Sunday, September 10, 2006

Idiopathic/Interstitial Cystitis

Well I had my first experience with idiopathic cystitis, aka insterstitial cystitis, with my cat Sam. This is a inflammation of the bladder or unknown origin.

Sam is a DSH brown tabby and white 5yr old male neutered and up until now has had no problems. Last week he decided the best way to let me know there was a problem was to pee on my bed! With my RVT background and experience working in clinic I recognized this as him telling something wasn't quite right. Luckily I had a syringe at home and quickly collected the sample and took him to the emerg vet.

His urine sample showed no infection, normal amount of bacteria, high specific gravity, acidic PH and lots of RBC's. All pointing towards idiopathic cystitis.

Sam has always eaten a dry diet and has never been a big water drinker. He has always been consistent with his litter box habits.

There is no exact reason why this happens and can be brought on by stress. So I was racking my brain for things that may have changed that could have created stress for him. Then I remembered that I tried adding a litter deodarizer to his litter starting just 2 weeks before! I am sure this was the problem. The poor little guy probably couldn't stand the strong smell and was holding his bladder, which I think then irritated it.

Of course there are other contributing factors such as low water intake as a result of not drinking much water and being on a dry diet that prevent the bladder from being flushed out as often and increases the urine concentration. These affected cats seem to have more neuro transmitters in the bladder wall as well which I suppose makes them more sensitive as well as the fact they they seem to shed the lining of thier bladder( which is there as protection) more frequently.

Sam is now doing much better after limited treatment with metacam ( off label), using non-scented litter, adding canned food to his diet mixed with water to increase his water intake. I even went out and bought one of those fountain dishes to encourage him to drink more water. He was not treated with antibiotics as there was no infection present.

I am hoping that this change is what he needed to keep his bladder healthy and happy.... although this can be a recurring problem, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this was a one time deal!

For more info on idiopathic cystis....

http://www.medi-cal.ca/pdf/doreennotes/idiopathiccystitis2005_en.pdf

DNA sexing KeKe & LuLu

The birdie girls are doing great since KeKe's arrival. Although they don't seem to want to live in the same house, being both females they are too territorial, they sure do like to spend time playing outside of their cages together. LuLu is still the more dominant bird and will let KeKe know when she has had enough.

Earlier in the month I couldn't take the suspense any longer and decided to have them DNA sexed. After collecting a blood sample by trimming a nail and sending it to the lab I had a result in just a few days. I suspected they were both female and sure enough that's what the tests said too. I used a Canadian Company named Health Gene and found them quite efficient.

http://www.healthgene.com/

Somehow I feel better know that they are both girls.....At least I know I am not giving them a complex with their cute girlie names!

Sunday, July 16, 2006

LuLu's new friend KeKe

Yes I think I must have sucker written on my forehead.

We have had LuLu for some time now and since getting past the days she drives us crazy, with her high pitched chirping for attention, we have grown quite fond of her.

I have been wondering for a while if she would like a friend. I was hoping that if I did bring one home it may calm her down a bit. I happened to be in the pet store looking at a pair and noticing how content and quiet they seemed. It just so happened the next day when I came to work what was sitting there but another peach faced lovebird. I thought it was sure to be fate and took her home that afternoon.

Since then things have be quieter around the house and they both seem content to have company. I was an experience trying to cage them together and I am not sure that I will try that for a while. LuLu is definitely the dominant bird and wanted no part of someone sharing her mansion. So for now they sit side by side in their own private palaces and are content with the living arrangements.

I am not known for taking animals home as I have worked in vet clinic in the past for over 10 years and never felt the urge to need to. I guess these two stole my heart... the little clowns that they are! It as definitely been a crash course in bird care and behavior.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Microchips are only useful when info is current!


Microchips are a great identification tool for pets. This small chip ( about the size of a grain of rice) is implanted by injection just under the skin between the shoulder blades where it remains for future identification if the pet is ever lost. The unique number that is encoded on the chip can be read by a scanner when the pet is lost and enters a veterinary hospital or animal shelter. Dog owners register their information ( name, address, phone number etc.) to this chip so in the event that their pet is lost and scanned they can be reunited with the info on the chip This newer method is much more reliable then the tattoos used in the past that often times smeared or faded over time.

The problem arises when pets are implanted with microchips and the information registered to them is not kept current. There are many pets that come into the shelter with microchips that have outdated information and are never returned to owners because we cant get a hold of them or they have adopted the pet to someone else and that new information wasn't registered. Unfortunately technology is only as good as the people behind it.

If you have a pet with a microchip please keep the info registered current and if you have adopted a pet have it scanned by your veterinarian and record the number. All shelters have lists of companies to call that have chips registered. This way you can update the info and greatly increase the chance of your pet making it home quickly.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Wildlife Babies are better left alone!

Spring doesn't only bring nicer weather and new flowers blooming but a huge influx of wildlife babies.

This time of year we have received many calls from people who have found bunnies, squirrel babies as well as nestling and fledgling birds in their backyards and are wondering what to do with them.

Most wildlife babies are better left alone! Although some people mistaken their sighting for being in distress they are often just following natures course and have less of a chance of survival in human hands.

The following are some tips & info for the most common species seen:



Cottontail Bunnies:


Bunnies are born without scent and live in a nest separate from their mother. Most people find a nest of babies and think they are abandoned because they don't see mom around. Bunnies are feed 1-2 x daily when mom comes by the nest in the early morning or at dusk. She needs no more then 5 min to feed the babies and then moves on so she attracts little attention from predators. Bunnies are weaned around 3-4 weeks of age and begin to move away from the nest and eat on their own. This usually is the time when the white spot of hair on their head begins to disappear. At about 5 weeks of age they begin to separate from the rest of their litter and they are on their own.

If you have found a nest of bunnies in your yard and they look content and are warm leave them alone and try to keep your pets away until the bunnies have moved on. If they appear cold and are crying contact a wildlife rehabilitator.


Baby Squirrels:

We receive many calls from people who have found baby squirrels on the ground at the bottom of trees. Squirrels take quite a bit longer to develop in the nest ( eyes don't open until 36 days after birth) and have been known to be blown, pushed or fall out of the nest before then.

If you have found baby that has fallen from the nest the Mom will come to to retrieve them when she feels its safe to do so. In the meantime you can put them at the base of the tree in a box with a fleece blanket to keep them warm and keep your pets away from the area. If she hasn't returned for the babies after 24 hours contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

Baby Birds:

Nestlings are very young and can be distinguished but their lack of feathers or feathers that are just coming through. Sometimes after wind storms these babies may be blown out of nests or the stronger siblings in the nest may have pushed one out. If you can reach the nest you can place the baby back in it ( it is an old wives tale that mom will reject the babies if they have been touched by human hands). If the nest is too high to reach you can make a makeshift nest using a margarine container with small holes in the bottom for drainage lined with paper towels. Tack this new nest in the tree as close to the original nest as possible. The mother will hear the nestling and will go to the new nest to feed it.

Fledglings are young birds that have their new feathers in and are usually seen when learning to fly. They are often seen hopping and fluttering on the ground and appear injured but are really just learning how to fly. Don't be alarmed..mom is usually close by and will come to the ground to feed the baby until they get the hang of flying ( usually a couple of days). Again keep your pets clear of the area until they have left.


Wildlife Baby Info :

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/guideto.htm

If you have a wildlife baby that you think has been abandoned you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Raising wildlife without the proper license is illegal and can result in a large fine. These people are trained to raise and release wildlife properly.

International Wildlife Rehabilitators:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactI.htm

If you are in Ontario check out these sites:

http://www.earthrangers.ca

http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/index.html

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/csb/news/2005/jun15fs_05.html

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Fatty Liver Disease Treatment in Cats

Fatty Liver Disease aka Hepatic Lipadosis is a liver disease seen in cats when they have become anorexic or have a severe decrease in the amount of food they are eating.

Cats are unique in that they are not meal eaters and tend to graze on small meals throughout the day which allows them a constant flow of nutrients/energy into their bodies. When cats stop eating or severely decrease the amount of food they are eating their bodies mobilize their fat stores instead, to their liver, for breakdown to be used as energy. Unfortunately the liver can't handle this large amount of fat being mobilized and results in Fatty Liver Disease.

Fatty Liver Disease can be fatal if not treated properly. The good news is, if the cat is provided with the proper aggressive nutritional support they can achieve a 90% survival rate. Medications are also needed in the treatment of this disease but the most important aspect of treatment is providing the proper amount of nutrional support. Often treatment can last approximately 6 weeks and can be managed by owners at home.

There are some veterinarians who still believe that force feeding food provides enough nutritional support. Unfortunately this is rarely the case. In most cases the cats refuse the force feeding after minimal amounts of food are administered. This not only creates a breakdown in the human animal bond with the owner but also doesn't provide the adequate amount of nutrition. In some cases cats have developed a food aversion, to the food they are being force fed, which can be detrimental to their treatment as it is often a prescription diet needed for the treatment or recovery afterwards.

The most direct and effective way of providing nutritional support is by using a feeding tube either placed as a nasogastric, esophagostomy/pharyngostomy or stomach tube. These tubes are easily maintained and allow the appropriate amount of nutritional support without stressing out the cat or owners. The food is very easily measured and administered through the tube in several small meals throughout the day mimicking the cats natural eating behaviour.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1455

There is no doubt about it in my mind. Tube feeding is the Fatty Liver Disease patients best chance at a full recovery!

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

LuLu the Lovebird


Well it was bound to happen, working in an animal shelter. The day finally arrived when I had to bring an animal home I could not resist.

Her name is LuLu and she is the most beautiful little peach faced lovebird. She came to us at the shelter as a stray...Poor little thing. Left outside all by herself with no tail feathers...Or maybe she lost them to a neighborhood cat?

I never imagined such a small bird could produce so much sound! For the first 2 days she vocalized ( or shall I say screamed at the top of her lungs) non-stop. I actually had second thoughts and said to myself..."Kristina was have you got yourself into this time?". I have no personal experience keeping birds other than my school training. It is amazing how a tiny bird can have such a huge personality. She has settled down quite a bit now and only is really chatty in the am and late afternoon.

She has been quite entertaining in the 2 weeks that I have had her. Most info you read on the web talks about their limited (if any) ability to talk. I have to disagree. At least in her case. She often mimics what we are saying or whistling, to her, and comes up with other things we have no idea about.

She has been a great addition. Looks like she will be staying awhile!

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Breeders are NOT Veterinarians!

I recently had the experience of accompanying some friends on their quest for a puppy. After doing their research, on the breed they were interested in, they were on the hunt for a reputable breeder.

I directed them to the Canadian Kennel Club's Dogs in Canada Annual Magazine. This magazine is published every year and has all the CKC registered breeders listed by province.

They were able to locate and contact a breeder within a reasonable distance ( 45min away) and coincidentally they had a litter ready to go. Needless to say an appointment was made and we were on our way!

Being an RVT and having worked in small animal practice for many years I have had some experience working with breeders. To be completely honest on the most part they are a breed of their own! I respect the fact that in quite a few cases they have years of experience breeding and caring for a particular breed of dog but this in no way makes them veterinarians! They often have vast amounts of knowledge on the behavioral issues of these dogs as well, which is very valuable, but still does not qualify them as vets!

During our visit ( which resulted in the purchase of a very cute pup- who can go "just to look"?) I spent a serious amount of time biting my tongue ( actually I had to prevent myself from severing it completely). I had told my friends before we went that I was sure, from past experience, that I would have differing opinions as well as advice from the breeder and that I would tell them after the visit. I was amazed at the information this girl was passing along...even though she knew I was an RVT ( as my friends explained to her when we arrived).


Here are just a few examples of the poor advice:

  • Bath your dog with watered down dish soap! - Would you wash your own hair with this abrasive detergent? Probably not and doing so would result in skin issues I am sure! Dogs skin has a specific PH like us, they need shampoo formulated for dogs.
  • Tattoos are better then microchips because you don't have to have any fancy scanners to read them! In my experience tattoos are only readable for a short period of time. As the dog grows the tattoo stretches and fades. Also, all vet clinics and shelters have microchip scanners but not tattoo info. It was funny how when the breeder went to record the tattoo number on the paperwork she couldn't even read the tattoo and it was just done!
  • Don't pay for the expensive fecal testing your vet will recommend to you. We know our dogs have certain parasites so just ask the vet for the medication. We can send you home with a couple of days worth as long as you don't tell the vet you got it from us. No reputable vet is going to dispense medication without first diagnosing the problem. Treating with medication for a few days could have prevented the vet from seeing the parasite under microscopic examination and would have resulted in a negative test requiring no medication. The owners would have then made another trip at a later date to have to pup checked as the problem would have re-occurred as the amount of medication given from the breeder would not have been enough to successfully treat the problem just mask it for a few days. It was illegal for the breeder to even dispense medication to begin with!

It would not be an understatement to say I was shocked! So, CKC registered or not take what breeders say with a grain of salt. When you get a new puppy you should visit your veterinarian within a few days and ask them all your puppy questions. They are looking out for the best interest of your puppy. The are in the business to keep your pet healthy and happy and to see them live the longest life possible. Their livelihood depends on it!

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Dog Licencing..Is it necessary?



Working in a shelter, where we enforce animal related by-laws, we deal with people licencing or not licencing their dogs on a daily basis.

Most municipalities have by-laws for dog licencing and if owners are caught without a dog licence they could be subject to a ticket just as you would if other by-laws were broken.

Those who don't licence their dogs are not only in contravention of the by-law but are also decreasing the chance of being reunited with their dog should it go stray.

Although many think that dog licencing is just a "money grab" for the city they live in, I assure you the money is put to good use and dogs do benefit from wearing their tag... at least at the shelter I work in.

Dogs that are licenced and wearing their tag...
  • Can be identified, if they wander away from home or are injured on the road, and reunited with their owner promptly
  • In most cases can return directly home instead of spending time in the shelter. This decreases the chance that they may be housed in areas with other dogs of unknown health status and the stress associated with being in a shelter type environment.

In most cities the money from dog licencing.....

  • Allows the shelter to house feed and care for stray dogs in the city until their owners can claim them or they go up for adoption
  • Allows animals that are sick to be seen by a vet and treated with medications
  • Allows animals that are going up for adoption to be vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped
  • Contributes to community education initiatives relating to animals
  • Pays for staff to provide these services to the community

So purchasing a dog licence is more than buying a new piece of jewelry for your dog... it could be what saves your dogs life!

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Body Worlds 2 at the Ontario Science Centre


I have been wanting to get to this exhibit since it opened in September. This past weekend I finally made it there.

It was interesting to say the least. The exhibit consisted of both animal and human cadavers that have been preserved through a process called plastination by a German anatomist named Dr. Gunther von Hagens.

http://www.koerperwelten.de/en/pages/gunther_von_hagens.asp

This process prevents the decay of tissues and preserves them in their natural state. It was quite a site to see.

http://www.koerperwelten.de/en/pages/plastination.asp

I was amazed that the bodies were on display without the protection of glass cases so you could walk right up to and move around the bodies to see them from every angle.

I am sure this exhibit will prove educational to all, including those studing & working in human and veterinary medicine.

They had a great display of a camel. I was amazed that such a large animal could be preserved in one piece.

I am not sure how one decides to donate their body for plastination and display but they definetly have offered the public at rare look at how we are really made up.

If you don't have a weak stomach and have the opportunity check it out!

http://www.koerperwelten.de/en/pages/home.asp

Disney's Animal Kingdom




While in Orlando for the NAVC we stayed a few extra days at Disney.

Of course being an animal person we had to make a stop at Disney's Animal Kingdom.


I was there on a few occasions in the past. Once when the park opened and twice to spend the day job shadowing to see what life was like working in a zoo type setting.

I was amazed as usual on this past visit. The habitats for the animals are exceptional. The are large and very well designed with many natural species of flora and fauna. Of all the animals we saw that day I only saw one that looked a little anxious and that very well could have been because it was feeding time.

Disney has really outdone themselves, in my opinion, by providing wonderful places for their collection to live and by providing their guests with great opportunities to learn more about the Animal Kingdom!

NAVC Orlando 2006

I had the pleasure of attending the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) 2006 this year in Orlando Florida.

http://www.tnavc.org

The conference was definetly a well oiled machine. With over 15,000 people in attendance (including veterinarians, veterinary technicians as well as office managers and support staff) one could see why so many people attend.

Aside from the numerous lectures to choose from ( including tracks dedicated to small animal, large animal and exotics) the conference centres and accomodations were top class. With such a huge conference, the lectures were spread out among a few resorts and transportation on coach style buses were exceptionally planned to transport delegates to and from each location.

It is definetly a must see at least once in anyones career in veterinary medicine!