You Got a New Puppy....Now What?

Congratulations on your decision to bring in an amazing additional member to your family! If this is your first dog, be prepared to fall in love very quickly. Dogs are one of the most amazing side kicks. Some things you want to be aware of are listed below:

Vaccines

Every puppy needs a series of vaccines, just as a baby human would. 

The core vaccines are Distemper, Leptospirosis, Bordetella and Rabies. 

Distemper covers several respiratory viruses, a neurological virus and parvovirus. This vaccine will be boostered 3 times as a puppy (3-4 weeks apart) and then every 1-3 years depending on the dog's age. 

The Leptospirosis protects against a bacteria called Leptospira. This is carried in wildlife urine and causes kidney and liver failure in dogs. This vaccine requires two shot series as puppies and then continued yearly as it protects a bacteria. 

Bordetella protects against the most common type of "Kennel Cough". This vaccine helps prevent the severity of the disease and does not cover every cause of "Kennel Cough". It is still possible for your puppy/dog to catch "kennel cough", as there are several other causes for the disease. This vaccine series consists of two vaccines as a puppy and then boostered every 6 months to a year depending on what boarding/grooming facilities require. Every 6 months is the new recommendation. 

Rabies protects against Rabies. It is a 1-3 year vaccine depending on the patients age and we will start this vaccine when your puppy is approximately 16 weeks of age.

Optional vaccines offered are influenza (H3N2/H3N8) and Lyme disease. These both will be boostered two times (2-4 weeks apart) and then yearly. H3N2 protects against influenza, which is a respiratory virus in dogs. Lyme disease protects against Lyme, which is carried by ticks.

Heartworm and Flea/Tick Preventative

These will be given for the remainder of your puppy's life. There are several options for all of these preventatives. I recommend asking your local veterinarian on what they recommend. Make sure to buy heartworm prevention through your local veterinarian or a reputable pharmacy to make sure the guarantee is in place! 

For more information regarding Heartworm disease follow this link: https://www.heartwhttps://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics   

For more information regarding Tick Borne diseases follow the link below:

http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/caring-for-your-dog/canine-tick-borne-disease.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Nutrition

I recommend feeding a puppy specific diet until 8 months - 1 year of age. Feeed what is recommend on the back of the bag and adjust accordingly depending on if your dog is gaining too much or loosing too much weight - follow this link for a visual https://www.google.com/search?q=purina+body+condition+score+canine&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS592US593&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=794&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv1OX2yIHSAhXKhFQKHTcZBh4Q_AUIBygC#imgrc=D5srd2kpWBMU1M:. Once your puppy is spayed/neutered, then the amount they need per day will decrease because their metabolism will also decrease. I recommend feeding 3/4-1/2 the amount recommended on the bag at that time. If you ever have trouble finding the correct amount, contact your veterinarian and I am sure they will be more than happy to help! 

The brands of food I recommend feeding are Royal Canin, Hills, Purina Pro-plan, Iams or Fromms. Purine Pro-Plan.

Spay/Neuter 

I recommend spaying/neutering your puppy at 6 months - 13 months of age, depending on your preference and your dog's breed. There are new studies showing that waiting until about 1 year is better for larger breed dogs, but this has not been seen in smaller breeds.  In females, spaying before the first heat cycle (~6 mo of age) has been shown to decrease risk of mammary cancer. A blood sample should be taken before proceeding with the neuter/spay procedure. This will screen your puppy to make sure he/she is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and surgery. It also provides us with a healthy "normal" to compare to in case he/she gets ill in the future. If you are going to wait until you puppy is older to neuter, then I recommend inserting a microchip around 16 weeks of age.

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 also recommend taking away their food regularly while they eat to decrease any possible food aggression issues. As a general rule, puppies can hold their urine as many hours as they are months old (2 months = 2 hours; 3 months = 3 hours, etc.). I recommend using a crate for potty training. 

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?  There are several health insurances out there, so definitely feel free to research them. 

Other insurance options I have heard and dealt with seldomly are FIGO and Nationwide. Here is a link that helps break down the different insurances for you and goes over how to choose:

http://www.pet-insurance-university.com/index.html

Treats

I am okay with giving treats in moderation and some human food works just as well!! Good things to give are:

1. Peanut Butter (frozen in a kong is best). Make sure there is NO Xylitol in the product. Most do not have this artificial sweetener, but some brands are starting to sneak this in. I know JIF does not. 

2. Cream cheese (frozen in a kong is best).

3. Vegetables: carrots, green beans, peas, cucmbers, etc. 

4. Fruits: apples (no seeds), blueberries, strawberries

DO NOT FEED:

1. Grade and/or raisins

2. Chocolate

3. Coffee

4. Garlic or Onions (even food cooked with these)

5. Avacado

I hope this will help make the beginning stages of being a pet owner easier. Please message below regarding your questions!! 

February Newsletter @ Grantview Animal Hospital

GRANTVIEW AH NEWSLETTER

February 2017

Dr. Alicia Rueschhoff

Happy Valentines Day and Pet Dental Month! 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:  

• Since this is the first e-mail; there is no answer to last month. Expect an answer to this month’s fact or fiction here next month :)
• February: Dogs can see color.

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

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that we are getting a new Dental Chew in…Perfect timing for Dental Month J  

• The dental chew is called Hills Dental Care Chews.
• This is a VOHC certified product
• This means the product met VOHC’s Standards for effectiveness in retarding plaque and tarter when used as directed.
• So far this chew has been approved by all our four-legged family members!

IMPORTANT MONTHLY INFORMATION

Products recalled this January/February:

1. Grange Co-op Rouge Rabbit Pellets because of high levels of Vitamin D.
2. Blue Ridge Beef Raw Dog and Cat Food for Listeria monocytogenes.
3. 9 lives TM, EverPetTM, and Special Kitty TM canned cat food for possible low levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

MONTHLY OFFERS:

This month Grantview Animal Hospital is offering a discount on Dentals. Dental procedures are very important to keep your pet healthy (see the previous blog for an explanation why). This is a painful disease and if left untreated, dental disease can lead to liver, kidney and heart disease.  Stop by today for us to evaluate your pet’s mouth to see if a dental procedure will be needed in the near future.

SEASONAL REMINDERS:

Remember that Valentines Day is this month. We see many dogs and cats that week for chocolate toxicity. Please remember to keep these tasty sweets out of reach from your pet. If they happen to get a taste, either call our clinic or an emergency clinic for further recommendations. Our phone number is (314) 842-0403 and the emergency clinics are VSS (636-227-6100).

Signs of Chocolate Toxicity are vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and can lead to life-threatening seizures.

BEHAVIOR:  FELINE OVER GROOMING

Why does a cat over groom?

1. Psychogenic: Cats release soothing endorphins when they lick, so over grooming is commonly due to a cat being anxious or stressed. Cats, like children, need a consistent routine. There are several environmental factors that can cause a cat to feel apprehensive. These changes include rearranging furniture or their litter boxes, addition or subtraction of a family member, changes of cat hormones, etc. Once a cat gets into an over grooming routine, it can easily become an obsessive behavior.
2. Disease Processes: There are several medical reasons cats over groom, which is why it is very important to make an appointment with a veterinarian when this behavior is noticed. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, parasites, pain, allergies, endocrine diseases, anal sac impaction and more. Your veterinarian will be able to rule this diseases out as the root of the problem.

What are the clinical signs of over grooming?

Cats normally spend a significant amount of time grooming themselves each day (30-50%), so it is very easy for an owner to miss this problematic behavior. Below are some clinical signs you can look for:

• Skin damage and hair loss to regions of the body a cat can reach (abdomen, chest, inner thighs and back)
• Other signs of stress (hiding or anorexia)
• Occurring at a time when the cat has a right to be stressed
• Is it a female cat coming into puberty – they seem to be more prone to this behavior

What are Treatment Options When Medical Reasons Have Been Ruled-Out?

• Feeding: Keep food bowls in the same location and keep them clean. It is also important to keep feeding to a consistent schedule.
• Litter boxes: Make sure litter boxes are always kept clean and kept in the same location of the house. You should also make sure you have enough litter boxes per cat in the house. The general rule for the number of litter boxes is 1 per cat + 1 additional box (If you have 3 cats, you should have 4 litter boxes).
• Play time: Take time each day to play with your cat. You can play with cat toys, laser pointers or just brush your cat each day.
• Environment: Include cat trees, scratching posts and window perches. This can help make your cat entertained.
• Ask your veterinarian about pheromone sprays that are used to help make a cat feel more relaxed. If nothing appears to be working, there are anti-anxiety medications that can be prescribed as a last resort.

Sources:

1.      http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/CW_lick.cfm

2.      http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/09/10/cats-excessive-grooming.aspx

3.      http://drbarchas.com/psychogenic_alopecia

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Does my dog really need heartworm prevention all year?

• The quick answer to this question is YES!!
• The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm prevention. Most heartworm preventatives protect for the month prior (ex. you give your dog heartgard in December, it is killing off the larvae they picked up in November). This year especially, there have been several days above 40 degrees, which means mosquitoes are out!!
• The other reason we want to keep your pet on preventatives is because heartworm preventatives also protect against intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, whipworms or tapeworms. Your pet needs protection from these parasites all year round. 

PET(S) OF THE MONTH

Riley Renee Rueschhoff is Dr. Rueschhoff’s 12 year old mutt. Dr. Rueschhoff rescued Riley when she was approximately 2 years of age. Riley loves running and is still as playful as a puppy.

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                  

It's Dental Month...Let's Talk About It

What is Dental Disease?

Dental disease is one of the most common diseases veterinarians see on a daily basis. The disease is most commonly seen in small breed and toy breed dogs and cats. Other breeds I commonly see dental disease in are Grey Hounds and Bull Terriers. Left untreated, this disease can progress and cause further problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and/or tooth root abscesses. Dental disease in dogs and cats is not the same as that seen in humans. Humans commonly get tooth decay and cavities, while we see periodontal disease and fractured teeth in our four-legged friends.

Periodontal Disease is described as inflammation and infection of the gingiva that is associated with the teeth. This can lead to gum recession, gingival pockets and tooth root abscesses, causing your dog and cat pain. Periodontal Disease is caused by a significant amount of tarter and plaque causing accumulation of bacteria and irritation of the gums.

Fractured teeth are caused when your animal chews on hard objects, such as antlers, hard bones, large sticks, etc. When the pulp is exposed in an animals tooth, which allows a “tunnel” into your animal’s systemic (inside) system for bacteria to reside.  

Stages of Dental Disease: 

Signs to Look For

A lot of animals will not show obvious clinical signs of illness. Some signs you may notice are halitosis (bad breath), teeth staining and bleeding on toys after chewing. Some animals may have more trouble eating or stop eating in general. The best thing to do if you are concerned is bring them into your local veterinarian and have then take a view.

Treatment

The treatment for Periodontal Disease is a comprehensive oral cleaning and examination. Anesthesia is needed for this procedure since most animals will not allow a cleaning without risk of biting.  During the procedure a comprehensive oral procedure will be done. This is where the veterinarian or technician will check for pockets, masses or gum recessions and mark it on a personalized sheet. The teeth are then professionally scaled and polished. Dental radiographs (x-rays) will then be taken depending on the findings of the comprehensive examination. These x-rays allow the veterinarian to get a visual of the tooth roots to make sure there are no problems that are not addressed. This will help catch problems earlier and help decrease the amount of dental procedures needed throughout your animal’s lives. It is a great idea to perform yearly dental x-rays on your patient, but this is not always possible based on availability, cost and risk vs. benefit of anesthesia. If an extraction is needed this will also be accomplished during the procedure.

Prevention

The best preventative medicine is daily brushing. My recommendations for this are as follows:

1.  ONLY use animal friendly toothpaste. NO HUMAN TOOTHPASTE.

2. Use this as a treat for 1-2 weeks.

3. After the initial 1-2 weeks start placing your fingers in the animal’s mouth with the toothpaste on       your finger.

4. Start placing the toothpaste on a finger brush, piece of gauze or Q-tip and abrase the teeth as you         were to brush yours. Make sure to concentrate along the gum line.

5.  Perform this daily if possible.

6.  Give your pet a great treat afterwards for reward!

I hope this information can help answer some of your burning questions regarding dental care. Never hesitate messaging below with your questions, I would LOVE to help!! 

Think Before You Buy

The one thing I wish would happen more in my field is giving information to potential pet owners BEFORE they buy a pet. Here are my tips if you are thinking about buying a dog:

1. DO RESEARCH! The best thing to do is research. There are certain breeds that you may love the look of but unfortunately do not fit your life style. If you are a couch potato, please stay away from terriers and/or hunting dogs. Make sure the animal you are bringing into  your life and accepting responsibility for will fit your family. Ask questions about their energy level, grooming, acceptance of new people/pets, intelligence, etc. The other thing to be aware of is that pure bred dogs, although lovely to look at, will cost you A LOT MORE $$$ in vet bills. Most of these are inbred and have several genetic predispositions. If your heart is set on a certain breed and they fit your life style, then I recommend doing your do-diligence by researching the breeder. Make sure they are reputable. Look up their reviews. Ask for lineage information. Or call a veterinarian and see if they will help you.

2. SHELTER/RESCUE. Please consider adopting from a shelter and/or rescue organization. Most of these pets will be a mixture of breeds,,which make them the healthiest (they have the least amount of genetic problems!). Most shelters have limits on the amount of animals they can care for, so you really will save a life as well...bonus! :)

3. NEVER BUY FROM A PET STORE. A lot of people do not realize what they are getting when they buy from a pet store. Most pet stores obtain their animals through puppy mill-like situations. They often have severe health issues and more times then not becomes a nightmare for new owners. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have had to be the shoulder for tears for these owners. My heart goes out to them, because they never realized they were purchasing a sick puppy. Warning, you will fall in love on day one!

4. COST. Call and price out different veterinarian offices so you know approximately how much you will pay the first year of ownership. Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines (similar to human babies), rounds of fecal testing, deworming, heartworm and flea preventatives and will eventually need to be spayed or neutered. These costs add up over time, so be prepared.

5. INSURANCE. Please consider purchasing insurance when you purchase a puppy/kitten. Veterinarian bills unfortunately can get costly with disease processes and accidents. In my personal experience, I have been able to properly diagnose/treat animals instead of euthanizing because people have insurance.

I hope this helps you. Let me know what questions you have regarding this information and I will be more than happy to answer!!

My First Blog:

I figured it would be best to start with a bio of myself...that way we can get to know each other. My name is Alicia Rueschhoff and I am currently in my 3rd year of practice as a Veterinarin, which has been a difficult journey. I have a 7 year old son and am engaged to be married in May...ahh!! I have two dogs, both seniors and both mutts (those are the best kind of dog...I'll go over that in another Blog. I love being outside...hiking, biking, running, rock climbing, etc. All of these activities are done with my family and friends. Other enjoying activities that I don't get to do very often are reading and watching amazing television (Game of Thrones for one). I love ice cream and chips and do not allow those in the house...haha. My favorite color is orange and my favorite animal is a dog. I will continue with this bits of information in my future blogs.

The reason I am creating this blog is to give insights about veterinary medicine and to inform pet owners about things they may not know. I hope to make new friends along the way and possibly start engaging conversations about our field. I cannot wait to see where this journey will lead. A fair warning, I am not a writer. I will do my best.