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At Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital our goal be sure that each client recieves the best personalized service that we can offer. In order to do that we need your feedback! Please click on the link below to take our survey. Any further comments or suggestions are greatly welcomed!
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Fat Cats, Dogs Developing Diabetes, Report Finds: MedlinePlus
Fat Cats, Dogs Developing Diabetes, Report Finds
Friday, May 13, 2011 
FRIDAY, May 13 (HealthDay News) — Like all good pet owners, Christine Wong didn’t hesitate to go to a veterinary clinic near her home in Austin, Texas, when her cat, Kiki, wasn’t feeling well.
“She just wasn’t acting like herself,” recalled Wong.
After running a blood and urine test, the doctor discovered the Persian-mix feline has diabetes.
Diabetes is on the rise as America’s cats and dogs grow fatter, according to a new report by Banfield Pet Hospital, a national chain of pet hospitals headquartered in Portland, Ore. Since 2006, diabetes jumped 32 percent in dogs and 16 percent in cats, says the report, which analyzed trends in common and preventable illnesses from the past five years.
Just as in people, diabetes is often linked to obesity and may require lifelong monitoring and treatment.
“The most important thing we can do for a cat with diabetes is getting it on a weight loss program,” said Dr. Denise Elliott, a veterinarian with Banfield.
“We know that if we can get the weight off in conjunction with insulin injections, in many cases we can resolve the cat’s diabetes,” she added.
Fat cats are six times more likely to develop diabetes than their thinner feline cousins, Elliott said.
For the report, researchers crunched data from the records of 2.5 million dogs and cats cared for last year in its 770 hospitals nationwide.
Symptoms of diabetes in both dogs and cats may include excessive urination, increased thirst and weight loss, despite a hearty appetite. If not detected and treated early, dogs in advanced stages of the disease might develop cataracts and cats may experience hind-limb weakness, Elliott said.
There are two types of diabetes mellitus. Dogs often get type 1 (insulin-dependent), which is similar to the form seen in children, in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that helps cells turn sugar into energy. Breeds prone to the condition are bichon frise, cairn terrier, dachshund, keeshond, miniature poodle and puli.
Cats are commonly affected by type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin dependent, in which the pancreas produces insulin but the body does not respond normally to it. At-risk breeds include Maine coon, Russian blue and Siamese.
For dogs with diabetes, it’s usually a lifelong battle. Along with a special diet, they typically need insulin injections twice a day, veterinarians say. Once clinical signs resolve, blood glucose concentrations are monitored every three to four months to determine if changes to the treatment plan are necessary.
But the outlook for dogs is good. “Typically dogs that are treated properly for diabetes go on to live a long, full life,” said Dr. Charles Wiedmeyer, assistant professor of veterinary clinical pathology at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Wiedmeyer and colleague Dr. Amy DeClue, assistant professor of veterinary internal medicine, recently adapted a device used to monitor glucose in humans to help dogs with diabetes that don’t respond well to conventional treatment. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are flexible devices inserted an inch or so into the skin to provide detailed information on sugar levels.
Using a CGM, a dog’s blood sugar levels can be monitored at home in everyday situations rather than in a cage at the animal hospital, they say. Normally, veterinarians create an insulin regimen by taking blood from the animal in the clinic every two hours over the course of a single day. But test results are often inaccurate, he said, because of stress felt by pets from being in an unfamiliar environment.
Adapting to the needs of a diabetic pet isn’t easy. When Kiki, Wong’s cat, was diagnosed three years ago with diabetes, the toughest part was getting used to giving the insulin shots, Wong said.
Now it’s a breeze, she noted. Kiki receives insulin injections every 12 hours — before Wong leaves for work and when she returns home — plus occasional check-ups and a modified diet.
It costs Wong about $65 a month to manage her pet’s disease. But she doesn’t mind the added cost or extra time spent in caring for Kiki.
“In the end, she and I are definitely closer for all of it,” said Wong. “She lives well and seems healthy and happy these days, far from the end. And this makes it all worth it.”
SOURCES: Charles Wiedmeyer, D.V.M., assistant professor of veterinary clinical pathology, University of Missouri, Columbia; Christine Wong, Austin, Texas; Denise Elliott, D.V.M., veterinarian, Banfield Pet Hospital; 2011 State of Pet Health Report, Banfield Pet Hospital
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Hudson Valleys 3rd Annual Petpalooza
We’d like to invite all of the friends and family of the Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital to join us at the 3rd annual Hudson Vally Petpalooza this Saturday, May 21st, from 11am to 5pm at the Dutchess County Fair Grounds! There will be great fun, music and food for all and leashed pets are welcome.
You will find us at the Rabies Clinic booth where we will be giving vaccines to help raise money for P.A.N.T, a local rescue organization that gives help to pets that need assistance in finding a home. The rabies vaccines will be given at ten dollars per pet and ALL funds will be donated to the many pets in our area that are in need!
For More information on the Petpalooza or the organizations that will benefit from this charity event please check out their web site www.hudsonvalleypetpalooza.com
We hope to see you all there!
National Pet Dental Health Month
When was the last time you brushed your pet’s teeth? Studies show that fewer than 1% of pet owners brush their pets’ teeth daily. As odd as it may seem brushing your pets teeth on a regular basis is just as important for maintaining their health as it is for us. Good oral care combined with annual wellness exams and routine dental cleanings is the best way to prevent periodontal disease and the health risks associated with it.¬¨‚Ć Some of the most common warning signs of periodontal disease are:
- Plaque and calculus buildup
- Gingival recession
- Mobile teeth
- Excessive salivation
- Chewing difficulties
- Halitosis 
There are four stages of periodontal disease. Once a specific stage is diagnosed, tailored therapy and prevention of future disease is recommended.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Therapy involves removing plaque from the teeth and encouraging pet owners to perform home care such as tooth brushing, wipes and/or dental treats.
Stage 2: Early periodontal disease exists when <25% tooth support is lost.
Therapy involves removing a small amount of gum tissue (gingivectomy) or applying a local antibiotic (Doxirobe) in cases of small pockets. Where there is gum recession, usually home preventive care is all that is recommended after the teeth are cleaned.
Stage 3: Established periodontal disease exists when 25%–50% tooth support is lost.
Treatment involves decreasing or eliminating the periodontal pocket if present.
Stage 4: Advanced periodontal disease exists when >50% tooth support is lost.
Because there is very little support of the teeth, extraction is the treatment of choice. Prevention of periodontal disease affecting adjacent teeth is very important.
Routine examination of your pets teeth should be done every year in combination with the annual wellness exam to check for any signs of dental disease.  As your pet grows older the chances of periodontal disease increases. Because of this many veterinarians will suggest  examing the pet every six months and may want to schedule a  routine dental cleaning annually. By following simple guidelines for good oral health along with the reccomendations of your veterinarian, not only will your four legged friend have fresh breath and spakling teeth, they will also have a healthy and longer life.
Kidney Disease in Dogs and Cats
Kidney disease is another common ailment afflicting our pets. Unfortunately, by the time signs are obvious (drinking lots of water, intermittent vomiting and/or diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss, even seizures), the illness is often so advanced that there is little that can be done. Since progression is often gradual, an owner may not know their pet is ill until it is too late.  By the time kidney blood values are abnormally high, as much as 75% of the kidney is affected by disease, often permanently.
What causes the kidney to fail?  Advancing age, severe /chronic or recurrent infections, high blood pressure (yes! cats and dogs can have high blood pressure!), kidney stones, birth defects like cysts in the kidneys, poisons like antifreeze, Lyme Disease, Leptospirosis, and, in some dogs, an adverse reaction to grapes and raisins.
What can we do to recognize kidney problems at the very earliest stage?  Simple.  Bring a urine sample into the office for analysis.  The laboratory will test the pH, look for crystals and various cell types, check for sugar, and, most importantly, look for leakage of proteins.  Protein leakage is the earliest sign that kidneys may be diseased, although the presence of excess protein in the urine does not, by itself, diagnose the reason for that leakage.
The full scope of kidney disease cannot be detailed today in our blog.  For that, take a look at theses articles published at www.DVM360.com.
Prolong Life and kidney Function(Proceedings)
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/Medicine/Prolonging-life-and-kidney-function-Proceedings/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/651332?contextCategoryId=45705
11 Guidelines for Conservatively Treating Chronic Kidney Disease-Veterinary Medicine
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/Medicine/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/478487
Acute Intrinsic Renal Failure(AIRF)- Causes and Prevention
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/Medicine/Acute-intrinsic-renal-failure-AIRF—causes-and-pr/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/651367?contextCategoryId=45705
But what I DO want to do today is stress the importance of that urine sample.  Few of us can go to our own physicians without providing a sample to our doctor.  Why would it be any different for our pet cat or dog?  For ease of collection, use a pie plate for a dog – even a jar top will work for a tiny tea-cup toy breed.  A half-teaspoon of urine is enough to run the full battery of tests listed above.
As for our fastidious feline friends, if you insert a cat’s litter box into a clean dry cleaning bag, 75% of cats will urinate on the plastic since they can (a) see their litter, (b) feel their litter beneath their paws, and (c) dry cleaning plastic does not crinkle.  We also sell a black plastic bead litter called Nosorb which can also convince cats to give us a sample, but the plastic bag trick works better. 
After the sample is obtained, a clean zip lock bag works well as a convenient container for urine for transport to the hospital.  If you can’t come right away, store the urine in the refrigerator.  It will be adequate for most purposes for up to 24 hours.  Special timing is sometimes needed for pets on special diets due to bladder stones, but you would be told those instructions if that were the case.
Urine has been called by some as “the Golden Elixir of Life,” and I couldn’t agree more.  As a pet owner myself, I have lost both a dog and a cat to kidney disease, fortunately in their old age.  Still, it didn’t make it any easier. Monitoring urine results for all your pets on a regular basis is as important as checking stools for parasites on a regular basis.  Kidney disease is most quickly recognized in a urinalysis before blood tests will be abnormal, and collecting a urine sample can be done at home.  A regular urinalysis is a win-win for both you AND your pet.
Thyroid Disease in Dogs and Cats
As a general rule, dogs as they age risk becoming HYPO-thyroid (LOW activity of the gland) while cats risk becoming HYPER- thyroid (HIGH activity of the gland).  What does the thyroid gland do?  What are the signs of high or low activity?  Once we understand the role of the thyroid gland in health, the signs that develop in disease are easy to understand.
The thyroid gland is the main regulator of energy balance in the body.  If you have an extremely active gland, like in a hyperthyroid cat, calories are burned rapidly and extensively.  The cat loses weight, even if the cat eats more.  The cat also drinks more, since when calories are metabolized, water is needed to wash the waste products from the body.  The greater the number of calories burned, the more water is needed. It is also hard for the cat to rest as the body is always set to “on.”  So insomnia and restlessness is common.  Owners often complain that there cat demands extra attention, play, and food.  Or that their cat becomes agitated and irritable – grooming excessively to the point of baldness or fighting with other cats in the household.
For the HYPOthyroid dog, the opposite is true.  A hypothyroid dog is likely to be sluggish, sleep more, eat less yet put on weight, and be less interested in playing or joining family activities.  Another role of the thyroid involves the immune system.  Recurrent skin and ear infections are common if a dog does not have enough thyroid hormone.  Loss of hair to the point of bald patches can also occur, even without infections.  Typically, hair first begins to thin on the tail and then friction areas like the sides of the hocks.
Interestingly, some dog breeds are at greater risk for developing hypothyroidism, while no known breed risk in cats for hyperthyroidism exists.¬¨‚Ć Doberman Pinschers and their cousins the Rottweiler’s are considered breeds at greatest risk for hypothyroidism.
Fortunately, treatment for our dogs is very simple; thyroid supplements in pill form are easy to administer once the condition is recognized.  Blood tests will show if an individual needs more or less than the standard dose.  Most signs of disease are gone within 90 days.
Our cats can be treated with radioactive iodine treatment (Thyro Cat or Hy-Purr Cat).  This is the same treatment that is used for humans with hyperthyroidism.  It seems very expensive, but, over the life of your cat, it really isn’t.
Alternatively, a drug called methimazole will suppress the thyroid’s ability to secrete the excess hormone.  This does not eliminate the disease since the thyroid continues to enlarge in size, but it does eliminate the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.  Blood levels are monitored and drug doses adjusted accordingly.
Thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disorder in our pets.  Fortunately, early recognition, testing, and treatment can successfully treat both our cats and our dogs, extending not only their life span, but the quality of their life as well.
To learn more about treatment at one of the Thyrocat  or Hypurr Cat facilities please visit www.thyrocat.com or www.hypurrcat.com
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Senior at Seven?
Eight does not seem old for our pets, but it is old enough for things to start to go wrong with your pet‚Äö√Ñ√¥s health. The risks of age-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and thyroid or adrenal disorders are much more commonly diagnosed after the age of seven than before that age. And this is true of both dogs and cats. Life expectancy for cats is 11 years for indoor/outdoor cats and 13 years for indoor cats. Life expectancy for dogs is influenced by size — the larger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. Toy and small breed dogs life expectancy is 13 years, 10 to 12 years for mid-size breeds like Labradors, but only 8 years for a giant breed like a Great Dane. Many individuals may extend their lives well beyond these limits, but, as a colleague of mine tells her clients, ‚Äö√Ñ√∫Every year after 10 is a gift.‚Äö√Ñ√π Our best aid in deferring the inevitable loss of our pets is to begin to monitor their health at age 7, before the risks of illness begin to increase dramatically. Important baseline information should be gathered at that time, and then followed once or twice yearly from that point forward. A physical examination needs to be supplemented with either or both urine and blood tests to discover problems that I cannot see with my eyes, feel with my hands, or hear with my stethoscope. Kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid diseases all fall into this large category, and the patterns of disease vary between cats and dogs. Over the next several weeks, we‚Äö√Ñ√¥ll talk about these conditions and the need to diagnose and monitor them with special tests.
Sweeties Progress-May 2010
  Sweetie’s blood work continued to be free of any leukemia throughout the winter, but, beginning in February, her kidney values began to rise.  Urinalyses and a review of her entire medical record revealed that this was simply due to old age, not any effect of the cancer or the anti-cancer drugs.  Nor did she have any infection or relapse of her Anaplasmosis.  As her cancer was well controlled, we stopped the CEENU in March and began to decrease her doses of prednisolone.  By April, her kidney values were almost twice normal, but she was still her old sweet Sweetie self.  However, she tired easily and could no longer go to her beloved Vanderbilt.  By May, she no longer felt like eating, and so, on May 21, 2010, Sweetie was peacefully tranquilized and then euthanized at her home in Mr. Lipton’s arms on the couch. I am grateful to have known this lovely dog who, thanks to the dedication of the Lipton family and the generosity of countless individuals and philanthropic organizations, beat cancer and lived long enough to die peacefully at home in her old age.
The Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital would like to thank the community for all of the generous support that was given to Sweetie in her time of need. Your generous donations enabled us to give her a good quality of life for the time she had left here with us.
We would also like to thank the Senior Animal Medical Aid Fund for their unwavering care and support of Sweetie. Their fund raising efforts were a big contibution in giving Sweetie the health and happiness she deserved during the last years of her life.
Sweetie’s Progress- December 2009
Blog Six:¬¨‚Ć Well, we‚Äö√Ñ√¥ve beaten the odds.¬¨‚Ć Sweetie has lived one year¬¨‚Ć — six months beyond the expected outcome for Lymphocytic Leukemia.¬¨‚Ć Last week, at her ‚Äö√Ñ√∫fighting weight‚Äö√Ñ√π of 47.3#, she finally was able to do her entire, beloved Vanderbilt circuit. We plan to decrease her CEENU dose slightly by dosing her every 4th week, instead of every third.¬¨‚Ć This is still a published protocol, and while one might say ‚Äö√Ñ√∫if it ain‚Äö√Ñ√¥t broke, don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t fix it,‚Äö√Ñ√π but Sweetie is clearly in remission, so lowering her drug dosages are indicated. Everything has gone wonderfully well for Sweetie in 2009 ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ let‚Äö√Ñ√¥s look forward to a wonderful 2010!
Sweetie’s Progress-November 2009
Three more pounds!¬¨‚Ć Blood values remain excellent, her strength stable, and she is enjoying her hikes at Vanderbilt Mansion again, although she still cannot go as far as she once did.¬¨‚Ć Sweetie continues to do very well as we approach her first anniversary of when the prednisolone/CEENU protocol was initiated for her Lymphocytic Leukemia –December 16, 2008
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