hillsiders - Hillside Veterinary Centre

HILLSIDERS
SUMMER 2012
Spring has sprung, and fleas and ticks are back with us to enjoy our country walks. This year
has seen innovations in parasite control. Serendipity of a research chemist not being bitten
by sand fleas whilst on holiday has led to the discovery of a new compound that is harmless
to dogs but fatal to fleas. The old flea tablets contained organophosphate:
poisonous to all. One dose of the new chewable tablet will start acting in 30
minutes and be 100% effective in 4 hours. It persists for 30 days, thus
monthly dosing. This is a handy product that avoids having to apply
drops directly on the skin or be wary about handling the dog afterwards.
Another development is the reworking of the flea collar. We now have a
flea collar that repels ticks and kills fleas and ticks for 8 months. This collar doesn’t contain
organophosphates or pyrethrums, so isn’t toxic to cats or children. The product is bound
into the polymer of the collar and diffuses to maintain the maximum required concentration
in the coat. This makes it safe to apply other spot-ons for mites or lungworm whilst wearing
the collar. Placed on the dog or cat in spring it will provide protection through to autumn
covering the main tick season. This is the only product that repels and kills ticks
safe for cats.
Flies are active now. Rabbits need checking daily for fly-strike. The
eggs will hatch to maggots in 12 hours. Two preventative
products are available – Rearguard, a growth inhibitor
that prevents the maggot going through the larval
stages. This needs applying every 10 weeks. In addition, Xenex Ultra, a
pyrethrum based product that repels flies, kills fleas, lice, ticks and mites (and,
unfortunately, cats). This has to be applied fortnightly to achieve continuous protection.
Rabbits' lives have also been improved. The myxomatosis vaccine has increased efficacy,
and requires once yearly vaccination. It has also been combined with Viral Haemorrhagic
Disease. Therefore one trip to the vets rather than three trips per year. Don’t forget to
‘worm’ your rabbits; more to reduce their exposure to E. cuniliculi, a cause of the rolling
rabbit, than gut worms.
A combination of the new tick collar with monthly applications of a spot –
on for lung and heartworm will be ideal for travelling to Europe. The
removal of the rabies blood test means a dog, cat or ferret can be shopping
in France in 3 weeks, rather than 7 months. To complement this, there is now
a vaccine to protect against Leishmaniasis.
Another major breakthrough for our canine friends is a drug to treat Mast Cell Tumours.
This represents about 20% of malignant skin cancers in dogs. This drug is not
chemotherapeutic ‘poison’ acquired by quickly dividing cells but aimed at specific receptor
sites (c-Kit to be precise) in the malignant cells. This drug may have applications in other
cancers.
Development has also progressed with dietary control of Hyperthyroidism in cats. As the life
expectancy of cats has increased, they are presenting with ‘old age’ diseases. Until now, we
have treated these cats with a drugs specifically aimed at the thyroid. A diet has been
created, as an alternative, deficient in iodine, the building block for thyroxin. This prevents
the overactive thyroid from producing too much hormone. The common signs of
hyperthyroidism are an increase appetite with weight loss, a racing heart, anxiety and
possibly increased thirst due to effects on liver and kidneys. A blood test is required to
confirm and monitor the condition. Conversely, budgerigars require an iodine block to
supplement their diet. As the only seed-eating parrot, their diet is deficient and may result
in goitre. This can present as a respiratory click.
Food additives and neutriceuticals are now an accepted part of our diet. Unfortunately,
there is still a lot of mis-information and hype available. Because this industry is not as
regulated as the pharmaceutical industry there is a wide
variation in the quality and efficacy of the products. It is legal
to claim an ingredient, even if it is treated in such a way to
reduce its value, or if it has been sourced from poor quality
stock. The other problem is that dogs, cats and people are
not the same inside any more than they look similar outside.
Sharing a settee doesn’t mean you can share neutriceuticals.
The cumulative research on glucosamine and chondroitin
supplements is they do not aid, nor damage joint repair. Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids
(EFA) however have been shown to be beneficial with a range of inflammatory conditions.
There are several different forms of these EFAs. They are called essential because the body
cannot build them. For example, arachidonic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) is essential in cats,
but not dogs. Supplying the correct
orrect fatty acids in high enough amounts
am
can
n significantly
reduce the amount of steroidss required for some conditions. 60% of cats in one trial
responded to EFAs alone for the treatment of their allergic disease. Collecting
cting EFAs from
salmon oil by cold compression
on produces the correct type of EFAs to be beneficial
eneficial to dogs
and cats. Omega-3 EFA extracted
cted from plant oils whilst useful for humans are not utilised by
cats. Yumega cat and Yumegaa Plus are products that meet this requirement.
nt. These products
will also help with excessive moulting. The
T down side is that they are oils. They do contain
calories, and introduced too fast
f may cause diarrhoea. Another way of improving
proving the skin, if
the coat is dry or itchy, is applying
lying a spot
spot-on called Allerderm Spot-on. This
is helps patch the
lipid complex covering the skin,
n, reducing skin sensitivity and increasing moisture.
oisture.
Ocu-Glo is a pharmaceutical-ggrade neutriceutical developed to slow retinal
al degeneration in
dogs. Similar to I-Caps for human
man macular degeneration, these capsules have been found by
ophthalmic veterinary surgeons
ns helpful in treating aging processes in the eye and diabetic
cataracts.
We have long used heavy metals
tals for treating infections, from brass handles
es in hospitals to
silver ointments and dressings.
s. A microf
microfibre finger-shroud with impregnated
ted silver is now
available for cleaning teeth. Dog or cat toothpaste can also be added. Don’t
n’t use human
toothpaste – it is designed to be spat out! A Silver
Silver-water eye spray can reduce
duce tear staining
too.
An alternative for the face, especially
ly the folds in pugs
and bulldogs is clx wipes. These contain
tain the
compounds in our ear cleaners that shift oily
accretions and have an antibacteriall action. For sun
block, we stock Filta-clear, a zinc-free
ee sun block safe
for cats, dogs, and horses.
Insulin pens have crossed over
er from human diabetes. These pens contain a vial of insulin
and release a set amount at a click of a button. This makes administration safer and easier.
Unfortunately the vials are smaller
maller (2.7ml) resulting in a higher unit cost of insulin. There are
two sizes, 0.5-8 IU and 1-16IU
U pens.
Please be aware of the small print in your insurance policy. Some insurers insist on being
informed within 3 months of an event even if you do not think you will bee claiming at that
point. 12-month policies will look back at any similar event even if they are
re not related, and
if greater than 12 months ago,
o, decline the claim. And a general reminder, if you change your
policy, even within a company,
y, any pre-existing
pre
condition will be excluded.
d.
On a sadder note, earlier this year we had to part with our old chocolate Labrador, Indie. It
doesn’t get any easier, even though
hough I’m very familiar with the process. Only
nly about 10% of
our pets pass on quietly in their
eir sleep, the others may face with a difficult,, stressful and
sometimes painful death. It iss at this stage when quality of life is poor, thee future grim, we
need to make that hard decision.
ion. This can occur at the surgery, or if requested
ested and possible,
we can attend the home. After
erwards you may bury your pet at home, or you may arrange
to take them to a pet cemetery
ry or crematorium. We can
arrange collection at our surgery.
gery. With cremation, it is
possible to organise an individual
dual cremation and their
ashes returned. We have an informa
nformation sheet with fees
available on request. Indie joined
ned our other pets in our
garden.
Congratulations to Carly on graduating
raduating as a Registered
Veterinary Nurse.