Pets can lose weight for a variety of health reasons. Dietary inadequacy and/or dietary allergies may be involved in some cases. Intestinal parasites are also possible. Any sort of chronic metabolic disease, including inflammation of the liver, kidney or pancreas may also cause weight loss. Hormonal conditions including Addison’s disease and diabetes also may result in weight loss. Infectious or inflammatory disease, including inflammatory bowel disease, as well as cancer anywhere in the body are other possible conditions.
Any pet with chronic weight loss should have a full medical evaluation and workup, including a CBC/chemistry blood profile, urine analysis, as well as several stool checks for parasites. X-rays and/or ultrasound also may be needed. After an extensive workup the cause of chronic weight loss can often be detected. Prognosis will vary depending upon the specific cause of the weight loss, as well as early detection through these appropriate diagnostic tests.
Like people, pets may develop defects in the abdominal muscles which may lead to the presence of out-pouchings known as hernias. One of the most common hernias seen in small animal veterinary practice is a weakness in the area known as the umbilicus located on the midline of the abdomen, leading to what is known as an umbilical hernia.
This will appear to the animal guardian and veterinarian as a puffy swelling over this area, which most commonly can be reduced up into the abdomen with gentle manual pressure. This hernia is quite common in young puppies, and usually is not a risk to the health of the animal. In very rare instances, the hernias may become strangulated, but this is extremely uncommon. In most cases, it is best to have the umbilical hernia repaired surgically at the time of neuter or spay over 6 months of age. The hernia is cured with this surgical correction.
Blood in the stool can have many causes in pets. Usually the presence of blood indicates some degree of inflammation of the colon, or colitis. Amongst the many possible causes include parasitic or viral infection, dietary indiscretion, as well as dietary allergies. Metabolic causes include inflammation of the liver, pancreas or a more chronic disease known as inflammatory bowel disease. Rectal polyps and/or tumors may occur in older pets.
Any pet with blood in the stool for more than a few days should have a veterinary exam and at least a stool check for parasites. Preventative worming and/or dietary trials may be needed in some cases. Intestinal antibiotics including Metronidazole are often prescribed. Depending upon the length of time of symptoms, a full medical workup, including CBC/chemistry blood work and urine analysis may be indicated. With patience and appropriate workup, most pets with blood in the stool can be successfully and easily treated.
In recent years there has been tremendous expansion and interest of veterinary medicine into complementary medicine to help augment traditional medical and surgical therapies. Increasing numbers of veterinarians are being trained in these modalities to offer their clients. One of the most rapidly growing areas of veterinary medicine is the use of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a system of medicine that is over 5,000 years old, and only in recent decades has been used with increasing frequency on both humans and animals in this country. The most common uses of acupuncture in small animals today has been to help with pain management associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, as well as with conditions such as degenerative joint disease, ligament problems of the knees, and spinal disc problems.
Acupuncture has been used to help as part of a comprehensive part of cancer therapy as well. Acupuncture also may be used to help with internal medical conditions including constipation, diarrhea, and fertility problems in pets. When looking for a veterinarian trained in acupuncture, it is important to find one who has taken a year long certification course in acupuncture, such as the course offered by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (known as IVAS).
Have you considered acupuncture for your pets?
Like people, dogs have two sets of teeth: what are known as deciduous or baby teeth which puppies are both with, and the permanent adult teeth. By 6 months of age, it is typical that all of the baby teeth have fallen out, and have been replaced by the permanent or adult teeth.
In certain breeds such as toy breeds like Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles, one or more of the deciduous teeth may be retained into adulthood, leading the presence of a double row of teeth, most commonly of the canine teeth, but also possibly of the thinner and sharper incisor teeth. In some cases, the roots of the permanent teeth may be affected and pushed out by the retained baby teeth. The best thing to do if the retained baby teeth do not fall out is to have them removed at the time of neuter or spay over 6 months of age. In that way, improper tooth and root alignment is avoided.
Toxoplasmosis is a single-celled parasite and may be found in nearly all warm blooded animals, including pets and humans. Toxoplasmosis has a complex life cycle with two types of hosts, including an intermediate host and a definitive host. Domestic and wild cats are the only definitive hosts for toxoplasmosis. This means that cats are the only species that produce eggs or oocysts when toxoplasmosis infects cats. This typically occurs when cats are exposed to the organism; however, cats shed the organism only a few days out of its whole life cycle. Therefore, the chance of human exposure from cats is very small.
Most cats show no symptoms of toxoplasmosis. In situations of stress or immune suppression, as well as infection with FelV/FIV viruses, symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. In rare situations, toxoplasmosis may affect and cause symptoms in other areas of the cat’s body, including the lungs, eyes and central nervous system.
Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made by a combination of history, clinical signs and blood antibody tests. Treatment involves typically a 3-4 week course of antibiotics, most commonly Clindamycin or sulfonamides. Most cases of human toxoplasmosis do not come from cats, but from contact with oocyst contaminated soil, and from eating undercooked meat. Pregnant women and immune-deficient women seem most at risk. Prevention involves preventing pregnant women from handling litter boxes, as well as not eating undercooked meat, unwashed fruit or vegetables, or unpasteurized milk. Preventing cats from hunting or roaming also will help in minimizing disease.
Brachycephalic syndrome is a complex of various airway abnormalities common in certain breeds, including Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to name a few. This syndrome literally means “short nosed and short muzzle”, which is commonly seen in these breeds.
The throat and breathing passages are undersized or flattened in many cases. The excess soft tissues of the head increase resistance to the flow of air through the upper airways, nostrils, sinuses, pharynx and larynx. Two of the most common clinical diseases seen are elongated soft palates, and stenotic or narrowed nares. Because of these unique anatomic abnormalities, symptoms include noisy breathing, snuffling, snorting, excessive snoring, gagging and retching. In severe cases labored and constant open mouth breathing may be seen.
Heat and exertional intolerance also frequently accompany the clinical signs. Treatment includes avoiding overheating and excessive excitement and exercise. It is especially important in summer months to maintain affected pets in as cool an environment as possible. In severe cases, surgery is needed when abnormalities chronically interfere with breathing. In these cases, a consultation with a board certified surgeon is recommended.
Ear hematomas are common presentations in small animal veterinary medicine. Hematomas are collections of blood within the cartilage flap of the ear canals, which often appears as a balloon-like swelling of the ear flaps. Most often this is due to trauma from scratching the ears or shaking the head in dogs or cats suffering from underlying inhalant/contact allergies and/or food allergies
While many animal guardians and some veterinarians will sometimes attempt to drain the swelling with a needle, recurrence of the hematoma will often recur. Therefore, the best treatment for pets with ear hematomas is surgical drainage of the ears under anesthesia. When done appropriately, the prognosis for healing is excellent. In those cases left to go down on their own, healing will still occur, but often with a dramatic amount of scar tissue in the ears. It is important to address the underlying causes of the ear hematomas mentioned above, or the likelihood of recurrence is greatly increased.
