Are you out enjoying the weather with your pet? If your dog or cat has gained a little weight or extra substance around the waistline, perhaps a little reassessment of your pet's diet and activity level should be performed!

To help figure out what shape your animal should be in, try checking his or her Body Condition, and give it a score! Review the following list and descriptions and see whether Fido is an emaciated 1 out of 5 (1/5) or a robust 5 out of 5 (5/5), or somwhere in between. An ideal body condition score is a 3/5 for cats and dogs, and really other animals too.
Determine if your dog is overweight by reading the clues of his body structure.
Ellyce Rothrock, courtesy of Dogchannel.com

1. Very Thin
Ribs: Easily felt with no fat cover.
Tail Base: Bones are raised with no tissue between the skin and bone.
Side View: Severe abdominal tuck.
Overhead View: Accentuated hourglass shape.

2. Underweight
Ribs: Easily felt with little fat cover.
Tail Base: Bones are raised with minimal tissue between the skin and bone.
Side View: Abdominal tuck.
Overhead View: Marked hour-glass shape.

3. Ideal
Ribs: Easily felt with slight fat cover.
Tail Base: Smooth contour, but bones can be felt under a thin layer of fat.
Side View: Abdominal tuck
Overhead View: Well-proportioned lumbar waist.

4. Overweight
Ribs: Difficult to feel with moderate fat cover.
Tail Base: Some thickening, but bones can be felt under a moderate layer of fat.
Side View; No abdominal tuck or waist.
Overhead View: Back is slightly broadened.

5. Obese

Ribs: Difficult to feel under thick fat cover.
Tail Base: Thickened and difficult to feel under a prominent layer of fat.
Side View: Fat hangs from the abdominal and there is no waist.
Overhead View: Markedly broadened.

Take a peak at www.oocities.com/fatdogsite/images/FatBCS-2008.png

Keep the New Year happy by avoiding some common household toxins. Even though humans tend to be good at deciphering safe edibles from unsafe poisons, dogs, cats, ferrets, and other pets don't always have such a discerning character. Besides the usual risks to our furry friends' gastorintestinal tracts (ie, major belly aches) and risks of pancreatitis, drugs meant for humans, household cleaners, and garage chemicals all pose lethal risks.

A terrific source of information about common household toxins and risky items is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Please visit ASPCA's website.

Additionally, here is a good list of human medications of which to be aware:

Top 10 human medications that poison pets as of Jan 14, 2010 Written by: Ahna Brutlag, DVM of the Pet Poison Helpline


Almost half of the calls we receive at Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications—both over-the-counter and prescription. Sometimes dogs chew into pill bottles or well intentioned pet owners accidently mix up packages and give their pets a human medication. However pet poisonings from human medications happen, they can be serious.
Below is a list of the top 10 human medications pets most frequently ingest. Be sure to warn your clients about them. Then go a step further by helping them prevent poisonings by giving them handouts on poison proofing their homes and what to do if they suspect their pet has gotten into a poisonous substance.

1. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen)—Topping our list are the common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (e.g., Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals including ferrets, gerbils, and hamsters may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.
2. Acetaminophen—When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) is popular. Even though this drug is safe for children, it is not safe for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.
3. Antidepressants (e.g., Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)—While these and other antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.
4. ADD and ADHD medications (e.g., Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)—Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures, and heart problems.
5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g., Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)—These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of dogs that ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.
6. Birth control (e.g., estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)—Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, intact female pets are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.
7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g., Zestril, Altace)—Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, and weakness, this category of medication is typically safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease.
8. Beta-blockers (e.g., Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)—Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike with ACE inhibitors, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.
9. Thyroid hormones (e.g., Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)—Pets—especially dogs—get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate, and aggression.
10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g., Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)—These popular medications, often called statins, are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most statin ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Does your pouty pooch ever look up at you with those big brown eyes, drawing all of your love from deep within you, so that you HAVE to give him a treat? Do you fall for it? Now that the winter holidays are in full swing we need to be extra careful of everything that our pets sample. Every rich snack that Rover receives is another opportunity for pancreatitis. The pancreas is a glandular organ involved in digestion of proteins and fats. Whenever a meal is ingested, the pancreas secretes enzymes to help break down the components of the food into smaller molecules. If the meal is rich and fatty, it triggers the pancreas to secrete more enzymes, and sometimes it goes into overdrive, even to the degree of causing a nasty cycle of self-digestion. This inflamation of the pancreas that results (a.k.a. pancreatitis) can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and inappetance. What results is often a severely dehydrated dog (or cat) whose life could be in danger. Treatment involves intravenous fluids and medications, and often an extended hospital stay. So PLEASE, when Fido floods you with affection, return the love with hugs and attention, and, if a treat MUST be given, make it a nonfatty veggie instead (please remember, no onions, grapes, or raisins!) 

Is your dog or horse limping, generally acting painful, or just plain "not right"? He or she may have Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infection that is becoming more and more common along the eastern seaboard, and is being diagnosed in increasing numbers right here in central Maine. The Lyme disease organism (Borrelia burgorferi) is passed on to dogs, horses, and humans via bites from the Deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), a tiny creature that can land on animals whether they have short hair or extremely thick and long fur coats. Even if the yard where your animals spend time is primarily short grass, these tiny ticks can land on them by being blown through the air from trees or taller grasses on a breezy day.
 
It is extremely important to perform regular, daily tick checks, examining your animal all over, including between your dog's toes, in your horse's mane, in ears, around the face, and all through the hair coat. A tick can transmit disease within 48 hours, so removing a tick soon after it lands on your animal greatly decreases the chances of contracting Lyme disease. There is much we are still learning about Lyme disease, including detection and diagnosis of Lyme disease, the incubation period between when a tick bites your animal and when symptoms may occur, when antibiotics are appropriate, and issues involving "Chronic Lyme Disease Syndrome".

During the annual physical examination of your dog or horse, a blood test should be performed to screen for Lyme disease. Our 4DX test tests for exposure to Lyme disease, along with 2 other tick-borne diseases (Erhlichia and Anaplasmosis), as well as the heartworm test for dogs that most people are familiar with. 

For dogs, our protocol has changed (as of January 2010)  so it may be different than the protocol used for your dog in the past, if treated for Lyme disease.

1) 4DX test POSITIVE and clinical signs: perform urine ERD test (Early Renal Disease)

2a) ERD POSITIVE: perform Urinalysis  (U/A) to rule-out blood contamination and/or urinary disease

2b) ERD NEGATIVE: look for other non-Lyme reasons for clinical signs

3a) ERD POSITIVE and U/A POSITIVE: diagnose and treat for urinary disease, such as urinary tract infection (and not Lyme disease)

3b) ERD POSITIVE and U/A NEGATIVE: perform Lyme C6 test and receive titer; if titer above 30, consider antibiotic therapy


A Description of our tests:

1) 4DX test:  an antibody "snap test" which takes 3 drops of blood and is done in-house at our clinic. Results are ready within 10 minutes. This test is used as a screening test for exposure to 3 tick-borne diseases (Lyme, Erlichia, and Anaplasma) as well as a diagnostic test for canine heartworm disease.

2) ERD (Early Renal Disease) test: requires a small amount of urine and is performed in-house. This test detects minute amounts of protein in the urine, which may indicate protein loss from the kidneys--an early sign of lyme nephropathy (kidney disease caused by Lyme disease)

3) Urinalysis (U/A): a full U/A rules in or out presence of a urinary tract infection or cystitis, which can cause a false-positive ERD test.

4) Lyme C6 test: This test requires a larger amount of blood, which is sent out to a laboratory. The C6 test gives an actual antibody titer--a number by which we can see the response your animal's immune system has actually mounted against the Lyme organism's antigens. Even if a high titer exists, there may not be an active Lyme disease infection occurring. However, the combination of clinical signs, a positive ERD test, and a high titer justifies the precaution of antibiotic therapy of at least 30 days.  Once the antibiotics are finished, we recommend a 2nd C6 test to be performed 6 months later, to ensure that the antibody number has decreased significantly and that the antibiotics therapy was effective. 

 Please visit www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx to see pictures and to get more information on this life-threatening disease.

To further quench your thirst for accurate veterinary information, please check out some of these links (we will add more over time):

VeterinaryPartner A reliable source of veterinary medical information, written by Board Certified Veterinarians.

Maine Rabies Information Laws and Regulations pertaining to Rabies virus.

www.EMACdogsports.com Eastern Maine Agility Club (EMAC).