Cutting edge treatment for dog with heart problem

I was presented with a lovely young Yorkshire Terrier called Rosie who had a very loud heart murmur. I was suspicious that Rosie had a congenital heart condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosis or PDA, and preliminary investigations led me to seek an expert opinion from a veterinary cardiologist, Dr Koffas. He in turn confirmed my suspicions which led to Rosie being referred to the Veterinary Cardiorespiratory Centre in Kenilworth.

My own dog, Grace, had surgery at Kenilworth for the same condition several years ago so I was keen for Rosie to have the same chance of success as Grace.

Dr Mike Martin operated on Rosie and she was the smallest dog to date on which he had performed this particular technique. She weighed only 2.5kg. I'm sure I will be hearing about Rosie when Mike Martin speaks at Veterinary Cardiology Meetings in the future!

PDA is where a blood vessel that connects 2 main arteries, the aorta and the pulmonary artery in the heart of unborn animals fails to close when the animal is born. Without closure the duct causes heart failure and death in 50% of cases by 1 year of age.

The technique that Dr Martin performs involves placing a devise called an Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder into the duct which joins the 2 arteries in order to plug it. The Amplatz is placed using key hole surgery via the femoral artery in the back leg. The Amplatz is guided using a technique called fluoroscopy.

The Cardiorespiratory Centre in Kenilworth is one of the few specialist centres in the UK using this technique. Recovery from this procedure is usually rapid and in most cases patients will live a full and normal life after successful surgery.

I will leave you to read Rosie's owner's account of Rosie's life saving surgery.

Thank you to Dr Koffas and Dr Martin for their help with Rosie.

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I am the owner of a beautiful little Yorkshire terrier called Rosie. At her first injection date it was noted that she had a PDA which in laymen's terms is a hole in the heart. This was carefully monitored over the first year of her life as it could heal itself. I cannot express enough how lucky it was that we have our pets insured as the hole did not heal and she needed extensive treatment which inevitably would cost a lot of money! (Understatement of the millennium!).

Jo took over care of Rosie and first asked a consultant Dr Babbas to come to the vets and give her a heart scan. Dr Babbas then said that she would need open heart surgery at the London Vet School. This filled me with absolute horror as she is only 2.5 kilos (very small), far too small in my eyes to undergo such a major operation. I was left to think about it but Jo came to my rescue again and suggested a private vet in Kenilworth, near Birmingham, that she had used with one of her dogs, who had the same problem.

Mike in Kenilworth agreed to see her and tried to put my mind at rest that he had operated on over 100 dogs with a complete success rate. My husband and I took Rosie to Kenilworth on the Monday (about a 4 hour drive). Mike told us that the smallest dog he had operated on was 2.7 kilos (oh no, we thought there is no way he can operate on Rosie). He assured me that he would do his best to operate on her through keyhole surgery but if he could not do the operation that way he would have to do open heart. We left Rosie with him in Kenilworth and travelled back to Gravesend with a very heavy heart as we had only just lost our beloved Ben, another yorkie, at 10 years old. I don't think I slept that night worrying about her. The following day my daughter and I travelled back to Kenilworth to stay overnight and bring Rosie back the next day (Wednesday). On the way up there we stopped at a service station where I received a call from Mike telling me that the surgery had been a complete success and had been done by keyhole! The relief was fantastic as she is such a wonderful little yorkie. Mike kept me informed all that day and we picked her up on the Wednesday morning. On collecting Rosie, Mike told us that the plug he had put in her heart was 3mm and her arteries were 1.5mm. It was very taxing and difficult but he had achieved what seemed the impossible.

The only thing left to do was to pay up, this was the shocking part and hopefully anyone reading this will get their pets insured straight away as the cost was £3,500! Ouch I hear you say but our pet insurance covered the cost of this. She is now back at home and living life to the full. She is a wonderful little furry bundle of fun! We have to have her scanned again in May this year just to make sure that everything is all ok but she is so full of life.

Thanks Jo and Thanks Mike for all you did for her.

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50 years at the Shrubbery

2012 is a notable year for loyal clients of The Shrubbery, Mr and Mrs Tremain. We have looked after their pets for 50 years. This is quite remarkable and I asked Alan and Barbara if they would share some memories of their beloved pets which been part of their family over the past half century.

Alan and Barbara usually attend our New Ash Green Branch and it is always a pleasure to see them.

I hope you enjoy their memories as much as I have. It is evident how much joy those pets have brought into Alan and Barbara's lives and how much they have been cherished.

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Fifty years ago the Veterinary Practice - now the Shrubbery was recommended to us. Ever since, they have catered for all our pets' veterinary needs. The attention and care has always been excellent.

Over the years we have been owned, cared for and managed by pets. Our role is butler and housemaid.

Rollo a standard Red Dachshund, born in Winchester. Minty a ginger tom, born on a farm at Brompton. Penny and Cleo female ginger cats, these two went to the vets as kittens Benny and Leo, but came back as Penny and Cleo. Born on an allotment at Brompton, Charlie an adult stray black and white cat came to us in a very sorry state. Sammy a tiny tabby kitten, found in a narrow lane in a wooded area. Teddy and Freddy ginger male kittens, born on a farm at Aylesford. Louis and Lexie, born in a house in a country area in Sittingbourne. All of them including the last two have given us much joy and pleasure. We can truly say they have enriched our lives. Countless amusing antics and memories, so just a glimpse at some of them:-

Rollo at 9pm would open a cupboard, unhook his lead and bring in to us - a good hint he wanted to go walkies.

Minty liked to play with the garden hose and always ended up getting soaked. We were told that he had been seen diving into a fish pond, he was a roamer.

Penny and Cleo, tiny kittens, perhaps too young to be separated from a mother cat, but one poor female cat was trying to feed several litters as well as her own. All the others did get homed.

After they had examined them, The Shrubbery Vets gave us all the knowhow needed to feed them. From day one Freddy attached himself more to Alan, and Teddy to Barbara, their favourite place for having a nap was the airing cupboard, if they were not lying down with Rollo. These three had great affection for each other, and us.

Charlie was clever enough to spring open a child proof cupboard knock over a packet of munchies and steal some of the contents. Also adept at taking great paws full on meat from an open can. He was very affectionate.

Sammy's stunt was to run up the back of the curtains and look over the top. Sammy and Charlie were great pals to each other, as Penny and Cleo mostly ignored them. Sammy would lie down and Charlie would have his arms around him, Charlie used to fret if Sammy was away too long. When Sammy came back, seeing him the garden Charlie would make very loud calls. Sammy would come to him, they would have a playful fight, and then lie down together.

Teddy and Freddy, they also aligned themselves, Teddy to Barbara and Freddy to Alan. These two were always together, often lying with their legs stuck up in the air. Like the others they knew the sound of Alan's car, and these two would be waiting in the hall for Alan to come in. Alan then had to pick up Freddy who would then have his paws on Alan shoulders and be facing backwards. This was a regular occurrence.

Louis and Lexie, both very different in their ways, but both very extremely affectionate. Louis is more boisterous and has an impish face, Lexie is quieter and has a serene intelligent face. Barbara beckons Lexie with a brush and he goes into raptures whilst being brushed. Louis so- so but like Lexie does like to be cuddled.

If both of us had gone out Cleo would sit up in the front bedroom window looking out and come down as soon as we opened the front door.

Lovely but sad memories of those that have gone, but well occupied with the present too.

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New Year's Resolutions

At this time of making resolutions for the New Year, why not try to improve your pet's life, and your's as well!

Please click on the suggestion for more details.

• Cut the flab!
• Take up a new activity with your dog
• Play with your cat
• Improve your pet's preventative healthcare
• Provide environmental enrichment for your small pet

Cut the flab!

With more than 1 in 3 dogs in the UK being overweight according to recent research by the PDSA, and large numbers of cats and rabbits also suffering from obesity, fighting the fat is becoming as important for pets as for humans.

To find out if your pet could do with losing a few pounds, compare your pet against the PFMA's Pet Size-O-Meter, available through this link.

Being overweight can cause or aggravate many different health conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Anaesthetics are also more risky in overweight animals.

Our nurses provide free weight clinics, offering prescription diets and advice aimed at helping your pet to lose weight safely and effectively. Please call us to book an appointment.

Take up a new activity with your dog

Keep your dog, and yourself, fit and active by trying out a new activity or sport. If your dog has any underlying health conditions, please contact your vet before doing any strenuous exercise to make sure that the activity is safe for your dog. Always build up your dog's fitness gradually to avoid injuries.

• Agility - an obstacle course for dogs. It can be done just for fun or to top-end competition level. Any dog can take part. Click on the links below for more information.
  • The Kennel Club agility page
  • Agilitynet
  • Agility bits
  • The Agility Club
• Flyball - a fast and furious team relay involving dogs jumping over hurdles, then catching a tennis ball before jumping the hurdles again. Click on the links below for more information.
  • The Kennel Club flyball page
  • British Flyball Association
• Obedience training - improve your relationship with your dog by going to training classes. This can be from basic commands to advanced obedience. Click on the links below for more information.
  • The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme
  • Obedience Training

Play with your cat

Play is not just for kittens! Playing with your cat keeps his mind and body active, helps in losing weight, or maintaining good weight, and builds up a better bond between you. Short bursts of play encouraging your cat to chase the spot of light from a laser pointer or chase a toy are best. You can also put your cat's daily dry food ration in a treat ball or interactive feeder to encourage foraging behaviour.

Preventative healthcare

Preventative health is all about protecting your pet from common diseases and illnesses. We recommend annual vaccinations, regular flea treatment and worming every 3 months for cats and dogs, and 6 monthly vaccinations for rabbits. We are currently running a vaccination amnesty for pets who have lapsed in their annual vaccinations. This will run until 31st January 2012. For more information, call us.

Enrich your small pet's environment

Imagine being cooped up in a small hutch or cage all day. You wouldn't like it, and neither do our small pets. Wild hamsters will walk for miles every night foraging for food. They need to have the opportunity to exercise, in a wheel, exercise ball or in a specially designed playpen. Give them plenty of toys to play with and gnaw on.

Rabbits need plenty of space to run and jump, otherwise they can develop osteoporosis and fracture their legs and spine easily. The minimum recommended hutch size for a couple of small-medium sized rabbits is 6'x2'x2', this should ideally be constantly linked to a large run area which they can access as and when they want to.

Gerbils will appreciate a 'gerbilarium' with a deep litter base to burrow into.

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Another nurse qualifies with an award

Nicola Medhurst RVN (Registered Veterinary Nurse), one of our veterinary nurses has been awarded the "Personal achievement award for exceptional performance" by the College of Animal Welfare after achieving a diploma in Veterinary nursing in October.

Nicola joins our team of 6 other registered veterinary nurses while a number of her colleagues are in training, she is the third nurse in succession from the practice to gain an award on qualification Katie Duckett and Katie Peacock were each awarded AZKO Nobel awards in 2010 and 2009 respectively.

Our registered run diabetes and dental clinics, puppy parties, and are available to speak to clients on all issues of pet health care at our Northfleet surgery. Please call us for more information on 01474 534891.

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Fleas love central heating!

As winter approaches and the human and pet members of your household appreciate the warmth of the central heating, make sure that you are not unwittingly also providing warmth for less cuddly visitors.

Whereas fleas used to be a predominantly summer problem, with central-heated homes, they are likely to cause infestations year-round. As the heat inside is turned up, more fleas are likely to hatch out and cause problems on your pets, and on yourselves.

Flea life-cycle

One adult female flea can lay up to 200 eggs, which will fall onto the floors of your home. These will then hatch out into larvae which crawl into dark, warm areas (e.g. deep into the carpet pile or soft furnishings). The larvae feed on dust particles and the faeces of adult fleas which fall off the infested animal. When mature, these will develop into pupae, spinning a protective cocoon around themselves which is impervious to all insecticides. They will develop into adults in 5-14 days (dependent on warmth) but can remain in the cocoon for up to 9 months if not triggered to hatch by warmth and carbon dioxide (e.g. an approaching animal or human). For this reason, an empty house is not necessarily flea-free!

Once adults, the fleas will jump onto the nearest mammal and start feeding. The fleas found on your pet will only account for 5% of the flea population in the house - the rest will be eggs, larvae, or pupae.

Flea prevention

Prevention of a flea infestation is much easier than treating one. There are many different products available which will help with this. However, not all flea treatments are effective, book an appointment with a vet or nurse to discuss the best one for your pet.

The products that we use most frequently are:

• Advocate - monthly 'spot-on' treatment that kills fleas and their larvae. Also prevents intestinal worms (except tapeworm), lungworm, and mites.
• Frontline Combo - 4-6 weekly 'spot-on' treatment that kills fleas, their eggs and larvae. Also kills ticks and lice
• Program (cats) - 6 monthly injection that prevents the development of flea larvae into adults. Does not kill adult fleas so recommended for use either in conjunction with other products (such as those above), or in cats that are not allergic to fleas to prevent household infestations.

Other products are available, please speak to us for further information.

Treating an infestation

It can take several months to get rid of a flea infestation so patience and perseverance is required. No product will kill all the stages of the flea life-cycle, and nothing is available that will kill flea pupae (save burning!). A household flea spray should be used (take care to follow the instructions on the bottle carefully), concentrating on areas of carpet, soft furnishings and under furniture. Any areas where your pets lie down should receive special attention. If possible, all bedding should be washed on a high heat or vacuumed thoroughly. ALL pets in the household should be treated for fleas, using a product suitable for their species.

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Don't leave your dog in a hot car

Every year, several dogs die of heatstroke. They are more prone to this than humans due to their thick fur and lack of sweat glands. Particularly dangerous are cars, as the temperature inside can soar to 47°C, even on a cloudy day. Never leave your dog unattended in a car during the summer, even with the window open. If you see a dog in a hot car, call the Police on 999.

However, it is not just dogs in cars that are at risk from heatstroke. Large breed dogs, those with thick or black coats, or those with shorter noses (brachycephalic dogs) can develop heatstroke quite easily.

Early warning signs

• Heavy panting
• Heavy salivation
• Bright red gums and tongue
• Uncoordination
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness in severe cases

Emergency care for dogs with heatstroke

Immediately move your dog to a cool, shaded area. Douse him with cool, not cold, running water and call your vet for advice. He may need to be admitted for oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids.

How to prevent heatstroke

• Walk your dog in the early morning and evening to avoid the hottest time of the day
• Make sure your dog has a cool, shaded place to rest
• Ensure the water bowl is kept filled up with cool water
• Clip long haired dogs' coats and groom them regularly to remove dead undercoat
• NEVER leave your dog in a car or caravan unattended
• Avoid long car journeys with your dog in the middle of the day

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Stan the polar bear completes London 10K run

One of our vets, Stan Huijsmans recently completed the London 10K run in 55 minutes. He raised ?590 for Petsavers, a charity dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of the diseases affecting our pets. Stan completed the run with a polar bear hat! (see below)

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Pet Travel Scheme Clinics

We now have a dedicated Pet Travel Scheme Advisor, our nurse manager Sharon Filmer. She will be running free clinics on Tuesday and Friday mornings at our Northfleet surgery to discuss your needs for travelling abroad with your pet, including Pet Passport advice and prevention of exotic diseases.

The Pet Travel Scheme requirements are due to change in January 2012 so Sharon will be able to give you tailored advice, depending on when you intend to travel with your pet. Please contact us to book your appointment.

You can also click here for more information about the current Pet Travel Scheme requirements.

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Dental Care Month

In conjunction with Pedigree Pet Foods we are offering free dental health check ups for dogs during June. All dogs participating with receive a free pack of Pedigree Dentastix.

Four out of every 5 dogs over 3 years old will have periodontal disease. Peridontal disease means a loss of the tooth's attachment to its surrounding structures (gum and bone). To definitively diagnose periodontal disease, x-rays of the mouth and/or using a probe around the tooth are required, however, some signs of periodontal disease are easily seen by simply looking in the mouth.

If your dog comes under one of the following categories, he is at severe risk of developing peridontal disease:

• Small breed (<10kg)
• Crowded teeth
• Maloccluded teeth (e.g. lack of normal 'scissor' bite)
• Short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds - combination of above 2 factors
• Old dog

What does it matter? Isn't dental disease just a cosmetic problem?

In short, no! If left to develop, periodontal disease can lead to severe pain, and wide-ranging consequences around the body such as liver and kidney failure, heart disease and strokes. Periodontal disease is sometimes known as 'the silent killer' because of its role in these diseases.

How is peridontal disease treated?

Only very early periodontal disease is reversible. If left too late, permanent damage will be caused and will lead to tooth loss. Your dog may require a full dental examination under general anaesthetic will a scale and polish to remove plaque and tartar which lead to bacterial build-up in minor cases, or extractions if peridontal disease is severe. Follow-up treatment is also important as plaque will start to develop only a few hours after treatment! The sooner dental treatment is carried out, the less the risk of spread of bacteria around the body. If your dog is old, or has a severely infected mouth, a pre-anaesthetic blood screen is recommended to check liver and kidney function as this will affect the drugs and doses given for the dental.

Can periodontal disease be prevented?

Daily toothbrushing is the best way to prevent plaque build-up which leads to peridontal disease. Do not use human toothpaste as this contains fluoride which is toxic to dogs. There are various doggy toothpastes on the market but it is the act of brushing, rather than the toothpaste, which is most important. Visit the Pedigree website for advice on training your dog to have his teeth brushed.

If you are unable to manage daily tooth brushing or your dog is not amenable to having his mouth handled, there are other ways you can help to reduce plaque build-up although none of these will be as effective as daily brushing. A number of products on the market are unproven, despite their claims.Options for dental care include:

• Edible dental chews - some are high in fat so should be avoided in dogs prone to putting on weight and amount of food given should be reduced accordingly. Choose the correct one for the size of dog.
• Anti-plaque solutions - some liquids can be diluted in the drinking water, helping to reduce the plaque build-up each time your dog drinks, others are applied as mouthwashes around the teeth once or twice a day.

Please book an appointment with a vet to discuss the best treatment for your dog's teeth. Don't forget, this check will be free during June and you will receive a free pack of Pedigree Dentastix. Call us on 01474 534891.

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Is your rabbit a happy bunny?

The 23rd to the 29th of May is Rabbit Awareness Week. We will be offering free rabbit health checks during this week including a discussion about your pet's diet, vaccination status, health and behavioural wellbeing. Each rabbit participating will receive a certificate of attendance and you will also receive a goody-bag. To ensure that bringing your rabbit to the surgery involves the least stress, please read this article.

Did you know that since 2006, all rabbit owners have a legal duty of care to meet their rabbit's welfare needs? This means that, by law, you must meet your rabbits requirements for each of the following areas:

• Environment
• Behaviour
• Diet
• Company
• Health

Environment

In the wild, a rabbit's territory covers more than 30 tennis courts. Rabbits need plenty of exercise to keep them fit and healthy.

Most rabbit hutches are far too small and compromise the rabbits' welfare. Even a bigger hutch should only be regarded as the rabbit's 'bedroom' and should ideally be permanently attached to a larger run or exercise area. The hutch should be draught-free and predator proof and have plenty of bedding which is safe to eat - dust-extracted straw is ideal. Criteria for a suitable hutch are as follows:

• Big enough to allow rabbits to lie down and stretch out comfortably in all directions.
• Tall enough for them to stand up on their back legs without their ears touching the roof.
• Long enough to allow at least three hops from one end to the other (make sure there are no obstructions in the way).
• As rabbits should be housed in friendly pairs or groups, their bedroom area should be big enough to allow all the rabbits to perform all the behaviours mentioned above at the same time.

A suitable run should:

• allow your rabbits to stretch up to their full height and run, not just hop. The general rule for the size of a run is the bigger the better!
• ideally be placed in the garden so the rabbits can enjoy the grass as they would in the wild.
• have a covered roof and be secure from predators. Make sure the run is escape-proof.
• have areas of shade provided.
• have places to hide, such as boxes or wide tubes. Rabbits are prey animals and need to be able to hide when frightened.
• have a ?digging? area with sand or earth. A dedicated area will help discourage them from digging up your lawn, but make sure the bottom of this area is secure so that your rabbits don?t end up digging their way out of the run.

Behaviour

Compared to dogs and cats, rabbits are only a relatively new domesticated animal. Their behaviour is therefore very similar to their wild counterparts.

Rabbits can get bored very quickly if they are not provided with an interesting environment. Boredom can, in turn, lead to depression, aggression, fur plucking and biting at cage bars. Make sure that you provide plenty of toys and hiding places for your rabbit. Rabbits also respond well to training.

For further information, please view the following presentation on rabbit behaviour and how to ensure your rabbit is a happy bunny.

Diet

The standard rabbit mixes or 'muesli' based rabbit foods are NOT suitable foods for rabbits. They are high in sugars and low in fibre which can play havoc with the intestines and teeth of rabbits which are designed for a high fibre, low sugar diet. They also encourage selective feeding by allowing the rabbit to pick out the tasty bits and leave the bits that they do not like, usually the little pellets with vital minerals in them.

At least 80% of a rabbit's diet should be good quality hay or grass. Meadow hay will have lots of different herbs contained within it which the rabbit will find very tasty. The best way to feed hay is from a hay rack or ball which prevents the hay from getting trampled and soiled. A rabbit should eat a pile of hay the same size as himself every day.

Rabbits also need fresh green vegetables. Carrots should be fed very sparingly as again these are very high in simple sugars and can cause bloat. Cabbage and cauliflower leaves are ideal. These should be washed carefully before feeding to your rabbit.

To supplement your rabbit's diet, you may feed small amounts of a pellet-based food. An average-sized rabbit will need a maximum of 2 tablespoons of pellets a day. The best way to feed these is in a treat ball or mixed in within the daily hay ration which encourages the rabbit to forage for them - providing exercise and mental stimulation.

An important aspect of a rabbit's diet which is provided free of charge by your rabbit himself are caecotrophs. These are soft droppings which the rabbit will eat directly from his anus. This is a vital method which allows rabbits to get the nutrients they need from their diet. Dental disease, obesity and arthritis will mean that your rabbit cannot ingest these caecotrophs - they may then accumulate around the bottom and be attractive to flies.

Please view the following presentation about diet in rabbits.

Company

Rabbits are social animals and ideally need the company of other rabbits. A neutered male and neutered female make the best pairing to prevent unwanted litters and fighting. A lonely rabbit is a stressed rabbit.

Guinea pigs do not make suitable companions for rabbits. They have different dietary needs and communicate in different ways. Rabbits carry a bacteria in their respiratory tracts which can be fatal to guinea pigs and they can also cause serious injuries with their back legs.

Human companionship is very important and you should spend as much time as possible playing and interacting with your rabbits. This is incredibly important if your rabbit does not have a companion of the same species. Rabbits prefer having interaction at ground level. They can get very stressed when picked up. If you do have to pick your rabbit up, make sure that all four legs and his bottom are supported at all times. You can cause serious injury to your rabbit by picking him up in the wrong way.

Health

Because rabbits are prey animals, they often hide signs of illness until they are quite severe. Because of this, it is very important that you seek help from a veterinary surgeon as soon as you notice anything wrong with your rabbit. A sick rabbit is always an emergency!

Common rabbit illnesses include:

Flystrike

This time of year is the most common for fly strike, where flies lay their eggs on the rear ends of rabbits with faeces or urine around their back ends. The eggs hatch into maggots which eat the skin and flesh where they hatch. This disease can be rapidly fatal and requires intensive treatment. Preventative measures can be taken:

• Keep housing clean and dry
• Feed high fibre diet (see above)
• Check your pet thoroughly twice a day
• Keep rabbits active and healthy - obesity is one of the main factors in flystrike
• Use suitable insecticides and insect repellents

Dental disease

Dental disease is very common in rabbits because all their teeth grow continuously. If the back teeth do not meet in the right place, they do not wear down properly and can develop spijkes which dig into the cheek or tongue. If the front teeth do not wear properly, they can grow excessively so that the rabbit cannot get any food into his mouth.

Feeding a good diet (see above) can help to prevent and treat dental disease but in the initial stage, a dental under general anaesthetic may well be required. Overgrown incisors do not provide any purpose for the rabbit and are best removed.

Myxomatosis

This is a almost exclusively fatal disease which can fortunately be prevented by regular vaccination - we recommend vaccinating twice yearly in this area. It is transmitted by fleas and mosquitoes so all rabbits are at risk, whether indoor or outdoor. Further information can be found on the myxomatosis blog article.

We hope that you have found this article useful and hope to see you during Rabbit Awareness Week. For further information, please feel free to contact us or to visit the Rabbit Awareness Week website.

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Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a very common condition in dogs, affecting around 20% of the adult canine population in the UK. It is more common in older dogs and is often put down to normal ageing by owners.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects the bones and soft tissues of the joints, causing chronic inflammation and pain. Any joint can be affected but the most common ones in dogs are the hips, stifles (knees) and elbows. It is most common in medium-large breed dogs, however toy breeds can also be affected. If your dog has had any injury or surgery to a joint in the past, he will be likely to develop arthritis in this joint.

How do I know whether my dog has OA?

The signs of osteoarthritis can be very obvious, but often are not and can go unnoticed due to the gradual onset of signs. If you notice any of the following, it may be a sign that your dog is in pain from arthritis.

• Stiffness or lameness
• Difficulty getting up from lying position
• Difficulty jumping into car or onto furniture
• Change in character
• Aggression or defensiveness when touched
• Whining

If you notice any of these signs, you should book your pet in for a consultation with a vet. This will involve a full physical examination including more detailed examination of the limbs affected. X-rays may be recommended to document the severeity of the problem and/or to rule out other causes.

Can OA be treated?

Unfortunately there is no cure for osteoarthritis, however the condition can be managed quite satisfactorily in many cases. The earlier in the process that treatment is started, the better. The main aims of treatment are:

• reduce pain and inflammation - usually with oral anti-inflammatory tablets
• slowing the progression of the disease
• aiding repair of damaged tissues
• maintaining and improving joint mobility

All dogs are different and some treatments will be more effective in one dog than in another. In general, it is important to keep your dog slim, a weight-reducing diet may be required to facilitate weight loss.

Hydrotherapy can help to maintain joint mobility in some dogs. Joint supplements (e.g. glucosamine, chondroitin or essential fatty acids) can all help to slow the progression of the disease in some dogs. The vet will advise you on what is the best course of action for your dog.

Important do's and don'ts for dogs with osteoarthritis

• Do encourage your dog to maintain an ideal weight - cut out titbits and treats if he is prone to putting on weight.
• Do exercise your dog - this will help him to keep mobile and slim.
• Don't perform high-impact sports such as agility or flyball unless the vet advises otherwise.
• Do try hydrotherapy if recommended by the vet.
• Don't stop the anti-inflammatories as soon as your dog seems better. OA is not cured by anti-inflammatories, it is just the pain that is controlled. By stopping the medication your dog is more likely to have relapses.

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Be lungworm aware

Lungworm is an increasing, potentially fatal, problem affecting dogs. It is a parasitic infection which is picked up by eating slugs and snails or their slimy trails. All dogs are at risk, not just those who deliberately eat these creatures. If your dog eats grass or has toys or bowls in the garden, they may come across microscopic slugs or lick their trails.

Lungworm causes a wide range of different symptoms, including:
• breathing problems (e.g. coughing)
• bleeding problems (e.g. nose bleeds, excessive bleeding from small cuts, haemorrhages on gums, pale gums)
• general illness (e.g. lethargy, depression, poor appetite)

Lungworm is spreading through the country and becoming more common, although it has been around for many years. Normal worming treatments do not provide protection against this parasite. Fortunately we do now have a treatment that is licensed for the prevention and treatment of lungworm. This is a specific spot-on treatment which also protects against fleas, mites and roundworms. If used monthly, this product will prevent disease caused by this parasite. It can be used as part of your regular parasite control.

For further information, please watch the video below, visit the Lungworm aware website or contact us for further details about treatment options.

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Beware of antifreeze

This year has seen an increase in the number of cases of antifreeze poisoning, particularly in cats. The dangerous ingredient is called ethylene glycol which cats seem to enjoy the taste of. It can cause a very painful death with acute kidney failure.

It is important to prevent spillages or leaks of antifreeze and dispose of any left over antifreeze or water coolant responsibly, by taking it to the council refuse site.

If you suspect your cat has been in contact with antifreeze or if he is showing signs of poisoning, contact us immediately. The sooner the cat is treated, the better the chance of survival.

Signs of poisoning include:
• vomiting
• depression, lethargy
• uncoordination
• seizures/fits
• difficulty breathing
• increased thirst and urination

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Could your pet be a hero?

Did you know that young puppies and kittens can die from severe anaemia caused simply be a heavy flea infestation?
Did you know that some tumours can cause severe bleeding?
Did you know that animals have blood groups too?
Did you know that your pet could save the life of another animal?

If your dog is between 2 and 7 years of age, over 25 kilograms and generally healthy, he could be a life-saving blood donor.
If your cat is between 2 and 9 years of age, over 4.5 kilograms and generally healthy, he could be a life-saving blood donor.

We are currently particularly desperate for new dogs to join our blood donor register as many who are currently on the list are approaching or have reached the retirement age of 7 years. However, we are always keen to hear from new potential donors.

All new donors will be blood typed and given a free health screen, including a blood test, prior to donation. Your pet will also be given a free goody bag whenever they are called to donate blood.

For further information on our blood donor scheme, please visit this page.

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Remember, remember the 5th of November

Much as we may enjoy the firework displays, for many pets this time of year is incredibly frightening and stressful. Animals do not tend to grow out of firework phobias, they usually get worse as the animal gets older and may progress to phobias of any loud noises. It is therefore important to treat the phobia as soon as possible. It is too late to start desensitising animals to fireworks when they are already being used but there are a number of things you can do to reduce your pet's stress.

Dogs

• Provide your dog with a safe den at home where he can escape to when things get scary. Using a DAP pheremone spray or diffuser in this area can help to make him feel more relaxed. Speak to us for more details.
• Avoid taking your dog for walks in the dark when fireworks may be being set off.
• Keep the curtains closed and have the radio turned on.
• Do not try to comfort or punish your dog, this will only make him worse.
• Treat your dog with Zylkene capsules throughout the firework season. Speak to us for more details.
• If you have a smaller dog, new Royal Canin Calm diet can help him to relax. Speak to us for more details.
• Plan a firework desensitisation programme to start in the New Year.
• If your dog is severely stressed by the fireworks and none of the above suggestions have any effect, please book an appointment to see a vet. Sedative tablets may be required in these cases.

Cats

Cats are not as vocal as dogs when it comes to expressing their fear so firework phobias may go more unnoticed in this species. This does not mean that they do not suffer though and it is important to make the season as stress-free as possible for them. Cats are more likely to be victims of firework abuse and the number of injuries to cats hit by cars often increases at this time of year when they are scared by the loud noises. Below are some suggestions to protect your cats this firework season.

• Keep your cat indoors after dark.
• Provide a safe, dark hiding place where your cat can retreat to. Placing a Feliway pheremone diffiuser or spray in this area will help him feel safer.
• Treat your cat with Zylkene capsules throughout the firework season. Speak to us for more details.
• New Royal Canin Calm diet can help him to relax. Speak to us for more details.

Rabbits and other small pets

Pets out in the garden should not be forgotten, fireworks can be even scarier for them as they cannot escape from the loud bangs and flashes.

• If possible, move your pet's hutch indoors into a well-ventilated garage or shed to shield them from the noise.
• Some pet shops sell covers for hutches which can help with noise-proofing.

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Kennel Cough

There have been outbreaks of kennel cough at a couple of boarding kennels in the area, so it is worth all owners being vigilant for the signs of disease in their dogs.

Kennel cough is a highly infectious disease which has multiple viruses and bacteria involved. The main sign of kennel cough is a dry, hacking cough which may sound like your dog has something stuck in his throat. Despite the name, your dog does not have to have been in kennels to catch it and may simply pick it up from meeting other dogs while out on a walk.

Mild cases of kennel cough may resolve on their own without any treatment but in some cases anti-inflammatory and/or antibiotics may be required. This is particularly the case in young puppies or old dogs, or those with another underlying disease. In these animals, if left untreated, kennel cough may progress to pneumonia.

If your dog has been diagnosed with kennel cough, you should try to avoid contact with other dogs in order to reduce the spread of disease.

Can kennel cough be prevented?

Because kennel cough has so many factors involved, it is difficult to prevent infection completely, however there are ways to reduce the potential of infection and the length and severity of the disease.

One of the viruses involved, canine parainfluenza, is included in the normal dog vaccination course so your dog will be protected against this if he is up to date with his injections. There is also a vaccination against the major bacteria involved (Bordetella bronchiseptica). Rather than being injected under the skin like the normal vaccinations, this one has to go up inside the nose. Bacterial vaccines are not as effective as viral vaccines but it still provides better protection for those dogs most at risk. We would recommend vaccination at least 1 week before your dog is put into a boarding kennel for any length of time. A number of kennels will insist on this anyway. This vaccine, known as the kennel cough vaccine, cannot be given at the same time as a normal booster vaccination, there should ideally be 2 weeks between them.

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Shrubbery Open Day

Our open day on Sunday 12th September was a big success with many people coming to have a look behind the scenes. The waiting room was turned into an exotic animal haven with exhibits from Celebrity Reptiles. These included Flower (a skunk), Aragog (a tarantula), an African Spotted Owl and a Boa Constrictor. Visitors were allowed to handle and stroke the animals.

Other highlights included behind the scenes tours by some of our nurses. Mock operations and a display of a recent paper clip removal via endoscope in a puppy were set up in a couple of the rooms. Jo Dean demonstrated ultrasound examination of the heart and abdomen on her very patient dog Gracie.

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Myxomatosis

Although there is a risk at every time of year, the end of August and beginning of September are the most dangerous in terms of myxomatosis infections in rabbits. We have seen quite a few cases at the practice in the last few weeks. It is very important to make sure that all your rabbits have been vaccinated within the last 6 months.

What is myxomatosis?

Myxomatosis is a severe viral disease which only infects rabbits. It is invariably fatal in unvaccinated animals. Myxomatosis is transmitted by biting insects such as fleas and mosquitoes so EVERY rabbit is at risk, whether they live indoors or outside, have contact with wild animals or not.

What does a rabbit infected with myxomatosis look like?

Myxomatosis causes conjunctivitis initially, it also causes swelling of the genitals. Eventually, the whole face swells with severe discharge from the eyes and breathing difficulties. Affected rabbits can take up to a fortnight to die naturally so early euthanasia is advised to prevent suffering.

How can I protect my rabbit from myxomatosis?

Vaccination is the best way to protect your rabbit. Vaccinated rabbits can occasionally catch myxomatosis but it only causes mild skin lesions and is fairly easily treated. Rabbits can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age. As this area is very marshy, we recommend vaccinated every 6 months throughout your rabbit's life. To book an appointment to have your rabbit vaccinated, please contact us.

As well as vaccination, the following measures can be useful to reduce your rabbit's exposure to myxomatosis:

• fit insect screens to outdoor hutches and runs
• eliminate standing water from the garden (this is what mosquitoes need to breed)
• keep any other pets regularly de-flead
• try to prevent contact between your rabbit and wild animals

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London Triathlon

Stan Hujismans (bike), Duncan Ross(run), and David Mason (swim) have completed the London Triathlon team event which took place in Docklands on Sat Aug 7th.

We have raised over £720 so far for 3 charities Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, North Kent Feral rescue and the Lions hospice - but it is not too late to help - you can pledge money online or at the surgeries. We came 332nd out of 446 teams in a time of 3hrs 10 mins despite Duncan being injured in the run up to the event.

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Pig operation first for practice

Tea cake, a Kuhne cross Gloucester Old Spot Pig, was the first pig to be operated on at the Shrubbery - although the practice did treat farm pigs in the fifities and sixties. Tea cake is owned by Nicki Jardine - one of our nurses - and was castrated by surgeon David Mason and anaesthetist Duncan Ross (our new clinical manager) - the operation went smoothly and Tea cake was soon able to return home and continue digging his owner's garden up.

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Recent blog posts

50 years at the Shrubbery - Published: 2012-01-29 00:00:00

Cutting edge treatment for dog with heart problem - Published: 2012-01-29 00:00:00

New Year's Resolutions - Published: 2012-01-04 00:00:00

Another nurse qualifies with an award - Published: 2011-12-15 00:00:00

Fleas love central heating! - Published: 2011-11-08 16:10:05