gives her owners the look. We all know “the look” from our pets, the one that asks, “c’mon where’s my breakfast?”.

But as many times as we feel like we know what our pets are thinking, the truth is they can’t talk to us. This means that as owners, there are limits to what we can know is happening with their health and wellbeing. So lots of diseases can be “hidden” for a long time, simply because we can’t talk to our pets. Many of these problems from kidney disease, to cancer, could be treated much more effectively if we can only catch them early.

So, Mouse seems fine, but she can’t tell her owners that her elbow feels sore after she’s chased her ball around, so as far as her owners can tell, there’s nothing to worry about it. During Mouse’s recent check-up, they are gently reminded that she is getting older. In the past, her vet has talked to her owners about all sorts of things, including how Mouse is one of those dogs that get “the zoomies”. (If you haven’t seen “the zoomies” before – it’s a sudden burst of energy and excitement where dogs ‘zoom’ around their environment.) During the checkup, Mouse’s vet asks about if she still bounces on and off the bed. The question takes her owner by surprise a bit, but when they think about it, Mouse still zooms around the floor, but she doesn’t jump up and down anymore.

As the vet continues with her examination, she spends a little extra time feeling Mouse’s spine and then moving her back legs around. After a few minutes of what looks from the outside like it might be “Doggy Yoga”, she reports that Mouse is a little stiff with her left elbow, and when it bends it’s not quite able to move like her right leg. These could be signs of arthritis starting, so she gives some advice on what they can do to help and starts Mouse on a medicine trial for two weeks.

Two weeks later Mouse is back, and her owners reported that after a few days of medicine they noticed a change; Mouse had gotten brighter – like she’s gotten a couple of years younger. In fact, when they had given her a bath, Mouse got “the zoomies” again, and now she was back to jumping on and off the bed! The vet rechecks Mouse and finds she is less stiff when they bend her elbow. They talk some more about what they can do to help keep Mouse comfortable with her arthritis and they schedule another checkup for a few months’ time.

Now they know that Mouse has arthritis in her elbow, and they’ve got it under control today, but they also know things will change. Hopefully by doing everything they can they will slow those changes down. Maybe in a few months’ time, they will find that things have changed, and they need to change Mouse’s medication. Maybe they will find that Mouse’s arthritis hasn’t changed, and they just need to schedule their next check. Or maybe they’ll find something different they need to manage and treat too.

Whatever we find, these regular checks are essential to help prevent problems before they can occur, to help find any conditions as early as possible and do something about them, and to keep on top of any long-term conditions.

Simply put, regular checkups are the best way to help you and your vet keep your pets as healthy and happy as possible, for as long as possible.

How can regular check-ups benefit my pet?

Regular check-ups for animals might not seem so important if they appear healthy, after all, we don’t usually go to the doctors’ just for a check-up!  So why is that different in our pets? Hopefully, this blog should highlight how they can benefit your pet whatever stage of life they are at.

Firstly, what is a check-up?

It’s a chance to discuss any changes or concerns you may have about your pet. This involves a full nose to tail exam – including checking teeth, weight, body condition (another way of assessing if your pet is an ideal weight), heart, lungs and abdomen. This full check over allows us to pick up any problems like heart murmurs or dental disease early and discuss what we can do to monitor or combat them.

The majority of owners would agree that their pet gets nervous at the vets. In fact, one of the most common things said in a veterinary surgery is “my pet doesn’t like it here”. By regularly attending the vets when there are no needles and plenty of treats, you can slowly teach your pet that being with us isn’t always bad by creating positive experiences. If they become less anxious about seeing the vet, it will be less stressful for everyone involved if they do get sick and have to come in.

With regular check-ups, any problems like arthritis and diabetes can be picked up at an earlier stage. Our pets cannot always tell us when something is wrong and will only begin to show signs when the problem gets worse. If we pick up these hidden issues at an earlier stage, we may be more able to treat it, giving your pet a better and longer life. You may have noticed small changes in your pet’s behaviour and a check-up is a great opportunity to ask if these are normal and get them investigated further if not.

Use us for advice!

Not everything you read on the internet can be believed and this can lead to confusion as there is so much conflicting information. When you bring your pet in, we are more than happy to explain both sides of competing theories and why some may not be as helpful as they look. We can give advice about anything from feeding to neutering, common toxins or a recent article you read. We can debunk any myths and give you sound advice so you can give your pet the best care possible. That is what we are here for so, if you have a question, this is the perfect moment!

Monitor that waistline!

Weight can be gained so easily and can slowly creep on over time, so it can be difficult to notice. Whenever you visit us, the weight of your pet will be recorded and we can let you know how they are doing. The sooner it is recognised if your pet becomes overweight, the easier it is to correct.  Being the ideal weight is important to stay happy and healthy, especially as pets come into their senior years when arthritis starts to become a problem.

Preventative care is at the centre of what we do, we want happy and healthy pets. By bringing your pet in for vaccinations annually you have already got a semi-regular check-up as well as protecting your pet against serious and fatal diseases.

Just bringing your dog in to weigh them for flea and worming treatment is an easy way to keep an eye on your pet’s weight as well as reducing stress by creating positive memories. Even by signing up to ProActive Pets, you can take care of all your pet’s preventative healthcare, get discounts on vet consultations, and have two nurse assessment checks per year, along with a whole host of other benefits – because we think this is so important.

Want to know more? Pop in and ask us!