A NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR
Dr. Karol Poderski recently attended training for our new Endoscopic equipment. Endoscopic techniques have been developed for many surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Veterinary endoscopy offers clients and their pets less invasive alternatives to traditional open surgery and advanced diagnostics. Martin Downs Animal Hospital is now able to offer these types of procedures to all our patients. See the "Preventative Medicine Section" for more information.
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HOSPITAL UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTSPet Portraits by WurzellOn Friday, November 19 we had a professional photographer from Wurzell Photography taking beautiful photos of our clients' pets. It was an all day event with scheduled appointments every 15 minutes. The photo session was a great success and in such demand we are having another scheduled day on Friday, December 10th at 10:00 am, so make sure you don't miss out! Get your Holiday photos of your precious pets! Call us today to make an appointment. Visit their website and check out the beautiful photos. www.wurzellphotography.com
Whiskers Winter Wonderland
It's not too late to get your tickets! Come out and help support Domino's House at Whisker's Winter Wonderland. This Sunday evening December 5th from 5pm to 8pm there will be music, a 50/50 raffle, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. For more information, go to www.dominoshouse.org
Anesthetic Free Dentals
 Anesthetic free dentals will now be available on a monthly basis at Martin Downs Animal Hospital. The next scheduled date will be December 16th. Make sure to give us a call and see if your pet is a good candidate for this procedure. Anesthetic free dentals are a gentle, safe way to get your pet's teeth cleaned!
Holiday Boarding and GroomingMake sure to schedule your pet's holiday boarding and grooming. There is still plenty of space available in our luxurious Resort and our Spa has openings, too. Stop in or give us a call and set up your pet's next appointment.
Port Salerno Seafood FestivalMark your calendars for Saturday, January 29th, 2011. We will look for you at the Port Salerno Seafood Festival. From 10am until 8pm there will be food and fun for everyone. Stop by our booth and check out the new Yap Wraps and Techno Harnesses. We also carry seat belts for the safety of your pet. You will be able to purchase them from us during the Festival. The admission is free so come out and enjoy the beautiful South Florida weather.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
 Bianca joined the Martin Downs Animal Hospital's medical team about three months ago. She is originally from Germany but moved to Florida three years ago along with her husband. Her little family consists of her husband and three rescued dogs, which are loved and spoiled every minute.
She is currently enrolled in the online program with St. Petersburg College, where she will receive an Associates in Veterinary Technology when her coursework is completed. Bianca is a great asset to our medical team.
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DAY BOARDER OF THE MONTH
Roy is our day boarder of the month. He is an almost five year old Shih Tzu-a very lovable breed. He visits our Resort & Spa weekly, spending a lot of quality time with his buddies running and playing in the exercise area and napping in the cool small suites on a comfortable bed.
Pictured to the right, he is waiting for his ride home after being freshened up in our Spa with a bath and brush out, ready to go home to his family for the night.
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GROOMING CORNER
Donnie is our groom dog of the month. He is an 8 1/2 year old Bichon who visits our Spa every other week to get freshened up. He enjoys his soothing Hydrosurge bath followed by a professional groom or just a blow out. He then gets his nails dremeled to complete his visit.
Donnie is modeling one of our unique handmade neckties available exclusively at Martin Downs Animal Hospital. He looks marvelous!
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FASCINATING FELINE FACTS
CATS AND HOLIDAY STRESS
As we begin the holiday season, the majority of cat owners do not realize that the hustle and bustle of all the festivities may be causing their cat a lot of stress and possibly some health issues. Cats are creatures of habit; therefore, any changes in their environment can be very stressful. So when you are setting up decorations, buying scented products, planning holiday parties and having guests over, keep in mind the effect that all of these things could have on your beloved kitty.
Cats usually do not handle stress very well. During this time of year, cats may suddenly develop some of these behavior issues: urine spraying, scratching, aggressive behavior, improper elimination, depression, reclusion and poor hygiene habits. You may also notice some health issues such as: lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing and/or coughing. If you are noticing any changes in your cat's routine or you have concerns, please contact us. There are plenty of ways to help ease the stress of the holidays for your cat.
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PROGRESSIVE THERAPEUTICS
PET BEHAVIORAL PRODUCTS BY CEVA
Behavioral problems are serious. CEVA Animal Health provides high-quality products to the animal health market which address both canine and feline behavioral issues with non-invasive solutions.
D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is an effective, natural way to control barking, whining and other undesirable dog behaviors. If your dog shows signs of stress such as excessive barking, inappropriate urination and defecation, whimpering and whining, chewing and/or hiding and trembling, he or she could be in need of help. What is D.A.P.? Appeasing pheromones, which are produced by the mother dog in the first few days after giving birth, play an important role to calm and reassure newborn puppies. The reassuring properties of the appeasing pheromones persist throughout life. D.A.P. relieves stress related behavior by simulating the natural dog appeasing pheromones to help calm and reassure dogs of all ages. D.A.P. comes in several forms. At home use includes a diffuser to be plugged into an outlet in the room most used by your dog. These diffusers last about 4 weeks. More than one may be necessary if your dog has the run of the house. D.A.P. collars are also available for at home and on the go which help your dog cope with new and fearful situations. Each collar also lasts up to 4 weeks. D.A.P. Pheromone Spray is handy to use for spot applications and when the diffuser is not practical. Remember to spray on objects and areas-not your dog! D.A.P. should be used in conjunction with other behavioral modifications as directed by your veterinarian.
 Feliway is an effective, natural way to control and manage unwanted feline behavior such as urine marking, scratching and stress. It is the first synthetic analog of the feline facial pheromone which reproduces the familiarization properties normally produced by a cat when it deposits its own facial pheromones in the environment. Feliway is useful in acclimating cats to new environments, aids in calming cats during travel, helps eliminate urine marking and scratching. It comes in a diffuser and also a spray. One diffuser covers approximately 750 square feet; however one diffuser should be enough for one house unless it is more than one story. If you're not sure whether you have a marking problem or not, consult your veterinarian before purchasing Feliway. There are many reasons why your cat may urinate in your house. Old age, medical problems, a full or improperly cleaned litter box, the cat doesn't like the litter you are using, the box has been moved to a location the cat objects to, moving to a new home, etc.
Martin Downs Animal Hospital is now carrying all of CEVA Animal Health's behavioral products. Come in and check out our Behavioral display and see how we can help you and your pet.
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PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURESAs previously mentioned in "A Note from The Doctor" section, Minimally Invasive Surgery techniques have been developed in many areas of veterinary endoscopy. This enables veterinarians to offer less invasive alternatives to open surgery. Specialists are continuing to expand the application of endoscopic techniques to areas other than just surgical procedures. If your pet requires surgery, ask us how endoscopy may be able to offer a less painful option than the usual procedures.
Some of the most common endoscopic procedures available are: Cystoscopy is the endoscopic exploration of the urinary bladder, used in a large number of small animal patients, including those presenting with chronic cystitis, incontinence, trauma and several other urinary tract symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is the endoscopic exploration of the stomach and intestines. This is most commonly used for obtaining biopsies and the removal of foreign bodies ingested by the patient.
Gastropexy is a preventative surgery for at risk dogs that prevents the twisting of the stomach which is fatal if not treated quickly. The stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall in order to prevent the stomach from twisting. A endoscopic gastropexy is often done at the same time as a laparoscopic spay.
Laparoscopy is the technique for viewing the abdominal organs endoscopically. Laparoscopy is commonly used as a diagnostic tool for taking biopsies of the liver, kidney, pancreas or masses.Laparoscopic Spays are a revolutionary new technique for performing both ovariectomies and ovariohysterectomies in female cats and dogs. Laparoscopic spays cause less surgical stress and up to 65% less post-operative pain than traditional open surgical spays.
Otoscopy allowsfor examination of both the external and middle ear. It is one of the most common applications of endoscopy in veterinary medicine. Otoscopy allows for safe and thorough ear cleaning under constant visualization, removal of foreign objects, polyp removal and diagnostic sampling.Rhinoscopy is the exploration of the nose and back of the throat, commonly indicated in dogs and cats with nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, chronic sneezing and many other nasal symptoms.
Vaginoscopy is the endoscopic examination of the vagina. Indications for Vaginoscopy include vaginal discharge, bleeding or masses, trauma, incontinence, foreign body removal and reproductive issues.
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CASE OF THE MONTH
ESOPHAGEAL FOREIGN BODY
Foreign bodies that lodge in the esophagus should be considered an emergency. The longer entrapped foreign bodies are present, the greater the chances of severe esophageal damage and the more difficult they may become to remove. The most commonly encountered esophageal foreign bodies are bones, rawhide chew toys, dental chews, fish hooks and hair balls. Dogs more commonly have esophageal foreign bodies than cats. This is because dogs have more indiscriminate eating habits. Cats esophageal foreign bodies tend to be hair balls that lodge after the cat vomits. Foreign bodies can occur in any age animal, but are most common in young dogs.
The esophagus is distensible and most ingested foreign objects are passed into the stomach. Foreign bodies commonly lodge where the esophagus is restricted from distending-the thoracic inlet or base of the heart. The entrapped foreign body stimulates secondary peristalsis, which can augment pressure necrosis of the esophageal wall. Erosion, ulceration and perforation can develop if the foreign body is not promptly removed.
The most common clinical signs associated with esophageal foreign bodies are regurgitation, excessive salivation, anorexia and respiratory signs due to aspiration pneumonia. Clinical signs develop quickly.
Most esophageal foreign bodies are clearly visible on survey radiographs and can be successfully removed edoscopically. If they cannot be extracted from the esophagus, they can often be carefully pushed into the stomach. In the stomach, gastric acid will dissolve most bones; or foreign bodies can be removed via abdominal surgery.
Last month I treated a 2-year old Pomeranian named Pepper with the above listed symptoms and as you can see on his x-ray below, there was a large bone lodged in his esophagus just before the stomach. I had two options: 1)try to retrieve the bone endoscopically or 2) surgical exploration of the abdomen and stomach. The second option is always more involved and the recovery period is prolonged.
Luckily, Pepper was only 15 pounds and I was able to use a rigid endoscope. With grasping forceps firmly holding onto the bone, I was able to dislodge and pull the bone out. A success! Again, great for Pepper! Within one hour, he was ready to go home. He ended up with some erosions and mild esophagitis that healed quickly with medications sent home with him.
Be Aware! Not all pets will dodge that bullet. Don't push your luck-Stay away from bones!
  
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