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!

National Pet Fire Safety Day was July 15^th

Did you know that every year pets are actually responsible for starting almost a thousand house fires in the United States alone? Take this story, for example, of a dog that started a fire by playing with matches: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/dog-playing-with-matches-starts-house-fire-in-yukon-1.2865883

Here are some tips to keep your pets and your home safe from these accidental fires.

1. Supervise all lit candles. Cats are very notorious for walking on tables and knocking things off. This could lead to a fire very quickly, so always make sure you are in the area where any candles are lit. If you want to leave candles unsupervised, consider flameless ones.
2. Remove stove knobs. This can be important if you know your dog tends to surf counters. If it does this on a stove, it can very easily turn a knob resulting in a fire.
3. Do not use glass bowls. The sun’s beams can travel through the glass and be focused on one particular spot. If something flammable is in this area, it may ignite. Also avoid placing glass objects near windows.
4. Do not allow your pet to chew cords or other flammable objects such as matches.
5. Keep your pets secured. If your pet is a known chewer or young puppy or kitten, it may be best to keep it crated or secured in a safe room until you can trust it not to chew things or jump up on things it shouldn’t.
6. Place a notification on your doors/windows. There are special pet alert notifications that can be placed in visible areas to let firefighters know how many and what types of pets are in the household should there be a fire.

It is important to have everyone know an escape plan so it can be done efficiently if there ever is a fire. Keep collars, leashes and carriers in easy to access areas so that you can grab them quickly should you need to evacuate.

We at Coventry Animal Hospital hope that with these tips, you can keep your pets and your homes safe from fires.

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.

Warm weather is here in Perth County and we are all enjoying time outside with our pets.  Unfortunately, sometimes our pets find their way into the street and get hit by a car.

 What to do if your pet gets hit by a car:

• This should be treated as an emergency, but it is important to remain calm. Animals can sense your anxiety and it is important to keep them as calm as possible.
• Watch the traffic. Your personal safety is priority number one. Make sure traffic is stopped before you cross to your pet.
• Call for help. You may need an assistant to help move your pet or drive while you hold your pet.
• Call your veterinary clinic to let them know you will be bringing your pet. If this occurs outside of regular business hours, then you can arrange to meet the vet on-call.
• Use caution. Your pet may be in shock and may try to bite if it is in pain. Consider wrapping a blanket or jacket around your pet to restrain it and protect you from bites and scratches. Shifting an animal on to a blanket or board and then lifting the blanket/board with an assistant can minimize the animal’s discomfort. Consider gently transferring a smaller patient to a box if one is handy. It is important to keep injured animals as still as possible until they have had a medical assessment.
• Don’t try to feed your pet, as it may need sedation at the vet clinic.
• Animals that have been hit by a moving vehicle may not show outward signs of trauma (such as bleeding wounds or road rash) but they may have internal bleeding, broken bones or teeth. Unfortunately, internal bleeding can be delayed several hours or days after the incident. For this reason, all animals that have been hit by a car should be assessed by a veterinarian, even if they appear uninjured.

While it may have felt like it was never going to happen, it appears spring is finally here in Perth County!  With the arrival of spring brings the arrival of heartworm season!  Here is some information to help you understand heartworm and why we feel prevention is important.

What is Heartworm?

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic worm transmitted to dogs from mosquitoes.  Heartworm-infected mosquitoes inject immature heartworms into the blood when they bite your dog.  These worms then travel to the blood vessels around the heart and lungs, where they can grow into adults as long as 30 centimetres!  Adult heartworms can cause serious and fatal problems such as congestive heart failure.

How would my dog get infected?

Your dog could be infected by a single bite from an infected mosquito.

What are signs that my dog could have heartworm?

Dogs will show no signs of infection early on while the heartworm is growing.  When the heartworm reaches an adult state, signs of infection may include cough, weight loss and exercise intolerance. Because heartworm infections may not show any signs until they have progressed very far, we recommend regular testing for heartworm.  The testing is performed by taking a small blood sample that is examined by a Registered Veterinary Technician in our clinic laboratory.

What is the risk that my dog would contract heartworm disease?

While the risk is low, between 2002 and 2010, the incidence of heartworm in Canada has increased by 60%, with the majority of infected dogs living in Ontario. Also, most of the infected dogs were not on heartworm prevention medications. This increase is likely due to numerous factors such as increasing temperatures and an increase in dog adoptions from warmer climates. Furthermore, in Western Ontario coyotes can act as a reservoir for heartworm.

Why not just treat my dog if it gets it?

With heartworm disease, the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really holds true. Once a dog is infected with heartworm, the treatment is long, painful and can result in death. More serious infections could involve surgery to remove the worms from the heart. Prevention of heartworm is much easier and has fewer risks.

How do I prevent my dog from getting heartworm?

The easiest way to prevent your dog from getting heartworm is by placing your dog on a monthly heartworm preventive medication. These medications kill the immature worms that infect your dog and when used according to the label, are highly effective at eliminating these infections. Heartworm medications can have other benefits as well, such as preventing intestinal worms and fleas, depending on which product you use.

Here at Coventry Animal Hospital, our staff believes that prevention is the best approach to heartworm and all our pets are kept on monthly preventive medication through heartworm season. To discuss which product is best for your pet, contact us today!

We also recommend reading our blog update on Ticks.

Lyme disease is transmitted by black-legged deer ticks. The ticks are found most commonly in long grasses, forested areas and sand.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada:

Endemic (high-risk) areas:

1. Pointe-Pelee National Park
2. Rondeau Provincial Park
3. Turkey Point Provincial Park
4. Long Point peninsula including Long Point Provincial Park and the National Wildlife area
5. Wainfleet Bog near Welland on the Niagara peninsula
6. Prince Edward Point
7. parts of the Thousand Islands National Park

Risk areas:

1. around Kingston/Belleville
2. along the Saint Lawrence valley to the border with Quebec that extend north east towards Ottawa
3. in western Ontario in the region of Lake of the Woods
4. Pinery Park on the shore of Lake Huron

Tick populations are expanding and it is possible that Lyme disease can be acquired outside the currently identified areas.

There are several ways to minimize your dog’s exposure to Lyme disease, but ultimately preventing tick bites is best.  Please give us a call to discuss the options for Lyme disease prevention that would best suit your dog’s lifestyle.

Here at Coventry Animal Hospital, we are often asked about certain cat behaviours and why cats do the things they do. So today, we are discussing the reasons behind some of these behaviours.

Purring

Purring is one of the most common behaviours we are asked about. Many cats (in their home environment) will purr when they are feeling happy or content, often during interactions. Mother cats will also purr when nursing young. However, for some cats purring can be a way to help calm stress and they can purr when they are nervous or scared. Interestingly, cats actually purr in a frequency that helps promote bone and muscle healing which lends some truth to the old wives’ tail about sitting with a cat when you are sick or injured! This may also explain why cats can heal a lot faster than some other animals when injured.

Meowing

Cats meow as a way of communicating with humans. Early on, cats must have learned that humans were poor with interpreting cat body language and so, started to vocalize for attention. Feral cats rarely meow to each other and that is why it is thought to be a communication tool evolved strictly for interaction with humans. Cats also meow at a frequency close to a human baby’s cry which is more likely to get our attention. Cats have different meows for different purposes (greetings, asking for food, etc.) and each individual cat essentially has its own language to get the attention of its owners.

Kneading

The first time a cat kneads is as a kitten while feeding from mom. The kneading helps to express more milk and is therefore an instinctual and innate behaviour. However, it is not totally understood why adult cats knead and there are multiple theories. One theory is that it is just comforting to cats and reminds them of the comfort they had while feeding from their mothers. Another aspect is that it is a way for cats to mark their territory since they have scent glands in their feet. If your cat kneads on you, that means you are very special to him!

Scratching

Cats scratch as a way to mark their territory and keep their nails healthy. When they scratch, the scent glands in their feet release their scent onto the surface.  This is such an instinctual behaviour that even cats without claws will still do the scratching motions.  It is important when you own a cat to always provide multiple areas for it to scratch. Make sure scratching posts are kept in areas where people frequent the most, as these are the areas where cats feel the need to scratch to mark their territory.

Rubbing Their Face Against Things

This is another form of marking territory through the scent glands in their face but also serves other purposes. The pheromones released by the glands in their faces seem to have a calming effect on cats. So, while a cat rubbing its face on things can let other cats know that this is his space, it also provides comfort to your cat knowing he is in a familiar place because of his scent. Rubbing his face on you means you are his and is a great symbol of affection.

Tail Quivering

Have you ever noticed your cat holding his tail straight in the air and it quivering? This is a great sign of affection and means your cat is super happy to see you!

While cats remain the more mysterious creature compared to dogs, it is nice to know that a lot of their interesting and unique behaviours are their subtle signs of affection for us!