Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Sat, May 30, 2009 @ 07:56 AM
Does your pet itch, scratch or rash? Keeping you up at night with constant licking? Does your pet vomit or have problem with bloating and gas? Allergies in dogs and cats can cause all of these signs and more...
Many of our pets are allergic to environmental (read indoor and outdoor) pollens and molds and most commonly show skin and GI signs. Some also have respiratory signs as well; sneezing, watery eyes, and a unique phenomenon called a reverse sneeze, which is actually like a post-nasal drip. Veterinarians are your pet's advo-CAT when it comes to helping with the discomfort your pet shows.
By taking a careful history and using some genetic tendencies (yes we're breed profiling here) plus the physical examination of your pet we can help step-by-step to formulating a plan for control. Some obvious signs can guide us in our plan for the comfort of you pet:
*itching at the rump area? probably flea allergy.
*itching at the ears, chronic ear infections and rear end licking? probably food allergy or intolerance.
* ear scratch test positive: think of Scabies (a skin parasite also known as mange).
* foot licking? think atopic dermatitis (pollen allergy, house dust mite allergy) with about 15 % having food allergy as well.
The twist is that many of these problems can have more than one cause!
With hypoallergenic diets commercially balanced by food companies such as Hills prescription diets, Royal Canin and Iams we can choose a diet based on your pet's dietary history. These diets are prescription diets because many of us have already tried OTC foods and they haven't worked! We need to remember that even a flavored treat or medication can be a trigger for allergy reaction.
Absolutely important is flea (and tick) control on all the furry family members, even if they don't spend any or much time outside! Most fleas on dogs and cats are the CAT flea. Cats being such good groomers often don't allow fleas or evidence of fleas -flea "dirt" to be obvious. One flea bite in an allergic pet can send them into misery!
Then there are the secondary infections that complicate matter: bacterial (and some of these can be antibiotic resistant or MRSI infections) and yeast infections. Long term antibiotics and/or anti-fungal medications along with proper bathing and control are necessary. We often incorporate antihistamines and essential fatty acids or fish oils as supplemental therapies.
So we treat the treatable contributing factors and there still is a poor response? We now have an alternative to steroid medications and the side effects they cause: ATOPICA. This drug is available through your veterinarian and can make your dogs at least so much more comfortable. Other options are allergy testing and food trials ("medicine" in a bowl because you are what you eat!)
Your pet doesn't have to suffer and neither do you...
For further information about any of your allergy concerns please contact us at http://www.ahcmarlboro.com/ or e-mail the animal healthcare team yourpetsvet@ahcmarlboro.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @yourpetsvet
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Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Sat, May 23, 2009 @ 07:45 AM
Planes, trains, automobiles.....are you ready to take your dog along, too?
Traveling is a great way for you and your family dog to see the great outdoors. There are many pet friendly hotels (check AAA listings and website resources) and lots of ways to bond with your dog to make traveling fun and safe.
Some of us would like to travel with our dogs but they get too anxious or nauseous from motion sickness. Now there is a new medication prescribed by your veterinarian to prevent the vomiting associated with motion sickness. CERENIA is the first and only FDA-approved medication to prevent vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs. As a once daily medication, CERENIA , given as needed following simple guidelines, you now have the freedom to travel together!
So follow some safe traveling tips :
1. Travel with a supply of food and water as well as clean up supplies for the outside elimination potty stops.
- 2. Take along any necessary prescriptions (including CERENIA for the return trip), make sure you have a current health certificate, and that your dog is up-to-date on all core vaccinations. Ask your veterinarian about regional risk factors and different bugs and illnesses for specific travel areas.
- 3. Plan extra stops to stretch legs in exercise and to get a fresh air break.
- 4. Bring along contact information for your local home veterinarian and check for AAHA accredited veterinarians at your destination. Also check for emergency hospitals just in case...
- 5. If there are times when you will be staying at someone's home or will be away from your dog, make sure there are no potential allergies, other pets who may not be familiar with your dog, and that someone is able to dog-sit and/or there is a safe place for your dog to stay.
- 6. If traveling by airplane, check airline requirements and regulations for documentation for travel both domestically and internationally.
- 7. If traveling by boat, make sure your dog has their sea legs and use a life jacket made for dogs... not all dogs are natural born swimmers (even the "water" breeds)!
- 8. Take along extra leashes, bowls, and toys.
- 9. Take along a picture ID of your dog which has pertinent and important information-stop in to ahc so we can provide you with an ID card-FREE and a handy travel passport envelope, too!
Now you're ready to go..... and enjoy!
For further information about any of these travel tips please contact us at http://www.ahcmarlboro.com/ or e-mail the animal healthcare team yourpetsvet@ahcmarlboro.com.
Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Tue, May 12, 2009 @ 03:20 PM
Physical rehabilitation is becoming increasingly popular in animal
health care and benefits many of our pet patients in recovery from
orthopedic intervention and in various neurological situations. Many
of our weight challenged "kids" can also benefit from the added calorie
burn that directed exercise and water resistance can provide in the
water treadmill.
Physical rehabilitation (physical therapy is a term
used by our human colleagues and they prefer that we not use that term)
is recommended for patients both dogs, and yes even cats, with chronic
osteoarthritis. Many times we can use the water treadmill also as a
swimming exercise plan for the smaller patients. Physical
rehabilitation helps to improve mobility, decrease and relieve pain,
return patients to normal activities of daily living, and return to
normal muscle mass and coordination after either acute debilitation
and/or chronic hospitalization.
The first step in a planned program is to evaluate
the patient and set goals. This evaluation is performed with
information provided and the pet parent's input. It is important to
maintain adequate control of pain during this process as we introduce
an option for our patients.
I have always been interested in rehabilitative
therapy starting in my vet school days where I was presented with an 8
month old mastiff that was found "down in her run". Her diagnosis was
meningoencephalomyelitis and she was not predicted to survive the
night. With some intuition and some innovation this dog, named Ursula,
actually was returned to her owners ambulatory without decubital ulcers
and with a great respect for the benefit of physical conditioning and
recovery. She was my responsibility for the 8 months that she was in
residence at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. (The
bill was absorbed as a teaching expense because everyone in my class
basically was introduced to the benefit of nursing care in chronic
patients and the results of a physical rehabilitation program).
I have taken the coursework for physical rehab at
the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee and I
believe that this education has benefited my patients in allowing for
options in their care. I would like to make this modality of water
treadmill therapy and directed exercise available to as many companion
pets as possible through a referral program with our local colleagues.
For further information about any of these exciting events please contact us for more information at http://www.ahcmarlboro.com/or e-mail the animal healthcare team yourpetsvet@ahcmarlboro.com.
Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Mon, Apr 13, 2009 @ 09:29 AM
The Time Is Now according to AAHA, the American Animal Hospital Association. At the annual meeting held in Phoenix, AZ it was revealed that a major public awareness campaign launch of the importance of veterinary practice accreditation is planned.
Animal Health Care of Marlboro has been an accredited practice since 1993, one year after the hospital was constructed. According to Dr. Steven Tepper "our hospital was planned to meet the criteria set for excellence in veterinary care by AAHA." There now exist over 900 individual standards a veterinary hospital must meet for compliance testing which is strictly voluntary, but important for healthy pets in healthy practices.
Dr. Breitstein recently returned from the annual AAHA meeting where a new logo has been introduced to reflect the direction the American Animal Hospital Association is taking. The goal is a broader practice alignment and public awareness, partnering with the television program Animal Planet in 2010.
Research shows that pet owners care about accreditation knowing that their veterinary hospital maintains a higher standard of excellence. AAHA is respected nationally for its dedication to professional development, for the accreditation standards, and for education programs fostering the goal of professional development and cutting edge information that can be rapidly translated into better patient care. We hope to help spread the word about AAHA and their mission as it applies to Animal Health Care of Marlboro.
For further information about any of these exciting events please contact us for more information at http://www.ahcmarlboro.com/ or e-mail the animal healthcare team yourpetsvet@ahcmarlboro.com.
Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Tue, Mar 31, 2009 @ 11:13 AM
Just returning from annual AAHA -Amercian Animal Hospital Association- conference, Dr. Deborah Breitstein learns that a new logo has been unleashed for the association and will incorporate the statement excellence in veterinary care. The new logo will be endorsed by the 3000 veterinary hospitals in the United States and Canada that voluntarily adopt a set of over 900 standards for pet care that enable these hospitals to provide the best animal health care your pet can get! As a benefit and bonus, AAHA will be endorsed and supported by exposure on the television show Animal Planet! More information can be obtained through the AAHA website www.aahanet.org and that of
www.Healthypet.com.
Posted by Debbie Breitstein on Sat, Mar 21, 2009 @ 07:01 AM
Dr. Deborah Breitstein recently returned from the 23rd annual North American Veterinary conference held in Orlando, FL. This conference was her 10th consecutive conference presence. Dr. Breitstein concentrated her learning efforts in new diagnostic testing procedures and protocols for animals with heart murmurs that can allow indications of stress on the heart muscle and how to identify patients at risk for heart disease and/or congestive heart failure. Other new and promising testing includes a sensitive blood test for animals that are at risk for pancreatitis that can give indication and direction for immediate and acute therapies to better aid the vomiting patient, the patient with a poor appetite, and those with unexplained weight loss.
Many people are also unaware that up to 20 % of healthy cats and kittens can carry the bacteria known to cause cat scratch disease. This fact can be important for new kitten owners as well as seasoned pet parents as this disease is transmitted to people through play activity though scratches and/or "love nibbles". Dr. Breitstein and the doctors and team of Animal Health Care of Marlboro have advocated testing all new kittens at introduction into households as well as those cats who may exhibit a myriad of clinical signs including, but not limited to, chronic upper respiratory problems, skin diseases such as acne and even is cases of premature or excessive dental disease.
For further information about any of these important diagnostic tests please contact us for more information at http://www.ahcmarlboro.com/ or e-mail the animal healthcare team yourpetsvet@ahcmarlboro.com.