animal lovers

New Year’s resolutions!

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Another New year has started and as usual, we all write down our resolutions. I want all pet owners to include their pet’s well-being in their lists. Here are a couple of important ones that can benefit both humans and their companions:

  • Invest in pet insurance or start a pet health savings plan as the year begins.

The economic outlook this year is a bit scary with rumors of recession and inflation. Therefore having a pet health plan can help you avoid financial issues if your pet is sick or even avoid the unpleasant thought of “economic euthanasia.“ Even healthy pups and cats can have emergencies like toxicities, accidents, fight injuries, and foreign bodies. These are 100 percent treatable but also very expensive if they require hospitalization and surgical intervention. It is much less expensive to prevent a disease than it is to treat it. Some of these healthcare plans will even reimburse some money for yearly blood work and routine dental care. Many pet owners underestimate the power of routine blood work and veterinary care. Finding blood values that might be predisposing factors for disease early enough can completely change the course of the disease. Also, it is a good way to increase the longevity and quality of life of your pet because we act swiftly before any symptoms appear. Don’t procrastinate and miss veterinary exams and visits. If your pet is injured or ill, delaying veterinary attention could actually lead to higher expenses! If you do not find a plan you like, then open an extra savings bank account and make a $50 per paycheck automatic deposit that can build up a reserve for any emergencies or pet care surprises.

  • Start an exercise program that includes your furry friend.

Many pets in the United States are as overweight or obese as their human counterparts. The new year is a great time to make a commitment to lose those extra pounds! This resolution is one of the most popular with humans and should include pets. Studies show that dog owners spend about twice as much time walking each week than non-dog owners. This positive reinforcement can be beneficial for your goals AND help your pet lose weight too! In addition, walking together is a way to strengthen the body with your pet and also release stress. In addition, this activity enriches the dog’s brain and deepens the human-animal bond. Some studies have proven a deeper bond can benefit by boosting oxytocin in both pets and humans.

  • Book regular spa days for both you and your pets.

Looking our best is another popular resolution each year. Why not include your pets? Keeping a pet well-groomed can help prevent skin issues and the associated expense of a veterinarian. Setting a recurrent appointment for your pet will guarantee that your fluffy companion gets the nails clipped, ears cleaned and fur taken care of regularly. It will also serve as a second pair of eyes examining your pet and noticing if there are issues that demand veterinary attention. Happy and healthy 2023 to all my readers.

Dr. Mitsie Vargas is at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. She can be reached at drmitsie@gmail.com

Warning about dangerous bird furniture

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As a bird owner, it irks me whenever I shop at my favorite pet store and still see fabric huts/tents/snuggies marketed for birds. Parrot tents have been responsible for more avian injuries and deaths than any other product type sold.
Here are the three reasons why:
1 – Crop impaction
2- Entanglement
3- Hormonal issues (prolapse, chronic egg-laying, etc.)

Crop impaction is not just an issue with fuzzy types of huts. With denim, there is a less likely chance that a bird will pick and chew on them, but either way, any birds subject to these dangerous toys are ingesting microfibers that naturally shed from fabric. Whenever your bird even lightly brushes against the fabric, invisible fibers stick to its feathers, and after the unfortunate bird preens, the fibers are swallowed and collect over time in their gut— until one day, you wake up and find your bird dead at the bottom of their cage and without ever being warned as to why.

Here’s the thing. Denim is treated with chemicals to improve its durability, which means the fibers persist in the environment for a long time, We don’t know exactly what chemicals. That’s proprietary information and it’s hard to know because different chemicals are used for different processes. Researchers at the University of Toronto say they have even found denim microfibers in sediment taken from the Great Lakes!

Human-made microfibers include fibers from natural sources such as cotton and those from synthetic sources such as plastic-based nylon and polyester. One study discovered that used jeans shed about 50,000 microfibers per wash. Please, please don’t take the chance with these products like hundreds of clients have. As cute as they look, it’s not worth the damage they are doing to your birds.

Entanglement happens faster than you think. It can be difficult to see the level of destruction that takes place inside the small openings. Some people opt to continually trim the excess fray from the fabric, but they can’t control what happens when their birds are in their cage unsupervised. Dangerous fraying can occur in a single afternoon.
The stories on the internet of horrific experiences are everywhere. I know that it will be hard to take away something that your bird loves so much, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that because they have not yet begun chewing on the tent, they will not do so in the future, especially when they get “nesty” during a particularly hormone driven breeding season.
It isn’t worth the gamble. The moral of this article is: Don’t buy or use happy huts. There are alternatives: Pvc tubes, seagrass houses or tunnels made from mats, and hanging coconut toys. These all have a bottom, however, which can cause hormonal behavior, so I’d encourage you to DIY or buy the bottomless “SafeCorner” by ‘Furnibirb’ instead.
We need to provide our pet birds with attention, enrichment with toys, a large enough cage that allows for exercising their wings, and a safe area to retreat.

Understanding Chronic pain in Cats

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Chronic pain in cats often goes undetected. Acute pain is easier to detect since it is a drastic change whereas chronic pain happens gradually and the cat and the owners both adapt to those changes. Sadly, there are many misconceptions about how cats express pain and the direct influence that pain has on their behavior. Cats live in the moment, hence, when they experience pain they also develop anxiety and behavioral disorders due to their expectation of living in that state of pain in a continuum. Therefore it is up to us and their loving owners to find out if they are in pain and address it.
One of the common cat health issues we see in practice involves behavioral changes, inappropriate elimination, inter-cat aggression, over-grooming, insomnia, lethargy, decrease appetite, and changes in routine. After a thorough physical exam and performing diagnostic tests like bloodwork and X-rays, we can rule out many conditions and rule in pain as the root of the behavioral issues. All declawed cats eventually develop chronic arthritis and joint pain from the abnormal gait created by the amputation of the third phalanx aka their fingertips. Luckily, declawing is becoming a thing of the past, and many cat advocacy organizations like the American Association of Feline Practitioners are taking a stand against it due to increasing evidence and research on the chronic pain it causes. Other signs of chronic pain include reluctance to jump, and increase hiding. Although osteoarthritis is the most commonly recognized cause of pain, other conditions like bad teeth, interstitial cystitis, ulcers, dermatitis, diabetic neuropathy, pancreatitis, cancer, and IBD can create chronic pain.
Treating Chronic pain and arthritis in cats has always been a challenge due to their sensitivity to medications like NSAIDs. The most popular prescription for pain is gabapentin because a lot of oral, and osteoarthritis pain have a root in neuropathic pain signals. New advances in pharmacology have resulted in better products like Zorbium topical pain control that lasts 4 days. The only FDA-approved NSAID for use in cats is called Onsior and it is a very effective oral pill given for three consecutive days. Another new product that we are super excited to carry is the FDA -approved frunevetmab injection called Solensia, the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) new animal drug approved by the agency for use in any animal species. This is a once-a-month injection given at your veterinarian’s office that will work with your cat’s immune system to reduce the pain signals and it is paving the way into a future with safer pain control for our kitties. Solensia will work after the first injection but most studies revealed the optimal control comes after 3 months. All chronic pain can benefit from this treatment even though it is marketed for cat osteoarthritis.
Of course in our practice, we use the integrative approach which includes acupuncture, laser, and herbal therapy in addition to other pain control medications as needed. Chronic pain management requires a multi-modal approach for a successful outcome.

Post-Ian warning

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Polk County just went through the devastation of hurricane Ian but for pet owners, there are still potential threats to deal with. The excessive rain brought flooding and saturated yards and this provides the best condition for the transmission of bacterial and parasitic diseases. One of the most common threats includes a potentially deadly bacteria called Leptospira.
Leptospirosis is an infection caused by bacteria that is found in soil and water. There are several different strains of Leptospira bacteria that can cause disease. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to people. Infection in humans is characterized by flu-like symptoms but it could also cause acute liver or kidney disease. Infection in dogs can happen in multiple ways but it is commonly caused when their mucous membranes or cuts get in contact while drinking from rivers, streams, ponds, and stagnant water in which infected wildlife have urinated. Therefore the severe water-filled backyards in the aftermath of Ian will be acting as giant Petri dishes.
The thing with leptospirosis is that some dogs show mild if any signs of illness, whereas others get critically ill and even die. Cats seem more resistant to actually developing the disease and I haven’t diagnosed feline leptospirosis in almost 30 years in practice.
Symptoms of leptospirosis may include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes also known as JAUNDICE. It is also common to see affected dogs develop acute kidney failure with or without liver failure. Other less common symptoms include acute pneumonia and acute bleeding disorders characterized by vast amounts of red tinge urine, nosebleeds, or tarry diarrhea. Affected dogs can also accumulate excess fluid in their chest, abdomen, or under the skin. Sadly, all these symptoms could be caused by multiple other conditions and sometimes the diagnosis might be missed. The history of exposure to water sources, as in the aftermath of Ian, will help direct your veterinarian to do the blood test that specifically detects this bacteria and prompt treatment could save your dog’s life. Currently, there are easily available vaccines that effectively prevent leptospirosis and protect dogs for at least 12 months. Annual vaccination is recommended for at-risk dogs, hunting dogs, and lake-loving pups. If your pet has been diagnosed it is important to take precautions in order to avoid human infection. Consider the infected dog’s urine as very infectious and make sure the pets urinate in a secluded place where other pets do not have access. Make sure to follow proper hygiene practices like washing your hands after touching your pet and avoiding any bodily fluids. Make sure to give the life-saving antibiotics as directed by your veterinarian. If you develop any flu-like symptoms, please seek physician care as soon as possible. The best way to prevent this is to keep your pet vaccinated and away from flooded areas. Please ask your veterinarian for more advice on how to keep your pet safe from this disease.

Shen or spirit disturbance in a kitty

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Anxiety is a common disorder seen in practice that has serious implications for the human-animal bond. One of the leading reasons that dogs and cats are relinquished to shelters is due to behavioral issues including destructive behaviors. It is important to use the integrative approach to strive to salvage the human-animal bond and improve the quality of life of the affected pets.
In general, anxious dogs exhibit the following symptoms; Visual body signals like a tucked tail, self-licking and biting, diarrhea, escape behavior, hiding, reduced activity, trembling, and nervousness.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) classifies anxiety as a Shen disturbance. Shen could be translated as Mind or Spirit and this energy resides in the Heart meridian(energy pathway) and is considered part of our consciousness. In Traditional Chinese medicine for humans, Shen disturbance is generally due to Qi and blood deficiency, emotional trauma, and fire in the Liver meridian. The TCVM approach to diagnosing anxiety includes a good physical exam and palpation of special points in the spine. In addition, taking a good history and asking the time of day where symptoms seem worse helps in finding which meridian is affected. The physical signs we often find include a thin, fast pulse, a red, dry tongue, restlessness or nervousness, and insomnia. For example, a dog that starts restlessness after dark could be suffering from global Yin deficiency because the night belongs to Yin whereas the day belongs to the Yang energy. A dog that consistently wakes its owner between 1 am to 3 am could be manifesting Liver Qi stagnation because those hours are where the Liver meridian energy dominates.The constitution of the patient is a big clue as to the root of anxiety. The Water (shy), Wood (dominant), and Fire(friendly and hyper) constitutions are at high risk of developing Shen disturbances when unbalanced.

The best way to demonstrate the positive effect of acupuncture is to share a recent case. Medes is a 5 years old neutered domestic shorthaired cat that came to visit us due to excessive grooming on his belly to the point of self-mutilation! he was also hiding, and being distant for about 3 months. There were outdoor strays coming outside to the house and also a new kitten in the household which caused a lot of stress and perceived fears. His physical exam was unremarkable except for the eosinophilic granuloma and alopecia on his ventral abdomen.
Medes is an affectionate vocal cat which in TCVM is considered a trait of a Fire element personality. His tongue was red and thin, his ears were hot and his left pulse was weaker. A diagnosis of Heart Yin Deficiency with Shen disturbance and Liver Qi stagnation was made. Balance Acupuncture was done using vitamin B 12 subcutaneous injections. The Chinese herbal formula Shen calmer powder was prescribed, 1 small scoop in the food once daily. After just one session Medes was doing great and quit self-mutilating. The owner was impressed, and Medes was enjoying interacting with the family, even with the little kitten.

Chocolate and dogs do not mix!

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 Valentine’s Day is around the corner and every retail store is brimming with all kinds of chocolate-inspired candies and gifts. This is a dangerous season for pet owners because your dog is going to be extremely attracted to the chocolate aroma.  Accidental ingestion of chocolate by dogs can result in serious consequences including severe vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, and death. The severity depends on the concentration of the active ingredient theobromine. The darker the chocolate the more lethal it is. The smaller dogs are at higher risk as the minimum dose is 20mg per kilogram body weight. at that dose, the symptoms of toxicity are milder and mostly related to the gastrointestinal system. In higher doses of 40 mg per kilogram, the effects involve the heart system and in even higher doses over 60mg/kg the nervous system is involved. Imagine chocolate as having the same effect in dogs as amphetamines have in humans! Therefore, special consideration is given to the kind of chocolate ingested. Luckily, there are many sugary, milk-laden, and processed chocolate candies that only have 5-10% of real cacao. The baking chocolate, however, has the strongest concentration of theobromine.  If your pet ingests chocolate, try to contact the nearest veterinarian and bring your pet for induction of vomiting. Most pets ingest the chocolate with the wrappers, and most chocolates are dense and harder to digest. Therefore on any ingestion within 1-1.5 hours is worth to try inducing vomiting in order to remove most of the toxic material. In our practice, we use special drops that induce vomiting almost instantaneously. The funny thing is that the vomit often smells and looks like chocolate pudding.  Then we give supportive treatments with fluids and anti-vomiting medications to settle their stomachs. The vast majority of patients make a full recovery. In the case of dogs that have ingested the chocolate past that time frame, the best is to take your pet for supportive treatments and to get auscultated to see if they are experiencing any tachycardia ( fast heart rate). Medications to suppress the symptoms will be administered and a baseline chemistry blood analysis can help monitor the progression of the toxicity. Take the wrapper or information of the product so that the veterinary staff can make the calculations and adjust treatment based on the weight of your pet and the concentration of theobromine. My granddog Pluto sneakily stole a chocolate bar from our pantry. he woke us up at 3 am vomiting and acting painful. He ate a bar that was  85% pure cacao and even though he is 50 lbs, the concentration was above 20mg/kg. Thankfully, my two pugs did not partake in the mischief because they could’ve easily died. The moral of the story is never underestimate your pet’s obsession with sweets. The only time I willingly give chocolate to dogs is at the time of euthanasia. I keep a jar full of Hershey’s kisses for them to try because I want them to get away with eating the forbidden treat at least once in their lives.

Hip pain is a tricky problem for pets!

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When I was in Veterinary school 31 years ago, they taught us in anatomy 101 that the sacroiliac joint was fused and of little importance in locomotion. Fast forward to three years ago when I was training in spinal manipulation at the Integrative Veterinary Medicine Institute and they discussed how important the sacroiliac joint is in locomotion, and its role in pain and gait abnormalities. Needless to say, I was amazed at how traditional medicine differs from the osteopathic perspective.
The sacroiliac joint is composed of the Sacrum, which in dogs and cats is usually 3 fused vertebrae that have 2 sets of large foramina. The Sacrum is like an inverted pyramid in which the wider base articulates with the last lumbar vertebrae (#7) and on either side with two flat bones called the Ilium: that is the sweet sacroiliac joint! The ilium is fused to other bones that make up the pelvis. Therefore, the Ilium interaction with the Sacrum could definitely affect the motion in the hip joints.
So, how can this joint get in trouble? Well, there can be three different chiropractic adjustments based on the displacement of the Ilium and in spinal manipulation of animals we still use those human terms to describe displacement in the sacroilliac joint. The wing of the Ilium could be displaced dorsally (aka posterior) and towards the tail (caudally aka inferior) resulting in that side looking higher than normal (called PI) and causing the surrounding muscles to be very tense. The hip is resistant to be extended and the pet is uncomfortable. In that case a quick manipulation in the opposite direction or cranioventrally will bring immediate relief and will reset the affected muscles. The Ilium can also be stuck ventrally (anterior) and towards the head (superior) which will cause difficulty flexing the hip and cause the muscles to be tense as well ( this is called AS).When we evaluate the pets, we observe them from behind, looking to see if there is a higher or lower side, then test the range of motion to determine if there is a restriction. The third displacement is really the apex or end of the sacrum being displaced to either side and causing friction with the ilium.
I have personally experienced a left PI when I moved quickly to help an acupuncture patient and the awkward angle pushed my sacroiliac joint out of normal position. It was painful and I could barely walk. I used cold laser and acupuncture and it made the pain decrease by 50% but it was only when I went to my chiropractor, Dr. Briggs, and had a simple adjustment that my pain completely disappeared. That experience was invaluable because I now know the importance of diagnosing and treating the sacroiliac joint in our senior pets. The range of motion in your senior dogs and cats might be limited by osteoarthritis as well as the sacroiliac joint displacement. Distinguishing between those issues is a must if we want a quick resolution of pain and return to function.

Take the heat out of those hotspots!

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One of the most common issues seen at our practice during these hot months involves skin infections, rashes, and allergies.
One problem, in particular, is extremely painful and uncomfortable for our pet friends; hotspots. A hotspot is an area of acute moist dermatitis with an infection in the skin that often has a purulent discharge, swelling, and redness. This is usually a very painful issue.
These hotspots are progressive and will continue to enlarge if not tended to. They might not be obvious to see because they hide under the fur. Therefore, one of the first things that the pet owner must do is to clip the hairs surrounding the affected area because the hair acts as a scaffold to hold in the pus and bacteria. Once clipped the affected area is usually 2-3 times larger than expected. We get calls of frantic owners swearing that it all started as a mosquito bite-size and now it’s covering half their neck or a large portion of their pet’s body. We believe them because hotspots are a type of allergic response and it does proliferate quickly. Some patients can become extremely ill with a fever, anorexia and start behaving strangely including becoming a bit aggressive. The veterinary treatment aims at stopping the allergic reaction and treating the skin infection while providing pain relief. at our practice we use a multi-modal integrative approach to treatment and include eastern and western approaches. We use antibiotics for a brief 7-10 days. We also use pharmaceuticals to control pain sensations in the brain like Buprenorphine, gabapentin, or tramadol. Shampoo therapy might be used to provide soothing relief to the whole skin and prevent other spots from developing. The injectable drug Cytopoint is often added to block the receptors of itch in the brain and thus stopping the pet from self-mutilating while scratching themselves. The herbal formula Wind toxin is a great herb to stop the itch, nourish the skin, and relieving the allergic response by clearing the heat.
One big consideration we take into account is the location of the hot spot. The skin of your pet is divided into dermatomes, which are areas of the skin that have innervation by a spinal nerve. What does that mean? if your pet has a recurrent hotspot or skin lesion in a particular spot of the legs or body, it could be a manifestation of an impaired nerve in his/her spine! A bad intervertebral disk could be a cause, or maybe damage to the nerve branch. Regardless, when we see a hotspot, we can do motion palpation of the spine to check for any pain or misalignment, then perform an adjustment ( like a chiropractor would do) to correct it. Once the nerve is free and fully functioning the hot spot could heal and stop recurring. remember, this condition is painful but can be easily treated by your veterinarian. Do not let the allergens and humidity of the season get the best of your furry companions,

How to manage Arthritic pain holistically

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Pain-related arthritis in older dogs and cats is one of the most common conditions we see in our general veterinary practice. Oftentimes these patients are senior pets over 7 years of age but occasionally we see younger dogs with a congenital condition called hip or elbow dysplasia that is causing lameness and pain. The age of the affected furry companions is only a factor in deciding how o take care of them long term. In seniors and geriatric dogs and cats, managing the quality of life is the first priority and we do know that these drugs might cause some harm but the benefit is worth using them on a daily basis. In young dogs and cats, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) is great for the short term management of pain but when it comes to long term usage, there are some important factors to consider.
First, these powerful pharmaceuticals could have deleterious side effects including damage to the kidneys and liver. We recommend doing a blood function test for the liver and kidneys every 3-6 months in order to monitor the body’s response to the medication. In some cases, we might need to stop or switch the medications, decrease the dosage, or adjust the frequency of the administration. In some pets, we prescribe special nutraceuticals which are supplements full of antioxidants and amino acids that nourish either the liver or the kidney and elect to continue the NSAIDs. In most patients, we use the NSAIDs as just one way to control pain and therefore add other modalities like a cold laser, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, massage, rehab exercises, and Chinese herbals to control pain. These pets have a lot of years ahead of them and we want to help them fulfill their best life for as long as they can.
Second, unlike the older pets who usually have underlying organ disease making them higher anesthesia risks, these pets could have surgical options worth pursuing in order to fix the issue and diminish the dependence on pharmaceuticals. It is always good to consult with an orthopedic surgeon to see what options are available.  
For pet owners facing taking care of painful arthritic pets, there are holistic options that can make a big difference in their pet’s lives. Recently, my patient Bradley, a sweet 5-year-old Yorkie, had a bad fall from the couch that left him painful and walking sideways (trying to compensate and not moving the back). After radiographs, bloodwork, and cold laser were performed, we elected to do a spinal manipulation and he improved dramatically. He was sent on an NSAID called Meloxicam and a Chinese herbal called Body Sore. Although he is 100% recovered, we will continue the herbal formula and a glucosamine supplement to ward off the onset of arthritis. His owners purchased an Assisi loop device to help control pain as an at-home therapy. There are many options for pain relief, make sure you ask your veterinarian which ones are best for your pet!

Pets are not the best gifts!

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The Christmas holiday is not the greatest time to give pets or to incorporate new pets into the family unit. If you plan to give a pet as a gift, there are some steps necessary in order to avoid making a mistake.
First, you must realize that pets are not things, nor unfeeling possessions. They have feelings, and they need care and dedication. Some pets, like birds and reptiles, have very long lifespans. These are not temporary gifts, they are long-term responsibilities and as such, they require that the recipient is committed to providing all that is needed for these beings’ happiness and wellbeing. Second, if you decided to buy the pet, consider including the food, cages, or items necessary for the recipient to have an easier transition into caring for them. A great idea would be to buy pet health insurance! If it is an exotic pet like a guinea pig or lizard, make sure to include a book or magazine that provides advice about the husbandry of those species. Better yet, include a gift certificate to a veterinarian for a quick office visit and opportunity to learn about the proper care of the new pet. Your veterinarian can assess the health of the pet prior to being given away, that way you ensure that you gave away a healthy pet. Also, most breeders and pet shops have policies that require a vet visit within 48 hours of purchase in order to validate their guarantees. Third, you must consider the ability of the recipient to take care of the pet. If you plan to gift pets to children, you must consult with their parents first. Is the recipient able to financially support the care of that new pet addition? Are there other pets in the household that could be affected by bringing in a new pet? Is the lifestyle of that recipient compatible with the kind of pet that you selected? Remember to inquire if the recipient has preferences for a certain trait or qualities in the desired companion and try to match those with your purchased one. The Holiday season can be quite noisy and busy which makes integrating a new pet and socialization a bit more difficult. If you realize that from the pet’s perspective this is a big scary change in circumstances then you’ll have more empathy and perhaps delay getting the pet until after the Holiday. Perhaps a gift certificate to a particular shelter might make more sense, that way you give something in the stocking but the recipient can have the ultimate choice. Lastly, remember to adopt instead of shopping for the pet. There are multiple shelters and purebred rescues that can adopt out wonderful dogs, cats, birds, and other exotics. Several of those shelters include a free month of pet healthcare and a free veterinary visit which makes it a more affordable gift. Wouldn’t you feel better to have saved a life? After all, Christmas is all about opening our hearts to love, family, and friendships.