Every two weeks Dr. Oz publishes an article in "Kelowna Capital News" on general topics of Veterinary medicine for the public's general interest and education. On this page you can find the direct links to those articles.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
If you share your life with a cat you should be aware of a syndrome called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (AKA FLUTD). This term refers to a number of abnormalities in the urinary tract including bladder infections and formation of crystals/stones. In severe cases an obstruction of the urethra can occur, preventing the excretion of urine from the body. This condition is a true emergency situation that is fatal if left untreated.
The most common urinary disease in cats is a bladder infection of an unknown cause. In these cases an inflammation is recognized but it is impossible to detect the specific cause for it. Often the cause for the chronic inflammation in the bladder is the formation of urinary crystals or stones which are rock hard collection of minerals deriving from the food. Read more
Giving human medication to animals can be dangerous
Signs of NSAIDS toxicity are depend on the tissue affected. Stomach ulcers may manifest by vomiting and or diarrhea, both may contain blood. The pet is usually weak and has no interest in food, and may show pain reaction around its abdomen.
On top of the signs mentioned, kidney failure is also manifested by either lack of urine production or excessive urination and drinking. If the liver is involved the pet may show signs of Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and tissues)
As a rule of thumb, I recommend you not to give your pet human NSAIDS, or any other human drug for that matter, without consulting a vet. In some cases the animal helps itself to the drug, those cases are usually even more dangerous because the overdose tends to be greater. In order to prevent these intoxications, keep your medication in a high, non accessible place for your pet. If your pet consumed the medication take it to the vet ASAP. If treated immediately, the vet may be able to eliminate the drug absorption by inducing vomiting, or feeding the pet with active charcoal. If the drug got absorbed by the time the pet is presented to the vet, a supportive treatment such as intravenous fluids may help the animal’s body cope with the drug.
Veterinary NSAIDS are available and commonly prescribed by vets for pain relief. These medications are designed to be used by pets. Their concentration is lower, and only the types that are less dangerous to pets are used. Long term treatment by NSAIDS in case of Arthritis management for example, requires the veterinarian supervision. I recommend my clients to perform a periodic partial blood test, while their pet is treated by the medication, in order to make sure that no harm is done to the animal’s internal organs.
Always contact your veterinarian before giving any medication to your pet. If needed, using the appropriate NSAID product may benefit many suffering animals, if done carefully, sensibly and with the right professional veterinary supervision.
Onion and garlic intoxication
Anemia is the condition where the number of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin is unusually low. Read more
Chocolate toxicity
The Christmas holiday season is upon us. In the season of giving, chocolate is a very popular gift people like to exchange. As a chocolate lover my self, I know how a chocolate indulgemet can raise your spirit. As well as most people, dogs tend to have a “sweet tooth” too, but for dogs chocolate in large amount is harmful and can be even fatal.
Theobromine and Caffeine can adversely affect the nervous system, and the heart. They can also lead to increase of the blood pressure. The early signs of chocolate intoxication are nausea (manifested by drooling and smacking the lips) Read more
Cat scratching habits
Some people find this behaviour unbearable, therefore this is one of the most common reasons for surrendering cats to animals shelters.
Clawing by scratching animate objects is a part of a normal behaviour in cats. It is very important to remember that your cat does not scratch your furniture in order to spite you. They do that to sharpen their nails as a part of self grooming, mark their territory, to exercise, and yes, also out of pleasure. It would be unrealistic to expect your cat to stop scratching. You better accept the scratching as a part of your cat behaviour and try to guide it to scratch on legitimate items instead of on your furniture. In order to do that, you should supply your cat with an alternative options. Scratching post is your best bet. Some cats take after the post right away, others might need some training. I know,you won’t find the scratching post in home decoration magazines, and this is probably the last thing you want in your living room, but remember cats are social creatures. Because they use scratching to mark their territory I would place the scratching post in the common living area, preferably close to the area it is used to scratch on. The idea is to try to make the cat like and use the post. Different cats have different preferences. The post you choose should be tall enough for the cat the dig it’s claws in and to stretch. Cats tend to like it when there is a toy attached to the post and many cats adopt the post as their sleeping area. Avoid any fluffy posts, cats prefer rough and coarse consistency. Pet stores carry all kind of different posts. Buying more than one post, and placing them in different areas of the house, will increase the chances of your cat getting to like and use the posts. In order to make the post more inviting, you can rub some cat nip on it. Is in OK to place the cat on the post, but don’t Read more
Winterize your pet
One of the most common reasons for rushing into vets offices in the winter time is antifreeze poisoning. The antifreeze we use in our vehicles is toxic to pets. Unfortunately it has a pleasant taste, so pets enjoy licking it. Antifreeze has a severe toxic effect on the kidneys which may be lethal. When you place antifreeze in your car, make sure your pet is not around. Make sure to clean any leaks on the ground thoroughly. Store the antifreeze container in a non accessible place for pets. A pet that ingested antifreeze will look like it has been drinking alcohol. The list of symptoms you may observe are staggering, confusion and disorientation. Excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and listlessness. If you suspect that your pet got exposed to antifreeze, take it to your vet ASAP.
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Dogs mental health
Dogs mental problems usually manifest in behaviours that annoy and aggravate their owners. This results in anger reaction of the owner that may exacerbate the dog’s problem. This vicious cycle can be resolved by understanding the dog’s behaviour and the management options.
The most common behavioral problem of dogs is separation anxiety. Separation anxiety in dogs is usually manifested by destructive and inappropriate behaviour when the dog gets left alone even in a familiar environment. The most common complaints I hear from owners are that the dog constantly howls barks or whines, destroys by chewing various objects in the house, furniture ,doors and windows. Some dogs urinate and defecate in the house despite being house trained. Read more
Back pain in pets
The spinal cord is one of the most important and sensitive organs in the body. It is responsible for the transmission of the neurologic signals from the brain to the rest of the body and vise versa , hence responsible for the motor ability, sensation and reflexes. If it is damaged, the nerve cells do not regenerate but are replaced with fibrous or scar tissue. Spinal cord injuries may result in a permanent paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries may be a result of trauma (for example hit by car or sports injuries), arthritis of the vertebral column which leads to anatomical changes in the vertebrae, infections or even tumors. The most common reason for back pain in Read more
Intestinal foreign body and obstruction
Dogs and cats, especially the young ones are naturally curious and playful hence tend to chew and swallow various objects. The foreign object may lodge in any part of the gastrointestinal system- the esophagus, the stomach or the intestine. Dogs have been known to swallow bones, balls,corncobs, toys, sticks, stones, pins, needles, wood splinters, cloth, rawhide, leather, strings, fruit pits, and other objects. The most common foreign bodies found in cats are strings. Any household object your pet chews on can become a foreign body problem. Although some smaller objects can get through the gut without getting stuck, the larger pieces can result in serious gastrointestinal complications. The presence of the foreign body can lead not only to either partial or complete obstruction but also to a tear of the gastrointestinal tract. Some foreign objects ingestion can lead to intoxication such as coins and batteries.
Partial obstruction allows limited passage of fluids and gas through the gastrointestinal tract, whereas complete obstruction does not allow any passage of gas and fluids past the obstruction. A complete obstruction is a very severe condition, usually with a rapid progression and poses potential severe consequences if not treated right away. Gastrointestinal blockage can lead to impairment of the blood flow and often to a permanent damage to the area of the blockage, infection due to bacterial overgrowth and severe dehydration.
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Approach to tumors in pets
Tumors are very common in animals, especially in the senior animal population. According to researches, cancer is the cause of almost 50% of death in pets over 10 years of age. It is important to understand that not every tumor is cancerous.
Tumor definition is any abnormal growth of cells. Tumors, or as frequently called by vets- masses, can be either benign or malignant. Benign neoplasms do not grow aggressively, do not invade the surrounding body tissues, and do not spread throughout the body. Malignant neoplasms, on the other hand, tend to grow rapidly, invade the tissues around them, and may spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Only malignant tumor are considered cancerous.
The diagnosis of tumors is done by pathological examination of the specific tissue involved.
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