The Terror of Seizures: What you can do when a doctor is not available

I have had three friends contact me this week of the 4th of July regarding their dogs having seizure like symptoms. Sometimes a seizure can last seconds or minutes. No matter how long they last, they are terrifying to watch.

There are different types of seizures and different causes. Grand mal seizures are unique in that they are preceded by symptoms, that if you know what to look for, can let the pet parent know that one is on its way. My dog Copper (may he rest in peace) had seizures from the time he was 2 years old. His were so bad that he often would not come out of it without the help of Valium (generic diazapam). It was given in the form of a suppository.

(NOTE: diazapam is not to be confused with lorazepam. Both are similar but have a different dosage. Diazapam is most effective if given rectally, while lorazepam must be crushed and diluted in water and given internasally in a dog in seizure)

I knew his seizures were coming when he would start to drool excessively, seem unusually uncomfortable and/or needy. Next would come the stumbling, and he would try to get someplace safe. The dogs would gather around him and become protective. Tinker, my chihuhua/peke mix, would keep everyone away from him with the exception of Casey, my golden mix. 

Copper would collapse, his legs would become rigid, he would lose control of his bladder, and then he would start to twitch. Sometimes, he would do what some people recognize as a doggie paddle motion. Casey always licked his ears until he would come out of the seizure. Copper would be very disoriented and absolutely exhausted. He would often want a drink of water.

Casey always watched over him, licking his ears until he was feeling better.

As a pet parent, the things you can do during a grand mal seizure are usually limited. Assuming this is the first time and your local vet is calm, this is what you can do:

The first thing you do is stay calm. I know it looks like your baby is dying, but you have to keep your head together to take care of the situation. Next, you make sure that your pet cannot accidentally hurt him/herself by moving him/her away from other objects. Stay away from the mouth as a dog in seizure may snap the mouth open and closed as part of the seizure activity. Not all dogs react positively to a dog in seizure, so it is a good idea to remove others from the room.

Dog in midst of a seizure.

Sometimes the pet will stop breathing for a few seconds or may show labored breathing. Your job is to keep the pet as calm as possible and let the brain reset itself. A grand mal seizure will last for at least 2 minutes, sometimes more.  One concern with a prolonged seizure is the sudden increase in body temperature. The temperature should not exceed 103 in a canine. Keep in mind that dogs release heat by panting and during a seizure, this is not possible. Therefore, the only option for heat release is through the paw pads. This is where dogs sweat.

If you have access to rubbing alcohol, take a wash cloth saturated with it, and rub the paw pads. This helps drop the temperature. If no rubbing alcohol is available, use cold water. Running a fan on the pet also helps.

When the pet comes awake, it is not unusual for him/her to seem blind and walk into things. It can take quite a while for him/her to appear normal. Keep your pet in a quiet place to recover where you can watch for any further seizure activity.

Dog will have that "far away" look

Other types of seizures also occur and do not present as a grand mal. A focal motor or partial seizure may be localized to one part of the body and the twitching limited. This is usually caused by a lesion, scar, or abscess on the brain.

Reasons for seizures can also vary. A whelping female, for instance, can have a drop in calcium after giving birth, which triggers the seizures. This is very dangerous for the mother dog.

 A sudden drop in sugar called hypoglycemia is another cause of seizure like activity. This is common in tea cup type breeds such as tea cup chihuahuas and yorkies. It it vital to keep something close by such as Karo Syrup to increase the sugar levels if you are a pet parent of one of these breeds.

Dosage for low blood sugar

Poison can reveal itself in muscle twitching and drooling. Rat poison, insecticides, anti freeze, and even chocolates can be among the poisons responsible. Other causes can be encephalitis, distemper, heat stroke, and even kidney and liver failure. 

One thing often mistaken for seizures is the sudden collapse caused by heart problems. Toward the end of his life, my childhood dog, Cuddles, would collapse if made excited by anything. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Typically, with cardiac caused collapses, you will not see the twitching or rigidity associated with most seizures. What you will often see is the color of the mucus membranes change. While they should be a nice shade of pink, the mucus membranes will look a  bluish tint. This indicates a lack of oxygen.

Blue mucus membranes is a sign the pet is getting little oxygen

Whatever the cause of collapse, your vet needs to be informed as soon as possible. There are medications available to help in most cases and depending on the level and time of exposure, it is possible to save a dog that has been poisoned.

One thing to keep in mind on this July 4th is that the drug most often given to help keep our pets calm during fireworks, (Acepromazine) DOES lower the seizure threshold. In other words, if a dog is prone to seizures, you need to ask for another drug instead of Ace. Valium is the most common drug given to dogs who cannot tolerate Ace.

If your dog is experiencing his/her first grand mal seizure and you can get him/her to a vet, do so. An injection of diazapam and iv fluids to bring the body temperature to an acceptable level is the best care.

All pet parents need to be ready for emergencies like this. One of the most essential tools I have is my Care Credit Card, which is a health care card with 6 months interest free payments. To apply, simply go to www.carecredit.com.

Using Heartguard? There's something you need to know.

In 2011, the company that made Interceptor, a heart worm preventative discontinued production. Many people switched over to Heartgard.

As you may well know, both Interceptor and Heartgard contain ivomectin as its main ingredient. They both also contain an ingredient to cover most intestinal parasites. Neither will take care of tapeworms, the evil little creatures that come from fleas, but they do take care of rounds and hooks.

Here's the difference. Only Interceptor prevented/killed whipworms.

I took a friends dog to the vet the other day. She was having bloody diarrhea. She was an older dog that had been vaccinated, so I was not concerned about parvo. I expected the diagnosis to be pancreatitis, which often happens when dogs are given human food or get into the trash and find something their tummies are not used to.

However, the vet was concerned about one other thing: Whipworms.

She told me 60-80 percent of her cases of bloody diarrhea in adult dogs since Interceptor was discontinued was whips.

I wanted to kick myself for not realizing that, but my worming protocol covers everything, even without the Interceptor, so I had not had that issue.

So, if your dog is not on a heart worm/intestinal parasite preventive, it is incredibly important. Even if you live in areas that are not prone to mosquitoes, the ingredients in these preventatives will prevent the nasty and unhealthy affects of intestinal parasites. Keep in mind, intestinal parasites can be passed to humans and kids are most vulnerable.

The company was still producing Sentinel in 2011, which covers the same parasites AND fleas, but it was much more expensive. In 2015 interceptor returned to the market. There are also many other heartworm and flea products now available that were not marketed during the time Interceptor wasn't produced.

When I wrote my last book, I was paying only $1.60 per month to prevent heartworm in 12 dogs. That's $1.60 TOTAL, not $1.60 each. If I added cost of prevention for intestinal parasites and fleas, I was paying about $7-10 per pet. Heartworm, intestinal parasite, and flea prevention for much less than any product out there.

For more information on my protocol, and much, much more please check out my book Secrets of a Vet Tech. It will cost you a lot less than a box of Heartgard.

The Saga of T.Paws Vet Adventures and How to Manage Your Pet Dollars.

Thanks to some hard thinking and ingenuity, I am able to take care of eleven dogs (and 8 cats and a bearded dragon)  for probably less than what most people spend on one. Here, is a little insight on how I manage it and also a reminder that its Rabies Month in Tennessee!!!

In Tennessee, May is Rabies Awareness Month. Rabies is an acute infection of the brain caused by a virus.  It is usually transmitted from wild animal to unvaccinated pet and then to human. We have been able to make it a rare issue by mandatory vaccination.

Some states require the vaccine every year, while others require it every 3 years. There is no difference in the vaccine, however, the states make the decision based upon the possibility of exposure. For instance, in Tennessee, we live very close to wildlife. Many of us live in the mountains among the forest. While some states allow you to give the vaccine yourself, Tennessee is not one of them. So in Tennessee it is required once yearly to be given by a veterinarian.

The good news is that Rabies Clinics are offered all over the state this month at a discount. A rabies clinic may be held at a local Tractor Supply or feed store. Some veterinarians will pick a Saturday and spend the day giving rabies vaccines. Other vets, like mine, Mount Carmel Pet Hospital   is simply honoring the price all month long. You have no idea what a blessing that is for multiple dog owners.

(For availability in your area, check with your local humane society and check with your vet to see what they will be doing.)

I've decided to use the month as my vaccination month. I vaccinate my own pets for all other diseases, so that's what I did this month. However, I did it a week before I had them vaccinated for rabies simply to reduce the chance of vaccine reaction since most of my dogs are chihuahuas.

I also gave most of my guys a little dose of benadryl (1 mg/lb of body weight) prior to leaving for the vet. This helped them stay a little calmer and also helped to prevent vaccine reactions. 

Since I have 11 "forever" dogs at my rescue, T.Paws, being able to take a few at a time was very helpful. I started out with 3 who had skin issues (Tinker, Blue, Athena) and Ms Ruby, my "right hand dog", who insisted on going.  We discussed the cause, the doctor's recommendation, and cost. They are well aware of the financial challenges I face and are excellent at helping me prioritize and talk things through. I also had the doctor check Tinker's hernia which has been repaired once, and we talked about the possible outcomes of not having it repaired again. I also asked about Ms Ruby's teeth (which they looked at from afar :). She had just had a dental last year, but the tarter was horrible, so dental costs were discussed.  And we talked about the possibility of Blue having a thyroid problem. Then those guys were vaccinated and went home.

Next came Casey. She is my golden retriever mix. She is also absolutely terrified of storms, riding in the car, fireworks, and slippery floors. Dealing with 4 scared chihuahuas is a breeze compared to dear sweet Casey. Not only did she go for rabies, but also to get acepromazine, a common sedative for dogs who are not prone to seizures (it can lower the seizure threshold). Getting there and getting the exam was easy. Even getting the vaccine was a breeze. Getting home was CRAZY! She was so stressed when we got home, she took a sedative and so did I. I was done with rabies shots for that day!

Since the others only needed their rabies vaccine, my dad came over the next day and I had the rest of the clan in two crates. Teddy and Scrappy in one. Pearl, Onyx, Bo, and Panda in the other. We loaded it on the truck and off we went. Teddy was happy to see everyone as he had visited them not long ago, and, being Teddy, wanted to show "his" pack around (he takes his position as the official spokesdog of T.Paws very seriously). Everyone was weighed and vaccinated, and it was a very pleasant visit. Not to mention they loved the ride in the truck.

Here's where money management comes in. As I always do, I put it on the CareCredit Card. As I have mentioned before, this card is a healthcare card that gives me (usually) six months interest free to pay it off.

With a big group like I have, and little money to work with, I try to think ahead and plan on doing one thing a month. In January for instance, I might buy several months worth of Fipronil for fleas even though I don't need it. February, I might purchase extra food, March, vaccines, and so on. So now that I know that Ms Ruby needs a dental, Tinker needs hernia repair, Blue may need blood work, my goal is to put the money I would have been using for flea control (but already bought in January) into my CareCredit and get it paid off.

The doctors both agreed that Tinkers hernia repair needs to be first. So that is what's planned next. Some vets will give you discounts if you have multiple animals having a procedure on one day, so don't be afraid to ask).

But by spreading out the costs of the needs of my animals, using the techniques in Secrets of a Vet Tech , utilizing CareCredit, taking advantage of special discount months, and being completely open and honest with my veterinarian, I am able to take care of more animals for less than some spend taking care of one. And THAT is the secret of living as a rescue here at T.Paws.

Summer Shaves: To Shave or Not to Shave, That is the Question

In our home, summer time has always meant summer shaves. As soon as it was warm enough, off with the hair!

There is a bit of controversy regarding this issue. Some say that the natural state of the dog (and sometimes cat), is to have a coat even during summer. The thought is that is protects the skin from sunburn, briars, etc and it helps regulate body temperature.

While I do think that has some merit, my dogs have never been sunburned and I've never seen a sunburned dog while working in veterinary medicine. That is not to say it doesn't occur, but I've never observed it.

I personally think it has an advantage that is unrelated to keeping the pet cool. That advantage is getting to see almost every inch of skin on your pet.

Last year, after shaving Scrappy, my big ball of curly fluff, I found a growth near his rectum. There was no way in the world I would have seen it in a regular exam. He has no issues with full anal glands, so I normally did not "visit" that area. It wasn't an area (obviously) that I would normally pet. So, without a shave, I would not have known it was there. I had it removed immediately and after a year, so far, so good. No re growth.

I also think it helps prevent briars from being so attracted to the dogs. After living in Southern California where fox tails penetrate the skin, eyes, and ears of dogs every spring/summer, I realized just how easy it is for briars and fox tails to attach and hide among the fur without anyone realizing it. Having a clear view of the skin allows you to see any briars and remove them before they cause problems.

Another advantage is being able to spot fleas and ticks quickly. I watch for these parasites closely, because if I'm not careful, with a rescue full of pets, a parasite explosion can be difficult to contain. Its much easier to see the SOB's on a shaved pet, than a fully furred one. Frontline also applies to the skin directly, which is an advantage.

I did mention cats earlier. Normally, I don't shave my cats unless one is matted. However, I do have one cat named Peaches, who stands in line each summer to get her shave. When I took Peaches in, many years ago, she was covered in mats. I had no choice but to shave her. So, now, when the clippers come out, she gets in line. I don't ask questions, I just shave. It makes her happy.

UPDATE: Since this was written, another summer shave revealed another growth on Scrappy. It was removed and found to be cancer, but the report said it is unlikely to spread. Sadly, Peaches passed away after a long fight with hyperthyroidism. She was 14 years old.

If You Could Extend the Life of Your Pet, Would you Do It?? Here's How

The research is in, and what most every pet rescuer, vet tech, and veterinarian knows, has finally been backed up by numbers.

Pets Who are Spayed/Neutered Live Longer
 
Research from the University of Georgia which examined 40,139 death records from the Veterinary Medical Database from 1984–2004 found that unsterilized (NOT spayed/neutered) dogs lived only an average of  7.9 years vs. 9.4 years for sterilized dogs.

The reason for the difference is exactly what I covered in Secrets of a Vet Tech. Unsterilized dogs, particularly males, are more likely to die from trauma. They are more likely to get hit by a car as their hormones have them out looking for unspayed, in heat females. Females are more likely to die from reproductive related diseases such as infection of the uterus, death while giving birth, breast cancer, and more.

This is just the beginning. I go into great detail in the blog entry The #1 Way to Save Money as a Pet Parent

And if you think you don't have the money to get a pet spayed/neutered, there is financial aid available. At spay/neuter clinics, you can expect a dog spay to run only about $60 and a cat much cheaper. For financial aid information, see my blog Financial Aid for Vet Visits Options

There really are no excuses. Give your pet the one thing that can help extend his/her life. Show them as much love as they give you every day. Spay and Neuter.

Fighting the Outside Battle with Fleas

 

As I said in my last blog entry, I pay only about $2-5 per month for flea prevention, heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention. In my book Secrets of a Vet Tech, I tell you how I do that.

One of my biggest challenges has been how to eliminate fleas outside so that they do not jump on my pets to begin with.

I am hoping with the long cold depressing winter we had here in Tennessee, that the flea population will be reduced. Last year, we had little winter and the fight against fleas seemed all but lost.

I'm not a fan of using chemicals on the yard as I have wildlife that nibble on the grass. So after doing some research, I now use two natural items. One I buy at Tractor Supply, the other I buy at Amazon.

Before I go into what those items are, lets talk about how you know your pet has fleas. If I had a dollar for every pet parent that swore that their pet, who was scratching, did not have fleas and that there were no fleas in the house, I'd be driving a new car.  Some even assumed that because they had hardwood floors that they wouldn't have places for fleas to hide.

Pets with allergies to fleas can have a terrible reaction from just one bite. Its called flea allergy dermatitis

One of the first indications that there are fleas around is WHERE  your dog in particular, starts scratching. If its just above the base of the tail, you've got fleas somewhere. (This is usually when the pet parent starts saying "but Fifi doesn't have fleas and I KNOW I don't have fleas in my house". ) This is when a smart vet tech or veterinarian will get out the flea comb and look for flea dirt.

Flea dirt is basically flea poop. The way to differentiate flea dirt from regular dirt is to place the questionable dirt on a white paper towel and get it wet. If it turns reddish in color, that's flea dirt. for a heavier infestation, the picture is typical of what you will find.

Rest assured that if you have one flea on your dog or cat, you have a significant population in your house. You may not see it, but it is there. Fleas don't invade our lives and make them miserable by being easy to find, so the chances that you are going to sweep your house and find them are unlikely. You can sometimes vacuum up their eggs and throw away the vacuum bag, but you just will not know for sure as you can't see such microscopic eggs.

So for me, the fight starts outside. As soon as it is warm enough, I buy two products: Food Grade Diatomacious Earth and Beneficial Nematodes. Keep in mind that before it gets warm, I apply fipronil on each pet using the method and dosages in my book.

The Beneficial Nemotodes are tiny bugs that eat bad bugs including fleas. It used to be a pain to apply the nemotodes to your lawn, but recently, they came out with a spray formula that you can use at home. It takes a lot of them to cover a small space. I use 7-10 million in my dog lot. My property is nearly an acre, so I concentrate the nemotodes where the need is the greatest. Normally you only have to apply once a season.

Food Grade (and that's SUPER important) Diatomaceous Earth is my other natural solution. It is a powder commonly used with livestock. Its incredibly safe except you have to be careful not to inhale the dusty residue. I surround my cat house with it and most of my yard. A big bag only cost about $12 at Tractor Supply. One important note is that it must be applied to a dry ground and the ground will need to be dry for 12-24 hours. So make sure you know what the weather is calling for. DE can be applied as often as needed.

For the full story on flea control with all my secrets, please don't forget,  Secrets of a Vet Tech. My readers will tell you, its the best $10 you can spend.

Flea Prevention: Your Cost $15/mth.. My Cost $2-5/mth for flea, heartworm, and intestinal parasite prevention

If there is anything good about this long, long winter, it is the affect it has on the fleas. Last year, we barely had a winter and there was a huge population explosion of fleas as soon as it was warm enough. So for everyday its freezing outside, I just tell myself, that's one less flea.

With as many animals that live and pass through T.Paws Rescue, it is vital to keep the fleas at bay. I actually have a three step process that I do here at T.Paws to prepare for the fleas. But the secret that seems to garner the most attention is below.

I walked through a national pet supply chain the other day where I know many of the employees. While I was standing at the counter, I looked at them and said "You better hope none of your customers buy my book Secrets of a Vet Tech". They asked me why.

I pointed to the flea preventative nearby that was $84 for a six month supply. "Do you know how much I spend per dog for flea AND heartworm AND intestinal parasite prevention each month?"

My answer was "between $2-5 per pet per month using safe nationally known products".

They all looked around to make sure the boss was not nearby and took my business card.

While you will have to buy the book to get the entire secret, I will tell you that prevention begins the day it is warm enough for a flea to be "awake" and ready to go. If you buy my book a little too late and you already have a huge flea problem, there are three steps to getting rid of them.

• Treat the inside of the house (remove all pets)
• While outside, treat the pet with a topical flea product
• Once the pets are safely inside, treat the outside. 

Skip any of these steps, and you will lose the flea battle.  Another thing that will cause you to lose the flea battle is bathing your pet just before applying a topical flea preventative. The oils of the skin work like a highway transporting the flea preventative all over the body. Get rid of the oils, and you get rid of the transport system. Wait at least 2 days after bathing a pet to apply.

A word about cheap flea products make with Phenothrin (a toxin long ago banned as a lawn pesticide) and permethrin a neurotoxin. DON'T USE THEM. Actually that was three words, but you get my point. I've known many the pet who has died using these products. Read the label to be sure that your flea preventative doesn't contain any of these ingredients. 

Next time I'll cover the ever dreaded Flea Allergy Dermatitis.

The Decision of Euthanasia: In Memory of Buster

Euthanasia. I don't like it but I am a certified euthanasia technician. I chose to do it so animals that had to die, mostly because of illness and age, could go with as much love and gentleness as possible.Yet for each animal you put to sleep, a bit of you dies too.

This weekend I had to make that decision with my own dog. Buster, my 11 year old basset attacked my younger dog, Teddy. He went for the throat, ripped a hole in the vessel adjacent to the jugular. Once I got Teddy free from the attack, I took Teddy inside as blood gushed from his throat. I applied pressure to the wound, but couldn't let go to drive him to the vet.

I called my mom, asked her to come quickly. She was at least 20 minutes away. When the paper towels were saturated with blood, I took off my shirt and made a bit of a tourniquet just below the wound, which stopped the bleeding. Teddy was in shock and stayed very still. He looked at me and I looked at him and told him it was going to be okay. I could see that he was growing weak from blood loss.

My mom arrived and we rushed him to my vet Mt. Carmel Pet Hospital. They packed the wound in order to get the blood to clot. They kept him for the day to make sure it didn't start bleeding again.

I knew something was wrong with Buster to do something like that. Its not like him. He is one of my most patient dogs. The ironic thing was, the day Buster attacked Teddy, I had Buster scheduled to be seen because I had found a mass hidden between his hip and his anus.

 I discovered it by doing what I teach people to do. Know the normal, so you can spot the abnormal. I realized the problem because as he was walking up the hill, his anus seemed to be pushed just a bit to one side.

The day after the incident with Teddy, I took Buster in. I expected the verdict to be cancer because of the hardness and attachment of the lump to other tissues. The thing is, Buster was still so active and vibrant. He ate well although I couldn't get him to gain weight no matter how much I fed him.

The veterinarian did blood work which supported my suspicions that it was indeed cancer. Buster's calcium was so high that it was affecting the way he thought. I believe that's why he attacked Teddy.

We could tell the more we watched Buster, that he was in pain. He couldn't get comfortable, and didn't want to sit down. The doctor offered to send pain meds home, but I knew there was a bigger issue at hand. Buster tried to kill Teddy. Not just hurt him, but kill him. A few centimeters to one side or another and Teddy would have bled to death in a matter of minutes. Also, My two other basset/beagle mixes both died from the same type of cancer, so I knew what was to come for Buster.

I asked my parents to help me talk it out. We knew what we had to do. We couldn't let Buster go through the pain and we couldn't take the chance he would kill one of the others in his confusion.

The vet hesitated which I appreciated. She asked if we wanted a few days to think about it. After I explained my reasoning through my tears and she found out my background as a euthanasia technician, she went ahead with the procedure.

She was very kind and gentle. Buster was never scared. I explained how much I loved him and that he would soon be seeing his friends who had gone on before.

We brought his body home and Mom and Dad dug the grave. All the while Teddy watched as if he had done something wrong. Once Buster was buried and my parents gone, I went to Teddy, who always insist on getting in the top cage so he can put his paws on my shoulder and look me in the eye. I explained what happened.

People may find this strange, but even if Teddy doesn't understand my words (although I believe he does), he understands emotions. When his previous owner left him behind after telling me to get rid of him, he held on to me just the same way and he cried. He howled and talked and put his cheek against mine and when he was done, he laid it down and went about life.

This time he did the same. He whined when I told him Buster was sick and that was why he attacked him. Teddy put his forehead against mine, and it seemed to signal for him a closure of one part of his life and a new beginning.

Teddy is healing. The other dogs have accepted that Buster won't be coming back. Me? That's another story. So much of my heart has died in helping pets pass on gently as a euthanasia tech, that I don't know how much more is left. But I do not regret my decision. I had the power to prevent or put an end to Buster's pain. So I did. I had the responsibility to protect the other animals. So I did. And thanks to a very sweet veterinarian and her staff, Buster passed to the other side peacefully. And for that, I want to thank them. 

Financial Aid for Vet Visits: Options and Ideas

This week, my little Pearl, a tiny chihuahua, got very ill. She started coughing and could not stop. I mean, she could barely take a breath. I suspected kennel cough was being fought by all the dogs after fostering a little puppy who was apparently a carrier. Even though my guys had been vaccinated, this strain must have been a doozy.

It was 3:30 pm and I knew most vet offices closed at 5pm. I called the one place I had been considering after looking at their website, Mt. Carmel Pet Hospital and thankfully, even though we were new clients, they got us in right away. I knew this wasn't an issue I could treat myself and I am very thankful to the staff for helping me. Ms. Pearl is on the road to recovery and will be going back tomorrow for one more injection. 

Sometimes people assume that I wrote Secrets of a Vet Tech to replace a veterinarian. That is far from the truth.  First, the book was an autobiography showing what I did when I didn't have any choice. I could either figure out solutions or give up a group of un-adoptable animals to the shelter. If I did that, not only would several of the pets have died, I probably would have too as my heart exploded into a million pieces. So, yes I did some unconventional things to make it through.

Second, I'm a firm believer that while one should be well educated on things they can do at home, you also have to know when its time to go to the vet. There are simply things that should be left up to the vet and times when xrays and lab work are required. So being a partner with your veterinarian, or as I call it, part of your pet's health care team, is very important.

Knowing I didn't  have a lot of spare cash laying around, how did I pay for Pearl's visit?

Care Credit. This card is a healthcare credit card. It can be used for human care as well, but I try to reserve it for my pets. The way it works is you are given a certain debt limit, just like with any card. Once you use the card, you have usually 6 months to pay it back interest free. Go over that six months, and the finances charges are high, but you have to use it wisely. Not all veterinarians accept Care Credit, but you can find out on the website if your vet does. I was very happy to find out this week that my new vet Mt Carmel Pet Hospital did accept Care Credit.

On Facebook, I often see people asking if anyone knows a vet that accepts payments. This keeps that worry at bay. And you have to know that its really not fair to ask them to wait for payment if you have another option. 

There are also other options including a pet savings account that you put your nickles and dimes in and budget a certain amount monthly. There are groups who will help pay under certain conditions as well. In Secrets of a Vet Tech, I have a list of these types of groups, but today, this list came across my Facebook, so I wanted to share it.

We Need You! Fostering & Transportation Trains

Fostering isn't exactly a good way to save money, but it saves something more important: LIVES.

Its also the least we can do for animals who show such unbelievable unconditional love.

Normally when I tell people I foster, they say "Oh, I could never do that. I would keep them all."
Boy do I understand that!!! Its hard to let go.

I started fostering almost two years ago. During that time I have been able to foster and adopt out through a local humane society more than 30 animals. Now think about that. That's 30 animals that didn't have to die.

I'm not saying that to toot my own horn, I'm saying look what one person can do.

Sometimes these animals need only a few more days, maybe a few more weeks to find a home. Shelters are so overcrowded they do everything they can to avoid euthanasia, but where are all these pets to go?

The internet has helped.  Networking using methods like Facebook has helped. Shelters in the south are sending adoptable animals north. Breed rescues are being contacted from all over. Pilots for Paws are flying pets to new homes. A series of volunteers are driving pets all over the country to rescues. Petfinder.org is connecting pets in little ol' Southwest Virginia to the Big City!

The frustrating thing to shelter/rescue folks is knowing how many animals could be saved if three things happened:

1) People would spay and neuter their pets so there wasn't an overpopulation problem
2) More folks would open their homes and hearts to foster
3) Volunteers would step up to transport animals to new homes or rescues.

I've talked about spaying and neutering in other blogs, so lets focus on the other two. First, what does it mean to "foster"? Fostering usually is simply giving a dog/cat/small animal etc, a place to stay while a new home is found. Because of overcrowding, shelters can only give a pet so many days. For owner surrendered pets, that is usually between 3-5 days. If they have room, most shelters will keep them longer, because they, more than anyone, hate putting adoptable animals to sleep. But the reality is, there are very few uncrowded shelters.

So fostering gives them that time they need. Usually fostered pets will go up on Petfinder.org by the rescue you are fostering for, and normally, they will cover your expenses including food, vet care, etc. They will often ask you to bring the pet to adoption events to give folks a chance to meet him/her. You can specify what type of pet you can handle. For instance I specialize in small breeds like chihuahuas because I know I can integrate them with my other pets much easier. In the summer when it is warm enough, I might be able to take a larger dog because I have outdoor kennels.

You might prefer to foster cats, a couple dogs at a time, or maybe just one big dog. Its up to you.

I won't lie to you and tell you it doesn't hurt letting them go to a new home. But that hurt is worth knowing you saved their lives. I don't know about you, but I think that's worth it. Often the new family will be happy to send pics showing how great your little friend is doing. That's when it feels amazing!

Now the next thing that is desperately needed in animal rescue, are volunteers willing to transport pets. A dog in South Georgia may get adopted by a couple in Maryland. So, animal rescuers (who are wonderful and resourceful people) will set up a "transportation train". Volunteer A will drive Fluffy from the animal rescue to Chattanooga. Volunteer B picks up Fluffy in Chattanooga and drives him to Knoxville. Volunteer C picks up in Knoxville and drives to Wytheville, VA and so on.

If you love road trips, its an awesome thing!

Animal rescue is an emotional way of life, no doubt. Its not always easy. For those of us who are deeply into it, there is a saying. "You may lose your mind, but gain your soul".

But the thing is, you can get involved in small ways that make a HUGE difference. Contact your local humane society, SPCA, or rescue and see how you can get involved.

Because they can't drive themselves

Local contacts if  you are interested in helping transport pets:

 kathyboje @ gmail.com and
on.a.mission.from.dog@gmail.com

The #1 Way to Save Money as a Pet Parent

Photo Courtesy Janry Pet Resort

This is a subject that you either see the value of, or you don't. Some people don't care that 4 million pets are euthanized a year because they're not enough homes. However, if you don't care about that, then let me tell you this.

 I can help you save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Do I have your attention now? 

Give me a chance to explain before you determine I'm full of it. So here goes.

Note: "unaltered" means not spayed, neutered, or fixed. The following include some excerpts from my book Secrets of a Vet Tech

Lets start with the female dog.

For instance, it never seems to fail that at some point in the life of an unaltered female dog, she
will come into the clinic terribly ill. Often she is running a fever. Her white blood cell count will
be sky high indicating a heavy infection. Pyometra will be her diagnosis. “Pyo” as we call it, is
an infection of the uterus. The cure? Spaying her. Only this time it won't be cheap. I have
assisted in a lot of “pyo” surgeries and it is amazing what we will find. Sometimes, the uterus
and all surrounding tissues will be swollen to the size of full term pregnancy, but instead of
puppies, it will be full of infection. If not very carefully removed, you can puncture the tissue
sending infection throughout the body. The female dog will have to be on IV fluids and strong
antibiotics. The incision will probably be much bigger than it would have if her organs had been
a normal size. The cost of a surgery like this? Depending on the clinic and the severity of the
infection $350-$2500. The cost to have spayed her in the beginning $60-$250.  

In an effort not to gross you out too much, I have taken all the surgical images and put them in black and white. To the right is a normal uterus during spay. To the left is a pyometra. This particular one is in a small breed dog.

The image below is from a large breed dog. It is not unusual for the uterus to weigh 10-15 lbs when removed. The weight is caused by the infection. The incision needed to get out a uterus this size is MUCH more than a spay and takes longer healing time, IV fluids, and antibiotics.

Here in East Tennessee and  Southwest Virginia, and all across the country, there is financial assistance to get your pet altered. Contact your local humane society for what is available in your area. One of the best resources here in my area is the  Margaret B Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic . Another great one is Holly Help Spay and Neuter Fund . Often your local animal control will offer vouchers to pay for part or all of the cost of spaying your pet.

Female dogs, unlike cats, bleed during their heat cycle. That means on the carpet, the furniture,
the bed, or on YOU. I am amazed at how many people will buy diapers to put on the females
instead of spaying them. It is a waste of money and effort. Dealing with her mood swings are
also unpleasant and can lead to aggressive behavior 

Many things change when a pet is altered. For the ladies, the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as pyometra is eliminated. If spayed before the first heat cycle, her chances of breast cancer are drastically reduced. (And if you think breast cancer is rare in female dogs, I can promise you it is not). It also eliminated the chances of venereal tumors (yes, THOSE VD's) . Compare that to the cost of the surgeries, medications, and chemotherapy needed to treat those conditions and you are talking about thousands of dollars. Not to mention that by spaying her, her lifespan and quality of life is much improved.

This is true of female cats as well. 90% of female cats who contract breast tumors die from it. Not to mention her chances for contracting FIV and other diseases in increased massively.

If you've ever been around a female cat in heat, you no doubt know the sound. I never wait until a female cat goes into heat because it is one of the most annoying thing on the planet. Once, a kitten I rescued had to have a leg removed and her spay surgery had to wait. She begged everyone from my other cats, dogs, ferret, and even fighting cock (that I had also rescued) to relieve her of her....need. The day the vet gave the go ahead for surgery, it was done. And that little kitten is still alive sixteen years later.

Now onto the male dog and cat:

For the males, at least eight diseases or conditions are either eliminated or the chances greatly
reduced by neutering. Those include testicular cancer and torsion (twisting of the testicles),
rectal cancer, prostate abscess, cancer, and/or enlargement, hernias, benign perineal tumors,
orchitis (infection of the testicles, and venereal tumors (dogs can and do have venereal
diseases). Imagine the money needed to treat any one of those diseases.

This doesn't even include the practical side of the issue. Intact dogs and cats have as strong of a
desire to mate as the average human male teenager. (Scary, I know). The male of the species
(canine and feline) can smell out a female in heat from over a mile away. That's why 80% of the
pets hit by car are intact (unneutered) males. They have one thing on their mind and watching
for traffic is not it.

So now, not only do you have to worry about the cancers and tumors, you have to pay to have the pet treated for being hit by a car if he survives long enough to get to the vet. The cost of something like that? Its depends. Is it a broken leg, or internal injuries? On average my estimate would be anywhere from $200-$1000+. 

Unaltered males tend to fight more and urine mark more often. The cost of having your own
dog or cat repaired is one thing. Having an aggressive pet, may mean paying to have the
neighbor's pet (or child) repaired. Unaltered male cats tend to pick up deadly diseases and get
bite abscesses more often.

Contrary to popular belief, an unneutered male dog is NOT a better protection dog than a
neutered dog. And a final note. I realize some men have trouble neutering their male dogs. They
feel as if they are doing a disservice to them. In fact, the opposite is true. A dog that does not
have to worry about nature's urges can focus on the job at hand. You are helping him live a
longer, happier life. If you could give him many more years with you, wouldn't you do it? You
can! Don't let your feelings get in the way of doing what is right for your dog. He will not miss
out on “the joy of sex”. He will have a greater chance of missing out on the joy of being hit by a
car, however. Isn't that more important?

EARS: Infections, Mites, Hemotomas, & Cropping

Probably one of the most frequent reasons for visits to the vet is an ear infection. Often, the pet parent will first notice a strange odor or see the pet scratching or pawing at the ear.

One of the most common mistakes, it seems, is assuming that the pet has ear mites. Cats and kittens are much more susceptible to ear mites, but you will also see ear mites in the dog. Typically ear mites are characterized by a very dark, grainy appearance, and are extremely itchy. Touch the cat's ears and get out of the way, because that back foot with nails out will be scratching almost immediately. Proper diagnosis is under the microscopic. In my book, Secrets of a Vet Tech, I teach you how you can diagnose these bad boys at home and I give you a very inexpensive home made remedy for them.

 The picture on the left shows the appearance of ear mites as I explained. It is very dark and grainy. Its important to clean the ears as good as possible before applying ear mite medication.

Below is a microscopic view of the ear mite.

As I said, dogs, typically have other ear issues. Normally, these are yeast or bacteria related. Dogs with floppy ears and long haired dogs with thick ear hair are most susceptible to infection. The reason for this is the warm, moist environment created. A very easy way to make the environment inhospitable to infection is by weekly cleaning with a vinegar:water mixture, making the environment more acidic, and for dogs with ear hair, plucking the hair.

 To the left is an ear with a yeast infection. Notice the dry, flaky appearance. Yeast infection can easily spread to other parts of the skin such as the paws when the dog scratches. You can also find that you will see ear infections in pets with any allergy that affects the skin, including food allergies. Remember, the ear is just another part of the largest organ on the body....the skin. So a food allergy can cause big problems even in the ears.

 To the right is an ear with a bacterial infection. Notice how moist the area is. This will come along with a very strong odor, redness and swelling. In this case, a vet would probably shave the surrounding fur, flush the ears with a nolvasan solution and apply a topical medication. Some veterinarians will sedate the pet if he/she feels that cleaning will be too painful for the pet. This is why its so important to do regular physical exams at home, so a problem like this does not occur.

Ear cropping proponents claim that cropping prevents ear infections, however, according to the Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, 3rd Ed, there is no medical advantage to the procedure at all. Ear cropping is the common name of the otoplasty procedure where the outer portion of the ear is removed. It is common in Great Danes, Boxers, Dobermans, Pitbulls, Boston Terriers, and a few other breeds.

Historically, it was done without anesthesia on dogs who were livestock guardian dogs, but most often for baiting and fighting dogs. Puppy mills still continue the practice without anesthesia as they do tail docking.

The idea that ear cropping prevents infection is because it allows air flow into the ears. However, if it were as helpful as believed, ear cropping would be done to dogs prone to infection such as those who spend lots of time in water. Labs and Golden Retrievers, both who typically love water and are hunting dogs, often come into the vet hospital with ear infections. Yet an ear cropping is never suggested.

The truth is this procedure is done because tradition has dictated it as has dog show conformation standards and because humans like the look of it in certain breeds. The doberman and pit bull look much more fierce with cropped ears, for instance.

Thankfully, this is changing. The AKC says that uncropped dogs will not be disqualified and people are starting to realize that if we are going to change the vicious reputation of "bully breeds" in America, we have to stop making them look the part. We have to be honest and  acknowledge that ear infection prevention is not the real reason for putting the dog through the procedure.

Ear problems, whether bacterial, yeast, or mites, if not dealt with, can lead to aural hemotomas. A hemotoma is a collection of blood and fluid caused by an injury or shaking. Usually the shaking of the head back and forth when the ears are itchy or painful, is the cause. Surgery is required to drain the hemotoma, and it will have to be tacked down to prevent it from filling up again. A hemotoma will usually forever change the look of the ear.  Below is a picture of a aural hemotoma on a cat. The ear has been shaved in preparation for surgery.

 So, its up to us to keep an eye on our pets and to look out for problems. This saves us money and ensures the comfort of our pets.

Simple, frequent exams, weekly ear cleaning, and plucking if necessary, can prevent so much trouble.

Proactive Pet Parenting....its what its all about.