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Recently I have had several questions concerning declawing cats. Let me start by saying the purpose of this article is not to encourage or discourage this procedure; but rather, to clear up misconceptions about this procedure. Owners may elect to declaw their cats for several reasons. The most common reasons being their cat may be destructive with their claws or their cat is aggressive. In either case, the behavior affects how well the cat fits into the home environment. In some cases, the behavior makes them unsuitable pets.
The correct medical term for declaw is Onychectomy. The goal of the surgery is to remove the tissue responsible for the growth of the nail; most commonly, it is done to the front feet only. These results can be achieved in several different ways and some of these procedures are superior to others. Contrary to popular belief, the nails are not “ripped out.” In fact when done correctly, the procedure is no more painful than many other elective surgeries we perform such as spaying or neutering. The second popular belief is the declawed cats are unable to defend themselves. This procedure is not advocated for the “outdoor” cat where claws would be needed for hunting and defense. Indoor cats however, are not in need of protection nor are they required to hunt.
The first surgical method we will discuss is where the third phalanx, the last bone of the finger so to speak, is cut. This involves the actual cutting of the bone and fortunately is rarely done these days. This method involves post-surgical discomfort which is why this method has fallen out of favor.
The second method involves removal of the entire third phalanx. With this technique, the removal is through the joint. There is no cutting of bone which means far less discomfort. There are a couple of specific ways to do this. One is the use of a scalpel to dissect down to and through the joint space while the second method is the use of a laser. The laser method is far superior as it minimizes inflammation and post-surgical discomfort. Additionally, there is minimal bleeding due to the cauterization of the blood vessels by the laser. Most commonly, cats that have had this procedure do not exhibit any signs of discomfort post-surgery. From a cosmetic standpoint, the feet appear normal other than lacking a nail and the cat’s behavior remains unchanged.
Declawing is not for every cat or every cat owner; however, it does have its place. When done in a humane manner, it can make a cat a more enjoyable pet and family member.
Dr. Ronald S. Ball DVM, MS is a veterinarian in practice with Animal Care Extraordinaire in Stuart, Florida. This small animal veterinary clinic has been located in Martin County for over 30 years. To learn more about the hospital, you may visithttp://www.acevets.com or call 772 287-2513.
Our veterinary practice is celebrating 30 years in business! In celebration of this, I thought I would take a walk down memory lane and look back at the early 80’s. We all recall the Rubik’s Cube and Michael Jackson’s Thriller but what was the status in the world of veterinary medicine? It was much different than today.
The early 80’s found the veterinary world faced with a new disease called Parvovirus. The disease first appeared in 1978 and by the early 80’s was widespread throughout the dog population. The disease was poorly understood and there was no natural immunity to the condition. Veterinarians feared this disease like no other as its aggressive progression typically resulted in the patient not surviving. If this wasn’t bad enough, the highly contagious nature of the disease typically resulted in large outbreaks both inside and outside the clinic. Currently through advances in medicine and understanding of the disease, we are now able to prevent and, in most cases, effectively treat the disease.
Likewise, the prevention of heart worm disease in dogs was in its infancy back in the 80’s. Monthly preventatives had not yet been developed and we needed daily medications to prevent the infection by this parasite. Many of you may recall giving your dog Filarabits on a daily basis. Despite heart worms being described in the early 1900’s, it was not a primary disease until the late 1970 and early 1980’s. And even then, it was considered a regional condition that was confined primarily to the Gulf Coast region. Today, it’s one of the most commonly encountered diseases in both dogs and cats and one of the easiest to prevent. The new generation of monthly preventatives is highly effective in both species. These disease changes were not confined to the dog population. The Feline Aids disease was non-existent and made its appearance in 1986 when veterinarians in California isolated the virus in cats. Today, researchers are still working to develop effective vaccines to remedy this condition.
Fleas have been around for centuries. However, in the last thirty years we have made huge technological advances in the control of this parasite. Back in the “olden days” we relied on applying toxins to our pets as well as to the environment in which they (and we) lived. It was a delicate balance attempting to apply enough toxins to control the fleas without making the patient sick. With the advent of new non-toxic, monthly application, flea controls, there is no reason for you or your pet to be annoyed by the parasites.
During our time in practice, the advent of veterinary “specialists” has emerged. Previously, these highly trained veterinarians were typically employed by universities and often unavailable to the general public. Today, even a relatively small town like Stuart can successfully support a wide range of specialists which, in turn, allows for better care for our pets. We, ourselves, continue to keep current with technological advances. We embraced the advent of laser surgery and digital radiography as well as the latest technology in patient monitoring systems – all of which have helped provide “state of the art’ care.
Here’s a peek at how “Animal Care Extraordinaire” has evolved over the last thirty years. First off, Dr. Diamond had more hair and the practice was a one man show. Nineteen years ago, I joined the practice. And yes –at one time, we even had a mobile animal hospital. Throughout these years, we have developed close associations with community agencies allowing us to provide much needed services to the public. We set up shop in Indiantown once a month for over twenty years. We support and utilize the services of Animal Birth Control. We provided one of our canine deputies with a bulletproof vest. Our commitment to community continues. Recently, we have begun a relationship with “Help Us Help Them,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping pets and pet owners in financial need.
But most important, over the last 30 years we have had the pleasure of caring for some very special pets, owned by some very special people. We hope that never changes.
As the holidays roll around, we pet owners tend to want to treat our loved ones to something special from the dinner table. Due to this, veterinarians see an increase in the maladies associated with dietary changes during this season. When pet owners give their pets such “treats”, they unknowingly increase the risk of several conditions that can potentially make our furry family members quite ill.
The first condition we see is known as dietary indiscretion or “garbage gut”. This can occur with any change in the regular feeding habits of our pets. The quality of the food has little or no bearing on how sick your pet can become. In other words, your pets’ suffering does not mean you are a bad cook, only that the particular food does not sit well and will result in vomiting and/or diarrhea. In most cases of dietary indiscretion, gastrointestinal protectants are enough to solve the problem.
The next condition is much more serious. Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas, which can result in a life threatening illness. It is typically seen in dogs after they have eaten fatty foods and is more common in smaller and specific breeds such as Schnauzers. However, any breed is susceptible. The signs of pancreatitis in dogs are typically severe vomiting and diarrhea. Upon examination, the pet will display a sensitive abdomen, often accompanied with fever and anorexia. The condition can also occur in cats and does not need to be associated with a fatty diet. Also the signs in cats are much less specific and diagnosis is much more difficult. The signs can range from simple anorexia to vomiting to jaundice. In both species, treatment consists of antibiotics, fluid therapy, pain control and sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs.
Many pet owners are aware that chocolate can be quite toxic to both dogs and cats. Chocolate contains theobromine which is a xanthine compound, thus chocolate ingestion is often referred to as bromine or xanthine toxicity. Dogs do not break this down as quickly as humans and because of this slow digestion, they are more susceptible to the toxic effects. These effects are similar to what a person would experience after ingesting a large amount of caffeine. These symptoms include excitement, hyperactivity, increased urination, increased blood pressure and in severe cases, seizures.
There are two points to note. Firstly, for true chocolate toxicity to present itself in a dog there must be a rather significant ingestion of chocolate. One piece of chocolate should not be enough to cause this reaction. As an example, a 50 pound dog would need to ingest approximately 1 pound of semisweet chocolate to reach the toxic level. Baker’s chocolate is nearly 2 times stronger; hence the same dog would exhibit signs of toxicity after ingesting only about 5 ounces. Secondly, chocolate can cause either of the above conditions of dietary indiscretion or pancreatitis to occur. Following the ingestion of chocolate, either of these illnesses is actually much more common than theobromine toxicity.
Think about these facts before you succumb to the urge to treat your pets. It is wise to try to avoid these fatty foods and chocolate—even small amounts.
Lumps and bumps are a common finding in dogs and cats of any age and of either gender. When evaluating any type of mass it is important to look at several criteria to help determine if it is something we should be concerned about. Those benchmarks include:
- How old is the patient? It is not typical to see aggressive tumors in younger patient. There are a few tumor types that do target younger patients however most of those are not aggressive.
- What species is the patient? Some tumors are more common in certain species; others are more aggressive. For example, mammary tumors in cats tend to have a much greater frequency of being malignant or cancerous than they do in dogs. Likewise species will affect our prognosis. Certain tumor types respond to therapy better in one species but not as well in others.
- What breed is the patient? Many tumors have breed predilections. Some carry a worse prognosis in certain breeds. The classic example of this is the mast cell tumor seen in Boxers. Another would be an increased incidence in lipomas in Schnauzers andLabradors. We see more of these in overweight patients.
- Is the patient spayed or neutered? Hormones can play a significant role in the formation of certain tumors. Tumors are more common in the non-altered patient. This is one of the basic benefits of spaying or neutering your pet. Those tumors most commonly affected by the presence of a reproductive tract include perineal adenomas, mammary gland carcinomas and prostatic tumors. All these are found much less frequently in spayed or neutered patients.
- Is the lump hard or soft? Fatty nodules or lipomas are one of the more common types of masses we see. These are soft accumulations of fat and typically solitary. They are not usually aggressive. However, many of our more aggressive types of tumors are hard to the touch so a general feel of the tumor helps to determine our course of action.
- Is the mass ulcerated? Masses that are ulcerated offer a couple of problems. Being ulcerated is typically an indication that the core is necrotic and thus is a constant source of infection. Additionally, most ulcerated masses are rapidly growing where the mass has outgrown the blood supply resulting in the necrosis. Ulceration is one of those key signs that a tumor needs to be removed.
- Where is the mass located? Certain tumors have an affinity for certain locations on the body and this may help to determine the course of treatment. Remember the feline mammary gland example? When these tumors are found, our first thought should be surgical removal. Splenic as well as tumors in the mouth follow the same criteria.
- Is the mass solitary or are there many masses or other “bumps”? Aggressive tumors spread through the body using either the blood or lymphatic system. Those utilizing the lymph system frequently present with multiple swollen lymph nodes. This is a key factor in determining our course of treatment as well as prognosis.
- Is the mass bothersome? While many tumors may not be cancerous, they may require attention if they are causing an annoyance to the owner or patient. For example, tumors on the ear may increase head shaking while tumors in the ear canal may lead to greater frequency of infections. Tumors on the feet and legs may result in gait abnormalities leading to increased incidences of arthritis and other joint problems. So while a tumor might not be malignant or cancerous, many times it does require attention.
There is only one true method to determine what type of tumor our pets have. That requires getting a sample of the cells that compose the tumor and having them classified microscopically by a pathologist. This can be done by pulling off some cells or by removing the tumor.
For many pet owners, spaying or castrating their pet is an important decision. While “neutering” is the correct term for either spaying a female or castrating a male, it is often a term associated with the male pet. This surgical procedure involves the removal of the reproductive organs of both the male and female pet.
In the female, it involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and most of the uterus. Removing the ovaries not only sterilizes the female but also stops the heat cycle. If the ovaries are not removed, the pet would continue to go into heat regularly and eliminate several of the benefits realized by spaying. Every time a female pet goes into heat, she increases her chances of developing mammary tumors later in life. Spaying your pet at an early age significantly decreases this risk. Another benefit to the animal is the prevention of pyometras. This condition can be seen in middle-aged, unspayed females who, during their heat cycle, acquire a uterine infection. Mating is not required for this to occur. As time goes on, this infection becomes more severe and could require emergency surgery.
Neutering in the male involves the surgical removal of the testes. Neutering helps to decrease or prevent several of the unwanted behaviors of male animals. Some of these behaviors are marking their territory, roaming and aggressiveness. Male dogs have a prostate which, over time, can become dramatically enlarged in the unneutered patient. This can result in difficulty with urination and or bowel movements and lead to life threatening problems. Additionally, there are some tumors that are influenced by the presence of testicular-produced hormones. Like spaying, castration decreases the odds of developing these types of tumors later in life.
Neutering your pet is an easy and relatively low cost procedure that can help lead to a long and healthy life for your loved family member.
Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant or cancerous tumor found in the abdomen of dogs. It is most commonly found in the larger breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors or Golden Retrievers. This tumor originates in the blood vessels but is most often found in the spleen; it can also be found on the skin and the heart. Due to its blood vessel origins, these tumors bleed excessively. A common sign exhibited is a lethargic patient who tires easily. Upon examination, the veterinarian may find an anemic patient whose abdomen is distended due to the presence of free blood in the belly.
These tumors can range in size from golf ball to softball size or larger and can be difficult to treat due to this cancer’s aggressive nature. The tumor can quickly metastasize and spread to other locations within the body making removal impossible. Prior to any treatment, it is necessary to ensure that spreading has not occurred. The veterinarians will ultrasound the chest and abdomen to detect if the tumor is isolated to the spleen. If it is, surgical removal of the spleen followed by chemotherapy is the appropriate course of action. Even with this aggressive treatment, the average survival time for patients diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma is 3 weeks to 3 months. Only 10% survive longer than a year.
Note the spleen that has been removed and observe the nodule on it.
Despite the poor prognosis, there are patients who have “beaten the odds.” These cases make our jobs rewarding.
Tyson
“Tyson” is one of those cases. “Tyson” was diagnosed in early February of 2011. He immediately had his spleen removed and had 3 rounds of chemotherapy. As of this writing, I am happy to report that “Tyson” is doing very well and, like always, is happy to see us!
Recently, one of the more exciting and innovative areas of veterinary medicine is the development of stem cell therapy for the treatment of degenerative joint conditions or “arthritis” in dogs. Also known as regenerative medicine, the technique is a rather simple one. Your veterinarian harvests stem cells from your pet. This is most commonly obtained by removing some fat from the abdomen through an incision much like a spay incision. This tissue is then sent to a lab where the stem cells are extracted and purified, frozen, then returned to the veterinarian within 48 hours where it is then placed in the joint of the patient by way of a needle.
Stem cells are basically primitive cells that have the potential to become any other type of cell. The cell they become is determined by the area in which they are placed. Thus when using them to treat arthritic conditions and placing them in the joint, they become cartilage cells. They then help fill in the microscopic defects in the joint surface that occurs over your pet’s life and leads to the discomfort associated with joint degeneration. Additionally, these stem cells produce compounds which work locally to counter inflammation and stimulate vascularization of the local environment.
Regenerative medicine is not for every patient with arthritis but it is an alternative for those that do not respond to more traditional approaches. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this procedure.
One of the more common pet concerns is ear problems. Ear infections are typically manifested by the pet shaking and rubbing their head; a discharge or an odor from the ears and, infrequently, abnormal or aggressive behavior. So, what causes these problems and why are dogs and cats especially susceptible?
Ear infections fall into three categories. The first is fungal or yeast based infections, the second is bacterial and the third category is parasitic. Of the three, the parasitic ear mite infection is the least common and typically the easiest to treat. It is important to note that, it is not uncommon to have more than one of these issues occurring at the same time.
Moist dark areas tend to encourage the growth of fungus and bacteria, so any condition that allows for increased water content within the ear canal can and will lead to infections. Your pet’s ear canal differs from ours. Rather than being a short straight tube, it is long and “S” shaped. This curved anatomy offers areas where moisture can reside and the length inhibits the drying process. A “floppy” ear flap also slows the drying process and tends to trap that moisture. Some breeds have large amounts of hair in the canal which tends to wick moisture into the canal. Many breeds have small ear openings which inhibits drying of the canal.
The most common predisposing factor for the development of ear infections is allergies. Allergies tend to cause a narrowing of the canal due to an inflammation in the tissue that develops in the canal. Most patients have a combination of these factors which tend to encourage the development of otitis externa.
Diagnosis of an “ear infection” typically involves looking into the ear canal with an otoscope. This allows the veterinarian to view the canal to see if there is discharge and redness – both being signs of a problem. Typically some of the material will be removed and examined under a microscope to determine whether the infection is parasitic, bacterial or fungal based. This determination forms the basis for our treatment plan.
Treatment of otitis tends to be a two-pronged approach. The first step is to clean up the ears and remove all the debris so medications can get to the infection. Next, we attack the bacteria, fungus or parasite. This most commonly involves drops or ointments depending on what the causative agent is and what the ear canal looks like. In cases of bacterial infections, oral or systemic antibiotics may be utilized. Many times steroids are used to help resolve the inflammation in the canal to reduce the swelling and open up the canal.
Prevention of recurrence is the second step in ear health. This typically involves a maintenance protocol of cleaning the ears on a one to two times a week basis. The ear flushing solution acts to dry out the ear and discourage recurrence of the offending organisms. In many cases it is also important to address some of the predisposing factors such as allergies, hair in the canal, or the anatomy of a narrow ear canal. Long term success is dependent on addressing both the current infection as well as the other issues that may lead to future ear infections.
In an effort to raise public awareness about the oral health of our pets, February has been designated as “Pet Dental Health Month” by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). While it may seem “normal” for our pets to have “doggy breath,” odor originating from an animal’s mouth is as abnormal as odor from our own mouths.
Prior to cleaning
Take a minute to look into your pet’s mouth. You should see white, smooth, shiny teeth not loose teeth, broken teeth or teeth covered with plaque. Just like we clean our teeth through brushing and flossing, our pets benefit from these same habits and rely on us to care for their oral hygiene.
A Healthy Mouth
Dental care has three specific areas of interest – what happens above the gums; what happens below the gums and what happens within the pet’s body. A quality dental cleaning addresses all of these concerns. It requires anesthesia to thoroughly clean both under the gums as well as to check for solid, strong tooth roots.
Poor dental hygiene can lead to problems that may appear to be unrelated to dental health. The most common problems are heart disease due to long-term infection as well as changes within the liver. Proper cleaning lessens the risk of developing these secondary changes and should be a part of your pet’s routine health care.
Animal Care Extraordinaire 