Veterinary X-Ray

Monday, February 15, 2016

Tell Me Where It Hurts

Tell Me Where It Hurts

Do you ever have a headache, feel a little achy, or suffer with a throat tickle? Do you cry every time you move? Probably not. Acute pain, the type you get when you take a wrong step or nick your finger cutting tomatoes, is sharp enough that you might cry out “Oh !@$@$!# that hurts!”

But chronic pain, that dull, always just-below-the-surface ache of arthritis or toothache, doesn’t usually equate to sound. If you’ve ever walked around a senior citizen center, you know what I mean.

· You don't hear a lot of screaming, and you see a lot of people walking slowly, perhaps due to a variety of aches and pains

Look, then listen

Cats with arthritis in their spines are in pain. They may not howl when they walk, but they move ever so carefully. When their pain is treated, they start jumping back on counters again.

Dogs with rotting teeth are in pain. They may not yelp when they eat, but they eat less, or slowly. Most of the time, pet owners aren't aware of the problem until it's detected by a vet or until their pet eats everything in his bowl (and your plate!)

The rule of thumb for pain management specialists, both human and animal, is to Assume Pain; if a pet is likely to have a painful condition, go ahead and treat even if the signs aren't obvious. Don't make

pain medications optional for your animals; pain control is just as vital as every other aspect of your medical management.

Which is worse? Pain meds or pain itself?

Many people are under the mistaken belief that most pain medications are so dangerous it’s better not to try them at all. Veterinary NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), the most commonly prescribed class of pain medications, are also the most libeled.

NSAIDs can have side effects. All drugs do. Some of them are severe. As your pet's advocate, it's up to you to provide the vet with all appropriate health history, to understand how to properly administer the medication and what relief your pet should expect.

Side effects of NSAID's may include:

loss of appetite
diarrhea
vomiting
ulcers
liver & kidney damage

The vast majority of patients have an excellent experience with NSAIDs when given as directed. Most of the adverse events are related to people who either wait too long to report side effects, give more than the prescribed dosage, or refuse the recommended monitoring. In other words, most are avoidable. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your pet is suffering side effects from any NSAID.

There are other drugs out there besides NSAIDs. Adequan, Tramadol, gabapentin are just a few. Your vet may choose adjunct treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture and laser. Most animal healthcare practices now practice Multimodal Pain Management; combining medications and treatments across categories in an effort to better overall pain control.

We'd like to suggest...

Educated owners make good decisions.When it comes to the pain of joint disease, the best treatment/prevention is free...keep your animal at a healthy weight. Pain can be managed, even in very senior and frail patients. We just need to acknowledge that it’s there first. Don’t wait for your pet to tell you- he can’t talk.

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems. Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) provides Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.

Winter Wonderland, Winter Warnings

Winter can be a time of fun, but we need to be mindful that dogs are susceptible to the same dangers that we are. Frostbite is the most common, but hypothermia (low body temperature) can have serious effects on body functions and can result in injury and, eventually, death.

Outdoor dogs need special attention to protect them from the elements. If your dog has an outside house or igloo, be sure that it is insulated. Heating mats, special to this particular need or good straw bedding are both options that can help keep your dog warm and dry.

Dogs that live outside should be allowed and able to come inside when they want to (or you want them to). Old or sick dogs should be kept indoors whenever possible and watched closely for signs of distress. Even a dog that is used to being outside can suffer hypothermia and frostbite. Remember, if severe winter storm warnings or extreme cold weather alerts recommend that humans stay indoors, it is a good idea to bring your dog indoors, too. If your dog cannot be brought into the house, a garage, mud room or barn can provide enough shelter in some cases. WARNING: carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if dogs are left in cars with the motor running or in a garage with a running car.

The weather isn't the only danger your dog will face. Ice melts and salts, antifreeze and windshield wiper fluids can all be toxic and can cause serious complications if dogs eat or drink them. Ice melts and salts can stick to the bottom of dogs’ paws, so it is best to wash your dog’s feet after he or she has been outdoors. Methanol and ethylene glycol, the toxic ingredients in windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze, can cause permanent kidney damage and even death if ingested by a dog.

Lastly, going for walks or runs, snowball fights, etc. in the winter can be big fun, but it is best to keep dogs away from frozen water. Slips and slides can cause injury to joints and bones. Worse yet, dogs can fall through thin ice into freezing water and may suffer hypothermia or drown.

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems. Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) has been providing Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com

Horse Travels: On the Road Again

On The Road Again...

Training to load

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.
~Winston Churchill

Training a horse to load takes patience and preparation. It can be quite unnerving for a horse to walk on a ramp and into a small space; take things a step at a time and remain calm. There are many different approaches to loading a horse, so use a method that neither frightens nor punishes your horse, nor presents a safety risk to either you or your horse.

Try not to use bribes to get your horse up the ramp...one day when it is really important blackmail may not work. If you wish to use food as a reward, give a small feed in the trailer once the horse has loaded. If your horse has a known loading or travelling problem due to a bad experience or journey, be prepared to look at every aspect of your horse’s training and the type of transporter you are using. You may need to enlist the help of someone more experienced, but be happy with the methods they plan to use to help load your horse.

Horses need to be transported for a variety of reasons, from occasional journeys such as moving home, changing owner or visiting the vet, to more frequent traveling to attend shows or events. Whatever the reason or frequency of the journey, it is important that the horse is safe and comfortable in order to minimize stress. Horse owners need to be fully prepared for any eventuality, ensuring that their horse is happy to be loaded and to travel as needed.

Once your horse is loading happily, move onto short trips. Don't make your first trip a show trip! Shows stress both of you. By taking small steps and remaining calm and patient, the end result should be that both you and your horse are happy to travel, whatever the destination.

Travel clothing from head to tail

Horses should wear protective travel clothing to protect them from injury and to ensure that they stay safe and comfortable during loading and the journey itself. The equipment and clothing used should be well-fitting, and meet both the surrounding conditions and the needs of the individual animal.

Here's our checklist of must-haves:

Leather Head Collar
Poll Guards
Sweat/Cooler Rugs
Leg Protectors & Bandages
Tail Guards & Bandages

With all of the above equipment, it is essential that the horse be used to it and happy and comfortable wearing it. Many horses react to protective leg wear and can feel restricted by it, so spend time with your horse playing "dress up". The time spent practicing is invaluable.

And don't forget:

Health Certificates
Food (fresh hay)
Water

Types of vehicle and driver considerations

Using a Horse Float, Horse Truck or Goose-neck depends on personal choice, finances and requirements. Internal designs can vary greatly and again can depend on personal choice, taking into consideration the type and size of horse. The options are to transport the horse facing forwards, backwards, or herring-bone (on a slant). Whichever you choose, be sure that there is sufficient (but not too much) space for your horse, allowing it to brace around corners and when braking. Too much room can allow the horse to fall over during traveling and be far more tiring. The trailer or truck should be light and airy, allowing your horse plenty of headroom, and allowing him to stand straight within the space.

To provide a comfortable journey, the truck or trailer should be of solid and sound construction, with good quality, non-slip rubber flooring, padded partitions, and a ramp with matting or a rubber surface. The ramp angle should be as shallow as possible, without too great a step onto the ramp

You know you're a horse person when…

you pull a $17,000 horse trailer with a $1,000 pick-up truck.

~Unknown

The abilities of the driver can make or break a good traveler. Do not assume that you can drive a truck or tow a trailer without adapting your normal car-driving style. You have to think about the ride for the horse – how and when you brake is entirely different when carrying a live load, as are considerations of cornering, stopping and accelerating. Better to arrive late than not at all.

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5 Fascinating Facts About Horses

Horses have been teaming up with humans for thousands of years; it's safe to say the partnership is here to stay. Today, let’s honor them by taking a look at some of the more interesting aspects of their life and history.

1. The Horse Industry

Horses are used for in competitions and sports, breeding, recreation, and as part of the workforce. In fact, horses are a massive business. Approximately 4.6 million Americans work in the horse industry in one way or another. The U.S. horse industry is estimated to have an economic effect of $40 billion—annually.

And that's just the nine million American horses. There are approximately 58 million horses in the world and the vast majority of them are cared for by humans.

2. Memory

You've heard that elephants never forget. A 2010 study revealed it's true for horses as well. The study revealed our equine friends understand our words far better than we had previously thought. Be kind to a horse and it will remember your friendship for as long as it lives. You can disappear for years; the horse instantly resumes the friendship. Oh, and they remember places, too!

The good memory and relatively powerful intellect of horses is not always a good thing, though. If they get bored, they can accidentally figure out how to untie themselves from posts and open latches and grain bins. Once they learn these methods of mischief, they’ll never, ever forget.

3. Horse Shoes

Everyone knows most horses are fitted with shoes, but most people aren’t aware that these curved pieces of metal don't just provide protection. The hard parts of horse hooves are made of keratin—like your hair and nails—and leave a lot to be desired when it comes to things like traction. Imagine running on a wet or snowy street wearing fingernails. Ouch!

Shoes improve traction for the hoof and act as shock absorbers, much the same as your running shoes. Horse shoes also share another similarity with the sports shoe industry—there is a huge selection of different types, such as pronation-correcting support shoes, “natural balance” shoes, and lightweight aluminum shoes for serious racing horses.

4. Eyes

At a diameter of roughly 2 inches, a horse's eyes are the largest of any land mammal; nine times larger than a human's by volume. The story goes that this means horses see things bigger, which is why they startle easily. Spoiler: It's not true!

The horse eye has three eyelids—two ordinary ones and a third called the nictitating membrane—which is located in the inner corner of the eye and occasionally sweeps the eye, lubricating and cleaning it if need arises. Horses can’t properly focus their eyes like we do. Instead, the lower parts of their retina see objects at a distance, and the upper ones are for closer viewing. This means that if you want to know where a horse is looking, you should pay attention to the position of its head. If you see a horse standing in a field and it’s standing with its head held high and ears pricked forward, the animal is probably just looking at something interesting in the distance.

5. Horse Names

Yes, they can seem ridiculous..."Almost Illegal", "Made You Look" or "Zorro Garlic". As random as this may seem, there are actually many traditions and superstitions associated with naming horses.

Many breeders name their horses to respect pedigree, which can lead to some unfortunate variations over time. Naming a horse after a family member is generally avoided, because if the horse you named after your mother turns out to be a failure, Mom probably isn’t going to be too happy. Many owners prefer powerful names like “Man O’War,” because it is believed this brings the horse good fortune in the races. On the other hand, naming a horse “Champion” will likely result in a racehorse doomed to failure, so some owners decide to simply have a bit of fun.

Actually, there are rules governing the naming tradition. These rules vary depending on your area. A good rule of thumb: no obscenities, racism, or similarity to actively competing horses. If a horse gets famous enough, think Seattle Slew, its name might be pulled from use altogether, much in the same way some sports retire the numbers of particularly legendary athletes.

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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Hold the Pickle, Hold the Lettuce...

Welcome to this month's blog, Human. Lucky you...you're an omnivore meaning that you can digest and use many foods, both plant and animal. We can live well on a large variety of different foods and diets. Not every animal is as fortunate as we humans.

Cats need to eat meat in order to survive. Their diet should be high in animal protein, high in moisture, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates. How do we know? Let's take a look at your cat's digestive system.

To Survive or to Thrive...That is the Question

There's a big difference between surviving and thriving. Human and cat bodies can tolerate terrible things and still survive. Surviving is just the body staying alive. The body can become injured or diseased and still survive. Thriving is all together different. Thriving is when the body works optimally and no disease is present. A cat can survive when fed a diet that is high in plant matter, but they can’t thrive on it.

Just imagine a new, crazy diet fad; we'll call it the Wild & Wooly Diet. A diet consisting almost exclusively of wool. Technically, you can eat it. Your body would continue to work; it might even find a bit of nutrition in the shale. However, you would soon notice digestive issues that would eventually progress to more serious health concerns.

Just like humans can’t digest wool well, cats can’t digest plant matter very well. Different species, different rules. Sure, cats may get some benefit from plant matter, but the risk for chronic disease goes up.

Cats are Carnivores. We Know This Because...

#1: Food in the Wild

When cats are left to choose, they choose other small animals. Their prey tends to be rodents, small birds, and insects. These smaller animals are eaten whole, that means fur, bones, organs, etc. Occasionally cats will be seen nibbling on plant life, but this makes up a very small portion of their diet.

#2: Meat Eater’s Teeth

Fluffy's teeth are thin and pointed for a reason. They are used for ripping and tearing meat – not chewing. Often, cats will chew their food as little as possible before swallowing. A cat’s jaws move only up and down (not side to side) and they have powerful muscles in their necks for swallowing meat. Eating vegetation requires serious chewing. Animals that naturally eat plants have large, flat molars; think about a horse and his carrots. Not only are the teeth flat, the jaw moves side to side to help grind the plant matter.

#3: Short Digestive Tract

Evolution has resulted in a shortened digestive tract in meat-eating animals. Since cats eat their prey whole (including bacteria and other iffy items), it makes sense that they would need to digest food quickly. The longer the food is in the digestive tract, the more time for bacteria to build up and potentially cause illness. On average, the entire journey of the food from the mouth to the anus in a cat (20 hours) is less than half the time of a human (53 hours).

#4: Lack of Correct Enzymes

Digesting vegetation requires certain enzymes to break down the cell walls of the plant. Animals that naturally eat plants produce an enzyme called cellulase in their saliva that helps begin to break down the plant matter.

Cats do not produce cellulase. Instead, a cat’s pancreas must produce a different enzyme called amylase to help digest plants. The cat’s pancreas is only designed to create a small amount of amylase as there is little plant matter in a wild cat’s diet. When a cat’s diet is high in plant matter, the cat’s pancreas becomes stressed from having to produce enough amylase to digest that plant matter.

#5: Inability to create certain amino acids and fatty acids

Amino acids are found in every food whether plant or animal based. These are the building blocks of proteins and fats that are needed to sustain life. Sometimes an animal’s body can create necessary amino acids and other times they must be found in the food the animal eats. When an animal cannot create a certain amino acid it needs, that amino acid is considered an essential amino acid for that animal. There are also essential fatty acids (fatty acids that an animal’s body cannot produce).

Cats have essential amino acids and essential fatty acids that can only be found in meat. Cats also cannot create vitamin D using their skin. They need to get vitamin D3 from animal sources (not D2 from plant sources). Other vitamins and minerals cats must get from meat are vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin A.

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Thursday, December 24, 2015

Top Ten Holiday Pet Hazards

Keep Your Pet Safe This Holiday

T’is the season...decorations come out of storage, lots of family and friend gatherings, food, food, and MORE FOOD. Animals can get into the spirit with you; now is the time to figure out any hidden hazards your home or guests may present to your pets. 

Here’s what you need to watch for:

Avoid These Dangerous Foods

With so much food around at the holidays, pets can easily and unexpectedly help themselves to people treats. Dogs are masters at finding unattended plates and trash cans, while cats can easily jump on to counter tops and tables. Guests may have an open and generous hand.  

5 foods you should keep away from your pet:

1. Chocolates products contain methylxanthines, which include caffeine and theobromine. Vomiting and diarrhea are common side effects of eating chocolate. More serious effects include anxiousness, hyperactivity, stumbling, tremors, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even death. In most cases, if the pet is treated early, the prognosis is generally good.

2. Xylitol, the artificial sweetener, can be deadly to pets. Ingestion causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar, which can result in vomiting, lethargy, weakness, collapse, or seizures. Signs appear in as little as 15 to 30 minutes but may be delayed for up to 12 hours.  In some dogs, liver failure can occur in 72 hours.

3. Fat Trimmings and Bones may include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), broken teeth, severe vomiting, diarrhea, or a blockage of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Best to avoid.

4. Grapes and Raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs (we don't know why). Signs that your dog may have eaten these sweeties include vomiting, followed by lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst and increased urination.

5. Alcohol, even small amounts can cause coma and death to dogs and cats. Signs usually appear within 15 to 30 minutes and may include unsteady gait, vomiting, and lethargy.

Create a Safe Environment for Your Pets

6. Tinsel, ornaments, and ribbon are especially attractive to cats; they wiggle and sparkle and are great toys. Broken ornaments can cause cuts, and eating ornaments, tinsel, or hooks can cause serious intestinal injury.

7. Holiday Plants, poinsettias and mistletoe to name two, may be problematic,  but their toxicity is overrated. Eating poinsettias will not risk your cat or dog’s life; however, it can cause irritation to the mouth and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause heart problems, but usually only causes gastrointestinal symptoms. The same goes for holly.

If you are a cat owner, lilies are the one plant you must worry about because eating them can cause kidney failure. If you spot lilies in an arrangement, get it out of your home immediately and clean up any pollen — every part of the plant is toxic!

Tip: Another overlooked danger is Christmas tree water, which can contain fertilizer as well as bacteria.

8. Cords and Candles make a great chew toy, right? Wrong!  Pets often want to chew on electrical cords and lights, which can cause electrocution, so cover or hide all cords. Hide candles as well, because a dog or cat can knock them over and cause burns or a house fire.

9. Liquid Potpourri smells great to you, your cat and your dog.  It takes only a few licks of these oils to cause serious chemical burns.

10. Stress isn't confined to humans;  when routines are disrupted and new activities occur, your pet may be the first to notice. Consider keeping the animal isolated in a quiet room with food, water, and a cozy bed. You can also speak to your veterinarian about medications that may help relieve anxiety.

And here's an extra 1, we bet you hadn't thought about...

11. Guests,  especially if they are not pet owners, may unknowingly place your pet in danger.  Make sure to show them where the “approved” treats are located, request that they keep luggage closed to prevent a curious pet from investigating, and instruct them to not leave medications on tables.

Always keep your veterinarian's number handy, along with the number of the animal poison control center, in case of emergency.

We at Diagnostic Imaging Systems, wish you and yours a happy, peaceful and safe holiday season.

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems. Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) provides Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.