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In our pets heart disease is just as serious as it is for us humans. It can occur in certain breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Dobermans, Boxers, and King Charles Cavalier Spaniels (to name just a few) where these conditions can be genetic. The most common type heart disease is mitral valve regurgitation, which occurs more often in aging, smaller, and mixed breed dogs. There can be a wide variety of presentations of heart disease from the asymptomatic pet. These presentations can include the disease being initially detected through hearing of a heart murmur on physical exam, to pets that present with sudden congestive heart failure. |
Between these two extremes are a variety of symptoms one should be aware of, ranging from exercise intolerance to a chronic progressive hacking cough. Symptoms of canine heart disease can mimic signs of chronic airway disease, especially in toy breeds, and some dogs can even have both chronic airway disease and heart disease at the same time. The only way to properly diagnose heart disease and further determine if specific treatment is needed is through a proper physical exam, chest X-rays, EKG and often an echocardiogram.
While long standing drugs such as Furosemide (lasix), Digoxin, and Enalapril have often improved quality of life, the recent availability of the drug Vetmedin (Pimobendan) has truly extended both quality and quantity of life in many dogs. And while heart disease can and will affect many dogs, dietary and nutritional therapy can help play a role in prevention and treatment. Some tips to help:
- Stay away from high salt, fatty processed commercial diets, and stress either minimally processed natural commercial diets such as Halo, Nature’s Variety, or fresh homemade quality diets.
- Essential fatty acid supplementation is critical in both healthy and less-than-healthy dogs as a preventative supplement, but are even more essential in dogs with diagnosed heart disease.
- Other nutrients such as Vetri-DMG, coenzyme Q-10 (Cell Advance), hawthorn berry, and minerals like magnesium can all help in managing heart disease.
| “Do pets get colds?” Is often asked by many pet owners wanting to know if their pets can contract colds and/or whether they can transmit those colds to us. Pets do indeed get “colds.” However, in most cases of respiratory infections, pets are not contagious to people. Signs generally include eye and/or nasal discharge, sneezing, noisy breathing, coughing, and increased respiratory rate. |
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Causes of these symptoms may include allergens, bacterial/viral infection, and nasal foreign bodies. Most of the time pets will remain happy and playful. However, if infection develops in the lungs, increased moist coughing, lethargy, and loss of appetite may occur. For simple upper respiratory inflammations where a pet is still energetic and eating normally, pet owners can try several at home remedies:
- Vetri-DMG liquid is a wonderful immune booster that can help enhance antibody production against common viruses and bacteria.
- Echinacea and goldenseal from health food stores can also boost immune system and help the pet fight off bacterial and viral causes of infection.
- Vitamin C in form of Ester C can be given at 500 to 2000 mg daily depending upon the size of the animal.
- Elderberry is another wonderful immune boosting herb available from health food stores.
- Antihistamines such as Chlorpheniramine or Benadryl can be used as well in case allergies are involved.
If symptoms worsen or persist, a veterinary exam and workup is always recommended.
| Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by tick bite, most commonly the deer tick. Particularly during the warm months many pets are bitten by ticks carrying this disease. The disease is most commonly seen in the northeast and mid sections of the country, but has been documented in many other states as well.
Lyme disease is most commonly seen in dogs, as cats seem to be more resistant to the organism. Most pets that are naturally exposed to Lyme disease never develop any symptoms or get sick. Therefore if a pet “tests positive” for Lyme disease, it does not necessarily mean that a pet is sick or infected, or needs treatment. |
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Many pets will get over the disease on their own, but can remain positive on a blood test for months or years. Many veterinarians have a simple blood test in the office that can tell an animal guardian within minutes if a pet has been exposed to Lyme disease. Other laboratory tests such as a western blot or C6 blood test can be done but are rarely needed in clinical practice in my experience.
However, only if a pet is symptomatic should antibiotic therapy be instituted. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs can include:
- Lethargy
- Swollen glands
- Fever
- Limping (which can be a shifting lameness in different legs)
- And occasionally kidney and heart/nervous system complications.
Certainly families of Labrador and Golden Retrievers appear to be more genetically predisposed to the kidney form of Lyme disease than other breeds. Treatment usually consists of 3 to 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy, most commonly Doxycycline, which also can treat other hidden tick-borne diseases. There are vaccinations available for Lyme disease, however, in my opinion and experience the vaccinations may not be effective and I am concerned about long term autoimmune problems. The best prevention against Lyme disease is using year-round flea and tick control, such as topical Frontline Plus or Advantix II.
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Despite being a very small organ, inflammation of the pancreas can often cause big problems in affected dogs and cats. The pancreas, which lives in the abdominal cavity of dogs and cats, has a very important role in producing hormones such as insulin, as well as enzymes necessary for proper digestion of nutrients whenthe pet eats. It is when these enzymes become active inside the pancreas itself that inflammation and clinical disease often can occur. |
If chronic inflammation occurs (known as pancreatitis) diabetes mellitus may develop as well as a disease called pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis can range from:
- Mild digestive upset
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Systemic bacterial infections
- Circulatory shock
While in most cases we don’t often known what causes pancreatitis in dogs and cats, risk factors include obesity, as well as those pets with a history of getting extra fatty treats from the table, or who have gotten into the trash.
Sometimes hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism, as well as certain drugs and medications can also cause pancreatitis. Diagnosis can be difficult and is only possible with full veterinary exam and workup to include blood work, urine analysis, and sometimes X-rays and/or ultrasound. The gold standard diagnosis now is a blood test called a pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, known as a PLI test.
This test is now available directly in the veterinary office. Treatment consists of fasting pets for up to a few days, administering IV fluids and injectable antibiotics, as well as other medications to control pain and/or nausea and vomiting. After a few days of hospitalization, bland diets can be introduced in increasing increments.
Those pets with some of the above risk factors may be placed on permanent low fat bland diets to prevent recurrence. Pet owners can help prevent this disorder by limiting excessive treats and/or table scraps from the table, as well as keeping pets at optimal weights by not overfeeding and giving their pets plenty of exercise.
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This was a recent question asked by the guardian of an 11 year old Bichon who has a rapid heart beat and shakes when it’s cold or he is scared. While it sounds like this dog Samson likely is just responding to stress with a rapid heart rate under these circumstances, certainly other dogs do develop heart disease, often of the heart valves or heart muscles. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chronic coughing as well as fluid in the chest or abdomen. In certain types of heart disease dogs may experience sudden death which can be from clots that form, an irregular rhythm of the heart, and/or what we would call a heart attack.
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Usual tests needed to diagnose pets with heart disease include a thorough physical exam, chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram to detect abnormal rhythms of the heart, and an echocardiogram to look at blood flow in the heart, as well as heart chamber size and the ability of the heart muscle to contract. Once a specific diagnosis of heart disease is made, proper medication can be prescribed.
Amongst the most common medications used include Furosemide to help reduce fluid retention in the lungs. ACE inhibiters, such as Enalapril or Benazepril can help dilate the blood vessels in front of and behind the heart in aiding in contraction, as well as lower blood pressure.
Newer drugs such as Vetmedin also can help with blood vessel dilation, as well as help with heart muscle contraction. If needed and based on electrocardiogram, antiarrhythmic drugs are sometimes needed and can be prescribed on a case by case basis by your veterinarian.
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In many cases a client will come in and ask, “How would I know if my cat has a urinary tract infection?”
The most common symptoms of cats with urinary tract inflammation and/or infection include:
- Straining to urinate often small amounts
- Frequent trips to the litter box
- Blood in the urination
- Vocalization at the litter box when urinating
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Many times cats can develop mucous plugs or crystals in their urinary tract which can especially be problematic for male cats that are more prone to urinary tract obstruction than female cats. Despite decades of research, there is no single cause of urinary tract inflammation in cats, and in most cases bacterial infections are not involved as the primary causes.
Factors that can potentially increase a cat’s risk of developing a UTI include cats that are indoor-only, on all dry food diets which are left out for them to nibble on throughout the day, obesity and stress in the home. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms it is important to have a veterinary exam as soon as possible.
In many cases medications to relax the urinary tract and ease discomfort can be helpful. Supplements like Cosequin for Cats can often provide soothing nutrients for the lining of inflamed bladders. In some cases that recur frequently, veterinarians will often prescribe a prescription diet.
In other cases, feeding a mostly meat-based low carbohydrate wet food diet or proper homemade diet can help in minimizing episodes. Minimizing stress in the home and feeding such good quality diets like Nature’s Variety wet food or Halo canned cat food can help. In spite of this, many cats will still have frequent recurrence and need chronic management by their veterinarians.
| One of the more common hormonal diseases of middle age and older dogs is overactive adrenal glands producing too much cortisol and other hormones known as Cushing’s disease. This is usually due to either a microtumor of the pituitary gland or a tumor of one of the adrenal glands. |
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Symptoms of Cushing’s disease include:
- Excessive thirst and/or appetite
- Frequent urination
- Distended abdomen
- Hair loss
- Thin skin
- Secondary skin or ear infections
With Cushing’s disease some pets are at risk for secondary diabetes as well as secondary urinary infections, high blood pressure, and occasional secondary cardiac disease. Once it is diagnosed, treatment usually involves medication to control the symptoms, usually either Lysodren or trilostane (Vetoryl).
Once the diagnosis is made, it is important for pet owners to give all prescribed medication, as this condition is not curable. In addition, it’s important to monitor for side effects of the drugs, which may include loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, or weakness/collapse if medication dosage is too high. Regular monitoring of your pet’s hormonal levels (by special kind of testing known as an ACTH stim test) is important – at least every 3-6 months in order to properly control this disease and detect potential problems early from the drug therapies.
| A disease that can be transmitted from pets to people is called a zoonotic disease, and I’m often asked about how common these instances are. For the most part it is not a very common occurrence but can occur through bites, scratches, or through the fecal/oral route and rarely through the skin. But that shouldn’t be is no need for animal guardians to be alarmed. |
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Certainly pets should be kept on monthly heartworm medication such as Interceptor or Heartgard Plus, as well as monthly flea and tick control with products like Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix II, which help control potential human exposure to intestinal worms, as well as external parasites such as fleas and ticks. As for the concern if one should not sleep with or allow their pets to lick or kiss them, in my experience and opinion, the rate of disease transmission and risk is so small that I would not worry about this issue from a practical perspective.
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According to an interesting article in the March 2011 Veterinary Practice News, healthy cats may act sick when there is a change in their routine according to Ohio State University. Amongst the behaviors seen included inappropriate urination or defecation, vomiting, frequently refusing food, and avoidance behaviors. Feline urinary tract inflammation flare-ups known as FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome) also may be affected by environmental factors. Older cats seemed to be more at risk for some of these signs of illness from environmental stresses according to a recent study.
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Due to this recent article I think it’s important for veterinarians to emphasize the importance and assessment of environmental stresses and changes in the cat’s history. With that being said, the next time you bring your cat to the veterinarian, be sure to inform him or her of any environmental conditions which may have changed in your cat’s life as this could help your veterinarian better understand your cat’s behavior change or illness.
This week we highlight questions asked by our PetMeds Facebook fans and answered by Dr. Dym.
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Both my labs get ear mites/infections on a regular basis. I clean them regularly with ear cleanser then drying lotion. Is there anything more I can do or maybe something stronger I can use to completely get rid of it?
One of the most common frustrating dermatological problems in our pets is the recurrence of yeast and bacterial ear infections particularly in dogs. This can often lead to repetitive veterinary visits and expense, as well as increasing discomfort and pain in affected patients.
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Symptoms of ear infections in pets can include:
- Excessive head shaking
- Ear itching
- Progressive odor/discharge
- Redness/inflammation of the ear canals
While treatment with ear cleaners and topical prescription antibiotics such as Mometomax or Otomax are often prescribed, the condition often recurs when medication is stopped or a short time later. In these cases it is important to work with your veterinarian on identifying underlying causes of recurrent ear inflammation such as inhalant/contact allergies, food allergies, foreign body or hair in the ears, and hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism.
Unless these underlying factors are addressed or explored, the problem will tend to recur. In dogs with chronic and relapsing ear inflammation, I will often recommend to animal guardians to regularly use a broad spectrum ear cleaner such as Epi-Otic Ear Cleanser or Zinc Otic by Maxiderm. Products like Zymox Otic with Hydrocortisone can also work wonders on dogs with chronic and recurrent ear inflammation, especially while exploring some of the underlying causes mentioned here.
