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March 2017

Volume 2017, Issue 3 Arthritis in Pets

Inside this issue:

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Weight

Management

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Kennel Cough 3

Doctor Q&A

Case Story – Oakey Mounts

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Photo Showcase

Meet the Lagotto Romagnolo

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Hollywood Insider 2017

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Did you know that your pets can develop arthritis, just like in humans? In dogs, this more commonly occurs in the hips and back legs. This article will give you some pointers on what to watch for and what your veterinarian can possibly do to help. The term arthritis means “inflammation of the joints.” This can occur because of wearing down of joint cartilage, as happens with age. Or it can be caused by an anatomical predisposition, such as a luxating patella, that can lead to arthritis over time. Arthritis most commonly develops as pets get older, or become “seniors.” A pet is considered a senior patient once they reach the age of 7 years. If your senior patient seems to be a little slower getting around, or doesn’t seem to want to play like he used to, these may be signs of pain, such as that caused by arthritis. Another sign may be reluctance to go on that long walk like he used to enjoy, or reluctance to go up and down stairs that used to be no problem. If you notice any of these signs, you might want to schedule a visit with your veterinarian. If it is arthritis causing these activity changes, there are things we can do to help. To diagnose arthritis, and to determine the severity, your veterinarian will likely do a full exam, plus or minus

cats. Glucosamines have been shown to help prevent cartilage from wearing away, although it does not work nearly as well or as quickly as Adequan. Ask your veterinarian if an oral glucosamine would be good for your pet! If glucosamines and/or Adequan are still not quite enough, severe arthritis cases may require a prescription anti-inflammatory or pain medication. There are several of these available, and our veterinarians will tailor the right medication for your pet. Our goal is to keep your pet happy and pain-free! If you think your pet may be developing arthritis or has arthritis already and needs relief, please schedule an appointment!

radiographs. Radiographs will help your vet get a better look at what changes have occurred within the joint capsule, and will help determine what treatment protocol is best for your pet. Once arthritis is diagnosed, your veterinarian may make several recommendations. One common recommendation is starting a series of Adequan inejctions. Adequan is an injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, which works differently than a glucosamine. It helps prevent the cartilage in the joint capsules from wearing away better than an oral glucosamine. It also blocks prostaglandins, which are a cause of inflammation in the joints (causing arthritis). It also helps keep the cartilage healthy and intact so that the bone within the joint does not touch other bone. Adequan is given initially twice a week for 4 weeks, and then it is given once a month as long as necessary. Many pet owners see a change in their pet’s activity and behavior within the first couple of weeks! Some even say their pet acts like he is young again! There are other options available as well. An over-the-counter glucosamine supplement is a good thing to try. We have Flexadin chewables for dogs and cats, Zoom soft chews for dogs, and Glyco-Flex soft chews for

The Bark Around Town

We are now offering a Military Discount, as our way of giving back to

our service members who give so selflessly to us!

All you have to do is present your

Military ID to our front desk. Dependent ID’s are accepted as well. ID must be

in good standing and not expired.

Pet obesity is a growing problem in the veterinary industry. Just like in humans, obesity can contribute to many other health conditions. We encourage all of our clients to keep your pets slim, and there are several ways to help this happen. One of the best things you can do for your pets is to feed a high quality pet food. Royal Canin and Science Diet are two of the top pet food brands. Once you find a good, doctor-approved pet food, you must also pay attention to the feeding chart on the bag of food. Some foods are specific to small breed or large breed dogs, or specific to age, so pay attention to which food you purchase. Senior pets should be fed a diet made for senior pets, as it contains less sodium and more fiber, which our senior pets need. If your pet still seems to be gaining weight while

Weight Management

you are feeding the right amount of a good food, you should speak with your veterinarian about other diet changes that could help. Another thing you can do is to cut back on the amount of treats you give your pets, and NEVER feed people food! People food contains high contents of salt and fat (in general) that dogs and cats do not need. In fact, they are unable to digest many foods the same way we are, and many of the foods we eat will not only cause them to gain weight, but cause the potential for illness such as pancreatitis. Better to just say “no!” Another good thing you can do to keep the weight off is to provide your pets with regular exercise. For dogs, this could be going for walks, or playing Frisbee or fetch in the yard. For cats, a laser light does wonders! If your cat is not interested in a laser

light, there are a lot of interactive cat toys out there to help get your cat moving. Pet obesity, as stated earlier, can contribute to a variety of other health problems. These could include diabetes, Cushing’s disease, arthritis or degenerative joint disease, bad knees, collapsing trachea, and others. Most of these things can be prevented or lessened by simple diet changes, to keep your pets slim and healthy. If you need advice on how to help your pets lose weight, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We will be happy to help you get your pets back on track to a long and healthy life!

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Kennel Cough By Monika Stewart

Generally speaking, the public is familiar with the Rabies vaccine, the 8 in 1 vaccine (DAPPL4), and the importance of these vaccinations. At PetStar Animal Care, we also offer the Bordetella vaccine. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium that is one of the main disease causing agents of “kennel cough”. Kennel cough is a highly contagious form of tracheobronchitis which causes a loud, honking cough. This cough can be mild. Yet, the cough can progress to a condition that is so severe the result is

pneumonia. This bacterium is shed through respiratory secretions and is transmitted through airborne contact with these secretions or direct dog-to-dog contact. “Kennel cough” is aptly named. The transmission of this bacteria greatly increases in locations with overcrowding and less than ideal ventilation (i.e. boarding/grooming facilities). If you plan on boarding your pet or taking your pet to the groomer, it is important your pet be vaccinated against

Bordetella bronchiseptica and you pick a boarding or grooming facility that requires ALL dogs to be FULLY vaccinated (this includes the Rabies vaccine, the DAPPL4 vaccine, AND the Bordetella vaccine). Even if your dog is not likely to be boarded or go to a groomer, it is important to keep in mind ANY dog can meet an unvaccinated dog carrying this bacterium.

If you plan to board your pets or have them

groomed, it is important to go somewhere that requires all pets to be

FULLY vaccinated.

Tip from the PetStar Team:

You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs, but

not see them. If you cannot feel them, your

pet is most likely overweight. If you can

see the ribs, your pet is most likely underweight.

Photo Showcase!

Princeton Cummings

Major Leder

Rosco Collum

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Ask the Vet!

Like us on Facebook and submit your

favorite pet pictures for your chance to be

in our newsletter!

Q: Is it ok to use Hydrogen Peroxide in my pet’s ears if it looks like he is getting an ear infection? A: Eeek! No, this is definitely not ok! Hydrogen peroxide is a very irritating liquid. Recent advances in wound management suggest discontinuing its use altogether on wounds since it kills both the bad and the good cells. Putting this in a dog’s ear will break down the normal skin barrier, especially in an already irritated ear, and will make the patient susceptible to an even worse ear infection. We STRONGLY advise against putting anything in your dog’s ear without first consulting with your veterinarian. ~Dr. Kristi Laffitte

A Case of the Chicken Bones

Oakey Mounts is a 4.5 month old miniature Australian Shepherd. And yes, he is Dr. Mounts’ very own dog! On Friday morning, February 24

th,

Dr. Mounts was getting her kids ready for school. Her son asked if she could clean off his shoes which had mud on them. He went to the garage to get his shoes and accidentally left the door to the garage open. While Dr. Mounts and her son were cleaning his shoes off on the back porch, Oakey wandered into the garage. The cats had apparently gotten into the trash the night before, and some chicken bones were scattered on the floor of the garage. Oakey

must have thought they were there just for him, as by the time Dr. Mounts realized where he was, he had already eaten at least two of them!! Oakey got to come to work with mom that day. We took radiographs and saw the rather large pieces of chicken bones that he had swallowed that morning. Even though Oakey was acting perfectly normal, there was no way those bones would pass through his digestive system. And, the longer we waited increased the chances they could cause more damage. Chicken bones are very dangerous to pets because they are hollow, and when they break, they splinter. Imagine

having needle-like bones moving through your digestive system! Ouch! Dr. Mounts performed surgery on Oakey that afternoon, and removed six pieces of chicken bones from his stomach; the largest of which was 3.5 cm! The moral of this story is that things can happen to anyone’s pets, veterinarians included! Also, Dr. Mounts’ son learned a very valuable lesson.

The chicken bones which were removed during surgery

3.5cm

Oakie, wearing his “cone of shame”

PetStar of Ruston

2005 Farmerville Hwy.

Ruston, LA 71270

318-255-7081

http://ruston.petstar.vet

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Give Your Pet the STAR

Treatment

©2017 PetStar Animal Care

bored easily, and will dig or get into things if not kept occupied.

Pancho Cauley

Lagottos have a very curly coat which requires regular brushing and grooming to prevent mats and tangles.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient breed that was first developed in Italy. They were bred as water retrievers, and developed into specialized truffle hunters because of their keen sense of smell. Logottos are highly intelligent and energetic. They thrive the most with an active family. They also like to be in the middle of everything. As puppies, they are rowdy and rambunctious. They do require training and socialization at an early age. They tend to get

Lagottos are very family-friendly; great with children and other pets.

Breed Characteristics:

Life expectancy: 15-17 yrs Height: 16-19 inches Weight: 25-35 lbs Colors: Brown, Brown Roan, Off-White, Orange, White & Brown, White & Orange Group: Sporting

Meet the Lagotto Romagnolo!

At PetStar, our primary focus is to provide you with the most advanced and compassionate veterinary care. Our dedicated veterinary team members cater to your pet’s needs in a new, state-of-the-art facility. We have three staff veterinarians supported by a team of well-trained and caring assistants and administrative staff. PetStar offers a unique combination of general veterinary care and boarding, as well as advanced procedures in small animal medicine, surgery and dentistry.

The PetStar Newsletter is dedicated to each of our friends that we have lost along the way. It has been a pleasant journey, and you will always be a part of the PetStar family. You will remain forever in our hearts.

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Coming Next Month…

Spring Toxins

Ear Infections

Anal Glands

Meet the Newfoundland