The Saddest Situation For A Veterinarian

Picture from: http://www.citizengo.org/en/lf/35120-no-assisted-suicide-and-euthanasia-australia

I recently had a case that broke my heart, brought me to tears, made me feel like an awful human and a terrible voice for the animals I swore to protect. Unfortunately this was not the first time. I do not want to go into detail since I do not want to cause anyone shame. The gist of the story was a middle aged dog came in for an exam and the owner decided upon euthanasia for her own reasons. There were tests and treatments that could have been done, but that was not an option for the owner. I do not judge as I cannot put myself in a person's shoes. I gave the owner options and discussed the quality of life I believed the dog could have with proper treatment. I did the best I could.

The hardest part is not described above; it is when an owner decides to allow the veterinarian to euthanize their pet alone, instead of staying and comforting their baby. This definitely takes a toll on my soul and sticks with me for quite a long time. The issues owners don't think about are:
1. Your pet loves you. Most of their lives have been with you and you are what comforts them.
2. They look for you. I cannot tell you how sad animals look when they leave their owners for the last time. They pull on their leashes to return to you. Their claws dig into the floor trying to get back to the comfort of you.
3. I am not their owner. No matter how many times I tell your pet they are a good boy/good girl, that I love them, that everything will be okay, they are still scared. They are not comforted.

With all of that going on, then I have to be the one to give them that last injection. I have to be the one, while injecting them, to pet them, to hug them and to give them their last kiss. The owner gets to go home and leave that last memory for me. I understand it is a very hard thing to do; to see your beloved pet take their last breath. I urge people to think about that last moment from their pet's perspective before they make that final decision. Your pet's last memory can be either of you walking away or you staying there while saying goodbye, while you give them their last kiss. Your pet can either be screaming inside to get back to you or be comforted by your presence. I have to be the voice of our animals and I have to let it be known that they would beg for you to stay.

Picture from: http://www.padoniavets.com/tags/euthanasia

Picture from: http://www.padoniavets.com/services/humane-euthanasia

You got a new Kitten...now what?

picture from: http://cattime.com/cat-facts/kittens

YOU JUST ADOPTED A KITTEN? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

Vaccines

Indoor Kitten's need the following:
1. Rabies. This will be given around 16 weeks of year and then repeated every year to every 3 years pending on your cat's age, vaccine available at your veterinarian's office and your preference. If you have questions regarding what this vaccine covers, please let me know. 2. Feline Distemper (FVRCP). This vaccine covers the following: Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus - FVR- (upper respiratory virus), Calicivirus - C - (another upper respiratory virus) and Panleukopenia - P - (can cause gastrointestinal, immune system and neurologic problems). This vaccine will be given three times as a kitten (generally at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks) and then boostered every 1-3 years, same as the Rabies. Outdoor Kitten's need the following:1. Rabies - same as above2. Feline Distemper - same as above3. Feline Leukemia (FeLV). This vaccine will be given twice (generally at 12 weeks and 16 weeks) and then repeated yearly. I generally recommend this to all kittens, since you never really know if they will decide to go outside after all. If the cat stays indoors all year, then we can stop this vaccine at that point of time.I recommend running a FeLV/FIV test when your kitten is adopted and at 6 months of age. This test should be repeated yearly if your cat goes outside.  

Heartworm and Flea/Tick prevention

I recommend keeping your cat on prevention year round for the remainder of his/her life for heartworm prevention, flea prevention and intestinal parasite prevention. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, so even an indoor cat is at risk. You can also transfer critters on your clothings, shoes, etc. There is no treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so prevention is the key :) The preventative I recommend for our feline friends is Revolution. This is a topical once a month medication that covers heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, fleas and ear mites. It is a GREAT preventative for indoor and outdoor patients. 

Nutrition

I recommend feeding a kitten specific diet until 8 months to 1 year of age. Please feed what is recommended on the back of the bag and adjust accordingly depending if your cat is gaining too much or loosing too much weight. See below for a visual on how to asses your kitten's body condition.  Once your kitten is spayed/neutered, then the amount they need per day will decrease because their metabolism will also decrease. I generally recommend feeding 3/4-1/2 the amount recommended on the bag at that time (or at a year of age if already altered). Again this is very variable as all animals have different metabolisms. If you ever have trouble determining the amount to feed, please contact me or your veterinarian for help. 

Spay/Neuter 

I recommend spaying/neutering your kitten at 6-8 months of age.  We will take a blood sample before proceeding with the procedure. This will screen your kitten to make sure he/she is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and surgery. It will also provide us with a healthy "normal" to compare to if he/she were to ever fall ill. I also recommend inserting a microchip at this time to make sure that if your ever loose your kitten/cat, they can find a way home to you. 

Training

I recommend starting training as soon as possible. Start playing with their ears, feet and placing fingers in their mouth to get them used to being handled. I recommend deterring them from scratching on your furniture. You can do this by either using a spray bottle or a loud noise when they are doing the unwanted behavior. Then bring them right over to a scratching toy and give them something delicious, or love as a reward for doing the behavior you like. We try to use declawing as last resort, as this is a very painful procedure and has been linked to aggressive and unwanted behavior. 

Insurance

Insurance is always a great idea to start as young as possible. I have seen it save hundreds of lives. The health insurance I am most familiar with is Trupanion, but there are several other choices as well. Things to ask: How much is the deductible? Do they cover genetic predispositions? What percentage of the bill do they cover? Do they cover preventative care? Do they pre-approve charges? Definitely feel free to research them all and do not hesitate letting me know your questions! A helpful website I have found is: 
http://www.pet-insurance-university.com/index.html

I hope this information helps you and never hesitate contacting me on here with your questions! 

Best, 
Dr. Alicia Rueschhoff

My Journey

I thought I would share some personal information about my journey to become a Veterinarian. So, here we go :)

     My dream to be a veterinarian started at the mere age of 5 years old. This is when my parents allowed our family to adopt an English Cocker Spaniel puppy from our next door neighbor (and my best friend at the time). We named her Contessa, Tessa, She Dog, Shadow, Taffy Jr. Rueschhoff, but called her Tessa for short and I fell in love for the first time :)

     I insisted on attending Tessa's first veterinarian visit, where the doctor noted increased ear discharge and recommended a cytology (where you look at an ear swab under the microscope for bacteria, yeast, etc.). After the doctor diagnosed my puppy with a yeast otitis externa (ear infection), he asked me if I wanted to take a look at the yeast under the microscope...I of course jumped at the chance. While looking at those bowling pin-like organisms was when I decided I was determined to grow up and take care of animals by becoming a veterinarian.

Yeast under a microscope

     Ever since that first veterinarian experience, I started tracking myself towards that career. I would volunteer myself to give Tessa her medications, clean her ears, cut her hair and I would randomly decide when she would need a bandaged paw.  As soon as I turned of age to work at a clinic, I sent letters out to close by veterinary offices pleading for any position and landed a kennel assistant job. I worked there for 4 years alongside veterinary technicians, doctors and other staff starting my learning process.  I was then offered a veterinary assisting job, that I excitedly accepted. The 4 years at this clinic allowed me to grow so much as a person and as a veterinary staff member, learning so much listening to the doctors discuss their cases.

     While I was working as an assistant, I applied to Veterinary School at the University of Missouri - Columbia (MIZZOU). I filled out all the paper work, wrote all the essays and had my interview, but the waiting process was AGONY! I finally got the letter....I was second alternate. I called every week to check if 2 people who got accepted declined the offer. I was told one declined, but a second never did; I was devastated.

     The next year rolled around and I applied to MIZZOU again, as I could only afford one application. I went through all the paper work, essays and interview process another time to only find out that....I WAS ACCEPTED!!!! I was ecstatic! I couldn't believe that my dream was so close to reality, that all of my hard work, extra hours I put in had actually paid off. What an accomplishment I was told over and over again.

My son, Bryce

     Weeks later I received some news that sent my dream crashing to a halt...I was pregnant. My boyfriend and I were together for 5 year at the time, but I knew he was not my soul mate. I was devastated and so disappointed in myself. I was so embarrassed to have to tell everyone this news. I called MIZZOU and they allowed me to deffer my acceptance until the following year (2010). I talked to so many people on how to manage a baby and veterinary school and if it was even possible. I was told by some that I should give up on my dream, that my baby was more important. I was told by my friends and family to continue my path, to not give up, so that is what I decided to do. It made me happy and what kind of role model would I be to my child if I just gave up because something became harder.

     I started veterinary school when my son (Bryce) was 8 months old. His father and I still together, we started making the journey through veterinary school. It required a lot of studying, a lot of time and a lot of dedication. My daily schedule was as follows: get up at 5-6 am with my son and get him taken care of, bring my son to daycare, go to school, pick Bryce up, arrive home and fix dinner, take care of Bryce until his bed time (~8pm), study until 11 pm - 5 am (pending the weeks/days) and start all over again. It was challenging, but I did it with very little help.

Bryce and I while I received my
 white coat before starting clinics

     2 years into school I decided to split apart from Bryce's father. This was right around the time I started in my clinical years (where I was working at the teaching hospital and not spending all day in lectures). Clinics started and I loved it! I started getting my hands wet and started using what I have learned and applying it to real life. The school was so nice about giving me the schedule I needed so I could care for my son. I also met an amazing veterinary technician who offered free babysitting services when I needed it. I became involved with a different man, now my fiance, that helped me out countless of times. Without all of this, I don't know how I would have survived and I remain so grateful for all the kindness I received.

My life saver 

My son being watched as I worked

     It was May of 2014 and I was graduating! I had my hat, my diploma and I walked across that stage. I now was called a Doctor and had a D.V.M behind my name. My next journey awaited...off to Chicago we went :)

Weight Control

The Dreaded Question - Is My Pet Overweight? 

Picture from: https://www.google.com/search?q=overweight+dog&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS592US593&espv
=2&biw=1440&bih=745&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=
X&ved=0ahUKEwjarbn_jsXSAhWJ6oMKHYWbARkQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=
overweight+dog+before+and+after&*&imgrc=zExAbKdY1m78FM:

Being overweight in the pet world is likely much more common then you would think. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention website the following was noted:

• 53.8% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese
• 20.2 % being obese
• 58.2% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese
• 28.1% being obese

Being overweight and/or obese can lead to a number of different problems and can decrease a pet's quality of life and take away 2 years of the animals life. Below are a list of diseases that are more common in overweight and/or obese animals:

• Diabetes Mellitus. 
• Fat increases insulin resistance. Insulin is vital for the control of sugar levels, so these start increasing and causing damage to other organ systems. Left untreated it can lead to Diabetic Ketoacidosis, which is life threatening. 
• Cancer
• Heart Disease and Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Urinary Bladder Stones 
• this is seen more often in obese animals, but I believe it is mostly due to a unregulated and unbalanced diet. This changes the pH of a pets urine therefore allowing stone development. 
• Osteoarthritis and Cranial Cruciate Ligament Damage
• This leads life with pain
• Respiratory compromise
• Overwiehgt animals are not as able to take deep breaths due to increased restriction around their chest. This leads to an increased risk of overheating. 
• Increased anesthetic risk
• Drug calculations become less acurate due to more difficulty of determining lean body mass
• Anethesia is suppressive to the respiratory system (overwieght animals are already compromised with thei respiratory system)
• It becomes increasingly more difficult to visualize in a patients abdomen and harder to grasp what you need due to excess fat
• Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats
• When an overweight cat goes off of food, they mobilize their extra fat, often accumulating in their liver. Many cats will stop eating even for very minor illnesses, in a fat cat this can become life threatening instead of easily treated. 
• Chronic Low-Level Inflammation
• It has been found that fat tissue is biologically active. The fat cells produce and secrete inflammatory hormones which cause oxidative stress to the body and it's tissue. This then leads to disease processes. More studies have to be done to really understand everything that is effected. 

How To Determine If Your Pet Is Overweight/Obese

• This is the first step to fixing your problem
• Best thing is to bring your pet in to a veterinarian so they can evaluate their Body Condition Score and give you information and guidelines
• You want to be able to feel SOFTLY along your pet's rib cage and feel their ribs. If you have to push at all, then your pet is carrying a little extra padding
• You also want your pet to have a nice hour glass figure when looking at them from above.
• Their abdomen should be tucked up - you should be able to easily differentiate their chest from the belly
• Use the pictures below as guidelines:

·  

How Did My Pet Get Overweight?

• 1 cup means 1 cup
• A drinking cup may actually hold 2 cups of measured food. Make sure to get an accurate measuring cup when feeding your pet
• Package guidelines are not accurate for all
• Just like humans, all animals also have different metabolisms
• Dog foods generally over-estimate the amount of food a dog needs
• Genetics
• Some breeds are more likely to become overweight - Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Beagle are a few.
• It is possible that your dog has a disease causing them to increase their pounds. Such diseases are hypothyroidism and Cushing's. It is always important to rule these diseases out with lab work to make sure your animal is getting the treatment they need. 
• Children?
• This is impossible to control (I know because I am a mom). I recommend either putting your pet away while your child eats or decreasing the amount of daily food consumed to compensate for the extra calories. Make sure the human food does not become the majority of their diet though, as this can lead to other problems. 
• Treats
• Treats usually hide A LOT of calories; 4-5 treats can equal an entire extra meal
• I recommend measuring out your pet's daily food consumption and setting aside some of this kibble to be used as treats during the day
• Another option is taking out dog treats all together; instead use carrots, green beans, peas, cucumbers of blueberries. 
• Castration/Spay
• There are so many animal health and public health benefits from neutering and spaying your animals!! However, their metabolism will slow down after the procedure. Just remember that they do not need as much food after they are sterilized. 

Treatment/Prevention

• Choose an appropriate food for your animal. Ask a vet for help
• Portion control, portion control, portion control
• Stop allowing begging behavior, which leads to overfeeding
• Interactive feeding toys will increase food time and activity needed to get food, which will mean burning more calories
• Feeding schedule for multiple animals - that way the other one cannot snack on it's sibling's food during the day
• Increase exercise (it is good for you too!!)
• Schedule regular weigh-ins (every 3-4 weeks) with your vet 
• Start a weight loss competition with your friend's animals :) 

So here are some of my tips to help your pet stay in a healthy condition. Please comment below with any of your questions, as I would be so happy to help!

BREED OF THE MONTH - Greyhound

Picture from: https://www.google.com/search?=greyhound&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS592US593&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=
0ahUKEwiGpJO61bbSAhXp34MKHd8HDNYQ_AUICSgC&biw=1440&bih=745#imgrc=5DqD6Mb3uaEZhM: 

Greyhounds are one of my very favorite breeds...and one of my goals is to see a puppy Greyhound before I am done being a Veterinarian! But lets get real, I have so many favorite breeds...LOL.

Greyhounds are affectionate, well behaved and loving dogs. The can be a little more frightened with loud noises, etc, but are generally very happy. They are beautiful creatures as well and make for a great running dog or a great apartment dog. I believe Greyhounds are great for a family that has not owned dogs before. 

Star ratings (0-5 stars):

1. Adaptability: ***

2. Friendliness: *****

3. Child Friendly: *****

4. Dog/Cat Friendly: ****

5. Health:**** (they do have problems with their dental health, sensitivity to anesthesia and have a higher risk of bone cancer compared to some other larger breed dogs)

6. Energy Level: ****

7. Grooming Needs: *

8. Intelligence: *****

Let me know your questions and let me know what breed you want to know about next :) 

Picture from: https://www.google.com/search?q=greyhound&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS592US593&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=
0ahUKEwiGpJO61bbSAhXp34MKHd8HDNYQ_AUICSgC&biw=1440&bih=745#imgrc=df1RXhM62E7u1M:

March Newsletter @ Grantview Animal Hospital

GRANTVIEW AH NEWSLETTER

March 2017

Dr. Alicia Rueschhoff

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Grantview’s monthly newsletters are available for tidbits of information regarding pet healthcare. Dr. Alicia Rueschhoff is in charge of the newsletter and is hoping this will help increase clients education and their relationship with Grantview Animal Hospital. We are hopeful this will aid you in keeping your furry family member healthy!  Please feel free to share these with your family and friends

What to expect from our monthly newsletters:

1. Fact or Fiction? We will provide a “True” or “False” statement and you will receive the answer with the next month’s newsletter

2. Information regarding services we offer at our practice, that you might be unaware of.

3. New information regarding any recalls or other matters pertaining to your pet’s health.

4. Updates on monthly discounts offered at Abell Animal Hospital.

5. Seasonal recommendations for your pet.

6. Behavior training recommendations for your pet.

7. Question of the month. One client’s burning questions will be answered by a veterinarian.

8. Pet of the month

FACT or FICTION:  

• February: Dogs can see color.
• TRUE
• Dogs may only have two cones vs. our three, but they can see color. Cones are the receptors in the eye that pick up color. Dogs have cones for green and blue shades but lack red. This means they can see similarly to a person that is color blind; they cannot distinguish between yellow, green and red, but when it comes to blue, purple and gray they have it covered!
• MARCH: A wagging dog = a happy dog.

 Tune in next month to find out the answer for March. Let us know what you think on our facebook page!

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that we have a pill that gives your dog 3 months of flea and tick preventative!!

• You heard me right! The medication is called Bravecto.  
• Bravecto is a chewable treat (like nexgard) that only needs to be administered every 3 months to provide full protection from ticks and fleas. 

IMPORTANT MONTHLY INFORMATION

Products recalled in February

• Evanger’s 12 oz Hunk of Beef Dog Food for having Pentobarbital.
• Grreat Choice Adult Dog Food with Chicken & Rice for having metal pieces in food.
• Against the Grain Dog Food for having potential presence of Pentobarbital.

SEASONAL REMINDERS:

March into Prevention. As the months continue to get warmer and we go outside more, remember that the parasites are enjoying this trend as well! Make sure to keep your pet protected from harmful “bugs” that can cause significant disease processes. Our recommendations are listed below:

1. Cats: Revolution once a month. This protects against heartworms (yes cats can get this disease as well, even our indoor kitties), roundworms, hookworms, ear mites and fleas!
2. Dogs: Interceptor plus once a month to protect against heartworm disease along with preventing against roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.  Nexgard (monthly) or Bravecto (once every three months) for flea and tick preventative.

BEHAVIOR:  VOCAL ANIMAL?

Does your cat or dog meow or bark constantly? Have you ever wondered why or what can be done to solve the issue?

It has been shown that vocal animals are predominantly those that live with people. We believe this is because animals learn that we do not pick up on their body language, but can get us to respond with voices. This means that a vocal dog and cat is training YOU to listen to them.

The best way to begin un-training your dog or cat to vocalize is by ignoring them.  Once he/she has been quiet for 5-10 seconds, then toss them a treat or give them a hug. If they continue to remain quiet, then give them small treats in a systemic manner. Continue to increase the length of time in between the treats. Hopefully, you can get the interval between treats the same as their period between meals.

Another exercise to try is the sit and quiet approach. Performing these sessions multiple times a day (5-10 minutes each) can help your pet learn that sitting quietly = rewards. Start by teaching them to sit and then give them treats while they are quietly sitting.

Cats are usually not as food motivated as dogs, so they may be harder to train. Just as dogs, cats meow to get your attention, so ignoring them until they are quiet is best. I recommend using canned food, tuna or their favorite snack to motivate them to sit. Give them these treats only at times when they are sitting quietly.

I hope these ideas can help you with your vocal pet.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

What collar/harness should I use for my dog?

This is a question I get asked all the time, so I thought I would break it down to help out. There are several different varieties of collars and harnesses and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. I believe some are better for others and it also depends on the dog and which one works best for him/her, which may take some testing.

1. Flat Collars
1. Advantages:

Flat Collar

                                                              i.      Easy to display tags

                                                            ii.      Easy to take on and off

2. Disadvantages:

                                                              i.      Can cause pressure on the trachea

                                                            ii.      Can increase pressure in the eye when pulling

                                                          iii.      When playing, dogs mouth can get caught in collar and cause panic, tightening and suffocation

3. Conclusion:

                                                              i.      Good for well mannered dogs that do not pull on the leash

                                                            ii.      Do not leave on when playing with other dogs

                                                          iii.      Can slip out if easily frightened/excited

Choke Chain

2. Choke Chains
1. Advantages:

                                                              i.      Easy to take on and off

2. Disadvantages:

                                                              i.      DO NOT USE in bracheocephalic dogs (short nose, small trachea and large eyes)

                                                            ii.      Most people do not know how to properly use the collar

                                                          iii.      Can cause worsening of collapsing trachea and cause airway damage if yanked too hard

                                                          iv.      Animal should never be left unsupervised with this collar on

3. Conclusion

                                                              i.      There are many other collars out there now that work better for training with less harmful side effects

Pinch Collar

3. Pinch Collar
1. Advantages:

                                                              i.      Less pressure then choke chain = less pressure on neck. It can still lead to airway issues if used to much

2. Disadvantages:

                                                              i.      Can be a negative reinforcing agent. Example: if a dog is already fearful of another dog and then feels the pain associated with the pinch collar it can associate the fear with more fear. Same if a dog is highly anxious/aggressive

3. Conclusions:

                                                              i.      Never leave them on unattended

                                                            ii.      I believe there are many collars/harnesses that are better for training, but better than the choke chain

4. Harness



Back Attaching Harness

1. Advantages:

                                                              i.      More directional control

                                                            ii.      Does not cause damage to airway or eyes

                                                          iii.      Easy to display tags

                                                          iv.      Not easy to get out of

2. Disadvantages:
1. Can alter natural gait (do not use with competing athlete dogs), but this can come in handy if the dog is bigger than you
3. Conclusion



Front Attaching Harness

1. A harness is a very good option to train a dog. I recommend using the harness where the leash attaches to the front because when pulling on the leash, the dog is forced to look up at the owner and gives you a little more control. 

5. Head Halters



Head Halter

1. Advantages:
1. Easy to control pet
2. No harm done to airway or eyes
2. Disadvantages 
1. Not all pets enjoy to wear them at first; but you can train them to love the harness
2. Not east to attach tags
3. Conclusion
1. A head harness is a great tool to train an unruly dog. This is what I personally use for my dogs, as they are somewhat dog aggressive and I have found it much easier to regain control when lost

                                                         

 Each dog is different and not every collar or harness will work for them. It is a great idea to test each of these on your pet to see what works best for you. My personal favorites are the head halters and the front attaching harnesses and I tend to stay away from the choke and pinch collars.  

PET(S) OF THE MONTH

There were no submissions for pet of the month for March. PLEASE send us a picture or two with a small description of why your pet is so special! We would love to show them off!

Please send us a picture and a small paragraph about your pet to get them featured in our next newsletter. Send the information to Grantview@sbcglobal.net Attention PET OF THE MONTH.