Obesity In Pets

Obesity has become an increased issue for our pets. According to the Banfield State of Pet Health 2012 Report, body weight has increased 37 percent in dogs and 90 percent in cats over the past 5 years.  Here are 14 obesity related problems:

  1. decreased life span 
  2. diabetes
  3. joint problems such as arthritis 
  4. heart disease
  5. fatigue
  6. immune system problems

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Does your pet suffer from senioritis?

It’s hard to imagine that your little fluffball will one day grow to be a senior citizen pet – depending on the breed, cats are considered seniors at age 8 and dogs at age 7…believe it or not. And as our pets age and change, so do their needs. Here are some things to keep in mind so your pet can rock out their golden years!

  • “An apple a day…” - many vets recommend checkups for senior pets every 6 months, compared to the standard annual checkup. Often times, vets will put in place senior care programs which will help detect diseases earlier rather than later. Prevention is always better than treatment.
  • Double-up - an older cat may need access to several litter boxes due to possible mobility issues.
  • Sibling rivalry - if you live in a multi-pet household, make sure your other fur babies don’t prevent your senior pet from eating or drinking.
  • Switch up the diet - diets that include less protein and low calories are usually good for older dogs and cats. Your vet can help you decide on a diet that’s right for your individual pet.
  • Groom, groom, groom - frequent grooming can help prevent certain skin conditions. It also allows you to get a good look at the skin of your pet and inspect any changes that may arise. Plus, keeping your pet’s nails on the shorter side will allow them to move around better.
  • Keep a watchful eye - take note of any behavioral changes exhibited by your pet. Watch their attitude, appetite, thirst and bathroom habits. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any sudden changes…especially if they are negative in nature.
  • Keep ‘em close - hearing loss is common in old age, so make sure to keep your pet on a leash when you’re out and about. Older dogs can become easily confused and get lost.
  • Say “cheese!” - dental disease is a big problem in older dogs, so make sure to get their teeth inspected at every checkup.

Routine exams, preventive medicine and lifestyle modifications can help keep your pet happy and healthy as the years creep up! 

A Tribute to Darlene

Talk about a devoted client! Nancy F. has been a friend of the Care Center’s for many years, and has trusted us with the care of at least 10 of her precious cats! We’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each one of her babies and greatly appreciate her placing so much trust in us to treat them. We’re extremely sorry to say that her 14 year old cat, Darlene, has passed away recently - she has been a favorite patient of ours since 2002. We know that Nancy will continue to be a wonderful mom to her other cats, and we’ll be thinking about her during this time. Patients like Darlene are the reason we love our jobs at the Care Center!

PJ: 1, Poison: 0

PJ ate a poisonous plant at home that potentially causes liver damage and even death.  Luckily, the Care Center was able to treat him. He went home 3 days later! 

Here’s what his mom had to say…

“Hello, I just wanted to say thank you for all the work that you are doing and for tacking care of PJ in his time of need. PJ also said thank you, and Apache is very grateful to be with his brother again. We all really appreciate it. Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without PJ. Thank you so much!”

Cincinnati’s “HOT, HOT, HOT!”

“Man, it’s hot!” “It’s so humid out here, I can barely breathe!” “I wish I had a pool!” Sound familiar? Summertime in Cincinnati can often times be down right uncomfortable. Luckily, as people, we can simply reach for a glass of ice cold water, seek shelter in the air-conditioned indoors, or if we’re lucky enough, take a dip in our backyard pool to cool down. But for our furry family members, it’s not so easy. Unfortunately, our pets can’t tell us in words when they’re hot, but with a little knowledge and good observation skills, we can “rescue” them in their time of need!

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My name is Daisy, and I am a 2 yr-old Bulldog. This is my story about the Care Center and the great care I received! I wasn’t feeling well for a few days, and then my gums started to bleed! My parents took me to my normal doctor, and they ran some tests and discovered that my platelets - which are the cells that clot my blood - were very low. I was sent to the Dayton Care Center for more testing and around-the-clock care. It turns out that the reason my gums were bleeding and bruises were all over my belly was because my immune system was attacking and killing my platelets! My immune system didn’t realize those were my platelets and thought they were foreign. Eeek. The doctors called this disease ITP, or Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia. Since I didn’t have many platelet’s left in my body, my blood was not clotting and was bleeding under my skin and through my gums. I heard the doctors talking to my parents, and they think my ITP was secondary to stimulation to my immune system after I had my vaccinations a couple of months ago. This happens sometimes, but not normally to a dog my age. There are other causes of ITP too, and it can sometimes be secondary to other diseases in the body. Thankfully, the Care Center was able to perform a lot of testing to make sure there was not something else wrong with me! After almost 5 days in the ICU on multiple medications and careful monitoring, my platelets finally stopped dropping and started to increase! I was finally able to go home, and I didn’t even have to have a blood transfusion (most dogs have at least one because they lose too much blood). The Care Center told me they had never seen such a bright and happy ITP patient…I must be pretty special! I know that I may have another episode of ITP in my life, but the Care center just called to check on me and I am doing GREAT! They have also told my parents what to look for in case I do have another episode so they can catch it early. I am happy to be home and am thankful for the care I received :)

My name is Daisy, and I am a 2 yr-old Bulldog. This is my story about the Care Center and the great care I received!

I wasn’t feeling well for a few days, and then my gums started to bleed! My parents took me to my normal doctor, and they ran some tests and discovered that my platelets - which are the cells that clot my blood - were very low. I was sent to the Dayton Care Center for more testing and around-the-clock care.

It turns out that the reason my gums were bleeding and bruises were all over my belly was because my immune system was attacking and killing my platelets! My immune system didn’t realize those were my platelets and thought they were foreign. Eeek. The doctors called this disease ITP, or Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia. Since I didn’t have many platelet’s left in my body, my blood was not clotting and was bleeding under my skin and through my gums.

I heard the doctors talking to my parents, and they think my ITP was secondary to stimulation to my immune system after I had my vaccinations a couple of months ago. This happens sometimes, but not normally to a dog my age. There are other causes of ITP too, and it can sometimes be secondary to other diseases in the body. Thankfully, the Care Center was able to perform a lot of testing to make sure there was not something else wrong with me!

After almost 5 days in the ICU on multiple medications and careful monitoring, my platelets finally stopped dropping and started to increase! I was finally able to go home, and I didn’t even have to have a blood transfusion (most dogs have at least one because they lose too much blood). The Care Center told me they had never seen such a bright and happy ITP patient…I must be pretty special!

I know that I may have another episode of ITP in my life, but the Care center just called to check on me and I am doing GREAT! They have also told my parents what to look for in case I do have another episode so they can catch it early. I am happy to be home and am thankful for the care I received :)