by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Unfortunately, a common consequence of our pets becoming older is the occurrence of various cancers.
One of the most common cancers seen in primarily old dogs and rarely in cats, is mammary cancer.
Surgical removal is recommended for most mammary tumours.
The prognosis is good following surgical resection for MOST mammary tumours in female dogs, but the prognosis is worse for certain types of tumours in dogs and ALL mammary tumours in cats.
Mammary tumours are more common in female dogs that are either not spayed or were spayed after 2 years of age.
The risk of a dog developing a mammary tumour is about 0.5% if spayed before their first heat (approximately 6 months of age), about 8% after their first heat and about 26% after their second heat.
Cats spayed before 6 months of age have a 7-times reduced risk of developing mammary cancer and spaying at any age reduces the risk of mammary tumours by 40% to 60% in cats.
More than a quarter of un-spayed female dogs will develop a mammary tumour during their lifetime.
A second cancer to mention is lymphoma.
Lymphoma is common in both geriatric dogs and geriatric cats.
Lymphoma is a common neoplasm affecting both dogs and cats and results from the malignant transformation of lymphocytes. It often arises from primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissues. However, because lymphocytes are capable of trafficking throughout the body, the development of lymphoma is not anatomically restricted. Common site for the spread of lymphoma include the skin, eye, central nervous system, testis and bone marrow.
Although lymphoma is considered a common neoplasm, a definitive cause for its development in dogs remains to be determined.
In cats, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has been identified as a biologic carcinogen resulting in malignant lymphocyte transformation.
Often, lymphoma can affect the intestinal wall of your cat, causing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.
The oral cavity is a common site for neoplasia in cats, accounting for about 10% of all feline tumours.
The most common malignant oral tumour in cats is squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis for this fast-growing, invasive tumour is grave once advanced, so it is vital to identify and treat it early.
Osteosarcoma accounts for only approximately 5% of all canine tumours, but is by far the most common bone tumour of the dog. It is a malignant tumour of the bone and can develop in any bone, but most often occurs in bones bordering the shoulder, wrist and knee.
This cancer develops deep within the bone and becomes progressively more painful as it grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out. Lameness may occur suddenly or start intermittently and progress over several weeks. Obvious swelling becomes evident as the tumour grows and normal bone is replaced by tumorous bone.
Osteosarcoma usually occurs in middle aged or elderly large and giant breed dogs but can occur in a dog of any age with larger breeds tending to develop tumours at younger ages.
Highly aggressive and metastatic in nature, over 90% of all clinically significant osteosarcomas have already metastasized by the time of diagnosis. Most metastasis occurs in the lungs and other bones, but lymph node metastasis has been reported.
Canine haemangiosarcoma is also known as malignant haemangioendothelioma or angiosarcoma.
There are three types of haemangiosarcoma. Dermal when found on the skin, sub-cutaneous when found under the skin and visceral, when found in the organs like the spleen or heart. The spleen is where haemangiosarcoma is most commonly diagnosed and the prognosis in this area without treatment is poor.
These tumours are mostly found in middle aged to older dogs.
Dermal haemangiosarcoma appears as a red or black growth on hairless portions of your dog’s coat. Dogs like Dalmatons and bull terriers are at higher risk of the disease. Subcutaneous and visceral tumours appear on internal organs and there is often very little warning before they cause severe clinical signs. The average time for survival once a visceral tumour has been discovered is six to eight weeks.
Symptoms of haemangiosarcoma can depend on the location of the tumour. Your dog may show signs including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss and swelling of the abdomen.
In cats, the spleen and liver are the most common places for a hemangiosarcoma tumour to develop and grow.
Many times, cats with visceral hemangiosarcoma look and act normal and then suffer an episode of collapse or sudden death. That’s because the tumour, which affects blood vessels, has ruptured and the animal is bleeding internally. If the problem is diagnosed quickly enough, emergency surgery usually needs to be performed to remove the tumour.
Most of the time, cancerous cells have spread throughout the body through the circulatory system by the time the condition is diagnosed, even if surgery is done to remove the primary, actively bleeding tumour, pets usually become sick from the development of tumours in other areas, like the heart and lungs, shortly after initial diagnosis.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- Weight loss
- Enlarged abdomen
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Panting
- Pale gums
- Weakness
This condition is far more common in dogs than cats.
For more information on these, and other, common cancers found in pets, please visit these websites –
https://www.caninecancer.com/osteosarcoma/
http://www.caninecancer.org.au/haemangiosarcoma.html
https://www.cathealth.com/cat-health/cancer/2513-hemangiosarcoma-in-cats
Is your pet having more bad says that good days? Read this insightful article on making those difficult decisions we’re often too afraid to consider – https://kimvet.co.za/the-quality-of-life-question-we-all-should-be-asking/
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by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
The quality of life question we all should be asking – by Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV
In 2016, I lost my dachshund, Muggle, to Cognitive Dysfunction. This brain disease of “doggy Alzheimer’s” is one that steals not only our pets, but our own peace of mind. Just like in human medicine, we tend not to give brain diseases credit for being diseases. Even as a trained hospice veterinarian, I kept thinking things like “I can’t euthanize a healthy dog because he’s acting weird.” I fought with myself, convinced that I was only considering euthanasia for my own convenience. After all, he was still eating and running around after a bath. How could I take that away from him?
Yet, this same dog who had once spent every possible moment glued to my side would snap if I tried to pick him up. He would try to run away. He would sleep all day and then pace relentlessly from 5 p.m. to bedtime. Sure, he had arthritis and the typical dachshund “bad back,” but really his body was in pretty good shape and was being treated for discomfort. I agonized over the best choice to make. I instituted every treatment in my toolbox to help his disease. I cried a lot. I felt alone.
A week before his euthanasia, I tried talking to myself the way I would to one of my clients. I was compassionate and gentle with myself (for once). As I let this conversation go on in my head without fighting it, the question popped up out of nowhere:
“What will he be missing if he’s not here tomorrow?”
The answer turned out to be food. Because at this point, he really did nothing but eat, sleep and pace. The only joy he showed me was when he gobbled up his breakfast and dinner – and any snacks in between. I was working so hard to keep him comfortable so he could have less than five minutes of true enjoyment a day. He was isolated and alone (by his choice), just like I felt. We were both suffering for no good reason. I made the choice to say goodbye later that week. My husband would comfort me each time I broke down, saying “We don’t have to do this, Honey. We can wait,” but I knew we couldn’t.
That Friday night, I phoned a veterinarian friend on my way home from work. “Please tell me I’m doing the right thing,” I said. “Please tell me he’s not a normal dog, and I’m not a selfish jerk for doing this.” She assured me I was doing the right thing, and that it had been coming for a long time.
We said goodbye on a fuzzy blanket in the living room. I fed him forbidden foods he’d never had, and I swear he gave me a grumpy “you’ve been holding out on me” look right before he started to snore from the sedative.
When it was over my husband looked at me and said, “Oh, God, we should have done this weeks ago.” And the hole in my heart started to heal.
Since that day, I’ve been asking clients to ask themselves this question – and include both good and bad things in the answer. My purpose is not to encourage or discourage them in their decision making, but to put the focus where it belongs – on their pet.
Too often we get so tied up in how we are feeling and our reasons that we forget our agony comes from a place of love. We are trying to do the right thing and afraid we are making selfish decisions. I also tell them that we don’t have to wait to say goodbye until there are no good things left on the list. It’s OK for a pet to pass on a good day.
If you are facing the loss of a pet, please don’t feel like you have to do it alone. There are resources out there to help. This is never an easy decision for anyone – even a veterinarian who does this for a living. Give yourself a break and allow yourself to lean. And remember, some of the worst grieving happens before you say goodbye. Having support before, during, and after you lose a pet makes a huge difference.
Written by Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV
December 16, 2018
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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by Rina Van Eeden | May 12, 2020 | Cats, Vaccinations
It is very important to realise that by simply vaccinating your dog or your cat, you can lessen and, more importantly, to a great extent prevent incredible hardships your pet will endure when they acquire any one of these diseases.
The majority of these diseases are fatal in one way or another.
In South African, we vaccinate against the following diseases.
Feline Panleukopenia:
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, often FATAL, viral disease of cats that is seen worldwide. Kittens are affected most severely. The causative parvovirus is very resistant.
Virus particles are abundant in all secretions and excretions during the acute phase of illness and can be shed in the faeces of survivors for as long as 6 weeks after recovery. Being highly resistant to inactivation, parvoviruses can be transported long distances via fomites (eg. shoes, clothing).
FPV infects and destroys actively dividing cells in bone marrow, lymphoid tissues, intestinal epithelium and, in very young animals, cerebellum and retina.
Feline Calicivirus:
Along with the rhinotracheitis virus, feline calicivirus (FCV) is responsible for most feline upper respiratory infections. Cats that go outside or spend time around other cats are at increased risk for exposure to FCV infection.
Feline upper airway infections are very common. They resemble the common cold in people and are characterized by clinical signs such as sneezing, wheezing and discharge from the eyes and nose. Along with the rhinotracheitis virus, feline calicivirus (FCV) is responsible for most feline upper respiratory infections.
Calicivirus is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS among cats.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis:
The onset of feline viral rhinotracheitis is marked by fever, frequent sneezing, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis) and often salivation.
Excitement or movement may cause sneezing.
The fever may reach 40.5°C, but subsides and then may come and go.
Initially, the disease causes a clear discharge from the nose and eyes; it soon increases in amount and contains mucous. At this point, depression and loss of appetite become evident. Severely affected cats may develop mouth inflammation with sores, and inflammation of the cornea occurs in some cats.
The outlook is generally good except for young kittens and older cats. When the illness is prolonged, weight loss may be too severe.
Feline Chlamydophila:
Feline Chlamydophila (formerly known as Chlamydia) mainly causes conjunctivitis in the cat. Conjunctivitis may be defined as the inflammation of the delicate membranes or conjunctiva that cover the inner surface of the eyelids and over the white part of the eye (the sclera).
Infection is relatively common in cats, with up to 30% of cases of chronic conjunctivitis caused by this organism.
Although cats of all ages can be infected, disease is seen most commonly seen in young kittens (5 – 12 weeks old) with persistent or recurrent infection.
Infection therefore typically occurs through direct contact and disease is more commonly seen where large groups of cats are kept together, such as multi-cat households, breeding catteries and shelters.
Rabies:
Rabies is an acute, progressive viral encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) that principally affects carnivores and bats, although any mammal can be affected. The disease is FATAL once clinical signs appear.
Rabies is found throughout the world. Globally, the DOG IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESERVOIR, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
Wildlife plays an important role in the transmission of rabies in certain areas.
This virus is highly neurotropic, so it infects nerve cells.
Transmission almost always occurs via introduction of virus-laden saliva into tissues, usually by the bite of a rabid animal. Usually, saliva is infectious at the time clinical signs occur, but domestic dogs, cats and ferrets may shed virus for several days before onset of clinical signs.
This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS virus that can also infect HUMANS!
Kittens need to be vaccinated from 8 weeks of age. We follow a standard vaccination protocol.
8 Weeks – 4-in-1 Vaccine
12 Weeks – 4-in-1 Vaccine as well as first Rabies Vaccine
16 Weeks – Final kitten Rabies booster
There after they need yearly boosters for the rest of their lives.
We acknowledge that every pet is unique, therefore we do personalise vaccination protocols should it be deemed necessary for a certain pet.
Be sure to ask our staff more about vaccination protocols.
Did you know, dogs also need vaccinations! Find out more about that from our blog – https://kimvet.co.za/puppy-vaccinations/
For more information regarding important vaccinations for pets, please check out this website – https://www.petmd.com/cat/wellness/essential-cat-vaccinations
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by Rina Van Eeden | May 12, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Pet poisonings from household/human food is quite prevalent. People often make the mistake of thinking that people food is okay for pets. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t.
Harmful Food:
Milk is not easily digested by most adult animals and can cause them to develop diarrhoea, not to mention the negative impact the excessive calcium can have on growing animals.
Though not a poison, bones are VERY DANGEROUS. They can lodge in a dog’s passageways or cut it’s intestines causing extreme pain and discomfort, possibly leading to death.
Chocolate is responsible for countless pet poisonings. Theobromine and caffeine are concentrated in dark and baking chocolate.
Onions and garlic can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia.
Rich, fatty foods such as chicken skin or gravy can cause pancreatitis and inflammation of the digestive system and can be very painful and serious.
Grapes and raisins can lead to loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and acute renal failure in dogs, possibly resulting in death.
Coffee is also dangerous to animals.
Nicotine is a stimulant that can increase the heart rate, leading to collapse and, in the worst case, death.
Avocado is dangerous to the heart.
Alcoholic beverages should be kept away from animals at all times.
Be as vigilant at poison-proofing your house for a pet as you would be for a child!
Common Symptoms:
Some of the most common signs of poisoning include gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and diarrhoea), neurological signs (tremors, incoordination, seizures, excitability, depression), respiratory signs (coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing), skin signs (inflammation, swelling), liver failure (jaundice, vomiting) and kidney failure (increased drinking, loss of appetite and weight loss).
Some poisons act on more than one body system, and so can produce any combination of the above signs.
The most common malicious poisoning one tends to see in veterinary practice is with use of Temik, also known as “Two Step”. This was previously used as an insecticide on farms. It looks very similar to “poppy seeds” and can quite easily be bought illegally. Burglars place it in meat which is then thrown into your yard. Signs of poisoning are usually seen within 5-20 minutes.
Common Symptoms:
The most common signs are: Excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, not wanting to eat, runny eyes/nose, difficulty breathing/blue gums, muscle twitching, restlessness and in many cases paralysis which inevitably leads to death.
Harmful Plants:
There are many household items and plants that can be harmful to your pet.
Although plants are great, many are also poisonous to pets. Many plants that are not toxic to people may cause serious medical problems in pets, such as renal failure, irregular heartbeats, cardiac shock and even death.
Some poisonous plants include the following:
Lilies
Members of the Lilium family are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the responsible component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestion of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Marijuana
Ingestion of Cannabis by companion animals can result in depression of the central nervous system and incoordination, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, increased heart rate and even seizures and can even result in a coma.
Chincherinchee
This plant is very dangerous. It contains toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities. These signs are often so severe that it can lead to death.
Azalea/Rhododendron
Members of this plant species contain substances which can produce symptoms such as vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to a coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander
All parts of the oleander plant are considered to be toxic, as they have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Amaryllis
A common garden plant, Amaryllis species contain toxins that can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, anorexia and tremors.
Chrysanthemum
These popular blooms may cause gastrointestinal upsets, including drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea, if eaten. In certain cases depression and loss of coordination may also develop if enough of any part of the plant is consumed.
Ivy
Ivy contains toxins that, should pets ingest it, can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation and diarrhoea.
Cycads
Cycads cause liver failure, especially in puppies.
Basic First Aid:
If your pet does chew on a plant, immediately remove the plant from its mouth and rinse the mouth gently with water. Identify the plant your pet ate and call your veterinarian.
Watch for excessive or foamy salivation and changes in the skin around the mouth, eyes or paws.
This is by no means an inclusive list.
There are many other things that could be potentially poisonous to your pet.
The most important thing for you as a pet owner to remember is that you need to stay vigilant and act quickly and calmly when it comes to poisonings.
For more information on poisonings in pets, please check out our blog post – https://kimvet.co.za/pet-poisonings/
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by Rina Van Eeden | May 12, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Human Medication and Our Pets
Some pet owners may mistakenly think that the medications used to treat human symptoms will work for animals as well. In most instances, this is not the case.
Never give your pet human medication, even something as simple as aspirin can be lethal to your pet. Products such as acetaminophen and any aspirin product can cause stomach bleeding. Medications such as birth control and vitamins can also cause internal bleeding.
Cats tend to be attracted to unusual flavours. So keep them away from calamine lotion, diaper-rash ointments, sun-block and analgesic ointments. These products contain an acid related to those in aspirin and will prove toxic if ingested.
Poisoning in Cats
Cats and human medication very rarely actually work well together; even in tiny doses it can be extremely harmful.
Whether a cat accidentally chews into a pill bottle or a well-intentioned pet owner accidentally switches medications (giving their pet a human medication), pet poisonings due to human medications are common and can be very serious.
Pets metabolise medication very differently from people.
Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications may cause serious poisoning in pets.
Human medicines that are potentially poisonous to cats are Paracetamol, antidepressants, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, ADD/ADHD medications, some laxatives, Betadine and Dettol, sleep aids, birth control pills, blood pressure tablets, thyroid hormones and cholesterol lowering agents.
Paracetamol is often given to cats in a caring, but misguided attempt to relieve pain. It is highly dangerous to cats and just one tablet is enough to cause severe illness or death.
Signs of paracetamol poisoning include depression, vomiting, swelling of the face and paws and a slightly blue discolouration of the skin.
An effective antidote is available but must be used very soon after the cat has taken the tablet.
Never use dog products on cats!
While flea and tick treatments work well for dogs, the Pyrethrin in dog powder can be highly toxic and potentially fatal for cats. Poisoning can arise when cats are accidentally treated with dog flea products or if they groom themselves or other animals treated with the product.
Cats may salivate a great deal, be thirsty and have a high temperature and tremors or convulsions – urgent veterinary advice is essential.
Always read treatment labels carefully. Products that contain Pyrethrins or Pyrethroids should be avoided at all costs.
Some of the most common signs of poisoning include:
Gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and diarrhoea), neurological signs (tremors, incoordination, seizures, excitability, depression), respiratory signs (coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing), skin signs (inflammation, swelling), liver failure (jaundice, vomiting) and kidney failure (increased drinking, loss of appetite and weight loss).
Some poisons act on more than one body system and can produce any combination of the above signs.
Pet medication is designed to taste delicious so that animals will eat it. Even the fussiest pet might be tempted. The physical damage of accidental ingestion of medication can be very serious – particularly if the dose is for an animal three or four times bigger in size.
To Avoid Accidental Poisonings:
Always keep medications safely out of reach of your pet. NEVER administer a medication to a pet without first consulting your veterinarian.
Never leave loose pills in plastic bags – the bags are too easy to chew into.
If you place your medication in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your pet.
Hang your bag up.
Inquisitive pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your bag up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication.
If you suspect that you have accidentally given your pet the wrong medication, contact your vet for advice immediately! Make sure you know when, where and how the poisoning occurred, you can even take the packaging or substance with you to the vet.
For more information on other poisons that are harmful to pets, check out our blog post – https://kimvet.co.za/pet-poisonings/
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by Rina Van Eeden | May 11, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Accidental pet poisonings are more common than you may think. They usually involve items you may not be aware of such as common kitchen foods, household or backyard plants or items found in the medicine cabinet.
There are many things that can poison an animal. Pesticides and insecticides are common in cases of intentional and accidental poisonings. Rodent poisons are also common.
The most common malicious poisoning one tends to see in veterinary practice is with use of Temik, also known as “Two Step”, signs of poisoning are usually seen within 5-20 minutes.
Animals are naturally curious – that’s one of the reasons we love them! But sometimes, curiosity and exploration can have disastrous results.
Take, for example, the foods that fill our own cupboards and fridges. While most of it isn’t bad for your pet, some things are toxic. When you know, without a doubt, the various things your pet should never, ever eat, you drastically reduce potential pet poisonings.
Many pet owners are unaware that something in the house could endanger their pet – until frightening symptoms appear. Sure, we all do our best to ensure the house is free of choking hazards, entanglement issues and, of course, toxins, but many things slip through the cracks.
Common culprits for pet poisonings include from personal medications to household cleaners, a typical home is full of potential pet toxins.
Other common culprits of pet poisonings involve foods intended for human consumption only, such as chocolate. Chocolate is responsible for countless pet poisonings. Theobromine and caffeine are concentrated in dark and baking chocolate.
Symptoms
Xylitol is a substitute for table sugar that is found in many baked goods, candies and even toothpaste, Xylitol is highly toxic to pets.
Pet poisonings can cause symptoms that appear rapidly and severely. Sometimes, however, they cause mild or subtle behavioural changes and physical ailments.
If you suspect your dog has been poisoned your pet will require emergency veterinary treatment.
Symptoms include:
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- dehydration
- hyperactivity
- high temperature and blood pressure
- abnormal heart rhythm and tremors
- seizures
- complete collapse
Basic First Aid Responses
Poisonings are often fatal to our pets. When you suspect your pet has been poisoned, the best thing to do is stay calm.
Make sure that you are prepared for the possibility of a poisoning.
Keep your veterinarian’s telephone number in a convenient location.
You should also keep the address and number of a nearby emergency clinic close, just in case.
Take immediate action.
In a case where you are sure your pet has recently been poisoned, you can make them vomit. You simply take a handful of washing powder, make a clump with some water and force it down the throat. Preferably contact your veterinarian beforehand.
If your pet ingests poison, make sure to observe the animal closely.
Providing a detailed history of symptoms to your veterinarian is critical.
To treat a poisoning successfully, it’s helpful to have a history of your pet’s symptoms, including when the symptoms were first noticed, where the animal has been in the past few hours and whether anything has been seen in the yard (pieces of uneaten meat, any vomit with discoloration) or passed through the faeces. If you know what your pet has been poisoned with, bring the container with you to the veterinarian to help identify the active ingredient.
As a concerned pet owner, it’s up to you to provide your vet with information that could potentially save your pet’s life.
Activated charcoal is always a handy medication to have at home. You can buy it freely at any pharmacy or from your veterinarian.
Remember – always consult your vet BEFORE giving ANY medication.
Always be aware of your surroundings. If you notice anything strange in your yard that you have not seen before, do away with it immediately!
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