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Welcome To The Veterinary Insider Pet Blog
The Veterinary Insider Pet Blog offers a glimpse into the dynamic and ever-changing world of veterinary medicine and pet health care. In addition, our pet blog offers money saving advice and tips for the frugal pet owner in all of us!
| Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010 |
| The Dark Side of Products Designed to Remove Tear Stains in Dogs |
| By Dr. Chris Pinney |
| Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010 11:08 |
Tear staining is a cosmetic condition seen primarily in dogs with white or tan faces and one or more of the following anatomical features: 1. Excessive hair around the inner corner of the eyes.
2. Eyelids that roll inwards.
3. Excessive skin folds around the nose.
4. Tear ducts that are too narrow or occluded. Poodles, terriers, Maltese, Shih Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos are the breeds most commonly affected by this "browning" of the hair at the inner corners of the eyes. The truth of the matter is that tear stains are more bothersome to owners than to the dogs themselves. Tears contain pigments that react with light and produce the red-brown disoloration of the fur. Dog saliva contains the same pigments; that's why the hair around the lips can turn brown if a dog with dental problems drools excessively and the hair on the paws can turn brown if a dog with allergies chews and licks at them constantly. There are many products available on the market for controlling tear stains. Unfortunately, the majority of them contain pigment-binding antibiotics, including tetracycline, metronidazole, or tylosin (found in one of the most popular products). I don't like these products and here's why: Indiscriminate use of antibiotics like this can lead to antibiotic resistance and this is a far greater threat to your pet's health than tear staining. Both metronidazole and tylosin are commonly used to treat severe infections of the gsatrointestinal tract in dogs and cats. If those bacteria become resistant to these medications, an otherwise manageable GI infection could become deadly. The solution: Shop for a product that doesn't contain one of these antibiotics. It may not be as effective, but it'll be much, much safer. They're out there, although you'll probably have to search online to find them. Here are a few other ways to control staining: 1) Keep the hair around the inner corners of the eyes trimmed short. 2) Dip the tip of a cotton ball in 3% hydrogen peroxide and swab the stain to help "bleach" it away. Keep it away from the eyes. And speaking of bleach, NEVER use real bleach around the eyes (some websites recommend it as a remedy-don't do it!). 3) A small "swath" of Vasoline applied daily to the inner corners of the eyes can keep tears from building-up on the hair and reduce the amount of discoloration that occurs.
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| Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 |
| Don't Let This Happen This 4th of July Weekend |
| By Dr. Chris Pinney |
| Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 12:57 |
The Fourth of July is upon us and with it come a few special precautions regarding the health and well-being of our pets. Having served over 10 years as an emergency room veterinarian, I've weathered many 4th of July weekend shifts and treated many a mishap related to this holiday. Here's a list of the most common ones we see: - Vomiting, diarrhea, and/or pancreatitis due to dietary indiscretion. I've seen a $3 bag of Fritos lead to a $700 veterinary bill. How to prevent: Be sure your guests don't slip Fido a piece of barbecue off the grill or allow him to snack on the chips and guacamole at your 4th of July get-together.
- Intestinal perforations secondary to being fed rib bones. BBQ ribs may be a July 4th tradition, but so are emergency GI surgeries in vet clinics across the country because of left-over bones. How to prevent: Don't do it!
- Cuts, lacerations, self-trauma, and burns related to fireworks. I've seen dogs run through plate glass windows out of sheer terror; I've seen others grab fizzling bottle rockets in their mouths out of sheer curiosity. How to prevent: If fireworks are planned, keep your pet indoors, preferably in a safe, back room with lots of white noise (television, radio, etc.) to mask the sound of the explosions.
- Hit by car injuries. These are either related to yard escapes and dashes across busy roads caused by the fear of fireworks or by visitors leaving the yard gate open when coming or going from the festivities. How to prevent: See 3) above. Also, make sure all gates remains secure.
Keep your pet safe this Independence Day. After all, you want to spend the holiday weekend with your friends and family, not sitting in a waiting room at your friendly neighborhood emergency pet clinic worrying about your four-legged friend and racking up a sizable vet bill. |
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| Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Arthritis |
| By Dr. Chris Pinney |
| Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 10:07 |
A new study that recently appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association adds to the growing evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplements (either given directly or added to the food) are beneficial in the treatment of arthritis in dogs and cats. Omega-3's work by reducing the severity of joint inflammation caused by the loss of joint cartilage. Considering more than 20% of dogs over one year of age suffer from some degree of arthritis, this is a valuable addition to the arsenal against this debilitating and painful condition in pets. |
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