PAWS FOR THOUGHT

SAVE A PET FROM A SHELTER, NOT FROM A PET STORE

Many years ago, I asked a new pet-owner, who came to my practice, what made her buy a new puppy.  Instead of waiting for her response, I joked with her and said: “You went to the mall to buy shoes and fell in love with this cute puppy.”  She looked at me with astonishment and said:  “How did you know?” I did not; I was just kidding, but she, very seriously, continued to tell me that when she saw the poor puppy at the store, she decided to “save” him from his jail sentence -- an act  that made her feel good, despite the large sum of money she paid.  

Because I have been hearing these same stories for years, I decided to dedicate this column to the entire population of pets that lives in shelters and desperately needs a home.  Those pets are not only thankful for being saved, they are usually healthier, live longer, and, by far, have less genetic diseases than purebred animals.  Needless to say, saving a pet from a shelter also saves you a lot of money.  Many shelters will adopt out puppies and kittens that are already vaccinated and neutered.  

By buying a pet from a pet store, you are not saving a pet, you are actually supporting an industry that breeds pets for profit and keeps one more pet from the shelter homeless.

Shelters, such as the North Shore Animal League in Long Island, are doing an excellent job of caring for their pets before giving them out for adoption, not to mention the wide variety of “cute” ones.  

Buying a pet is not like buying shoes; it is a life-long commitment and it should not be a spontaneous decision…..on this topic, in the next column.

Dr. Ohad Barnea is a 1992 graduate of Tufts University, School of Veterinary Medicine.  He is the owner of Tenafly Veterinary Center and Cliffside Animal Hospital.

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PAWS FOR THOUGHT

GIVE THEM A JOB!

When one of my clients put his fifteen-year-old dog to sleep, I asked him how come his dog was in such good shape until the very last minute….

While the dog came to my office for routine care, the owner was old fashioned and generally dismissed my usual veterinary recommendations.  He used to gently tell me that he did not believe in all the “stuff” modern veterinary medicine had to offer.  “He is a happy dog, doc,” he used to say.

One day, he finally revealed his secret: “Doc this dog has been going to work with me every day.”  “Work?”  I asked, “What kind of work do you do?”  “We go hunting every morning in the mountain,” he replied.  His dog was looking for that early morning routine; he ran, spotted the prey, and brought it back.

This made me think.  While I am not a fan of hunting, I realized that his dog had a purpose every morning.

Some pets may not be as lucky to see the sun even once a day.  They are kept indoors with no exercise or fun to break their boredom.  Others are sent on their own to the back yard.

But keeping your pet physically and mentally fit has huge rewards.  Your dog greatly benefits from it, not to mention the strong and special bond it fosters between the two of you.

Simple walks on a leash, teaching commands, or fetching a Frisbee will do.  Give your dog “a job.”  Start from a young age; teach your dog different commands, and follow through daily.  Do not give your dog a treat for free.  Make him/her do something, such as “sit,” “down,” “give me a paw.”  Challenge your dog physically.  Try to exercise your dog daily, as part of your routine.   Even a ten-minute walk is better than nothing.  And when your dog gets older, do not stop.  AGE IS NOT A DISEASE, ARTHRITIS IS.

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PAWS FOR THOUGHT

KEEPING YOUR PET’S TEETH CLEAN

Eighty-five percent of all dogs and cats, over the age of four, in America have periodontal disease -- an irreversible, chronic, progressive disease.

To prevent this disease from happening to your pet, I recommend an early preventive treatment.  Daily teeth-brushing of your pet’s teeth is most important.  In order to condition puppies and kittens for the future tooth brush, you should obtain baby food, dip your finger in the food, and then, keeping their mount closed, gently rub your finger on their teeth, along their cheek.  Alternatively, you can start with a finger brush using a poultry or seafood toothpaste.

A few weeks later, introduce the tooth brush, but remember a few simple rules:

1.  Keep the brushing short – long and cumbersome brushing will eventually turn your pet away and discourage both you and your pet from repeating the process.  Thirty-second brushing is enough.

2.  Make it fun for your pet; reward your pet after brushing.  You could give breakfast or dinner following the brushing or a dental treat -- C.E.T. chew -- which is calorie-free and helps to clean the teeth.

While teeth-brushing is extremely important in preventing tartar build-up, there is no better alternative to routine professional cleaning by your veterinarian under light sedation.  Light sedation is necessary because of the ultrasonic scaling, which removes tartar in an uncomfortable manner.

You should know that pets with a clean mouth live on average 2 to 4 years longer, have less medical problems, and have good breath, making it more pleasant to kiss them. 

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PAWS FOR THOUGHT

OBESITY IN PETS

“My pet is not fat…

This is a common reply I get from my clients when I mention to them, during an exam, that their pets need to lose weight.

Six out of ten pets in America are obese.  The road to weight loss starts with the pet-owners’ perceptions of their pets; some pet-owners think their pets look cute when they are chubby; others love to spoil their pets by feeding them treats.  Studies show that obese pets live, on average, two years less than those who are not obese.

Obesity-related problems, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, skin and liver diseases, and orthopedic complications are all common sequels.  Preventing these diseases is not only beneficial but also cost-effective.  

The first step is to recognize obesity.  If you are unable to feel your pet’s ribs or observe its waist when looking from above, your pet is probably overweight.

The second step is to seek professional advice from your vet and put in place a weight-loss program.

The third step is to realize that calorie-restriction is more important than exercise.  The type and the amount of food you feed your pet is crucial.

Here is a sample program that I use with my patients:

1.  I screen pets for underlying hormonal or metabolic problems that may predispose them to gain weight easily.  

2.  I place pets on a restricted-calorie diet.

3.  I ask my clients to measure the amounts of food they give to their pets.  Also, treats should be low-calorie -- pieces of apples, banana, carrots, ice cubes, etc.

4. I recommend monthly weighing as it helps to recognize if adjustments are required.

5.  At times, I prescribe, only to dogs, a medication called Slentrol.  It helps dogs lose weight.

6.  I tell my clients to watch their pets’ weight after the spay/neuter -- at 6 months of age -- and I recommend a 25-30 % food reduction.

7.  I emphasize the importance of daily walks or exercise -- as short as they may.  They do help.

Dr. Ohad Barnea is a 1992 graduate of Tufts University, School of Veterinary Medicine.  He is the owner of Tenafly Veterinary Center and Cliffside Animal Hospital.

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PAWS FOR THOUGHT

Four Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy and Happy

Being proactive with regard to your pet’s health is not only better from a health perspective but also, in the long run, it is cheaper.  This resonates even better in these tough economic times.

What kind of advise can I give you that is practical and cost effective?

Here is a summary of my four secrets :

1.  Feed your pet the healthiest diet possible
2.  Keep your pet’s weight down
3.  Keep your pet’s teeth clean
4.  Keep your pet challenged physically and mentally

In this article, I will explore the first of the four tips – your pet’s nutrition.

Very often, nutritional discussions in the veterinary practice end up with the nurse documenting in the patient’s file the brand of food and form of diet that your pet is on (dry or canned).
While there is a growing number of pet-owners and vets who emphasize how important that issue is, most of the time we do not devote enough thoughts to the fact that food can heal and protect your pet just as it can protect us.

After 18 years of practice, I am amazed to see how many types of prescription diets exist on the market.  Perhaps one reason is that we feed our pets poor quality diets to begin and that leads them to later become dependent on prescription foods.  When my children were born, diet became a big issue in my family.  I realized that probably, like most other parents, I have this on-going battle with my kids to eat more vegetables and less ice cream and sweets.  Since I treat my four-legged like children, it occurred to me that pets should also be fed better –  a more varied and fresh diet, relying less on processed, bagged or canned food.  Would you feed your children just cereal even if it was the healthiest kind ?

Grandma was right when she used to say "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."  Many of my new clients are surprised when I recommend healthy table food – if its good for you its good for your pet, I tell them (with one caveat:  avoid grapes, raisins, and chocolates).  Some examples of good table food include low fat meat, low fat dairy products, plain pasta, and fruits, such as carrots, apples, bananas, and vegetables.  I am always happy to find out how many pet owners do actually give their pets table food but feel uncomfortable telling me that until they hear my recommendation to go ahead and do so.  

So if this information excites you, get started by taking baby steps.  It is not for every pet-owner, nor is it for every pet.  Try introducing new fresh food in small amounts, twice a week, instead of your pet’s regular food, consult with your vet, and check web sites for ideas.  There are also frozen raw diets that have been approved as complete and balanced diets -- they are a wonderful way to upgrade your pet's diet.

And one more word for feline owners -- try to give canned food rather than dry food.  Canned food has at least 60 % moister, which is crucial to your cat’s kidney.  Remember that cats are true carnivores – they need a meat-based diet to be healthy and lean, rather than a carbohydrate-based diet, which predisposes them to obesity, diabetes, pancreatitis and liver disease.

Bon Appetite!

Next week we will discuss obesity in pets and what you can do to prevent it.

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PAWS FOR THOUGHT

Summer!  Vacation!  But where do we board Fido this year?  What can we do to prevent post-boarding cough or diarrhea we dealt with last year?  

While most kennels and dog owners are aware of “kennel cough” or Bordetella, few hear of the new emerging canine influenza, or flu virus (H3N8 – affects dogs only).   

Canine influenza is a highly contagious virus:  any dog exposed to this virus will become infected.  Eighty percent of dogs will show signs of infection:  low grade fever, nasal discharge, lack of energy, loss of appetite, and a persistent cough that may last up to a month.  Dogs that do not show signs of infection can still spread the virus to other dogs.  About twenty percent of infected dogs may develop pneumonia and eight percent of those may die.  

Boarding, grooming, doggie day-care facilities, dog parks, dog-training classes, and your veterinarian’s waiting rooms are common places where your dog may be at a higher risk of exposure to the virus.  The virus spreads through direct contact, air, cough, sneeze, clothing, hands or contaminated surfaces.  

Recently, a new vaccine became available.  The initial vaccine requires two doses, two to four weeks apart, followed by annual revaccination.  

When you board your pet, make sure the facility is clean, well-maintained, and that there is an influenza outbreak management plan in place.  

Suggested check-list for dog owners and kennels:

1. Pet should be up-to-date on the following vaccines – rabies, distemper, bordetella, and influenza;
2. Pet should have a recent negative fecal sample done via an outside laboratory;
3. Pet should  be treated for fleas and ticks (Revolution, Vectra or Top Spot / Frontline are recommended);
4. To minimize post-boarding diarrhea, start your pet on a good quality pro-biotic one week prior to boarding.  Consider bringing your dog’s own food to the kennel.  If your dog has a sensitive stomach, get prescription intestinal related foods from your veterinarian (such as, low residue, EN, I/D).

Hopefully, this year, Fido will have fun and a smooth boarding experience.

For further questions, you may email Dr. Barnea at info@njvet.com.  

Dr. Barnea is a 1992 graduate of Tufts University, School of Veterinary Medicine and a practicing veterinarian in Northern New Jersey.    

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