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If you get bit by a tick and need to know if it is a tick carrying Lyme disease, please call the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission at (732)542-3630. If you are looking for more information about Lyme disease you can visit the Centers for Disease Control at www.CDC.gov. As far as our furry friends, you should start using your flea and tick preventative. We recommend Frontline or Vectra. The Lyme vaccine is also available especially for those dogs that go to the dog park, woods, or high grass areas. These products are not repellents so please remember that after a walk in a wooded area you should check your pet and yourself for ticks. It is especially important to check around the head and neck area.

This is always a sensitive subject to speak about but it is an important one so lets get it out of the way. Obesity– there, I said it, it is the elephant in the room. Why is it so important? Well just think about weight and humans. The extra weight we carry affects our joints and makes it harder for us to get around; over time,  that extra weight causes osteoarthritis which can cause pain and inflammation. In our pets this may look like difficulty rising or taking time to lay down, inability to walk long distances, inability to go up or down stairs, to name a few. When these signs occur, we often have to reach for medications,  diets, acupuncture or other treatment modalities to help. Eventually, if our pet can’t walk, the decisions we have to face are heartbreaking. Obesity can lead to respiratory illness, diabetes,,, pancreatitis and heart disease.

The best way to help avoid these problems is through prevention. Most of us really don’t know how much we feed or how much to feed. To say to us,  ”I feed him this much” and use your hands as a demo doesn’t tell us much. Feeding once a day, or twice a day, is not the culprit.   It is the total amount we feed for the day that matters. You must take into account all the biscuits, table food, chew bones, and dog food. That total amount is the most important thing to keep in mind. Exercise is also a part, but starting with the right amount to feed is key.  As a veterinarian, I almost never have to say for a young animal, “please put weight on your pet, he’s a little thin”.

Okay, so where do we start.  First of all,  the average dog food has 350 calories in a cup. The average cat food is 400 calories in a cup. Some dog foods can be a high as 500 calories. This information is not on the back of the bag. Usually the place to look is on the manufacturer’s web site or call the company.

Calories needed for the average dog are calculated by knowing their RER which refers to Resting Energy Requirements. If the pet is normal and a good weight, the weight calculation used is by taking RER and multiplying it by as much as 1.6. For weight loss,  their calories are calculated by 1.0 X RER. Here are some general number for RER in different weights.

10lbs=200

20lbs=360

30lb=497

40lb=616

50lbs=729

60lbs=835

70lb=938

80lbs=1037

Remember that not every dog is the same.  Some dogs are more energy efficient meaning they need fewer calories to support their body weight than other dogs. It is always a good idea to start by writing down what you feed in a day and then finding out how many calories that adds up to. Include  those pieces of chicken or cookies that you may be feeding. If you’re not sure if your pet is too heavy just ask us at your next appointment. We always say you want to be able to feel their spines and ribs without having to push down hard but you should never see their spine or ribs. Most dogs should also have a tapered waist. If you aren’t sure we can help. We can give you a guideline and help set up a weight loss program for you.

As for Cats, well the old adage “a mouse a day”  is accurate. The average cat requires usually 180-250 calories a day. That may be as little as 1/2 cup of dry food daily. Some cats, as with dogs, may be more energy efficient and require less. You never drastically want to cut a cat’s food without checking with your veterinarian. It is always best to check with one first. Most cats are also inactive.  They sleep an average of 20 hours a day, so it is important to try to get them moving. Try using a laser pointer. Get them to run for their treats. Whatever works best for you. The key to remember is not to just fill the bowl up and walk away and automatic feeders (ugh) are not a good idea.

It can seem overwhelming at first, but know we are here to help. We will help your pet get started on the right foot with the right plan. You may not need to change anything.  But ignoring the issue is never good. I often tell clients we know you love your pets, but showing them love through food only makes us feels less guilt.  The true love is doing what is best for them.

Well I showed you some amazing things pets eat last year here is this year’s latest contest. Wow these really are amazing:

If you thought that was good check out this one…Tums anyone:

Guess what this one is, not just for the tub..

So eating a shoe, socks, carpet is not all they will eat,

Been a while since we have been on the blog so here are some updates on what is happening.

Dr. Claudia Regan and her husband Ivan welcome baby Zee into the world. We are hoping to have her back at work soon.

Houndstooth came and went and, guess what, they are coming back October 21 and October 22.

If you haven’t noticed our windows as you drive by please take a look, carefully if you are driving. See if you can guess whose pets are showcased.

We now have Digital X-ray, which is the latest on the high tech scene. Digital X-Ray allows us to give you the best quality images when it comes to your pets.

The latest addition is our Laser. It is a Class 1 and 3 Laser that we can use to treat a wide spectrum of issues from arthritis, acute pain, lameness, wounds, and other ailments. Dr Scott Kilcullen and Dr Richard Yacowitz are now using the laser for acupuncture to help get better results. Stay tuned because a Class 4 Laser is on the way.

We are now carrying two over the counter foods from Hills - Science Diet and Nature’s Best. A Natural line of food with no additives or preservatives. This food is what the doctors at Little Silver Animal Hospital feed their pets. Science Diet Mobility formula has a very high level of Omega Fatty Acids that will help decrease joint inflammation. It has been well proven that fatty acids, in the correct ratio, play an important role in decreasing inflammation in the body. They are great for the heart, kidney, skin and joints.

Congrats to the Staff of Little Silver A.H. who helped raise money for a great charity during which our office manager, Amy Arnone, won 4 tickets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway!

We also wish Ellen ,one of our beloved receptionists, Good Luck on her upcoming nuptials.

Never does my blood boil more than when I see what people are allowed to have published in newsprint under the auspices of providing information to the general public.  When I read today’s  Asbury Park Press’  Healthy Living Section  regarding pet food, I was angered by the ignorance.  I wonder if  the author was paid for advertising this dog food.  Did she even look to see if a Veterinary Nutritionist is on the staff of this company that has won her heart?  Did the  pet food company conduct a feeding trial,OR–perhaps their paying clients constitute the feeding trial.  A feeding trial consists of a company feeding  pets a particular food for a required period of time; methodical tracking is performed to see how those pets do on the food. If you check a can/bag label, there has to be an AFCO statement.  If it does not say feeding trial,  then there was none done.

I have learned from studying the diet/nutrition aspects of pet care that many of these new pet food companies have no real scientific research behind their food.  Most of the time there are way too many probiotics or complex carbohydrates for a dog’s digestive tract.  Dogs are similar to humans but with shorter GI tracts.

The reason the meat in pet food cannot be labeled “for human consumption” is that once the product leaves a facility where the USDA can no longer inspect it, it can no longer be called fit for human consumption. If a pet company labels their meat as human grade, they are lying.  As for the term “byproduct” that refers to organ meat (ie. liver, heart, kidneys, etc). There are no beaks and feathers in commercial pet food. Remember where all the nutrition is… all that organ meat is rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients.

Another point worth arguing is the introduction of the new novel proteins these companies are pushing on people..the rabbits, venison, bison etc.  All they are doing is making it harder on you and your veterinarian to diagnose your pet’s possible allery and what it might be. If we as Veterinarians have no novel (meaning new) proteins to pursue for an elimination diet where do we invest our time and your money?  Just keep inventing new ones?

I do not like seeing people use scare tactics.  This is misinformation which, in turn,  makes people think they are poisoning their pets.  This leads to a great deal of money spent on foods that have no research or medical evidence behind them.  Companies that have been around for almost 70 years and are running successful companies must be doing something right. At least reputable companies such as Science Diet, Iams, Pedigree, and Royal Canine have a Veterinary Nutritionist who balances their diets. They are also responsible for all the cutting edge research that has been done in nutrition.  This has kept our pets with serious diseases around for many extra quality years.

Chew on that for a while…words from your vigilant (e) Vet

I found this one very amusing…. That must be a lot of vetcare.

Mariah Carey is being hounded by a veterinarian to the stars who says the singer is a doggone deadbeat.

Dr. Cindy Bressler, whose Web site boasts of her celebrity clients in Manhattan and the Hamptons, has a bone to pick with Carey for stiffing her on nearly $30,000 in “extraordinary services” performed on Cha-Cha, Dolomite and JJ, the suit says.

Carey is accused of paying only $8,231.50 to Bressler for services performed between last Oct. 31 and Dec. 2.

The “Hero” star still owes $29,559, according to court papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, for a nearly month-long stay in California to help with the birth of a puppy, Dolomite.

“Just pay the woman already,” said Michael Posner, the doggie-doc’s lawyer. “This has been going on six months.”

A spokeswoman for Carey did not return calls yesterday.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/06/23/2010-06-23_celebrity_veterinarian_cindy_bressler_says_mariah_carey_is_a_deadbeat_dog_owner_.html#ixzz0rtJNITsd

The affected Iams canned cat food is:

Product Name: Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food – all varieties of 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans

Date on Bottom of Can: 09/2011 to 06/2012

This recall is limited to only Iams canned cat food in North America. No other Iams pet food is involved. Iams Veterinary Formula cat is NOT included in this voluntary recall.

Thiamine deficient clinical signs would be limited primarily to cases where pet owners have been feeding only canned cat food. Common symptoms may include anorexia, excessive salivation, generalized weakness, ataxia, ventriflexion, tremors and seizures.

Thiamine deficiency diagnosis is most often based on history, clinical signs, and response to treatment.
Treatment: (North American Companion Animal Formulary, Eighth Edition 2008)
B1 injectable or oral, depending on severity of signs
– 100 to 250 mg SC q 12h
– 2-4 mg/kg PO q 24 hr

If you have a suspect case or need further information please call our veterinary line at 800-535-8387. Concerned pet owners who have purchased canned cat food with these codes should discard it. For further information call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8826.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you and want to assure you that P&G Pet Care is taking all the necessary steps to ensure our product quality meets your expectations.

Houndstooth will be back July 19, 20, 21st. If you missed them last time, don’t miss them this time. Just a reminder this is only for pets with mild to moderate tartar. Pets who have gingivitis need to have a general anesthesia cleaning. The only exceptions are for elderly pets or pets with a severe underlying disease that can’t go under anesthesia.  In those few cases, we try to remove the tarter and plaque to make the pet more comfortable.  When you schedule an appointment you will be asked to leave a nonrefundable $100 deposit.