Adoption Monday: Caleb, Labrador Retriever Mix, Deerfield, NH

Check out this wonderful boy at Mary's Dogs Rescue & Adoption!

Caleb is a sweet boy.  He appreciates the little things.  

Love, play, a warm bed, and a full tummy!  

He is a little lab mix puppy, about 3.5 months old.  He will be a medium sized adult dog, and someone's best friend. Caleb is house trained, neutered and up-to-date with routine shots.

Want more info on Caleb? Call Mary's Dogs: 603.370.7750 or send along an email: marysdogsrescue@gmail.com

Ready to bring Caleb home? Tell us about yourself and your interest in Caleb in our adoption questionnaire. Check out all the wonderful dogs on Mary's Dogs Facebook Fan Page.

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Mary’s Dogs rescues and re-homes dogs and puppies from Aiken County Animal Shelter, a high-kill shelter in South Carolina, USA. They also serve as a resource to communities in Southern New Hampshire and pet owners nationwide by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training, and good nutrition.

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Test Your Dog's IQ

Looking for something fun to do with your dog? Try a dog IQ test.



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Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League) is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. Their mission is to bring about the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.

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What Causes Bladder Infections in Dogs?

by Dr. Greg Magnusson, DVM

This question comes up pretty much EVERY time a dog comes in with a bladder infection, and I totally understand why. Humans like to know cause-and-effect for things. Like, I ate a yucky dinner, so now I have a tummy ache.

I think this need to know primarily stems from an owner’s desire to take good care of their animals. Which means, then, that the corollary to the question is “am I a good dog mommy?"

"Did I do something to cause this?"

So first, let me answer the question you DIDN’T ask – no, you did nothing to cause your dog’s bladder infection. You’re a fine dog mommy. Thank you for bringing her in, so we could treat the infection!

That aside, if we shall delve into this further… let me now warn you that the answer to this question may get a bit yucky. 

Maybe even a lot yucky. Like, you probably don’t really want to know, and should consider not reading further. If part “A” above was all you really needed to hear, you’re fine. You don’t have to be an expert in everything dog, that’s what we’re here for.

On the other hand, if you’re brave and bold and curious, let’s move on…

Female dogs get bladder infections because of a particular design quirk, that of a short urethra positioned right downward of the anus.

First, a lesson about poop. 

Poop is primarily made up of bacteria, solid undigestible components of food, and metabolic waste products from bile. But mostly poop is made of bacteria.

Imagine, if you will, poop falling out of your dog's butt. 

That’s like one big solid ball of E. coli falling, and guess where it passes by before it hits the ground? The urethra.

Yes, it’s true, she “wipes” afterwards with her tongue, but do you REALLY think that’s clean? This is the same tongue that licks her feet after she walks outside, and she doesn’t brush her teeth between butt wipings, so expect that her mouth is full of bacteria too.

Remember, I warned you not to read this.

Compound this problem if she has diarrhea. Not only is it harder for her to clean up, but some might get on the tail, which then falls in front of the urethra…

So essentially, by attempting to clean herself free of poop, she wipes E. coli from the poop and Staph from her skin all over herself. It’s really no wonder some of that bacteria gets into the urethra once in a while...

…causing a bladder infection.

Oh wait, you have a MALE dog? Yes, they get bladder infections too, but MUCH less often because the prepuce is nowhere near the anus, and because the urethra is WAY longer from the tip of the prepuce all the way up into the bladder, making it harder for bacteria to “climb” into the bladder.

Now you know!

SPECIAL NOTE: Remember how I said bladder infections are primarily caused either by E. coli or Staph? That’s a GROSS oversimplification, there are TONS of different kinds of bacteria in poop and on skin. Each bacteria responds best to a different antibiotic. This is why your friendly neighborhood veterinarian needs to obtain a urine sample using a STERILE NEEDLE AND SYRINGE and send some of that pee to the lab so they can culture it and identify which nasty bacteria we’re dealing with. Yes, it’s expensive for you  – lab fees are pricey!! But, you know… valuable, and essentially the most efficient way to get the CORRECT answer and FASTEST treatment possible, rather than me just guessing what kind of bacteria it is and choosing an antibiotic off the shelf.

Reprinted with permission from Leo's Pet Care, 10598 N College Ave # 200, Indianapolis, IN 46280 | www.leospetcare.com | indianapolisvet@gmail.com

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Greg Magnusson, DVM describes himself as Leo's daddy. Public educator, mender of wounded bodies, healer of troubled souls, veterinarian in Indianapolis at Leo's Pet Care - out to change the world for one little boy...
Contact Dr. Magnusson via his Leo's Pet Care Facebook Fan Page or @IndianapolisVet on twitter.


Articles by Dr. Magnusson:
What's In The Blood? Blood Testing And Interpretation  
Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Anal Glands 

Related articles:
The Always-At-Hand Diagnostic Tool: Whoa, Girl Dogs Have Anal Glands Too! 
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor

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Veterinary Highlights: Canine Lifetime Health Project

Do you have a Golden Retriever?

Morris Animal Foundation's Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, the first study of the Canine Lifetime Health Project, is a pioneering study focusing on identifying risk factors for development of cancer and other diseases in Golden Retrievers.

More than half of Golden Retrievers die from cancer, and it is the leading cause of death in all dogs over the age of two.

This study aims to:

• Identify ways in which genetics, environment and diet may affect a dog's risk for cancer
• Determine risk factors for other major health disorders in Golden Retrievers
• Learn how to better prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and other canine diseases
• Improve the health of future generations of Golden Retrievers and help create a healthier tomorrow for all dogs

Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Lifetime Health Project is an online community of dog lovers willing to have their dogs participate in studies that will improve the health of dogs. By participating in the project, dog lovers will support Morris Animal Foundation's efforts to give dogs longer, healthier lives.

To determine if your dog is eligible for participation in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, you must first register for the Canine Lifetime Health Project. After you sign up for the Canine Lifetime Health Project, you will be notified by email if your dog qualifies for the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study or any future studies managed through this project.

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Great (Or Not So Great) Expectations with Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) Part (I)

by Susan E. Davis, PT

Femoral head osteotomy (FHO) is the surgical excision (removal) of the ball and neck of the femur, at the hip joint.

It is used in cases of advanced hip dysplasia where the hip joint has also become arthritic, in complex fractures and for cases of avascular necrosis (lack of blood supply to the bone). A genetic condition called Legg Calve-Perthes, seen mostly in toy breeds, is an example of avascular necrosis.  

When I get a new referral to see a canine patient post-FHO, two immediate questions come to mind: 

1. How long ago was the surgery and 
2. Are the dog parents realistic in their expectations of the outcome?  

From experience I know that if the parents have waited a month or 2 (or longer) after the procedure to call me and/or are expecting their dog to walk as well or better than before the surgery, I am about to face some heat!

FHO is not the only option for these conditions, but it is probably the most commonly chosen.

If you think I don’t sound like a fan of the FHO, you are right.

Nobody, even the surgeon, is a fan of FHO. 

This is because it is a non-reversible “salvage” procedure and not a truly corrective one. Given the other options available, however, it is usually a very practical choice!
       
Other options include:

• Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) available for young dogs up to 1 year of age and involves cutting and re-positioning the bone and re- angulation of the joint
• Total hip replacement (THR) inserts an artificial hip (endoprosthesis), and is used in dogs over 1 year of age.  

Both options have a high success rate, but involve longer recovery and are much higher in terms of cost. 
The FHO becomes, if not the optimal treatment of choice, an economical solution with a shorter recovery period.  

It is performed more on smaller dogs, less than 40 pounds and it is not as highly recommended for large dogs.

The key is to understand why it is being done and what to expect afterward. 

When the hip joint is damaged by one of the conditions described above and conservative measures have not been effective, the hip will continue to worsen without surgery.  By “worsen”, I refer to degenerative changes as arthritis, fragmentations and bone spurs which will become painful and debilitating for your dog.

When the FHO is performed, the removal of the head and neck (the” ball” portion of the hip) allows a false joint to form in place of the normal ball and socket. 

Photo OrthoVet Super Site

From that point on the “hip” is biomechanically altered and the leg becomes shortened. Even with physical therapy and rehab, there can be some recurring deviations and lameness in gait with less weight borne on the leg than before the surgery.

Many times I have heard a dog owner state “My dog seemed to walk just like this or better before, so why did I have this done?

My response is “Your dog is now free from pain and secured from future crippling” arthritis and degeneration”.  

Though, with FHO, the return to full function is guarded, the quality of life is enhanced, and the owner still has his/her retirement savings intact.

***
Susan E. Davis (Sue) is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 30 years of practice in the human field, who transitioned into the animal world after taking courses at the UT Canine Rehabilitation program.  She is located in Red Bank, New Jersey.

She has been providing PT services to dogs and other animals through her entity Joycare Onsite, LLC in pet’s homes and in vet clinics since 2008.

She also provides pro bono services each week to a shelter and sanctuary for neglected and abused animals.  Sue is the proud “dog mommy” to Penelope, a miniature Dachshund with “attitude”.  For more information see her website www.joycareonsite.com , or follow on Twitter @animalPTsue.

Further reading: 
Femoral Head and Neck Excision


Related articles:
You Say Hip Dysplasia, I Say Knee Injury ... Forrest Gumbo's Story
From The Case Files: Hunter's Hip Dysplasia Was Nearly A Death Sentence 
Hip Dysplasia Prevention And Treatment Options 
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia: Are They The Same Thing?
Just When You Thought You Knew Everything About Hip Dysplasia
Indy’s Struggle with Dysplasia

Articles by Susan E. Davis:
Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How
One Thing Leads To Another: Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too
Compensation: An Attempt To Restore Harmony
Paring Down to the Canine Core
Canine Massage: Every Dog ‘Kneads’ It”
Photon Power: Can Laser Therapy Help Your Dog?  
Physical Therapy in the Veterinary World  
Reiki: Is it real? 
Dog Lessons: Cooper  
The Essentials Of Canine Injury Prevention: 7 Tips For Keeping Your Dog Safer 

The Challenge Of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Knowledge Is Power (Part I)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Top 10 Management Suggestions (Part II)

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: Trying To Tell Us Something

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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Breaking The Bad News When It Could Be Something Else: Penny Does Not Have Cancer

Recently I received a distressed email from a friend, regarding her dog.

I wanted to reach out to you and tell you that my dog Penny is very sick and in the hospital.  She has had bouts of colitis and lethargy. The last few days very lethargic, suffered with bowel trouble and fever. The hospital discovered prominent lymph nodes and some abnormal results on the ultrasound and chest x-ray.

They aspirated lymph cells, and it looks inconclusive, so sending out to a pathology lab.They think she may have lymphoma!  I am a wreck.  Just asking you to please pray for her and for me and my husband as we love her so dearly.

What do you answer to such a heartbreaking email? What words could possibly make things better?

***

We were on the receiving end of such possibility twice with Jasmine. I know exactly how it feels.

The first time, Jasmine was still quite young, about 5-years old, when she suddenly developed a cough. She did a lot of barking that evening because neighbors had a loud party in the backyard, so initially we figured she just irritated her throat with that. But it was not going away. Kennel cough didn't seem likely, as Jasmine was not boarded or exposed to any environment crowded with dogs.

The next day, she was still coughing.

We took her to the vet that afternoon. He checked her out, discovered she had elevated temperature and enlarged lymph nodes. She was a good girl and demonstrated her cough too.

The vet turned to us and said like if it was all the same, “it's either infection or lymphoma. We could start antibiotics and see if the problem resolves.”

Either infection or what? My heart jumped into my throat.

I didn't know much about veterinary stuff then, but I knew what lymphoma meant... Jasmine's best buddy died to it. Trying the antibiotics made sense, so that's what we agreed to. But the word lymphoma lingered in the air.

Fortunately, the cough resolved very quickly with the antibiotics and, on the follow up exam, everything looked good.

Could I have lived without the “L” word being tossed around during the initial visit? I wouldn't have spent a night tossing and turning, that's for sure.

Of course, sometimes things get more complicated.

That was certainly the case the second time we had to face the possibility of the big “C”.

After Jasmine was diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament, hubby dropped her off at her then new vet's to get more x-rays. While she was under, the vet decided to give her a good look over. And then we received the phone call, “I was palpating her abdomen and I felt a mass. Would you agree to taking additional x-rays of the abdomen.” We, of course, agreed.

And then we got called to his office. 

My knees were buckling underneath me.

Not only the mass could be felt, but it also showed up on the x-rays. Also both Jasmine's spleen and liver were enlarged. The vet recommended starting with a blood test, and if negative for cancer markers, exploratory surgery to see what it is and, if possible, get it out.

The world turned black. 

Wasn't it enough that Jasmine had a bum knee? The whole time we were trying to figure out what to do with that, and now, it might not even matter?

When we took her for a walk that afternoon, the ground was covered with fresh snow. Jasmine adores snow and she wanted to run around in it and dive into it … but we couldn't let her because of her bad knee.

We got some of the most beautiful photos of Jasmine that afternoon

We took a camera with us to take what, potentially, could be the last happy photos …

I was looking into here eyes, full of fire, and I could not accept that she might be THAT ill. It didn't make any sense. She had so much life in her!

Fortunately, the blood test came back negative. It didn't mean it could not be the big “C”, but it meant that it was not likely and that the exploratory surgery was on.

The exploratory surgery revealed that the mass was not an actual defined mass, but rather thickening of part of the stomach and small intestine. The vet did a biopsy and sent it out to the lab.

Another wait.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis isn't exactly a good news, but it certainly was to us! Heart wrenching week took good couple of years of our lifespan. But Jasmine was going to be OK!

***  

Back to Penny.

I really didn't know what to respond to my friend, except of words of support, so I asked further questions instead. If it wasn't the big “C” either time with Jasmine, maybe this isn't?

I knew it was grasping at straws, but maybe, if we can come up with another possibility, it will make it so.

I asked about the lymph nodes and whether spleen was enlarged also.

Yes, all the lymph nodes were involved and spleen was enlarged on ultrasound. However, Penny also showed positive for Lyme exposure, and she was started on doxycycline for that. They were waiting for C6 Lyme quantitative test and the cytology results to come back.

Meanwhile, I dug out all the info I had about the latest and greatest lymphoma treatments.

But perhaps it really is just some systemic infection?

Given the signs, it was a long shot, but it was not impossible.

Penny seemed to be doing a bit better on the antibiotics and was able to go home from the hospital. She was still weak and coughing badly. But she started eating.

The Lyme test came back inconclusive. Cytology report still wasn't in.

I was turning the internet upside down trying to find some confirmation that all this could indeed be from a systemic infection. There was some chance that it could be ...

Finally they got the cytology report.

It came back reactive to infection and negative for lymphoma!

It wasn't clear what infection it was, probably tick-borne, but the important thing was that Penny was responding very fast to the doxycycline. Even the cough had somewhat improved.

Today, Penny is doing well. She is back to her full self, active and with a good appetite.

On her last re-check at the internal medicine vet, all looked good.

***

All good decisions need to be based on good information. Being well-informed is crucial. But sometimes I wonder, how much do we REALLY need to know, particularly when it could be something else?

Sometimes I yearn for the days of blissful ignorance.

When we were discussing this, my friend asked me a valid question, "Why couldn't they have just started the antibiotics before looking for the worst case scenario?" Wouldn't that be the kinder and better approach?

I certainly would have been happier if I've never heard the "C" word and Jasmine's name in the same sentence.

The truth is, that with Penny's presentation, the odds that those symptoms and signs could add up to lymphoma were quite high. This would make considering that possibility the diligent and responsible thing to do. How mad would one be, if they just started the antibiotics, the dog kept getting worse, and it turned out that precious time got wasted?

Sometimes the only choice is to consider all scenarios, no matter how painful, just to cover all the bases.

A friend's sister died just recently, to advanced cancer in her lung. It started in her shoulder. She was seeing doctors with her shoulder for a long time and nobody caught it, until it got into her lung and it was too late.

What do you think?

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Adoption Monday: Dixie, Mcnab/Hound Mix, Santa Maria, CA

This brindle beauty is giddy and delightful! 

Dixie is 2 years old and would love to go for daily walks or, even better - run on the beach with her new family! 

Dixie has bundles of energy to burn and would need an active home. She seems to get along with most dogs but this gal would prefer no cats. She has had some basic obedience training and loves to show the kennel staff her adorable sit - even when not asked! She is crate-trained, too. 

Dixie wants to please.

She loves kids but because of her size she'd do best in a household with kids ages 10 and up. According to her previous owners she was always a good girl when left home alone, but they just did not have the time and energy to match this mighty mutt! 

If you are looking for an active, playful girl to complete your family, you've found her!

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Santa Maria Valley Humane Society's mission is to provide quality, compassionate care for animals, address animal overpopulation, and enhance the human animal bold.

The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society has placed over 9,000 animals in caring homes since the organization was founded in June of 1982.
 

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Taking Your Dog's Temperature

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Primer On Hot Spots

Written and reviewed by John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhD
and Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS 

Dogs can develop skin rashes from a number of causes, including allergies, fleas, and bacterial or fungal infections.

Sometimes a rash seems to pop up overnight as a red, moist, weeping area on the skin, informally called a "hot spot."

The formal name for hot spots is acute moist dermatitis. 

They are most common in long-haired dogs, but any breed can be affected. Fleas and allergies are the most common causes, but any itchy irritation-even serious hair matting-can get a hot spot started.

Dogs lick the itchy area intensely, often when no one is looking, until it becomes red, raw, and moist. Bacteria then often move in and infect the damaged area, making the problem worse.

Fortunately, hot spots are usually superficial and look much worse than they really are. 

Your veterinarian will clip away the hair so that the wound can dry out, and then clean the area with an appropriate antibacterial soap or solution.

Follow-up care at home usually includes cleaning, topical medications, and sometimes oral antibiotics or corticosteroids. In addition, the underlying cause of the hot spot must be addressed by controlling fleas, allergies, infections, hair mats, etc.

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Visit WebVet for a wealth of information about the health and well-being of pets. All content is rev

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Veterinary Highlights: Biomedicine Regrows Jawbones

UC Davis biomedical engineers and veterinary surgeons adapted cutting-edge biomedical technology to regrow jawbones in dogs that have lost bone to injuries or removal of cancerous oral tumors.

In the past, when a portion of the bone was removed, the jaw had to be left incomplete, with reduced function, and prone to complications.



With this new procedure, once the diseased section of bone is dissected, the bone is reconstructed with a titanium plate and a piece of scaffolding that contains proteins that stimulate regrowth of the bone. The stiff, sponge-like material, soaked in a bone growth promoter protein (bone morphogenetic protein) is inserted into the space where the bone was removed.

Stem cells from the surrounding area migrate to the sponge, attach to it, and the protein makes them differentiate into bone cells that start to produce bone.

UC Davis' specialists performed this procedure on eight cases, with exciting results.

Source article: Dog jawbones regrown with biomedicine technique

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Practicing What I Preach: Jasmine's Semi Annual Wellness Exam

Taking care of your best friend, there are few things that are really way more important than people recognize.

Regular wellness exams are definitely one of them.

A healthy young dog should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. A senior dogs should have there check ups at least twice a year.

Why take your dog to the vet when there is nothing wrong with them?

Visiting a vet when your dog is ill is certainly important. But in many cases, when your dog starts showing symptoms,  some diseases can already be in their advanced stage.

A regular health evaluation can address early dental disease, weight issues, orthopedic issues and catch systemic disease or organ damage early.

A regular check up should include physical examination, urinalysis, stool analysis, blood panel and heartworm testing.

Exam is over, we forgive you that you poked needles into us.

With Jasmine, regular wellness exams might seem redundant—with one thing or another, she's at the vet's at least once a month.

However, even though her vet does check her all out every time she's there, there are some things we don't do every time, particularly full blood work up.

We do these twice a year, unless there is a reason to check the blood in between. In the spring, we include further tests, such as thyroid hormone levels for Jasmine, heartworm testing for both guys, and last time we also tested for tick-borne diseases.

In the fall we typically run blood panel only.

With the Veterinary Care Plan it was painless this time, because these things are all included in the plan. A good reason to get one of these plans right there—you don't have to skimp on wellness exams because of financial reasons. Since you're already paying the subscription, you might as well use up all the benefits it offers.

The exam confirmed that our guys are at their ideal body condition, and their mouths are in a good shape.

These are very important things to keep under control. Hubby thinks they are skinny, well, he can think what he wants, as long as he gets on with the program :-)

When you think your dog is skinny, they're probably just at the right point.

I have to admit, that every time we run Jasmine's blood panel I am a bit nervous. She's had her share of health challenges and she had recently turned 9. I always worry that the blood might discover some problem we are not aware of.

I was on pins and needles, awaiting the results.

Jasmine took her blood test; she passed; didn't even study.

When it finally showed up in her online file, I held my breath a little bit before I opened it. But it looks quite good! Not only that, is has also improved from the last year. Jasmine's blood doesn't look all that different from JD's, who is a healthy 4-year old.

Jasmine's blood panel fall 2012

I wouldn't say it is a textbook perfect blood panel, but the improvement is clearly visible.

Jasmine's blood panel fall 2011

We work very hard on keeping Jasmine's issues in check, improving her nutrition, and well being.

The main reason I started studying dog nutrition was to learn how I can improve Jasmine's health. It looks that the things we're doing are working.

You go, Jasmine!

When was the last time your dog went for a full wellness exam?

Related articles:
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Another Experience With VetLiveThe Diagnosis Is In: Jasmine Has An Interdigital Cyst
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Interdigital Cyst Update  
Is Crawling Under Things Some Kind Of Secret Physical Therapy?  
Is There No Place Safe? Jasmine's Acupuncture Session
Senior Sensory Systems Function: Zero Defects  
It Looks Like A Keeper: Jasmine's New Integrative Vet 

Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
The Day Of The Treatment
First Time For Everything: A Healing Crisis(?)  
From Zero To Sixty In Four Days: Stem Cells At Work
The Calm After The Storm 
If It Was Easy, It Wouldn't Be Jasmine
This Is What Jasmine's Episode Looks Like
Gotta Try Everything Once (Or Twice): On The Quest To Figure Out Jasmine's Episodes 

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Meet Jasmine
I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: Left-Unders

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA): Reader Stories (Part I)

Anemia is a deficiency in red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in a decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

Anemia can be caused either by blood loss, insufficient red blood cell production or increased destruction (hemolysis).

In immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), the red blood cells are being attacked and destroyed by the dog's own immune system.

IMHA is a life-threatening disease that strikes fast and hard. Acting fast when you suspect IMHA is your dog's best chance for survival.

Red flags include

• pale gums
• yellow tinged gums or whites of the eyes
• dark or dark yellow urine
• weakness
• lethargy
• loss of appetite
• rapid breathing

Many readers shared their stories in the comments. These stories need to be heard.

***

I have never heard of IMHA until I found my one and half year old Rotti with white gums and very lethargic when coming home from work. 

I immediately called the vet and was told to rush him in. They did blood work and his RBC was 2.10 and PLT 22 at which time I was told to take him to the Emergency Hospital which would be able to take care of him in the critical state he was in. Several blood test were done and a central line was placed along with IV fluids. Three days later  I was allowed to bring him home.

He is doing better, but not his playful self, he is eating and drinking fine and urine is still clear. 

The doctors have informed me the tick titer and other labs have all come back negative, so we still do not know the underlying cause. We will return in 10 more days to recheck the blood levels (CBC, Blood Smear, Liver panel) and see where he is at.

***

I also had never heard of IMHA until my 13-month-old golden was diagnosed with the disease. 

One night we were going to bed and I was petting him on his stomach and his groin area felt like he was on fire. I took him to the local animal emergency center and he was diagnosed. He was put on IV and was given meds.

On Thursday he was given his first transfusion. 

He got to come home on Saturday and he seemed to be doing better. On Monday he again was very lethargic and the vet said that he was very bad. I thought that I had lost him.

On Tuesday morning he had two more transfusions and a splenectomy. 

After three days he got to come home again. His vet said that he is holding his own. His blood values are going up slightly every time they are tested. With Murphy being just a puppy it is so hard for me to watch him just lay around. Not like my Murphy who would run and jump and play with me. I know that his recovery is going to be a long road so I just take one day at a time. I do agree that if you have a dog who has the symptoms the only thing to do is get them to the vet as soon as possible.

***

I lost my beautiful soul mate - Ricky my 8.5 year old Chihuahua on Saturday to this awful disease.

It came out of nowhere. 

The week before I noticed he was 20% not himself but I thought maybe it was some sort of cold. On Monday he didn't want to eat anything, and then Tuesday he also didn't' want to eat anything - and I noticed that his urine was a dark orange(brown).

I made a quick appt for my husband to take him to the vet. All the blood work was done but unfortunately we had wait 24 hours for blood work results. The next day I called my vet and it seemed like Ricky's red blood count level was way off. So the vet asked that I rush him to the vet, I left work immediately took Ricky to the vet with my husband.

The vet told us that Ricky was diagnosed IMHA. 

 She asked that we leave him in the animal hospital so he can get proper treatment, Steroids, IV, and some sort of antibiotic since he was running a small fever 40c.

On Wed his red blood cells where in his 30s. However, on Thursday since since she was giving him IV, they dropped down to 18. But she expected that since she was flushing his body out with IVs. She said that the steroids wont' start working for a couple days but Ricky is stable and has a great outcome. Ricky was lethargic, he didn't' want to eat or drink, but he was fully alert and soo happy to see us.

We went and visited him for 2 hours on Thursday afternoon/evening.

Little did I know that was going to be the last day I see my precious angel.

We cuddled and held him as he was hooked up to his IV. He was so happy to see us as he was panting and giving us small kisses. He just wanted to sleep with us.

After 2 hours, I gave him a kiss goodbye and said "see you in the morning" He had these beautiful brown eyes and was like "mommy where you going, dont' leave me"

On Saturday morning, my husband and I woke up and started getting ready to go visit my sweet baby where we got that awful call. 

The vet said "I have some bad news, Ricky passed at night time - he probably had a thromboembolism (blood clot) which is a huge risk during IMHA. Apparently, when the vet came in the morning, he had his blanket still on top of him, so he died peacefully in his sleep.

I have so many "What ifs" such as :

• What if I took him to an 24 hour hospital where they had night care, could they have saved him. My vet says "probably No" Because a blood clot is impossible to cure when it happens.
• What if I done something wrong?
• What if we got a blood transfusion. Which the vet thought Ricky was stable and didn't' require at the time.

Related articles:
IMHA Is Not To Be Taken Lightly: Know The Symptoms
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 1)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 2)
I Am An IMHA Survivor! Dylan's Story
Liver Tumor? IMHA? Daphne's Story (Part I)
IMHA Complications: Daphne Didn't Make It

Further reading:
Anemia Related to the Immune System in Dogs
Immune-mediated Hemolytic Anemia
IMHA: Diagnosing and treating a complex disease
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs (IMHA), Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

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Adoption Monday: Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

Many factors can make a pet seem less adoptable. Color, age, special needs ...

To promote these unusual (or, in some cases, too common) animals, Petfinder has designated Sept. 17-23, 2012, as "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week."

One of these animals just may be your furry soul-mate.

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Is my Dog's Leg Broken?

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Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Anal Glands

by Dr. Greg Magnusson, DVM

Anal glands are gross, but every dog has ‘em.

Today, we’re going to get all up in your dog’s business. I’m sorry, but it’s gotta be done.

So, dogs and cats have scent glands on either side of the anus, the same ones that skunks use to spray nasty-smelling stuff on predators, just slightly (and only slightly) less gross.

Here is a picture of where they’re located
(the red circles indicate approximate location)

These glands produce foul-smelling brownish-yellowish fishy-smelling grossness that gets squeezed out every time your dog strains to poop. We think it’s a marking mechanism, perhaps a way dogs and cats identify themselves to each other.

Each anal gland has a tiny little duct that empties it at the anal opening. 

These ducts can become obstructed, leaving the gland unable to empty itself, causing discomfort. Your dog may then plant her butt on the ground and “scoot” across the floor in an attempt to relieve the obstruction.

Contrary to popular belief, if you smell your dog’s fishy-smelling nasty on the couch, they may NOT need to see the vet. If the anal glands have emptied themselves on your furniture, believe it or not, that’s a problem solved.

Any time the anal glands CAN’T empty themselves, is when you should call the vet. 

If Fido is scooting and/or licking and/or scratching and/or suddenly turning around and looking at her butt all the time, to the vet she goes!

If the anal glands become clogged and impacted full of thick goo, your veterinarian can slip on a rubber glove and stick a finger up their butt to squeeze out the anal glands. Some dogs need to have this done monthly, some need it done never. Some groomers will do a “from the outside” version of emptying the anal glands as part of their routine groom, but this is not an appropriate treatment for problem glands, only good for maintenance.

Anal Gland Impaction

If the glands stay impacted for a long time, they can become infected and abscess out the back the end. This dog’s abscessed anal gland is about to rupture.

Anal Gland Abscess

When the abscess ruptures, it can look like this:

Ouchy! To the vet you go!

Scooting means anal glands might need veterinary attention.

Reprinted with permission from Leo's Pet Care, 10598 N College Ave # 200, Indianapolis, IN 46280 | www.leospetcare.com | indianapolisvet@gmail.com

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Greg Magnusson, DVM describes himself as Leo's daddy. Public educator, mender of wounded bodies, healer of troubled souls, veterinarian in Indianapolis at Leo's Pet Care - out to change the world for one little boy...
Contact Dr. Magnusson via his Leo's Pet Care Facebook Fan Page or @IndianapolisVet on twitter.


Articles by Dr. Magnusson:
What's In The Blood? Blood Testing And Interpretation 

Related articles:
The Always-At-Hand Diagnostic Tool: Whoa, Girl Dogs Have Anal Glands Too! 
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor

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Veterinary Highlights: Can A Mushroom-Derived Compound Lengthen Survival in Dogs With Cancer?

Mushrooms, love them. I come from a country where mushrooming is a common practice. Nothing like freshly picked mushrooms.

Is there more to mushrooms than just being yummy?

Coriolus versicolor mushroom. Image: Chris Moody

It seems that scientists were playing with the idea of medicinal properties of mushrooms for quite some time now. I know, that not far from where I used to live, there was a cancer clinic experimenting with oyster mushrooms as a cancer treatment.

A study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, tested the use of a compound derived from the Coriolus versicolor mushroom in treatment of canine hemangiosarcoma.

Hemangiosarcoma is a highly invasive type of cancer, affecting the lining of blood vessels. Typically, the cause of death is the rupturing of the tumor, causing the patient bleed to death.

According to the study, dogs with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with the mushroom compound, had the longest survival times ever reported for dogs with the disease.

The Coriolus versicolor mushroom is believed to have immune-boosting action, and some studies suggesting that it also has tumor-fighting effect.

The researchers are getting ready to pursue further trials.

Source article: Mushroom-Derived Compound Lengthens Survival in Dogs With Cancer, Study Suggests

Further reading:
Liver and Spleen Cancer (Hemangiosarcoma) in Dogs
Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs

Related articles:
Are Splenic Tumors Always Malignant?
Fast Decline: Joey's Hemangiosarcoma
Why Does The Spleen Get No Respect?

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K&H Cool Bed III: Ooh, It's Cool!

Jasmine got her first cooling bed about four years ago. 

She loved it from the moment she set her foot on it.

K&H Cool Bed III. Ok, this clearly isn't Jasmine, our house really is not photogenic.
I'll see if I can figure out a way of taking some photos.

Ooh, it's cool! And comfy!

It served her well year-round, for three years. Then it sprung a leak. It was a waterbed after all, so I guess it's something to be expected sooner or later.

It was at the seam, the weakest part. The good part was that the leak was quite minor and the bed really leaked only when there was applied pressure. I didn't result in flooded room or anything like that. But still, by the time I noticed it, there was quite a puddle in the carpet.

Around that time I have read a review of cooling pads, which were supposed to do the job without the water.

Sounded good and we decided to give it a try.

I looked up the sizes and ordered/and paid for the largest one available, as it was about the size of the late cooling bed. Excited when it arrived, I opened up the package to find out that the pad I received was half the size I wanted.

It was a mix up, such things happen.

I called the company and they promised to send a replacement right away.

Meanwhile, I figured we could give this one a try anyway. Jasmine hated it. I hated it. The outer surface was sliding all over the inside, when you stepped on it, you went for a ride! Clearly a major safety risk, particularly for a dog with orthopedic issues and after two knee surgeries. With the large one under way, this was a major dilemma.

A new package arrived, with a replacement for my mixed up order. It was the same size as the first time! Now I had two pads that were too small!

To their credit, the design was updated.

this new pad had sort of quilting on it, which made the sections smaller and it wasn't nearly as slippery. It was much safer. But Jasmine still hated it.

I contacted the company again and told them I still didn't have the right size, and that I'd prefer getting my money back, to which I got no reply.

Being stuck with it, I tried a number of things in order to convince Jasmine to use it. 

When she finally did, I found another thing about it. I would stay cool for about 20 minutes of use and that was that. After that I was supposed to put it in a freezer, to charge it. On top of that, it didn't take very long for the quilting to let go.

This thing was not working on any level!

Enough was enough and we decided to take our chances with the potential, or eventually inevitable, leak and ordered the K&H Cool Bed III.

The new nylon/vinyl exterior is supposed to be tougher than ever.

Jasmine's Cool Bed arrived quite quickly (and the right size). The outer layer does look like it might be quite lasting and leak resistant; it has more fabric-like quality to it, so we're hoping it will last.

Most importantly, though, Jasmine loves it!

She has variety of beds, furniture and places to choose from. But she spends probably 97% of the time resting on her Cool Bed.

It cools, it's comfy - it's the next best thing to the hole she has dug up under the trailer on her ranch.

Yes, I am watching out for leaks. But Jasmine is so happy! Totally worth it!

Related articles:
Another Cooling Bed Bites The Dust 

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: Increase The Odds Of A Dog Eating Your Homework

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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Vet Visit From Hell? Nudge's Acid Reflux

by Kaitlin Falatovich

I'm sure you too have days when it seems that the whole world is conspiring against you. I had one of those days recently.

My pup was suffering from some stomach pain.

Being the over protective parent that I am, I heading straight to the vet. I made no hesitation to walk right into the clinic and got my spot to see the vet where someone else had cancelled.

The waiting room smelled of stale cleaning products and sickness. 

I swear it was the hottest day ever, and the smell  loomed in the air. The waiting room was full  There were sad faces everywhere you looked, both of the animals and their worried owners.

Not only where the animals making noises of sickness, so where the owners. With my luck, I ended up sitting next to a woman with the world’s worst cold. She hacked and sniffled and wiped her nose every three seconds. My pup was in pain, I was on edge, and all this wasn’t helping!

My pup was in pain and I wanted to help him now!

Finally, after what seemed like several hours, my pup got our turn. I gripped my little Nudge tight and sprinted into the exam room.

And yet another wait. What a relief, when the vet finally entered the room! By now I was almost in tears and so was Nudge.

Nudge panted and moaned as the doctor inspected ever last inch of him. 

I sat there quietly, waiting for the vet to tell me what was wrong with my little pup.

She examined Nudge and walked out of the room. 

Very few words were exchanged between us. This worried me a great deal. Somebody tell me what's wrong with my dog! For all the symptoms that I had rattled off to her, she barely spoke a word; I was very uneasy.

When the vet returned, she handed me a card for a follow up endoscopy. Maybe she took a vow of silence?

It was not until after the endoscopy when I got to find out what was wrong with my pup.

My little Nudge was in so much pain because he was suffering from acid reflux.

The upside was that

1. I finally had a diagnosis.
2. It is treatable
3. I could relate to my dog on yet another level because I too suffer from acid reflux.

Nudge has gastroesophageal reflux, which means that his gastric fluids are backing up into his esophagus.

Prolonged acid reflux without treatment could lead to serious damage of his esophagus.

There can be some very serious reasons your dog might get acid reflux, including cancer of the esophagus,  so it is very important to get the experts opinion. 

(No matter how painful the waiting room is!)

Nudges treatment included a lower fat diet with several small meals. We are both on practically the same diet!

I also learned the importance of not judging a book by its cover. 

That initial visit was my first encounter with THAT vet and, despite her unorthodox way of interaction, she quickly found out what was wrong with Nudge!

Nudge has been her patient ever since!

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Kaitlin Falatovich is a student, pet mom, and content writer for dog.com. Check out their awesome community forum.

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