by Lodi Vet | Feb 22, 2018 | Dogs, Educational Materials
Viral papillomas in dogs are small growths on the lips, gums, around the eyes or on the toes. They are hairless growths that have the appearance of tiny clusters of fingers or fronds. These lesions are most common in young dogs.
Papilloma lesions are caused by a papilloma virus spread from dog to dog contact or by contacting toys, food/water bowls or other objects that may have touched another dogs papilloma lesion. This virus can only be spread among dogs, it cannot be passed to other pets or humans.
Treatment in most cases is not necessary. As the immune system matures and responds; the papilloma virus lesions will regress. This process can take 1-2 months. If lesions are still present after three months, further treatments such as surgical removal or antibiotics may be warranted.
If your pet has papilloma lesions it is advised that they not participate in play groups, at the dog park or with other young dogs to prevent spread of this virus. Once the lesions have regressed, they are no longer contagious.
by Lodi Vet | Jan 25, 2018 | Cats, Educational Materials
Scratching is a normal behavior of cats. Scratching allows cats to exercise, mark territory, condition the claws, stretch, and defend themselves. Many cats can be trained to scratch only on appropriate surfaces. In some cases, cats may excessively scratch or scratch on undesirable surfaces to us such as the couch, curtains or owners. If a cat is destructive or is injuring people or other pets with its claws, declawing is an acceptable alternative.
What are the alternatives to declawing?
Providing appropriate scratching surfaces.
Most cats prefer to scratch vertically, but some enjoy horizontal scratching posts. Experiment with different styles, shapes and textures of posts to find what your cat likes best. (carpet, rope, cardboard and bark posts are available options)
- Posts should be taller than their body length to fully stretch and scratch
- Location is important
- Cats often stretch upon waking, put one post near where they sleep
- Cats will also scratch in social areas such as the living room or dining room
- If you cat is scratching somewhere you do not like, try putting a post near that location – when he/she tries to scratch the wrong spot, gently pick them up and place them near the desired scratching location and reward them for making the right choice.
To encourage scratching post use, try using catnip or Feliscratch spray on the desired scratching locations, and praise your cat for using the post. For more information on Feliscratch spray visit: https://www.feliway.com/us/FELISCRATCH-by-FELIWAY2
Trim nails frequently – this can be done at home, or by one of our certified veterinary technicians at Lodi Veterinary Care
Nail caps – plastic nail caps can be applied to the nails to reduce damage caused by scratching. These can be purchased and applied by yourself at home, or by one of our certified veterinary technicians at Lodi Veterinary Care. Nail caps will need to be replaced approximately every 4-6 weeks. For more information on nail caps visit www.softpaws.com
Avoid using hands or other body parts as a toy when playing with cats and kittens. This form of play can encourage biting or scratching and as cats grow, they will acknowledge this as an appropriate form of play. Instead, play with interactive toys like wands, feathers and toy mice and other toys that mimic hunting and chasing prey. This will encourage using toys instead of scratching or batting at people when trying to elicit play.
Please do not hesitate discussing declawing and its alternatives with any of the veterinarians at Lodi Veterinary Care. Together we can make a thoughtful and appropriate decision on what is best for your cat.
Sources:
- American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org/declaw
- American Association of Feline Practicioners www.catvets.com
- Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Indoor Pet Initiative www.indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
by Lodi Vet | Jan 10, 2018 | Educational Materials, Equine
Lodi Veterinary Care is excited to now offer the latest in regenerative medicine, a treatment called Pro-Stride. Pro-Stride is an Autologous (meaning of the same individual) Protein Solution used to treat joint inflammation and arthritis. It is created by collecting blood from your own horse, and then processing and centrifuging that blood to make a very concentrated solution containing important healing factors (cells, platelets, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins such as Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, or IRAP). This solution is then administered via joint injection where it works by blocking inflammatory proteins, called cytokines, within the joint. Left unblocked, these inflammatory cytokines contribute to an inflammatory cascade that results in cartilage breakdown, pain, and reduced function.
Pro-Stride is a natural, steroid-free treatment that has no drug withholding times for horses competing at the FEI or USEF levels. Because Pro-Stride is a steroid free treatment it does not have the negative side-effects that may be associated with traditional joint injections and it is safe for use in adolescent horses, horses prone to laminitis, or horses with Cushings Disease, Insulin Resistance, or Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
The entire process from blood collection to treatment injection takes less than one hour and is completed on the farm. In studies, this new regenerative treatment has provided up to one year of pain relief from a single treatment (A. Bertone, Am J Vet Res 2014; 75:141-151).
by Lodi Vet | Jan 10, 2018 | Educational Materials, Equine, Home Page
We are very excited to have acquired a new ultrasound machine! Ultrasound has many valuable applications in the field of equine veterinary medicine.
A few of the more common uses include:
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Reproductive: Ultrasound can be used to visualize the mare’s reproductive tract to help stage breeding, check for ovulation, and manage causes of infertility.
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Colic: ultrasound is a quick, non-invasive tool in formulating an accurate diagnosis and therefore assisting with prognosis and treatment. For example, it can help in assessing the volume and type of free fluid in the abdomen; the small intestinal contents, motility, and wall thickness, and positioning of the large colon.
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Sports medicine: Sequential imaging of a tendon lesion is used to track healing so that controlled exercise and rehabilitation programs can be adjusted accordingly.
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Ophthalmology: if unable to directly visualize the back of the eye (ex. due to glaucoma, trauma, or constricted pupil), ultrasound can be used to determine if the retina is attached and help provide a prognosis for vision.
by Lodi Vet | Jan 10, 2018 | Educational Materials, Equine
There is now a quick, stall-side test to know if your horse has an infection. A new tool in our box called Serum Amyloid A by StableLab is useful for veterinarians to check levels of a protein found in the blood called Serum Amyloid A. Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein in horses. In normal, healthy horses it is low; with inflammation or infection it can become elevated in as little as 6-12 hours.
This test can be run stall-side or in-clinic to help determine if a horse has inflammation versus infection, or to help with evaluating the response to treatment quicker than previously able to. Other common lab work that can be run in conjunction with SAA include complete blood counts (CBC) and blood chemistry.
by Lodi Vet | Jan 10, 2018 | Educational Materials, Equine
We recommend planning for breeding season early – even as early as December! This will help make things as stress-free and seamless as possible.
Every year Lodi Veterinary Care rechecks mares for pregnancy, and we recommend doing this as early as January. Of the mares that are confirmed in foal at 15 days and re-confirmed in foal at 35 days, there will still be 5-10% that will have suffered embryonic loss and be open in spring.
If you do have a mare that has suffered embryonic loss, conducting diagnostic work early in the spring is a good idea, as it can take some time. Ultrasonography, uterine cultures, cytology and/or biopsies may be indicated.
Many mares have already been confirmed in foal and are either approaching or past their fifth month. Rhinopneumonitis, also known as EHV-1 (equine herpes virus 1), can cause abortion of the foal; however, there are very effective vaccines available for protection against this disease. The mare should be vaccinated at 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation. When the mare reaches her 10th month, she should receive vaccinations for eastern and western encephalitis, tetanus, West Nile virus, rabies, and influenza. Pregnant mares should have a fecal exam performed and be dewormed accordingly. The mare should also be dewormed around foaling time with an Ivermectin product to help protect her and the foal.
In order to help keep both mare and foal healthy, we advocate for a well-balanced nutrition program. When lacking in crucial vitamins and minerals, foals can suffer from deformities such as angular limb deformities and can be prone to developmental orthopedic diseases. Additionally, mares on a good balanced nutrition program have better chances of conceiving when they are re-bred following foaling. The minerals copper, zinc, phosphorus, selenium and manganese have been proven to affect fertility and must be provided at optimally balanced levels.
If your mare received a “caslicks” operation when she was either bred or confirmed in foal, don’t forget to have your veterinarian remove sutures approximately two weeks prior to foaling.
Breeding season can be a hectic time! That’s why we want too make things as easy as possible. Below is a quick checklist to make sure you and your mare are ready to go!
- Confirm your mare is in foal
- Vaccinate them against Rhinopneumonitis at 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation
- Vaccinate them for eastern and western encephalitis, tetanus, West Nile virus, rabies, and influenzaat 10 months gestation
- Practice good deworming, throughout the pregnancy
- Ensure your mare is on a well-balanced diet, complete with the necessary vitamins and minerals
And most of all, contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns! We are here to ensure the health and safety of mare and foal.
