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Chocolate

Helping Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Fireworks

Ticks in Winter

Parasite Control

Surgical FAQs

Companion Therapy Laser

It's almost time for Halloween, which means lots of candy in the house. Much of that candy contains chocolate, which many of us crave. Unfortunately, your dog may have the same cravings! Why is chocolate so dangerous for our pets? 

Chocolate contains compounds called methylxanthines, specifically theobromine and caffeine. Most of us are familiar with the caffeine boost, and theobromine produces similar effects that last a lot longer. It can take up to 4 days for a dog to completely process theobromine. 

Not all chocolate is the same. White chocolate is mostly fat and doesn't contain much theobromine, so while it may cause GI upset and pancreatitis, white chocolate is the least toxic variety. The most toxic type of chocolate for your pet is baking chocolate, which has a greater concentration of theobromine. Semi sweet/dark chocolate and milk chocolate fall in the middle of the toxicity spectrum, while chocolate flavored cakes and cookies typically have low levels of toxic compounds.  

This means that 2 ounces of milk chocolate can be toxic to a 10# dog - that is just 7 Hershey’s miniature bars! Just 1/2 an ounce of semi-sweet chocolate (2 dark chocolate miniatures) or 1/4 ounce of baking chocolate (1 tiny square) will be dangerous for the same size dog. It doesn't take much. 

Signs of chocolate toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, fast heart rate and irregular heartbeats, tremors, seizures, and even death if the dose is high enough. If you catch your dog chewing on the bag of Halloween chocolates, call us or the emergency clinic right away. Inducing vomiting is useful if the ingestion just happened. The dog’s body is already absorbing the toxin after just an hour, but inducing vomiting up to 4 hours after ingestion can reduce the toxic amount absorbed. After inducing vomiting, the next step is to administer medication to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance and give the pet needed supportive care while they process the toxins. 

The best prevention is keeping all chocolate away from your pets! Keep the chocolate in a place the dog can't get into, and teach your children that chocolate is for people only – it is ok to share with friends but not the pets! 

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Halloween!

How to Help your Dog Overcome the Fear of Fireworks

Crackle Pop Bang! Pretty lights! Panicked Dog!

Fireworks season is upon us! You may already be hearing the exciting crackles, whistles and booms. Meanwhile your poor dog is trembling and trying to squeeze under the couch. So what can you do to help your canine companion? Below we've listed a few things you can try.

• The best option is to take your dog away from the offending sounds. Fireworks season is a great time to head out to a quiet vacation spot in the country! Since not many of us can pick up and go someplace without fireworks, try to create a safe space in your home. Look for an interior room with no doors or windows - keep the space dark and create a lot of white noise with a fan or TV/radio to muffle the fireworks booms. Your dog may have already chosen his safe space - bathrooms, closets and basements are favorite hideaways. If your dog already has a space he chooses to retreat to, just try to make that space as comfortable for him as possible.
  
  
• Engage your dog with favored treats and toys. Give him a frozen food-stuffed Kong or long-lasting chew to occupy him. Play a fun game - try rapidly tossing treats back and forth for the dog to chase. Try to keep your dog focused on you and not on the scary sounds outside. Cuddling and petting is fine too, if it helps your dog - snuggling together on the couch will not make the fear worse, so go ahead and gently stroke your dog during the show.
  
  
• Stay calm yourself! Our pets take cues from our behavior, so keeping calm can go a long way to helping them out.
  
  
• There are a few over the counter aids that can be helpful, especially when used together and with the management tips already mentioned
• The thundershirt is like getting a huge hug. For some dogs, the snug garment really helps them feel safe. It is worth trying!
• Adaptil collars and plug-in room diffusers emit a calming pheromone similar to what a mother dog secretes naturally to keep her puppies calm.

• If your dog is particularly panicky with fireworks, prescription medications can help. Sileo oral gel is specifically approved by the FDA to help dogs with noise aversion. We also prescribe various anti-anxiety medications as appropriate for the individual patient. Contact us for more information.

The bottom line: start at the top and add on. These ideas work best when used in combination, rather than just one at a time. Fireworks season can be dangerous if your dog is so panicked that he escapes the house while trying to get away from the scary noise. Make sure your dog is properly identified with a collar tag and microchip and keep him safely confined indoors until the neighborhood is quiet again. Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Please browse through our other helpful articles located in our Informational Pages

Ticks in Winter?

It’s winter, so no bugs, right? Well not entirely. Many people stop flea and tick prevention for their pets in the wintertime. While many ticks do go dormant in the winter, they can come out of hibernation when the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees. The Lone Star Tick and American Dog Tick follow this model.

However, the adult Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) that carries Lyme disease, remains active if temperatures are above freezing. So, in our moderate mid-Atlantic climate, you and your pet can still be exposed to ticks and Lyme disease all winter long! The best protection for your pet is to use tick prevention all year.

There are many good products for tick prevention – oral, topical, or a Seresto Collar. There is an option for most any pet. Let us help you figure out the best product for your dog or cat. 

Common Ticks in Virginia and Diseases they transmit to you and your pets:

• Blacklegged Tick – Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis.
• Lone Star Tick – Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia.
• American Dog Tick – Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (uncommon in Virginia) and Tularemia.

See the Virginia Department of Health website link for a handy tick ID chart with size comparisons, more info on these diseases in people, how to prevent, and how to remove ticks.

Tick Facts:

• Ticks are not insects; they are arachnids (like spiders).
• Ticks are tiny vampires that suck your blood.
• Ticks don’t jump or fly.
• Ticks can live 2-3 years.
• Ticks can survive underwater longer than you can.

Intestinal Parasite Control

Roundworms & Hookworms

Most pet owners are familiar with heartworm prevention & heartworm disease. I'm sure you've heard, "Please keep your pet on heartworm prevention year round." Did you know your heartworm prevention is also protecting your pet from intestinal parasites? This critical and extra benefit helps to keep our pets and families healthy. So what are these parasites and how do they impact us?

All heartworm preventatives on the market today, to my knowledge, protect our dogs and cats against round and hook worms. These are common intestinal parasites that are zoonotic, in other words, people can get them.

Dogs & cats pass these worms through the fecal - oral route. It's a rather complicated cycle, but in summary they eat or lick stuff that has been contaminated with infected feces. The larval eggs get into their bodies where they migrate to the gastrointestinal tract and become adult worms. From there they reproduce, making more eggs and then the animal obligingly defecates eggs to start the cycle over again.

Small children, like our pets, are not the most discriminating when it comes to putting things into their mouths. So they are at highest risk of getting round and hook worms. The worms can also enter both people & pet bodies through the skin. So if you have an infected animal pooping in your yard it's possible to get infected. The larvae migrate through your tissue on way to the intestines, but some get lost and can end up anywhere inside you or your pet. Really disturbing! This is called viseral larval migrans. For gorey images of what that can do, just Google it. Or keep all of your pets on heartworm prevention year round.

So what do these worms do besides crawling through your tissues? Hook worms latch onto the mucosa of the intestine causing blood loss and anemia. It's often life threatening in young puppies and kittens. Roundworms become so numerous you may see animals with gastrointestinal signs such has vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, poor growth and lethargy if they are young enough. Breeding females pass both kinds of worms to their offspring through their milk or in utero while pregnant. Most of our pets have encysted larva in their tissues that become active during pregnancy. It's believed all puppies and kittens are born with round and hook worms. That is why we deworm them so often until they get old enough to start heartworm prevention.

So why use prevention year round? Some people take their pets off heartworm prevention in the winter since there are few to no mosquitoes then, unless you travel to warmer climates. Mosquito's transmit heartworms, but, some eggs from round worms can survive in freezing temperatures in the environment for months, so continued year round coverage is critical.

What other parasites are covered? Some heartworm preventatives also protect against whipworms in dogs. This worm is not zoonotic to people, but can cause significant gastrointestinal issues in adult dogs. Unfortunately tapeworms are not prevented by heartworm prevention and needs a separate dewormer if that's a problem.

So what's the bottom line? To protect your pets, family, friends and neighbors from round & hook worms, keep your pets on heartworm prevention year round! We here at Middle River prefer Interceptor for dogs and Revolution for cats.

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet's surgery, and we hope this information will help.  It also explains the decisions you will need to make before your pet's upcoming surgery.

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past.  Here at Middle River Veterinary Hospital, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics, to ensure that a fever or other illness won't be a problem.  We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet.  

Preanesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia.  Every pet needs blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic.  Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing.  If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications.   In many cases, we can adjust the amount and kind of anesthesia for patients with minor dysfunctions.  If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.

We offer two levels of in-house blood testing before surgery, which we will go over with you when you bring your pet in.  We require the more comprehensive screen for older animals and those that are ill, because it gives us the most information to ensure the safety of your pet. It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.  You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery.  Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin.  These will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed.  Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches.  If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.  After surgery, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge.  Some dogs and cats will lick excessively or chew at the incision, and they may need an elizabethan collar or bandage to prevent damage to the surgery site.  You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain?

Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals.  Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; some may whine or cry, but many pets suffer pain quietly.  All pets receive pain medication while in the hospital, and most will have medication to take at home for a few days after surgery.  Providing whatever pain relief is appropriate is a humane and caring thing to do for your pet.

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, we can perform other minor procedures, such as ear cleaning, plucking hair from ear canals, shaving matted fur, or implanting a microchip.  If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time.  This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need 5 to 10 minutes of your time to fill out the necessary paperwork.  When you pick up your pet after surgery, please also plan to spend about 15 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.

We will call you the night before your scheduled surgery appointment, to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have.  In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.

Middle River Veterinary Hospital is excited to offer our clients Companion Laser Therapy. Laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of conditions and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols.  Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours depending on the condition and your pet’s response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.

Applications for laser therapy include:

• Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia
• General pain management (sprains, strains, and stiffness)
• Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws, and other surgeries)
• Skin problems (hot spots, lick granulomas, infections)
• Dental procedures
• Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions, and lesions)
• Ear infections

How does it work?

Laser therapy stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body for about 3 to 8 minutes and absorbed by the injured cells. The cells are then stimulated and respond with a higher rate of metabolism. This results in relief from pain, increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and an acceleration of the healing process.

What can my pet expect during a laser therapy treatment session?

Simply put, it provides relief. As the laser is administered, your pet will relax and enjoy the treatment. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow your pet to be comfortable and any anxiety that your pet initially experiences will dissipate. 

Occasionally, angry cats will start to purr and canine companions will actually fall asleep during their therapy session. Frequently, after therapy, we hear: “He’s acting like a puppy again” or “She can actually jump onto the chair again.” Pain relief is provided in just a few minutes of therapy and that alone improves the quality of life for your companion.

What are the signs that my pet can benefit from Companion Laser Therapy?

Many of our laser therapy patients are older animals with musculoskeletal ailments. Some signs that your senior companion is experiencing pain or discomfort are:

• Abnormal sitting or lying posture
• Circling multiple times before lying down
• Restlessness
• Whining, groaning or other vocalizations
• Limping, unable to get up or lie down
• Difficulty getting into car or down stairs
• Lack of grooming
• Won’t wag tail
• Licking or biting area
• Lack of appetite
• Trembling

Contact our practice today to schedule an appointment or obtain additional information.