Summer 2002

Open Day

Many thanks to all who attended our Open Day in May. As usual the day was well attended and a variety of creatures, fluffy, feathery and scaly, were on hand to welcome guests. I m sure we see an increase in the numbers of rats and exotic creatures after each Open Day we hold. Any who were unable to attend but would like to see around the practice are welcome to contact us for a tour.

Sponsored Bike Ride

Many thanks are also due to those who sponsored Carl Gorman on this year's expedition - a bike ride along the Lon Las Cymru, the National Cycle Route of Wales. The journey was 280 miles long, with tough off road sections and ferocious climbs. The three cyclists and support team (someone drove a car for us) managed the ride in 5 days, a day less than scheduled, then climbed Snowdon on the spare day. Well over £3,000 has been raised for St Martin's School Classroom Appeal.
No plans have been made for next year, but the words crafty and boat race have all been spotted in the same sentence !..

Summer?

At the time of writing we are still waiting for summer to appear, but no doubt it will soon. Summer is usually our busiest time of year, partly because most vaccinations seem to be given at this time, and also because most puppies seem to find new homes in the summer. The following are a few of the things to look out for in your pets during the summer months:

Slug bait poisoning

Every year we get a few cases of slug bait poisoning in dogs and cats. A natural desire to prevent the slimy pests from decimating our leafy plants leads gardeners to employ chemical warfare. The active ingredient in slug pellets is metaldehyde, and in spite of misleading labels on tins and cartons stating that the product is safe for pets, the chemical is highly toxic. Worse, it seems to hold a fatal fascination for dogs, and even cats. Remember too that hiding pellets under slates or in pipes may or may not save our pets from finding them, but many hedgehogs are killed by the toxin each year as well.
Symptoms of poisoning are vomiting, tremors and fits. We can save mild cases if we can treat them promptly. More severe cases may die or be left with a damaged liver.
Safe methods of slug control include aluminium sulphate crystals and slug traps, either home made or commercial. A new method is to employ biological allies. Tiny nematodes which are watered into the garden will actively seek and destroy the malicious molluscs. They can be ordered from garden centres, or from the following web site: www.just-green.com. There are other interesting methods of biological pest control available from the site.

DAP

In the last newsletter we sung the praises of Feliway, feline facial pheromones to calm stressed cats, available in a plug in diffuser for easy administration. The manufacturers have now brought out the canine version, Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP). We have been pleased with the results. Some of the situation where you might find the product useful are:

• Restless or noisy puppies
• Dogs with separation anxiety
• Dogs which are upset by fireworks or thunder
• Older dogs which are restless or bark aimlessly, especially at night
• Nervous dogs
• Dogs which need some reassurance, perhaps because of changes at home

The more the product is used, the more situations are found where it can be helpful. Ask at reception for more details.

At last - it's official.
Pets are good for you

Children with family pets 'take fewer days off school' (By David Derbyshire Science CorrespondentDaily Telegraph 14th June 2002 )

Children who own pets have stronger immune systems and take fewer days off school sick, according to a study. The benefits of owning a cat or dog are strongest for children aged five to eight, researchers at Warwick University found.
Dr June McNicholas, a psychologist at the university, said: "Pet ownership was significantly associated with better school attendance rates. This was apparent across all classes, but was most pronounced in the lower school.
"Here, the pet owners benefited from up to 18 extra half days' schooling per year than their non pet-owning counterparts."
The study also explored how children interacted with their pets. It found that a third of children sought comfort from their pets when scared, while 28 per cent looked to their pets after a row with family members.
However, Dr McNicholas warned that pets could cause health problems in children. "Toxocara canis, or roundworm, is the principle risk in Britain," she said. "This can cause anything from a stomach ache to eye damage. "But overall, the benefits of pet ownership for children seem to far outweigh any risk."
In the study, saliva samples from 138 children were analysed for Immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody used as an indicator of the strength of the body's immune system. Sharing a home with a cat or dog appears to increase exposure to infections that can prime the immune system and improve resistance to disease.
Despite the risks of roundworm infection, three out of 10 children admitted to sharing food with their pets, while 21 per cent let their pets lick their fingers.
Dr McNicholas added: "Given that 38 per cent of children play with their pets in bed, flea control should also be high on the list of priorities."

Weight clinics

If you feel that your pet pooch is a little more cuddly than he should be (30% of pet dogs are classified as obese), then why not contact Imogen Morris, VN, who is running our version of weight watchers. A regular appointment with Imogen will gently guide your pet to a new slimmer self. This is a free service which anyone is welcome to take advantage of. Call reception or email Imogen to arrange an appointment.

Trouble giving tablets?

Here's a tip I gained from an American vet:
To give a dog a tablet, first make a peanut butter sandwich (not too large!). Cut it in three, and hide the tablet in the third piece. Give the first two pieces to the dog, who should be so keen for the third portion that he won't notice the medication.
Have you any tips to share with us?
This is a website which gives good advice on 'pet pilling' as well as other aspects of healthcare:
www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_meds.htm
We also have our own illustrated factsheet on Giving tablets to cats.

Battersea statistics

The Battersea Dog's home annual report arrived recently. There was an interesting breakdown of the admissions during 2001 by breed. The numbers help to illustrate the types of breed which are popular but not easy to keep.
Out of 4,641 dogs admitted, it wasn that surprising to see that there were 356 Border Collies and 748 German Shepherds. 162 Rottweilers passed through their doors, a large proportion of a smaller pool of dogs. I wasn't expecting Staffordshire Bull Terriers to be the most numerous admissions, at 855.
Small spaniels, terriers, dachshunds, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos were all under-represented, showing that, in London at any rate, smaller dogs are generally easier to live with.

Anal sacs (anal glands)

"Scooting" is usually a sign of disease of the anal sacs When your dog scoots its rear end across the floor it most likely isn't due to worms.
Dogs scoot when their anal sacs are uncomfortable. Anal glands and anal sacs are part of normal canine anatomy. Every canid from wolves to Chihuahuas have them.
Anatomy of the anal sacs
Anal glands are scent glands located around a dog's anus, which produce a strong-smelling, oily secretion. Anal sacs are located between the internal and external anal sphincters (sphincters are the muscles that allow the dog to keep stool in the rectum until it is time to pass) and store this secretion for territory marking. The anal sacs empty through 2 openings located on either side of the dog's anus. When the anus is stretched as stool is passed, the sphincter muscles squeeze the anal sacs and force the contents onto the surface of the stool.
When dogs greet each other with familiar sniffing, the secretion from the anal glands is what they are smelling. Anal sacs vary in size based on the breed of dog Obviously, a St. Bernard will have larger anal sacs than a Pomeranian, but generally healthy anal sacs range in size from a pea to a kidney bean.

Anal sacs need to be emptied on a regular basis...either by the dog or by the veterinarian Problems occur when the sacs get too full and impacted.
If the contents of the anal sacs are not emptied on a regular basis during the act of passing stool, the normally liquid contents become very thick and plug the openings of the anal sacs. The impacted glands can cause discomfort or worse they can get infected resulting in an abscess. Fluid from a normal anal sac does NOT have a pleasant smell, but if infected the smell can be overwhelmingly bad. To ensure that the anal sacs are emptying properly, have them checked on a regular basis. This is a simple and painless procedure that should be included in a complete physical exam. If the glands are full they can be easily emptied while the contents are still fluid. It becomes more difficult to empty the anal sacs when the contents begin to thicken.
If you are unsure if your dog needs their anal sacs emptied, watch their behaviour. Dogs with impacted anal glands will often scoot their rump, or they may look, lick, and/or bite at their anus. What predisposes some dogs to anal sac abscesses is unknown. Dogs that are very obese tend to have more problems than physically fit dogs. This may be due to fat skin folds blocking the pores and preventing them from draining; or because it's difficult for the obese dog to groom itself and encourage natural drainage. If your dog repeatedly develops anal sac abscesses the sacs can be removed surgically.
Anal glands and anal sacs are not usually discussed when people talk about their pets. They are however a part of your dog and as a responsible owner its your job to recognise when your dog is having a problem. Early treatment is best and avoiding an abscess will make you and your dog much happier!