Your pets don't like fireworks. We have a variety of products that will help your pet including Zylkene, DAP and Feliway.

Transcription

1 Boness E-Newsletter Call us any time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: FIREWORKS Your pets don't like fireworks. We have a variety of products that will help your pet including Zylkene, DAP and Feliway. Please look after your pet on November 5th. If you would like more guidance, read our article in September's E-Newsletter, or call us any time. Diabetes Mellitus - Is Your Dog Or Cat Affected? November is National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month. You may have seen Julia talking about it on the Paul O'Grady show on Channel 4 on October ! Both at the Hospital and the Cat Clinic we are participating in a nationwide screening programme to test all middle aged cats and dogs for diabetes as obesity levels soar. Come into either the hospital or the cat clinic for a free diabetes 'test strip' available during Pet Diabetes Month. The Great Pet 'Pee' Test campaign is also going to provide us with valuable information on the true prevalence of this often unnoticed disease as pet owners are encouraged to record the result of their pet's test in a special online survey on diabetes â the first of its kind in the UK. For every result recorded on the website: 10p will be donated to PDSA by the campaign's organisers, Internet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. So why are we concerned about the incidence of diabetes mellitus? We do believe it is becoming much more common. Why do we think this is? Diabetes Mellitus in animals is Type 2 diabetes, which typically affects both us and them during middle age. There is a strong link in humans between the prevalence of diabetes and obesity. With 65 per cent of pets now estimated to be overweight by the RSPCA, we do think there is a link here. Over the last five years, leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has seen a ten per cent rise in the number of overweight dogs. Given the current canine population, this could be an increase of over half a million overweight dogs. Some unlucky pets suffer from a disease called pancreatitis and this can predispose them to diabetes mellitus too. Some have no obvious predisposing factors. So even if you do not think your pet is overweight, diabetes could still be lurking undetected. How can you tell if your pet has diabetes mellitus? The signs are often quite subtle and difficult to recognise. Typically it will cause your pet to drink more water and urinate more often. Owners of cats are often completely unaware of their cats drinking and urinating habits as much of this is done outside. Male dogs usually urinate frequently when out for a walk, marking every lamppost as they go so would their owners notice any difference? A dogs drinking habit can often go unnoticed in a multi-dog household. Affected animals also become a bit lazier. Again would you notice this in particular â don't we all become a bit lazier as we get a bit older? They also often lose weight despite eating really well â sometimes this is quite obvious but then you may think your pet has worms. Affected animals have a higher risk of urinary tract infections which may manifest as straining to urinate or passing bloody urine. Long standing cases may develop cataracts and loss of vision - particularly dogs.

2 A small proportion of diabetic cats will show neurological signs in their hind legs, walking with their hocks carried low to the ground. As time goes on the symptoms can become quite severe and often this is only when alarm bells start to ring. The pet may become obsessed with drinking water, go off its food and almost collapse. By this stage the pet is in diabetic crisis and not far off coma and is very ill requiring hospitalisation, intra venous fluid and insulin therapy and there may be long lasting damage to the major organs such as the eyes, kidneys and brain. If detected early we can avoid these devastating effects by early treatment. In some cases it is possible to relive the symptoms of diabetes simply by weight reduction and dietary management. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a hormonal condition characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and released into the blood where it travels to all body tissues. Its' main function is to enable cells to take up glucose for use as an energy source. In diabetic animals, glucose uptake is impaired and the body has to use stores of fat and protein for energy. Levels of glucose in the blood and urine are very high, but the body is effectively in a state of starvation. The insulin deficiency in diabetic animals may be due to inadequate production of insulin by the pancreas or, particularly in cats, to an inability of the tissues to respond to insulin (peripheral insulin resistance). Many factors may contribute to the development of diabetes in animals. Genetics, obesity, certain types of medication, autoimmune processes, pancreatitis and hormonal disorders such as Cushing's disease and growth hormone excess can all play a part. Can diabetes be treated in pets? Yes. Diabetes is a treatable condition although it requires considerable dedication and commitment from owners as in most cases lifelong medication is required. Next month we will tell you more about diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Julia Boness MRCVS and Jennifer Donaldson MRCVS News Carla Smith has passed her exams and is now a Qualified Veterinary Nurse. Congratulations to Carla. British Veterinary Nursing Association - Annual Congress October 9th, 10th, and 11th Kettering Conference Centre saw the gathering of several thousand Veterinary Nurses, student Veterinary Nurses, Animal Care Assistants, Veterinary Surgeons and staff working in Veterinary practices in other capacities. Members of staff from our Hospital went at various times over the period and were able to attend a very interesting and varied range of lectures - helping us all to keep up to date with new treatments and techniques. Our student Veterinary Nurses also gain a lot of knowledge that assists them with their college work. One lecture for example â entitled Critical Care of the Yellow cat â was of particular interest as yellow jaundice is a condition seen fairly regularly at our Hospital. The lecture covered possible causes, tests that can be carried out to try and ascertain a cause, treatment for the condition which may vary slightly depending on the cause/type and nursing care of these patients, as they are usually inappetant and may need special diets. The lecture was supported by case histories and outcomes. The commercial exhibition was well supported by a large range of companies, from multinational drug manufacturers and pet food suppliers to small one person concerns selling a single product. The exhibition is an opportunity to discuss products and the feedback that we get from our clients -both

3 good, and maybe not so good in some cases! It enables us to keep up to date with new products or changes to current products - for example - the latest change to a current product is that Advocate for dogs is now effective for treating infection with the lungworm Angiostrongylus in addition to being effective for fleas certain roundworms and some species of mites and lice. Linda Coles VN Is Your Pet In Pain? How do you know if your pet is in pain â it is easy to recognise if he or she is holding up a paw but could you recognise a stomach ache, a headache, toothache, arthritis associated pain? Animals do not moan and whinge like we do, they don't hold a packet of frozen peas on the side of their faces to help the toothache, and they don't hold their heads in their paws or rub their tummies. Animals naturally hide their pain to protect themselves from predators... Advancements in veterinary science have decoded subtle tell tale signs of animal distress. Observing your pet's behaviour is vital to managing his or her pain. </ How well do you know your pet? Use these five clues from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to help you understand your pet's body language. 1. Abnormal eating habits If your pet is showing abnormal chewing habits, such as dropping its food or chewing on one side of the mouth, it may have a dental disorder. Additional signs may include weight loss, bad breath or excessive face rubbing. Routine dental checkups are important to prevent and treat dental disorders and related pain. 2. Drastic weight gain or loss Pain directly influences your pet's weight and appetite. Animals carrying excess weight have an increased chance of tearing ligaments and damaging joints. Arthritic pain may cause pets to gain weight because they are reluctant to exercise. Many of us will put this down to the pet just getting older and slower but it could be pain. Pets with arthritis or muscle soreness may not want to eat because bending over is uncomfortable. Pain anywhere can cause animals to lose their appetites which will lead to weight loss. 3. Avoiding affection or handling Although your pet may appear to be normal before petting or handling, the added pressure applied to his or her body may expose sensitive and painful areas. Hiding is also a sign of pain â if an animal is hurting, he or she might hide. 4. Decreased movement and exercise Osteoarthritis or joint disease is the most common cause of pain. Pets that have arthritis may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise or play. Weight and joint injuries can also go hand-in-hand. Losing unnecessary pounds will help overweight pets decrease pressure on sore joints and reduce pain. Please do ask us about exercises, diets and medical therapies that can help improve your pet's health. 5. Inappropriate toileting "Accidents" in the house may be a result of behavioural issues or urinary tract infections, but pets with sore joints or arthritis may get caught short or not make it to a convenient location due to painful obstacles like stairs. The lack of verbal expression does not mean that your pet is not experiencing pain. Minor behavioural change can be cause for concern. Being aware of your pet's habits can help you and your veterinary surgeon assess and treat your pet's pain. Ok so my pet is in pain, what can the vet do for this? There are many reasons why an animal may be experiencing pain, just like us and a full examination and diagnosis are the first important steps in any attempt to treat pain.

4 Fortunately, nowadays we have some wonderful pain killers and anti-inflammatories that we can use on our patients. The things we most commonly reach for are known as NSAIDS ( non-steroidal antiinflammatories). These work at the site where the pain is coming from and are particularly useful in the treatment of dental pain and musculoskeletal disorders. We have several types of these drugs and we will always try to find something that does suit the patient. Common side effects from these drugs are gastro-intestinal disorders so if you pet has a delicate digestion we may look at alternatives. We can also use steroids for particular painful and inflammatory disorders and in those patients that cannot tolerate the NSAIDS. In addition we also have some painkillers that act in the brain to stop it registering the painful experience. Most of these drugs are not licensed specifically for use in animals and because they act in the brain they can also make the patient quite drowsy. We tend to use these drugs around the time of surgery and also for severe tummy aches. Side effects of these drugs are primarily drowsiness and suppression of the heart rate. In the last issue I described how acupuncture can also be helpful for relieving pain in animals. This is especially helpful in dogs and cats where they cannot tolerate the NSAIDS and or when the side effects of the centrally acting drugs are too much. There are some nutritional supplements available for the treatment of certain painful conditions such as osteoarthritis and cystitis. These are natural products that are nutritional elements specifically extracted and purified to help replace vital metabolites that are either not being produced or are being exhausted by the painful disease process. These include oil of evening primrose, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate for example. Physiotherapy exercises can also help painful conditions. Physiotherapy includes massage, therapeutic exercise, ultrasound, laser therapy, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy. Find out more about these in next month's newsletter. Julia Boness MRCVS Monthly Offer For November, in advance of Firework Night, we are continuing our offer of 10% off our DAP products - just quote the code 9DAP09. Forthcoming Events A Blood Drive (collecting blood from dogs over 25kg for the Pet Blood Bank) will be running all day on November 7th. Please call us on to book your slot. FREE Diabetes Awareness Evening 25th November at Barton Rovers Football Club Barton Le Clay From 7:15 Please let us know you are coming so that we can get the right number of Fish n Chip suppers. Either call or us at diabetes@vetlinks.co.uk Don't forget our regular Puppy Parties - if you know of someone who has just acquired a new puppy, please let them know our Puppy Parties are FREE - be quick as they are usually busy and Puppy's must start the Parties before they are 12 weeks old. Fantastic Felines - we also run Cat focused evenings for our kitty friends. If you would like to come along and spend an hour or so with Linda Horn to learn more about your cat, please just give us a call to book a slot on the next evening.

5 FREE If you received this from a friend, please sign up to our Boness E-Newsletterclick here Please note, we never sell or give your address to any other organisation. Finally... Please let us know what you think. your views on any veterinary topic or the Hospital and websites etc to feedback@vetlinks.co.uk And, if you like this newsletter, why not forward it to a friend or send their address to us and we will add it to the distribution list. "Think Green" - Please do not print this unless you really need to! Boness Veterinary Enterprises Ltd