“What’s up with my pup?? He keeps coughing like he’s trying to bring up a hairball….”

There’s a strong possibility that if you purchased your puppy from a pet store or adopted from a local shelter your pup may be experiencing the following symptoms: a runny nose, an occasional wet sneeze, and a hacking cough that sounds like an attempt to bring something up. If this description fits, then your puppy may have a case of infectious tracheobronchitis… otherwise known as “kennel cough.”

What is Kennel Cough?

Infectious tracheobronchitis is extremely common, especially in shelters, pet shops, boarding kennels and even veterinary hospitals. It is an infection caused by a virus (usually parainfluenza although other viruses can play a role), AND  a bacteria (usually Bordetella bronchiseptica) that infect the nasal cavity, trachea (windpipe) and upper airways. The infection tends to cause a significant amount of congestion, causing the puppy to have a productive cough. Owners will often report that their puppy is trying to bring something up, but with no success. In fact, they are bringing something up and are swallowing the evidence.

The virus is very highly contagious. This is why it’s such a problem in enclosed environments where multiple pups are housed close together. When an infected puppy coughs or sneezes, the virus aerosolizes into the air and easily infects other individuals close by. In shelters and pet shops, puppies are often handled by multiple individuals who inadvertently spread the germs on their hands and clothes. By nature, puppies are more susceptible to infection because of their immature immune systems.

Here are some facts you should know about infectious tracheobronchitis:

1) Symptoms develop within 2-14 days after the puppy is exposed to the germs.

2) Most symptoms last about 14-20 days in typical cases.

3) An infected animal can shed the bacteria for as long as 6-14 WEEKS. This is not a type-o. Antibiotics DO NOT always reduce the time of bacterial shedding.

How is kennel cough treated?

Most cases of kennel cough are what doctors call “self limiting.” This means that the symptoms are mild enough that the puppy just requires supportive care such as a nutritious diet, plenty of fresh water, a warm environment, and a humidifier/vaporizer to help loosen congestion.

More severe cases may require antibiotics, expectorants to loosen congestion, and sometimes bronchodilators to open up congested airways. Rarely, infected pups can develop pneumonia which can be life threatening. Those pups typically require hospitalization to receive fluids and medications through an IV. Sometimes they may also need nebulization treatments and oxygen supplementation. The veterinarian will help determine what is needed based on the puppy’s physical exam findings and history.

One thing that the veterinarians end up stressing to owners with kennel cough puppies is that even with treatment, your pup will still likely cough. This does NOT necessarily mean your puppy is not improving, or that the infection is not being treated properly. The congestion that the infection causes needs to be cleared from the body, and coughing is the main mechanism by which this gets done. Cough suppressants are only used in patients that are very uncomfortable from excessive hacking and NEVER used in patients with suspected pneumonia.

ALWAYS notify the veterinarian if your puppy:

1) loses his/her appetite or stops drinking

2) seems overly sluggish or lethargic

3) is having trouble breathing (rapid, shallow breaths or you can see the belly move with each breath).

How is kennel cough prevented?

True prevention can only be obtained through isolation of your puppy from other dogs. When this cannot be achieved, vaccination (the “Bordetella vaccine”) is recommended. If you have purchased your puppy from a pet store, it is likely the pup has alrerady received a kennel cough vaccination. So, why then, could your pup have an infection?

Kennel cough vaccinations cannot and do not prevent infection. They only help to decrease the severity of the disease (much like flu vaccines in people). There are two types of vaccines available. The injectable requires two doses, 3-4 weeks apart. Protection typically develops within 1-2 weeks.

The intranasal vaccine is considered by most to be the best option because only one dose is needed and protection develops within 3-4 days of vaccination. There are a couple of drawbacks, however. First, your pet can actually SHED VIRUS that can cause infection in other dogs for up to 72 hours after vaccination. Secondly, some pups might actually develop some symptoms of kennel cough themselves for a few days.

If your puppy will be kenneled regularly, a participant at dog shows/agility trails, or a “frequent flier” at a grooming facility, the Bordetella vaccination should be administered every 6 months. Ask the veterinarian about your pup’s recommended protocol.

THE BIG POINTS:

1) If your pup has been diagnosed with kennel cough, make sure it is eating, drinking, playful, and breathing comfortably. If not, CONTACT OUR OFFICE.

2) Provide a humidifier/vaporizer in the room where your puppy sleeps, especially if in the colder winter months. Consider bringing the pup into the bathroom while you take a steamy shower to help ease breathing. Keep your puppy’s nostrils free of debris.

3) If the veterinarian prescribes medications for your pup, make sure to follow directions and administer ALL antibiotics for the ENTIRE time, even if symptoms resolve before then.

3) If your puppy has an infection, please realize that he/she is CONTAGIOUS for up to 3 MONTHS. Do your best to isolate your puppy from other dogs and do not take him/her to public places such as the groomer, boarding kennel, pet stores, doggie parks, or doggie day care.

4) Expect coughing (especially after excitement and exercise) for up to 8 WEEKS. Severe coughing should be re-evaluated by the veterinarian. Minor coughing is expected during the recovery process.

5) Vaccines DO NOT PREVENT INFECTION. They help reduce the severity of symptoms.

If you have further questions, feel free to contact the office and our staff will be happy to assist you!

Everyone here at Bay Beach hopes everyone is enjoying their holidays… and we wish all of our patients and their owners a happy, healthy 2010.

We have big news to share with everyone. Starting noon New Years Eve, we will be offering veterinary emergency and urgent care services after our regular business hours and holidays. A veterinarian and staff will be on duty to receive cases that require attention after-hours and on weekends. This means that there will be no need of transferring critical care cases to other emergency facilities as we have had to do in the past.

We also were notified recently that Bay Beach has been selected as Veterinary Economics’ 2010 Veterinary Hospital of the Year for hospital design. This is a highly prestigious nationwide award that features a hospital for it’s innovative design. We are all very proud of the veterinary community’s recognition of Dr. Honaker’s hard work in designing our beautiful facility.

Bay Beach will now be offerering the Canine Influenza Vaccine for our canine patients that are potentially at higher risk for exposure to the virus.

Canine Influenza is a repiratory virus most commonly seen in dogs in frequent ”high contact” situations… kennels, shelters, veterinary hospitals, dog shows, grooming facilities, and “doggie day care” scenarios.  While the vaccine will not be considered a “core” vaccine in our protocol, the veterinarian will likely discuss the vaccine with you if he/she feels that it is a good option based on your pet’s background or current lifestyle.

For more complete information, check out the vaccine manufacturer’s information page:

  http://www.intervet.com/news/2009-06-23-new-vaccine-from-intervet-schering-plough-animal-health-is-first-for-canine-influenza-virus.aspx

And for more information regarding Canine Influenza, check out the latest information provided by the A.V.M.A. (American Veterinary Medical Association):

www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_bgnd.asp

If you’ve visted your local pet store lately, you might experience what I like to call “product overload.” With shelves and shelves of different products all claiming to be the best diet available, it makes what seems to be a simple decision into a fit of anxiety waiting to happen.

We all want the best nutrition for our pet, so they not only grow, but thrive. Since all of these foods claim to be the best, which is the absolute best one?

Dogs are individuals, just like you and me. Some by virtue of their genetics or breed, may be prone to obesity. Some may have sensitive skin or may develop food allergies, and some may have special nutritional needs based on their individual health status. Some of these things we don’t know until they start to show problems with the food that they are eating… sort of like a trial and error process.

So when it comes to recommending the “ultimate” diet or the “best” brands, the answer is “it depends.” Here is what we DO know:

You should feed your pup a diet that is meat-based instead of grain-based. While dogs are considered omnivores (both meat and plant eaters), proteins from meat are the basics for good nutrition for your dog. So when selecting a diet, turn that package around and read that ingredient list. It should have a meat source listed as its FIRST ingredient.

Avoid diets that have a lot of artificial colors, flavors, synthetic preservatives and fillers. We usually find that the more colorful the diet, the less true nutritional value it has. This seems contradictory… you know, the cool diets that have all those bright colors like vegetables should be healthy, right? Not really.

Here is a brief list (in no particular order) of some of the more reputable dog food manufacturers and their websites which can give you more detailed information about their line of products. If your diet of interest is not listed here it DOES NOT mean the diet is poor quality or not recommended. If you have specific questions regarding a diet, ask the veterinarians.

Royal Canin (www.royalcanin.us)

Solid Gold (www.solidgoldhealth.com)

Nutro (www.nutroproducts.com)

Innova (www.naturapet.com)

Wellness (www.wellnesspetfood.com)

Hill’s (www.hillspet.com)

Iams (www.iams.com)

So, how do you know if the diet you selected is a good one for your pet? After your pet has been eating the diet for about a month or so, ask yourself the following questions:

1) How does my pet’s skin and coat look? Is he/she itchy, flaky, greasy?

2) Are my pet’s bowel movements solid and regular?

3) Is my pet at his/her optimal weight?

4) Does my pet FEEL good? Is he/she energetic? Playful? Or sluggish?

5) Does my pet eat the food readily or seem disinterested at mealtimes?

If you have a negative response to one or more of the above questions it might be time to reconsider your pet’s diet. DO NOT FORGET that treats and table food COUNT. Do not necessarily blame the dog food if you are feeding other things that might contribute to problems. First, cut the extras and reevaluate in a couple more weeks.

What about the extras? Should you add vitamin or mineral supplements? Fish oil? A raw egg?

Many seem to think that adding extra vitamins, minerals, and other things will make their pet healthier. The truth is, if you are feeding your dog a good quality, premium dog food, the correct ratios of all of those things are already  in there. You may just be putting more into the body that it will have to eliminate because it can’t use it. There are definitely circumstances in which we might suggest a supplement for your pet. But these are generally circumstances in which we’ve determined your pet needs it due to an illness or deficiency. If your dog is in good health, a good quality diet is all he/she needs!

Back in July of 2007 the local canine rescue organization called K9 New Life brought an approximately 6 month old Boston Terrier-Bulldog mix into our practice for an evaluation. He had been turned into Norfolk Animal Control by his previous owners for having birth defects that were too cost prohibitive for the owners to pursue correction. K9 New Life took him in.

On first evaluation the puppy was small for his age, and was experiencing intermittent head tremors. He had a large, bulging umbilical hernia on his belly. His previous medical records indicated that earlier that month he had been experiencing some gastrointestinal problems. His belly seemed to be painful, and he walked with a hunch. Going to the bathroom was difficult for him. The previous veterinarian took X-rays and noticed an abnormality… part of his intestines seemed to be in his chest! He was then referred to a surgical specialist for evaluation and diagnosed with a periocardio-peritoneal diaphragmatic hernia.

Put simply, this puppy’s intestines and abdominal organs were moving forward through a hole in his diaphragm (the muscle that divides the chest from the abdomen). Not only that, the intestines were moving into the thin sac that surrounds the heart,  making it difficult for his heart to beat! He was experiencing pain and difficulty going to the bathroom because his intestines were getting squeezed and twisted in such a small space, and digestion was difficult. On top of all that, he was born with a hole in his belly wall where his umbilical cord was attached to mom when he was still in her womb. Structures within his belly were also protruding through this defect. Poor guy!

This puppy’s only chance for a normal life rested with surgical correction of these birth defects. On 7/6/07, Dr. Key performed surgery to repair his problems. She was able to retract the intestines that moved into his chest back through the hole they moved through, and sewed the hole shut. In addition, she endeavored to correct the defect in his abdomen where his umbilical cord was.

The puppy recevered well from surgery, but had to say in our hospital for about a week. During this period, one of our assistants, Terri Whitlock, bonded with the pup… and she agreed to take him home in the evenings so he could get a taste of home life instead of hospital life. And as they say… “that was all she wrote,” because pretty instantly she knew he belonged in the busy household with 2 kids and several other pets.

Her 3 year old named the puppy “Sullivan” after the character from the movie Monsters, Inc, but everyone calls the little dude “Sully.” He has a face only his mother (and everyone else he comes across) could love. While his umbilical hernia recurred, it remains small enough not to be a threat to him, and he lives a very happy life being adored by his wonderful family. He may not have been born perfect, but he sure seems to be a perfect addition to the Whitlock household.

And here he is, putting on his best smile of gratitude for those who gave him the chance! :

It’s that time of year again. Yesterday alone we saw several cases where an owner complained their dog was having some type of “breathing attack”… where they looked like they were gasping for air, snorting, and in distress. When any of us doctors try to imitate the episode ourselves (because of course the dogs never do it in the clinic because they would rather secretly laugh at our attempts to mimic them) we end up looking kind of silly. Figured it was time we posted some type of video clip and an explanation as to what this crazy type of spasm is.

Reverse sneezing, otherwise known as “inspiratory paroxysmal respiration“, is a phenomenon seen in dogs. It is characterized by rapid and repeated forced inhalation through the nose with accompanied snorting or gagging. Any breed dog can do it, but we especially see it in brachycephalic dogs (ones with the “punched in faces” such as pugs and bulldogs). We also see it commonly in Beagles, Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, and Malteses. No one knows exactly why it happens,  but it’s believed that it may be due to nasal, pharyngeal, or sinus irritation (often associated with allergies).

The episodes can happen at any time, but most commonly occur during play, exercise, or mealtimes. While your dog may seem very distressed, reverse sneezing is not known to be harmful. Often just stroking the neck area and gently blowing on the face will stop most episodes. If they are occurring at a high frequency, the doctor may discuss the use of antihistamines or corticosteroids to help if an underlying allergy is suspected.

Check out the video clip of a Maltese reverse sneezing on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG5k9XVlh3c

See… your dog’s not alone! There are reverse sneezers everywhere! Maybe they should form a support group?

Cats are territorial animals. It is in their genetic make-up to want to mark their territoral boundaries. They not only use their claws to capture and manipulate prey, but the claw marks they leave behind is a visual sign they want you to see. It’s just a fact of nature for the species.

As we have more and more cats as strictly indoor pets (the outdoor life is a dangerous one), we see cat owners become increasingly more frustrated when their furry friends are scratching and mutilating their favorite piece of furniture or their most expensive window treatments. What to do?

Many people here in the United States think quickly of the declawing procedure as the simple and long term solution to their cat’s scratching “problem.” What is interesting is that we find most people don’t quite understand the procedure or how it might possibly affect their pet. It might surprise some to hear that the declawing is outlawed in several European countries including England, and that many deem the procedure inhumane and even cruel. Most people don’t realize that declawing is essentailly ten amputations… each toe is cut at the first joint and the end bone completely removed. It is NOT just removing the nails.

Here at Bay Beach we feel that our cat owner clients need to be well informed on the subject, so that they may make the right decision for their cat. Each cat owner is thoroughly counseled about the what the declawing procedure involves and what alternatives the client has for their cat. All of the doctors here feel that declawing should only be considered when alternatives have been attempted. The usual rule of thumb is this: if you have honestly tried to modify your cat’s behavior and the scratching is such a problem you feel your cat cannot remain in your household with claws, and you fully understand that a declawed cat is an INDOOR cat for LIFE (they have no means of defense with no claws), we will agree to perform the procedure. We would much rather see a declawed cat living in a safe, indoor environment than turned into a shelter and possibly become euthanized unnecessarily.

So… what are the alternatives to declawing? There is a great resource online for your reference (www.catscratching.com) that goes over suggestions for how to help dissuade your kitty from being a mutilator. The big pearls of wisdom:

1) Start young. When your kitten is small and exhibiting scratching behavior, work on it NOW and not later. Old habits may die hard.

2) Trim your kitty’s nails regularly. We will be happy to show you how. Trimming cuts down on scratching that stems from trying to eliminate nail casings as the nails grow.

3) Train your kitty to use a scratching post. Don’t hide it in the back corner… keep it out in the area where the kitty likes to be. Reward your kitty for using it. Reprimand kitty with a water bottle or canned air burst when he scratches on the inappropriate spot. Only reprimand when he’s caught in the act.

4) Try a product called soft paws (www.softpaws.com). They are vinyl nail caps that come in all sorts of neat colors that coat the nail and prevents damage from scratching. If you have problems applying them or would like to see how it’s done you can schedule an appointment and we’d be happy to help you.

Should you decide that declawing is the only acceptable option, we recommend that the decison be made when the cat is young, preferably less than one year of age. Not only will a young cat heal faster physically, but they will also adjust better psychologically. We see time and time again that adult cats experience more post-declaw issues… long term limping and a bigger tendency to bite are examples.

Declawing at Bay Beach is performed with a CO2 laser instead of a blade. This gives the added benefit of sealing blood vessels and nerve endings, therefore decreasing the levels of pain and swelling on recovery. Pain is a reality with this procedure, no matter how it is performed. Our patients are provided with pain medication before, during, and after their operation. Special instructions will need to be followed after the cat goes home to help minimize risk of infection (remember, the kitty goes home with TEN incisions and he will be WALKING on them).

Whatever decision you make for your cat, we want it to be an informed one. Make sure you read and understand about the procedure, and know about alternatives.

Administrator’s Note: Nothing is more inspirational than seeing how a beloved pet can rise above tragic circumstances and illness with the guidance and support of a loving owner. We are starting a series here in our blog called “Cases To Share.” These are true stories of our patients and their wonderful owners who are working hard to give them the best quality of life they can. We all can learn from each other and our experiences… if you have a story you’d like to share in our blog, let a staff member know or email us at admin@baybeachvets.com. Enjoy this wonderful story!

My name is Carolyn, and I am the adoptive mom of Leo, a gentle giant of a cat with acromegaly. 

When I first adopted Leo, I knew he had diabetes, and that he was in serious condition at a large public shelter in New Jersey.  The limited history provided was tragic, he’d been cast out and spent several years on the streets as a declawed stray, fed only by sympathetic neighbors.  The story broke my heart, and I adopted him after having seen just a picture of a very ill, buff-colored cat with beautiful golden eyes. 

Leo at a shelter in New Jersey, 2008.

Having already treated 3 other diabetics, I had a good idea what I was facing when I picked him up at on the 30th of November 2008.  When diabetes becomes unregulated, cats can lose much of their body weight, including muscle mass, but with good treatment, they can live the lives of their non-diabetic peers.  Leo amazed me when I met him, he was a good 2 feet long, and only a very malnourished 7 pounds.  The grim, unkempt appearance couldn’t conceal his joyous spirit, which shone very clearly in those golden eyes.  Cats convey much with their eyes, so it seemed to me he had a good chance and I was optimistic that he would be back to good health soon.  I made an appointment and took him in to see Dr. Thompson and thus began the journey that is Leo.

My primary plan was to introduce Leo to Dr. Thompson, and to investigate illnesses or conditions that may have been overlooked at the shelter, because several issues were worrisome in only a few short days.  Leo had loud, rasping breathing sounds, general weakness, parasites, a perpetual cold, ear infections and obviously painful dental issues.  One by one, Dr. Thompson worked methodically to alleviate Leo’s suffering, tackling each issue thoughtfully, until everything we could see had been treated.  Soon we were rewarded and Leo was showing astonishing improvement in health and appearance.  What perplexed us was that he was showing no improvement with the diabetes. 

Initially, we had hoped it was the vast quantity of food that Leo was eating that was causing his lack of response to insulin.  Leo was eating 4 to 5 times the amount of food my other cats were eating.  Constantly hungry, he tried to eat everything he came across, even if it wasn’t food.  We knew that as a stray, food had been scarce in his past life, and we hoped as he grew healthier that this would pass.  Even as he was gaining a pound or more a week, his appetite never waned and there was no response to the insulin.  Dr. Thompson ran blood tests, urine tests, fecal tests, and x-rays.  After the more common illnesses were ruled out, we started to look closely at some of the extremely rare insulin resistant conditions.  Dr. Thompson had never had a case of acromegaly before and while we knew it to be rare, Leo did have three major earmarks of the disorder.  He was very large, he was proving to be insulin resistant, and his breathing noises mimicked many of the documented cases of feline acromegaly.  So we sent his test to the University of Michigan and he was diagnosed with acromegaly in January of 2009.

Leo and his dedicated adoptive mom, Carolyn.

Acromegaly is a disorder of the pituitary gland, often caused by a benign tumor growing on the gland itself.  This tumor interferes with normal pituitary hormone production and causes an excess release of Growth Hormone.  In turn, this causes the liver to release another hormone, called Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1), which results in what essentially is observed as gigantism.  It is the IGF-1 hormone that is responsible for the resistance to insulin and other physical changes seen in Acromegalic cats.  These cats can show many combinations of physical symptoms including rapid growth, large frames, large heads, large feet and enlarged organs.  Not all acromegalics become diabetics and many actually show no physical symptoms for much of their lives.  This makes acromegaly a rarely discovered condition.   

Once Leo was diagnosed with acromegaly, we found ourselves free to treat the various aspects of his illness.  He got sparkly teeth and healthy gums during a dental procedure, his insulin doses were increased to help overcome the volume of IGF-1 being released into his body and various supplements have been added to help with his breathing and other issues.  As the days, weeks and now 5 months have gone by, Leo has gained good health, mobility, and a lot of weight - he tops the scales at a healthy 18 pounds.  His robust purring is legendary, and heard throughout the day as he spends his hours sunning himself on the porch, relishing a tasty meal and sleeping upside-down and halfway under the bed.  Never has a day gone by that Leo has not climbed into my lap and licked my face in what I imagine to be a very sincere  ”thank you“.

Leo gets some lovin' from Dr. Thompson.

Sadly, there are no current “perfect” treatments for the pituitary tumor, and Leo’s prognosis is not great.  Acromegalic cats often encounter heart disease and illnesses related to their enlarged organs.  Studies looking into treatments for acromegaly are being done, both in the United States and England, using radiation treatment and also various drugs.  It is my hope that one day I will be able to get Leo into a study so that he may have the chance to live the long and pampered life that has never been available to him before now.  Until then, Leo will be in the very capable hands of Dr. Thompson and all of the kind-hearted animal friends at Bay Beach Veterinary Clinic.

Leo, looking so much happier, at 18 lbs in May 2009.

For those of you who have dogs that are prone to or are experiencing the “pangs” of arthritis, a new joint support product is available Phycox-JS, made by IVX Animal Health (www.ivxanimalhealth.com) .

Phycox is a patented formula designed to help reduce joint inflammation and discomfort. A combination of cartilage support, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants make this product one of the most all-inclusive formulas for joint support out there. It also comes in the form of soft, chewable treats that most dogs enjoy.

Tha active ingredients in Phycox are the following: glucosamine, MSM, flaxseed oil, creatine, turmeric, Vitamins E & C, and phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is a pigment derived from blue-green algae that inhibits the COX-2 enzyme, helping to block the synthesis of inflammatory products. It also helps scavenge free radicals and decrease cellular damage.

Safety of Phycox in pregnant animals has not been established. If your dog has any medical conditions aside from arthritis, they should be discussed with the veterinarian prior to administering Phycox.

Samples may be available, and dosages will vary based on your dog’s body weight.