Dr. Susanna Gamage BVSc MRCVS has over a decade of international veterinary experience and is the founding director of Dr. Suze – My Visiting Vet. If you have a general pet question you would like answered by Dr. Suze please email susanna@drsuzemyvisitingvet.com.au.
Please note the information in these articles is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you have specific concerns about your pet, you should always seek advice directly from your veterinary healthcare practitioner.
Periodontal Disease
Dr Susanna Gamage
As August is National Pet Dental Health Month, it is timely to talk about your pet’s teeth. Did you know periodontal disease is the number one health problem in our small animal patients?
By two years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease with small and toy breeds particularly susceptible.
Periodontal disease is the infection of structures that surround the tooth, which include the gums, dental ligament and bony tooth socket. Periodontal, derived from ancient Greek, literally means ‘around the tooth’. There are two stages. Gingivitis is the initial, reversible phase where inflammation is confined to the gum. If left unchecked, the inflammation spreads to the deeper structures resulting in periodontitis, the second stage.
Periodontal disease is initiated by bacterial changes that occur due to excess plaque accumulation. Plaque is a biofilm of saliva, oral bacteria and complex sugars which attach to clean teeth within 24 hours. Regular tooth brushing disrupts the biofilm, preventing plaque build-up. Plaque cannot be easily seen with the naked eye initially, but after a few days it can be detected visually and eventually it mineralises to form tartar. Gingivitis can develop as early as two weeks.
Periodontal disease can have local and generalised health implications for your pet. Locally, some examples include abscesses, fractures, bone infections and oral tumours. Systemic diseases linked to periodontal disease include kidney, liver, lung, and heart diseases, as well as adverse effects on pregnancy and diabetes.
There are many signs of advanced dental disease. These include bad breath, a red gumline, oral bleeding, and hypersalivation, a preference to chew on one side, facial swelling, reduced appetite or a preference for soft food, pawing or rubbing the face, or becoming sensitive to stroking the head. Early signs of dental disease are not as obvious and may only be picked up at your pet’s general health check.
Much can be done to address your pet’s oral hygiene. Firstly, it is important that your pet is assessed by your veterinary health care professional to assess and grade the level of dental disease that may be present, before formulating an oral healthcare plan that is tailored to your pet. Give your pet a reason to smile, discuss your pet’s oral health at their next check up.
Dr. Susanna Gamage BVSc MRCVS has over a decade of international veterinary experience and is the founding director of Dr. Suze – My Visiting Vet, a mobile veterinary business in the Eastern Suburbs providing caring, personalised and professional veterinary care in the comfort of your own home, keeping things convenient for you and comfortable for your pet.
If you have a general pet question you would like answered by Dr. Suze to be featured in Eastsider News or to find out more about our services, please contact us via the website: www.drsuzemyvisitingvet.com.au.
Please note the information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you have specific concerns about your pet, you should always seek advice directly from your veterinary healthcare practitioner.
References:
Lund EM, Armstrong PJ, et al. Health status and population characteristics of dogs and cats examined at private veterinary practices in the United States. JAVMA 1999; 214:1336-1341.
Wiggs RB, Lobprise HB. Periodontology. Veterinary Dentistry, Principals and Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott – Raven, 1997, pp 186-231.
Hoffmann TH, Gaengler P. Clinical and pathomorphological investigation of spontaneously occurring periodontal disease in dogs. J Small Anim Pract 1996; 37:471-479.
Flea infestations – I treated my dog for fleas a couple of weeks ago so why am I still seeing fleas?
Dr Susanna Gamage
Flea infestations are often thought of as a spring/summer problem and can sometimes result in relaxed flea preventative measures during the winter months. Unfortunately, flea infestations can potentially occur all-year-round, regardless of season.
Carpets, rugs and other soft furnishings, pets residing in the home, coupled with central heating provide these little critters the perfect winter breeding ground. Therefore regular flea treatment, regardless of season, can help protect your pets during these cooler months and help prevent flea population surges during spring.
Flea infestations, depending on the severity can take up to 8-12 weeks to clear. Treatment requires the regular, correct delivery of a registered flea product applied at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer.
The key to understanding why things don’t always go to plan requires a basic understanding the flea lifecycle.
The adult flea, an insect you can see with the naked eye, makes up only 5% of the total flea population. The remaining 95% of the population is made up of eggs, larvae and pupae which can be found (but not seen) in your pet’s environment e.g. bedding, carpet and in the soil.
Adult fleas, live breed and feed on your pet. A single female flea can produce up to 50 eggs a day and live for up to 100 days so populations can escalate quickly. It takes on average 21 days for an adult flea to develop from a flea egg. Fleas prefer warm, moist weather which is why they tend to be more noticeable in the warmer months. The juvenile life stages can remain dormant in an environment for at least six months, sometimes longer, hence why all year flea treatment is recommended.
If a regular preventative flea treatment has not been appropriately applied, the fleas you are seeing may well be the dormant juvenile environmental stages hatching out because of the warmer weather. Flea products work by targeting one or more stages of the flea lifecycle leading to the reduction and eventual elimination of the household flea population. Continued application of your current flea product will in time eliminate the adult fleas and the environmental 95%.
It is vital to treat all the animals in the household… including the cat! This removes any ‘reservoir hosts’. Splitting doses is also not recommended as this can reduce the efficacy of your flea treatment.
Can humans get fleas from pets? No. They prefer the thinner skin of dogs and cats over people but they may bite around the ankles in the case of a heavy infestation.
Animal fact: Fleas can jump 20cm into the air, that’s 150 time their own height!
Please note the information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you have specific concerns about your pet, you should always seek advice directly from your veterinary healthcare practitioner.
Is your senior pet suffering Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis)?
Dr. Susanna Gamage
With autumn in full swing preparing to hand the seasons baton over to winter, some of you may have noticed your older pets slower to get up in the cooler mornings. One of the most common reasons senior pets struggle this time of year is because of osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).
What is DJD?
DJD is the progressive deterioration of the hyaline cartilage surrounding the joints. The function of this cartilage layer is to help facilitate the smooth, fluid motion of joints. If the cartilage is damaged the joint becomes inflamed, resulting in stiffness and sometimes painful movement in the affected areas. It is more commonly seen in older patients and affects both cats and dogs.
What causes DJD?
DJD may be the result of natural aging but more commonly secondary to joint trauma such as a previous injury, infection or surgery. DJD can also be seen in younger pets as a result of a congenital joint abnormality, for example elbow, shoulder or hip dysplasia. Other contributing factors to DJD include genetics, age, bodyweight, obesity, exercise and diet.
What are the signs of DJD?
Struggling to get up after long periods of lying down, particularly in cooler temperatures and slowing down on exercise. More subtle signs include hesitation when jumping or seeking alternatives routes and becoming protective of petting in sore areas. Your veterinarian may be able to identify pain or resistance on physical manipulation of your pet’s joints and may suggest further diagnostics such x-ray imaging or blood testing.
If I think my pet is showing sign of DJD, what can be done?
If you feel your pet is showing any of the above signs it might be worth booking an appointment with your local veterinarian. Firstly, to rule out other possible causes such as heart disease and secondly because if the symptoms are due to DJD there are some simple management strategies that can be implemented to help manage the progression of DJD in your pet. Some of these strategies may include modification of your current exercise routine, a tailored pet weight loss program, dietary supplementation, acupuncture, injections to support joint function as well as pain relief medication.
Dr. Susanna Gamage BVSc MRCVS has over a decade of international veterinary experience and is the founding director of Dr. Suze – My Visiting Vet.
If you have a general pet question you would like answered by Dr Suze, please email susanna@drsuzemyvisitingvet.com.au.
Please note the information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you have specific concerns about your pet, you should always seek advice directly from your veterinary healthcare practitioner.
Keep your pets cool in hot weather
Dr. Susanna Gamage
Did you know…. Primates and horses are the only animals to have sweat glands throughout the body? The moisture produced by sweating evaporates, taking heat energy away from the body. Dogs and cats can only sweat from their paws thus our pets rely on other cooling mechanisms such as panting to regulate their temperature. The inability to maintain a normal body temperature in hot weather can lead to life-threating ‘heatstroke’.
Hot tips to keep your pet cool this summer!
Never leave your pet in the car – on a sunny 20°C day the temperature inside a sealed car can double in 10 minutes and increase to 60°C in 30 minutes. Cracking the window has been proven ineffective at preventing rapid temperature rises. If out and about, make sure you are going somewhere pet friendly or leave your pet at home.
Limit your walks – to early morning or evening. Ensure you carry enough water or there are water stations on route and limit how much to do on particularly humid and hot days.
Check the pavement temperature – before you head out. If it’s too hot for your hand it’s too hot for your pet’s paws. Walk on grassed areas or consider dog boots to avoid burns.
Particular care with brachycephalic breeds – such as Pugs, Bull dogs and Staffies. They have narrower airways making heat loss less efficient when they pant. Overweight dogs and those with heart and breathing problems are also at increased risk.
Keep your house cool – if your pet is home alone, closing blinds, leaving the AC on low or alternatively leaving windows open and providing fans can keep temperatures down. If your pet lives outdoors, provide plenty of shade and water.
Cool treats – such as ice cubes in your pet’s water or a Kong toy stuffed with frozen treats will keep your pet entertained and cool.
Groom – out any knots and loose winter hair.
Recognise the signs of heatstroke in your pet: Heavy excessive panting, Drooling, Trouble breathing, Elevated heart rate, Dark or red gums and tongue, Dizziness, Weakness, Agitation.
If you see these signs, then take your pet straight to your local veterinary clinic.
Please note the information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you have specific concerns about your pet, you should always seek advice directly from your veterinary healthcare practitioner.