HEALING SHOULD NOT BE A PAIN

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

Until about 20 years ago, pain control for animals was not a huge consideration for veterinarians. It was believed that pain actually assisted healing since it reduced activity. This idea has been considered false for the past many years.

 

It is now known that controlling pain effectively is a key part of faster healing. When the body is in pain, it is using resources to address pain and taking them away from healing. Though this seems obvious, it is still a relatively recent revelation in veterinary medicine.

 

Nowadays, pain control is a critical part of any after-surgery or any after-injury care. Your DVM will often send up to 2 or more types of pain control in such a circumstance. Pain meds are usually injected during surgical procedures to get the pain control started ahead of the severe pain.

 

A new thing that is being done to further reduce post-surgery pain is to inject local anesthetic around the surgery site, blocking pain for several hours. (This is similar in some ways to the nerve blocks used by your dentist for dental surgery)

 

So, you can see that pain is not a helpful factor in healing. Rather, it is harmful. When your pet is experiencing a painful situation, proper pain control is necessary for fastest healing.

 

At Pet Emergency Clinic, we work hard to treat and prevent pain, in order to get your pet healed as fast as possible.

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

I Found a Stray. What Now?

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

A reader wrote recently describing a situation in which she found an animal that had no tags and a chewed off tether running in her neighborhood. Owning 2 dogs herself already, she did not feel comfortable taking the dog into her home. Upon trying to call Animal Services, she found that she would have to dial 911, since it was outside of business hours. She was hesitant to do that because she did not consider it a “real” emergency. How may this be handled?

 

These are difficult and there is probably no one right answer. But, of course, I will render my opinion as follows:

 

1) It is totally OK to use 911 in this situation, as that is how the system is set up so one may contact the Animal Services duty officer. (If you just cannot stand that idea anyway, you may dial the Sheriff’s office on a non-emergency line, and they will be able to reach the Animal Services officer.)

 

2) Pet Emergency Clinic has a microchip scanner and will scan any stray pet you find at no charge. This may allow you to then contact the owners. (One point, and it often comes up; Pet Emergency Clinic is totally unable to accept any such stray animal, even for a brief time. This is because we have no boarding space, and because of the sick and injured pets in our building, that could catch illness from the stray or vice versa.)

 

3) If you are able to confine the lost pet in a yard or anywhere, the Animal Services officer is usually the best bet.

 

 

Now, how about preventing the problem?

1) Keep your pets appropriately confined, and always have your pet microchipped and with an ID tag on the collar just in case. Common sense.

 

2) Keep your pets protected from known contagious disease and heartworms by visiting your own DVM at least yearly and sometimes more often.

 

 

See? It is usually easy to be spot on and to do the right thing. Nothing to it!

 

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Pet Laws- Good or Bad?

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

A new law passed in Phoenix Arizona requires all dogs and cats sold in pet stores to come from animal shelters and bans “puppy mill” pets from pet stores. This raises an interesting question of government’s powers over private business.

 

At first glance, these laws seem reasonable. Animal shelters euthanize thousands of unadopted, healthy pets every year, while “puppy mills [low-quality pet breeders who produce poor quality, often unhealthy animals at premium prices]” sell thousands of problematic pets to unsuspecting pet parents, often through pet stores. Why not help the “good guys” (the shelters) and try to punish the” bad guys” (the puppy mills)?

 

But, on the other hand, is it right for the government, no matter how well meaning, to dictate business practices to a private business? Consider that, like so many well-meaning initiatives, it can create effects that were maybe not considered by the well-meaning initiative writers.

 

Some questions could include: the definition of a puppy mill and what breeders could be tagged with that title. What about disease, behavior problems, and other problems that sometimes surround animal shelter animals? How would the shelter pets be delivered to the pet stores? What if there were not enough shelter pets to satisfy the demands of pet owners? Who is responsible when one gets sick?

 

So, you can see that, like Sir Isaac Newton said, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I am philosophically opposed to government micromanagement of business, since these initiatives so often have negative, unintended consequences.

 

Probably a better idea is public education and then allowing individuals to make their own decisions. Or so I think!

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

The Moon. Creator of “Lunacy?”

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

You hear many people say that it “must be a full moon” whenever crazy things start to happen. We definitely see this phenomenon at Pet ER. It seems that, with almost every full moon, some weird things occur, some strange cases present to us, and some unusual people turn up as well.

 

If you Google the topic “Full Moon and Craziness” or some similar search, you will find several entries. Interestingly, the vase majority says there is ZERO scientific evidence that the moon affects events or people on this planet.

 

Even more interestingly, if you talk to most any person who works on or around a full moon, you will get a totally opposite answer. That is, most of us seem to believe that the moon phase DOES affect us in some unknown way, and weird things DO occur at certain moon phases.

 

I am in the second camp, and my advice this week is to at least be aware of a full moon and do not do any craziness that could help the full moon cause a problem! To wit….

 

1- Keep your pets in and well fed.

 

2-Keep your bodies rested and get your moderate exercise.

 

3-In the event of silliness from others around the full moon,(or anytime, actually) use your preparation and knowledge to allow you to handle any problems gracefully.

 

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Bye Bye, Miss American Pyo

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

A “pyo” or pyometra, occurs when an intact (unspayed) female dog gets a life-threatening infection in her uterus.

 

When a female dog has multiple heat cycles, usually over several years, without becoming pregnant, her uterus gradually becomes thicker and less healthy. Eventually, a life-threatening infection may occur that is often difficult to diagnose. The uterus may literally fill with pus (pyo=PUS, metra= UTERUS), and the pet may become very ill.

 

Sometimes, you may see a discharge that is foul and stinky. In other cases, if the cervix is closed, there will be no discharge and the pus will fill the horns of the uterus. In all cases, a pyometra is life threatening if left untreated. And generally, the treatment is to perform a spay. (Spay- a surgery in which the uterus and ovaries are removed) There are some other treatments that are occasionally used in certain situations, but generally, a spay is what it takes to correct it.

 

Symptoms of pyometra include excessive water drinking, sometimes a vaginal discharge, and generally feeling bad.

 

What to do?

1- I spay my female pets after about 9 months of age, thereby totally avoiding the problem.

2- Watch your female pets, especially around and after a heat period.

3- If you see episodes of feeling bad in an intact female pet, especially one who is middle aged or older, get her checked ASAP.

4- Keep your pets’ immune systems healthy by providing high quality nutrition, excellent shelter, and moderate exercise.

5- Of course, see your DVM annually to ensure good health.

 

 

So, as with most things, you CAN do something about your pet’s health.

 

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Being “On Drugs” is Not Always Bad!

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

Is your pet “on drugs”?

The vast majority ARE, if you count routine ones like heartworm and flea meds.

Many people are surprised to learn that many of the same drugs used on humans are also used on pets. It is true.

And there are also many veterinary only drugs that the physicians are not allowed to use, to their chagrin.

We run into trouble when well-meaning clients, or sometimes even pharmacists, use certain “safe” human drugs on pets without knowing a proper dose or knowing whether it is even ok on pets.

A dramatic example of this would be Tylenol in cats, which is an extreme toxin. To some degree, ibuprofen (Motrin) can be dangerous too at the wrong dose.

So, what am I saying?

Do not ever use a human drug on your pet unless you know FOR A FACT that it is appropriate for this condition, that the drug can be used on that type of pet, and the correct dose of that drug for your pet. (By the way, FOR A FACT does not mean that you see it on the internet.)

Usually, it is best to have your pet seen by a DVM and diagnosed, followed by the administration of a correct and appropriate medicine.

 

I promise. Very good advice!!!

 

That is all.

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Somebody Poisoned the Watering Hole!

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

Every day at Pet Emergency Clinic, we see pets that the owner suspects are “poisoned,” and often intentionally by hateful neighbors, relatives, etc.

Though occasionally this does occur, more often the pet has some other illness besides “poison.”

Just like with “cancer, ” people tend to lump “poisons” all together as one thing. This is actually not correct. Every poison is a distinct thing and any harmful overdose of anything, even water, could become a poison to the body under some conditions. So, there are literally thousands of possible poisons out there in the world.

Many people also get the idea that there is one blood test that can be ran to diagnose “poison,” and unfortunately, it is usually not that easy. The blood testing we run on your sick pet who may have been poisoned is more a general check on the organ and blood systems than any specific poison diagnostic. (There are certain tests that can confirm certain poisons, but these are more used to CONFIRM a suspicion than to find a poison out of the blue.

So, you can see that poison is not one discreet thing that can be diagnosed by a “poison test.” Rather, your pet’s particular poisoning is actually diagnosed by a good history, physical exam, and supporting lab tests.

And, though some poisons have a specific antidote, in many cases, the treatment is supportive care such as IV fluids, heat, anti-seizure meds, etc.

So, what to do about poisoning?

1- Do not cause it yourself. Keep all poisons and any harmful products secured and away from pets and people.

2- To avoid that malicious neighbor, never allow your pet to run loose around your neighborhood.

3- Never give your pet a “people drug” unless you absolutely know that it is appropriate and you know the veterinary dose.

4- Never allow your pet to drink an alcoholic beverage, since this can be very dangerous.

5- If you have a known poisoning, get to your DVM with the packaging in hand. Often, the packaging describes how to treat poisoning from that product and there is an 800 number to call.

6- See a DVM AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOUR PET INGESTED A POISON. On poisons where vomiting is appropriate, if I can induce vomiting (with a simple IV injection) within 1 hour of ingestion, I often have a great chance of the pet doing well. (after hours, we are here at Pet ER)

So, you see, poisoning is not such a toxic subject after all.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Loosen up!

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

I was recently asked what the most common condition we treat at the ER. Was it hit by car, dogfights, overheating, heart attacks, etc. etc. etc.?

On thinking about this, I realized that the most typical problem we see at Pet Emergency Clinic is DIARRHEA.

Though this does not seem very glamorous, it is true. And, since there are a large number of conditions that cause diarrhea, there are also a large number of possible treatments.

People ask if their pet’s diarrhea is an emergency, and I answer with a very definitive “IT MAY BE.”

A pet may have diarrhea as a symptom of serious disease, or it may just have loose stool because it ate the wrong thing.

How do we tell? We have to examine the pet!

Since diarrhea may be a symptom of major disease, and since, over time, it may cause dehydration, best to get it checked ASAP.

Often, treatment of the symptoms using hydration and medicines and bland diets will handle the problem. But, in other cases, the pet needs IV fluids and injectable meds.

How to avoid the big D?

1- Feed a high quality name brand food and avoid scraps in general.

2- Avoid treats, since I relate these to diarrhea.

3- Keep your pet’s preventive medicine updated by yearly (or more often) visits to your DVM.

4- And if you see diarrhea, DEAL with it now rather than later.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

We have all seen medical websites in which you enter symptoms and the website spits out a “diagnosis.” How cool is THAT?

And I am certain that such sites exist for veterinary symptoms too, though I have not yet experienced any.

So how accurate ARE those sites? Are they soon to replace medical personnel?

A recent study at Harvard Medical School study addressed this question, and the results were interesting…

For getting the diagnosis the first time, the sites were found to be correct only about 34 percent of the time. For getting the correct diagnosis in the first three listed possibilities, the sites averaged correct about 51% of the time.

Also, interestingly, the FDA announced that it may start enforcement actions if incorrect website advice results in a bad outcome for a patient. It is possible that this alone could derail these sites, since any person with a bad medical outcome for any reason could possibly blame the site.

So, what is sensible advice for you, the pet owner?

1- Take any online advice (including mine) with a grain of salt. Use it to perhaps get a general idea rather than as a definitive source.

2- Utilize common sense when handling your pet (or yourself.) Do my oft-stated sensible things such as providing high quality brand name nutrition, fresh water, proper shelter, and moderate exercise.

3- Avoid faddish things that seem incredible until you have really checked them out. You have seen the ads that imply that this is “something that your [banker, lender, doctor, grocery store, etc.] does not want you to know.” Maybe they don’t want you to know about because it is such total rubbish.

4- If you utilize a symptom website, whether for pets or for people, remember that it is just a start. You really need someone who is experienced to help you figure out what is actually happening. Remember the accuracy ratings for humans, and assume that the accuracy for pets are probably lower.

5- Finally, have a relationship with a veterinary expert. We are blessed with a large number of very competent DVM’s in our area. Find ONE who you can talk to and trust, and generally follow that expert’s advice to best care for your pet. (Not saying that you should slavishly agree with everything. Rather, at least agree in general.)

When “Dr. Google” first began to “diagnose” for veterinary clients, most veterinarians did not particularly like it, since it often caused owners to fixate on incorrect information.

But, after having worked this way for the past few years, I have changed my tune. I now see that “Dr. Google” at least helps clients confront the idea that the pet is actually sick and to allow the client to be cause over it. Now, that client may actually come see me before the pet is too ill to help.

So, when your pet is ill, definitely check it out on the web. But is she is REALLY sick, then take that next step of actually getting veterinary care ASAP.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Here I Come…. Rock Me Like A Hurricane

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

We recently observed the 10-year anniversary of Rita, the “forgotten” hurricane.

In the past, I had rather smugly concluded that our area responded to Rita in a far superior way to New Orleans’s response to Katrina, which occurred just a few weeks prior.

And I suppose that is true. But the idea that Calcasieu people were just hardier and more self-sufficient than those from New Orleans may need re-thinking.

I believe that we responded better to Rita because we were PREPARED and ready after watching what had occurred in New Orleans.

Katrina in New Orleans made us all at least consider what we would do “if,” and we were better for it.

So, what is my point?

It is this: Make some sort of plan for disaster. Whether it be a hurricane, fire, or flood remember your pets. Have a “go kit” for your pets that may include proof of vaccination, possibly a small supply of food and water, medicine if appropriate, carriers for evacuation, etc. … etc.

You get the idea.

ANY plan, no matter how simple and unsophisticated, is far superior to nothing.

So … right now! Create your pet emergency plan. (And maybe a human one too!)

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic