Top 10 best things you can do for your pet

By Dr. Rebekah Frost - OBSERVER Columnist

1. Stop overfeeding your pets -The shelves in our local pet stores are packed with all kinds of treats. We sit down to eat dinner and drop little tidbits on the floor for our pets. Obesity is an epidemic in our country and in our pets. Over 54 percent of our pets in America are considered obese. Obesity can lead to a multitude of health issues including heart disease, diabetes, joint osteoarthritis, and urinary issues. Be an advocate for your pet’s health and talk to your veterinarian about a diet and exercise plan for your pet!

2. Proper dental care – February is dental health month. Dental disease can be painful and can take years off your pet’s life. Signs of dental disease include bad breath, drooling, difficulty chewing hard food, and sometimes weight loss. Proper dental care includes routine teeth brushing, dental treats, and dental cleaning under anesthesia by your veterinarian. A dental cleaning at our hospital includes a thorough scaling and polishing, probing and checking the roots of every tooth, possible dental radiographs, extractions if needed, antibiotic and fluoride treatments. If you are unsure if your pet has dental disease, call and schedule an appointment today. For the month of February the Dunkirk Animal Clinic is offering $25 off a dental cleaning for small dogs and cats, and $50 off a dental cleaning for larger dogs.

3. Spay/neuter your pets – In the past two months the Dunkirk Animal Clinic has seen a total of four pyometras. A pyometra is a life threatening infection of the uterus. Unfortunately, two out of these four dogs were euthanized and the other two underwent a very costly and difficult surgical removal of the pus-filled uterus to save their lives. When it comes to males, in the past three months I have seen three severe cases of rectal tumors. One dog had to be euthanized, and the other two underwent surgery to remove the tumors and were neutered at the same time. Females can also develop breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Males can also develop testicular cancer and prostate problems. All these issues can be prevented if you choose to spay and neuter your pet!

4. Geriatric testing ? At the Dunkirk Animal Clinic, we offer a program for senior pets to screen for any underlying health issues that can commonly develop as your pet ages. The goal is to take a proactive step in ensuring that your senior pets are being cared for to the best of our ability. Many times we have discovered an underlying heart condition, or a cancerous mass that can be removed before it spreads. The program includes either outpatient screening tests or inpatient screening tests. There is a discount offered for both of these services. Call us today for an estimate!

5. Parasite control ? This includes both internal and external parasite control. We highly recommend a yearly fecal test to rule out any underlying intestinal parasites and preventives on a monthly basis to help protect your pet from fleas, ticks, and heartworm disease. In the spring we also recommend a simple blood test for heartworm disease and for the diseases that can be transferred from ticks like Lyme disease. Heartworm and Lyme disease in the beginning stages can show very minimal clinical signs. This simple blood test is a very important part of your pets preventive care.

6. Basic grooming ? This includes keeping your pet’s coat trimmed and tidy, keeping the nails trimmed, and checking their ears on a regular basis. Matting of the hair coat can be painful and can lead to build up of stool and debris. If this occurs in the middle of the summer months, it can lead to attraction of flies which can turn into maggots.

7. Yearly physical exams and vaccines ? We still see many of the diseases in our pet population that we vaccinate against. It is very important to keep your pet protected. Rabies vaccine is required by law in our cats, dogs, and ferrets due to the ability of the virus to transfer to humans. Many of our stray cat population is carrying the Leukemia virus and the Feline Aids virus. Both of these are deadly and your pets can be protected by a simple vaccine. Parvovirus is a disease that can very quickly kill your young puppy. A simple vaccine will help protect against this disease.

8. Responsible pet ownership ? This not only includes all of the above, but ensuring that your pets are kept safe when at home. There are many owners that let their pets loose to roam. There are dangerous hazards outside that can be very difficult to protect our pets against including cars, other animals, and even people. Recently in my neighborhood, there was a very unfortunate situation that occurred when two dogs were shot and one was killed from roaming on other people’s property. We had done everything in our power to catch these dogs and report it to the dog control officers. But nothing was done, and the poor dogs met a horrible fate. A simple fence containment system could have prevented the whole ordeal.

9. Play time and exercise – Some pets more than others need daily activities, play time, and exercise. One of these dogs would be my Border Collie Jake. He has endless energy and every day a walk, a game of fetch, or other activity is needed to prevent unwanted behaviors. He acts out and is very needy if he doesn’t get his daily activity! Even cats need daily play time. Toys or a laser pen are great ways to get your cat up and moving.

10. Lots of Love ? Finally our pets give us undivided love, give it back to them! They are loyal, loving companions and they just want our love and attention in return!

A puppy or kitten for Christmas

By Dr. Rebekah Frost - OBSERVER Columnist

It is Christmas morning! We awaken with joy and hope as we put on our slippers and head down the stairs to gather around the Christmas tree with our family. We open our stockings and a few small gifts from our parents. But where is that gift from Santa? Mom and dad bring out a large wrapped box which seems to have noises coming from within. We can’t open the box fast enough! Out jumps a happy, tail-wagging yellow lab puppy! As animal lovers, most of us have had this dream and some have maybe had this Christmas wish come true! A puppy or kitten is one the best gifts we can receive. But let’s discuss the reality of owning a puppy or kitten, and make sure this is the right decision for your family.

1. Where to adopt from make sure you are adopting from a reputable breeder and not a puppy mill. I highly recommend not adopting from a pet store. Usually these puppies are overpriced, poorly bred, have a multitude of health problems, and come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeding facilities where a multitude of dogs are bred and kept in cages purely for a money making business. These dogs may not be properly cared for, they may not have proper veterinary care, and they may have health concerns or genetic defects from poor breeding. We highly recommend adopting from a local shelter or humane society. Many of these shelters have puppies or kittens, or already trained older dogs and cats that may adjust just fine in your home. These pets may already have their vaccines and be spayed and neutered as well!

2. Questions to ask Have the puppies been health checked by a veterinarian? This is very important before adopting. I have had more than one client bring in a puppy that was never health checked, and these puppies have had a severe underlying heart condition. What heartbreak for a family that has just fallen in love with their new family member to hear that their puppy may not live long.
Have the puppies or kittens been vaccinated? There are still many diseases that are prevalent in our canine and feline populations. Young puppies and kittens are most at risk because they haven’t developed the adequate immunity. Make sure they have been adequately weaned from their mothers, and have received their first vaccines.

3. What breed do I adopt If you are adopting a pet for your children, be sure to adopt a breed that is family friendly. Some breeds that are great with children include Labrador and Golden retrievers, Beagles, Poodles, Boston terriers, and of course a good old mutt from your local shelter! Talk to your veterinarian about the best breed of dog that will fit your family’s lifestyle, and do a meet and greet of the parents of the puppies or kittens.

4. You are making a commitment Be aware that when you are adopting a new puppy or kitten, you are making a commitment to this pet for the time that they are here on this earth. Some dogs and cats can live between 15-20 years. Be aware of the time and work it takes to housebreak a puppy, and be aware of the costs of adopting a dog or a cat. These include food costs, veterinary care including routine vaccines and spaying or neutering, the costs of boarding and/or grooming your pet, and a savings fund in case of an emergency.

We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season with your family. A new puppy or kitten, dog or cat, is a commitment but can change your life and your family’s life for the better! A pet provides companionship and love, a sense of responsibility for young children, and a lifetime of joy!

The holidays and pets

By Dr. Rebekah Frost - OBSERVER Columnist

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is fast approaching. Family get-togethers, holiday traveling, parties, and Christmas shopping are all part of the festivities. People may not realize that this time of year can be very stressful for family pets. Below I will discuss some recommendations to protect pets and reduce their stress during this busy time of the year.

Dora the cat is ignoring the Halloween candy, probably because her owner is near. OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino

Hide that candy! With three young kids in my home, we have an over abundance of sugar following Halloween. Make sure the kids are not leaving candy where pets can get it. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, can be toxic to pets if ingested.

Watch those table scraps! Thanksgiving is a common time of year for our cats and dogs to come down with gastroenteritis or inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This usually comes from eating Thanksgiving feast table scraps that come their way either intentionally or unintentionally. Be sure to get rid of turkey carcasses. If your pup finds those turkey bones, it could lead not only to vomiting and diarrhea, but pancreatitis, a severe life threatening disease brought on by eating a high fat meal.

Provide an escape plan. By this I mean a place for your pet to escape away from company visiting, or holiday parties. Company can be very stressful for a pet, especially cats.

Cats are very routine pets that do not like any disruptions in a normal schedule. When a stranger comes into the pet’s territory, or the home is invaded by noise and commotion, it can be very upsetting. Be sure to provide a quiet room with food, water, and litter box, or a crate away from the noise where your cat may be more comfortable.

Consider boarding your pets for the holidays. This may be a good option if you are traveling and cannot adequately care for your pets. Check for reputable boarding facilities Stay away from ones that do NOT require vaccines and that house the pets together. These facilities are not safe for your pet, as animals may be exposed to dangerous diseases. Housing pets together or playing together in a common area, may lead to fights and serious injuries. We provide boarding at the Dunkirk Animal Clinic. What better place to board your pet than where a veterinarian is available when needed.

Tony the cat, like most pets, likes to play. OBSERVER Photo by Vicki Notaro

Keep those holiday plants out of reach. Holiday plants including mistletoe, holly, poinsettias, and lilies can be toxic to pets. From just stomach upset to kidney failure, it’s not worth the risk to your cat or dog. Keep the plants up high, or do not purchase them at all.

Use caution with holiday tinsel, ribbons, and ornaments. Cats have an affinity for string-like items. Ribbons, tinsel, garland and other items used to wrap presents or decorate a tree may be enticing to cats and, if ingested, cause an intestinal blockage.. Pick up loose pieces immediately and always watch those feline friends around the Christmas tree. Also be careful with glass ornaments that look like just a ball to play with to your dog. Put those at a level the pet cannot reach.

Give pets the attention they need. Let’s face it, this time of year people are so busy, many are slack in giving animals what they need: love and attention. Be sure to still provide a pet with a play time or a walk. Do not completely ignore a pet during the holidays or it may act out in an unsatisfactory way.

I hope you and your pets have a wonderful holiday season. For this Thanksgiving, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to write these articles for the OBSERVER and to provide readers with advice and information regarding care for their pets.Thank you for being wonderful pet parents and if there are ever any questions regarding any of the material written in my articles, don’t hesitate to email me at dunkirkanimalclinic@yahoo.com. Happy Holidays from the Dunkirk Animal Clinic!

Breast cancer awareness for pets

By Dr. Rebekah Frost - OBSERVER Columnist

As I drive through my small town, I cannot help but notice the warm glow of the pink light bulbs coming from my neighbors’ porches. I turn on the television and see pink shoes covering the football field. Pink ribbons are everywhere for a reason – it is breast cancer awareness month. Many people are affected by this disease in one way or another. Many have relatives or have known close friends affected by breast cancer. We may have even lost a close friend or relative to this terrible disease. Did you know that animals can also be affected by breast cancer and ovarian cancer?

Stella

“Stella” came to the clinic in March as a rescue Mastiff dog being fostered by her now current owners. She was severely underweight and had been having intermittent urinary tract infections . She also had a large mammary mass. At one of her checkups, she had an abnormal discharge, which warranted doing an ultrasound on her abdomen. A large mass was noted in her abdomen, and it was recommended she immediately be taken to surgery. When Dr. Culverwell opened up Stella’s abdomen, to our surprise, she had a large ovarian tumor about the size of a volleyball. It had multiple large blood vessels supplying it, and was adhered to her abdominal organs. Her intestines were completely pushed off to the side.

Hours later and with two doctors’ hands working vigorously, the large ovarian mass and the mammary mass had been removed. Months later, Stella has gained 25 lbs, is living with her owners and looks like a brand new dog!

Mama

“Mama” an older female tortoise shell kitty, came to the clinic a couple weeks ago with a large ulcerated and infected mass in one of her mammary glands. On further examination, she had multiple growths affecting more than one gland, and the tumors were extending into her lymph nodes. She had been found as a stray cat, and had birthed kittens before her owner had acquired her. She had been spayed since then, but still developed breast cancer. We took her to surgery a week later, and removed three of her mammary glands and a chain of lymph nodes. The surgery was extensive and took multiple staples to close her incisions. Her blood results showed severe anemia and an increased white blood cell count from the infection in the tumor. She is recovering well and will be seen soon for her staple removal.

Because these pets were rescued pets, the owners had no choice in the decision about when to spay them. However, pet owners often can make that decision in order to decrease the likelihood of breast or ovarian cancer in a pet.

The risk of breast cancer in cats and dogs can reduced if the pet is spayed before the first or second heat cycle. The chance is the lowest if spaying is done before the animal goes through any heat cycles. I usually recommend spaying between 4-6 months of age. People who acquire a pet should be aware of the costs associated. Spaying a pet can be costly especially in larger breed dogs. In addition, there may be differences in the cost of a spay for multiple reasons. Blood work, intravenous catheters, pre-anesthetic pain injections, a tracheal tube and oxygen, and a licensed technician monitoring the pet while it is under anesthesia are all things included in the cost of spaying.

Be sure to ask a veterinarian what all is included in the cost of the spay. In all cases, a pet owner not only be save money by spaying at a young age before any complications arise, but may be save the pet’s life!

Remember that October is breast cancer awareness month for pets as well as humans.