Is Your Dog At Risk for Death by Fungus?

Lurking in your yard, in your mulch no less could be a naturally occurring fungus that readily infects dogs, cats and people and can be deadly if not caught early. Blastomycosis is a yeastlike fungal infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis.

This organism is commonly found in decaying wood and soil, usually near bodies of fresh water. The infection usually starts out in the lungs but can invade many tissues throughout the body even causing blindness via optic lesions.

Recently my neighbor’s dog sadly passed away from this very infection. My neighbor described the initial symptom her dog exhibited was difficulty breathing, which they thought was because she was hot due to her fur being long, as well as her age possibly being a factor. They took the animal to the vet who initially misdiagnosed her and gave her antibiotics which unfortunately accelerated the illness and by the time they figured out what was causing her illness it was to late. More common in male dogs but my neighbors was a female.

The symptoms which can be vague or misdiagnosed include:

•  Fever
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Weight loss
• Eye discharge
• Eye inflammation, specifically the iris
• Difficulty breathing (e.g., coughing, wheezing and other unusual breathing sounds)
• Skin lesions, which are frequently filled with pus

This infection is quickly hitting epidemic proportions in many states. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms ask your veterinarian to test for fungal infection as it may be mistaken for cancer and mistreated which can lead to permanent or fatal damage as in the case of my neighbor’s canine.

For more information on this topic visit  here or here

Most cases are diagnosed in late summer to early fall. Don’t let your dog fall victim to this horrific infection. Pay attention and if your dog doesn’t seem like themselves, take action!

Terie Hansen Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care

May be reached at 404-422-9832 info@gooddogcoaching.com

www.gooddogcoaching.com

Massage for Dogs with Arthritis

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation and pain of one or more joints. Although there are many different forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis or degenerative joint diseases is the form most of our older pets suffer from. Osteoarthritis is caused by daily wear and tear to joints, typically the weight-bearing joints such as the back, limbs, and pelvis. In early stages of osteoarthritis mild pain is felt during activities, but soon the pain can be continuous and even occur while in a state of rest. This pain can keep many of our pets from doing the activities they once loved, like playing ball or going on walks.

What are some signs of osteoarthritis?

• Difficulty in getting up from a lying position
• Difficulty in going up and down stairs
• Unable to jump
• Less mobile
• Depressed
• Anxious
• Muscle spasms
• Fluid on the joint
• Crepitus (creaking of the joint)
• Loss of proprioception in limbs
• General slowing down and stiffness

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but we can prevent the condition from worsening and help our pets regain a more pain-free life. Canine massage and muscle therapy performed by a trained animal therapist is a great way to help ease the pain of arthritis.

Massage/muscle therapy can help dogs with osteoarthritis by:

• Helping warm surrounding muscles making them more supple
• Helping to relax stiff muscles/overcompensating muscle groups
• Promoting good range of motion in joints
• Improving mobility & flexibility
• Reducing pain & inflammation
• Improving circulation to affected areas
• Relieving muscle tension
• Breaking the cycle of tension and pain
• Soothing the overcompensating limbs
• Slowing the degeneration process, in some cases

PLEASE DO NOT just think your pet is just getting old and there is nothing to be done about it! I have had owners report seeing a bounce back in their dog’s step, more activity on walks, reduction in stiffness and a generally happier, more comfortable dog within just a few session of massage. The bottom line, massage and muscle therapy works for dogs with osteoarthritis!

Savannah Cheek, RVT, EM/MT, CCMT of Savi Pet Massage, LLC

678-779-4531 

www.savipetmassage.com savipetmassage@gmail.com

Your trip is booked, the plane tickets are purchased and you are all set right? Wait a minute, aren’t you forgetting something, or should I say someone? Your pet (aka

furry, finned, feathered family member)! Who will take care of your pet(s) while you are gone? Well there are many choices…A friend or neighbor (who often renege at the last minute, happens all the time because they really don’t want to do it), your vet, pet sitter, doggie day care place or private boarding might be the best option?

Really the best choice is made based on your pet(s) and what gives you peace of mind.

What type of pet do you own? Dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, livestock and more can be cared for by professional pet sitters.

Should I use my vet? Your vet is an option if your dog is ok to be left in a kennel for most of the day ( I wouldn’t recommend cats being boarded as they are usually stressed out by the change in environment, sights, sounds(barking dogs), smells), only coming out for potty breaks and a short walk because let’s face it, most vets will board but are not set up to spend any quality time with your pet (they are busy seeing patients as are their staff).  But your pet will be safe none the less.

Is your pet(s) ok to be left alone at home? If your pet is older, ailing or

rehabbing, is NOT spayed or neutered (most dog boarding places with not board intact males or females) enjoys chilling on the sofa, likes to play in their own yard or go for walks in their neighborhood or does not do well socializing with other dogs or you own a cat(s) then an in home professional pet sitter is a great choice. They will make visits to your home to care for your pet(s), feed, water, walk, scoop litter boxes, play and of course cuddle, give belly rubs etc if your pet thrives on that (as does mine). Some will leave you a full report of the fun that was had with your pet complete with pictures. They will also water your plants, take in your mail, change your lights around (making it look as if you are home) which are all great security measures.

Why should I use a professional pet care provider? Professional Pet sitters are members of an association such as NAPPS-National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, PSI-Pet Sitters International etc where they get continuing education on animal care and safety issues, often have additional certifications such as Pet CPR & First Aid through the American Red Cross. They are licensed, bonded and insured for your safety. Most importantly your pet is their top priority.

Professionals often offer overnight care as well as live in care for pets who need more interaction or attention, like to sleep in the bed with human company or for pet parents who just want to pamper their furbabies with this luxury level of care.

Does your dog get along with other dogs? A dog boarding or day care facility is an option for dogs that are social and can’t be left home alone because they tear up the house, have severe separation anxiety or just generally enjoy the company of a lot of dogs. This is not an option usually for an older dog as the activity level is too high. This is also not an option for dog reactive dogs as they will spend their entire time in a crate/kennel (not much fun for your dog).

 Would you feel better if your dog had 24 hour care? Private boarding is a great option for most dogs. The ratio of care giver to dogs is very low usually 1 to 5 and allows your dog plenty of human interaction and the ability to live in a home environment. They get 24/7 care, lots of play time, walks and tons of love and attention. This is also a great option for puppies or special needs dogs that may need more frequent potty breaks or have special care or training requirements.

At Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care we offer professional in home pet sitting, overnight and live in care as well as private boarding. There is an option for every pet and every budget. We deliver happiness and peace of mind to all the pets and pet parents in our care. Call us today with any questions you may have or for a free consultation. It would be our pleasure to serve you! 404-422-9832

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer, Dog Walker, Pet Sitter

404-422-9832

info@gooddogcoaching.com www.gooddogcoaching.com

A Review of Heartworms

Heartworms and heartworm prevention for your dog and cat.  This is such an important part of caring for dogs AND your cats.  Yep, both.  We don’t talk about heartworms in cats as often, and many clients do not realize that they can even be a problem for our feline friends.  But it is something we need to discuss more often.  And we need to work diligently to prevent them. Heartworms are aptly named, as they become residents of your pet’s heart.  That detail alone should inspire a degree of fear in pet owner’s hearts.  Clearly, an intruder into the heart is going to create potentially life threatening problems! The next factor that should get the attention of those not yet impressed-  heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes.  Ever see any of those around?  Of course, we know what  a nuisance those are for Georgians.  They love our hot, humid environment.  They are ubiquitous, indoors as well as outdoors.  They are very good at their job of finding a meal, and they don’t mind flying in to our homes to do that. So no pet is safe, even the cat that never steps outdoors. And all it takes is a single bite to our cat or dog, from an heartworm carrying mosquito, to change our pet’s health status for the long term. So what is going on?  Mosquitoes carry the larval stage of the heartworm, a microscopic creature called a microfilaria.  These are picked up when the mosquito feeds on a animal that is already infected with heartworms and has microfilaria circulating in their blood stream.  When that mosquito takes a blood meal from the next pet, it leaves behind microfilaria.  Those microfilaria circulate around the pet’s blood stream, maturing, and ultimately growing into worms that will settle in the heart and begin producing their own microfilaria.   While microfilaria are microscopic, the adult heartworm most certainly is not.  These are easily seen with the unaided eye, looking a bit like angel hair pasta.  There can be so many adults present in the heart that the begin to push through the major blood vessels from the heart to the lungs, and can certainly interrupt blood flow enough to cause a heart murmur, and eventually signs of heart failure. Pets may begin to show exercise intolerance, develop a cough, and generally lose body condition.  In late stages, they can begin to have swelling in the legs and abdomen as the heart fails (This is in dogs). In cats, heartworm disease tends to be more insidious. They sometimes show no signs. Or perhaps they cough intermittently.  Perhaps they vomit, but otherwise seem normal on a day to day basis. A cat will sometimes die unexpectedly, never having shown any signs of illness or given any clues that they had heartworms. While dogs may have huge numbers of heartworms in their heart, not surprisingly causing serious effects, cats may have catastrophic results with only 2 or 3 worms. So why the difference? As the relationship between a parasite (in this case, heartworms) and a host (dogs) evolves, a balance is struck to allow the parasite to continue to use its host for a longer time. It would not be in a parasites best interest to quickly kill their host, as they require the host in order to survive long enough to reproduce.  The worms develop means to avoid stimulating the dog’s immune system too much. This way they are not attacked and removed immediately.  It also results in the dog’s response being less violent, and the decline in the dog’s health to be more gradual.  It is an intricate dance that has developed over too many generations to count. But for cats, the story is different.  They are not the natural host for the heartworm.  They have not evolved together.  Therefore, the cat does not have real tolerance for the heartworms, and the worms are not very good at hiding from the cat’s immune system. Very few worms are needed to set stage for a violent reaction on the part of the cat’s body.  It is generally not a gradual, visible decline.  Once the precipice is reached, the fall over the edge is sudden and usually unexpected by the pet owner. But what about treatment for heartworm infection? Yes, we have had a medication called Immiticide to treat heartworm disease in dogs for many years. It has been a successful process for most dogs.  Those that have not developed serious changes associated with the infection, and with no other unrelated health issues will generally go on to have very normal lives.  However, the treatment, necessary associated lab work and monitoring, are generally rather costly.  And certainly more expensive than monthly heartworm prevention. More concerning, the medication is not easy to come by these days.  What most veterinarians kept on the shelf for easy use when needed, is no longer so readily available.  In some cases it is unattainable, due to a cessation of manufacture in the United States.  In order to get the needed medication, we have to call the drug company and present the case of the pet that we need to use it in.  It is a triage situation, and if our case is not the most pressing, we may not be able to get the medication right away. We have to focus on prevention of this disease, rather than treatment after the fact.  It is extremely preventable with familiar medications like Heartgard and Interceptor, and now less expensive, but still effective generic versions.  This is one of the most important things you can do for your pet’s health! As for cats… well treatment is not a realistic option. They do not tolerate the medication as dogs would, even it was readily available.  And because of the low numbers of worms needed to create a problem, we may not even be able to detect the infection prior to a tragic ending. The good news,  prevention is readily available for cats as well  Heartgard for cats is an option that has been around for a good many years, and has proven well tolerated and effective.  This does require getting your cat to eat a chewable treat, which is not always so easy.  If your cat doesn’t like this method, their are great topical medications that prevent heartworms too. Revolution and Advantage Multi are spot on medications that control fleas as well as prevent heartworms (available for dogs as well as cats, in case you have a canine companion that is suspicious of all medicinal “treats”). This is a battle that can be won. But it does require a commitment on the part of pet owners of cats and dogs alike.  This is one of the basic necessities of pet care, along with vaccines, proper nutrition, and appropriate training, exercise and lots of love! Heartworm prevention, one dose, once a month, all year long, for your dog AND cat. By Dr. Kristen Arp Bay Creek Mobile Veterinary House call appointments are available! 678-863-9408  www.baycreekmobilevet.com drivingdogvet@bellsouth.net