Parasites pose a threat to our pets’ health and can also cause serious illness in people as well.  Parasites that affect pets include heartworms, fleas, intestinal worms, mites and ticks.  Both veterinarians and medical doctors agree that pets should be on a parasite prevention program.

Fortunately, parasite prevention medications are very effective, safe and easy to administer.  They are usually given as a once a month topical, or a chewable pill(dogs).  Dogs are required to have an annual heartworm blood test, but cats do not need this test(there is no reliable heartworm test for cats at present date).  All pets should also have an annual stool sample tested for intestinal worms and parasites.

If your pet is not on a parasite prevention program, it’s recommended to speak to a veterinarian to decide which program best suits your pet.  Preventing parasites is easier, more effective and more economical than treating a parasitic illness.

North Yonge Veterinary Hospital

Website:  www.northyongevet.com

Phone:     905 830-0437

Email:      drarzem@northyongevet.com

I have 2 ferrets, Fred and Wilma who have not received any vaccines since I adopted them 2 years ago.  I have been reluctant to have them vaccinated because I have heard that ferrets can have severe vaccine reactions.  What are your thoughts on vaccinations in ferrets?  M.V.

Dear M.V. –

I think that it is important for ferrets to be current on their vaccinations, but I certainly am very conscious of the potential for vaccination reactions.  Ferrets should be vaccinated against both distemper and rabies.  Typically, ferrets will receive a single distemper vaccine at the breeding facility, and then they should receive two additional distemper boosters at 3 to 4 week intervals, as well as a single vaccination for rabies.  Then, ferrets should be examined annually, and updated on these vaccinations.  Since ferrets seem to be particularly sensitive to vaccinations, I always separate the distemper and rabies vaccines by at least 2 weeks, and I ask the owners to remain in the waiting area for 20 minutes after the immunizations in order to monitor for possible adverse reactions.  Signs of vaccine reactions in ferrets include salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, and extreme weakness.  Vaccine reactions are treated by administering injections of Benadryl, dexamethasone and epinephrine.  For severe reactions, an intravenous catheter is placed in the front arm, and fluids are administered to support the blood pressure and to manage shock.  If a reaction is very severe, your veterinarian may decide not to vaccinate your ferret in the future.  For less severe reactions, an intramuscular injection of Benadryl given 20 to 30 minutes prior to the vaccination is often successful in preventing a reaction.

One must always weigh the risks of vaccination against the potential risks of a pet acquiring the actual disease.  In the case of ferrets, distemper is a horrible disease which is 100% fatal.  Ferrets are very susceptible to acquiring distemper disease from dogs.  If you own dogs, or you have any plans for boarding your ferret in a veterinary clinic, it is very important to keep your ferret’s vaccine status up-to-date.

I am expecting my first child in late March.  I have a 5 year-old Labrador Retriever named Gus.  Until now, Gus has been our “only child”.  I am concerned that he will be upset by the new baby.  How do I make things easier for him?  G.N.

Dear G.N. –

It is very thoughtful of you to consider how Gus will react to your new arrival.  Pets definitely require some extra attention when a new baby is introduced to the family.  Dogs, in particular, may be confused by the sudden appearance of a new “pack member”. Dogs have a strong dominance hierarchy.  Their packs are considered “linear” – in other words, a dominant individual is at the head of the pack, and the remaining pack members are arranged beneath this member in descending order of dominance.  Ideally, in your family, you and your husband are the dominant pack members, and Gus understands that his position is below you.  When the new baby is introduced,  Gus may perceive initially that the baby is lower in the pack order than he is, and he may display dominant behaviour towards the baby.  This behaviour may include: growling, ears laid back over the head, and crouching posture.  In addition, dogs which have formed deep bonds with their owners may become “depressed” and stop eating.  If Gus shows any aggressive behaviour, be sure to contact your veterinarian immediately.

Make things easier for Gus by introducing him to the baby’s “stuff” prior to the baby’s arrival.  Take him into the baby’s room, and allow him to investigate the crib, new furniture, and baby powder smells.  When you bring your newborn home, allow Gus to see and smell the baby.  Parents who panic and pull the baby away when a dog approaches may be sending a message to the dog that the baby is a threat.  And, keep Gus out of the baby’s room – unless he is supervised.

It will be very important to spend special quality time with Gus after the baby arrives. Ensure that Gus still gets his daily walk and play sessions.  Remember that he was your “baby” first!

I have a 5 year-old Beagle named “Walter”.  I feed him a high-quality dog food, and I give him enzymatic beef hide chews daily.  Despite this, I can see that Walter has some stained teeth.  My friend mentioned that her dog has had a dental cleaning done without anesthetic.  This sounds like a safer way to have Walter’s teeth cleaned.  What do you think?   P.T.

Dear P.T. –

Your friend is referring to a “standing dental” which involves the removal of obvious tartar from a pet’s mouth while the animal is conscious.  Far from being a “safer” procedure, this process has many risks, and provides absolutely no oral health benefits.  The standing dental provides a purely cosmetic result. In a “standing dental”, only the outer surfaces of the teeth are scaled, and it is not possible to clean under the gumline.  One cannot remove tartar from between the teeth or from the inner surfaces of the teeth. As well, the delicate gum tissue may be lacerated if the pet suddenly moves its head.  A standing dental does not permit a thorough oral cavity examination, and many subtle problems may be missed.  Most importantly, in a “standing dental”, it is impossible to polish all exposed tooth surfaces.  Polishing the teeth is critical in creating a smooth tooth surface to which plaque will be less likely to stick.  The process of scaling teeth inevitably creates numerous microscopic scratches on the enamel surface, and plaque will be easily retained by the rough surface if it is not polished.

For a complete oral health exam and dental treatment, general anesthesia is essential.  While under general anesthesia, Walter’s airway will be protected by a cuffed endotracheal tube which will supply oxygen and anesthetic gas.  The tube will prevent fluid or tartar fragments from being aspirated into Walter’s lungs during his thorough cleaning.  Remember, dogs can’t rinse and spit!

North Yonge Veterinary Hospital

Website: www.northyongevet.com

Phone:    (905) 830-0437

Email:    drkenzie@northyongevet.com

I have a 3 year-old Beagle named “Snickers” who loves to eat anything and everything!  Sometimes while we are walking, she will grab something off the ground and eat it before I can retrieve it.  Last week, Snickers ate a piece of chewing gum off the sidewalk.  A friend told me that chewing gum may be toxic to dogs.  Is this true?    A.T.

Dear A. T. –

That is a very interesting question!  Your friend is probably referring to sugar-free gum which may contain an ingredient known as xylitol.  Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many “sugar-free” products.  In dogs, xylitol strongly promotes the release of insulin.  Insulin drives sugar out of the bloodstream and into cells.  While the release of insulin after meals is a normal physiologic process, the sudden release of a large amount of insulin can cause severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  Hypoglycemia in dogs may manifest as a wobbly gait, trembling, collapse, and even seizures.  In humans, xylitol does not cause the same powerful release of insulin.

The dose which is suspected to cause hypoglycemia in dogs is 0.2 to 0.4 g / kg of body weight.  Chewing gums that use xylitol as the primary sweetener contain about 1 to 2 grams per piece of gum.  Thus, it would take only one or two pieces of gum to cause hypoglycemia in a 10 kg dog!

In addition, xylitol can cause liver cell damage and death in dogs if an amount greater than approximately 2 g /kg is ingested.  Some dogs who have ingested xylitol develop elevated liver enzymes at 8 to 12 hours after ingestion, and then recover fully.  Other dogs develop acute liver failure, and often die.

Obviously, it is important to prevent Snickers from ingesting any products which contain xylitol.

My two-year-old rat, Suzie has a lump on her belly near her hind leg.  She is eating well and is energetic, but the lump seems to be growing quite rapidly.  Could this be a tumour?  B.T.

Dear B.T. -  Yes, it probably is a tumour.  Mammary gland tumours are quite common in rats, and the distribution of mammary tissue is very extensive, ranging from the neck down to the hind legs.

Mammary tumours can reach amazing sizes, and they can occur in both males and females.  Fortunately, the most common type of mammary tumour (a fibroadenoma) is benign.  These tumours can be removed surgically, however, additional tumours can occur elsewhere along the mammary chain.

If you decide not to have the mass removed, you must be prepared for it to become very large, and it may interfere with Suzie’s ability to move around.  As well, the lump will likely become ulcerated from rubbing on the cage bottom, and it may become secondarily infected.

North Yonge Veterinary Hospital

Website: www.northyongevet.com

Phone:    (905) 830-0437

Email:    drkenzie@northyongevet.com

I have two adult cats:  Harvey and Squeaky.    Harvey is a 3 year-old, male, orange tabby, and Squeaky is a 5 year-old, female Siamese.  Recently, I purchased some catnip for my cats’ enjoyment.  Harvey seemed to have a blast with the catnip.  He was rolling around on the ground, and acting “stoned”.  But, the catnip didn’t seem to affect Squeaky at all.  Are some cats resistant to catnip?   F.R.

Dear F.R. –

You are absolutely correct.  Not all cats will react to catnip.  The active ingredient in catnip is an essential oil, nepetalactone.  This oil is produced by an herb plant called Nepeta cataria, which belongs to the mint family.  The ability to respond to nepetalactone is inherited in cats as an autosomal dominant trait.  This means that only one copy of the involved gene is needed to see the effect.  We know that Harvey has received at least one of the dominant genes from his parents.  In contrast, Squeaky  has inherited the recessive “non-catnip-responder” gene from both of her parents and will not react to catnip.  Harvey exhibits a classic response to catnip.  You have probably also seen Harvey lick and chew the plant, shake his head, and rub his chin and cheeks in the catnip. 

Typically, the response lasts about 5 to 15 minutes.  Once a catnip session is over, most cats won’t respond to catnip again for at least an hour.  In kittens, catnip tends to produce a response of avoidance.  Generally, kittens do not show a true interest in catnip until at least 8 weeks, and the behaviour is not fully developed until 3 months of age.

I have recently adopted a new puppy.  A friend has suggested that I buy a crate for him.  I think that the idea of keeping a dog in a cage is cruel.  What do you think?  R.H.

Dear R.H. –

We think that crate-training is an excellent idea for a new puppy.  If used correctly, the crate will provide your puppy with the comfort, privacy, and security of his own den.  You will find the crate to be extremely useful during house-training, and invaluable in preventing damage to your carpets and furniture by the teeth of a curious puppy during periods when he is unsupervised.

The most important thing to remember is to never use the crate as punishment.  Start by putting treats in the crate to allow the puppy to investigate it on his own.  During the day, the crate should be kept in the area of family activity.  At night, it is often helpful to put the crate in your bedroom so that the puppy is comforted by your presence.

It is fine to leave the puppy in his crate overnight, but he should not be left in the crate for more than four consecutive hours during the day.  Our staff at North Yonge Veterinary Hospital can give you specific instructions on how to use the crate effectively and humanely. 

Q:  “My dog is almost 10 years old.  Which common health issues do older dogs face and what are some of the symptoms that I should look out for?”

Most dogs are considered “senior” at age 7 +(9 years old for smaller breeds and cats and 5 years old for giant breeds)

Many of the same diseases that people suffer from in their senior years also affect pets.  Examples include cancer, organ failure (kidneys, heart, liver), hormonal disease, arthritis, and brain/behavior changes.  Of course, early diagnosis of any health problem can significantly improve the prognosis.  Therefore, it is critical to have your senior dog or cat examined regularly – veterinarians recommend a thorough examination twice a year for senior pets.  A good analogy for this point would be that you wouldn’t recommend that a person over age 65 wait 7 years in between their check-ups.  6 months is the equivalent to 3 - 4 years in your pet's life.

Pets often hide diseases until they're quite advanced

Keep in mind that pets in general often “hide” diseases, showing little to no symptoms until the disease has become very advanced.  Disease is detected in 23% of pets 7+ years old who have a senior health check, even though they appear healthy.  An examination and any necessary diagnostics (such as a simple blood or urine test) can detect problems long before they threaten your pet’s health.  Some symptoms to look out for in older pets would include: 

•  any significant change in appetite, thirst or weight
•  vomiting or diarrhea
•  coughing/trouble breathing, lethargy
•  pain or stiffness
•  incontinence (urinating or defecating in the house)
•  behavior changes

Regular, scheduled check-ups are very important for all pets - especially seniors.  At North Yonge Veterinary Hospital, we have a convenient reminder system for our patients' check-ups.  This way, we can easily keep track of “who needs to be examined and when”. 

We can all play an important role in your senior pet’s lifespan, keeping them healthier and happier.

North Yonge Veterinary Hospital

Website: www.northyongevet.com

Phone:    (905) 830-0437

Email:    drarzem@northyongevet.com