Posts in Category: Pet Tips

The holidays have creepily snuck up on us again. If you happen to be the type who keeps a gift journal and does all of your shopping in August so you never have to scramble, well then…congratulations.

The majority of us, though, are googling “great gift ideas for 9-year-old step-nieces” late at night as we pay for overnight shipping to get all the gifts in time so no one knows that we are ill-prepared.

So what are you getting for your friends and family? Dog-shaped soap dish? Santa Cat bow tie? These are great options, and we’d be happy to offer more suggestions whenever you wish. The point of this post, however, is what not to get for gifts, and that is: any type of pet.

How tempting it is to give your new girlfriend an adorable little kitten named Rudolph and wrapped in bows! Or to present a little puppy wrapped in an American flag for your elderly next-door neighbor who seems lonely!

But here are the problems with such gifts.

1. Even though you love animals, not everyone else does.

2. And even those who love animals do not always know how to take care of them.

3. And even those who can take care of them cannot always afford to take care of them.

4. And even those who can afford to take care of them may not want to take care of them.

5. Despite how much you think that black cats are the best, your new boyfriend might actually ONLY like tabbies, and he might think that black cats are dumb. (Note: Clearly the boyfriend is not a keeper.)

6. It’s not always the right time to have a new pet. Planning a trip? Having health issues? Bad semester at school? Planning on moving? Any of these things and more could mean the recipient of this living gift won’t be able to invest the time and emotion needed to bond with a new loved one.

The bottom line is that the majority of animals-as-gifts end up being not cared for or being given up at shelters. Everyone who has ever worked a shelter anticipates the onslaught of Christmas kittens and puppies that get dropped off in late January.

Granted, the alternatives to a puppy stuffed in a stocking are not quite as adorable, but there are plenty to consider:

1. Give a gift certificate for an animal that you and Mr. Black Cat Hater can find together at your local shelter.

2. Give an animal-related gift instead (see killer ideas above).

3. Anything else.

So enjoy your holidays, have a happy new year, and be safe!

Dr. Brett Grossman
Dr. Drew Sullivan
Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois

Thanksgiving has descended upon a snowy winter Chicago Wonderland. As the festivities begin, and the pumpkin-spiced scent of pastries everywhere begins to overtake ours senses without mercy, it is hard to escape the natural need to look at our homes and our furry friends, and be thankful for their presence in our lives. Turn up the furnace, and let the pileup of the dogs and cats into the bed begin as everyone tries to keep warm and toasty.

But do some of your pets no longer make the trip upstairs to sleep by your bed? Does your 12-year-old Labrador seem to favor the downstairs couch by the door? Does your 15-year-old tabby cat now prefer to sleep by the heating vent instead of the window sill in your room? And come to think of it, does she also not seem as excited when you come home from work? Does he not get excited about his food anymore, barely eating his kibble, despite seemingly being hungry? If you are answering yes, then you are probably getting nervous about dealing with how your beloved furry friends are aging. These things that seem to indicate our pets are getting older generally strike fear and cause anxiety in us all. Sometimes we don’t want to think about it, and sometimes we assume that if our dog seems tired that it’s probably a brain tumor, so “Please Do Not EVER Talk About It!” because your plans involve them living to be 25 years, minimally.

As your pets start to age and even become wise elders, you don’t have to put your head in the sand and hope that nothing’s wrong. You don’t have to assume that slowing down is just an accepted part of aging. There are plenty of precautions you can take to help your cats and dogs age gracefully and comfortably, and sometimes over a long time. We cannot, though, do anything, unless we see your animals, so here is a non-comprehensive list of issues we can address:

Orthopedic Pain/Back Pain
It is so common that owners will state that their pets are slowing down but it’s just because they’re getting old. So often it is the case that dogs and cats that once were running around like puppies and kitties, but now are reluctant, are experiencing some kind of pain. Whether it be arthritis, neck, or back pain, these types of ailments can sometimes be corrected with anti-inflammatories or pain medications. Sometimes we put a five-year-old dog on such medications for a few days, and owners report that he is back to acting like he used to. We would not hesitate in taking medications for our arthritis, so why wouldn’t we want to treat our pets?

Vision and Hearing Loss
Many cats and dogs start to lose their vision or hearing as they age. The majority of owners do not realize that their seemingly slowing-down pet is slowing down because of this. There aren’t many things we can do for animals who are losing hearing or vision, but helping you understand their issue can make all the difference. Maybe a dog is acting aggressive because when the lights are out she doesn’t know what’s going on because she’s deaf and now scared. Maybe making sure that there is always a dim light on by her favorite rug would help. Maybe not moving the cat food to a different part of the hallway would help your blind cat always feel comfortable and secure in knowing where to get her food. Maybe trying to avoid having them run up and down stairs could help them avoid accidents. These are all things we can help you with.

Dental Disease
Dental disease is real and prolific. For many animals, painful and inflamed teeth and gums prevent them from eating normally, or sometimes just enjoying life. The fix for dental disease isn’t always expensive and invasive, though sometimes it can be if extractions or x-rays are needed. Sometimes a good cleaning and subsequent brushing can stop the problem. There are tricks to brushing your pets’ teeth, and even some alternatives including choices of food and supplementations. No animal is immune to dental disease.

Diet
Is your pet eating the correct food for his age or for her proper metabolic state? Most brands of pet food make different formulations for different ages. This isn’t a sales shtick. Pets need a proper type of protein depending on how their body uses it, not to mention supplementations that can help with their overall health. There are types of diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, joint disease, and thyroid disease, that can be effectively controlled or helped strictly through nutritional management. We can help you with this based on what we know about your pet. Which is why the next bit of advice is the most important thing to consider.

Overall Wellness
Please have us see your pet, minimally, once a year. For older animals, sometimes we will recommend an appointment every six months. If we can catch problems early, proper management can add years to your pet’s life. We can catch things such as kidney disease, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, early stages of diabetes and other endocrinological diseases, orthopedic pain, gastrointestinal sensitivities, allergies, parasites, and a slew of things that could be there, but we’d never know to treat without looking. The money spent on a basic exam is minimal compared to what you’d spend to treat some of these diseases or ailments that are either preventable, manageable, or can be slowed down.

So don’t be scared of your pet’s aging. We can help you. You can help them. You don’t have to settle for them “slowing down.”

Dr. Brett Grossman
Dr. Drew Sullivan
Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois

Are you still clinging to the idea of it being late summer or early fall? Are you still wearing shorts outside because it’s sunny, though it’s 51 degrees, the leaves are falling down from the color-shifting trees while the kids have gone back to school, and the Bears are still trying to score any points? Well, great. Your delusions are sweet, but there are some basic, easily graspable concepts of pet ownership that need to be observed, even if you won’t admit that we are about to free-fall into the cold holiday months.

Dogs should not eat chocolate. Or treats. Or cake. Or really any holiday-themed treat. EVER. As you load up on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers for Halloween, and you start baking Chocolate Bomb Whipped Cream Cupcakes for all your Halloween parties, you need to make sure that you keep everything [EVERYTHING] out of dog-harm’s way. Tabletops are not safe, the bottom of the stairs is not safe, the backseat of the car is not safe, your small toddler’s barely functional fist filled with candy bars is not safe. Every year we emphasize this, and ever year we still get tons of chocolate toxicity cases that come in while the owners inadvertently allow their animals to digest billions of chocolate calories.

Many clients seem to know friends who give their dogs chocolate and nothing happens, and these are wonderful stories. But dogs can suffer fatal cardiovascular and neurological effects from ingestion of the toxin theobromine in chocolate, as well as the caffeine. The darker the chocolate, generally the worse it is for the dog, but small dogs can be affected by a few bite-size candies. It takes very little cocoa powder or baking chocolate to cause severe and immediate damage. It also sometimes takes up to 12 hours to have a full effect.

If your dogs ingest chocolate, call or bring them in immediately. Even if they do not ingest enough to cause fatalities, they can get sick, start to vomit, get bad diarrhea, and become dehydrated. You may need to bring them in later for supportive care that could have been avoided with a quicker response. Secondarily, dogs can become very sensitive to treats filled with fatty substances like cookie dough, cakes, candy, etc. We can see severe gastrointestinal signs occur quickly, as well as life-threatening, painful, and costly side effects such as pancreatitis.

So let’s just say that after you dress up your 5-year-old into her Queen Elsa costume, you go back downstairs and see that the previously full tray of Snickers is now not so full. You’re not sure if your dog ate them, and your daughter is now screaming to go outside and go trick or treating. It’s really annoying, I know, but your dog should come into the clinic so we can assess, possibly induce vomiting, and start treatment. There just really isn’t an alternative. Queen Elsa will thank you later.

Happy Halloween! Hopefully you will not have any unneeded canine scares in addition to all the witches, ghosts, and demons out and about in the city.

Dr. Brett Grossman
Dr. Drew Sullivan
Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois

It’s fall in Chicago, and the evening cicada blare slowly becomes quiet, the sweaters and hoodies come out for evening dog walks, and our collective thoughts turn to football, hockey, and basketball (and a once-a-millennium Cubs playoff run). As the annual and collective city preparations for the upcoming Midwestern freeze begins, it’s easy to start daydreaming about pumpkins, apple cider, going back to school, and how fast the Bears will disappoint. But as easy as it is to stray, we urge you not to lose focus on taking all the same protective measures you took for your animals during the summer months.

As nice as it would be, turning the calendar page to September doesn’t alert the fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes that it’s time to go home and leave our dogs alone. We commonly hear clients tell us that they stop their flea/tick and heartworm protection once it gets cold and, unfortunately, these are the most common times that our pets become susceptible. This September we’ve already seen the temperatures hit above 90°, and there’s no way to know if there’ll be more of this. Even if your city dog or cat goes out for just moments, she can be exposed to all the same dangers as in the middle of July.

And what are these dangers?

Fleas: All cats and dogs are susceptible to flea infestations. And even if you don’t see fleas on your pets RIGHT NOW, they may still be there waiting to hatch or latch. Fleas not only can cause severe allergic reactions in your animals, but also can just as easily jump onto and irritate human skin as well. All of this can be so easily taken care of by giving your pet monthly flea and tick protection. There are many available, but please check with us if you elect to search for this medication somewhere other than at a veterinary clinic.

Ticks: We hear all the time that owners don’t administer tick protection because they live in the city. We also see ticks all the time on dogs who have never left their block (or even their high-rise home). Ticks not only can cause severe skin issues, but can carry with them some horrible diseases, some of which (such as Lyme disease) can be transmitted to you and your human loved ones. Why take that chance when flea and tick preventative is so easy to give.

Mosquitoes: We primarily worry about mosquitoes carrying heartworm disease, and this one worry is enough reason to not ease up on your heartworm prevention. If a September or November mosquito lands on your dog, and transmits heartworm disease, the result can be expensive, painful, leave longstanding effects, and may be fatal. Cats are less susceptible to getting heartworm disease, but generally have a much greater fatality rate if infected.

The safest thing to do is to keep your pets on flea and tick/heartworm preventatives all year long. We wish it was as easy as saying that as soon as the temperature hits a certain degree, then you can stop, but the unfortunate thing is that we can’t predict whether it will get cold in late September or early November or warm in late February or early March. The chances of getting bit by a mosquito during a January ice storm are pretty low, but the weather’s up-and-down fluxes make predictability impossible.

It is so easy to enjoy fall with your cats and dogs in the city, but hopefully you can avoid having any 6- or 8-legged party crashers there to ruin the atmosphere.

Thank you,

Brett Grossman, DVM
Drew Sullivan, DVM
Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois

 

Summer in Chicago brings us outdoor festivals, barbeques in the backyard, crowded bike and jogging paths, lake picnics, movies in the park, beer gardens, and sidewalk restaurant eating. And what better way to accessorize our fun outdoor activities than to take along our beloved canine friends. In theory, bringing our dogs with us is a wonderful idea, but there are some dangers and cautions all pet owners should heed to avoid injuries and accidents.

1. The Hot Heat
   Dogs are not designed to take the heat, even for a short time. Bring a portable dog bowl and fresh water wherever you go. You can’t depend on communal dog bowls or kindly strangers. Be extra careful with larger, long-haired dogs. If they begin to show signs of lethargy, heavy panting, or do not seem themselves, leave immediately and get them to a cool place with water.
2. Chaos
   Even friendly, extroverted dogs may not make party animals. Know your dog’s fears and insecurities. Loud music, crowds, being cramped under a table, other dogs running around with and without leashes, strangers coming up to pet your dog…these scenarios can provoke unexpected responses. If your dog is not happy, give up the prime parking spot you nabbed, forfeit the ticket you just purchased, and leave immediately.
3. Dogs Everywhere
   If you thought of bringing your dog, everyone else probably did too. Make sure someone else’s fearful or aggressive dog doesn’t take its frustrations out on your well-behaved dog. Keep your dog away from others unless you get a verbal cue from the owner that it’s okay to mix, and even then, be careful. If you see signs of anxiety—some hackles raised, teeth bared under the smile—move on. Dog-fight wounds are one of the most common reasons we see animals on emergency.
4. Leftover Food and Drinks
   Milkshake cups, cheese fries, half-discarded sandwiches, cups of tossed-away beer and wine, cigarette butts, and other trash may tempt your dog. Take your eye off your dog for one second, and you may be bringing Bowser to the ER later with severe diarrhea and vomiting, and possibly pancreatitis. I cannot tell you how many marijuana toxicities via brownies we see at the clinic. Side note: Remember that secondhand smoke of any kind can be enough to severely affect your dog.
5. Leaving Your Dog Unattended (Just for a Second)
   Whether you have to run to the Porta-Potti, grab a hotdog at the concession stand, or quickly get some sunscreen at the drug store, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED. Similarly: NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR. We’ve all seen videos online of people smashing car windows to rescue dogs with heat stroke. And it only takes one loud crack of thunder to set off your dog, one curious toddler to walk up and undo a leash, or one person to set down their beer for a disaster to happen.
6. Non-Dog-Lovers
   Some establishments and public places do not want you to bring your dog with you, either for legal reasons or because they want to respect non-dog people. In places where dogs are allowed, there are plenty of kids and adults who see a dog and veer away. Don’t allow your dog to wander, even if on leash, and make others feel uncomfortable.
7. Hotbeds of Disease
   We all depend on the dog community to vaccinate their dogs to avoid transmitting disease and infections. Some vaccinations, such as rabies, are legally mandated, and other help provide herd immunity for dogs in Chicago. We had breakouts of leptospirosis last year despite it being cheap to vaccinate against. Everyone remembers the canine influenza outbreak that swept through Chicago earlier this year, and although there isn’t a vaccine for the strain that affected the area, it’s still important to keep your dog away from others animals that may be sick.

I wish you a happy summer, and we will see you at your next wellness exam.

—Brett Grossman, DVM

In recent weeks there has been an increased surge of coughing dogs in Chicago. We had been free of suspected flu cases for well over a month here at Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois. But two weeks ago, we had one confirmed case followed immediately by six subsequent cases that were highly suspicious of the canine flu. All of these dogs have had a common history of frequenting day care, boarding facilities, or dog parks. We are still continuing to recommend using caution in these areas to help protect your dog, since there is not yet a vaccine that protects against the effecting H3N2 strain.

Most cases have started with either mild coughing or sneezing, which eventually has progressed to a loud, honking cough. Some pets have a decreased appetite, depression, and fever. If your pet is showing any of these signs, please have your pet examined as soon as possible for time is of the essence to prevent these cases from progressing to life-threatening pneumonia.

Dogs at highest risk of exposure include those that socialize with other dogs by attending day care, boarding or grooming, dog parks, and those that live in high-density enclosed areas, such as high-rise buildings. We recommend owners decrease the risks of exposure by trying to avoid these high-risk areas as much as possible. Canine Influenza Virus can survive 48 hours on hard surfaces and 24 hours on clothing, thus it is very important to also be cautious in elevators, hallways, and places where dogs congregate, like dog relief stations or community dog bowls.

Please call Medical District Veterinary Clinic with any questions at (312) 226-2588.

When summer thunderstorms roll in, some pets dive for cover. If your dog or cat is among those terrified by storms or other sudden, loud noises, such as fireworks, there are steps you can take to help reduce your pet’s anxiety.

According to Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a veterinary behaviorist, the reason pets are scared of thunderstorms isn’t always clear. One study found that a traumatic experience linked to noise was the likely origin of noise sensitivity in only about a third of pets with these phobias. Other factors that may contribute to noise sensitivities include chronic stress, genetics, neurochemical imbalances, and a change in hearing.

Dr. Ballantyne says it is perfectly normal for a pet to be scared by the loud noises and flashes the first time the pet experiences a thunderstorm or fireworks. A pet may react defensively to these high-decibel noises because they probably hurt the pet’s ears, they lack a regular pattern, and it’s difficult to figure out where they are coming from.

It isn’t normal, however, if the animal does not get used to storms, and each thunderstorm is as terrifying as the previous one. Unfortunately, thunderstorms are common, and these frequent stressors can reduce a pet’s quality of life. Addressing your pet’s fears is important for the sake of the pet—not to mention the household objects sometimes destroyed by frightened pets.

Dr. Ballantyne suggests several measures that may help noise-sensitive pets feel a little safer and less frightened during a thunderstorm.

First, try to make a safe place where your pet can go. An interior room with no windows is ideal because it is more sheltered from noise and the flashes of light. Avoid crating your pet unless the pet already feels that the crate is a safe place.

When pets are already hiding, don’t force them out: that can scare and stress them more. Playing music or increasing the white noise in the house can decrease the perceived amount of noise from the storm.

Your behavior around your pet also plays an important role in managing the pet’s anxiety during a storm. You should avoid either comforting or punishing the pet, and you should stay calm to avoid increasing the pet’s anxiety.

If your dog isn’t too scared, you can try to play with him. Interactive toys, such as a Kong filled with food, can help as well if he is willing to eat.

A pheromone spray for dogs called DAP helps reduce anxiety in some dogs. It can be sprayed on a bandana and tied around the pet’s neck during a storm.

Dr. Ballantyne acknowledges that noise sensitivities can be hard for owners to manage. Sometimes you can do everything right and your pet is still scared of the storms.

“Don’t hesitate to ask your veterinarian for help,” advises Dr. Ballantyne. “If nothing else is working, your veterinarian can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to augment the behavior modification plan.”

The recent canine influenza outbreak in Chicago is caused by a different strain of the virus than was earlier assumed. According to laboratory scientists at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin, the outbreak is caused by a virus related to Asian strains of influenza A H3N2 viruses—not the H3N8 strain. Both strains can cause high fever, loss of appetite, coughing, nasal discharge, and lethargy. Symptoms may be more severe with the H3N2 virus. H3N2 has also caused infection and respiratory illness in cats.

Read more: http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2015/04/12/midwest-canine-influenza-outbreak-caused-by-new-strain-of-virus/

In recent weeks we have seen a large number of coughing dogs here in Chicago. Most of the affected dogs have a history of frequenting day care, boarding facilities, and dog parks. At this time I recommend avoiding these facilities to help protect your dog, even if he/she has been vaccinated for “canine cough.”
Why isn’t vaccination sufficient protection? Let me explain a little about canine cough.

“Canine cough” (also called “kennel cough”) is a broad term to describe infectious tracheobronchitis. This highly contagious condition results in inflammation of the trachea and bronchus. Many viruses and bacteria can result in canine cough. Currently the intra-nasal vaccine recommended for dogs here at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic covers the three most common causes of canine cough: Bordetella (bacteria), Parainfluenza (virus), and Adenovirus (virus).

However, early test results from patients in this outbreak point to an underlying culprit of canine influenza (flu). There is a vaccine for canine influenza on the market, but it has not been widely used or recommended because of the low risk of canine influenza.

Most cases start with a mild cough, which eventually progresses to a loud, honking cough. Some pets have decreased appetite, depression, and fever. We have seen a number of dogs develop a secondary pneumonia. If your pet is showing any of these signs, please have your pet seen.

Due to the outbreak I recommend avoiding any direct dog-to-dog contact and vaccinating dogs at high risk, such as those that attend day care, boarding, grooming, or dog parks and dogs that live in high rises. Although the vaccine does not 100% prevent infection, it should reduce the number of affected dogs. The canine influenza virus can survive 48 hours on hard surfaces and 24 hours on clothing, thus it is very important to be cautious in elevators, hallways, and dog relief stations.

Dogs need a booster two to four weeks after the initial vaccination. Dogs are not considered protected until 14 days after the second vaccine. The vaccination lasts one year and must be given annually thereafter. We do not recommend vaccinating dogs that have been infected until at least four weeks after the infection has cleared. Not all dogs may need the vaccine.

Please see this recent article by Dr. Brendan McKiernan, a respiratory specialist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana.

Please call the Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois with any questions: 312-226-2588.

A healthy smile means a healthy pet.

We’re celebrating Pet Dental Health Month with a 10% discount on all dental services throughout the month of February.  Bonus: UIC students, faculty and staff (with current I-cards) will receive a 15% dental discount during this time.

Call for an appointment today.