Archive for the ‘Recent Posts’ Category

When the November 27, 2011 New York Times Magazine came out, I was elated.  The cover article, “Can the Bulldog be Saved?” addresses the many health issues faced by the breed today. Finally people can read what I have been telling them for years now:  that the bulldog, while adorable in its nature, is in fact an enigma.  It is a breed that if not for mankind could not exist in its form today.  On the cover of the magazine is the long laundry list of problems related to their anatomy and genetic line, including  cherry eye, dry nose, corneal ulcers, elongated soft palate, dry eye, skin fold infections, hip dysplasia, inverted screw tail, elbow dysplasia, congenital heart disease, skin allergies, birthing difficulties, and inter-digital cysts.  When I see a bulldog for an initial exam, I always suggest that the owner should invest in an insurance  policy that covers congenital and inherited defects. I have seen many bulldog owners regret not having insurance on this breed.

The fact is that after a bulldog won Westminster, the bulldog has climbed on the top 10 list of most popular dogs. However, this is not a breed for everyone. They are a high maintenance breed. They constantly need to have their skin folds and ears cleaned. They need to be kept on the thinner side because of their bad hips and elbows. They should not go out in extreme heat because their airways are prone to overheating, which can create inflammation, cutting off the airway. They are also prone to respiratory distress and aspiration pneumonia. As a veterinarian, I advise looking for bulldogs with fewer folds, longer noses, and tails with looser spirals. This breed has many health issues and I have always found it ironic that owners get upset with the breeders and feel the pet was unfit for sale.  This is a breed where ”buyer beware” is a true statement. Demand dictates supply.  As long as people seek out these traits, breeders will continue to produce the bulldogs that have them. As a veterinarian, this knowledge is a double-edged sword. My goal is to educate and help people maintain a healthy bond with their pet. While I too find the bulldog to be adorable, I know their health pitfalls. My thanks to the New York Times Magazine for bringing the issue of the bulldog to our attention.

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.

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

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.

Houndstooth was back last month for three days and it was quite the success. They will be coming back again in July. We don’t have the exact dates yet but we are starting to take names. Just remember it is helpful for those pets with mild to moderate tarter but even they aren’t miracle workers. If your pet has periodontal disease, your pet will probably need dental X-Rays and a full mouth cleaning under general anesthesia. Please call the office to make an appointment so we can make a determination about your pets dental health. Once your pet’s teeth are cleaned we will be more than happy to show you how to continue to keep your pets teeth clean and healthy.