DNA Testing: Discover Your Dog’s Breed
Pet Care News From Your Veterinarian ® $4.25 FALL | Volum e 6, No. 4 DNA Testing: Discover Your Dog’s Breed How to Prevent Heartworm Disease Keep Your Cat’s Teeth Pain-Free Congestive Heart Failure: Know the Signs Important Message About Your Pet WHEREVER YOUR BEST FRIEND GOES Fleas don’t just infest your pet. By spreading their eggs and larvae around, they end up in your carpet, your couch, everywhere. To stop an infestation, ask for the brand vets recommend most: FRONTLINE® Plus. It kills fleas fast, plus their eggs and larvae—and even ticks. It’s waterproof. And just one dose lasts all month long. Make sure the only one getting comfy in your home is your pet. Ask for the Vet’s #1 Choice,* FRONTLINE Plus. *Vet-dispensed; MDI Data. ®FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2009 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. FLE09CNPRINT_R Kills fleas and ticks fast...and lasts. FALL | VOL. 6, No. 4 Picture-Perfect Pets Pet Care News From Your Veterinarian IN THIS ISSUE Congestive 2Treating Heart Failure Is your dog coughing? See your veterinarian. Charlie Lucy Companion Animal Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla. Daisy Jena Lee Oakwood Animal Hospital, Oakwood, Ga. Dog’s a What? 4 My DNA tests can help create a health plan as unique as your pet. 8 Have a Heart Find out why heartworm prevention is so important. Animal Hospital of Treasure Island, Treasure Island, Fla. Gone Mad? 12 Cavities Ways to prevent painful Shores Animal Hospital, Gainesville, Fla. Meranda Animal Medical Clinic, Melbourne, Fla. tooth resorption in cats. Blood 14Life-Saving Donations Does your pet qualify as a blood donor? Danger “D” Antigua Veterinary Hospital, Saint Augustine, Fla. Rudy and Riley Greenbriar Animal Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla. Pet Quarterly® is an educational resource provided by your veterinary hospital. Comments are welcome at [email protected] ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Pet Quarterly® magazine does not make any representations as to opinions or facts as presented. Reproduction of contents in any form is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Pet Quarterly, 2951 34th Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33711 Jerry MVS Animal Clinic, Deerfield Beach, Fla. Lucky Powers Ferry Animal Hospital, Sandy Springs, Ga. Share your photos with other PQ readers. Email your best shot and the name of your veterinary hospital to [email protected]. To be published, images should be at least 3 inches at 300 dpi. We’ll publish as many as we can. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 1 Senior Wellness Congestive heart failure: Know the Signs Is your dog coughing? It could mean heart disease. Here’s what your veterinarian can do to help. By Davin J. Borde, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (Cardiology) Key Points Signs of congestive heart failure in dogs may start with a subtle cough. Immediate veterinarian attention may help save the dog’s life. Most dogs respond very well to therapy and can survive years after diagnosis. Your veterinarian will likely perform several tests to diagnose congestive heart failure, including an electrocardiogram and a chest x-ray. Several treatment therapies are available for congestive heart failure—including drugs to help reduce blood pressure and control leaking of the mitral valve and to remove fluid from the lungs. Your veterinarian may prescribe a new drug called pimobendan, which can assist the heart in pumping more strongly and reduce the leak at the mitral valve. C Coughing or respiratory distress can be one of the early signs that your dog is suffering from heart disease. The signs may be subtle at first, and if ignored, can get worse. Getting your pet evaluated promptly by your veterinarian can save its life. Congestive heart failure is a syndrome that can result from various heart diseases. Lung congestion can develop, and your dog may cough, have difficulty breathing or not want to exercise. Congestion can also develop in other areas of the body, causing swelling of the legs (called limb edema) or fluid buildup in the abdomen. Congestive heart failure is caused by an abnormality of heart function, and just like in humans, results in failure of the heart to pump blood to meet the demands of the body. Valve Disease The most common cause of congestive heart failure in dogs is degenerative valve disease, known as endocardiosis. This results in thickening of valves within the heart, causing a leak at these valves. It is a disease typically found in older dogs, often in smaller breeds such as toy and miniature Poodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Pekingese and Boston Terriers. One study suggested that 10 percent of dogs ages 5 to 8 years, 20 percent to 25 percent of dogs ages 9 to 12 years, and 30 to 35 percent of dogs age 13 years old and up demonstrate heart murmurs (abnormal heart sounds) suggestive of degenerative valve disease. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are particularly predisposed to degenerative valve disease: One study found that 59 percent of Cavaliers age four years or older demonstrated evidence of degenerative valve disease. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of the breeds at risk for congestive heart failure. 2 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly Breeds At Risk for Congestive Heart Failure These are some of the breeds that may develop congestive heart failure. Talk to your veterinarian about a wellness plan. Small Breeds Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Toy and Miniature Poodles n Pomeranians n Chihuahuas n Pekingese n Boston Terriers n n Large Breeds oberman Pinschers D Boxers n Great Danes n Irish Wolfhounds n Golden Retrievers n n Other Warning Signs Congestive heart failure may also be caused by a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. This typically affects larger dogs and certain breeds such as Doberman Pinschers, Treatment Options Your veterinarian has several effective therapies to treat congestive heart failure, which can resolve symptoms such as respiratory distress, coughing or disinterest in exercise. Typically, a veterinarian will start the dog on an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, such as enalapril, benazepril or lisinopril to reduce the degree of leak at the mitral valve. ACE inhibitors reduce blood pressure, making it easier for your dog’s heart to pump blood and less likely that blood will leak at the mitral valve. Diuretic therapy with drugs such as furosemide, spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide is also typically used to remove fluid from the lungs. Your veterinarian may also prescribe a new drug called pimobendan. This drug can help the heart pump more strongly and reduce the leak at the mitral valve. Other medications to control electrical disturbances, as well as other supplements and treatments, can also be used to resolve congestive heart failure. Boxers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Golden Retrievers. We don’t know exactly what causes this disease, but it results in a severe weakening of the heart muscle. Some possible causes may include taurine and/or carnitine deficiency (these are amino acids found naturally in the diet; however some dogs may require larger amounts); hypothyroidism (a disease resulting in low levels of a hormone called the thyroid hormone); and viral, parasitic or other infectious diseases. Certain drugs as well as other systemic diseases also can weaken the heart muscle. Detecting the Disease Your veterinarian will likely perform several tests to diagnose congestive heart failure. An electrocardiogram will assess the electrical activity of the heart and search for any electrical disturbances that may be a sign of congestive heart failure. Chest x-rays (thoracic radiographs) will assess the presence of fluid in the lungs and look at the shape and size of the heart shadow to rule out significant enlargement. Prior to starting heart medications, your veterinarian may also perform other tests, such as an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) and blood work. Each case of congestive heart failure is different, so it’s hard to accurately predict how long your dog will live if it is diagnosed with degenerative valve disease and congestive heart failure. Most dogs respond very well to therapy and can survive years after diagnosis. Getting your pet to your veterinarian early when you notice signs of cough or respiratory distress is key to increasing the chances of successful diagnosis and treatment. n Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 3 General Wellness My Dog’s a what? Delving into dog DNA isn’t just for geneticists and breeders. It’s a vital tool you and your veterinarian can use to develop a health plan as unique as your pet. By Mary Scoviak Key Points Curious about your dog’s breed? Ask your veterinarian about a DNA test. The Mars Wisdom Panel MX DNA test requires a blood sample drawn by your veterinarian. tm Knowing your dog’s mix of breeds can also help your veterinarian develop a customized wellness plan for your pet. W “What kind of dog is that?” It’s usually one of the first questions people ask Chicagoan Alison Otto when they meet her dog, Milo, and one she has often asked herself. Golden Retriever and Collie mixes are the most common guesses. But neither explains his amber-colored eyes, love of running or protective yet shy behavior. So what kind of chromosomal cocktail came together to make the mix that’s Milo? Without DNA testing, not even veterinarians can be sure. “The vast majority of the time, what you think your dog is and what your dog really is can be 180 degrees apart—and that’s just as true in terms of what veterinarians think as what pet owners think. We guess wrong, too,” says Carol Osborne, DVM, founder and president of the American Pet Institute. Milo’s DNA testing revealed that he is likely a purebred, possibly a European breed the test does not yet cover. 4 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly That’s not surprising considering that dogs are the most diverse mammalian species on earth. Sure, they all started as gray wolves, but now there are more than 300 distinct breeds recognized by various countries’ kennel clubs, and an almost limitless number of possible combinations. More than an estimated 50 percent of all dogs in the United States are mixed breeds and, according to a 2007 online ZoomInfo panel, 86 percent of their owners aren’t sure of their dogs’ breeds. Curiosity is big driver in the decision to delve into a dog’s family tree. And as costs have come down to around $125 and blood tests such as Mars Veterinary’s Wisdom Panel MX DNA test have become readily available, more pet owners want to stop the guessing game. TM Doggy DNA Testing It takes a simple blood test and a few weeks to find out. Mars Veterinary invited Pet Quarterly to test a dog, and we chose Milo, who was adopted from a shelter eight years ago. Using the Wisdom Panel MX DNA test, Milo’s veterinarian drew a small blood sample and sent it for analysis. Scanning Milo’s blood chromosome by chromosome, a computer What breeds make up this adorable canine? program compared his DNA markers against those of 157 pure American DNA testing revealed that Rimsky is a Kennel Club breeds included in Cocker Spaniel, Maltese and Norwich Terrier mix. Mars’ database. Wisdom Panel MX draws on groundbreaking canine research conducted by the United nary practices in the United States and United Kingdom. Kingdom-based Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. In From those samples, researchers mapped out more than developing the test, the center’s scientists collected and 300 genetic markers that help to identify the pure breeds analyzed more than 19 million canine DNA markers in a dog’s background. from 13,000 samples donated by dog owners and veteriIs all that science necessary just to decide whether there’s a dash of Poodle or a little Shih Tzu in your dog’s background? Yes, says Dr. Neale Fretwell, head companion animal geneticist, Mars Veterinary. “The database was Mixed Breeds Rule! what we used to create breed signatures. Not every Collie Your mutt’s pedigree-free charm is a blessing in disguise, had identical DNA, but two Collies are still much more TM guess the breed because these dogs are often healthier than purebreds, says Dr. Neale Fretwell, head companion animal geneticist, Mars Veterinary. He notes that mixes are less likely to suffer from genetic disorders of any specific breed, because these require two recessive genes to occur. So Fluffy’s mismatched ears will likely be a part of your life for years to come. See the cover for an important message from your veterinarian. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 5 General Wellness 39 Did You Know? There are an estimated 39 million mixed-breed dogs in the United States. Source: Mars Veterinary alike than a Collie and a German Shepherd. Every dog is a puzzle,” Fretwell adds. As it turns out, Milo had nothing in common with Collies, Retrievers—or any other “common” dog breed. After eight years of being incognito as just another lovable mutt, the test revealed a low degree of variation in his DNA markers, an indicator usually found in purebreds. His closest matches—German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees and Dalmation—weren’t close enough. “So we had to investigate whether it was possible that the dog was a purebred breed the test doesn’t cover at present,” says Fretwell. Though the geneticist was conducting more research at press time, his view is that Milo is possibly a rare German breed called a Hovawart—an intelligent working dog whose name means “guardian of the estate” and one that can trace its origins to the Bronze Age. (Milo’s exact heritage can’t be positively identified until his breed is added to the database.) Curious about your dog’s breed? Talk to your veterinarian. The test requires a blood sample drawn by your veterinarian. 6 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly Preventive Medicine Not every DNA test will uncover a glamorous lineage. What the test can do is give both the pet’s owner and veterinarian detailed information that’s necessary to keep the dog in optimal health and prevent typical illnesses for its breed. “If I know a dog has Boxer or Doberman Pinscher in its DNA, I recommend an EKG,” says Michael Rumore, DVM, Lake Seminole Animal Hospital, Seminole, Fla. “Both breeds are prone to cardiomyopathies [a category of heart disease]. But an EKG would be less of a priority for a Shih Tzu. Understanding what breeds are present in the dog’s DNA allows the owner and veterinarian to set priorities.” In the future, this test may even be able to tell if a dog is prone to cancer. Fretwell says that the genetic markers for cancer in dogs are not yet known, but are the subject of research in academic laboratories. For now, though, DNA testing can help you better understand and care for your dog. n Mary Scoviak is a Cincinnati,Ohio-based editor and writer. To Learn More To find out more about dog breeds and DNA testing, visit: n Wisdom Panel MX: www.wisdompanel.com n Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition: www.waltham.com n American Kennel Club: www.akc.org TM Reasons to Know Your Dog’s Breed When it comes to genetic information, what you don’t know may hurt your pet. For example, Dobermans are often afflicted with bloat—not that uncomfortable feeling humans experience, but a serious medical condition that can be fatal if not treated within 24 hours. Dr. Neale Fretwell, head companion animal geneticist, Mars Veterinary, points out that Collies are especially prone to drug reactions and must be medicated with care. Carol Osborne, DVM, adds that sight hounds, such as Whippets, have low body fat and are exceptionally sensitive to anesthesia. “It’s unlikely they’ll survive if they’re overdosed,” she cautions. Each breed faces its own set of health risks, and DNA testing is a building block for any wellness program. “Finding out what’s in your dog’s DNA doesn’t magically fix anything, but it does allow you and your veterinarian to work together to create a personalized health plan for your dog,” says Osborne. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s breed or mix of breeds and ask for a wellness plan based on these risk factors. Akita Alaskan Malamute Am. Staff. Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Belgian Tervuren Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise Border Collie BOSTON TERRIER Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Briard Brittany BullMastiff Bull Terrier Bulldog (English) Bulldog (French) Cairn Terrier Cavalier King Charles Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua l ular Gastro -intestina Osteo -artic Obesity log Uro Dermato lithiasis ic l ular Gastro -intestina Osteo -artic Obesity log Uro Dermato Chow Chow Cocker Spaniel Collie Dachshund Dalmatian Doberman Pinscher English Setter Finnish Spitz Fox Terrier German Shepherd Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenees Greyhound Irish Setter Jack Russell Terrier Labrador Retriever Lhasa Apso Maltese Mastiff Miniature Schnauzer Neopolitan Mastiff lithiasis ic l ular Gastro -intestina Osteo -artic Obesity log lithiasis Uro Dermato ic Common Canine Health Risks by Breed Newfoundland Old English Sheepdog Otterhound Pekingese Pointer Pomeranian Poodle Pug Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saint Bernard Scottish Terrier Shar Pei Shetland Sheepdog Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Silky Terrier Springer Spaniel Weimaraner West Highland White Whippet Yorkshire Terrier RisK Intensity High ModerateLow Very Low Source: Survey conducted with 93 veterinarians, Beaver Creek, Colo., May 2007 Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 7 Parasite Control have a heart Get your pets tested for heartworm every year— and be vigilant about preventatives to avoid this dangerous disease. By Keri Weyenberg Key Points Heartworm is caused when an infected mosquito bites a dog or cat. Heartworm infection has severe health consequences, including inflammation and compromised heart and lungs. This can lead to permanent damage or death. Treatment for heartworm in dogs can be a grueling process requiring multiple injections, office visits, blood draws and cage rest, with costs rising up to $1,000. There is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats. Heartworm is on the rise across the United States. All dogs and cats are at risk, no matter where you live. It can happen to your pet. Prevention is easy and comparatively inexpensive. For the cost of a Frappuccino once a month, you can protect your pet from this debilitating and deadly disease. 8 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly E Every year, pet owners flood into veterinary practices across the country to have their pets tested for heartworm disease, get preventative medication and then hope to not receive a call from their veterinarian saying their pet has tested positive. What’s so important about this annual pilgrimage? “Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals,” explains Sheldon Rubin, DVM and president of the American Heartworm Society (AHS). These nasty worms can cause inflammation and block blood flow to your pet’s heart and lungs. Up to 250 worms can infect a dog, and each worm can grow up to 12 inches long. Heartworm is transmitted when a mosquito sucks the blood of an infected animal and then transfers the microfilaria, or heartworm larvae, when it bites the next animal. An estimated 1 million dogs test positive for heartworm each year in the United States, a statistic that experts say is entirely preventable. “Prevention of heartworm disease using safe and effective medications as directed by your veterinarian is near 100 percent,” says Rubin. Prevention vs. Treatment Treatment is available for dogs unlucky enough to be infected, but it can be a grueling process. Dogs are injected with Immiticide®, an arsenic-based drug. Multiple treatments can be required, depending on how badly the Heartworm disease is spreading across the Southeastern United States, with most clinics reporting more than 26 cases annually and some having upward of 100 cases. HEARTWORM INCIDENCE 2001 HEARTWORM INCIDENCE 2007 Average number of cases per reporting clinic <1 case/clinic n 1–5 cases/clinic n 6–25 cases/clinic n 26–50 cases/clinic n 51-99 cases/clinic n 100+ cases/clinic Heartworm on the Rise Think you don’t need to worry about heartworm? Think again. Every three years the American Heartworm Society conducts a study to see where more cases are popping up. The most recent completed study concluded in 2007 and showed for the third time since 2001 that heartworm rates had risen and that the area in which it is usually detected has expanded. The disease is being found more frequently in the Northwest, a part of the country that was rarely affected before. Regions that have always fought heartworm, such as the Mississippi Delta, South-central and Southeastern states, are experiencing a significant increase in the number of pets diagnosed. Why the sudden upswing? Doug Carithers, DVM and vice president of the American Heartworm Society, suggests that it’s likely a combination of events. Changing weather patterns can allow mosquitoes to live longer or breed more. In the current economic climate, pet owners might be less likely to purchase preventative or to give it consistently. As testing methods get more advanced, veterinarians could be finding more cases that would have previously gone undiagnosed. The severity of heartworm incidence shown in these maps is based on the average number of cases per reporting clinic. Some remote regions of the United States lack veterinary clinics, so there are no reported cases from these areas. Source: ©American Heartworm Society Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 9 Parasite Control Heartworm Dos and Don’ts n n D o get your pets tested every year for heartworm. D o use year-round heartworm preventatives for both dogs and cats. n n Don’t share doses between pets. Don’t skip doses. pet is affected. There are also repeated office visits, blood work and plenty of down time for the dog. Recovery can take up to three months or more, with the pet requiring cage rest or limited activity to prevent injury to the heart and lungs. All this can rack up to $1,000 in costs. Michael Murray, DVM and technical director for Merial Limited, maker of the Heartgard line of preventatives, can’t stress the importance of prevention enough: “Prevention is a vastly superior alternative to treatment, being safer and less expensive,” he says. Adds Rubin, “It costs no more than a cup of Starbucks a month to prevent heartworm.” A wide range of prevention drugs is available for dogs, including monthly oral medications, topicals and even a bi-annual injection. All preventatives work by killing the larvae that have infected the pet and that are under the pet’s skin, migrating towards their ultimate destination, the heart and lungs. Talk to your veterinarian about the best method of prevention. Protect Your Cats Heartworm disease is more common among dogs, but cats are also susceptible. In cats, heartworm infection can lead to a severe respiratory disease known as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease, and in some cases, sudden death. Because there is no approved treatment for cats, prevention is all the more critical. “There is no treatment available for our feline friends,” says Rubin. “The best option is to wait for the worm to die, about two to three years, and try to treat any resulting symptoms. Cats usually visit the veterinarian half as often as dogs and typically either survive the two years with heartworm without ever being diagnosed or die suddenly, making it difficult to estimate how many cats contract the disease.” Have your cats tested each year, and talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate preventative. Even indoor cats should be given preventatives, because mosquitoes do get into homes and can potentially bite your pets. Year-Round Prevention In 2005, the American Heartworm Society updated its recommendations, extending the length of preventative treatment from nine months of the year to year round. The change was based on several key reasons: n You are less likely to forget to give your pet a preventative if you are consistently giving it. n Pets may travel with their owners to mosquito-populated areas. n The possibility of milder winters could allow mosquitoes to live longer. At a Glance: Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats Cats Parasite Dirofilaria immitis Transmission Mosquito Susceptibility to infection 61% to 90% of cats exposed to infective larvae become infected Duration of worms 2-3 years Organs most typically affectedLungs Diagnosis Complex Treatment • None approved • High risk of complications Compounds for prevention 4 approved in U.S. Dogs Dirofilaria immitis Mosquito Virtually 100% of dogs exposed to infective larvae become infected 5-7 years Heart and lungs Relatively simple • 1 compound approved • Complications manageable Several approved in U.S. Source: American Heartworm Society 10 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly Each heartworm can grow up to 12 inches long. Passing the Test Two common tests for diagnosing heartworm are Most preventatives also include medications that the microfilaria filter test and the antigen test. The filter test is prevent other types of intestinal parasites, some that a simple blood test that looks for microfilaria (mosquito larvae) are transmissible to people. circulating in the pet’s blood. An estimated 15 percent to 20 Don’t forget the yearly heartworm test, even if your pet percent of dogs that are actually heartworm positive won’t have is on year-round preventative treatment. Sometimes we miss a microfilaria circulating, so they’ll falsely test negative. That’s why treatment, or give it late. Or, your the American Heartworm Society recommends the antigen test. pet may vomit the pill when you’re not looking. The more accurate antigen test looks for proteins in the blood Because it can sometimes be harmful to give a heartworm preventhat were released by female heartworms. tative to a dog or cat that is already infected with heartworms, it’s imperative to make sure your veterinarian tests your pet every year. The AHS recommends waiting until the test results return with a negative result before giving preventative. The biggest take-home message is it that heartworm disease can happen to your pet. Remember, AHS considers 1 million dogs testing positive every year to be a conservative estimate. With regular preventative treatment and routine veterinary care, your pet doesn’t have to become a statistic. n n Keri Weyenberg has been active in the veterinary community for nearly a decade. After a career as a technician and manager, she is currently pursuing admission to veterinary school. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 11 Dental Health Cavities Gone Mad? Tooth resorption in cats is painful but often goes undetected. Regular dental checkups and x-rays can help. By Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM T Key Points Cats naturally hide their pain, just like their wild ancestors. So regular checkups may be the only way to detect tooth resorption. Tooth resorption is best detected through x-rays. The cause of tooth resorption in cats is not known, but it can be treated by extracting the tooth. Dental checks are more important for cats as they age. Your veterinarian may recommend dental x-rays for your cats every 6 to 18 months. 12 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly Tooth resorption (the breakdown or destruction of a tooth, starting at the outer cementum and working its way in) occurs in a large percentage of our feline friends. Because the symptoms are difficult to see, cats often suffer silently with this painful condition. Your veterinarian can help alleviate the problem, so it’s a good idea to include a dental exam in your cat’s overall wellness program. Small red dots on the tooth, often at the gum line, are a common sign of tooth resorption (see Figure 1). These cavitations may be no more than ½ millimeter in diameter and are very difficult to detect without the experienced eye of your veterinarian. Other lesions are present under the gum line and do not show themselves until the disease is very advanced. No one knows what causes these defects. We do know that something stimulates a cell called an odontoclast that destroys the tooth structure at a microscopic level. The destruction will progress, eventually destroying the entire crown and root unless detected early and treated by your veterinarian. Although your cat likely will show no signs of discomfort, once visible these lesions are often painful. Figure 1: The small pink area that is present above the gumline on this tooth is evidence of early tooth resorption. Our domesticated feline friend’s instinct is to hide oral pain. Evolution has done a great job at teaching them that. They will eat despite any pain in the quest for survival, just as their wild ancestors did. They will often chew on unaffected teeth away from the source of pain to avoid contact of kibble with the painful area. A Painful Progression Tooth resorption in cats might be referred to as “a cavity gone mad,” because these defects will progress despite attempts at treating them. But the problem will also become worse without therapy (see Figure 2). Cavities (caries) in humans are treated by removing diseased tooth tissue and restoring the defect with a material similar to enamel and dentin. These cavities are caused by acids produced by certain bacteria. Cats do not normally have these bacteria. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities X Marks the Spot Using x-rays to detect tooth resorption is 2.4 times more accurate than visual examination. Did You Know? As many as 60 percent to 70 percent of all cats experience tooth resorption during their lives. Source: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Veterinary Dentistry Figure 2: Gone undetected, the gum adjacent to the resorption gets inflamed and painful. Extraction of this tooth provided this cat with a pain-free cure. in humans by making the enamel more resistant to this process, but fluoride does not prevent tooth resorption in our feline friends. Because we do not know the exact cause of tooth resorption, we do not know how to prevent it from affecting our pets. Veterinary examinations are very important to help detect this condition early. Dental x-rays are the only accurate method of evaluating tooth resorption both above and below the gum line. Often tooth resorption will not be visible, and x-rays provide the only means of accurate detection. Treating the Problem We can’t prevent tooth resorption, but we can accurately treat it by removing the tooth structure. The veterinarian will use nerve blocks to deaden the area, so the cat feels no pain upon waking. Postoperative analgesics are also recommended for several days to minimize or eliminate any residual pain. Monitoring becomes extremely important, because most cats with resorptive lesions will experience more as they age. Rechecks as often as every six months may be needed to catch tooth resorption early. Ideally, dental x-rays should be taken every 6 to 18 months to monitor for additional disease. Working with the veterinary staff to ensure early detection, proper treatment and periodic monitoring of tooth resorption will provide your feline friend with the best chance at maintaining a pain-free mouth. n Dr. Brett Beckman is a specialist in veterinary dentistry. See the cover for an important message from your veterinarian. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 13 Pet Tales Can Your Pet Be a blood donor? Dog and cat blood donors can save lives—just like human donors. Ask your veterinarian if your pet qualifies. By Alison Otto Riker (shown here with certified veterinary technician Gina Falish and his owner, Carol Schussler) donated 12 units of blood until he retired this year. 14 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly C Canine heroes come in many forms—rescue dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, therapy dogs. Most are calm, cool and collected. And then there’s Riker, a gregarious, 85-pound red Doberman Pinscher, known for his penchant for galloping through the house and yard, sliding full-speed into walls and other objects—and occasionally landing at the emergency veterinarian’s office in Grayslake, Ill. That’s where his owner, Carol Schussler, heard about Animal Emergency & Treatment Center’s blood-donor program. A cancer survivor, Schussler could no longer donate her own blood. But as she and the program’s founder and certified veterinary technician, Gina Falish, soon discovered, Riker was a perfect candidate. The Doberman is rambunctious in his own back yard, but he’s willing to lie perfectly still during a 15-minute blood-donation procedure. Donor Hero Over the course of three years, Riker has become an unlikely hero. Through his blood draws (allowed every eight weeks), the Doberman has donated 12 units of blood. Falish estimates that each of Riker’s donations has helped out four dogs in need of a blood transfusion. Adds Schussler: “It’s no different than with people. Donating blood saves lives.” The busy emergency and critical-care hospital transfuses 20 to 30 pets per week, a result of varying emergencies, ranging from surgeries to dogs being hit by cars. Blood transfusions are also needed for dogs that have ingested rat poison; the poison is deadly to dogs because it inhibits blood clotting. With donations from Riker, Cujo the pit bull, Grady the mixed breed and other healthy pets (currently 70 dogs and 30 cats in all) among its client base, the hospital has built a blood bank that serves its own patients and those of neighboring veterinary practices. Special Pets Not all dogs or cats are destined to be blood donors; it takes a special pet to qualify. The donation process is not long, but the pet must be willing to allow a needle to be inserted into the jugular vein in its neck. Falish estimates that two of 10 dogs will be selected for her program. The odds are even slimmer for cats: only one of 15 screened cats becomes a suitable donor. As science delves deeper into the uses for animal-blood transfusions, and as pets are living longer lives, the need for donors has become more widespread. “Right now, there is a shortage of cat blood,” says Falish. Type B blood from cats is in particular demand; only about nine percent of cats, typically purebreds, have this blood type, Falish says. But when pets make the cut, the rewards are great— Requirements for Donating Blood Ask your veterinarian if your dog or cat qualifies to be a blood donor. Your pet will undergo a physical exam and laboratory screening to determine its eligibility. Standards will vary, but here are general guidelines, provided by Animal Emergency & Treatment Center. All pets should have no breeding history, be in good health and have a friendly disposition. CATS DOGS n 50 n1 pounds or more to 8 years of age n Current on vaccinations n 10 n1 pounds or more to 8 years of age n Current on vaccinations n FeLV/FIV negative Visit Animal Emergency & Treatment Center’s website at www.aetcenter.com for more information. Pet Quarterly | Fall 2009 15 Pet Tales Know Your Pet’s Blood Type Riker is a universal donor (DEA 1.1 Negative Curious about your pet’s blood type? Consult your veterinarian. Dogs have 13 groups of blood types, which are described by DEA (dog erythrocyte antigen) followed by a number, such as DEA 1.1. Cat blood types are similar to human blood-type classifications, but they do not have the universal O blood type. The most well-known feline blood types are A, B and AB. Most cats have type A blood. (For more detail on blood types, see the Winter 2009 issue of Pet Quarterly.) and DEA 7 Negative). His blood is kept as whole blood or spun down and separated into plasma and red cells, depending on the needs of the hospital. for their owners and for pets in need. Programs often offer perks to their blood donors, such as free heartworm tests. Each pet must undergo a physical exam and laboratory screening to qualify as a donor. And before each donation, the pet undergoes a mini wellness check, a free preventive-medicine plus. Retired Hero After a recent visit, Riker is retiring from his duties as a blood donor. He will soon turn nine years old, the cut-off age for dogs. At the end of the 15-minute procedure, the Doberman gulps his treat of canned dog food (so enthusiastically that Falish drops it on the table and quickly moves away), and Falish wraps a “blood donor” bandana around his neck. He looks no worse for the wear, as he eyes a potential playmate in the waiting room. Riker has retired a hero, and Falish continues her mission to get the word out. She is always looking for more donors. “The more people know about it, the more lives we can save,” she says. 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Tell us how your veterinarian has helped you and your pet, and you could be featured in our next issue! E-mail us at [email protected]. 16 Fall 2009 | Pet Quarterly Á,/,ÊÃÊ>ÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>À]Ê>`ÊÒÌ iÊ}ÊEÊ>`Ê}ÊÃÊ>ÊÌÀ>`i>À]ÊvÊiÀ>°Ê ^Óää{ÊiÀ>ÊÌi`]ÊÕÕÌ ]Ê°ÊÊÀ} ÌÃÊÀiÃiÀÛi`°Ê PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lebanon Junction, KY Permit No. 663 Below is a convenient place to jot down questions for your veterinarian. Q:______________________________________________________ Q:_________________________________________________________ Q:________________________________________________________ Q:_______________________________________________________ OraVet was so effective for him, Frankie started recommending it to all his friends – EVEN THE CATS. ® Reduce dental plaque and calculus in your pet – with the OraVet oral healthcare sytem. ® Plaque is a clear, colorless film that builds up on the surface of your pet’s teeth and can lead to the formation of the hard, rough mineral deposits known as calculus. OraVet has been clinically proven to significantly reduce plaque and calculus formation in dogs and cats.* *Data on file at Merial. ®ORAVET is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2009 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. OVT09CNHALFPAGEAD. Ask your veterinarian about OraVet today.
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