Yeasty Beasties

Good morning friends!

Poor me, this morning I had to get my lepto vaccine :>(  I dislike this vaccine so much I think I even blogged about it last year and called the post the "skunk bug".  But I should stop being so self absorbed and talk about something that might be useful to my furry friends!

The doctors here at the clinic have been away at the OVMA Conference in Toronto learning all sorts of new and interesting things!  (Don't worry - one of them always stays back to hold down the fort at the clinic.)  Yesterday they learned about Malassezia - say what?  I know, who names these things?  Basically it's just yeast, no, not the kind you would make bread with but the kind that makes us dogs itchy and crazy!

There can be a very small amount of yeast in the ears and even less so on the skin all the time, but if the numbers get too high it makes us very uncomfortable.  Our skin tends to get greasy, red, flaky and stinky - yuck!  Apparently some dogs are more likely to get it than others, like dashunds (they love to grow it in their armpits!), Bassett Hounds, Cocker Spaniels and Shih Tzus.  Some dogs are actually allergic to yeast and it only takes a few extra on their skin to make them really itchy and uncomfortable!

So how do we figure out if yeast is the problem?  Usually these little beasties can be found on what is called skin cytology.  A piece of clear tape is stuck on the skin then when it is lifted up all those little yeast bugs stay with it.  Then it is stained and examined under a microscope.  Yeast actually look like little snowmen under a microscope so they are fun to look for!

Fortunately there are a few ways we can deal with too many yeast on the skin.  A medicated bath is one way, or medication in the form of a cream on the skin or a pill is another way.  

This is very important news for our allergic friends!  Whether they have food allergy, an allergy to something in the air or some other skin disease, they are at higher risk of also having yeast on their skin.  If we don't treat the yeast then we won't really be scratching the itch!  Something else the skin specialist mentioned that needs to be kept in mind:  yeast usually grows out of control because of another problem, so we need to work hard to find out what that might be.  Otherwise, you guessed it, the yeast comes back.

Well, I think I need a nap now, I am starting to feel a little sleepy after my vaccine, and am starting to feel a little itchy myself talking about this yeasty stuff.

I included a picture of a more delicious form of yeast :>)  Now I'm hungry.  Picutre courtesy of Pixabay.

xoxo Bailey

Stay Warm Friends!

Hello!

With this recent cold spell I feel the need to remind all my furry friends to stay inside and stay warm!  Yes, our little paws were made for walking, but not for a long time when it gets this cold!  Remember we can get frostbite too.

To my fellow dog friends:  Please don't be embarrassed about wearing a coat.  I have a sweater and a coat!  And actually I find it usually results in more snuggles from our human friends because for some reason they think we look super cute in them.  I don't think my human friends look more adorable in their coats, but oh well, for now I'll just enjoy the extra hugs.  I don't know about you, but I also find all that salty stuff they sprinkle on the roads so annoying on my feet!  I wish I could get used to my boots but it feels like I'm stuck in the mud!  I saw a little dog prancing happily down the street the other day with his very stylish boots on and it made me a little envious.  I should go home and practice, trouble is I can't get them on myself.  For now I just put up with the salt and my mommy kindly wipes my feet when we get home.  Sometimes I also just flat out refuse to walk.  Fortunately I am small enough that I can do this, and my mommy carries me the rest of the way home.  So keep your walks short in this cold weather!

To my cat friends:  I know you are all too embarrassed to wear a coat and you consider it beneath your dignity so I won't even try.  There is no need to be a hero and get out there to defend your territory in this weather.  Step outside if you need a breath of fresh air and to make sure everything is in order, but that squirrel can be chased another day.  Head back inside and find a cozy bed or blanket.  Just because your crazy human goes outside doesn't mean you have to!

I thought you might like to see a picture of my in my nice cozy sweater:

Hugs from Bailey xoxo

Lumps and Bumps

Hello all!  I am going to take a break from spreading holiday cheer and talk a little bit about lumps and bumps.  No not the lumps and bumps that are appearing on my hips from all these delicious dog treats I am getting this Christmas.  I am talking about the lumps and bumps that don't go away with a few extra runs around the block.  If you find a lump on your furry friend sometimes it's hard to know what to do about it!  So here are some things to think about...

Small lumps and bumps found on your pet may seem insignificant, and sometimes they are, but in many cases they can become quite large and troublesome.  We often are asked the question, if it’s just small, why would we need to biopsy (sample) or remove it?

Some lumps are totally benign.  Examples of benign masses are cysts or warts that remain only a few millimeters or a centimeter and never become a problem.  We don’t need to worry about them spreading to other areas of the body.  Some of these lumps on certain breeds, like Cocker Spaniels or Poodles have a distinctive appearance and we can be confident enough based on their appearance to tell pet owners that they are very unlikely to ever be an issue.

Then there are the benign lumps that don’t necessarily pose a health risk as far as spread to distant areas of the body, but can become quite large and cumbersome over time.  A few examples would be lipomas (fatty masses) or soft tissue sarcomas.  These can start out just a few centimeters but grow to 15cm or larger.  If they are found in areas like a leg or near the face they can interfere with vision or movement.

The lumps that are the most concerning are ones that grow quickly, bleed, are irritating for the pet or appear in an unwell animal.

So why would we want to sample a mass first?  Why not just take it off?  It all boils down to knowing what we are dealing with before surgery.  Some masses can be removed easily with small “margins.”  This means that we only need to take a half centimeter of normal looking skin around the mass to remove the whole thing and our pets go home with small incisions.  Some other masses however, like soft tissue sarcomas require several centimeters of “normal” looking tissue to prevent them from coming back.  This can be a problem if it’s a large mass in an area where there is not a lot of extra normal skin, like the face or a paw.  In these cases sometimes follow up treatments like radiation therapy are required to get rid of the little bits of mass that didn’t get removed at surgery. 

The bottom line is that small lumps are much more easily removed.  Smaller lumps require a smaller incision which means an easier recovery from surgery for our patients.  We also have more anesthetic concerns in older patients.  The 2cm mass in a 5 year old dog is a lot less risky to remove than the now 12 cm bleeding mass in a 13 year old dog that has to be removed because it’s getting in the way.  Just some food for thought!

And speaking of food...my dinner is calling.  I'll try to make my next post a more festive one! 

Happy Holidays friends!!

xoxo Bailey

Urinary problems

Some of you may think that I am running out of topics to blog about since I have resorted to talk about pee.  On the contrary, the vets at my clinic went to a whole lecture on the stuff earlier this week.  Who would have thought you could talk about such a thing for hours?  While eating supper.  Anyways, the topic was "urological emergencies."  So basically emergencies of the urinary tract.  Something I don't really think about on a daily basis, I take for granted that I go out and do my buisness in the morning without pain or discomfort, little did I realized how lucky I am.  The speaker was an emergency specialist from the Ontario Veterinary College and she talked (among other things) about blocked cats.  Blocked?  That sounds horrible.  This can happen to dogs too but more often to cats, when they just can't pee, usually because small stone or some crystals are stuck in their urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside world).  I know what it feels like when I am just waiting for my mom at the end of the day to hurry up and take me outside and I am dancing around and crossing my little back legs to hold it in.  Imagine how it would feel to not be able to go?  Well apparently there are some simple things we can do to help prevent cats and dogs from suffering from this awful situation!  There are some foods that can help stones and crystals from forming in the first place!  There is a new one for cats that is a weight loss food and a urinary food all in one!  Trouble is overweight cats are more likely to develop urinary problems so Hill's Pet Nutrition decided to combine their Metabolic weight loss diet and their Multicare urinary diet into one - how smart is that?

Here is a picture:

No pictures of me today, I'm afraid.  I took the day off so I am home catching up on my blog and trying to decide what I am going to be for Halloween!  Stay tuned!

xoxo Bailey

New food !

This may be a surprise to some of you given my slim girl-ish figure but I actually love food.  I would be what one would call a self proclaimed foodie.  I mean I have quite discerning taste, and I make a point of keeping my sniffer on the ground to find new and delicious treats.  So you can imagine my excitement when Royal Canin launched their new food with different "aromatic profiles".  What could sound more delicious!  I currently enjoy their Gastro line because my mommy seems to think I have a sensitive tummy.  I guess I should admit that the odd thing I pick up off the ground doesn't exactly sit right.

Then I found out the food is especially for animals with kidney problems.  For real?  I was salivating at the thought of all these new flavours and now I can't be the one to enjoy it.  My mommy says this should make me happy, because it means I have a pair of kidneys working in tip top shape, I suppose I must just live viacariously through my dog and cat friends whose kidneys are suffering from a little wear and tear.

So what does "aromatic profiles" mean?  There are two new dry foods and three new canned foods for both dogs and cats.  And the kibbles even have different shapes just in case certain pets prefer one shape over another.  But they all have very different smells - hence "aromatic profiles."  Ever feel nauseous then get turned off a certain food?  Such is life for our poor friends with kidney disease.  Sometimes they feel nauseous and then they get turned off their special kidney diets.  And what could be worse?  The kidney diets are the most important tool our doctors have for managing thier disease!  This way if a food aversion develops, there are other foods now available that smell totally different.

So here I am checking out the information about the new diets, and a close up of what they look like.  If any of you have new questions about the new foods I am now up to speed so just give a ring and Michelle will put me on the line.

Toodles - 

Bailey

Now it all makes sense!

In an effort to be more involved here at the clinic, I took it upon myself to do a little research.  I am always amazed when a pet comes in for surgery how complicated it all looks!  I mean there is just so much that goes on!   First a sedative, then hooked up to an IV fluid line, then snuggled up with cozy oat bags, then two doctors hovering around as they give anesthetic drugs, then a whirlwind of activity as the tube to secure the airway goes in, then the machine gets hooked up then all the lines and monitors go on....I am exhausted just writing this.  I've seen it so many times and never stopped to ask...why?

Well I opened up a few books and asked a few questions and now I know, so I thought I'd share.  There are a lot of things that can happen under a general anesthetic.  Most are common and can be easily corrected or treated if somebody picks them up early.  But you have to be there, watching, listening, and knowing what you are looking for!  That's why all the docs here like to get involoved.  Just to have two sets of ears and eyes.  That way they can react quickly!  And the IV line helps them do that too.  I like to think of it as the "life line".  It's connected right to the blood system so if they need to give a drug in an emergency situation they don't have to fumble around (not that they would anyways!) and they can give it quickly.  It's even helpful in not so emergency situations.  If the doctors think the pet is painful or if they want to give a drug to speed up the heart rate so we can all breathe a little easier it just happens that much faster.  Things change quickly under a general anesthetic and all the monitors and lines that connect to the big machine that looks like a computer screen called a c-a-r-d-e-l-l help us all pick up on changes so we can act promptly.  So why do we need to monitor all this stuff?  Here is a brief summary - 

1.  Blood pressure - a little cuff that goes around the food (so cute right?  Just like for people!) - - decreases in blood pressure happen all the time under anesthetic!  If we don't look we don't ever know but this can be really bad for important organs like kidneys, liver and heart.  Luckily that trusted IV fluid line just gets a workout and delivers more fluid for 15-20 minutes and that's usually all it takes to make things right again.

2.  Pulse ox - this measures amount of oxygen in the blood.  Super important for normal organ function!  Instead of going on the finger like in people it goes on the tongue in cats and dogs.  A little wierd I think but it works!

3.  Capnograph - This measures carbon dioxide that is breathed in and out.  Cool thing about this number is it proves it's not good enough just to count breaths.  The capnograph makes sure they are good deep breaths and actually clearning carbon dioxide from the body.  If carbon dioxide gets too high it can depress heart function - scary!  

4.  Heart rate and breathing rate - help assess proper depth of anesthetic.

5.  EKG - heart rhythm.  Yes it looks like a human EKG it's so cool!  There are common (not so scary and easily corrected with medication) rhythm changes and uncommon ones that are a little scarier but don't worry the doctors have protocols on how to deal with them taped to the wall.  I can't stress enough the importance of being prepared.

6.  Body temperature - seems simple right?  But really important.  Cold pets don't clear drugs very well from their bodies, feel pain more and recover more slowly from anesthetic.  Not exactly what we want.  The Cardell machine measures core body temperature, a small probe is placed down the throat to measure the temperature on the inside of the body right near the heart.  

So there you have it.  Now I know.  If only I could be of more help during all these surgeries, but I guess I'll have to settle for staying out of the way so nobody trips on my tail and keeping my fuzz out of the sterile surgery room.  Now after all this learning I need a crunchy cookie and a long nap.  It's tough keeping up with the going's on here.  I thought you all might like to see a picture of me in "study mode."  I think it suits me!

xoxo Bailey

Follow Your Gut....Literally

I have been neglecting some of my usual duties at the clinic because I had my own health scare!  Some of you have been asking about me which is so sweet, thank you for all your concern and well wishes.  At first I didn't think much of it, I had spent a lovely few days in the country but I may have picked a few things off the ground that I shouldn't have.  It can be hard to tell, even for this discerning nose what's good to eat and what isn't.  Some things I have down:  red pepper - ok.  Goose poop - not ok.  Cucumber - fine.  Mushroom from the grass outside -no!  Dog biscuit - no problem.  Fertilizer - definitely not!  How is a poodle to keep all of this straight?  

Anyways, a few days later my little poodle tummy was not right, I was up at night throwing up and just didn't have the energy to meet all my friends with my usual tail wag.  Now I don't know if any of you know this, but I do have a sensitive tummy.  Sometimes when I eat things that I am not supposed to it rocks the boat, so to speak.  So at first I (and my family) didn't think much of it.  I got my usual injection of Cerenia (the stomach settling needle) and some Gastro Low Fat diet (the doggy equivalent to soda crackers).  But a day or two later I still wasn't feeling well.  And you know something, my mummy knew it was something different this time.  So she didn't waste any time letting the doctors at the clinic here know that I needed some extra care and TLC this time.  They went ahead and checked a bloodwork profile.  When the results came back we were all shocked.  My liver enzymes were seven times normal!  The doctors think that my liver was angry and working hard at detoxifying something I got into.  Boy did I ever feel bad, in more ways than one.  They sure did know how to look after me though.  I got some IV fluids and some pain medicine.  I was also given some medications to help support my liver, and some antibiotics.  

My mummy slept downstairs with me and would get up in the middle of the night and restart my fluid pump when it stopped and beeped obnoxiously.  Needless to say, the next few days were a blur.  But in the end it was all worth it.  After a week, my liver enzymes returned to normal, but I continued taking the antibiotics and liver support for a few weeks, just to be on the safe side.  What a terrible scare.  It really did make me think though, now that I have a new lease on life.  Hence the title of my post:  follow your gut.  My mummy knew something was not right with me and didn't take the risk on waiting.  

Here is a picture of me when I was hooked up to my IV drip.  If I look a little dazed it was because of that pain medication! 

You'll all be please to know I am back to my usual antics now.  I got in trouble for stealing a piece of chicken off the floor today.  So I guess chicken with creamy sauce goes on the "no" list.  Rats.

Hope you are all well.

Hugs -  
Bailey