FORREST HILL VETERINARY CLINIC• 218 Forrest Hill Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland 0620 • Tel 410 5169 • www.forresthillvet.co.nz

WINTER 2017

• Winter Woes

• Technical Bulletin –Dental Tartar

• Breed of the month –Pug

• Case Report – Blood cell parasite

• Fun facts

• Staff news

NEWSWINTER WOES

IN THIS ISSUE:

Forrest HillVeterinary Clinic& Hospital

FUN FACTSF According to a recent survey,

the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie

F Every known dog, except the chow, has a pink tongue - a chow's tongue is black

0A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for humans

0A cat can be either right-pawed or left-pawed

0A cat can be either a vertical scratcher or a horizontal scratcher

0Over 50% of all pet owners would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet, not another person

F Dogs can alert their owners of an epileptic seizure up to an hour before it occurs

0Cats are said to wash behind their ears before rain, perhaps because of the drop in air pressure. Next time your cat gives its ears a good grooming, check the weather forecast!

0Cats seem to respond better to women than to men. It may be because women have higher voices ears a good grooming, check the weather forecast!

0Cats can have up to 100 different vocalization sounds

F A large breed dog’s resting heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute, and a small dog breed’s heart beats between 100-140. Comparatively, a resting human heart beats 60-100 times per minute

F Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have approximately 9,000 and cats have around 473

F When dogs kick after going to the bathroom, they are using the scent glands on their paws to further mark their territory

0When cats walk, their left front leg moves in tandem with their left back leg, and their right legs do the same. The only other animals that walk this way are giraffes and camels

Forrest Hill NEWS is Published by: Forrest Hill Veterinary Clinic 218 Forrest Hill Road09 410-5169 (24 Hours)

• Counting CaloriesIf your dog or cat doesn’t get outdoors as much in the winter as they normally do, it likely doesn’t need to eat as much food. Reducing food and calorie intake generally means less weight gain and more energy

• Let There Be LightPets react to illumination just as humans do. Their energy level increases when the light is brighter. If it’s too cold, windy or wet to go out, simply open the drapes and let the natural light in, turn up your indoor lights, and consider replacing bulbs with the full spectrum or daylight variety to better simulate a daytime environment

• Animal-RousingAromas

Scented toys can really engage an animal’s interests and natural stalking instincts, also keeping them occupied and mentally focused as they try to find the source of the smell. Luckily dogs respond to a variety of smells and there are seemingly infinite availability of toys that engage canine olfaction. For cats that

respond well to catnip, there are catnip and other “play sprays” that can be squirted onto indoor climbing structures, cardboard boxes, and scratching posts

• Aches and painsThe most obvious sign of arthritis is a limping dog or cat. However, there are numerous other subtle signs that may indicate your pet is uncomfortable. Often what people notice is that their older pet seems to be “slowing down.” Perhaps your dog doesn’t charge up the stairs like he used to or takes a bit longer to recover after a long day of playing. If your dog used to follow you around the house and now he just stays in one place this could also be a sign of mobility issues.

Since cats aren’t usually as active as dogs, their signs of arthritis may be revealed differently. Cats with arthritis may start urinating or defecating out of the litter box because it is too painful for them to jump into it. You may also notice that your cat is grooming excessively in one area, which could indicate focal

arthritis pain. These are just a few examples. Bottom line: if you notice any changes in your pet’s behaviour, talk with your veterinarian immediately.

• Pets still need us to bewinter-ready.

Although we may not experience any blizzards, being winter-ready on behalf of our pets is our responsibility. We recommend keeping rain gear, a sweater, a warm coat, and even booties on hand for your small pal. Even if you don’t need the coat that often, you may find it useful when travelling to colder climates. STAFF NEWS

We have reluctantly said goodbye to more staff recently. Sara is due to have her baby any day now. It is her first and we are all very excited for her.

We also said goodbye to Christina, who you will know as one of our weekend nurses. She also worked the Monday evening shift. Christina and her husband have moved to the South Island.

We welcome Kezia who has joined our full time staff. Kezia is a diploma qualified veterinary nurse.

We also welcome Stella, who will be working Sundays. Stella is also a diploma qualified veterinary nurse.

Like humans, pets can experience winter doldrums. Even those of us living in warmer weather regions are still affected by seasonal changes, which can be especially tough on dogs and cats–particularly those that are used to spending time outdoors. Beyond the obvious challenge of pets getting less exercise during the winter months, dogs and cats often experience less emotional stimulation during this period and can suffer a variety of adversities, including excessive weight gain, irritability, anxiety and even clinical depression.

Fortunately, there are a few simple things pet owners can do to physically engage and psychologically stimulate their pets to make everyone happier during the cooler winter months.

F

We have started sending vaccination reminders as text messages instead of letters. We will also be sending out text reminders for consultation and surgical appointments. When you next visit, please check with us that we have the correct contact details

JUST A NOTE FROM US:

The Pug is a breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colours, most often fawn or black, and a compact square body with well-developed muscles.

Pugs were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth century and were popularized in Western Europe in the nineteenth century

CASE REPORT – Blood Cell Parasite

Ralph is a 6 year old ginger domestic short hair male neutered cat presented to us with clinical symptoms of lethargy, weight loss and inappetence.

On clinical examination he was slightly dehydrated, had pale gums, was slightly jaundiced and had an elevated temperature. We suspected an infection of some sort but were concerned that Ralph may also be anaemic. Antibiotic therapy was started and blood tests were run which confirmed our suspicion of anaemia with a red cell count of 17 (normal is 27-44). A blood smear was

prepared and sent to the lab to check for the blood parasite Mycoplasma haemofelis, which binds to the cat’s red blood cells and destroys them.

Our concern was the knowledge that a percentage of cats who have their red blood cells examined for M. haemofelis and actively have the infection do not show the parasite bound to their blood cells. Another test was performed which is much more sensitive at detecting animals ‘silently’ infected. While we waited for the result we went ahead and treated because of the high index of suspicion.

Treatment involved doxycycline antibiotic and prednisone immunosuppressive therapy.

Ralph stabilized well on the therapy and his blood count climbed to 19 within the first week. The test results came in after a week and returned a positive for M. haemofelis.

Four weeks after treatment began Ralph’s blood count returned to normal and the prednisone therapy was discontinued. We will continue to intermittently monitor Ralph’s blood count, but hopefully the infection will not return.

Breed of the Month: PUG

The breed is often described by the Latin phrase multum in parvo, or "much in little" or "a lot of dog in a small space", alluding to the Pug's remarkable and charming personality, despite its small size. Pugs are strong willed but rarely aggressive, and are suitable for families with children. Depending on their owner's mood, they can be quiet and docile but also vivacious and teasing. Pugs tend to be intuitive and sensitive to the moods of their owners and are usually eager to please them. They do tend to have a somewhat lazy nature and spend a lot of time napping

Since Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as scratched corneas, and entropion. They also have compact breathing passageways, leaving many prone to breathing difficulties

Dental calculus (tartar) is composed of various mineral salts, organic matter, serum and food particles. In the early stages of accumulation, the material is soft (plaque), but if it is not removed it continues to build up until it becomes mineralised and forms calculus.

Continual accumulation causes pressure and inflammation of the gums and eventually recession of the gum tissue, which loosens the teeth. The breath becomes very odorous and the mouth becomes a dangerous source of infection.

It is currently believed that some of the internal diseases of mature dogs are the result of diseased teeth and gums.

Correction of tartar deposits consists of: • Administration of a short-acting general

anaesthetic• Thorough oral examination• Removal of tartar accumulation by ultrasonic

scaling, subgingival planing and polishing• Extraction of hopelessly diseased teeth

PREVENTION1. The most easily used and accepted method

nowadays is HILLS t/d (Tooth Diet) – a dried food for dogs and cats which is recommended as a total diet but can replace part of your pets diet – up to 1/3 as the minimum. The kibbles are designed to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth as your pet bites into them

2. Dental chews such as Greenies or Oravet help reduce tartar and plaque buildup

3. Dental toys such as rawhide or nylon bones and knotted ropes which clean the teeth and gums and reduce plaque

4. Hard biscuit based pet foods such as Hills and Royal Canin

5. Brushing of teeth with commercially available pet toothpastes/brushes has long been considered one of the most effective dental homecare techniques. This should be done at least three to four times a week to maintain dental health. However, in some cats and dogs, this may not be tolerated.

TECHNICAL BULLETIN – Dental Tartar

The Pug is a breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colours, most often fawn or black, and a compact square body with well-developed muscles.

Pugs were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth century and were popularized in Western Europe in the nineteenth century

CASE REPORT – Blood Cell Parasite

Ralph is a 6 year old ginger domestic short hair male neutered cat presented to us with clinical symptoms of lethargy, weight loss and inappetence.

On clinical examination he was slightly dehydrated, had pale gums, was slightly jaundiced and had an elevated temperature. We suspected an infection of some sort but were concerned that Ralph may also be anaemic. Antibiotic therapy was started and blood tests were run which confirmed our suspicion of anaemia with a red cell count of 17 (normal is 27-44). A blood smear was

prepared and sent to the lab to check for the blood parasite Mycoplasma haemofelis, which binds to the cat’s red blood cells and destroys them.

Our concern was the knowledge that a percentage of cats who have their red blood cells examined for M. haemofelis and actively have the infection do not show the parasite bound to their blood cells. Another test was performed which is much more sensitive at detecting animals ‘silently’ infected. While we waited for the result we went ahead and treated because of the high index of suspicion.

Treatment involved doxycycline antibiotic and prednisone immunosuppressive therapy.

Ralph stabilized well on the therapy and his blood count climbed to 19 within the first week. The test results came in after a week and returned a positive for M. haemofelis.

Four weeks after treatment began Ralph’s blood count returned to normal and the prednisone therapy was discontinued. We will continue to intermittently monitor Ralph’s blood count, but hopefully the infection will not return.

Breed of the Month: PUG

The breed is often described by the Latin phrase multum in parvo, or "much in little" or "a lot of dog in a small space", alluding to the Pug's remarkable and charming personality, despite its small size. Pugs are strong willed but rarely aggressive, and are suitable for families with children. Depending on their owner's mood, they can be quiet and docile but also vivacious and teasing. Pugs tend to be intuitive and sensitive to the moods of their owners and are usually eager to please them. They do tend to have a somewhat lazy nature and spend a lot of time napping

Since Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as scratched corneas, and entropion. They also have compact breathing passageways, leaving many prone to breathing difficulties

Dental calculus (tartar) is composed of various mineral salts, organic matter, serum and food particles. In the early stages of accumulation, the material is soft (plaque), but if it is not removed it continues to build up until it becomes mineralised and forms calculus.

Continual accumulation causes pressure and inflammation of the gums and eventually recession of the gum tissue, which loosens the teeth. The breath becomes very odorous and the mouth becomes a dangerous source of infection.

It is currently believed that some of the internal diseases of mature dogs are the result of diseased teeth and gums.

Correction of tartar deposits consists of: • Administration of a short-acting general

anaesthetic• Thorough oral examination• Removal of tartar accumulation by ultrasonic

scaling, subgingival planing and polishing• Extraction of hopelessly diseased teeth

PREVENTION1. The most easily used and accepted method

nowadays is HILLS t/d (Tooth Diet) – a dried food for dogs and cats which is recommended as a total diet but can replace part of your pets diet – up to 1/3 as the minimum. The kibbles are designed to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth as your pet bites into them

2. Dental chews such as Greenies or Oravet help reduce tartar and plaque buildup

3. Dental toys such as rawhide or nylon bones and knotted ropes which clean the teeth and gums and reduce plaque

4. Hard biscuit based pet foods such as Hills and Royal Canin

5. Brushing of teeth with commercially available pet toothpastes/brushes has long been considered one of the most effective dental homecare techniques. This should be done at least three to four times a week to maintain dental health. However, in some cats and dogs, this may not be tolerated.

TECHNICAL BULLETIN – Dental Tartar

FORREST HILL VETERINARY CLINIC• 218 Forrest Hill Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland 0620 • Tel 410 5169 • www.forresthillvet.co.nz

WINTER 2017

• Winter Woes

• Technical Bulletin – Dental Tartar

• Breed of the month – Pug

• Case Report – Blood cell parasite

• Fun facts

• Staff news

NEWSWINTER WOES

IN THIS ISSUE:

Forrest HillVeterinary Clinic& Hospital

FUN FACTSF According to a recent survey,

the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie

F Every known dog, except the chow, has a pink tongue - a chow's tongue is black

0 A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for humans

0 A cat can be either right-pawed or left-pawed

0 A cat can be either a vertical scratcher or a horizontal scratcher

0 Over 50% of all pet owners would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet, not another person

F Dogs can alert their owners of an epileptic seizure up to an hour before it occurs

0 Cats are said to wash behind their ears before rain, perhaps because of the drop in air pressure. Next time your cat gives its ears a good grooming, check the weather forecast!

0 Cats seem to respond better to women than to men. It may be because women have higher voices ears a good grooming, check the weather forecast!

0 Cats can have up to 100 different vocalization sounds

F A large breed dog’s resting heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute, and a small dog breed’s heart beats between 100-140. Comparatively, a resting human heart beats 60-100 times per minute

F Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have approximately 9,000 and cats have around 473

F When dogs kick after going to the bathroom, they are using the scent glands on their paws to further mark their territory

0 When cats walk, their left front leg moves in tandem with their left back leg, and their right legs do the same. The only other animals that walk this way are giraffes and camels

Forrest Hill NEWS is Published by: Forrest Hill Veterinary Clinic 218 Forrest Hill Road09 410-5169 (24 Hours)

• Counting CaloriesIf your dog or cat doesn’t get outdoors as much in the winter as they normally do, it likely doesn’t need to eat as much food. Reducing food and calorie intake generally means less weight gain and more energy

• Let There Be LightPets react to illumination just as humans do. Their energy level increases when the light is brighter. If it’s too cold, windy or wet to go out, simply open the drapes and let the natural light in, turn up your indoor lights, and consider replacing bulbs with the full spectrum or daylight variety to better simulate a daytime environment

• Animal-Rousing Aromas

Scented toys can really engage an animal’s interests and natural stalking instincts, also keeping them occupied and mentally focused as they try to find the source of the smell. Luckily dogs respond to a variety of smells and there are seemingly infinite availability of toys that engage canine olfaction. For cats that

respond well to catnip, there are catnip and other “play sprays” that can be squirted onto indoor climbing structures, cardboard boxes, and scratching posts

• Aches and painsThe most obvious sign of arthritis is a limping dog or cat. However, there are numerous other subtle signs that may indicate your pet is uncomfortable. Often what people notice is that their older pet seems to be “slowing down.” Perhaps your dog doesn’t charge up the stairs like he used to or takes a bit longer to recover after a long day of playing. If your dog used to follow you around the house and now he just stays in one place this could also be a sign of mobility issues.

Since cats aren’t usually as active as dogs, their signs of arthritis may be revealed differently. Cats with arthritis may start urinating or defecating out of the litter box because it is too painful for them to jump into it. You may also notice that your cat is grooming excessively in one area, which could indicate focal

arthritis pain. These are just a few examples. Bottom line: if you notice any changes in your pet’s behaviour, talk with your veterinarian immediately.

• Pets still need us to be winter-ready.

Although we may not experience any blizzards, being winter-ready on behalf of our pets is our responsibility. We recommend keeping rain gear, a sweater, a warm coat, and even booties on hand for your small pal. Even if you don’t need the coat that often, you may find it useful when travelling to colder climates.

STAFF NEWSWe have reluctantly said goodbye to more staff recently. Sara is due to have her baby any day now. It is her first and we are all very excited for her.

We also said goodbye to Christina, who you will know as one of our weekend nurses. She also worked the Monday evening shift. Christina and her husband have moved to the South Island.

We welcome Kezia who has joined our full time staff. Kezia is a diploma qualified veterinary nurse.

We also welcome Stella, who will be working Sundays. Stella is also a diploma qualified veterinary nurse.

Like humans, pets can experience winter doldrums. Even those of us living in warmer weather regions are still affected by seasonal changes, which can be especially tough on dogs and cats–particularly those that are used to spending time outdoors. Beyond the obvious challenge of pets getting less exercise during the winter months, dogs and cats often experience less emotional stimulation during this period and can suffer a variety of adversities, including excessive weight gain, irritability, anxiety and even clinical depression.

Fortunately, there are a few simple things pet owners can do to physically engage and psychologically stimulate their pets to make everyone happier during the cooler winter months.

F

We have started sending vaccination reminders as text messages instead of letters. We will also be sending out text reminders for consultation and surgical appointments. When you next visit, please check with us that we have the correct contact details

JUST A NOTE FROM US: