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COVID and Pets: An Update from the Frontline
After two long years of this pandemic, we still do not know much about pets and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), but over the last few months I have learned a lot. I am writing this blog as I am isolated in my basement with COVID-19. I am thankful for the protection I have received from vaccines as I am only experiencing very mild signs.
I hope to tell you what I have learned working firsthand with the first Illinois COVID positive dog over the past few months. According to the USDA there have only been 39 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive dogs within the United States. The first dog in Illinois confirmed to be positive was a patient at Medical District Veterinary Clinic and was first tested in January 2022. He was positive on PCR, and viral sequencing information was obtained at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
Since that time, I have had multiple other patients that are presumptive positives. A presumptive positive is when there is detection on a PCR test, but it is not confirmed positive with either virus sequencing or evidence of virus neutralizing antibodies. Obtaining sequencing data is challenging, most likely because the dogs have low viral load and very mild clinical signs.
Other resources
- USDA case definitions: SARS-CoV-2-case-definition.pdf (usda.gov)
- USDA Confirmed cases SAR CoV-2 in US: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/dashboards/tableau/sars-dashboard
- CDC Animal guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html#:~:text=The%20virus%20can%20spread%20from,pets%2C%20livestock%2C%20and%20wildlife.
Transmission
We believe that transmission to pets is from contact with a positive human within the household. Transmission from pets to humans is considered extremely low. Due to the risk of transmission to pets, the CDC recommend avoiding close contact with pets if you are ill. The occurrence of severe illness in pets is rare, but transmission is possible. Pets presumed positive should remain isolated from other pets until clinical signs have resolved.
Clinical Signs
It is important to remember this is a human pandemic. We know that by comparing the large number of human cases of COVID 19 and the very few cases documented in pets.
I truly believe that most pets do not acquire the virus. If they do, they are typically asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. The clinical signs I observed in these presumptive positive cases were upper respiratory signs: nasal congestion, sneezing, reverse sneezing, and gag-like cough. These signs were odd and did not fit with classic tracheobronchitis (canine cough). When I examined these dogs, they did not cough when I touched their neck to palpate their trachea, which is the typical response during a physical exam when the patient has classic canine cough.
We have seen patients with clinical signs suspected to be secondary to SARS-CoV-2 in the past 2 to 4 weeks.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no approved or documented treatment for COVID in dogs or cats, but in most cases, they do not need treatment. For those pets with more severe clinical signs, I have found that corticosteroids seem to provide the most relief. The brachycephalic breeds seem to have more nasal congestion and difficulty breathing. In these pets, I have started anti-inflammatory doses of steroids and they seem to respond well.
In a few of these cases, chronic rhinitis (irritation/swelling of the mucous membrane in the nose) and sneezing has lasted for weeks to months. Home care for pets is similar to home care for most human COVID-19 cases. The virus needs to run its course. Be sure your pets continue to eat and drink. You can also put the pets in the bathroom with the shower running; the warm humid air can be soothing for the upper airway.
Testing
SARS-CoV-2 testing is not widely available for dogs or cats, but most large veterinary laboratories are offering PCR testing. Antibody testing is not widely available at present. If you feel you dog or cat has signs of SARS-CoV-2 after exposure to an infected person, I recommend contacting your veterinarian.
If you are a client at Medical District Veterinary Clinic, feel free to reach out to me and I may be able to assist in testing as I am collaborating with Dr. Ying Fang, a virologist, at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.
– Dr. Drew Sullivan
What Does Earning a DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) Entail?
Should I go to veterinary school? Although there’s no right or wrong answer, if it’s something that you’ve always dreamed about, if you have passion and drive and can’t see yourself doing anything else because that is the one thing you’ve always wanted to do since you were little, then the answer is ABSOLUTELY.
Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will be exhausting at times. And yes, you will have to give it your absolute all, but I promise that after all of that hard work, it will be one of your proudest moments when you finally say, “I did it, I AM a veterinarian.”
School, School, and More School
Now, of course, having passion and drive is great, but how do you really get there? Well, if I count the number of years that I have spent in school (starting from my very first day in kindergarten; yes, that counts too!), it would be about 4/5ths of my life. To be exact, I have spent 22 years at an educational institution of some sort.
Supe que quería ser veterinaria desde muy joven, por eso decidí asistir a la Escuela Secundaria de Ciencias Agricultural de Chicago.
Dra. Angélica Calderón
Let’s take this way back. Now that you got through elementary school and graduated high school, you need to go to college and complete various prerequisites needed for veterinary school. (Prerequisites include the dreaded subjects of physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy, and biochemistry, just to name a few). Every veterinary school is different so it is important to keep up with the admissions websites and keep track of what is required for their application process.
There is no specific major required, as long as all of the prerequisites for the veterinary school you are applying to are met. And finally, the GRE—the Graduate Record Examination—is required for most veterinary schools. The GRE tests students on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.
Although getting good grades is very important and obtaining a high GRE score will certainly be very appealing to the admissions committee, the application process entails much more.
Grades Aren’t Everything
Yes, you heard that right. Let’s just say that you don’t have to be #1 in your class to get into veterinary school. During the application process, experience, extracurricular activities, and most important letters of recommendations are aspects that can be of great value. It is very important to start working on these parts of the application very early.
I knew that I wanted to be a veterinarian at a very young age. That is why I decided to attend the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Did you know they have one of the last standing farms in Chicago? I was fortunate enough to take animal science at CHSAS for two years and even attended veterinary camp at Michigan State University with my class. My animal science teacher was actually a U of I veterinary graduate, and she wrote one of my letters of recommendation.
During my time in college at the University of Illinois-Chicago, I was part of a club called ASB (Alternative Spring Break), where we traveled to various states and participated in volunteer projects. I traveled to Kentucky on two separate occasions. The first trip was to Independence, Ky., where I worked with the Milestones Equestrian Achievement Program. There I learned and cared for their horses and assisted in their equestrian program. The second trip was to Mammoth Cave, Ky., where I was able to cave dive and count bats as they were undergoing a bottleneck due to poor water conditions from local landfills. I was also able to test the water from various caves and educate elementary school students on the importance of keeping local waters clean, as water quality has a big impact on local animal populations.
My favorite trip was to Emerald Coast Zoo in Crestwood, Fla., where I was able to help a very passionate family restore an old zoo they had purchased. During my time at UIC, I also worked at Archer Animal Hospital for two years where I had various duties, as I was one of only two employees in the whole clinic. Working alongside Dr. Vinu made my passion for veterinary medicine even greater.
As you can see it is important to start early, not only with the educational requirements for veterinary school but also with animal experiences and resources for letters of recommendation. In high school I was able to get farm animal experience, during college I was able to get exotic animal experience, and while working as a veterinary assistant I was able to get small animal experience. All of these experiences also led me to great resources for letters of recommendation.
Finally Got into Veterinary School!!! Now what?
If that sounded hard and complicated, well, that was the easy part.
You got into veterinary school. Congratulations! Now things are going to get interesting. Different schools have different curriculums, but I’ll talk about my experience. First year was quite tough for me. It was a new experience being away from home and there was so much information to absorb.
First year consisted of learning the “normals” for various species, second year consisted of learning the “abnormals” of various species, and third year was clinical applications and putting the big picture together.
Read more about her.
Not only did we have to learn anatomy, physiology, neurology, pharmacology, oncology, ophthalmology, and all the other “ology’s” you can think of, but we had to learn them for various species. That not only included cats and dogs, but also horses, cows, chickens, other farm animals, exotic animals like reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits, pet birds, etc.
Fourth year was my favorite year in veterinary school, apart from having to take the NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Exam), which is the veterinary national boards exam required to get licensed to practice veterinary medicine. Things finally made sense and I was putting all of my hard work into practice. Everything that I had studied and learned paid off, and it was the best feeling ever. I was finally a veterinarian.
A Beautiful Career
I always knew that I wanted to work in small animal primary care, which is why I decided to start working after graduation. However, that’s not the case for everyone. Some of my classmates have a passion for exotic animals or want to specialize after graduation. That calls for additional schooling. Not only do they have to do a rotating internship, but they also have to do a three-year residency and take another board exam to become a specialist. That’s another 4+ years of school, but I won’t get into those details.
Veterinary medicine is a very beautiful and rewarding career. It takes a lot of work, motivation, passion and drive to get to the finish line, but with the right mindset, anything can be accomplished.
– Dr. Angelica Calderon
Welcome, Dr. Calderon!
Dr. Angélica Calderón has been a proud U of I student ever since attending the University of Illinois at Chicago and obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and psychology. She went on to attend the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Urbana-Champaign to obtain her doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Born and raised in Chicago—and not scared away by the snow (yet)—she is excited to practice veterinary medicine at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic starting June 15.
Dr. Calderón spent a week learning at our clinic when she was a first-year veterinary student and later worked here as an assistant on her spring and winter breaks during veterinary school.
“I loved everyone at the clinic so much,” she says. “I knew that was where I wanted to practice once I graduated from veterinary school.”
As she starts her veterinary career, Dr. Calderón proudly states, “This is a very exciting time in my life. I’m living the dream I had always wished for and want to make a difference in the lives of many pets out there.”
She has a passion for small animal medicine and is very interested in small animal dentistry and imaging, including ultrasonography and radiology. In veterinary school she volunteered at the Wildlife Medical Clinic, and she also has an interest in small exotic companion animals.
“I’m very excited to start my career and see where life takes me,” she says.
In her free time Dr. Calderón enjoys spending time with her family and significant other. “It has been very hard to be away from them for the past four years since starting veterinary school,” she says.
She also enjoys cuddling next to her various fur babies (Daisy, Wendy, Simba, Mickey, Nino, Princess, and Bebe).
“They’re all chihuahuas, so it’s basically one large dog,” she jokes.
And if seven chihuahuas wasn’t enough, she also cares for various other pets, including Sparky, a red Amazon parrot; Cotorrito, a Quaker parrot; two cockatiels; four parakeets; and a 20-gallon fish tank filled with mollies, guppies, snails, ghost shrimp, and an albino catfish. When she’s not at her personal home zoo, she’s catching a baseball game or out enjoying the city.
Dra. Angélica Calderón siempre ha sido una orgullosa estudiante de la Universidad de Illinois desde que asistió a la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago y recibió su bachillerato de Biología y Psicología, a asistir y graduarse del Colegió de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana Champaign.
Nacida y criada en Chicago, Illinois y no asustada por la nieve (todavía), se quedará en el área de Chicago para ejercer la carrera de medicina veterinaria en la Clínica Veterinaria del Distrito Médico. Ella visitó nuestra clínica en su primer año de ser estudiante, e incluso trabajó aquí como asistente en sus vacaciones de primavera e invierno.
“Quería tanto a todos en MDVC que sabía que era allí donde quería trabajar cuando me graduara de la escuela de veterinaria”.
Siendo una recién graduada y ahora comenzando su carrera veterinaria, Dra. Calderón dice con orgullo, “Este es un momento muy emocionante en mi vida. Estoy viviendo el sueño que siempre había deseado y quiero marcar la diferencia en la vida de muchas mascotas”.
Dra. Calderón tiene una pasión por la medicina de animales pequeños y está muy interesada en la odontología y radiología incluidas la ultrasonografía. Mientras estaba en la escuela, fue voluntaria en la Wildlife Medical Clinic y desde ahí tuvo interés en los animales de compañía exóticos.
“Estoy muy emocionada de comenzar mi carrera y ver a dónde me lleva la vida”.
En su tiempo libre, disfruta pasar tiempo con su familia y su pareja, ya que ha sido “muy difícil estar lejos de ellos durante los últimos 4 años desde que comencé la escuela de veterinaria”.
También le gusta acurrucarse junto a sus varias mascotas (Daisy, Wendy, Simba, Mickey, Nino, Princess, Bebe) “todos son chihuahuas, así que básicamente es un perro grande”.
Y si eso no fuera suficiente, también cuida a varias otras mascotas, como Sparky un loro rojo del Amazonas, Cotorrito un loro cuáquero, dos cacatúas, 4 periquitos y una pecera de 20 galones llena de mollys, guppys, caracoles, camarones fantasma y un bagre albino. Si no está en el zoológico personal de su casa, está viendo un partido de béisbol o disfrutando de la bella ciudad de Chicago.
Welcome, Dr. Valbuena!
Medical District Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce the May 16 arrival of Dr. Ana Valbuena. She joins us after three years in practice at a Lincoln Park clinic and brings a strong commitment to low-stress handling for pets and people.
“I really want pet owners to see that they are members of the care team,” she says. “I want everyone to be part of the examination and the conversation.”
She also brings a multinational life history: she was born in Cuba, raised in Nicaragua, and lived in Miami, Fla., before coming to Illinois for school. By comparison, her route to a veterinary career has been an unwavering straight line.
“My parents will tell you I’m a very decisive person,” says Dr. Valbuena. “Since a young age there has never been any doubt in my mind about being a veterinarian.” Once she set her mind to this goal, she was determined to overcome any obstacles.
Dedicated to Helping Clients
She recalls that in the Hispanic community in Florida, accessing veterinary care was often very daunting. “There were many barriers besides just the language barrier,” she says. “People felt they couldn’t do it on their own.”
Seeing those barriers, and discovering after completing her veterinary degree that there were so few bilingual veterinarians in practice, motivates Dr. Valbuena to be a resource for pet owners who feel more comfortable communicating in Spanish than in English. We know this skill will be a wonderful asset for our clients.
“My first few years in practice I spent time learning who I am as a veterinarian and what kind of practice I want to be in,” she says. “I want to be someone who can reduce stress for other people, whether that is clients whose first language is Spanish or soon-to-be veterinarians who need encouragement to make a confident transition into being a practicing veterinarian.”
Instilling Confidence in Students
As a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Illinois, Dr. Valbuena completed a clinical rotation at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic. She really loved the clinic culture and clientele, so when a position opened up here, she jumped at the chance to join the practice.
She says regularly engaging with veterinary students from Urbana while serving clients at the Medical District Vet Clinic will be a huge positive for her.
“Students who are at the midway point between being at the university and being in the real world can benefit so much from their time in our clinic,” she believes. “It’s a chance for them to shape what sort of practitioner they will be. I look forward to telling them ‘You got this!’ They can learn to have confidence in themselves and not feel that they must be perfect. The transition doesn’t have to be scary.
“That’s another aspect of the low-stress philosophy embraced at Medical District Veterinary Clinic! We minimize stress not only for our animal patients and clients, but also for the students who will soon be veterinarians.”
A Soft Spot for Cats
Dr. Valbuena has a particular fascination for feline behavior. “I love helping owners gain deeper insights into these strange misunderstood little creatures,” she says.
“While people know their cats very well, the cats may be giving subtle signs that their people overlook. By learning about these silent signals, owners may be able to spot medical problems earlier.
“I love helping in little ways that make things better for the cat and for the people!”
Her own family includes a ginger cat named Weasley (after Ron and his ginger siblings in Harry Potter) and a cat named Ziggy (because Dr. Valbuena is a huge fan of David Bowie). The name of her hamster, Armie Hamster, seems self-explanatory.
Dr. Valbuena enjoys city life and the diversity Chicago offers. After spending most of her life closer to the tropics, she is also surprisingly enamored of experiencing four seasons in Illinois.
“Some people are not happy with winter weather, but I find it so interesting and a fun time!”
Nos complace darle la bienvenida a la Dra. Ana Valbuena a Medical District Veterinary Clinic. Ella se une a nosotros después de tres años en una clínica en Lincoln Park y trae con ella un enfoque en el manejo de bajo estrés para mascotas.
“Realmente quiero que los dueños de las mascotas vean que son miembros del equipo”, dijo la Dra. Valbuena. “Quiero que todos sean participe en la conversación sobre el cuido de su mascota”.
También trae una historia de vida multinacional: nació en Cuba, se crió en Nicaragua y vivió en Miami, Florida, antes de venir a Illinois para sus estudios. En comparación, su ruta a la carrera veterinaria ha sido una línea recta e invariable.
“Mis padres te dirían que soy una persona muy determinada”, dice la Dra. Valbuena. “Desde muy joven, nunca dudé que sería veterinaria”. Una vez que se fijó en su mente en este objetivo, estaba decidida a superar cualquier obstáculo.
Dedicada a ayudar a los clientes
Ella recuerda que en la comunidad Hispana en Florida, el acceso a la atención veterinaria podía ser muy intimidante. “Hay muchas barreras además del idioma”, dice. “Es fácil sentirse que uno no puede hacerlo por su cuenta”.
El ver esas barreras, y descubrir que hay tan pocos veterinarios bilingües, motiva a la Dra. Valbuena a ser un recurso para aquellos que se sienten más cómodos comunicándose en español. Nosotros sabemos que el ser bilingüe sera maravilloso para nuestros clientes.
“Pase los primeros años de mi carrera descubriendo quién soy cómo veterinaria y en qué tipo de clínica quiero estar”, dice. “Quiero reducir el estrés para otros; ya sean clientes de habla hispana o futuros veterinarios que necesitan animo y apoyo para completar la transición de estudiante a profesional”.
Infundir confianza en los estudiantes
La Dra. Valbuena completó una rotación clínica en Medical District Veterinary Clinic en su cuarto año como estudiante en la Universidad de Illinois y se enamoró del ambiente de la clínica y los clientes. Cuando se enteró del puesto disponible, aprovecho la oportunidad de unirse a la clinica.
Ella mira la oportunidad de trabajar con los estudiantes de Urbana mientras atiende a los clientes en el Medical District Vet Clinic como algo muy positivo.
“Estudiantes que están en el punto medio entre estar en la universidad y ser profesionales pueden beneficiarse mucho de su tiempo en nuestra clínica”, cree la Dra. Valbuena. “Es una buena oportunidad para que los estudiantes empiezen a pensar que tipo de veterinario quieren ser. Me emociona saber que voy a poder ayudarlos y decirles ‘¡Lo que está para ti, nadie te lo quita! ¡Creo en ti!” Espero que pueda ayudarlos a tener confianza en sí mismos y que sepan que no tienen que ser perfectos. No le tienen que tener miedo a la transición.
“¡Ese es otro aspecto de la filosofía de bajo estrés adoptada por Medical District Veterinary Clinic! Minimizamos el estrés no solo para nuestros pacientes animales y clientes, sino también para los estudiantes veterinarios”.
Intrigada por los gatos
La Dra. Valbuena tiene una fascinación particular por el comportamiento felino. “Me encanta ayudar a profundizar el conocimiento de los gatos, ya que estas criaturas pequeñas a veces son mal entendidas”, dice.
“Aunque los dueños conocen muy bien a sus gatos, los gatos suelen señalar sus emociones de una forma sutil. Al aprender sobre estas señales, podemos ayudar a detectar problemas más temprano.
“¡Me encanta mejorar la relacion entre los dueños y sus gatos!”
Su propia familia incluye un gato de pelirrojo llamado Weasley (en honor a Ron y sus hermanos pelirrojos en Harry Potter), un gato llamado Ziggy (porque la Dra. Valbuena es fan de David Bowie) y un hámster llamado Armie Hamster.
La Dra. Valbuena disfruta de la vida de la ciudad y las diversas oportunidades que ofrece Chicago. Después de pasar la mayoría de su vida en climas mas tropicos, ahora puede disfrutar de las cuatro estaciones en Chicago.
“¡Muchos no disfrutan el clima invernal, pero me parece muy interesante y divertido!”
Dental Care Shows Your Love
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, an annual reminder of how important dental health is in our pets. I personally love dentistry, so this month is a mini celebration for me! Dental disease is very common in dogs and cats. In fact, it is one of the most common conditions we treat in our patients. Fortunately, there is a lot that can be done to help maintain the dental health of your pets.
Around 85% of pets have periodontal disease, which is disease around the outside of the tooth. The way to prevent periodontal disease in pets is the same approach used for people: home dental care and professional cleanings. The goals of home dental care are to remove plaque from teeth and bacteria from the mouth. Without regular home dental care, the plaque on the teeth will mineralize. Eventually plaque becomes tartar, which is the hardened, solid material on the teeth. If your pet has tartar on her teeth, it will tend to have a brown/black color. The heaviest amount is seen on the back teeth.
As the tartar (also known as calculus) accumulates in the space around the tooth, inflammation and infection can develop. Ultimately there will be damage to the attachment of the tooth. By this stage, you will see redness and swelling of the gums around the teeth. You may even notice a tooth is loose. Once this occurs, a professional dental cleaning is necessary to address these teeth. Without a cleaning, the periodontal disease will continue to worsen.
The bacteria in the mouth can also affect other parts of the body, and may even lead to infection in the heart, liver, and kidneys. That is why it is vital to address any periodontal disease your pet has: this is not only a dental issue.
I hope by now I have convinced you that the dental health of your pet is an essential aspect of their health, and that you’re super excited to start your pet’s home dental routine! There are various home dental care options and below are examples you can try with your pet:
- Brushing the teeth
- Dental wipes, rinses, and pads
- Dental diets and treats
I recommend using products that are approved by The Veterinary Oral Health Council. Please visit the following website for a list of products that they have approved. Contact us if you have any questions about these home dental care options and products.
Practicing regular home dental care also helps you identify dental problems such as fractured teeth or masses in the mouth. It is a good idea to make a practice of opening your pet’s mouth and looking inside from the time your pet is young, so it becomes a comfortable process for you both.
Now onto part two, which is the professional cleaning. The type of cleaning we perform for your pet is very similar to what is done when you go to the dentist for your regular checkups, except general anesthesia is necessary with dog and cats for us to fully examine the teeth and gums and determine what treatments are necessary. Even with routine home dental care, a cleaning will eventually be needed, but the hope is that cleanings will be needed less often. A veterinarian can determine whether a dental is necessary during a regular health examination of your pet.
I recommend visiting the following website, which has a handout that discusses what the procedure involves in more detail. Please contact us if you have any further questions about the dental procedure or if you are interested in having a dental performed for your pet.
Amber Slaughter, DVM
Holiday Bummer Blog Answers ‘What Is an Emergency?’ (and Spreads Fear-Based Cheer and Goodwill)
The sprawling earth-warming record-breaking green Christmas of 50-degree weather and rainstorms once again fills us with nostalgia at this time of year.
Ice-cold eggnog and air conditioners whir to the crash of Christmas trees being brought down by your pandemic puppy’s first attempt to eat ornaments, your Aunt’s novelty gift of “football”-scented candles exude hints of leather and burning bushy cattails, and, of course, OF COURSE, your hypothetical 7-year-old son (who seems to only like the first bite of $15 pastries) has fed the tenth hypothetical chocolate Santa to his hypothetical best-friend dog, which is now hypothetically a zombie from the amount of hypothetical grapes, coffee, ant traps, and chocolate-based gifts he has hypothetically ingested by way of one’s hypothetical son.
And with this picture painted, I bring to you again another uplifting Spirit of the Holiday bummer blog post about EMERGENCIES and fear-based cheer and goodwill.
To ER, or not to ER?
Yes, you know that this time can be stressful for some. And despite my oddly disproportionate love of the holiday season that brings a 300X increase in workload and overall Things That Need to BE DONE RIGHT NOW, I never tire of holiday puppets playing jug band music as a soundtrack to the slew of catastrophic pet events that seem to dominate my life via a 24/7 stream of strangers reaching out to me because their cousin’s cryptocurrency dealer’s previous neighbor once brought their cat to see me in 2019 for a wellness exam and they heard that I would help.
And because this is my last blog post before my departure to the ER world, I also wish you all goodbye and thanks for everything.
Dr. Brett Grossman
And the question always comes down to a form of this: My dog/cat just did something to my something and is either acting undefinably weird, is sleeping, has blood pouring out of their eyeballs, or possibly coughed once.
Should I go to the ER right now despite having to meet my Anti-Vax Uncle from North Carolina at the airport in one hour? Or can I wait until next week when I will have more time?
So what is an Emergency and when should you act? And after I say you should go to the ER, when should you actually listen to me and when should you google to find out why seizures are normal for adult dogs staring at Christmas trees?
Listen to Your Veterinarian
First, I cannot know if anything is an emergency without evaluation. If you think your cat or dog is not doing well, is suffering, or if you need evaluation by a doctor to be able to enjoy said Anti-Vax Uncle’s visit, then just go to the ER. You don’t have to be afraid. Most ERs are equipped to deal with nervous dogs, cats, and people. The wait may be long, but that’s because there are 600 people on your block alone going through the same thing right now. So just go and treat your ER staff nicely.
Second, listen to your vet. I may have some bias, but we have families, pets, and a full schedule too. We have already squeezed in 10 people this morning, so even if you only want to see a particular doctor, if we tell you to go to an ER it’s not because we don’t care. It may be because we cannot give the treatment that your pet deserves given the schedule and our brain’s load of, honestly, dying and sick patients. If Sir Puggle Wuggle may have swallowed your friend’s custom-made Run-DMC Christmas ornament and is doing fine and you want to be seen, going to ER may be the only option.
So. What Is an Emergency?
- Anything your regular trusted vet tells you is an emergency. (Don’t try to out-google-smart them to get the answer you want.)
- If your animal is in pain: Crying, screaming, cannot get comfortable.
- If your animal is non-responsive: Won’t get up, won’t wag its tail, won’t respond to things it normally responds to.
- If your animal ingested a known toxin: Anti-freeze, chocolate, rat bait, a whole bottle of CBD chews that your sweet Anti-Vax Uncle brought you and then left on the table, Tylenol, an overdose of prescribe medication such as insulin or anti-inflammatories. You can always call the ASPCA poison control hotline for advice: (888) 426-4435
- If your animal is unable to breathe correctly: Wheezing, panting, congested, is turning blue.
- If your animal is bleeding from somewhere, and it will not stop.
- If your animal is having active seizures.
- If your animal is uncontrollably anxious and you can’t figure out why.
- If your animal has a broken bone, was hit by a car, suffered an extreme trauma like burn, severe cold, attack by a dog/coyote/Anti-Vax Uncle.
- If your animal cannot go to the bathroom (not hasn’t gone to the bathroom, but is trying and cannot).
- If your animal has GI distress: Vomiting non-stop, having non-stop diarrhea, not eating for days in a row.
- And, as a general rule, if you are freaking out because something is not right and you know your pet better than anyone else and you just know something is wrong. (This is valid.)
No One Likes a Holiday Tragedy
In these cases, and other select cases I didn’t think to mention, you can call and ask. But just plan on going to the ER.
I say this while acknowledging that not everyone can afford a visit to the ER, but don’t fear a $10,000 bill. Some things are the same price as a visit with us. Making a dog vomit up a Run-DMC ornament won’t be a life-altering expense, but waiting for the Run-DMC ornament to pass, it getting stuck, and needing a life-saving surgery in 2 days may be. It’s Like That and It’s Tricky.
I also realize that if you are home alone with a child at 2 am, you cannot always run somewhere and take care of it, but, sometimes, the alternative is to explain to an awake child something worse about Sir Puggle Wuggle, and then we are entering every Holiday Tragedy movie about angels in heaven, and I don’t like these movies at all. Nope.
What Isn’t an Emergency?
Note: Do not avoid going to the ER because of this list and blame me for it, but these are common things people call about that don’t require immediate attention.
Your animal is generally doing alright, happy and alert, but:
- Your animal hasn’t eaten today.
- Your animal had some loose stool (even a little blood in it).
- Your animal vomited twice this month.
- You think your animal may be losing weight.
- Your animal seems to be favoring one leg but is not in terrible pain.
- Your animal sneezed or coughed.
- Your animal has some discharge from the nose or eyes.
- Your animal didn’t go to the bathroom today.
- Your animal is scratching, you saw fleas, you found a tick and got it off.
- You saw some worms in your animal’s feces.
- Your friend/uncle’s dog just died of cancer and you are worried that your animal has it.
There are countless more. I’m not saying that these things aren’t worthy of being addressed. And of course if any of these things causes discomfort, pain, or anxiety on your part, going to the ER is not wrong. I’m just saying these things do not require immediate attention on Christmas Eve (or as we one-eighth Jewish Canadians refer to as “Justin Trudeau’s birthday eve”).
My Hopes and Wishes for You
I can totally follow a scenario where you keep your animal at home and monitor and one of these non-emergencies turns into one. But for now, there are plenty of OTC fixes that we can recommend to help before an ER visit is needed.
So, I hope all your holiday plans go seamlessly well without trauma or tragedy. I hope your new year is safe and fun.
And because this is my last blog post before my departure to the ER world, I also wish you all goodbye and thanks for everything.
Vaccinate, stay safe, and please read this book and become the tree you deserve to be.
Brett Grossman, DVM
Salty Paws Make Salty Dogs
Rock Salt Is the Real Culprit
There comes a point at the end of every year when you can no longer just grab the leash and causally head out for a walk with your dog. (That is, unless you have a Bernese mountain dog like my brother’s dog, Ruby, who would live in the snow if she could.)
Instead, you have to determine how many layers of clothing you and your dog need to go for a walk. I’ve been doing this dance for years with Emmie. Eventually she complies, thankfully. But, just once, I wish she would remember that when we don’t put the booties on and there is salt out, she ends up crying out and her paws hurt.
As cold as our Chicago winters are, there are really only a few days in any calendar year where it is so cold you have to truly worry about a dog’s paws. The real culprit that is causing dogs to lift up their paws and look at you like they’re auditioning for an ASPCA commercial is the rock salt. I’ve definitely had to carry Emmie a few hundred feet through a heavily salted sidewalk stretch when we were caught off guard.
So here are two ways to help protect your pet’s paws, plus what to do if you forget:
Booties
Yes, they are annoying to put on. Yes, they can sometimes fall off. And yes, most dogs don’t like putting them on. But booties are by far the best way to protect your dog’s paws, and when she’s outside she’s much happier.
The key is to find a brand that fits your dog well. Put in the extra effort to measure the size of your dog’s paws for best fit and look for waterproof options, if they are in your budget.
I’m a fan of Muttluks. They have a measuring guide to help ensure the best fit. Remember: Never use a rubber band or any other band that can be constricting to hold up the booties.
Balms
These can be used to try to prevent ice balls from forming between the toes. Balms also help keep small amounts of salt from bothering their paws. The base ingredient for most of these balms is beeswax, but sometimes you can use coconut oil as well.
The most common brand I see is called Musher’s Secret, though a lot of other brands are out there. The upside is that most of these can be licked or ingested with no concerns. The downside is that they tend not to work as well as booties.
Remedies
If you are like me, sometimes you forget. (Or, TBH, are too lazy and depressed about how dark it is at 6:30 in the morning. Even after we go back to standard time, ugh! Which if any of you have a toddler like me, does not mean an extra hour of sleep!)
When you forget and your dog gets salt on her paws, rinse them off with cool water once you’re home. A warm water Epsom salt soak for 5 to 10 minutes will usually fix the problem if her paws are still irritated after everyone has warmed up from the outing. If the paws are still irritated or seem painful after a soak, give us a call.
What Food Is Best for Your Dog or Cat?
This is a question and a discussion that I have with clients daily. And to be honest, it’s a very difficult question to answer. I am going to give you a few tips on how to pick out a food that is best suited for your dog or cat.
Life Stages
I recommend feeding a food based on the life stage of your pet. The four life stages include growth, young adult, mature adult and senior. The below picture helps illustrate the life stages of cats. Canine life stages are pretty similar, but with more variation due to the vast size difference we see in the canine species. The growth life stage is typically done by 6-12 months of age. For cats the growth phase is typically finished by 6-10 months of age and I recommend transitioning to adult food around that time. If you have a puppy or kitten it is very important for proper growth and development to feed a puppy or kitten food. In the same manner as your pet is aging feeding a senior diet is important as they have different nutrient profiles.
You may ask what about an “All Life Stages” dog or cat food. For a company to market their food as “All Life Stages” the food must meet the nutritional requirements for all life stages. Therefore, most of these foods are formulated as a puppy/kitten food because puppies and kittens have the highest nutritional requirements of the four life stages. These foods can be good foods and well balanced, but they typically have a high caloric density. Therefore, in my experience, dogs are more likely to become overweight than if they were fed some other diets.
Medical Conditions
Does your pet have any health conditions that require a special diet? Prescription diets can play a vital role in management of many health conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, allergies, and feline lower urinary tract disease.
If your pet suffers from a medical condition, diet can manage and help many conditions, so I always recommend considering a prescription diet if you pet has one of the above conditions.
More Expensive Does Not Mean Better
Many pet food companies are great at marketing but might not be as good at formulating diets. You can always look for the Nutritional Advocacy AFFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Statement on each bag or can of food. These statements will tell you if the food has been through a food trial or formulated to meet particular feeding guidelines. The ingredient list should also list all ingredients in decreasing amounts by weight.
Labels are very confusing and often misleading to consumers. For example, if I made up a food with the following labels, the variation in ingredients can be drastic.
- If the term “All” is used, then the ingredient must make up 100% of product minus preservatives and water. So, this treat would be 100% beef
- If the listed ingredient is used, then the ingredient must make up 95% of product minus water. So, this Beef Dog Chow would be 95% beef on a dry matter basis.
- If the term “dinner,” “platter,” or “recipe” is used, then the ingredient must make up only 25% of product. So, this Beef Dinner is likely only 25% beef.
- If the term “with” is used, then the ingredient must make up only 5% of product. So, this Dog Chow with Beef is likely only 5% beef.
I hope this illustration helps demonstrate how confusing pet food labels can be to both consumers and veterinarians. I recommend visiting the AAFCO website if you want to be better educated about what’s in your pet’s food.
Say No to ‘Grain Free’
Does my pet need grain-free food? The answer is NO. There little to no research showing the true benefit of grain-free food. In fact, grain-free food has been shown to cause heart disease in some dogs. The exact cause is still being researched. Visit this site for more information. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs
What About Raw Food?
Some dogs do really well on raw food, but I do not recommend it. That’s because I see too many owners who try to feed raw but who are not feeding a balanced diet because they are solely feeding raw meat and limited other nutrients.
In the wild canines and felines will consume entire animals. Eating meat, skin, ingesta, organs, and bone makes up a balanced diet.
Raw can be balanced and can be a good diet for some animals, but there is also a public health risk with feeding these diets. This is a statement from the CDC:
“Germs like Salmonella and Listeria bacteria have been found in raw pet food, even packaged ones in stores. These germs can make your pet sick. Your family can also get sick by handling the food or by taking care of your pet.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Therefore, if there are young children or anyone who is immune-compromised in your house, I highly advise against feed raw pet foods.
Each Pet Is Different
I hope this information has been helpful and informative. I recommend discussing your pet’s daily calorie needs with your veterinarian as each pet is different, just like people. Two people that have ideal weights of 180 pounds may be able to eat very different diets to maintain their weight, and the same goes for cats and dogs. All 10-pound cats do not need the same daily calories.
The recommendations on the bag or can of food should only be a guide. Some animals may need more calories, but most will need less than the recommended amount to maintain an ideal weight. And always remember to factor in all treats and table scraps into their daily calories. Most pets are overweight these days.
—Dr. Drew Sullivan
Fear Free Practices for Furry Friends
For many people, the doctor’s office can be a scary place. So it is no surprise that many pets view going to the vet with a similar fear.
Our clinic truly believes in Fear Free practices. Our goal is to limit your pet’s stress and fear and make visits with us as pleasant as possible. There are various ways that we do this, which I would like to share with you.
Treats, Teats, and More Treats!
During your pet’s visit you will notice that we like to offer treats. We have biscuits, cheese, peanut butter – like a candy store for dogs and cats! This is not only because we think your pet is adorable and we want to spoil them, but this is also a main way we like to bond with them.
Imagine if you are at the doctor and you are anxiously waiting, and then the doctor walks in and immediately offers you your favorite treat (for me, that would be some delicious baked goods) and socializes with you. You would likely feel much calmer and connected to them. This is the equivalent of what we do with your pets.
Although we have lots of treats, if you have a dog or cat that is pickier with food, please feel free to bring whatever your pet likes best. This is not uncommon, as I have seen many patients that would eat only one food.
We encourage owners to offer treats as well during visits to help make the entire experience as positive as possible. We joke that visits go best when our patients come hungry, so you may want to consider bringing your pet to see us with an empty stomach so there is plenty of space for treats!
Getting on Their Level
We want our patients to feel comfortable, so we often will sit on the ground with them. We hope that by sitting on their level they feel less intimidated and fearful, and that they see us as their “friend.” I have noticed that when I sit on the ground and spend time in the room before even beginning my exam, my patients generally seem more at ease.
Please do not feel obligated to sit with us, but if you would like to you are totally welcome!
Limit Stress from Other Pets
Many cats never leave the home except to go to the vet. They may be stressed by traveling before they even arrive.
The smells and sounds of dogs can be very scary for them, too, which is why we recently created a separate feline waiting room and exam rooms. We use all separate supplies, have tasty treats and fun toys, and have nice feline-friendly smells. In the months since we have started using this new space, I have noticed that cats overall seem much calmer and happier.
Dogs can be become upset from other pets as well. Some of the sweetest and most affectionate dogs that I have met do not get along well with other dogs. Being around other dogs is stressful for them. I personally have a dog-reactive dog, and while she loves people, other dogs make her highly anxious.
To reduce this anxiety, we have multiple tactics, such as choosing specific exam rooms and trying to limit time in the clinic and exam room, when other pets are a trigger for the patient. We also perform exams outside in an isolated area if needed.
Fear Free for Your Pet
Please let us know if your pet is reactive with other pets, or there are any other behavioral concerns, and we will work with you to formulate a plan for their visits.
I hope you can see how much we at Medical District Veterinary Clinic truly care about our amazing patients! We look forward to continuing to make their time with us as fun and enjoyable and fear free as possible!
Amber Slaughter, DVM
Dr. Grossman Reprises His Anal Sac Primer
Well, it’s been 17 months of a global pandemic and it’s the middle of a hot (UN Climate report) summer. Though much has changed since March of 2018, dogs’ anal sac health dramatically has not. Partly because I’m tired, and partly because I answer questions about this about 20 times a day, I wanted to re-run a classic of yesteryear that takes us back to times more innocent, when a postage stamp only cost 50 cents and kids couldn’t get enough of this “texting” craze. Enjoy.
Most of us in the veterinary field face a horrible dilemma. The majority of our days are filled with details and particulars that are deemed rather unfit for discussion at the dinner table, any social gathering, and anywhere outside the professional confines of the clinic. It’s always fun to talk puppies and kittens, but a great deal of what we do during the day revolve around bodily fluids (blood, feces, urine, vomit), wounds, parasites, and the selected greatest and grossest hits of infection and disease.
Anything interesting happen at work today? Yes. Most of it was gross.
So, I’d like to discuss the grossest of all things for one moment. Please feel free to put away your chocolate custard, beef stew, and bean soup, for one moment, while we explore dog and cat anal sac disease.
Cats and dogs have anal sacs located near the periphery of the anus. These sacs excrete a liquid, often when animals defecate, that mixes into their stool and gives forth a particular and specific smell akin to a garbage bag filled with a rotting animal that has been soaked in plague juice.
At times, though, the ducts that excrete the anal sac fluid can become blocked, forcing the sacs to become enlarged, uncomfortable, swollen, and irritated. Sometimes these sacs can become so blocked that they burst forth with a mixture of all of the aforementioned dinner-party unmentionables in one fell swoop. Other times they slowly leak out at convenient times and places such as Sunday morning at 5:13 a.m. on your pillow next to your head. Often, they don’t do anything but get bigger and more uncomfortable. There are times when severe stress and discomfort can cause animals to release their anal sacs all over (seemingly) everywhere in the world.
Owners complain about their dogs and cats “scooting” their back ends over the ground or that their pets are licking their back end obsessively. The clinical signs may be more vague and scary, especially for older animals who have not ever had this problem. We may find out animals straining to defecate (as the sacs block the exit of the anus), walking stiffly, uncomfortable, not interested in eating, and, in extreme cases, vomiting. I’ve seen some dogs become so affected that they scream in pain when touched and refuse to move. I’ve seen some cats stop eating or moving and refuse to go into the litter box.
Why does this happen? you ask (while not at the dinner table). There are a few common reasons:
• Anatomical irregularities that are uncontrollable: Some dogs and cats, for whatever reason, just don’t seem to have anal sacs or anal sac ducts in the right position to allow for easy release. We have seen puppies whose anal sacs fill up monthly and need help.
• An extended period when the animal’s feces are soft and unable to naturally press on the sacs to express them: When animals have parasites (such as Giardia) or chronic diarrhea due to dietary issues or underlying illnesses, we often are not thinking that during the whole of this period, their anal sacs are (metaphorically) laughing with power as they grow bigger.
• Infiltrative disease (such as cancer): This is not very common, though it can occur. The anal sacs become diseased and cancerous. It can happen in any dog, but one tends to see this more in spaniel breeds. It does not have a good prognosis, but this condition is rare. Very rare.
• Animals, especially as they get older, learn different postures to deal with changes in the body. I have seen so many cats and dogs with untreated back pain that have to posture differently to defecate, and because of this, do not seem to express their anal sacs with the same proud efficiency that they once did. As the anal sacs get worse, they become even more uncomfortable, the animals defecate less, develop chronic soft stool, and this glorious cycle continues until you have a cat or dog that is constipated and has horribly painful anal sacs.
What can you do about it?
First, express the anal sacs. This is not something one should just try at home. I am speaking for all citizens of earth, in general, by saying that you should not do this in your kitchen before the family wakes up. Partly, because the smells of putrid sub-par day-old fish byproduct mixed with armpits and feces will probably wake them up, but also I wonder if this aspect of your relationship with your pet is one you really want to explore. While some people do learn to do this at home with their animals, I personally will not do it at home on my animals. But it is possible.
Alternatively, we can express your animal’s anal sacs so you don’t have to watch, smell, see, and, in some tragic cases, taste. We have safe zones in the clinic where no one walks for fear of spraying anal sacs. Some groomers do this for you, but few do them to completion. Ask your groomer before you assume, and talk with us about how soon you should come back for a recheck. Sometimes the anal sacs can be so full and painful that sedation may be required.
Second, animals may need additional treatment, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. Most bad cases of anal sacculits, anal sac impaction, or anal sac abscesses need medication and aggressive rechecks before they are not painful or affected. It’s not generally the case that medications alone will work.
Third, we must remove the cause. Are allergies causing chronic licking, which is causing the anal sacs to be inflamed? Is your animal’s diet not allowing for a normal stool texture? Do you need to add fiber to the diet? Is your dog anxious, and this anxiety manifests in back-end licking? Are there intestinal parasites present? Is there infiltrative disease? Is there a chronic infection? Is there another animal in the house that is over-grooming the affected animal? We need to fix this.
Fourth, sometimes the anal sacs need to be removed. It’s not a cheap therapy, and it is surgery. But sometimes after coming into the clinic every two weeks and having anal sac disease a constant part of their lives, some owners elect to remove them.
As a final note, most dog owners know or have heard of anal sac issues, but most cat people are thinking that this is not applicable. This problem affects many mammals. So I’m sorry to say that even the sweetest of felines has the foulest of anal sac scents. I’ve had a run, lately, of seemingly ill cats who magically became “new” cats after their anal sacs were expressed. And, for those who play with the skunks, beavers, and opossums of your neighborhood, though I’m sure you have more on your mind, also be aware. Humans have them too, but I will let you and your loved ones google that on your own on your non-work computer.
Read things from Canada, do anything related to Canada, enjoy the summer weather noticed when opening the windows after the scent of your animal’s anal sacs permeate the walls of your Chicago apartment.
Brett Grossman, DVM
Medical District Veterinary Clinic