ACL

The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of two essential stabilizing ligaments that cross over one another inside the knee joint. Instability in the knee causes pain and leads to debilitating arthritis.

Of the many knee injuries that can occur, ACL injury is the most common. Tears in these small ligaments cause a great degree of discomfort and may be a career-ender for an athlete (or at least a big career-bender).

A similar injury causes serious setbacks in a pet’s quality of life too. In fact, cruciate injury is one of the most common orthopedic complications seen in dogs.

According to Dr. Sharon Kerwin, professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, ACL tears occur almost as often in pets as they do in humans.

“Cats and dogs have the same ligaments that we have in our knees,” says Kerwin. “The cruciate ligament stabilizes your femur and your tibia so you don’t get too much motion between those two bones.”

ACL Tears in Cats

ACL tears in cats often occur the same way they occur in humans: from a traumatic injury. ACL tears in cats are usually attributed to injury that occurs as a result of jumping from high places, playing, or getting a leg caught in something. However, the injury tends to occur more often in overweight cats.

ACL Tears in Dogs

The injury occurs more frequently in dogs than in cats. In some cases, it is simply the result of an athletic injury in a healthy dog. This could even mean landing “wrong” when running or jumping.

Overweight or obese dogs are definitely more prone to this type of injury, as they carry more weight and often have weakened joints.

Additionally, some dog breeds are predisposed to cruciate ligament injuries due to the structure and shape of their tibia or femur, particularly large breed dogs such as Labradors, Rottweilers, and Chowchows.

Orthopedic Lameness Examination

When we examine a pet for a rear-limb lameness, we perform an orthopedic lameness examination, trying to isolate the pain to a specific area and ruling out injury to other parts of the leg, pelvis, or spine.

Cats with ACL tears will often decrease their activity and playfulness. Dogs usually appear lame and sit awkwardly with their leg sticking out to the side. Radiographs (x-rays) may also be performed to check for arthritis or fractures.

ACL Injury Treatment

We often treat the ACL injuries in cats with medical management by placing overweight cats on a strict diet with exercise restriction for three to six weeks, followed by a check-up measuring progress. If the injury fails to heal, surgery is often recommended to explore and stabilize the joint.

But when dogs are afflicted with ACL injuries, many times the best option is surgery as quickly as possible, followed by post-surgical physical therapy.  Dogs often don’t do well with medical management. Delaying surgery usually causes further inflammation in the injured knee, leading to arthritis, and puts the ACL in the other rear leg at risk for rupture too.

While cruciate rupture cannot always be prevented, keeping your pet at a healthy weight and providing plenty of low-impact exercise can minimize the risk.

Please consult with us if you have questions about your pet’s ideal body weight or need tips about nutrition that can help maintain or return your pet to a healthy weight.

Set up an appointment by calling 206-323-4433, or e-mail Atlantic Veterinary Hospital.

Glaucoma occurs when the fluid drainage system in the eye becomes clogged, resulting in abnormally high pressure levels. This high pressure causes severe side effects, including damage to the optic nerve and retina, and can lead to blindness and pain.

Glaucoma can be caused by a structural problem within the eye or can result as a secondary problem from another disorder or underlying disease condition.

Acute glaucoma is a legitimate emergency that requires immediate care to save a pet’s sight.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Glaucoma usually starts in one eye, but frequently progresses to the other eye. Signs are generally subtle at first, and glaucoma can be tough to recognize in its early stages before permanent eye damage occurs. Symptoms can include a cloudy cornea and bloodshot appearance to the eye.

As pressure builds within the eye, glaucoma becomes very painful, and pets often exhibit the following signs:

• A squinty eye, decreased activity, and irritability.
• They may stop eating and resist human touch.
• They may sleep more, avoid bright light, and have trouble seeing.
• Their eye(s) may even appear bulging in later stages.

While glaucoma can’t necessarily be avoided, if diagnosed early enough, it can be managed. To diagnose a pet’s eye condition, we perform a complete history, physical exam, and eye exam.

Additionally, we may recommend the following, depending on a pet’s specific needs:

• A separate visit to a veterinary ophthalmologist, who specializes in eye diseases
• Tonometry, which measures pressure inside of the eye with a small, hand-held instrument
• X-rays or ultrasound of the skull to identify other abnormalities or tumors
• Blood tests to try to determine the underlying cause, such as an infectious disease

Treatment

If your pet is diagnosed with glaucoma, we will prescribe medications to help reduce the pressure within his eyes and make him more comfortable. Depending on the underlying cause, other medications or treatments may help treat the underlying condition.

Different types of surgical therapy may be recommended in an attempt to keep the pressure in the eye controlled. In long-term cases, surgical removal of the eye may be recommended as a last resort because glaucoma is such a painful condition for your pet.

If your pet exhibits any of the symptoms I described above, give us a call at 206-323-4433 or e-mail us to schedule an exam.

Fortunately, Jester is a large dog and it was milk chocolate. Other than some mild intestinal distress and a very wired pooch, things went okay. We were lucky!

Recently, another patient at Atlantic Veterinary Hospital wasn’t so lucky. A 26-pound dog, he helped himself to a 3-ounce 70% dark chocolate he found in a purse left on the floor. The dog suffered a severe reaction which would have been life threatening if he hadn’t received immediate, life-saving treatment.

His wise owner called us right away, and after calculating the chocolate-to-dog-weight ratio, we advised immediate veterinary care. The owner arrived in minutes; we induced vomiting and started emergency care, but it was a rough afternoon for the dog and owner until the signs of toxicity improved over several hours. Fortunately, another happy ending.

Theobromide and caffeine, found in most chocolates, are toxic to dogs and cats if they ingest enough – and it doesn’t take much, especially in small pets that eat dark or baking chocolate.

If you find evidence your pet has eaten chocolate, please seek immediate medical attention.

During business hours, clients may call Atlantic Veterinary Hospital for advice, at (206) 323-4433.

After hours, call the nearest veterinary emergency facility or the ASPCA National Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

You’ll need to know your pet’s weight, the type and amount of chocolate eaten, and when the pet ate the chocolate.

Here’s an article with more information about chocolate toxicity in dogs and cats.

Image: Jeroen van Oostrom / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Finally, there’s a better way to dispose of expired or unused drugs than flushing them down the toilet (where they contaminate our water supply), tossing them in the trash, or leaving them to gather dust in the medicine cabinet.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the 4^th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, April 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Drop-off expired or unused medications (human or pet) at Atlantic Veterinary Hospital through noon this Saturday and we’ll take them to a disposal site for you along with our expired inventory.

Or, check-out the Office of Diversion Control website to find the nearest medication collection sites.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s 3^rd National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October, 2011, turned in more than 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal.

Please protect your family, both the two- and four-legged members, and clean out your medicine cabinet.

A variety of things can cause ear infections in dogs, but environmental and food allergies are the two most common underlying reasons.

Other causes include ear conformation, such as a narrowed ear canals, hair growing inside the ear, or a floppy ear – anything that traps moisture inside the ear canal.

Foreign objects inside an ear (like seeds), ear mites, and endocrine disorders can also be underlying causes of ear infection as well, but are much less common.

The pollen count in our area as been very high this spring, and the same things that make our eyes itch and noses run affect our pets, causing similar symptoms, plus ear infections and itchy skin and feet.

How to clean your dog’s ears

Regular ear cleaning (once or twice a week) can go a long way in preventing ear problems in dogs that are prone to ear infection, and thus reduce veterinary visits. Ear cleaning decreases cerumin (ear wax) accumulation, as well as diminishes the pollen, bacteria, and yeast on the ear canals’ surface, helping prevent an ear infection.

Ear cleaners: Dos and Don’ts

Choosing an appropriate ear cleaner is very important. Select one that’s

• alcohol-free
• has a pH (acidity) adjusted to dogs’ natural pH level
• ceruminolytic (“wax dissolving”)
• drying

Many over-the-counter ear cleaning solutions do not fit the above criteria and may actually harm a dog’s ears. Water and hydrogen peroxide, which turns to water in the ear, are also not recommended for use as ear cleaners, as they leave moisture in an environment that needs to be clean and dry.

We suggest Epi Otic Ear Cleaning Solution, which fits all the criteria and is available without a prescription through our hospital.

Dogs’ ear canals are longer and shaped differently than ours. Take a moment to watch the following video which explains and demonstrates proper ear cleaning technique.

If your dog already has an ear infection, we need to see him or her right away. Untreated ear infections are extremely painful, can become chronic if left unresolved, and cause permanent hearing loss.

After an infection is resolved, you can help prevent recurrences through effective, routine ear cleaning. Please give us a call at 206-323-4433 if you have any questions.

It occurs when the thyroid glands, located in your cat’s neck, stop “listening” to the normal regulatory control of the pituitary gland in the brain and begin to produce excess thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormone helps regulate metabolism and control normal bodily processes. Think of it as an engine’s tachometer gauge: in simple terms, it controls how fast or slow the body functions. When a cat’s thyroid glands become overactive and produce too much thyroid hormone, it leads to an increase in the body’s metabolism.

In automotive terms, it’s like pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor, moving the engine’s tachometer gauge past the red line – and into trouble!

Dangers of Hyperthyroidism

While this may sound like a great way to shed a few extra pounds if your cat is overweight, the impact of hyperthyroidism on our cat friends can be dangerous. Over a period of months, the overproduction of thyroid hormone can have a negative impact on the heart, kidneys, and other organs.

Cause of Hyperthyroidism

The exact cause of hyperthyroidism is not known. This disease typically affects cats aged 10 years or older, and is one of the important reasons why we recommend regular laboratory testing in older cats.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are weight loss despite increased appetite. Additionally, some cats may become restless, “talk” more, look unkempt, vomit, drink more, urinate more, become cranky, and breathe more rapidly. Sometimes, however, cats do not exhibit these symptoms, even though their internal organs are undergoing damage. We pick up these “silent” cases through routine laboratory testing and physical exam. Left untreated, cats become extremely thin and typically die of heart failure caused by the hyperthyroidism.

Treatment Options

If your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, we’ll discuss several treatment options with you, including a brand new dietary option that doesn’t require medication.

While we don’t know yet why older cats frequently develop hyperthyroidism or how to prevent it, we can effectively treat – and even cure – the disease, allowing your dear kitty friend to live a long and healthy life.

A newer medication called Cerenia is proving beneficial for dogs with motion sickness.

What causes motion sickness?

The cause of motion sickness is complex, and researchers hypothesize it’s caused by a conflict between signals to the brain about the body’s location, posture, and movement.

A dog’s brain senses motion through three different signals coming from the nervous system. The brain integrates signals from the inner ear (where the organs that govern balance and equilibrium are found) with information from the eyes (vision), along with information from proprioceptors in the body (providing information about posture). When these three types of signals don’t “match” or add up, the brain is confused and conflicted, resulting in nausea.

Effective medications

Older medications like Dramamine and meclizine are usually effective in lessening or preventing the symptoms of motion sickness. However, they often cause lethargy and sleepiness – not so fun if you’re taking a drive with your pooch for a hike in the woods or a romp in the park.

Cerenia doesn’t cause drowsiness. Dogs are alert and ready to hit the trail when you arrive at your destination. And, Cerenia lasts 24 hours – 3-4  times longer than the older medications. It can be given the night before an early morning departure (all anti-nausea medications must be given at least two hours before travel).

If your pooch suffers from motion sickness, we’d love to talk with you about how to help make the trip easier for everyone. Cerenia may be an important part of your strategy!

Learn more about Cerenia. Give Atlantic Veterinary Hospital a call at 206-323-4433, or e-mail us.

They’ve been around since before the dinosaurs, yet were wily enough to survive whatever it was that ended the dinosaurs’ reign.

Besides causing itchy misery, fleas can spread diseases like tapeworms and life-threatening bacteria. Fleas can also kill young animals by causing severe anemia (think vampire style).

They were responsible for spreading the bacteria that causes The Plague, a disease that killed thousands in Europe during the Dark Ages and is still found today in places as near as Eastern Oregon.

Seattle-area flea-transmitted bacteria

One type of flea-transmitted bacteria we frequently see in Seattle cats is Mycoplasma haemofelis. Similar to Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (spread by ticks), M. haemofelis attacks cats’ red blood cells and causes severe anemia and jaundice. It is quickly fatal if left untreated.

Cats infected with M. haemofelis come into the hospital severely depressed and vomiting. They often have a fever and pale white, yellow-tinged gums from the severe anemia caused by red blood cell destruction. Diagnosing the underlying cause of the profound anemia requires laboratory tests because other diseases have similar clinical signs.

Treating M. haemofelis

After diagnosing M. haemofelis, cats are treated with appropriate antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs for 2-3 weeks. Some cats require expensive, life-saving blood transfusions and several days in the hospital. While treatment usually improves the anemia, affected cats may remain carriers and a reservoir for fleas to bite, then spread the bacteria to the next cat.

How to prevent M. haemofelis

Thankfully, preventing M. haemofelis in cats is much easier these days with regular, year around use of topical flea preventive medications, such as Revolution and EasySpot (similar to Frontline).

With our temperate weather, we see fleas in all seasons in Seattle, although the heaviest concentration is typically July through October. Ask us how to help protect your kitty!

But how do you know whether that information is accurate and true?

These days, pet owners often want to know more about their pets’ illness or condition before taking them to their veterinarian and will spend time researching symptoms.

Veterinarians are learning to adjust to two important changes produced by our clients’ increased thirst for information.

Firstly, pet owners now regularly come to an appointment with a list of very specific opinions and questions about their pets’ medical condition and pages in hand of information they’ve downloaded. This can lead to a more satisfying, in-depth discussion and rewarding outcome for a pet if the information owners have uncovered is accurate and complete (sadly, often it isn’t).

Secondly, veterinarians sometimes blame “Dr. Google” (i.e., information pet owners find via Web searches) for causing a delay in pet owners’ decision to seek medical care for their pets. Sadly, this can mean a pet’s condition is more advanced and often more costly to treat by the time they see the vet. The decision to delay seeking medical care can lead to an outcome no one is happy about.

Here are two excellent internet sites that offer quality content written by veterinarians you can trust:

• Pet Health Network
• Veterinary Partner

You can reach these sites and other selected quality information on a variety of pet-related topics through links on the Resources page of our website.

Energy use makes our biggest impact on environment. So, if you walk, ride your bike, carpool, or use public transportation to reach our hospital, we thank you by offering a 5% discount on all products and services during your visit.

We continue to explore additional ways to make our hospital more environmentally responsible, from the energy, water and supplies we use, to the products we stock and recommendations we make.

For example:

• We support Seattle City Light’s Green Power Program. The Green Power Program funds local renewable energy demonstration projects in Seattle and the suburban areas that City Light serves. It also funds renewable energy education and training programs for teachers, students, and the general public.
• We use LED and fluorescent lighting throughout the hospital
• All office and cleaning paper products we use are made of 100% recycled materials
• We compost, reuse, and recycle everything we possibly can
• All of our cleaning and laundry products (except small amounts of necessary disinfectants) are biodegradable and environmentally safe
• All our appliances are Energy Star rated
• During our recent mini remodel, we used environmentally-friendly paint and other products
• Our new email reminder system decreases the amount of paper used for reminders

Share your ideas with us about how we can continue to decrease our carbon footprint!