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Ruffwear's Bark'n Boots are a great choice for paw protection in the snow! For those dogs who won't tolerate booties, Musher's Secret is a great alternative. Check it out at
http://musherssecret.net/ After the first few days, the damage, signs and treatment of ethylene glycol/antifreeze poisoning are much the same as those for kidney failure.
IS YOUR DOG AT RISK? Dogs housed outdoors are extremely susceptible to frostbite. They absolutely require warm, dry housing. Indoor dogs - especially small and/or short-haired dogs - are also at risk. Certain medications and medical conditions can increase susceptibility to frostbite. Protect your pet from frostbite with warm pet clothing and boots. Also, provide shelter from the wind. Did you know? Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs today. The disease can be caused by a variety of factors. In dogs, Streptococcus and Actinomyces bacteria are usually the predisposing factor. Bacteria from inflamed oral areas can enter the bloodstream and affect major body organs. The liver, kidneys, heart and lungs are most commonly affected. |
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Note from the editor... I hope everyone has had a nice beginning to 2012! How many of you made New Year's Resolutions? Although BSNP have seen a temporary decrease in the number of cats coming to our clinic, we are expecting an extremely busy spring. With springtime, comes kittens! This winter has been exceptionally warm, and we are assuming that intact cats will be reproducing earlier than in normal years. "Kitten Season" is right around the corner!! It is a great time if you are looking to adopt a kitten or are interested in helping to foster kittens. Call me at 541-617-1010 for more information!
For now, Central Oregon's temperatures are in the chilly numbers. People need to take precautions while enjoying the outdoors with their dogs. Even a simple stroll on a neighborhood sidewalk can have tragic consequences. See Winter Dog-Walking Tips in this newsletter for more information. BSNP is not able to see pets for regular annual exams and/or vaccines at the clinic. As a "spay and neuter" clinic, we are performing surgeries all day, everyday. For those needing booster vaccines or a microchip, we have our Vaccine Clinics approximately four times annually. Read on to see more details about the upcoming Vaccine Clinic...
February is National Pet Dental Health month. Do you know the condition of your furry friend's teeth? Pets suffer the same maladies with their teeth as do humans. Almost all veterinary hospitals show their support of National Pet Dental Health month by offering special discounts or coupons towards a dental cleaning procedure. Please see Your Pet's Dental Health in this edition. I would like to say a special THANK YOU to our supporters and donors. BSNP received some generous donations over the holiday season and we are so appreciative! One particular donation is going specifically toward spaying and neutering cats/kittens (pets, strays and ferals). The money from this donation is helping those who cannot afford the regular cost of surgery for their cat. It has been well received and is very helpful! Thank you, Sandy, for your generosity.
We continue to offer $20 spays and neuters for dogs living in the La Pine area, thanks to a grant received from Petsmart Charities last summer. Spread the word to those you know in the vicinity!
In closing, I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year. I wish you and your companion animals health and happiness throughout 2012!
Cheers,
Jeannette Bonomo
The Bend Spay and Neuter Project
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 Winter Dog-Walking Tips
If your dog or cat spends any amount of time outdoors, winter can be a particularly dangerous time. While the freshly fallen snow can make the world appear as a winter wonderland, there are a lot of hidden hazards to be aware of. Ice covered sidewalks, chemicals scattered across driveways and walkways, these conditions can be hazardous to animals and humans alike. Keep yourself and your pet safe this winter season by being aware and taking precautions.
Chemicals on the Ground
It is common practice to apply chemicals to sidewalks and driveways so that the ice can be made to melt, or just to make it so that the feet can grip the ground easier. The problem with these chemicals is that they get onto animals' unprotected feet, where they can irritate the skin or get into small abrasions in the foot pads. The animal may also lick the chemicals off of their feet and ingest them, resulting in stomach and intestinal problems. There are products that are relatively safe for animals, but not everyone uses a pet-friendly product for their sidewalks and driveways.
One solution is to outfit your dog with a set of booties, so that the foot pads are protected. Booties are also good for keeping hard snow and ice out of the spaces between the toes, something that can be very painful for an animal.
If your pet will not tolerate wearing booties, you will need to be vigilant about cleaning your pet's feet and underside as soon as you return home from a walk. A simple rag that has been dipped in warm water will do the job.
It is also a good idea to make a habit of checking your dog or cat's feet on a regular basis after they come in from outside to be sure that the footpads and toes are clean and free of abrasions.
Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) Poisoning
Another common winter practice is the changing of antifreeze/coolant in the car engine. There will always be unintentional spills to watch out for, and not everyone is conscientious about cleaning up the spills in the driveway or on the garage floor. While a lot of companies have changed the formula of their antifreeze products so that they do not have a sweet taste, there are still plenty of antifreeze products on the market that do have that tempting sweet smell and taste to them. Dogs and cats, of course, do not know any better, and they lap up spilled antifreeze solutions when they find them on the ground.
The main ingredient of most antifreeze solutions is ethylene glycol, an extremely toxic chemical that leads to a lot of accidental illnesses and deaths in pets every year. If there is no one around to witness the pet ingesting antifreeze and the symptoms are not treated immediately, the animal may suffer severe nervous system and kidney damage within a short period after ingestion. Even the newer pet-safe products have a degree of toxicity, and the only way to avoid accidental poisoning is keep the products out of reach of pets, and off of the ground.
All antifreeze products need to be carefully secured in an area that is out of reach for pets - and children, for that matter. All spills should be cleaned immediately using a water hose or similar procedure. In addition, if you are out walking and see a puddle in the street or on a driveway, do not let your pet walk through it or drink from it.
If you suspect that your pet has ingested even a small amount of antifreeze, the best thing you can do is call your veterinarian or local emergency animal clinic immediately. Ethylene glycol is a fast acting chemical, and minutes can make a difference.
Frostbite
Your pet may not be complaining about the cold, and is probably even having a blast playing in the snow, but just like us, animals do not always notice that their skin has started to feel funny. As the body's temperature decreases in response to the outdoor temperature, blood is diverted to the core systems, leaving the outer organ, the skin, at risk of freezing. Once the skin has been frozen by the ice and snow, there is tissue damage, basically causing a condition akin to burning. At highest risk for frostbite are the footpads, nose, ear tips and tail.
Upon returning home after being outdoors for an extended time, or when the temperatures are especially low, check your pet's risk points (along with the rest of the body). Early symptoms of frostbite include pale, hard skin that remains very cold even after being inside. As the skin warms, it may swell and change to a red color.
Your pet may try to relieve the irritation by licking and chewing on the skin, in which case you will need to have the skin treated and covered immediately before permanent damage is done.
Never apply direct heat to the skin, water or otherwise. Only tepid to warm water should be used on the skin, and non-electric blankets to cover the animal. You may need to consult with a veterinarian to make sure that the condition is not severe.
In some cases of severe frostbite, the tissue needs to be removed, or the limb removed, before the dead tissue allows infection to set in.
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Low Cost Vaccine and Microchip Clinic
The eastside Bend Pet Express will be hosting our next Vaccine and Microchip Clinic. It will be on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10am to 1pm. No appointment necessary, it will be on a walk-in basis. Please view Bend Pet Express' website for their address and directions at We look forward to seeing you there!
Prices:
Microchips - $25 Rabies - $10 DHPP - $15 Bordetella - $15 FVRCP - $15 Dog license - $12
*Please note that we will not have giardia or feline bordetella vaccines.
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Yo ur Pet's Dental Health
Would you let years go by between visits to your dentist? Probably not! Your pet's dental health is just as important to his or her overall health as your dental health is to your general health. Chew toys can satisfy your dog's natural desire to gnaw, while contributing to strong teeth. Gnawing on a chew toy can also help massage the gums and keep teeth clean by scraping away soft tartar. Make sure to monitor your pet while chewing on toys (to prevent ingestion of non-digestible materials). All toys are ingestible, but they are not all digestible!
Small breed and brachycephalic dogs can develop severe problems with periodontal disease due to crowding, and it can lead to extreme discomfort and even problems like a broken jaw from the progressive loss of bone. Cats can develop marked inflammation called stomatitis, which can be painful enough to make them stop eating.
Why Dental Care?
Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, a recent AAHA study showed that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians. What's more, the American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. Dental disease doesn't affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems such as heart, lung and/or kidney diseases. This makes it all the more important that you provide your pets with proper dental care from the start. Prevention is key! Your pet's dental health isn't just in the hands of your veterinarian, though. Pet owner education regarding veterinary treatment options and the importance of home care are to be emphasized.
Periodontal Disease
Halitosis (bad breath) isn't something to be ignored - it could be indicative of an oral problem, and the sooner you have it treated by your veterinarian (and learn to care for it yourself), the sooner you and your pet can smile. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive stages. It starts out as a bacterial film called plaque. The bacteria attach to the teeth. When the bacteria die, they can be calcified by calcium in saliva. This forms a hard, rough substance called tartar or calculus which, in turn, allows more plaque to accumulate. Initially, plaque is soft and brushing or chewing bones and toys can dislodge it. If left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red and swollen and to bleed easily. As plaque and calculus develop below the gum line, professional cleaning will be needed to help manage it. If the plaque and tartar buildup continues unchecked, infection can form around the root of the tooth. In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket (which holds the tooth in place) erodes and the tooth becomes loose. This is a very painful process for your four-legged friend, but it does not happen overnight. These problems can be averted before they even start.
Dental Care at the Veterinary Practice
There are two critical components of your pet's veterinary dental care: oral examinations and dental cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and kitten life stage. Veterinarians evaluate puppies and kittens for problems related to the deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings and oral development. As your pet ages, your veterinarian will look for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors. Veterinarians can perform a basic oral examination on patients that are awake. Dental cleanings are routinely performed under general anesthesia, for all dogs and cats. Check with your regular veterinarian to see what he/she recommends to maintain your pet's oral health. If a full dental cleaning is what your pet needs, make sure to find out about the following:
Pre-anesthetic exam - Whenever anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken to help ensure the safety of your pet. Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet to make sure she's healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Depending on your pet's age and general physical condition, your veterinarian may also run blood, urine, electrocardiograph, and x-ray tests to check for any dangerous heart, kidney, or other conditions. There is some risk associated with any medical procedure, however modern anesthesia is usually very safe, even for older pets.
Anesthesia monitoring - During anesthesia, the monitoring and recording of your pet's vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and other important factors) is important. This helps ensure the safety of your pet while undergoing anesthesia. Insist that your pet's vital signs are monitored throughout the procedure.
Dental radiographs - Radiographs (x-rays) of the teeth are needed periodically in order to completely evaluate your pet's oral health. X-rays aid the veterinarian greatly in detecting abnormalities that cannot be detected under examination alone. In some cases, x-rays can confirm the need for extraction of teeth that are loose or badly infected.
Scaling & Polishing - Veterinarians are advised to use similar instruments as human dentists to remove plaque and calculus from your pet's teeth. To smooth out any scratches in the tooth enamel, polishing with a special paste is also recommended. A complete dental should always include scaling and polishing.
Fluoride/sealants - The application of an anti-plaque substance, such as a fluoride treatment and/or a barrier sealant is also advised. This can help strengthen and desensitize teeth as well as decrease future plaque.
Home Dental Care
Your pet's dental care doesn't rest with your veterinarian alone. As a pet owner, you play a pivotal role in helping ensure your pet's dental health through regular teeth brushing. Remember... pets can live longer, healthier lives if oral health care is managed and maintained throughout their lives. Talk to your veterinarian about developing a dental care plan for your furry friend.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month!
Most veterinarians offer discounts on dentals performed during the month of February, in support of National Pet Dental Health Month. Call your vet's office to find out what they will be offering. My own dog's vet is offering complete dentals, including pre-anesthetic bloodwork, for under $200! I will be scheduling my dog...will you?
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 BSNP 2nd Annual Dog Coat Drive
As the winter temperatures have dropped, we aim to help the homeless keep their pets warm. Do you have a dog coat that your dog no longer uses? We are collecting donations of gently used dog coats, sweaters, slickers, or booties. In partnership with other local community outreach organizations, we will distribute these donated items to the homeless and their pets. Pet food and bedding will also be accepted.
Items can be dropped off at our clinic, Bend Pet Express (east and west stores), Bend Veterinary Clinic, Petsmart and High Desert Middle School. We will continue to collect coats through the end of February.
Thank you to all who have already donated to this cause! We have collected 62 coats, 3 rain jackets, 6 harnesses/leashes, 2 doggie backpacks and 2 bags of food!!
*Special thanks goes to BSNP volunteer Debbie Grafton for making the fleece dog coats that she has donated!! You are quite the seamstress!! |
"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
~ Ben Williams |
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