Hours:
M-F: 8am-6pm
Sat: 8am-1pm
Sunday: closed

December 2008 Newsletter

Urine Luck! Kidney Disease Can Be Treated

Arla Webb has been bringing her kitty Missy to Woodhaven since 1998. Missy has had a little sniffle now and then and a few intestinal upsets, but for the most part she has been very healthy. Although she has reached thirteen kitty years (sixty-eight in human years) she looked purrfectly fine during her last annual comprehensive physical exam in September. When we discussed routine senior blood testing with Arla, she was eager to have us check Missy. If everything was normal it would give her peace of mind but, if there were abnormalities, it would give us a head start on treatment.

Missy Webb

The blood work showed that even though her exam was normal, Missy was in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. Many cat owners are familiar with this problem and are afraid nothing can be done. Although there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, the earlier it is detected, the more opportunity one has to intervene and help, providing a better quality of life and hopefully more time.

After the blood work, we tested Missy’s urine. Her urine was very dilute, as is expected with kidney disease, but no infection was found and there was no excessive protein in her urine. Her blood pressure was also checked, as high blood pressure can aggravate kidney disease. Missy’s blood pressure was normal. There is a lot of information on-line about kidney disease. At our clinic’s website under the tab called Links, you will find an excellent link to a set of videos about kidney disease (Cat Owner’s Guide to Kidney Disease— Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine). Understanding this disease helps owners make educated decisions about feeding and medical care for their pets.

When all the diagnostics were done, we found the most important treatment option for Missy was to put her on a prescription diet. Missy loves the food and is also taking medication to lower her phosphorous levels. The food, Hill’s K/D, limits excessive protein and phosphorous and provides extra fatty acids, found to help kidney patients. Her next check up showed a significant improvement in the kidney values.

Now that we know Missy has kidney disease, we will be checking her several times a year. Depending on her progress, there are many more treatment options we can consider, as described in the on-line videos. Each cat is different but some kitties live with kidney disease for several years.

Arla, like most of us, wants her friend Missy to have as long and happy a life as possible. She also wants the peace of mind of knowing she had done whatever she could have to contribute to her longevity. Urine Luck! Kidney Disease Can Be Treated

Doing routine annual senior blood work, along with an annual comprehensive exam, allows one to find potentially manageable problems before they are noticeable at home.

By Ann Brudvik, DVM

Holiday Safety Tips

The days are getting shorter, the nights are cooler, and preparations for winter have begun. Holiday festivities are just around the corner and our lives are shifting gears for the winter months ahead. While families enjoy the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays, our pets may need some help to adjust.. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Crowds and holiday festivities can frighten some animals:

Pets can become curious or frightened when confronted with new sights and smells that are not part of their normal routine. If your pet doesn’t enjoy being around a lot of people, make sure you set aside a safe and quiet haven for him/her to retreat to if necessary. Cats especially can become stressed when their normal routine is disturbed. Disruptions in the home, such as rearranging the furniture, could cause your cat to stop using the litter box.

More Tips:

Assure your pet has up-to-date tags on its collar in case it should bolt while holiday visitors come and go. Better yet, have them microchipped.

Maintain as close as possible the usual feeding and playtime/exercise schedules for your pet.

When a pet becomes stressed, it will need more water. Assure there is plenty of fresh water available.

Harmful Holiday Foods:

These items are the potential source of a variety of symptoms. Even if they don’t poison your pet, they can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation or intestinal block.

• Chocolate
• Grapes
• Yeast Dough
• Raisins
• Bones
• Macadamias
• Onions
• Coffee
• Alcoholic
• Beverages

Antifreeze: while not a holiday food, is highly toxic and very palatable to your dog or cat. Antifreeze is sweet tasting and pets will lap it up from the driveway or garage floor.

Harmful Holiday Decorations:

• Some decorations, if ingested, can become lodged and cause intestinal obstruction.
• Christmas tree water can cause stomach upset
• Holiday plants such as: Poinsettias, Ivies, Mistletoe, Holly, and Lilies.
• Chewing on holiday lights can be a problem, especially for pups & kittens
• Simmering pots of potpourri: cats like to sip this liquid and some are toxic
• Ribbons, bows, tinsel and ornaments are of special interest to playfu

The Do’s and Don’ts to keep your pet safe this winter:

Do:

• Wash your dog’s paws with warm water to remove salt residue
• Keep the hair between your dog’s toes and pads clipped short to prevent ice balls
• Keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Nails that are too long reduce traction
• Consider buying your dog a coat. Short-haired dogs and small breeds are more susceptible to the cold
• Slap the hood of your car before starting it. In their search to keep warm, cats often take refuge next to a warm car engine or tire

Don’t:

• Leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather—it can act as a refrigerator
• Allow your pet to stay outside in extreme weather
• Leave your pet unattended around portable or other space heaters
• Medicate your dog or cat with human prescriptions or over-the counter medications without consulting your veterinarian first.

Who’s Your Daddy?

He has the sweet disposition of a Labrador, the short legs of a Dachshund and the bark of a Beagle. Ever wondered what breeds make up your beloved pooch’s DNA? Now, with a simple blood test, you can know for sure.

Woodhaven now offers the Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis. With a simple blood test, the folks at the Wisdom Panel Lab are able to narrow the search from over 150 breeds. In as little as three weeks, a detailed report illustrating your dog’s heritage and revealing breed traits and characteristics will be mailed directly to you. Not only can this information be used as a tool to give you insight into your dog’s behavior , which can help with training issues, but can also be used by your veterinarian to target breed-specific health concerns.

Looking for a holiday gift for that special someone on your list that has everything?

For more information on DNA testing, call us or click on the Wisdom Panel link.

By Angie Bermudez

Fun Facts

• Who has a better memory, cat or dog? A cat’s memory can last up to 16 hrs, a dog’s - up to 5 minutes
• How do dogs sweat? Through the pads of their feet.
• What was a Dachshund originally bred for? Badger hunting
• Who has more taste buds, a dog or a human? A human has about 9000, opposed to a dog’s 1700
• On average, how many calories per day are burned by sled dogs running the Iditarod? 10,000
• What breed was the largest to live in the White House? President Buchanan’s Newfoundland named Lara
• If a cat bites you for rubbing its stomach, is that from pleasure or anger? Pleasure
• Does a cat have sweat glands? No
• The name of the dog in “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” ? Max
• Which of our staff members has a degree in Marine Biology and Fisheries? Carina Teixeira
• Which of our staff members ran the Iditarod? Cali King
• Which of our staff members is a private pilot? Diane Capece
• Which of our staff members climbed a 120 foot silo to view baby Barn Owls? Anne Gowing

We’re Proud Of Our Compassionate Staff at WVC

• Veterinarians: Ann M. Brudvik, DVM, Jennifer Creason, DVM, Suzanne Endicott, DVM and Mary Willard, DVM
• Clinic Manager: Diane Capece
• Receptionists: Anne Gowing, Angie Bermudez, Lynn Wright and Cali King
• Licensed Veterinary Technicians: Christy Wells, LVT, Karen TenBrink, LVT, Carina Teixiera, LVT, Dawn Marie Nelson, LVT and Rebecca Metheny, LVT
• Veterinary Assistants: Christa Woods and Summer Polonsky
• Kennel Assistants: Joe Patterson, Ally Johnson, Sandra Burrill and Rachel Law

Chips Anyone?

Microchips that is…

We can’t think of a good reason not to have your pet microchipped. Bringing in your cat or dog for a microchip is a quick and easy way to permanently identify them.

All too frequently, a Good Samaritan will bring in a lost pet and while we are grateful for their compassion, it is distressing when we find the pet does not have a microchip. We use a universal scanner which will identify all of the more widely used chips. When we do find a microchip number we are usually only a phone call away before we can reunite a pet with its owner. When there isn’t a chip, we must call Animal Control and arrange for the pet to be picked up.

There is nothing we want more than to reunite you with your lost pet. Please help us do that by having your cat or dog microchipped. Do this simple procedure for the safety of your pet and for your peace of mind.

For more information call us or go click on the HomeAgain link.

By Anne Gowing