Pet Goals for 2010

Did you make any New Year's Pet Resolutions?

Popular New Year's pet resolutions are similar to our traditional goals: lose weight, more walks (exercise), eat better.

There is one resolution that costs you almost nothing but will go a long way towards providing better care for your pets.

Resolve to be a proactive partner in your pet's health care.

That sounded fancier and more intimidating than it needs to be. As with most things, there are different levels of involvement. It is laudable if you research every pet products, read (and understand) the pet food labels, know why puppy mills are bad, and are aware of the changes in vaccine protocols.

No, we are not suggesting that everyone should make that part of their New Year's Resolutions. That level of participation require a commitment and training that may be too much for some of us. Let's start with baby steps.

Resolve to be more aware of your companions' conditions and to bring that information to the veterinarian(s).

A major part of the office visit and consultation is your pet's subjective history and information provided by you. The veterinarian uses that information along with the physical exam findings and medical history to evaluate your pet's health. Without your information, the veterinarian will be working with an incomplete history and you will get less value for your consultation.

For wellness or routine general check-up, be prepared with the following information:
1) Have you notice any coughing, sneezing, or vomiting? If yes, how long has it been going on?

2) How are the stools? Diarrhea? Constipation? Report any straining, change in colors, shapes, and consistency. When did you first notice the change(s)?

3) Any change in the water intake? More than usual or less than usual? For how long?

• To make it easier to monitor this, try changing / filling the water bowl(s) at least once daily. Over time, you will notice if the bowls are emptying faster or slower.

4) Have you noticed any urination problems? Straining to urinate? More frequent urination? More to scoop out of the litter box? If yes, when did you first notice the change?

5) Any change in his appetite? Eating more than usual? Eating less? If yes, when did you first notice the change?

• If you have to use a gravity feeder or if your pets are fed free-choice, establish a set routine so you have an idea how long it takes for the food to go down.

6) What is the current diet? How much and how often is he fed? Any diet changes?

7) Any change to his behaviors or activity levels? Any change in his environment? New pets? New family members?

8) Make a list of all medications, supplements, flea control products or bring them to the appointment (a good incentive to having a pet care box containing all the medications and pet products).

9) Bring a list of questions or concerns you collected since the last visit (including any visits to a different clinic). A pet diary or journal can help collect these tidbits. If you have a wall calendar in your kitchen, a quick scribble works just as well. The eye discharge or lameness that happened one morning and was gone by the end of the day, etc...

10) Be on time for the appointment to make sure you have plenty of time to discuss things with your family veterinarian.

Once you get used to the questions, the list will not look as complicated. Another level of involvement is needed when your pet is sick. For now, start with this small resolution and get involved with your pet health care.

In the United States, a valid veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) must exist for a veterinarian to provide medical advice and administer therapy. The most effective VCPRs call for participation from all three: veterinarians, clients, and patients (pets). Take control of what is in your control. Be an active part of the VCPR.

Keeping Pets Safe Through the Holidays

It’s the time of the year where families and friends get together to celebrate the coming of the new year. In the hustle and bustle of last minute preparations, you have many people to see and places to go. Let’s not make the veterinary emergency hospital be one of them. There are unexpected illnesses, sudden deterioration of chronic illnesses, etc… but more often, the below problems land more pets in the emergency room than anything else --- problems that are avoidable with a little foresight.

You may have extended families and friends visiting the next few weeks. Some of these guests may not have pets of their own and may not be familiar with the below dietary precautions. Instead of making sure that they give "acceptable" snacks, it may be better to request them to not give any at all.

click on image to enlarge and print

Then designate someone in the family to do the feeding. Too much of a good thing can upset Baby's stomach after the fourth person treat her with some pot roast.

When it comes to holiday feast, remember:
* Any food that your pets are not accustomed to --- too fatty, too spicy, too rich --- can lead to intestinal upset and/or pancreatitis. It is best to avoid the following:
- No fatty parts and no skin (poultry, pork)
- No bones, period. Cooked ribs, chicken or turkey bones may seem like a good holiday treat, but they can splinter and cause obstruction or serious injury to the intestines. Some people may recommend raw beef bones (knuckle bones or oxtails) which are “safer” than poultry bones. But we still see patients with intestinal upset (not necessarily intestinal obstruction) from the raw beef bones so we can’t recommend them.

Instead, treat your pet to some lowfat chicken broth over the regular dry food. Or if you want to share your dinner, add a few morsels of boneless, non-fatty meat, green beans, or potato in their food bowl. Just to be safe, stay away from onions and garlic. We don’t know if your pets are sensitive to them. Remember, these are given as treats or to add flavor to their regular diet --- they are not to replace the usual meal. Do not treat your pets to a whole “holiday meal.” You may do more harm than good.

- No chocolate for pets.
- Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is poisonous to dogs. With the increasing popularity of diet or sugar-free baked goods and sweets, keep that basket of cookies, candies, and chewing gums away from your pets.

Other holiday hazards include:
- Tree & Decorations: Tinsel can twist up the intestines. They are especially dangerous to cats and kittens who tend to play and eat them. Ornaments, if swallowed, can cause intestinal obstruction. Ornament hooks can also get caught in pets' mouths. Use short string / yarn loops, 1 inch or shorter, to hang ornaments (like tinsel, long loops can cause obstruction if swallowed). Even the water at the base of the tree contains secretions that can cause a stomachache. Unless you are there to supervise, it is best to make the tree off-limits; use barriers or have the tree in an area where you can block off access.

- Poisonings: Ivy, holly, mistletoe, hibiscus, poinsettia, lilies and Christmas greens can all cause gastro-intestinal upset if ingested in certain amounts. Some of them can be toxic to animals. Place holiday plants high off the ground. And if you have acrobatic cats, leave the plants in a room where the cats can’t get to them.

- Guests: Boisterous friends and families can frighten pets. Stressed out Fifi may not appreciate having loud kids petting and pulling on her. Designate a quiet and secure room for your pets’ retreat. And if there’s risks of your pets taking off when the door is left open, make sure they have ID collars and/or are microchipped.

Just like us, some pets may be stressed by the holidays. Stress can manifest itself in many ways: behavioral problems, loss of appetite, and excessive grooming to name a few. The problems can lead to serious medical issues such as hepatic lipidosis or “fatty liver” in cats. Contact your veterinarian or the emergency services for advice at early signs of problems --- before they become costly and life-threatening illnesses.

We know it's important enough to warrant repeating each year, but holiday pet safety is one of our least favorite post because it seems so negative. Don't do this. Don't give that.

As we near the end of 2009, we want to leave this year in a more positive note. So here is something you can do to treat your pets, keep them safe, let them know how much you love them, get you into the cuddling holiday spirit, put the biggest grin on your face, and best of all, it costs you nothing!

Hugs! and more hugs!

Wishing you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season!

Disclaimers and Disclosures

This blog is written and edited by the staff of The Family Vet. The contents are meant to be informative, entertaining, and educational. They may be used to supplement information received from your family veterinarian. The details contained in the blog posts are NOT meant to diagnose nor treat illnesses absent of a valid current veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Always seek your family veterinarian's opinion before using advice mentioned in this blog.

This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. Unless otherwise noted, reviews are done on products we purchased ourselves; not given, donated, nor borrowed from the products' companies.

The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. We will only recommend products or services that we believe, based on our expertise and experience, are worthy of such endorsement. Results from products and services reviewed by us are our opinions only; your results may vary. No guarantee is implied with our reviews.

This blog may contain content which might present a conflict of interest. Reviews may be done on products and services that we offer to clients and the public from our clinic. Advances in veterinary medicine often lead to differing standard of care among veterinary practices. Certain contents may be influenced by our background, experience, and belief in what is considered quality care for our clients and patients.

Giving Thanks

We are thankful that, in these difficult economic times, we are able to maintain a small veterinary clinic with the quality care and services we strive to provide for our patients and clients.

We are thankful to have loyal clients, not only from our nearby Long Beach community, but also from Santa Monica to Palm Springs, and as far south as Huntington Beach. Your frequent commutes to visit us speak volumes of the belief you have in us to care for your companions as we would our own. We are humbled and honored by this trust and will continue to do our best to keep it.

We are thankful for technology that enabled us to expand our family on the web. Our exchanges with colleagues and the pet community worldwide have enriched our lives, professionally and personally.

We are thankful for the clients who support us locally; they make it possible for us to stay in business. We are grateful that they understand the higher price of certain products are reflections of the higher costs associated with maintaining a veterinary clinic. We are thankful for their understanding that they cannot compare the services we provide to those offered by retail stores or online businesses.

We are thankful for colleagues, locally and on the web, who provide support and services that are complementary to our practice. Without the referral facilities and specialists, we would not be able to provide the optimal care we strive for our clients and patients.

We are thankful for the kind souls that are our patients. It never cease to amaze us the silent trust reflected by their acceptance of our handling and treatments. The surprise is not that they are uncooperative. No, the surprise is that they are cooperative and trust us to do no harm. And it is that trust that we work tirelessly to never betray.

We are thankful for the patients who are no longer with us. Each and everyone of them taught us lessons that can never be taught in schools. The bonds between them and their human companions, in life and in death, re-affirm the reasons why we are in this profession. Their time with us may be short, but the impact they left behind is everlasting.

We are thankful that our supportive families are understanding when we work long hours. We are thankful that they are not disappointed when those long hours do not translate to more monetary gain. And we are even more thankful that they accept that what we gain from our work can never be measured in dollars.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Family Vet.

Clumping Cat Litter Conclusions

Edit 11/27/2009: This comparison was done for our own use as we searched for a different cat litter. All products were purchased by us and no compensation was received for this review. Please see our Disclaimers and Disclosures for details.

About five months ago, we set out to find a different cat litter for our cats. This is for our own personal cats. At the clinic, we still use regular non-clumping clay litter (or Yesterday's News if needed for paw injuries) that are disposed as needed throughout the day. Even though wasteful, disposing litters and trays is an efficient way for us to minimize contamination and re-infection in feline patients at our small clinic.

Such concerns do not apply to our cats. Prior to this litter comparison, we used clay clumping litter (Exquisicat) in large litter pans - one per cat. Five of the cats are together in the back office, separated from the rest of the clinic. The pans were scooped and wiped daily. Lots of work but we managed --- until some of the cats decided to be "side-pee-ers." The areas around the pans would be soaked with urine as they stood in the pan and urinated over the edge. Cleaning the urine daily added at least another 30 minutes to the morning routine. "Free" time that we did not have before the real clinic work starts. (Image: cleaned litter pans laid out to dry)

We replaced the five large litter pans with three extra large covered litter containers (customized from plastic storage containers). That took care of the side-peeing. However, the amount of clay clumping litter needed for these large containers made them very heavy for moving around during clean-ups. Moreover, the dust clouds that follow each scooping were affecting the cats' respiratory health. Hence, our search for another clumping litter.

We tried Arm & Hammer Essentials, Feline Pine Clumping, Swheat Scoop Multi-Cat and World's Best Cat Litter (WBCL) Multi-Cat. You can review the details in the previous posts. Arm & Hammer Essentials and Feline Pine Clumping were dropped from the trial after 2 weeks due to the perfume (Essentials), dust, and only fair clumping quality. Swheat Scoop and WBCL were the final contenders. Both had low near-zero dust and good clumping quality. WBCL had a slight edge over Swheat Scoop in the clumping category but was more expensive. Swheat Scoop was more pleasant smelling --- wheat, reminiscent of baking in a kitchen, compared to the clean but barn-like corn smell of WBCL.

We could not decide between WBCL and Swheat Scoop. Hence, over the past several months, we used both litters for the five office cats and the two clinic cats. The following observations were made:

1. Cats seemed to prefer Swheat Scoop over WBCL. The box with Swheat Scoop had more "treasures." We wonder if the location and container size had something to do with this preference. We have to wait until the next complete litter change if we want to test that idea. Based on the adequate usage in the WBCL box though, we suspect the preference, if any, is minimal.
2. Swheat Scoop had less litter trapped in the litter box mat (bath mat by the box entrance).
3. Both WBCL and Swheat Scoop can be tasty to cats (and dogs). The cats ate the litter only on the first day and did not have any subsequent problems. A reader commented that her dog got ill after over-indulging in WBCL. So you may have to be careful during the transition if your dogs are known to raid the litter box.
   
4. WBCL clumped better than Swheat Scoop.
5. WBCL seemed to last longer and needed to be refilled less often than Swheat Scoop.

Does WBCL actually last longer? Maybe Swheat Scoop needed to be refilled more often because cats preferred and used that box over WBCL?
We did a simple test and found that WBCL used less litter to clump the same volume of water (urine) compared to Swheat Scoop. With less litter removed with the urine clumps, WBCL required less refills and lasted longer. Click on image to enlarge.

WBCL's efficient clumping quality makes it more economical (cost-effective) compared to Swheat Scoop. This put WBCL over Swheat Scoop for the win with our cats.

We did not start this post with the background information on our cats to be long-winded. We wanted to give you an idea how WBCL may be the ideal clumping litter for us. We wanted a clumping litter with the following qualities:

• not too heavy when used in extra large litter boxes
• low dust
• good clumping
• excellent odor control
  
• cost-effective

We have not researched past the claims made by the companies, but an environmentally friendly product is an added bonus.

Your requirements may be different than ours. But World's Best Cat Litter did live up to its name and turned out to be the best litter for our cats.

Pet Boarding Guidelines

There's no place like home.
This is also true for our pets. However, there may be times when you have to leave your dogs and cats in the care of another. These guidelines are geared more towards pet boarding facilities (kennel, pet hotel, etc.) but can also be modified for pet sitters (i.e. professional pet sitters).

Finding a Boarding Facility
There are “finders” websites where you can plug in your city to see a list of available boarding facilities and their ratings. We tried a couple of these sites but found them incomplete. Some of these sites are paid listings --- facilities pay a fee to be listed and marketed --- or businesses have to sign up to be listed. If you prefer online research, you may be better off with the review sites such as yelp.com.

By far, the best way to begin is to ask for referrals from friends and family who have previously boarded their pets. Ask your family veterinarian for recommendations or for a list of local facilities. The Family Vet does not routinely provide general boarding services, but we do keep a list of several boarding facilities that are frequented by our clients and patients. Due to laws and etiquette of referrals, we are unable to make a broad recommendation of one facility over another. We do pass on both positive and negative feedback that each facility may have received from our clients.

The Interview
Regardless of how you select the boarding facility, try to visit the place before the boarding appointment. Most places will give you a tour as long as you schedule it ahead of time.

Does the facility look and smell clean? Are the staff helpful and good with the pets present during your tour?

General considerations

1. What are the vaccine requirements? Boarding facilities are allowed to set their own requirements irrespective of veterinarian recommendation. Find out the specific required vaccines as well as the vaccine intervals, i.e. within 6 months, within 1 year, within 3 years. Contact your family veterinarian with the information to see if your pets’ vaccine status meets the requirement. Discuss any discrepancies and update if recommended. Note that if your pet is past due on vaccines, have them updated at least 2 weeks before boarding. Not only for an effective immune response but also because some pets may have reactions to the vaccines --- they may be mild reactions but still better dealt with at home then at a boarding facility.
2. Recent veterinary exam requirement? Some facilities require an exam within 6 months and/or a fecal test to check for parasites.
3. Can you bring your own pet’s food? Continuing with the pet’s normal diet while boarding may comfort pets and minimize risks of GI upset (diarrhea and vomiting). If you bring food, make sure it’s enough for the whole stay. Pre-package meal portions in bags or plastic containers if needed.
4. How often are pets fed? Knowing the facility routine helps you decide if you need to request special services. For example, one of your pets may gorge if fed too much at one time – not a good thing if the staff only feeds her once or even twice a day. You may have to request her to be fed 3 times a day. Also check to see if there’s an additional fee for such services.
5. Are there in-house treats? This is important to know if your pets have food allergies.
6. Can you bring toys and blankets? Some places prefer to use their own bedding or may have a limit on the number of toys or home items. Label these items if possible, i.e. permanent marker.
7. If your pets need medication, find out if the facility is staffed for treatment. Be specific. Some facilities may not have staff trained to apply eye or ear medication.
8. How are medical emergencies handled?
9. How are other emergencies handled, i.e. earthquakes, fires? You want a facility with a prepared safety & emergency protocol.
10. Flea control? Even if the facility does not require it, make sure your pets are current on flea control.
11. Pet identification is always important but especially so when they are away from home. If your pets do not have a microchip, and you rely on a collar and tag, check to see if the collar will be left on your pet at the boarding facility. Some facilities remove dog collars as a safety measure (getting caught in runs, choking). In those situations, most facilities will use a temporary paper ID collar, but it is still a good idea to check so you can have a back-up plan (microchip or break-away collar).

If you have cats,

1. Is the cat area quiet and away from barking dogs?
2. Are the cats boarded in cages (usually about 3’x3’x3’), larger cat condos (about 6’ tall), or small rooms? Boarding fees will vary with the accommodation. From our experience, not all cats prefer larger cages or rooms. Some nervous cats prefer a smaller area.
3. Are the cats exercised, i.e. let out in a room during the day? Again, some cats prefer to be left alone.
4. If your cat is picky when it comes to the litter box, find out how that is handled at the facility. Include in the information sheet details that may help the staff, i.e. prefers low jumbo litter pan due to arthritis. This information comes in handy when your cat still has not urinated in the small disposable litter tray or high litter box.
   

For dogs:

1. Are dogs ever kept together in the same cage or run?
2. How large are the cages or runs?
3. How often and for how long are they walked?
   
4. Any off-leash activities? Play groups?
   

Home Sweet Home
Upon picking up your pets from boarding, be sure to ask the staff for a status report --- a brief verbal report if there are no written discharge notes.

1. Were there any problems during the stay? Eating? Normal urination and bowel movement? Any vomiting? Do not be alarmed if your pets had soft stool or diarrhea the first few days of boarding as stress can lead to gastro-intestinal upset. However, it would be good to know if the stool has returned to normal at discharge time so you know what to expect.
   
2. Note any issues that may need to be followed up with your family veterinarian: lameness noted on walks, head-shaking, scratching, etc...
3. If your pets had medications, check to see when they were last given.
4. Pick up items that were brought in for the visit: medications, blankets, toys, food, etc...

Checklist:
[ ] Vaccine certificates
[ ] Food and treats, if needed
[ ] Medications and any extras needed to give them (Pill Pockets, syringes). Keep the medication in the original prescription vial so staff can easily identify it.
[ ] Blankets, beds, and toys if needed
[ ] Contact information, travel destination, hotel numbers, alternative contacts (friends and family) who can make decisions on your behalf in the event of an emergency.
[ ] Call to confirm boarding appointment (includes pick up times), especially during busy holiday seasons.

Leaving your pets in someone else’s care can be stressful for you and your companions. Planning ahead for your pet’s stay at the boarding facility will minimize the stress and ensure a safe stay for your pets --- and an almost worry-free trip for you.

C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews For Dogs

Edit 11/27/2009: All products were purchased by us and no compensation was received for this post. Please see our Disclaimers and Disclosures for details.

About a month ago, I ordered some C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews to try out on Elaine, my Pit Mix. I have only given her 1 to 2 chews a week so did not expect any significant changes. Thus, I was quite pleasantly surprised to see the marked improvement yesterday when I brushed her teeth. I decided to do a quick post on this instead of the planned cat litter conclusion.

Some quick background ---
As with my cats, Elaine is my sounding board for pet products and services. I try to do with her what we recommend to our clients. So Elaine gets her teeth brushed by me two to four times a week; on busy weeks, we only manage twice a week. Abashedly, those two times are often on Monday and Tuesday when we are closed and I have more time. Not ideally spread out but that's another post for another day. She last had her teeth cleaned under general anesthesia a couple of years ago. With everything happening this past year, I did not have her dentistry done. The dental tartar accumulated; I plan to have her teeth taken care of soon. In the meantime, I was looking at what else I can do to help her dental health.

I can try brushing her teeth more often, like daily. But I have to be realistic --- knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it are two different beasts. I already give her dental chews on days I don't brush her, usually 1-2 chews a week. Even though the chews are labeled for once a day, I don't recommend giving them that often. I am always concerned that some dogs, Elaine included, will swallow large chunks of rawhide. I figure 2-3 days between chews will allow time for the rawhide chunks to be broken down and digested instead of collecting in her stomach and causing problems (i.e. intestinal obstruction). Again, most dogs are probably fine eating the chews everyday. I just don't want to chance it with Elaine. Besides, I also brush her teeth which is way better than giving her the chews.

Anyway, the dental chews we were using for at least the past 5 years are the Enzadent Oral Care Chews. The product worked well and had great feedback from clients. The chews helped with tartar build-up more than the regular non-enzymatic rawhide chews. About a couple years ago, we noticed some of the Enzadent chews were getting thinner, flat, not as robust. We chalked it up to quality control but gradually, all the large chews are not so large anymore. What used to be about 2 - 2.5 mm thick became 1-1.5 mm. There may be more chews in each bag (same net weight) but the thinner chews did not seem to do as good a job, did not last as long. Elaine would quickly gobble it up, bypassing any chewing benefit.

C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews were the "original" chews we used to carry before we switched to Enzadent. At that time, both products were comparable in effectiveness (at least to me) but Enzadent was cheaper. Enzadent is still slightly cheaper, but we will go back to C.E.T. chews if they yield better results.

First impression, C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews beat Enzadent on appearance. C.E.T. chews were about 2 mm thick. The large chews look large whereas the Enzadent large chews sometimes resemble the small ones.
Elaine loves the thicker C.E.T. chews; they provide about 30-45 minutes of chewing pleasure. I give her one chew 1 to 2 times a week.

Did they help?Amazingly, yes. I can see the marked improvement after only 3 weeks. I continued with her (minimum) twice a week brushing and weekly chews --- same diet; the only change was switching from the Enzadent to C.E.T. chews. Photo A is blurry and at a different angle but it is representative of what Elaine's upper fourth premolars looked like. Her incisors and canines are fine; her problem teeth are those large upper premolars. Notice in Photo B how that tartar was scraped off from her chewing on the dental chews. My brushing remove the plaque, but I do not scrape the tartar off manually -- that was from the dental chews.

We will be stocking the C.E.T. large chews. I have not seen them at the local pet stores but your local veterinarians may have them. They are also available online. The Enzadent small chews are still fine for us since the smaller dogs do not require that thicker chews that most large dogs need. So for now, we will keep the small Enzadent chews.

This post was more about the benefits of a good dental chew in addition to frequent brushing. Visit the links below for more information on general dental care ---
* Home Dental Care and one from VeterinaryPartner.com
* Dental Health Facts
* FAQs with a veterinary dentist
* Good images of periodontal disease

Please note, Elaine still needs her dentistry. The brushing and chews are the next best things but do not replace full dental cleaning and oral exam under general anesthesia.