Please
see our October 2007 Halloween newsletter (www.canine-clippers.com and
click on ‘News’: Newsletter), in which we focus on pet participation and
safety.
Did you know veterinary offices report that many medical
conditions are first detected by groomers? Melinda Carter
(pawsofdistinction@yahoo.com) considers this
part of her job description. “We learn in
grooming school to do touch tests of the dog at the beginning of the groom but
you will also find things during the bath.” She has found tumors (one on the spleen)
and suggests owners routinely pet their dogs and check for growths. Another
groomer, Cheryl, reports that after bathing a dog with an oily coat, a visible
chalky residue can indicate a thyroid problem. Kidney problems can be presented
by dark urine with a fishy odor and by a dog arching her back or having trouble
standing.
This month we’ll focus on managing three of the most common
chronic illness: Liver Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and Hypothyroidism.
Next month we’ll focus on cats.
Since adopted pets’ medical histories are not
always available, it’s hard to know the causes of many chronic conditions. If
your pet is diagnosed with a chronic condition and the
cost of treatment seems unaffordable, speak to your vet and his/her office
staff about ways to keep costs manageable.
Liver Disease is one of the leading causes of
non-accidental deaths for dogs. The liver is the organ responsible for
detoxifying and eliminating poisons such as unhealthy food, medications, and
other ingested materials. It also produces bile, which breaks down fats.
Routine blood work will often pick up a problem,
and, if caught early, there is often a good prognosis because of the liver’s
ability to regenerate.
Symptoms include: loss of appetite and weight
loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), lethargy, pale gums and a build-up of
abdominal fluids. If your pet displays any of these, your vet will want to test
liver function. Treatment will depend on several factors: age, cause, and the
severity of damage. Following are some tips to promote healthy liver function,
both to avoid liver disease and during treatment:
- Ask your vet to review
ingredients and side effects of all medications your pet is taking to determine
if there is any chance of liver damage. If so, can an alternative treatment be
prescribed? If not, are there ways to minimize damage?
- Liver supplements/tonics
are available to promote healthy liver function.
- Limit preservatives and
chemical additives so that his liver doesn’t have to work hard to detoxify.
Feed him healthy, unprocessed foods and encourage periods of fasting throughout
the day to promote digestion.
- Avoid chlorinated and
over fluorinated water.
- Avoid unnecessary
vaccinations (ask your vet about testing titers).
- Use clean glass or
stainless steel food and water bowls, rather than plastic, which can leach
phthalates into your dog’s food (also avoid plastic chew toys).
- Avoid or limit exposure
to pesticides, insecticides, flea collars and powders, and toxins such as
cigarette smoke.
Congestive heart failure refers to the weakening of the heart muscle and its ability
to maintain normal blood pressure. Signs can be gradual. Except for Jaundice,
the symptoms are the same as liver disease, with the addition of labored
breathing, panting and coughing, along with drooling and ‘blue’ tongue.
There are a variety of treatment options
available, depending on severity of the condition. Treatment includes medicine
to increase the concentration of calcium in the cells of the heart muscle,
along with diuretics to remove fluid buildup in the abdomen and lungs.
A source for natural supplements to promote a
healthy heart is: PetAlive Heart & Circulation Natural Treatment and Prevention
supplements.
Primary Hypothyroidism usually presents in dogs at about five
years. Breeds most commonly affected include Labs and Golden Retrievers. Rarely
is it seen in Terriers.
Your dog may be eating in moderation, but still
gain wait (the majority of overweight dogs do not have thyroid problems—they
just need to eat less and/or exercise more). If diagnosed and treated early,
the prognosis is very good. Other indications include:
- Loss of hair, a ‘rat’
tail, a dull, flaky, discolored coat, (with no itchiness and
scratching due to fleas or allergy).
- Depression, increase in sleeping, lethargy, decreased mental acuity,
muscle weakness.
- Intolerance of cold, low
body-temperature and a slower heart rate.
- Anemia and constipation
- Joint pain and swelling
The prognosis for
Hypothyroidism is good. Your pet will need to be treated for the rest of her life;
the thyroid hormone is easy to synthesize, available in inexpensive tablets and
most symptoms are resolved within weeks. It is very, very important that you
follow your vet’s schedule for blood tests in order to moderate medication
levels.
Our
Holiday Appointments are quickly filling! To be
sure we can schedule your pet grooming in November and December, please call
now to book an appointment!
Written by Rebecca Nilson-Owens