Archive for April, 2009
Why Buy My Pet’s Supplements From A Veterinarian?
We would like to take a moment to explain why we feel the veterinarian is an integral part of your pet’s supplement care. Your veterinarian provides professional advice and care for your four-legged family member. The veterinarian optimizes the total care of your pet by coordinating all aspects, including that of supplementation.
1) Question: I don’t understand differences in supplement products.
Answer: Your veterinarian can help you make an informed decision, explaining how products are different, and why the brand that they recommend may include ingredients that are more beneficial for your pet’s individual condition.
2) Question: How can I be confident in the quality of the products I buy for my pet?
Answer: The veterinarian reviews testing and quality information, selecting high-quality products from a reputable company before making a recommendation for your pet’s health care. Clients may ask for testing information citing specific test methodology (such as Cetylpyridinium Chloride titration of Chondroitin Sulfate, Capillary Electrophoresis of Glucosamine and Gas Chromatography of Methylsulfonylmethane) to be sure the label claims are substantiated and they are getting what they pay for. This type of information is not usually available from their super store brand, so the pet owner would need to contact each company directly to find out if they have testing information available.
3) Question: The supplements my veterinarian sells may be more expensive than the ones from the super store.
Answer: While many products may initially “look alike”, there are many differences in ingredient strength/purity, amount and frequency of use. One bottle may last the average 75 lb dog three weeks, while a higher quality product will usually last almost three months. With the recent price increase (ranging from double to quadruple last years prices) of Chondroitin and Glucosamine, some companies selling over-the-counter (OTC) products may use the same amount of a lesser quality ingredient and still claim on their label that the product contains an equal amount of a critical ingredient. For example, a company may be replacing 90% pure Chondroitin with that of 16% pure Chondroitin (similar to adding water to a pure fruit juice). Therefore, it may be more expensive to keep buying a product with ingredients that may not have been tested to meet the label claims. The end result of lower ingredient concentration / quality may be observed as a decreased or lack of response by your pet to the supplement used. Consumers should be aware that cheap products are often cheap for a reason.
We thank you for the trust you have placed in Stockton Hill Animal Hospital to provide your pet with a high-quality supplement. Please contact us with any questions that you may have regarding our products.
Older cat losing weight? Could be a hyperactive thyroid gland!
Do you have an older cat that has been losing weight? Does it feel good but seems to want to eat all the time? Does it drink a lot or urinate a lot? Does it sometimes have vomiting or diarrhea? Your cat may have a hyperactive thyroid gland!
Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common illnesses we see in older cats. We can easily diagnose this disease with bloodwork. We often will find this disease on routine annual senior blood testing. If your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, there are three options for treatment:
1. One permanent treatment involves a very safe injection of a special radioactive medicine that helps to shut down the overactive gland. A 1-2 week boarding stay in the hospital is required. Although the treatment is not inexpensive, it is a one time cost and usually only one treatment is necessary with minimal follow-up care.
2. Surgical removal of the abnormal thyroid tissue is another permanent treatment for hyperthyroidism.
3. An alternative therapy requires daily administration of Tapazole (methimazole) for the remainder of the pet’s life. This option is less expensive but does necessitate the inconvenience of a constant need to medicate. Occasionally, these medications will have side effects (nausea, lethargy, anemia) and do need frequent blood monitoring. They will not cure the disease but will reduce the side effects that the disease cause.
If your pet is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned about or is a senior cat (7 yrs or older), then give us a call at 757-7979 to schedule an appointment and blood testing for your cat’s thyroid today!
Cats and Heartworm Disease: A story you may not have heard
Mosquitoes don’t discriminate. They bite you, they bite your cat. But when they sink their teeth into your feline friend, they might cause more than an itch. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm larvae to cats. If these microscopic larvae settle in cats’ lungs, they can cause big health problems. There’s no cure for feline heartworm disease, but it is 100 percent preventable. Read below to learn more, then talk with our veterinarian about which prevention method is best for keeping your cat and its ticker heartworm-free.
Do cats really get heartworms?
Heartworms aren’t just a dog problem. A Texas study conducted in the late 1990′s found that 26 percent of cats had contracted heartworms at some point in their lives. And remember, those pesky mosquitoes will bite any animal regardless of whether its tail wags or flicks.
Just how do mosquitoes transmit heartworms to cats?
Mosquitoes are carriers of heartworm larvae. When a mosquito bites a cat, the larvae enter the cat’s system through the bite wound. When these larvae develop into adult heartworms, they eventually die and cause severe heart inflammation that can be fatal. Even though the presence of adult heartworms is potentially deadly, the little larvae can be even more problematic. Most larvae don’t make it to adulthood in cats, which means they die in the cat’s lungs. The irritation leads to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Studies show that 50 percent of cats infected with heartworm larvae have significant disease in the arteries that supply blood to their lungs. To learn more about HARD, see “Heartworms Can’t Hide,” below.
My cat doesn’t go outside, so I don’t need to worry, right?
Wrong. Indoor cats are at lower risk for heartworm disease than outdoor cats, but there’s no guarantee a mosquito won’t buzz into your house through an open door or window – and it only takes one bite to do the damage. A North Carolina study reported that 28 percent of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease were inside-only cats, so prevention products are smart to use in indoor cats as well as free-roamers.
Mosquitoes aren’t common where I live. Does my cat need prevention?
Yes. Cases of feline heartworm disease have been reported in all 50 states. The occurrence of heartworm disease is markedly lower in some states, but mosquitoes are resilient little fellas and they’re showing up in more and more places. And don’t forget that the game changes when you travel. Anytime you pack your cat’s bags, especially if you’re heading to lake or coastal regions, you need to arm him with heartworm prevention.
OK, so my cat needs heartworm prevention. What does it involve?
The good news is that heartworm prevention products are some of the easiest to use, least expensive, and most effective items on the market. Your veterinarian knows all about these products and will help you decide which one is right for you and your cat.
Heartworms can’t hide.
Heartworm larvae are virtually invisible, but if your cat is infected with them, they’ll show themselves. Most cats with early-stage disease experience heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) signs. Rather than affecting the heart, the larvae affect the lungs and cause breathing problems often mistaken for asthma or allergic bronchitis. If your cat exhibits any signs of HARD, which are listed below, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
- Coughing
- Panting
- Open-mouthed breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Gagging
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Fainting
- Lethargy
