WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE WINTER 2017

smalltalkChristmas iscoming...A reminder of the potential risks andhazards to our pets at this festive time

Hyperthyroidism in older cats

Osteoarthritis Signs of osteoarthritisand treatment options

Exotic PetsAdvice on keepingexotic pets

Rehoming a petOffering a loving home to a rescue pet

Inside...

Pet Health Schemes

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There is no better way to dothis than to have a Pet HealthCare Scheme.

For example the Lifetime CareClub. It is not pet insurance and we advise owners thatinsurance is still a very necessary requirement. Theschemes are monthly paymentplans that cover the essentialaspects of responsible pethealth care and may coverother services too.

The advantages of a plan ismore cost effective health care with a substantial annualsaving on the normal costs. Theschemes include everything youneed to keep your pet in tip topcondition. The 6 monthly healthcheck can pick up any issuesearly and the scheme also

provides a handy reminder system as to when vaccinationand anti-parasite treatments are needed. Money off other

products such as food ensuresyour pet also has optimum nutrition to keep them well at an affordable price.

Many insurance companies nowlook at pets being part of theseschemes as a sign of responsiblepet ownership and some willeven reduce the premiums as a result.

With climate change and morepets travelling to and fromabroad, proper parasite control is essential all year round.Warmer weather outside andcentral heating means that fleasetc. can even be a problem inthe winter months. The recentdiscovery of another tick bornedisease called Babesiosis in thiscountry, means effective tickcontrol is also necessary.

Your vet practice will be happy to discuss the correct preventative treatments andservices for your pet and informyou of the benefits of their ownhealthcare scheme. Contact yourpractice to find out more aboutyour practice health scheme.

Pet Health Schemes- the benefits

Veterinary Medicine is evolving; no longer are wecontent to patch up animalswhen they are alreadyunwell, we feel it is far more effective to practicepreventative medicine -treating the animal before it becomes poorly.

Pip Elphee RVN Bsc (Hons) MHAO Cedar Veterinary Group

l Routine vaccinations(additional vaccinationse.g. rabies and RHD 2receive a discount).

l Year round flea, tick andworm control includinglungworm prevention.

l A 6 month health checkwith a vet.

l Discounted proceduressuch as neutering, routinedentals and in-house lab fees.

l Discounts on merchandisesuch as food and toys.

l And several other advantages such as free microchipping andnail clips.

l Discount for additionalpets on the scheme.

Monthly direct debitpayments in our scheme will cover:

Joint Inflammation

Have you noticed your dog getting a bit slower on walks or your cat grooming itself less often?

Oste arthritisT

his could be a sign thatthey are starting to develop osteoarthritis

or OA as we refer to it. What is OA? Simply put, it is the inflammation (pain, heat,swelling) of a joint. Morespecifically OA has beendescribed as the vicious cycleof deteriorating changes thatresult when the rate of damageof joint cartilage exceeds itsability to repair itself.

With our ageing (and oftenweight gaining) pet populationwe are seeing a lot more casesof OA developing. An animalwith a history of trauma orskeletal surgery will be morelikely to develop OA as they age.It may start with a slowingdown on walks or a subtle limpand progress to an increasedeffort getting out of bed or

even walking with a pronouncedlimp or reluctance to exercise.Grumpiness, sleeping more andmuscle wasting are also noticedby owners of animals withchronic OA.

The best way to diagnose thecondition in general practice isto perform a full clinical examination, paying particularattention to the joints in thelimbs and the spine, and by taking radiographs (x-rays) ofthe affected area. Radiographscan highlight signs of jointchanges, e.g. degeneration ofjoint surfaces, bony growths,joint swellings and other abnormalities. Joint tap analysisis also useful in some situations.

Following a diagnosis of OA,your vet will discuss the condition with you and all thetreatment options that are

available. In some circumstances surgical optionswill be discussed along withweight management (to buildmuscle and lose additional fat), specifically tailored exerciseregimes, medication, physiotherapy, acupunctureand hydrotherapy. We can give advice on how you canmake your homes, and theirenvironments, easier for yourpet to move around and lesslikely to aggravate their condition and ultimatelyimprove their quality of life.

If you would like more information or suspect yourpet might be suffering from OA please ask a member of staff and we can arrange a vetand nurse OA clinic for your pet at a time that suits you.

By Laura Binnie BSc BVM&S MRCVSParagon Veterinary Group

Cat Hyperthyroidism

By Andy Nelson BVSc PGcertSAS MRCVSLeonard Brothers Veterinary Centre Ltd

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The thyroid gland is underthe chin and produces

a hormone which drivesmetabolism. This means that if a cat has an over-active thyroid their metabolism goesinto over-drive. This leads tothe common clinical signs.

If an older cat is showing thesesymptoms then your vet willlook for other signs on theirclinical examination. Lots ofthese patients have a swellingin the neck around the windpipe (the enlarged thyroid) and usually have arapid heart rate, often with a heart murmur.

If untreated the thyroid will get further and further out ofcontrol and these cats candeteriorate very quickly.

If your vet is suspicious thatyour cat has an over-active thyroid they will usually ask torun some tests. These will usually involve blood tests, butmay include urine tests, bloodpressure tests and sometimesheart scans.

The good news about hyperthyroidism is that it is readily treatable and there are 4 main treatmentoptions:

1. The best treatment involvesthe cats having a radioactiveinjection which destroys theover-active thyroid tissuegiving a cure to the condition with very little riskof adverse effects. This is avery specialised treatmentand not many places in theUK offer the injection.However there are a fewXLVets practices and someuniversity vet schools whoare able to offer this ‘goldstandard’ treatment.

Hyperthyroidism is a relatively common condition ofolder cats whereby they develop an over-active thyroidgland. It can affect any cat but usually only cats over10 years old.

Clinical signs ofhyperthyroidism:l Weight lossl Increased appetitel Increased thirstl Hyper-activityl Upset tummy (sickness

and diarrhoea)

Hyperthyroidism

2. Another option is for the cat to have an operation to remove the thyroid gland. Like the radioactive treatment, this should curethe problem, and in experienced hands the surgical complication rate is low.

3. Medication can be used tocontrol the over active thyroid. This can work verywell but is not a cure, thesecats will need medicationand close monitoring for therest of their lives.

4. A more recent developmentis the option to treat thesecats with a special prescription diet which isextremely low in iodine.Without iodine the thyroidgland is unable to producehormones. This again is acontrol rather than a cureand if your cat eats anyother food at all then thiswill not work.

The best advice is to make sureyour elderly cat is checked atleast twice a year by your vet.Any early changes will then bepicked up and treatment canbe started before things go too far. Most cats with hyperthyroidism can lead a full and normal life once they have been treated.

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Exotic Pets

Owning a pet is a privilege 47% of householdsin the UK enjoy. Currently an amazing 13 millionhouseholds have pets.

Exotic pets, such as snakes,lizards, tortoises and spiders,

are becoming increasingly popular, with estimates of 1.3to 1.7 million exotic pets in theUK today.

Keeping an exotic pet can be relatively straightforwardonce the animals’ individual requirements are met, but theinitial cost of a vivarium withspecific lighting, heat, humidity,and slightly unusual food canreach hundreds of poundsbefore an animal is even purchased.

Your vet will be able to discuss all of these essentialrequirements with you, adviseyou on where and what to buy,and will be able to help if thatanimal becomes sick.

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Most exotic pets, if kept in thecorrect environment, rarelybecome ill so getting their husbandry right is absolutelyvital.

One example is bearded dragons or ‘beardies’ whichoriginate from the Australiandesert. To mimic this lizard’snatural environment we needto create an artificial sun usinga special mercury vapour bulbthat provides a source of daylight, heat, and ultraviolet(UV) light. Alternatively a spotlight and ultraviolet strip lightcan be used as long as the bulb emits UVA and UVB; theseUV strips will need replacingevery 6 months as the UV radiation deteriorates over time. All heating and lighting is usually placed at one end of the vivarium to create a temperature gradient whichallows the beardy to choosewhere it feels comfortable.Several hides or shelters need to be included, a minimum ofone at the ‘hot end’ and one atthe ‘cold end’. Thermometersat each end of the vivariumallow you to monitor the environment closely and adjustthe temperature accordingly. A hygrometer, which measureshumidity, should also beinstalled.

Beardies need to bask, or sunbathe, for up to 12 hoursper day to warm their bodies,kick starting their metabolismso they will eat and function

normally. Insects such aslocusts, crickets, mealworms or waxworms, should be dustedin calcium powder, which isimportant to maintain healthybones, and fed 3-4 times weekly. Bugs can be bought intubs from your local exotic petshop and are fed live. Beardiesalso need a varied diet of vegetable and plant materialavailable daily, along with awide shallow water bowl tobathe in and drink from.

Each species will have individualrequirements and as long as wetry to understand where theycome from and how they live in the wild we can hopefully create an environment thatclosely matches their naturalone. If you’re thinking of getting an exotic pet your vetwill be able to provide you withadvice or direct you to suitablyspecialist vets, but remember,some exotic pets require a lot of maintenance and owningone should not be entered into lightly.

By Emma James BVSc BSc (Hons) GPCert (SAM) PgC (SAM) MRCVSSt Boniface Veterinary Clinic

Is it me or am I just turning into Scrooge as I get older? As I writethis article it is only October and already there seems to be a huge

amount of excitement surrounding the build up to Christmas.

treats or poisons?

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by Verity J Griffiths BSc(Hons) MA, VetMB GPCert(SAS) GPCert(EM & S) MRCVS Southfield Veterinary Centre

However, when you see the John Lewis or the Coca Cola

advertisements on televisionthen you know there is no getting away from it! This time of year is fraught withpotential dangers to our petsso it is a time for VeterinaryPractices to gently remind petowners of the potential risks ofpoisoning from our festive foodand of other seasonal hazards.

Chocolate always has been andalways will be poisonous todogs and cats, no matter whattime of year it is. The higherthe cocoa solid content, thegreater the risk. Consequently,white chocolate is far less of arisk than milk chocolate withdark chocolate being the mosttoxic. So, if your pet scoffs thechocolate orange, gorges onQuality Street or binges on the

Bendicks, please checkwith your vet how to

deal with them.Your vet will wantto know how muchchocolate has

potentially been

eaten and the size of your dog or cat. Then if there is aperceived risk of toxicity theymay be made to vomit toreduce the amount in theirstomach and if the risks arehigh they may be put on a dripto support organ functiontogether with other supportivecare. Avoid temptation by notputting any chocolate on orunder the Christmas tree!

Other foods that are also poisonous to pets that arepotentially a higher risk atChristmas time include grapes,raisins, and sultanas. These are found in abundance inChristmas cake, pudding andmince pies and these can prove lethal in even very smallamounts, so don’t risk it. If you know that your pet hasingested even the smallestamount please contact yourvet as a matter of urgency.

Other toxins to be aware ofinclude macadamia nuts,onions, leeks, shallots and garlic, so please watch out forall those tasty savouries. If youhave a ‘counter surfer’ like oneof my dogs, ensure that youdon’t leave anything out on

the units! Even alcohol is apotential hazard and I have toadmit one of mine has polishedoff a Baileys before now whenI wasn’t paying attention!

Leftover foods can grow mould,which can induce convulsions,so secure that food waste binlid or better still store it well outof harms way.

Although I have not describedall the ill effects these foodscause, it is best not to find outthe hard way. So let us ensurethis Christmas that humansenjoy human food and petsenjoy pet food and treats andtherefore no one will be making an unscheduled trip to the vets over the Christmasperiod. Both you and the emergency vet on duty will be very thankful.

So finally a Very MerryChristmas to you all!

Christmas Dangers

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Rehoming a

shelterpet

By Alex SpurgeonNational Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT)

Exotic Pet Care

The pet you take homewas the lucky one - theyfound themselves a place

in rescue, where they weregiven the necessary treatment,training and help to find a new family. However, for thehundreds of stray animalsawaiting a place in rescue, the

future isn’t alwaysso bright. Your

decision tooffer a home

to a rescuepet has

freed a space for another lucky stray. It’s given them the chance your pet was given, to be safe and loved in a happy home.

Once you take your rescue pethome, there are a few top tipsthat you’ll need to rememberto help settle them in. Firstly,agree the ‘house rules’ inadvance and ensure everyonein the family sticks to them. Forexample, are they allowed onthe sofa? Are they allowedupstairs? Animals understandconsistency and routine.Secondly, give them time to

settle in. There’s no hurryfor them to meet allyour friends and familyand all their pets. See

things from your newpet’s perspective

and think abouthow much

change they

are already experiencing simply by having a new homeand family. Get into a routinewith them, let them exploretheir new environment andthen integrate them slowly intoall other aspects of your life.Finally, it’s important toremember to keep new catsinside and new dogs on a leadfor the first six weeks. Givethem time to understand thatbeing around you and being in the home is rewarding andwhen you finally do give thema bit more freedom, do itbefore a meal time so theywon’t want to go too far.

There’s no doubt that offeringa rescue pet a second chance in a happy home can be a wonderfully rewarding experience as well as being far more cost effective thanpurchasing a pet elsewhere. At National Animal WelfareTrust we care for hundreds ofcompanion animals, all waitingto find their perfect match andbe welcomed into a lovingresponsible home. Every one of our cats and dogs are fullyvet-checked, neutered,microchipped and vaccinatedbefore rehoming and comewith four weeks free Petplaninsurance.

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By offering a responsible loving home to a rescue pet, you could quiteliterally be saving a life.

If you would like towelcome a rescuepet into your home,please visitwww.nawt.org.uk

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A more sedentary lifestyle is as bad for pets as it is for humansTaken from an article in theIndependent - 11th Sept2017 by Karen Rodham

So it is not only the fact that we are living longer, but it’s also the way we are living whichis making humans more susceptible to chronic disease.The same can be said for ourpets. A survey from the KennelClub has shown that notenough dogs are getting theirdaily exercise, with one in fivedog owners too lazy to taketheir pets out every day.

Recent estimates also show thatalmost half of all cats and dogsare now obese. And that thesenumbers are expected to rise incoming years - as more pets livesedentary lifestyles and eat toomuch food.

But if we could change ourbehaviour, and therefore that of our pets, just a little bit, wecould do much to reduce thelikelihood of them developing a chronic illness in the firstplace. By better managing their intake of food and giving

them more exercise you canreduce their susceptibility tochronic diseases.