Download Terms & Definitions 
Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common ailments affecting pets is arthritis. As
dogs and cats age, it is very common for them to suffer from painful joints.
Very rarely do we see a geriatric dog that does not have at least a mild degree
of arthritic disease. Unfortunately, arthritis and the pain that results from
it, is probably the most common reason that older dogs are euthanized.
The most common symptoms an owner will notice in an arthritic animal are
difficulty in rising from a laying position and decreased activity.
Unfortunately for the animal, many people see the symptoms of arthritic pain and
simply assume that their dog is just "slowing down as a result of old age."
Due to recent advances in anti-inflammatory medicines, the pain of arthritis can
now be dramatically decreased. There is a new class of medicine that is making a
dramatic difference in many animals with arthritis. Drugs that have all the pain
alleviating properties of a very potent aspirin but none of the gastrointestinal
side effects and there are drugs that help repair and build up the damaged
cartilage associated with arthritis and can make a wonderful difference for a
painful pet.
If your animal seems to be "slowing down with age," please don't assume this is
normal or unmanageable. If your pet could speak they would tell us that the pain
of arthritis is often times excruciating. Never give your pet or people
medication without checking with your veterinarian first. Some drugs are
dangerous to pets even in small doses.
Bordetella
Bordetella bronchiseptica is the name of the specific germ most commonly
associated with the disease "Kennel Cough." Kennel Cough is a severe infection
and inflammation of the trachea (wind-pipe) and bronchi (the tubes leading to
the lungs).
The symptoms of Kennel Cough are a raspy, loud, cough and sometimes a production
of phlegm, which is usually swallowed by the dog. This can be very irritating
and debilitating for the dog and a noisy nuisance for the owner.
Kennel Cough is a contagious disease that is spread from dog to dog and is very
common where dogs are housed together in large groups, thus the name. Some
recent evidence indicates that cats may be involved in the transmission of
Kennel Cough and may even suffer from the disease on occasion.
Kennel Cough is prevented by vaccination and most kennels require proof that an
animal has been vaccinated before they will agree to board an animal.
We recommend Bordetella vaccines for any dog that has any risk of coming in
contact with another animal. This means virtually every dog that goes for walks
or has routine annual check-ups at the veterinarian. It is much easier and less
expensive to prevent the disease than to treat the disease.
Kennel cough is very rarely deadly unless the dog is suffering from a
pre-existing condition and is usually treated successfully with appropriate
medicines, although it may take as long as two weeks for the alleviation of
symptoms.
Cushing's Disease
Cushing's Disease is the common name for hyperadrenocorticism. This is a disease
in which too much cortisone is secreted from the adrenal glands and results in a
number of serious symptoms. The most common symptoms that occur in pets are
increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, development of a
"pot-bellied" appearance and lethargy
Cushing's Disease is a very serious disease that if left untreated can lead to
the death of your pet. Cushing's Disease is a fairly simple disease to diagnose
with blood tests and there are treatments available that can control this
terrible disease and sometimes even cure it.
Declaw
The declaw procedure is for cats and involves amputation of the first digit of
every toe on both front feet. This procedure is especially painful and prone to
infection since the cat must walk on his/her feet during the entire recovery
period, including standing in the litter box. If performed, your cat will need
to be on pain medication during and for up to 7 days following the surgery
We do not recommend declaw surgeries as a routine matter and they are only
approved following consultation with a doctor. Cats are born with claws, and
most can be trained to use their claws appropriately. Try using a variety of
scratching materials (carpet, cardboard, rope) and playing with your cat on and
around the posts. Keep the posts near areas where your cat sleeps so he/she can
stretch right after waking up. Praise him/her heartily whenever your cat uses
the posts. Because cats are very particular about textures, placing tape
(sticky-side up) and tin foil over problem areas will discourage them from
walking or scratching there. Trimming nails will also minimize the damage your
cat is able to perform. Ask us, at your next visit, for a demonstration on how
to trim your cat’s nails and for information on “Soft Paws” rubber nail tips.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
F.I.V. (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is a deadly virus that affects cats.
Often referred to as "kitty AIDS," this virus destroys the immune system of cats
and makes them very susceptible to infection from other germs that their bodies
could normally fight off.
In addition, In an attempt to try to eliminate the disease from the cat
population, it is recommended that all kittens be tested for F.I.V.
FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
Fe.L.V. (Feline Leukemia Virus) is a very deadly virus affecting cats. This germ
is an oncogenic virus (oncogenic means cancer causing) that is spread from cat
to cat by intimate contact or fighting.
There is a vaccine currently available to protect your cat against this disease.
At our clinic we recommend all cats receive their leukemia vaccine unless there
is 100% certainty that she will never come in contact with another cat. We also
recommend that all kittens are tested for the FeLV disease so that we can
control the amount of exposure infected cats have with non-infected cats.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworms are parasites that live in the hearts of dogs and cats. They are
transmitted by mosquitoes from one animal to another. If a dog or cat develops
heartworm disease and they are not treated, there is a very good chance the
animal will die from the infection.
It is much easier, safer, and less expensive to prevent the disease rather than
treat the disease. This is why we stress the importance of yearly heartworm
prevention.
Heart Murmur
When a veterinarian listens to your pet’s heart, there are two specific
abnormalities that they are listening for, (1) Heart Murmurs and (2)
Arrhythmias. A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound that usually is the
result of a heart valve not closing like it normally should. An arrhythmia is an
abnormal heart beat.
Both of these conditions can be congenital (the pet is born with the condition)
or acquired (the pet develops the condition with age). One of the surprising
facts about heart murmurs is that they are often related to poor dental health.
What happens so often, is that the bacteria that grow on the teeth of dogs and
cats after years of not brushing actually get into the blood stream from the
gums and lodge on the heart valves. Eventually this results in a bad heart that
may ultimately fail. This is one very important reason for regular dental care
of your pet.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a disease that affects the "ball and socket" joint of the hip
(where the back leg attaches to the pelvis). Symptoms of hip dysplasia are
usually related to the arthritic changes that occur as a result of the bad
joint. Pain and sometimes a strange walking or running posture will be evident.
Diagnosis is made with the aid of x-rays.
Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease that can affect any dog, large or small,
pure breed or mix. However, certain breeds such as the German Shepherd and
Rottweiller, are especially susceptible to this disease.
Surgery is the only cure for this dreaded disease. The arthritis can be
controlled with some of the new anti-inflammatories and joint strengthening
medicines now available.
Kennel Cough
Bordetella bronchiseptica is the name of the specific germ most commonly
associated with the disease "Kennel Cough." Kennel Cough is a severe infection
and inflammation of the trachea (wind-pipe) and bronchi (the tubes leading to
the lungs).
The symptoms of Kennel Cough are a raspy, loud, cough and sometimes a production
of phlegm, which is usually swallowed by the dog. This can be very irritating
and debilitating for the dog and a noisy nuisance for the owner.
Kennel Cough is a contagious disease that is spread from dog to dog and is very
common where dogs are housed together in large groups, thus the name. Some
recent evidence indicates that cats may be involved in the transmission of
Kennel Cough and may even suffer from the disease on occasion.
Kennel Cough is prevented by vaccination and most kennels require proof that an
animal has been vaccinated before they will agree to board an animal.
We recommend Bordetella vaccines for any dog that has any risk of coming in
contact with another animal. This means virtually every dog that goes for walks
or has routine annual check-ups at the veterinarian. It is much easier and less
expensive to prevent the disease than to treat the disease.
Kennel cough is very rarely deadly unless the dog is suffering from a
pre-existing condition and is usually treated successfully with appropriate
medicines, although it may take as long as two weeks for the alleviation of
symptoms.
Neuter
The neuter procedure will prevent your male dog or cat from impregnating a
female dog or cat. Intact male animals have a tendency to roam looking for a
female in heat and are more likely to be hit by cars or get into trouble. They
may also display more aggressive and dominant behavior due to the hormones their
bodies produce. The neuter surgery involves complete removal of both testicles.
If both testicles are in the scrotum, it is not necessary to enter the abdomen.
These animals need pain control during the surgery and for a short time
afterwards.
We recommend neutering all male animals that are not being bred by an
experienced breeder. Every year hundreds of thousands of animals are euthanized
in shelters because there are not enough good homes available. You can do your
part to lower this number by preventing your male animal from producing more
litters.
Parvo Virus
Canine Parvo Virus is one of the saddest diseases that veterinarians must treat.
This deadly disease affects unvaccinated dogs, especially puppies. The Parvo
germ destroys the intestinal lining of affected dogs and causes them to vomit
severely and have bloody diarrhea. If not treated appropriately with I.V. fluids
and medicines most of these puppies will die a horrible death due to
dehydration.
There is a very effective vaccine available to prevent this disease. If puppies
receive their Parvo vaccines on an appropriate schedule (every 2-3 weeks
depending on the vaccine used and area in which the dog lives) there is virtual
certainty that they will not develop the disease.
Unfortunately many pet owners do not stick to the schedule recommended by their
veterinarian and as a result they and their puppy must endure the very painful
and expensive treatment procedures to fight off the disease.
If your puppy develops diarrhea or begins vomiting please seek veterinary
assistance immediately. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to maximize
the chances of survival for your puppy.
Spay
The spay procedure will prevent your female dog or cat from being able to come
into heat or bear puppies and kittens. Research shows that female dogs that are
spayed before their first heat cycle are 95.5% less likely to develop mammary
cancer later in life. With every single heat cycle, the chances of mammary
cancer increase until your dog has reached her fourth cycle. The surgery
involves removal of both ovaries and the uterus. These animals need pain control
during and following the surgical procedure. We recommend spaying for all female
dogs and cats unless they are registered pure-bred animals and you are an
experienced breeder.
Breeding is complicated and should be done by someone who knows the breed. You
will need to understand genetics and how to prevent problems from being passed
from one generation to the next. You will also need to know how to care properly
for the mother in case of an emergency and how to raise the babies until they
are old enough to go to a new home. Responsible breeding is expensive and
time-consuming, and should be viewed as a hobby rather than a good way to make
money. Every year hundreds of thousands of animals are euthanized in shelters
because there are not enough good homes available. You can do your part to lower
this number by preventing your female animal from producing more litters.
