Scamps Pet Health People

 Arthritis in dogs is most commonly osteoarthritis - inflammation of joints most commonly seen as dogs get older, influenced by genetics, body condition throughout life and presently and previous joint injuries and conditions. Dogs are often stoic and do their best for as long as they can.  The signs of arthritis are subtle, such as being slower getting up, slower when going for walks and more deliberate negotiating stairs or getting into vehicles.  As the arthritis gets worse dogs that previously could, are not able to jump into higher vehicles without help. (See previous blog on chronic pain and arthritis in dogs). The factor that has the most influence on the effect of arthritis is body condition.  For those dogs that are overweight, weight loss is going to make the biggest difference.  Weight loss is not an overnight sensation and is not as simple as taking daily medication.  The best case scenario is awareness of the health benefits of a lean body cond...

Parvovirus in Dogs and Why Vaccination Matters What is Parvovirus?  Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs—especially puppies. It's caused by a tiny, tough virus that can survive in the environment for up to 8–12 months.   Dogs infected with parvovirus shed the virus in their diarrhoea , which can contaminate everything, surfaces, bedding, feeding bowls, grass and concrete. Once the environment is infected, it becomes a serious risk to other unvaccinated dogs. A Quick History of Parvovirus Parvovirus was first recognised in dogs in the late 1970s . Before vaccinations became available, it spread rapidly and caused many deaths, particularly among puppies. The first parvovirus vaccine was developed in 1979 , and vaccination has since become very effective at preventing infection and disease. Even today, though, we still see cases of parvo—especially in unvaccinated pups. It's a serious illness that causes: Loss of appetite Vomiting Bloo...

Sun Damage is a Problem for Pets Sun damage is associated with skin problems in cats and dogs. Animals with white fur and pink skin are most at risk because their skin has little or no pigment. For white cats (and cats with white patches) the most common problem is sun damage to the ears, the white hairless area on the nose and the eyelids. Sun damage over the years causes subtle changes. These may progress to what seems like non healing scabs or scratches on the tips of the ears, the nose or eyelids. These may then go on to become squamous cell carcoma - a skin cancer which can cause ulceration of the nose, eyelids and ears. Treatment often involves surgery. Advanced disease especially of the nose is quite confronting to look at images are not included in this article. You may have noticed the odd white cat with stunted ear flaps. It is very likely they were surgically removed to treat squamous cell carcinoma. Sun damage is associated with skin problems in cats and dogs. Anima...

 Why is My Dog So Itchy? Do you notice your dog stopping play to itch, shaking their head, constantly licking their feet or belly or even waking up during the night and waking you up too? Have you tried over the counter sprays and shampoos from the pet shop that make little difference? There are various reasons for increased itchiness in dogs. The most common cause, especially in the humid, warm weather is allergic skin disease. This is similar to eczema in humans. We can help your dog with medications to help stop the itch and treat any infections so you can all sleep easily.   Allergens are very small substances from trees and plants, some parasites and some moulds. Some dogs react to allergens in an exaggerated way. This causes inflammation and itchiness of the ears and skin especially the skin on the underarms of the front legs, the paws, the back of the lower legs, the belly and inner thighs.  Some dogs have itchy eyes and anuses. If your dog has allergi...

         Why is My Cat Getting Skinny?  Understanding Common Health Issues There are many reasons why cats lose weight.  Two common conditions— diabetes mellitus  and  hyperthyroidism —can cause significant weight loss despite a good or even ravenous appetite. In addition to weight loss, cats with diabetes often drink much more water than usual. Both of these conditions are linked to hormones and can be treated effectively.       Diabetes Mellitus in Cats Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a deficiency of the hormone  insulin , which is necessary for cells to use glucose properly. The pancreas either produces insufficient insulin or the insulin produced is less effective.  Overweight cats  are particularly at risk of developing  Type 2 diabetes . Diabetes in cats is diagnosed with a blood and urine test, which will show an increase in glucose levels. Fortunately, diabetes is treatable with  injecta...

  While there is something endearing about a chubby cat there are no health benefits to being overweight. A significant issue for cats is an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which interestingly, is not a common issue for overweight dogs. Body condition scoring is a useful tool although trickier in cats than in dogs.  To keep it simple the width across the lumbar spine (between the ribs and pelvis) should be narrower than the depth of the trunk.  The trunk of a cat with healthy weight would be 1.5 to 1.75 times as deep as it is wide.  Some cats have loose skin and subcuteous belly fat which makes the depth more difficult to estimate.   The points of the vertebrae along the spine and the top of the pelvis should be felt with gentle pressure and not obvious.  If your cat is getting wide across the back and looking more of a square shape than a rectangle it is very likely they are overweight. Putting a cat on a diet can be challenging so p...

Wh at is a Healthy Weight for a Dog? I prefer to use body condition score (BCS) or BFI (body fat index). When a pet has an ideal BCS or BFI, they are at their ideal weight. This method works for the individual animal, regardless of their conformation. A body condition score estimates the leanness of the pet. For dogs, the main points are: Feel the ribs but not see them (when running your fingers across or perpendicular to the ribs). This assesses the fat under the skin. In lean dogs, there is little thickness, and in overweight dogs, there is more. The dog should have a discernible waist when viewed from above. There should be a narrowing over the lumbar area – behind the ribs and in front of the pelvis. The dog should have a tuck when viewed from the side. There should be an upward slope from the bottom of the chest (sternum) to the pubic bone (between the hind legs). Some breeds have a lean conformation, while others are more stocky, so the extent of the waist a...

  Chronic pain is a persistent or waxing and waning pain. A common cause in pets, especially in the second half of life, is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is inflammation of the joints, which over time may lead to an increase in the size of affected joints and a decrease in the range of motion. Lameness is relative. A pet with one sore leg and three non-painful legs will appear worse than a pet with multiple sore legs. To many people, a dog with arthritis in all four legs doesn’t seem to be lame. Just as in humans, arthritis begins with waxing and waning pain. Osteoarthritis in pets is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen over time. The following signs may be seen as the arthritis progresses in dogs: Slower to get up from rest Stiffness after rest that the decreases as the dog gets moving Less able to cope with exercise and may lag towards the end of a walk Lame and more tired after longer periods of exercise, for example, longer walks on the weeke...

  Tips for Trimming Dog's Nails There are various ways of trimming dogs nails, clippers and dremel tools being the more common. The following two photos show dogs with white nails. We can see where the quick (pink part) is. The image shows a safe place to cut. Nails may be cut or filed shorter. For beginners a conservative approach is recommended so there is less risk of cutting them too short and risking an aversion to having nails trimmed. There are various approaches to cutting nails. I tend to cut parallel to the ground, similar to how nails naturally wear. A 45 degree angle is commonly recommended. Both approaches are fine as long as the quick is avoided.    The two middle claws and two outer toes are generally similar so once one is cut it can be used to indicate the amount of nail that can be safely removed from the other similar nail. This image shows long quicks.  The nails are as short as they can be. These two photos also show how qu...

What to Expect with Euthanasia of Your Dearly Loved Pet at Home Euthanasis is the practice of ending the life of a pet to limit the pet's suffering. Euthanasia of a dearly loved pet is not easy.  An at home euthanasia is more peaceful than going to a vet clinic.  It is more personal for you and more comfortable for your pet. This is how I help pets pass peacefully.  Sedation is the first, slower step.  Sedation is given with a simpler injection which is less stressful for your pet.  They slowly get very sleepy.  Sedation works best when your pet is relaxed.  The home environment is familiar and much less stressful than a clinic.    Euthanasia itself requires an overdose of anesthetic drug to be injected into a vein.  Most commonly a catheter is placed in a vein in a leg.   After sedation your pet is barely aware of this step.  The injection that ends the pet’s life works reasonably quickly. With the pet already very sleepy...

Why Clipping Dog's Black Nails is Tricky                Comparing human nails to dog nails                   Trimming human nails is straightforward – the pink is sensitive and the white part can be cut painlessly.  Imagine that a human fingernail, instead of being flat is like a curved macaroni tube starting at the base of the nail. This curved tube contains the bone of the end of the finger, skin, blood vessels and nerves. The tube is painted black so the sensitive pink area is not obvious.    How would you approach keeping your nails trimmed? Would you go to the nail salon and have the manicurist take a best guess and boldly cut them quite short so you didn’t have to come back too often? If you’re lucky she would avoid the sensitive part of the nail. If she accidentally cut the sensitive area there would be pain, blood, a few expletives and no 5 star review.    Would you...