DR. ALICIA’S NEWSLETTER

May 2017

Dr. Alicia Rueschhoff

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Flowers J ! My monthly newsletters are available for tidbits of information regarding pet healthcare. My intention is to educate clients and enhance their relationship with me. I am 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 for your consideration. The answer will be in the next month’s newsletter.

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

3. Updates on new recommendations

4. Seasonal recommendations for your pet.

5. Behavior training recommendations for your pet.

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

7. Pet of the month

FACT or FICTION:  

• April: Cat’s always land on their feet.  
• False. Although cats have developed several characteristics to help them land on their feet, there are times where these fail. The cat’s backbones are very flexible and cats do not have a collar bone. So, most cats are able to right themselves when falling a short distance, but many cats can get severely injured when jumping or falling from high distances.

Picture from: https://meowbox.com/blog/2016/4/cats-land-on-their-feet

• May: Dalmatians are born without spots.

 Tune in next month to find out the answer for May. Let me know what you think on in the comments!

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that dog breeds with squashed faces (Brachycephalic) have a higher tendency for health problems?   

I agree that French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih-Tzu’s, etc. are so cute and their personalities are hard to beat, but they could end up costing  you a lot more money. They generally have longer soft palates, everted laryngeal sacs, stenotic nares and decreased diameter of their trachea. This leads to a lot of breathing problems and can be life threatening in severe instances. They also seem more prone to allergies and other general health issues. Remember…I also recommend talking to a veterinarian prior to purchasing a dog and/or cat. This way you know what to expect before making such a huge commitment.

Picture from: http://dogsarena.net/blog/2015/04/08/pugnacious-or-brachycephalic-dog-breeds/

IMPORTANT MONTHLY INFORMATION

Products recalled in February

• C.O. Truxton Inc. Phenobarbital Tablets 15 mg. These tablets may contain 30 mg instead.
• Cocolicious Beef & Turkey Dog food. Presence of Pentobarbital (drug used for euthanasia). This company is Party Animal.

SEASONAL REMINDERS:

Mother’s Day! Mother’s day can lead to chocolate and plants lying around!

Remember that chocolate is toxic to our furry friends. Signs of chocolate toxicity are as follows:

1. Vomiting/Diarrhea
2. Hyperactive
3. Shaking
4. Seizure  
5. Can lead to death.

Picture from: https://www.easyanimal.co.uk/community/dont-feed-dogs-chocolate-easter/#.WQjedtIrKUk

Here is a link to a list of toxic plant’s to our four legged family members:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants 

Call me at Brentwood Animal Hospital (314-962-2900) or the Emergency Center right away (Our phone # 314-842-0403 or ACC # 314-822-7600) to see if your pet ate too much chocolate - This is if you are in the St. Louis area. The first thing to do is give Hydrogen Peroxide at 1 mL per pound (NO MORE THAN 45 mL PER DOG!) by mouth to try to induce vomiting. This does not take the place of calling us, as chocolate ingestion can be lethal.

BEHAVIOR:  CATS AND THE LITTER BOX

Picture from: http://www.petmd.com/cat/centers/litter/evr_why_multi_cat_households_need_multiple_litter_boxes

Do you have a cat that is not using the litter box correctly? This could be a medical issue or it could be a mental problem. Below discusses the necessary steps to take if this is a problem in your house:

1.  First talk to your veterinarian. There may be tests that we recommend to rule out Urinary Tract Infection, urinary bladder stones, kidney problems, etc. It would be best to run a blood panel and urinalysis to get to the bottom line. 
2. If the above has been ruled out, then it is either mental or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (known as FLUTD).
3.  Litter box number. You should have as many litter boxes as you do cats + 1 (2 cats = 3 litter boxes; 4 cats = 5 litter boxes). Even if there is a litter box that no cats use, studies show that this helps decrease unwanted “marking” behavior.
4. Litter box location. You do not want all litter boxes in the same room. If in the same location, a cat will view that box as 1. You should also have a litter box on every level that the cat is allowed. This helps keep the boxes clean and a cat loves options!
5. Litter box cleanliness. Make sure you are routinely cleaning out the clumped litter. You should be doing this 1-2 times a day if not more.
6.  Hiding Places. Give your cat places to hide at home. This helps decrease stress. Get beds that are covered or cat trees.
7. Routine. Cat’s LOVE routine, just like children. Feed them at the same time each day and keep bed time consistent for your cat. It is also a good idea to take 5-10 minutes a day (the same time daily) to play with your cat and give them 1 on 1 attention.
8. Glucosamine. Glucosamine supplementation can help cats with FLUTD. It will help control the secondary bladder inflammation. I recommend Dasuquin Advanced. 

2  These are all the general tips I recommend. Let me know if these leaves any questions.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

What is the best food to feed my pet?

Picture from: https://bestonlinepetstoreindia.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/royal-canin-excellent-cat-food-and-dog-food/

This question is animal specific – does your cat only stay indoors? Then they should be fed an indoor diet that is lower in calories. Is your dog highly active? Then they should be fed a diet higher in calories. Is your cat or dog a kitten/puppy? Then they should be fed a kitten and/or puppy diet (or all stages). However, there are some basic recommendations when it comes to food:

• Make sure the diet is AAFCO certified. This means that it went through the recommended testing to make sure the food as the recommended nutrients that is needed.
• The brands I recommend the most are Royal Canin, Hills and Purina Pro-Plan. I recommend staying away from Blue Buffalo and Wilderness diets.

Don’t hesitate commenting with any questions you have!!

PET(S) OF THE MONTH

There were no submissions for pet of the month for May.  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 dr.rueschhoff@gmail.com Attention PET OF THE MONTH.