Pet Fall Festival this Sunday November 17

November is National Senior Pet Month

November is National Senior Pet Month.  Whether you have a senior pet or have plans to adopt one, we can provide you with information on how best to care of your senior pet.

ALL DAY BLOCK PARTY THIS SATURDAY!

www.wecareapopka.org

Motorcycle Fun Run this weekend

What is a hotspot?

Question

My dog was recently diagnosed with a "hotspot." Can you tell me more about this skin condition?

Answer

“Hotspot” is a general term used to describe the angry reaction that your pet’s skin is displaying. It may also be referred to as “acute moist dermatitis.”
Hotspots have many causes, but are usually the result of self trauma and subsequent infection that occurs as your pet tries to relieve himself from a pain or itch. An underlying allergy is most often the cause of the pain or itch. Some breeds are more prone to seasonal allergies, so you may see hotspots at the same time each year.
There are three types of allergies that may lead to hotspots:

• Inhaled allergy (pollens, dust, molds)
• Insect allergy (fleas, bee sting, spider bite)
• Ingested allergy (food)

Please discuss treatment options, which may include thorough cleaning, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents, with your veterinarian.
For more information, see Library Articles Skin Problems in Pets, Allergies and Spring Allergies.

Originally published on Healthy Pet.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR PETS

Our case of the week involved a young, healthy dog that suddenly overheated.  As this can happen very quickly and unexpectedly I thought the following tips might help.  I am happy to report the dog is now fine.

Planning a road trip with your furry friend?  Here are some tips to help you maintain safety, good health and a relaxing time

1.      Make sure you have current health and vaccination records from your veterinarian, and also a thirty days ( or more) supply of any medications. Give him his monthly flea/tick control so you know he is protected for your vacation time  If you are travelling to certain areas make sure you know ahead of time if lymes vaccine are recommended and/or heartworm prevention. You can find this out on the AVMA website www.avma.org

2.      Make sure your dog/cat is used to being crated and take a favorite blankie and toy with you.  The crate will be very useful in hotels ( often a requirement) as well as for safety in the car.

3.      Ensure you have your pet microchipped and registered with the company as well as a good collar and leash with clearly marked tags.  Hint: Use your cell phone on the tags…if your pet is found you won’t be answering your home phone on vacation.

4.      Make sure you check ahead that pets are welcome and that you have a place for them to stay if you decide to go to a Park for the day.  Many of these, such as Disney and SeaWorld have kennels on site.  You will be pleased you have your vaccination records with you, or your pet won’t be staying!

5.      Stop often for rest stops and water breaks.  Do practice runs in the car first to ensure your pet does not get car sick. Most dogs travel well especially if they feel they are going somewhere special with their best friend.  That’s you!

6.      Never leave your dog in the car.  The interior can heat up to a life threatening temperature in as little as ten minutes. Remember that road surfaces and pool decks can burn pets feet easily.  If you are going from a cooler state to a hotter state you will need to make allowances and realize your pet will feel the difference.  Keep alert for signs of heat exhaustion.  Heavy panting, extreme redness of tongue, vomiting or diarrhea.  If this happens get to the nearest vet ( which you will also have researched on line) immediately.  On the way there pack ice under his arms and turn on a fan or air conditioning directing it  at him

7.      I do not recommend tranquilizers as this can alter or even eliminate a dogs temperate regulation control as well as having an unknown side effect of extreme lethargy or ironically excitement.

If travelling by air, consult the airline for regulations.  Many now do not take certain breeds, or fly pets at certain times of the year, due to climate influences.  There is a new company that specializes in flying just your pet.  You can find them at www.petairways.com.     

Happy travels!

THINGS THAT GO LUMP AND BUMP

We do find that certain problems seem to come in twos.  We may go for weeks without seeing a fracture and then boom! Two in one day.  Last week was lump and bump week, and I hope this blog will help clarify why it is SO important not to ignore or play “wait and see” with any growths that may appear in your dogs or cats.  Generally speaking we will see more problems in dogs, and the majority of them will not be of any concern.  But, as always, the moral is, check it out first.

The first case we will look at was a 6 year old cat, with very vigilant owners, who have never missed any scheduled exams and are wonderful fur -parents.  About three weeks previously, they had noticed small lumps on the left side of the lower thorax.  They elected to have these removed and sent to histopath after the doctors recommendations.  After shaving and prepping the area for surgery, it became apparent that there were more very small lumps, barely palpable lower down in the mammary chain.  At this point, it no longer became a simple lump removal but a decision to act aggressively and do a full one side mastectomy.  There were no apparent changes on the right side of the body.   The surgery was completed successfully and the cat recovered quickly and smoothly .  Histopath results showed feline mammary carcinoma or breast cancer .  Due to the highly aggressive form of this cancer, the owners have elected to have further preventative surgery on the right side of the body.

In the second case, a wonderful elderly rescue Bulldog,  that was adopted,  had had a small persistent lump on the breast, as well as assorted others, that had been monitored for some months.  Cytology did not show anything to be overly concerned about. Then, suddenly, the largest lump grew and the owner elected to do surgery, despite the risk of anesthesia this particular patient was faced with.  The surgery went very well, and with the extra precautions that we use for Bulldogs, including EKG bloodwork and very close monitoring, the dog did much better than expected and woke up ready to go home.  A very large area of flesh had been excised by Dr Greer.  This would prove a challenge from the healing point of view, but this had been anticipated, and wound care and cold laser therapy helped tremendously.  Again, and as is always recommended, a sample was sent to histopath.  Despite the tissue involved ( mammary tissue) the result actually showed osteosarcoma….bone cancer cells.  This is very rare, and did not make for a good prognosis.  Research shows an average lifespan after this diagnosis of mere months.  However, this brave bully has apparently decided to ignore the diagnosis and just carry on with life.  The owner reported today that she is doing better than ever, her appetite and zest for life is as good as always.  As there is no successful treatment for this, we opted for specific frequency low level laser therapy.  Certainly, the owner and pet are happy and we continue to wish the best for them and will keep you updated.

Bulldog Surgery

Case number three, was a perky 1 year old beagle that had a small pea –sized pigmented,dermal mass on the chest.  Pigmented masses are always suspicious of cancerous growths such as melanomas, which can be fatal.  In this case we were happy to let the owner know that the mass showed it to be completely excised, and a benign tumor known as a hemangioma.  The area will be closely monitored for any changes.

In all these cases, two with serious potentially life threatening conditions, and one that was benign, the owners had caught the problem early.  The lesson to be learned is when you are caressing your pet and notice something that wasn’t there before always get it examined.  We have seen cases spread rapidly and dramatically from one small lump on the foot to the pet needing a leg amputation to save its life.  When a growth is found and is reported as cancer we will then always follow up with X rays and ultrasound of the body to see if the cancer has metastasized into the internal organs.  Treated early your pet may be cured completely or have a longer life span.  And that’s what we all want for our best friends.