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During this time of Remembrance, Coventry Animal Hospital would like to take the opportunity to reflect on the bravery of not only all the men and women in our services, but also the animals who served and sacrificed with them. Here are just a few stories of the millions of brave animals who served alongside our soldiers. 

Warrior the Horse

Warrior was a horse who served in World War One. He was the warhorse of General Jack Seely and served on the front lines for the duration of the war, surviving many battles including the Battle of Somme. He survived being trapped under debris, two stable fires and being stuck in mud at Passchendaele. He was dubbed “the horse the Germans could not kill”. Warrior survived the war and returned home to the Isle of Wight to live out the rest of his life to the age of 32. He was awarded the Dickin Medal (Victoria Cross medal for animals) in 2014.

Gander the Dog

Gander was a Newfoundland Dog that served during World War Two. He originally started his career as a mascot for a group of soldiers stationed in Gander, Newfoundland. When these soldiers were sent to Hong Kong, they brought Gander with them. Gander would often charge at Japanese soldiers who approached injured Canadian soldiers on the field, saving numerous lives. On December 19^th, 1941, a grenade was thrown towards Canadian soldiers during a battle. Gander immediately picked this up and ran away from the injured Canadian soldiers nearby. This bravery saved many lives, however, it cost Gander his own during the ensuing explosion. Gander was awarded the Dickin Medal in 2000 for his bravery.

G.I. Joe the Pigeon

G.I. Joe was a pigeon that served with the United States Army during World War Two. He is credited with saving the lives of at least a thousand British troops. On October 18^th, 1943, the American Airforce was set to bomb a city in Italy to allow the British troops to move in. However, the Germans retreated, and the British troops took hold of the city far ahead of schedule. Numerous attempts were made via radio to cancel the air raid, but were unsuccessful. G.I. Joe was sent with the message and flew at an incredible spend, covering 20 miles in 20 minutes. He arrived at the air base with the message just as the planes were warming up to take off, preventing a horrible tragedy. In 1946, G.I. Joe was awarded the Dickin Medal. He lived out the rest of his life in the Detroit Zoological Gardens, where he passed away at the age of 18.

Able Seacat Simon

Simon was a cat found by a member of the crew of the British ship HMS Amythest in 1948. He was smuggled aboard the ship, but soon became a favourite of the crew due to his adeptness at catching and killing rats. He would often leave these as “gifts” in beds and even in the captain’s hat.

During a mission, the ship was to travel up the Yangtze River when they came under fire. The gun fire killed and injured many crew members and seriously injured Simon. The medical staff were able to treat Simon, and even though he was not expected to live the night, he recovered and was back to hunting rats within a few days. This was a very important duty, as the ship was stranded and food stores were low. Rats were known to eat and contaminate food on ships. More importantly, Simon would visit the injured sailors and kept morale up on the ship. Because of his important duties, he was awarded the rank of “Able Seacat”. The ship did eventually escape the area. Unfortunately, while in quarantine for entering England, Simon died of a viral infection. Simon was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1949, shortly after he passed away.

It’s the morning of surgery/anesthesia – here are some things you may want to know as your pet is about to undergo general anesthesia.

General anesthesia is a medically-induced state of unconsciousness where your pet cannot feel pain.

Why does my pet need an empty stomach?

We advise lifting food dishes away from cats and dogs after 6pm the night before anesthesia.  The purpose of fasting a patient is to limit the chance of them regurgitating ingested food into their mouth and then aspirating that material.  While they are anesthetized, they do not have the ability to cough out that material.  There are a few exceptions where a veterinarian may give different recommendations, such as a very young or small patient or a diabetic.

Do you perform a physical examination if they have already been recently examined for their vaccines?

It is important that you share any health concerns with our team before your pet undergoes anesthesia. If your pet is taking any medication, the anesthetic team needs to be made aware of when they were last given.  On the day of anesthesia, the technician will collect a brief history and the veterinarian will perform a physical exam on your pet.  In particular, the veterinarian will listen to your pet’s heart to assess for abnormalities, like a heart murmur.  For example, if your pet has a fever, rescheduling and treating the underlying cause would be appropriate.  If a female dog is in heat, her spay will be rescheduled.

The veterinarian carefully chooses injectable anesthetic drugs and their dosages based on your pet’s individual needs. We take pain management, the age, breed and health status of each patient into consideration.  Different drugs are metabolized through different organs.  By using a combination of low doses of drugs, we can limit the impact on any one organ.

Why should I consider pre-anesthetic bloodwork for my pet?

Bloodwork is an internal health screen, in the same way that a physical exam is an external health screen. Bloodwork looks at:

• Red blood cell (RBC) count
  • a low RBC count means the animal is anemic from blood loss or inadequate RBC production
  • an elevated RBC count often means the patient is dehydrated
• White blood cell (WBC) count
  • a high WBC count often means infection or inflammation
• Protein level
• Sugar level
• Liver values
  • high liver values can suggest some form of liver disease or toxicity
• Kidney values
  • high kidney values may be caused by kidney disease or dehydration

All of these precautions are in place to maximize your pet’s safety leading up to the time of anesthesia. Our next article will discuss the protocols during anesthesia.

If you have any questions contact our team at Coventry Animal Hospital and we would be happy to answer them for you.

Coventry Animal Hospital has recently had some clients concerned about peanut butter being toxic to their dogs and we wanted to address this concern.

Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute that is commonly used as a sweetener. It has an anti-bacterial benefit in the mouth and is used to help fight cavities.  Xylitol is found in many sugar-free gums, as well as mints, toothpastes and mouthwashes and even lip balm.  It is also becoming more widely used in sugar-free baked goods, candies, supplements and some peanut butter.  Beware, as items are not always clearly labeled as containing xylitol.

Symptoms

Normally when a dog eats food, its pancreas releases insulin, which signals the body to remove sugar from the blood stream and store it in their liver. Xylitol causes the pancreas to remove sugar from the circulation but does not offer calories.  Xylitol results in severely low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia.  Signs of hypoglycemia: weakness, wobbling, tremors, seizures or coma.

Xylitol can also cause serious damage to the liver. This leads to sudden liver failure.  The liver is responsible for making factors that allow blood to clot – without these, patients can experience internal bleeding.

As little as a stick of gum could be toxic to a small dog. If you suspect any amount of ingestion, call a vet clinic immediately.  Effects of xylitol can be seen as early as 30 minutes after ingestion.

Treatment

If treated promptly, the dog can be made to vomit up the xylitol. To correct low blood sugar, it is recommended to maintain the dog in hospital on intravenous dextrose.  Bloodwork is recommended to check its liver function.  Despite treatment, some dogs still do not survive.

Cats

There are no known reports of xylitol poisoning in cats, so it is unknown whether it is toxic to felines.

Use of xylitol for oral health

Pet toothpaste does not contain xylitol or fluoride and is safe for dogs to ingest.  There are water additives for cats and dogs that are added to drinking water at a prescribed dilution; this weak dilution is safe to be swallowed.  If you are questioning whether a dental product is safe for your pet, please ask one of our veterinary team members.

Did you know that this past week was Animal Welfare Week? We all have roles to play in ensuring good animal welfare. One of the first places where you can make a difference is with the purchase of your puppy. Unfortunately, many puppies come from puppy mills where the animals are kept in horrible conditions and are mistreated. By avoiding purchasing from these places, we can put an end to them.

What is a Puppy Mill?

A Puppy Mill is an intensive large scale commercial dog breeding operation that can range from having tens to hundreds of dogs. Dogs are bred solely for profit with no care for the health of the dogs nor the puppies produced. In these mills, the dogs are kept in deplorable conditions; often in overcrowded and dirty cages with little human interaction and no environmental enrichment. Females are bred at every opportunity and will be euthanized when they no longer produce enough puppies. They also receive very little to no veterinary care. Unfortunately, that means that most puppies from these mills come with medical conditions.

How to Avoid Puppy Mills:

• Do not purchase dogs from pet stores. This is the primary way puppy mills sell their dogs. Even though pet stores will often claim their dogs are from reputable breeders, if you are not able to get the information to go visit that breeder, they are likely from a puppy mill. Even if the puppy comes with registration “papers”, this does not guarantee it is not from a puppy mill. Most reputable pet stores will have adoption centers for rescues as opposed to selling dogs.
• Rescue or adopt instead of buying. Even if you are looking for a purebred dog, there are many breed specific rescues out there that could have one for you. One of the benefits of going through a rescue is that they usually already know the personality and health concerns of the animal you are adopting, so you can find the perfect fit.
• Do not buy online. This is now also becoming a popular way for puppy mills to sell their dogs and should be avoided at all costs.

• Visit breeders. If you do decide that you want to get a puppy from a breeder, make sure to visit the breeder. A good breeder will allow you to meet the parents (at least the mother as the father may not be on site) and see the conditions that the parents live in. He should also show you how the puppies are kept. Breeders should also have certain health certificates for the parents (depending on breed) showing that they are free of particular genetic defects (for example hip dysplasia in German Shepherds). If a breeder will not allow you to visit his facility, avoid them.

The only way that we can put an end to the mistreatment of dogs in puppy mills is to make sure we do not purchase dogs from mills. As long as mills keep making money, they will keep doing what they are doing. It is up to us to put a stop to it. If you are considering getting a puppy, contact our veterinary team at Coventry Animal Hospital. We can help guide you to ensure you end up with a healthy and happy puppy.

The causes of arthritis in dogs and cats have been discussed in our previous blogs – arthritis is a progressive chronic painful condition that involves inflammation of the joints.

What happens after a veterinarian has recognized arthritis in your pet?

A treatment plan should be tailored to your pet’s individual needs – usually with a combination of several therapies.

1. Surgical correction

If your pet has an underlying orthopedic condition that could lead to secondary joint disease, it is important to surgically correct this condition as soon as it is diagnosed.

2.  Weight loss

Arguably the most important thing you can do for your pet’s joint comfort is to keep your pet at an ideal body weight. Over half of the pets that we see are overweight and losing those “few extra pounds” can drastically improve your pet’s quality of life. The first step is learning what your pet’s healthy body weight is – you may be surprised by how much of a waist your cat or dog is supposed to have.

3.  Gentle and controlled exercise

Pets with arthritis are generally quite stiff when they first get moving in the morning. However, short frequent walks with your dog and brief play sessions with your cat helps their joints stay lubricated through motion.

4.  Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and omega 3 fatty acids

Glucosamine and chondroitin are building blocks for cartilage repair. It has been suggested that consuming them can help rebuild damaged cartilage and possibly decrease joint inflammation.   Omega 3 fatty acids are also believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits when taken orally. Not all products are created equally – our article on nutraceuticals elaborates on this. It is also possible for your veterinarian to inject certain cartilage building blocks (such as polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) into your pet’s body. Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan is also believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits on joints.

5.  Specialized diets

There are veterinary therapeutic diets that are formulated specifically for pets with arthritis. In addition to being optimally balanced, these diets incorporate supplements including glucosamine, chondroitin and omega 3 fatty acids. Scientific trials are run on these diets to show improved joint health in pets with joint disease. The veterinary pet food industry invests significantly to research ways of treating conditions through diet.

6.  Anti-inflammatory and pain medications

There are a number of veterinary medications that can block pain receptors and also bring down the swelling in joints. These drugs can improve a pet’s mobility and quality of life. These meds are best discussed with your regular veterinarian. Please never give your pet human medication.

7.  Rehabilitation therapy

Animal rehab is a growing field and there are veterinarians that specialize in this field. Rehabilitation uses custom physiotherapy exercises, hydrotherapy (in the form of a water treadmill), therapeutic laser, and electrical nerve stimulation. These tools help strengthen a pet’s muscling and improve joint function/range of motion and decrease pain.

8.  Alternative therapies

Acupuncture: A veterinary acupuncturist inserts needles to stimulate the healing process or releases hormones that help with pain or inflammation.

Chiropractic: An animal chiropractor uses spinal or joint manipulation to attempt to re-establish normal movement and improve the pet’s sense of well-being.

9.  Environmental changes

Modifications can be done in your pet’s home to decrease stress on its joints; gripping surfaces on the floor, thick padded bedding, heating pads and ramps or steps to avoid high jumps or excessive stair use.

The goal of arthritis treatment is to maintain your pet’s comfort level and to delay the progression of its joint disease. Arthritis management is possible by keeping your pet at an ideal body weight and by collaborating with a veterinarian to create the best plan for your pet.

If you have any questions about your pet and arthritis give our team at Coventry Animal Hospital a call.

Sore joints, difficulty going up stairs and pain… these are just a few of the clues that might suggest that your dog could be experiencing arthritis.

The term arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease) means inflammation of the joint or several joints. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is required to provide a cushion between moving bone ends. Without shock absorption, the bone ends change shape in an attempt to preserve the dog’s ability to move. This phenomenon is chronically painful and never as effective as a healthy joint.

How did my dog get arthritis?

• Previous damage to a joint (torn ligaments, fractures or disease)
• Congenital joint disease – examples include hip dysplasia and medial luxating patella
• Obesity – which causes abnormal forces on joints
• Sedentary lifestyle – routine movement is needed to lubricate the joints
• Old age – daily wear and tear

How do I know if my dog has arthritis?

While watching your dog every day, it may be hard to detect gradual changes, but the most common phrase that we get from clients is that their dog is “slowing down”.  Some signs include:

• A change in posture – subtle weight shifting off of the front limbs and on to the back limbs
• Stiffness – shorter strides while walking or difficulty moving its head in one direction
• Crankiness – especially when a sore part of its body is handled
• Muscle loss
• Hesitation or inability to use stairs
• Hesitation or inability to jump up into the car or on to furniture
• Difficulty getting comfortable – difficulty going from a laying down position to standing
• Limping or lameness, especially in the morning
• Decreased activity level and less desire to play

How is arthritis diagnosed?

Arthritis is often diagnosed by a combination of symptoms observed by a veterinarian – a physical examination of the dog’s limbs, joints and spine and watching the dog walk. X-rays are a valuable tool to assess for boney changes around joints, confirming arthritis.

How is arthritis in dogs treated?

As mentioned in our blog article about arthritis in cats, there are a number of options available to treat the symptoms of pain, as well as to slow the progression of this disease. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog on arthritis therapies for cats and dogs. Arthritis is a disease where each patient may respond differently to the variety of management options available.

If you have any questions or concerns about arthritis and your dog, give our team at Coventry Animal Hospital a call.

Arthritis in cats is more common than we think. Unfortunately, cats hide their pain very well, making it hard to tell when they are suffering the pain of arthritis. We at Coventry Animal Hospital feel that arthritis is missed so often in cats that we have decided to dedicate a blog specifically to our feline friends!

What is arthritis?

Arthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This leads to remodeling of the bones in the joints, abnormal contact between the bones in the joints, inflammation and pain.

What is the cause of arthritis?

Arthritis can be caused by various factors:

• Previous damage to a joint: any joint that has sustained an injury (such as fractures or torn ligaments) will be prone to developing arthritis in the future.
• Abnormal forces on a joint: If the bones of a joint are structured abnormally (as in cases of hip dysplasia) the bones will contact each other abnormally and lead to arthritis.
• Aging: Unfortunately, cartilage tends to break down as cats age and can lead to the development of arthritis.

How can I tell if my cat has arthritis?

Cats are very good at hiding pain and signs of arthritis, therefore, you need to watch for subtle signs.

• Playing less/not playing with its favourite toys
• Difficulty or hesitancy using stairs
• Not jumping up on things that it used to
• Urinating or defecating outside of its litterbox
• Grooming less/hair getting matted/unkempt coat
• Any change in behaviour

How is arthritis diagnosed?

Arthritis is often diagnosed on a thorough physical examination with your veterinarian. Sometimes your veterinarian may need to take X-rays to confirm arthritis and rule out other conditions.

How is arthritis treated?

The good news is there are many options in treating arthritis. In a future blog, we will explore these options in more detail. After a thorough physical examination, your veterinarian will be able to tell you what options are best for your cat. Some treatments include:

• Weight loss
• Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and omega 3 fatty acids
• Specialized diets
• Anti-inflammatory and pain medications
• Physiotherapy

Remember, arthritis is a chronic pain which means that your cat will not show obvious signs like crying out, even when in severe pain. It is important to take your senior cat to your veterinarian at least annually so that she may evaluate your cat for these subtle signs. Since cats hide pain so well, a trial of pain medication is often required to actually see the difference the arthritis pain is making on your cat’s quality of life. If you notice any of the signs as listed above, contact your veterinarian to discuss the possibility of arthritis in your cat.

What is feline asthma?

Feline asthma is one of the most common respiratory issues we see in cats. For reasons we don’t totally understand, cats with this issue have lungs that become very hypersensitive to things, which can cause a severe inflammation and constriction of the lungs’ passageways.

What are signs of feline asthma?

• Occasional or chronic cough
• Wheezing
• Exercise intolerance
• Severe acute emergency respiratory distress and open mouth breathing

What causes feline asthma?

Unfortunately, we don’t know why some cats get this disease. They seem to be hypersensitive to allergens that can include pollen, dust, cigarette smoke, kitty litter, and occasionally some pet foods. There are likely a lot more allergens that can trigger asthma that we are unaware of. Asthma can affect cats of any age and sex. Both indoor and outdoor cats can be affected.

How is feline asthma diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a trip to your veterinarian when you notice that your cat has developed a cough or respiratory difficulty. Your veterinarian will listen to your cat’s heart and lungs to rule out heart disease as being a cause for coughing.

Next, your vet may want to perform bloodwork and x-rays of the chest. Some cats with asthma have an increase in a type of white blood cell called “eosinophils”, which is associated with allergic responses. Chest x-rays will allow your vet to look for signs of asthma such as thickening of the passageways. It will also allow your vet to rule out other issues like heart disease, pneumonia and cancer.

Your vet may also want to perform a fecal test to rule out lung worm, a parasite that can live in your cat’s lungs.

Once your vet has all this information, she can make a presumptive diagnosis of feline asthma.

How is feline asthma treated?

Unfortunately, we have no cure for feline asthma. The good news is that we do have options to manage it and cats with the disease can live long and excellent lives.

The first line of treatment is to use a steroid medication to bring down the inflammation in the lungs and irritation in the lungs. While steroid medications are available in tablet form, they are also available as an inhaler to be used with a cat-specific chamber such as aerokat. The inhaler is a nice option to avoid the systemic effects of oral steroids.

In some cases, a bronchodilator may also be used. This helps to open up the air passageways, making it easier to breathe.

If your cat has asthma, you can also help prevent asthma attacks by using some of the following tips:

• Keeping your cat a healthy weight
• Avoid having allergens in the house such as dusty kitty litter, perfume, strong scented cleaners, and cigarette smoke
• Minimize the amount of stress your cat has to face
• Use a humidifier

If you ever notice that your cat has developed a cough, it is best to see a veterinarian right away so that she can help prevent your cat going into severe respiratory distress – which is an emergency situation!

Call us at Coventry Animal Hospital right away if you have any questions or concerns about your cat’s health, we are always happy to answer!

Did you know June is adopt-a-cat month? It is the perfect time to bring a new furry friend home, as often humane societies are quite full with cats at this time of year. If you are looking to adopt, here are some things to consider.

Costs

It is very important to know whether you can afford to own a cat. If you adopt an adult cat, you need to consider costs associated with food, litter, toys, and medical care. It is very important that your cat see your veterinarian regularly, as cats are excellent at hiding problems . If you are considering adopting a kitten, you need to keep in mind even more expenses such as spaying or neutering, more vaccines and more dewormings.  Learn more about the costs of owning a cat or a kitten here: http://www.ovma.org/pet_owners/pet_health/cost_of_owning_a_cat_or_dog.html

Have the Family On Board

It is important to have everyone in the family involved in the adoption of the cat. Make sure everyone comes to meet the cat first and ensure that no one has allergies as this can lead to heartbreak later.

Find a Personality that Suits You

One of the best reasons to adopt rather than purchase is that rescues often know the personalities of their cats really well. Do you want an easygoing cat that is content to sit on your lap all day? Or do you want a more active cat that you can spend a lot of time playing with? Consider what type of personality you would like before you adopt.

Get the Necessary Supplies

It is best to have all your needed supplies before picking up your new feline family member. These include food and water bowls, litter and litterboxes, cat toys, a scratching post and cat tree to climb.

Consider Your other Pets

Consider whether other pets in your household will be okay with adding a cat to their group. While it is obvious that some dogs would not do well with cats, a lot of people think that their single cat would prefer to have a friend. If the cat you have at home did not live with another cat previously, it would likely be happier without another cat.

Consider a Cat’s Needs

While a lot of people believe that cats are easy to care for (requiring little interaction), cats actually do have many environmental needs and do require attention and companionship. Many behavioural problems that cats suffer from are often due to not meeting their environmental needs. Cats require play time so that they may express their predatory instinct and they also require human companionship. Learn more about how to keep your cat healthy and happy here: http://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/ClientBrochures/Environmental%20GuidelinesEViewFinal.pdf

Consider Adopting a Special Needs Cat

There are many cats in humane societies that are considered a little less “adoptable” than others. These include older cats, black cats, those that have lost limbs or eyes, cats with Feline Aids or Feline Leukemia Virus and cats with other medical conditions. Most of these cats can live long and healthy lives and there is something especially rewarding about taking care of these animals.

Once you have adopted a cat, make sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian team so that they can make sure your cat is healthy and address any issues you may have during the transition process. Research has shown that owning a cat can improve a person’s physical and mental health, and so Coventry Animal Hospital highly recommend them as great companions!

Did you know that May 24 to 30 is Hurricane Preparedness week? While we may not see hurricanes in Perth County, we certainly aren’t immune to other emergency situations such as tornadoes or fires. Many people know what they plan to do with themselves and their family in the case of an emergency or natural disaster, but people sometimes fail to consider what they will do with their pets. This can cause a lot of stress and heartbreak if not planned for ahead of time.  Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe during an emergency.

Microchip your pet: If your pet is separated from you in an emergency situation, this is the best form of permanent identification that can allow you to be reunited with your pet. Tags and collars are easily lost.

Keep a pet first aid kit: This is important to have on hand if your pet is injured. For tips on how to make a first aid kit, see our previous blog.

Keep leashes and carriers in the same place: If you need to evacuate quickly, it is important to be able to grab these things efficiently, without having to search for them. Have separate carriers and leashes for each pet. Even if your pets normally get along, in a stressful emergency they may fight and injure each other.  

Train your cat to be comfortable in a carrier: In an emergency, the last thing you want to spend time doing is struggling to get your cat in its carrier. Learn more about this here: http://www.catster.com/cat-carriers/teach-your-cat-to-love-the-carrier

Have an emergency kit: This is a kit to have all the essentials in case you are not able to leave your house for a few days. This kit should include things like water, bowls, litterboxes and litter, blankets, medications, food, plastic bags, a can opener, your pet’s vaccination records and your pet’s first aid kit. For more information on creating an emergency kit, check out the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team’s website: http://www.cdart.org/beprepared.htm

Plan for evacuation: Make a plan now for where you might have to go in an evacuation. It is best to take your pets with you; some emergency shelters may not allow this. Where possible, try to plan to stay with friends or family so that you can keep your pets safe and with you.

Keep your pet up to date with vaccinations: If you are forced to leave your pet somewhere such as a boarding facility, they will require vaccinations be up to date as well as proof of this from your veterinarian.

If you need to leave your pets behind: Place many bowls of water around and secure them as much as possible so that they cannot tip over. Also open containers of food as well as cupboards so that your pets can have access to them. Keep the lid up on the toilet. Place a highly visible notification on your door or window for rescue workers to find. List all the pets that were left behind with their names and descriptions. Never tie your pet up outside.

Contact your local emergency management office: They may offer tips as to where you can shelter your pet in an emergency. Here are the websites for Stratford and Perth County:

http://www.perthcounty.ca/emergency_management

http://www.stratfordcanada.ca/en/livehere/emergencypreparedness.asp

The most important thing in an emergency is to be prepared. Planning ahead can save a lot of time and heartbreak for you, your family and your pets.