Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital
4706 N. 7th Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Phone: 602-277-1464
Fax: 602-241-1548
Monday-Friday
7am-10pm
Saturday & Sunday
7am-6pm
altavistavet.com |
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iVet Pet Food
We would like to introduce iVet Pet Food. This pet food delivers a high quality diet and gives your pet the vitamins they need without the huge price. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this pet food or if you would like to try a bag for FREE!
Please visit
www.ivetfoods.com
for more infomation. |
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Monthly Pet Photo Contest
We want to see how your pet is enjoying life! Upload photos of your pets decked out, checking out life, playing, or trying to avoid the camera all together. Share your caption and check out the other photos. The picture with the most votes at the end of each deadline wins a prize.
Prizes: Gift certificates for services, toys or treats for your furry friends, or other prizes. Prizes will be determined at the end of each deadline and you will be contacted by email.
Deadline: 20th of each month.
Visit:
to submit your photo! | |
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It's already March...Happy St. Patrick's Day! In this March newsletter we have interesting articles that may pertain to your pet. We also have something fun....a Photo Contest, check out the details. We hope you continue to read our emails and as always please feel free to make any suggestions or comments.
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Does your dog have arthritis?  How can I tell if they are in pain?
There are many signs that your dog may have arthritis and/or that they are in pain. These signs may be as subtle as limping and problems standing up from a laying down position, or they may be as severe as decreased appetite, less playing, and sometimes crying out. Dogs with severe arthritis may show signs of aggression due to the pain they are experiencing. It is instinctual for animals to hide their weaknesses until the pain becomes unbearable. By the time an owner may realize there is a problem with their pet, the condition has become very severe.
Arthritis is a condition where the surface of the joint begins to deteriorate and the surface of the bone becomes rough. This causes a grinding action in the joint that in turn causes inflammation. Inflammation is the source of the pain in arthritic patients. Arthritis can be triggered by an injury involving the joint or may develop as part of the geriatric process. Any joint can be affected by arthritis but the more commonly affected joints are the hips, back, neck, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Arthritis tends to affect our older pets more frequently than our younger pets and is especially prevalent in the larger breeds of dogs and obese dogs.
The good news is that there are many wonderful mediatons available that help to alleviate the discomfort caused by arthritis. While human medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are toxic to your pet, there are several medications made just for dogs that will work even better. These medications help reduce the swelling in the joints. Glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate can also help increase the amount of fluid in the joint that serves as a lubricant and helps to create a healthier joint. We can help so please contact our office for more information.
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What is Valley Fever?
 Coccidioides immitis is a fungus that lives in the soil of the southwest United States. It can cause a disease in humans and animals called coccioidomycosis, also know as San Joaquin Valley Fever or more simply stated "valley fever". When soil containing the fungus is disturbed, the fungal spores are released into the air. These spores can then develop into a primary lung infection. The signs of this disease may go un-noticed or signs may be evident. Clinical signs of primary infection include coughing, fever, lethargy, or lack of appetite. The individual infected with the fungus either clears the infection or the infection can spread to other parts of the body. The infection can spread to the brain, bone, skin, liver, kidney, eye or elsewhere. This is called the disseminated form. Clinical signs are dependent on where the infection is located. If the infection is in the brain, neurological signs including seizures may be present. If the infection is in the bone, limping or favoring a limb may be present. Skin infections may involve a non healing wound or a lump under the skin.
Diagnosis of valley fever is usually made with a blood test. The blood test looks for antibodies to the fungus. The patient's antibody level is determined in a series of dilutions, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, and so on. The highest dilution that the antibody is present is called the titer. Low titers are often considered insignificant unless clinical signs are present. We recommend treatment for all cases with a titer of 1:8 or above. Rarely, the antibody titer is negative, but clinical signs suggest the disease is still present. This is called a false negative and can be more difficult to diagnose. Sometimes radiographs (xrays) show classic valley fever lesions in the lungs or bone. A bone biopsy might be necessary to identify the organism. With brain infection, an MRI might be necessary to see what neurologists call a "classic valley fever lesion" in the brain.
Treatment of valley fever involves using an antifungal medication called fluconazole. Although there are other medications for this disease, this is the most commonly prescribed medication. If the lesion is in the skin, surgical removal of the lesion is performed. The duration of treatment time varies, but almost always is continued for at least 6 months. For neurological cases, treatment is often life-long.
If you have any concerns about this disease in you pet, please call our office and schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
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