Posted by admin on February 11, 2010 – 8:17 am
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Vacationing and/or traveling with one’s pet can be one of the most emotionally and physically stressful times for both animal guardian and their companions. There are many tips I can offer that can reduce these stresses on our beloved animal companions. If you are going to travel by car or airplane, it is often helpful to do a test travel run first with your canine or feline family member.
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Even putting them in a crate or carrier or for short car rides can give you an idea whether a pet handles motion well or becomes so emotionally stressed leading to motion sickness, excessive panting or vocalizing. While veterinarians can often offer prescription sedatives like Xanax or Acepromazine to sedate emotionally distressed animals, there are many natural alternatives that can help as well. Be Serene and Composure Liquid are two natural products I have found helpful in some pets in reducing emotional stress during travel. In addition to their emotional health, it is important to reduce physical stressors as well on our pets during travel. Remaining consistent with their diet/feeding schedule, as well as walks can help reduce unwanted digestive upsets and/or urinary tract infections.
A few emergency over the counter drugs are always helpful to have on hand, in case acute illness or trauma are encountered. Amongst these include Diphenhydramine (also generic Benadryl) in case of allergic reactions, children’s baby aspirin (not to be given to cats), and perhaps Imodium AD and Pepcid (which can be helpful in case of digestive upset). I find the stress of traveling also an important time to supplement for digestive tract health, including using probiotics and enzymes like Fast Balance and NaturVet Enzymes and Probiotics.
Behavioral problems in dogs and cats are amongst the most frustrating problems presented to a general small animal veterinary practitioner. Amongst the more common problems include:
- The kitty who is defecating and/or urinating outside of the litter box
- Aggressive pets who bite
- Separation anxiety causing a pet to be destructive, vocalize excessively and/or urinate or defecate in the home when left alone for short periods
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Because many of these behavioral problems have complex causes and many possible treatment approaches, they are often quite time intensive and often difficult to fit into a routine conventional veterinary 15 to 20 minute office visit. And while veterinarians will often use prescription drugs like Prozac or Clomipramine to treat some of these disorders, the best long term treatment results also depend upon behavior modification techniques, in addition to drug therapies. Often referrals to veterinarians who specialize in behavioral medicine yield the best results. Sometimes natural calming agents like Be Serene, Composure Liquid, or Quiet Moments can help in certain cases.
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There is an excellent well known veterinary behaviorist named Warren Eckstein, whose website www.thepetshow.com contains lots of useful behavioral information for animal guardians, as well as two wonderful books on the topic. No matter which approach is taken, treating any behavioral problem takes much time, patience, and commitment on both veterinarian and animal guardian’s part.
One of the most frustrating issues feline guardians often face is in having to handle scratching cats. Not only do feline guardians worry about damage done to their furniture, rugs and bedding, but also kitties who scratch people which can transmit certain diseases, such as Bartonella, also known as cat scratch fever. And while many clients will elect to have their cat’s claws removed, this long term common practice has come under increasing fire in recent years because of safety and cruelty concerns.
| Over the years there have been many over-the-counter training tools to try and lessen this unwanted behavior. These products include various scratching posts (which can cost up to $100.00), use of devices like Soft Paws which cover the nails, and behavior modification techniques of varying success. Most recently there has been an economic new product that has just become available on the market known as Emery Cat. This arch designed emery board comes with catnip to increase attractiveness, as well as a kitty toy. Many of my clients have been initially very pleased with this new product. I have also recommended the wonderful book by Warren Eckstein on How to Get Your Cats to Do What You Want which has some wonderful training techniques in helping train cats to use their claws appropriately and potentially avoiding the all-too-common declaw procedure. |
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One of the more common urinary problems in both young and old dogs and in some cases cats, is a pet who has suddenly lost its ability to hold its urine. It is important for a veterinarian to determine if a pet is having an urgency to urinate (which can indicate a whole different category of diseases) or whether a pet is leaking urine, behavior often noticed by finding urine spots under places of resting and sleep, or dribbling urine involuntarily while walking or playing.
| Many puppies go through a submissive urination phase, where they urinate involuntarily upon being overly greeted by the guardian or other people. However, this period of time is usually brief, and pets will often outgrow this common puppy problem. The causes of involuntary urination or incontinence in older animals includes many possibilities. One of the more common causes is loss of hormones post neutering or spaying, as the sex hormones are involved in maintaining the muscle tone around the urethra that leads from the bladder to the outside. |
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Many years ago veterinarians often used as a first line of drug low doses of hormones like estrogen, which had names such as Stilbestrol or DES. Because of occasional side effects seen with sex hormones, we now use these drugs less frequently with the availability of effective medications such as phenylpropanolamine, Proin as it is known in veterinary medicine. Although this drug was banned in human medicine because of rare cardiovascular risks, it is still one of the first line of prescription drugs used in veterinary medicine for dogs with this common problem.
Other more natural alternatives such as HomeoPet Leaks No More are much less effective in my opinion and experience when used long term. If Proin and/or low dose hormone therapy does not help, sometimes veterinarians will turn to drugs used for human bedwetting patients. In older pets, where weakening of spinal nerve function and/or spinal arthritis or disc disease can play a role in incontinence, alternative systems of medicine like chiropractic and/or acupuncture can sometimes offer relief to these animals. The growing field of veterinary physical therapy can also play a role as an adjunct to treating incontinent pets. No matter which medication or natural approach is tried, it is important that every pet with a urine leaking problem be screened by a veterinarian for urinary/prostate infection, neurological diseases, or tumors (especially in older pets), before symptomatic treatment is used long term.
| One of the more common clinical complaints presented with in small animal practice are when clients are perplexed with why their dog or cat is rubbing their anus along the carpets (often referred to as scooting), or licking excessively around that area. By far the biggest cause of that is some sort of anal gland impaction or infection. The anal glands or anal sacs are located at 4 and 8 o’clock to the sides of the anal opening (if the anal opening is viewed as a clock). |
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The function of these glands is not really known, although they normally release their contents during normal bowel movements or if any animal is frightened. In some pets, these glands can become blocked leading to impaction, infection/abscessation and occasionally rupture. That is why it is important for any animal guardian who observes their pet rubbing their anus along the ground excessively, or the persistence of an unusual rotten fish-like odor or bloody discharge from the area to see their veterinarians as soon as possible to evaluate their pet for anal sac disease. Sometimes just manual expression by the veterinarian is enough to cure the problem, but other times pets are prone to relapses to varying degrees. In those cases some veterinarians will flush the anal sacs out under anesthesia, while as a last resort some veterinarians will surgically remove the anal sacs, which can on occasion have surgical complications such as the development of fecal incontinence.
While we are often asked what to do to prevent this annoying problem from occurring, there are no guaranteed answers that will always prevent problems. Some of the suggestions I will give clients include feeding as natural a diet as possible such as Eat Great Be Well from 1800PetMeds, adding extra fiber to the food through products like Vetasyl, as well as making sure their pet maintains an optimal weight and gets plenty of exercise to help promote anal sac emptying at the appropriate times.
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One of the most common questions I’m often asked by animal guardians is, “Why does my dog (or cat) tend to eat grass?” While there are many possible theories and explanations to this frustrating behavior, many times we are left not understanding why many pets eat grass. Firstly, it should be known that dogs and cats in the wild will often nibble on greens and grasses in order to purge themselves or cleanse their systems so to speak. The chlorophyll and other ingredients in fresh grasses are often the most effective natural detoxifying ingredients around. |
If dogs and/or cats are not feeling well or have an inflamed digestive tract, animal guardians will often note an increased tendency to eat grass, especially during periods of discomfort or active intestinal symptoms. In other cases many pets will eat grass even when they are feeling well. Many used to think that this meant that there was some dietary or trace mineral deficiency that accounts for this behavior. And while that is certainly possible, it is often difficult to prove.
So what do I recommend to those clients who ask me what to do for their pets who eat grass frequently? I first make sure that such pets are on a minimally processed natural diet. Eat Great Be Well, as well as Pet Guard and Wysong are amongst my favorite choices. I also make sure all pets are on a good multivitamin supplement such as Vitachews, as well as an excellent digestive enzyme/probiotic blend. Naturevet Enzymes and Probiotics, as well as Animal Essentials probiotic/enzyme, and Mitomax by Imagilin are amongst my preferred choices for enzymes and probiotics. I will also suggest adding fresh veggies to a pet’s diet such as cooked broccoli, kale, wheat grass, and even sometimes instruct clients to “juice” for their animals. This recently increasing practice often done by health conscious people for themselves using fresh fruits and greens blenderized into a liquid, is a wonderful way of providing mega amounts of antioxidants, trace minerals and nutrients in an easily assimilable liquid form that most pets will readily accept. No matter what the cause is of this odd behavior, I always implement a dietary and supplement protocol when approaching these pets in a preventative fashion.
| One of the most frustrating problems many feline guardians encounter with their furry friends is the common issue of vomiting hairballs. This is especially common in long haired breeds such as Persians, but it can occur in any breed or domestic short hair or long hair cat. Over the decades there has been much research on this topic, however, veterinarians are still uncertain why many cats have this digestive problem. |
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It’s thought to perhaps be a problem with the stomach muscle function in breaking down the hair and/or the stomach/small intestine moving the hair through the digestive tract. In some cats this problem can be so bad as to cause a blockage necessitating surgical removal of the hair, which can act like a linear foreign body in some cats. There are many suggestions I will often give my clients to help lessen the frequency and severity of this problem. Amongst the oldest remedies include products like Lax’aire or Petromalt hairball remedy. I find these petroleum-based products at best partially effective, and they do contain a large amount of sugar and a preservative that some cats are sensitive to called sodium benzoate. I would definitely not use these products in diabetic cats because of the sugar content. Other products worth trying include Vetri-HBR, by Veri-Science, which is a wonderful lubricant, full of natural ingredients and soluble fiber. Vetasyl is also a wonderful source of soluble fiber that can easily be added to meals. I have also found olive oil to be helpful for many cats given initially at 1/2 to one teaspoon daily for one week mixed with food or given directly, and then a few times weekly as maintenance to help lessen the problem.
Finally I do find that excellent probiotics like Fast Balance GI and enzymes like NatureVet Enzymes and Probiotics can help normalize digestive tract function and motility in many cats. In some cases veterinarians may prescribe prescription drugs like Metoclopromide to help with stomach motility. It is important for both animal guardians and veterinarians both to NOT over diagnose hairballs as causes of vomiting and coughing in most cats. While hairballs can certainly play a role in vomiting, chronic vomiting or coughing should have full medical workup at the veterinarian, including CBC/chemistry and heartworm blood testing, as well as urine analysis, X-rays, and if necessary, ultrasound depending upon other clinical symptoms.
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Persistent coughing or gagging is one of the most common questions I get from both canine and feline animal guardians. With our feline companions, many clients often assume that this is due to hairballs. And while hairballs can be a cause of coughing in cats, there are certainly many other possible causes of a feline extending their neck and repeatedly coughing. Amongst these include feline allergic airway disease (otherwise known as feline asthma), feline heartworm disease, bacterial, viral or other parasitic infections, airway or throat obstructions, and various chest cavity illnesses including infections of the chest cavity (called pyothorax), leaking lymphatic and/or blood vessels of the chest cavity (called chylothorax), and in older cats cancer of the chest. |
The biggest mistake feline guardians make in chronic coughing cats is assuming that the signs are due to hairballs and they simply give more Petromalt, Laxatone or Lax’aire, while the disease process worsens over time. In order to differentiate these many causes in cats it is important to have full veterinary evaluation on any chronically coughing cat, including full CBC/chem/thyroid/heartworm blood panels, as well as testing for feline serology to viruses such as FelV/FIV, FIP, as well as testing for toxoplasmosis. Stool samples should be checked as well for parasites sometimes involved in coughing pets. Of course chest x-rays are also part of this minimum data base in a chronically coughing cat. I also want to state that most coughing cats DON’T have heart disease, other than the possibility of heartworms in cats, which we are just increasingly starting to recognize. In order for veterinarians to be on top of this problem before it occurs, it is important for guardians to understand that coughing could mean more than just hairballs. The act of coughing brings up a whole different list of possible diagnoses that need to be worked through, versus a cat that is retching and vomiting, although there can be some overlap of possibilities in both of these cases.
As for dogs with a chronic cough, certainly infectious viral and bacterial diseases are possible. However, more common causes of chronic coughing in dogs can include inflammatory or allergic airway disease, anatomic problems of airways (both of these commonly known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or known as COPD), parasitic problems, including heartworm infection, heart disease (especially in older dogs). It’s not usually worth it for clients to self treat middle age and older pets at home for chronic coughs longer than a few weeks duration, because thorough workups are needed so that your veterinarian can come up with a correct diagnosis and the best therapeutic plan.
Behavioral disorders are amongst the most frustrating problems to treat in veterinary medicine. Effective treatment often requires not only time, patience and commitment on the veterinarian and guardian parts, but often a combination of behavioral modification techniques and sometimes drug therapies. Behavioral problems can be caused by both training factors, as well as medical issues. It is important not to underplay the role medical issues play in behavioral disorders in dogs.
| Amongst the more common behavioral medical problems include various types of aggression, including dominance aggression, fear aggression, as well as various types of fear disorders, including separation anxiety and other various phobias. Canine hyperactivity is also seen, as well as obsessive/compulsive, ritualistic and neurological issues such as fly biting, tail chasing, etc. As with any potential medical issue, a full medical workup at your local veterinarian is recommended including complete blood CBC/chemistry and thyroid profiles, as well as urine analysis and stool tests for parasites. |
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This is one growing specialty area of veterinary medicine that a referral to a veterinarian specializing in behavioral problems may be indicated early on, so that the proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be instituted. On the behavioral management component of these problems, there are many various techniques and behavior modification exercises that will vary depending upon the diagnosis by the veterinarian.
The same can be said with the medical part of managing pets with these disorders, where the expansion of human drugs into the veterinary field including drugs like the SSRI drugs such as Prozac or Zoloft, as well as tricyclic antidepressants like Amitryptylline or Clomiprimine have been used. I have found that depending upon the condition, training tools such as the Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness and Leash can help with hyper or aggressive dogs in certain cases. Supplements such as Be Serene, HomeoPet Anxiety drops, Composure Liquid, or Quiet Moments can occasionally help on a case by case basis, and are often worth trying as an adjunct to therapy, but not as primary modalities of treatment.
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While there is a growing epidemic of human asthma cases in recent decades in younger people, as well as adult-onset asthma, we are also seeing increasing numbers of asthma in cats, also known as feline bronchial disease (feline asthma). Symptoms include cats experiencing difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing, which is often misdiagnosed by both feline guardians and even veterinarians as often hairballs. |
Some of the expected triggering agents include seasonal allergens, dust and irritants in the environment, including secondhand smoke and certain dusty litters, as well as even potentially injected or ingested allergens such as over vaccination and even food allergies. Diagnosis is usually made by a combination of x-rays, blood work, and stool checks to rule out other causes of coughing/wheezing, including intestinal parasites, feline heartworm disease, and other infectious and cardiopulmonary diseases of the chest cavity and heart. While we often try and look for underlying causes and/or minimize the above potential triggers, most of the time we don’t find out the cause of feline asthma, except to say that it goes under the category of another autoimmune disease, which is where the cats own immune system is over-reacting to its own body, in this case resulting in constriction and inflammation of the airways.
As with other autoimmune diseases, treatments include often immune suppressive medication, including most commonly prescription injectable steroids in cats, the most common one being used by veterinarians known as Depo-Medrol. And while occasional injections of this long acting steroid often offers dramatic relief, repetitive use of this drug long term can lead to other complications in cats, including diabetes, as well as secondary bacterial infections. Other prescription medications such as the bronchodilator Theophylline, which can help dilate the airways in some cats, as well as the prescription drug Terbutaline offer variable results as alternatives or as add on drugs. Most recently in severely affected cats, veterinary specialists are now using at home inhalers, in a similar way as with people.
Feline guardians can learn more about this safer alternative to repetitive injectable cortisone at www.aerocat.com. Other preventative measures feline guardians can take include minimizing emotional, physical and toxic stress on asthmatic cats. Using air purifiers in the home with HEPA filters such as those approved for human asthmatics can sometimes help. Natural calming agents such as rescue remedy or Be Serene, Quiet Moments, or Composure Liquid can help ease emotional anxiety in some cats. Feeding a natural diet with the help of a holistic veterinarian, as well as avoiding over vaccination of especially indoor cats is also important in minimizing the frequency of asthmatic attacks. Supplements such as Proanthozone and Vetri-DMG liquid from can help modulate the immune response, and I have sometimes found these neutraceuticals helpful in minimizing the amount of cortisone needed in asthmatic cats.
