Oh baby, don't leave me this way

Hi All,

Libby here.

The great Thelma Houston really understood what it meant to be left behind. Abandoned. Neglected. 

Although the topic of this week's post is nowhere near that melodramatic, it is about a pertinent topic—leaving pets behind. 

Whether for an hour, a day or a week, pets react differently to your absence. Some pets are totally calm (who cares! Let's party). Others however react in a much more visceral manner; they experience separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety manifests itself differently in each pet- and there's no real way to determine how it will affect your pup other than by trial and error. Here are some general 'categories' if you will, of how separation anxiety manifests itself.

1. The Destroyer- This pet shows its anxiety about being left at home by well, destroying. Everything in your house that is. Shoes, beware!

2. The Soiler- This pet shows they are not pleased at being left alone by urinating or defecating in your home. Bring on the wee-wee pads!

3. The 'if you make my life miserable, I will make everyones life miserable'-This pet shows their anger by barking. Incessantly. For the entire time you are gone. Making your neighbors hate you.

Now, I'm obviously not advocating that you don't take any time away from your pet. Like any healthy relationship, absence can make the heart grow fonder. And, you are entitled to your space. That said, if you have a pet who tends to over-exhibit on any of the above when you leave the house, it might not be a bad idea to bring them into the PPAC. Behavioral (therapy, anyone?) or pharmacological intervention may be available to help ease some of the anxiety your pets experience when you are not around. The PPAC doctors can also help advise on any other appropriate courses of action.

Til' next time,

Libby

What color is your pee?

Hi All,

Libby here.

I'm feeling much better- thanks for asking. Though, to be totally honest, now that we've had our big snowstorm of the season, I would be happy to kiss winter goodbye until next year.

But alas, I don't exactly control the weather.

So...brace yourself—things are about to get personal. 

Have you ever eaten asparagus and smelled the weird after-scent when you go to the bathroom? It's one of those things that's simultaneously disgusting and completely captivating. Like a horror movie- you want to look away but you can't help yourself. At one point or another, we've all done something that would probably qualify as disgusting behavior related to our bathroom habits. It's ok. Everyone's doing it.

Well, as a pet parent, you should be applying some of that same 'disgusting' behavior when it comes to your pets. Since they can't really speak up about their health, you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to changes in their normal state of being. Take urine for instance—a change in color can indicate a health problem.

Not to get too graphic (but I kind of have to), the next time your pet goes to the bathroom (number one of course), take a look at what color it is. Dark or very yellow urine can be an indicator that your pet may be suffering from any of the following conditions:

• liver problems
• biliary problems (the part of the liver that makes bile to help digest fats)
• gall bladder disease
• red blood cell destruction

If you notice a change in their urine color, there are other symptoms you might want to look out for:

• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• swollen abdomen
• excess drinking
• excess urinating 
• pale mucous membranes

The combination of dark urine with any of the above may be an indicator that something's not quite right with your pet's health.So, as parting advice, pay more attention when your pet goes to the bathroom! And if you notice any of the above, pop by the PPAC for a checkup.

Til' next time,

Libby

It's finally happened

Hi All,

Libby here.

Sorry for the late hour of my post but I've been sick in my kitty-bed all day long, catnapping on and off.

Cough cough-I think I have a hairball.

It was imminent that I would get sick eventually in this weather and it's finally happened.

So I'm going to take this opportunity to rest, and recuperate, and hopefully I'll be back up to snuff next week.

I'm going to drag myself back to bed now.

Til' next time,

Libby.

Snow, glorious snow!

Hi All,

Libby here.

I love snow!

I'm the happiest kitty in the world. I love perching on the windowsill of the PPAC, looking outside at the gorgeous snow fall. Look at that view in Prospect Park! There's really nothing better than it in the whole wide world. It's especially stunning before certain four legged animals run outside and turn the snow yellow.(AHEM) 

Speaking of snow, isn't it just the cutest thing in the world when a dog with short legs (have you met the Silverman's dog, Bernie?) can't manage to get their little legs over the big heaping mounds of snow. SO sweet. But, I digress.

A few weeks ago, I spoke about general cold weather warnings for your pets. But, that was before there was this giant snow storm! I now feel obligated to write an addendum to that post specifically pertinent to the snow!

So without further ado...Here's a human analogy for you to chew on. I know I write a lot of these human analogies but, you are humans. And you have pets. So it seems fitting to write something that you might actually be able to relate to so as to draw a comparison and understand the situation better than you otherwise would. Capish? 

OK. Let's say you're going for a run. And it's freezing out. And there's snow on the ground. Before you go, you'll stretch, right? Warm up. Maybe jog in place to get the muscles warmed up and ready to face the cold. If you didn't do this, you'd exit your house and likely have a massive shock to your system. Your muscles would tense up and you'd be a lot more prone to injury.

Now, imagine you have four legs. And fur. And live in an apartment in New York which means you probably don't have tons of space to run around in. Which makes 'warming up' slightly more challenging for a dog. And you see snow on the ground and can't WAIT to get outside so you can pee on it, and roll around in it, and run around to your little heart's content.

The point of this whole analogy deal was to say that dogs can't warm up in the same way as humans can. So, when exiting the house into frigid conditions, they're more inclined to sustain skeletal injuries because of muscles tightening in the cold. I see a lot of pets coming into the PPAC with some pretty serious injuries because they played too hard in the cold. Or, because the combination of frigid conditions and damp weather awakened pre-existing injuries. I've also seen that some pets who were adopted from shelters come in with skeletal issues that their owners hadn't even been aware of. That is until their dog plays around in the snow and gets injured! 

If you can get your pet to run around a bit indoors before leaving the house, great. If you can't however (I imagine this will be most of you!), make sure to exercise caution with your pets. Don't let them run too hard or for too long. And if you notice them looking fatigued or walking with any pain or discomfort, bring them inside! Not worth sustaining new injuries (or exacerbating old ones) just to have a roll in the snow.

Til next time,

Libby

It's not polite to stare

Hi All,

Libby here,

Not sure if you heard but Dr. S. recently had his second knee replacement surgery. A year and a half ago, he had his left knee done and this time, he had his right knee! He's now firmly on his way to becoming a bionic man.

Other than your love for Dr. S., why am I telling you this information? Well, it's a bit of a warning.

You all know Dr. S. as this robust, healthy individual. Over the next few weeks however, he's going to be looking a bit less er...robust.

He's going to be walking around with a cane. And sitting on a red bar-stool during appointments.

Here's a picture of his knees. You might not be doing so hot either if you'd just had metal inserted into your body in place of bone.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you not to stare. It's not nice.

He'll be up and running again in no time.

And yes, I recognize how this post lacks relevance to animal medicine (specifically). I don't care. Just go with it.

Til next time,

Libby.

Weatherproofing your pet

Hi All,

Libby here. 

First off, BRRR! It's cold outside. And I haven't even physically been outside. But the cold coming off the coats of PPAC clients, is enough indication about how murderously cold it is outside. I've never been happier to be an indoor cat!

Now, don't be fooled by the topic of today's blog. We're not really going to talk about weatherproofing. That's just silly. And let's be honest, just like humans, there's not much to do about the imminent approach of cold weather. (Ok, I suppose you can make a decision to pack on a few extra pounds to insulate yourself. But, we DO NOT advocate that approach for your pets, here at the PPAC!)

That said, there are some things you can do to help keep your pet as safe and warm as possible as the cold creeps in. Did you know that this is supposedly the coldest weather we've experienced since 2002? INSANE! Precautions must be taken.

So, here goes.

You've probably seen some dogs walking around outside with little rubber dog boots. No, they are not some weird, new, Lady Gaga inspired fashion statement. They are rubber boots meant to protect your pet's little feet from the harsh winter weather! Not only do they keep feet dry, they also protect the soles of paws from the salt mixture people lay down to melt snow and ice. Unless people are consciously using dog-friendly types of salt, this substance can be super painful to a pet's paws. Ouch! Protect those paws!

My next cold weather suggestion is the beloved (or dreaded) doggy coat. Some pet owners are all about accessorizing their best friends. Others are less enamored with silly looking (albeit adorable) outerwear. So my two cents on this matter are, would you walk outside without a coat in 20 degree weather? Should your pet be subjected to the cold just because you think they look a tad silly? No! Keep them warm. And if you see your pet shivering, put a coat on them!

In this weather, you also need to be extra cautious when it comes to pets with pre-existing health conditions. You know when you walk outside and it's so cold it hurts to breathe? Now, imagine if you were predisposed to breathing and cardiac issues. Even worse, right? Same goes for pets who have these conditions. Take extra precautions when bringing these pets outside in the cold winter months.

My final cold weather tip relates to antifreeze. This substance is super useful in cold weather. And super toxic to your pets. So always keep this (and all other harmful substances) out of your pet's reach.

Just a few tips to keep your pet safe this winter!

Til next time,

Libby

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

Hi All,

Libby here. I hope you are having meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Days.

Today's topic is both near and dear my heart but, it can be a bit of a sensitive issue. So I've decided to treat it with all manner of discretion.

In the words of the great Salt N' Pepa, Let's TaIk About Sex. 

Joking aside, as a pet parent, it's important to understand the ins and outs of animal procreation so you can act in an educated manner when it comes to the well being of your pet. This information might be tremendously obvious to all of you - if this is not new news, my apologies. And for the rest of you, it's time we had the 'chat'.

Just like humans, animals reach a point of sexual maturity. Once sexually mature, female dogs go into heat approximately every six months and female cats experience go into heat once a month or so. During these time periods, the male counterparts of dogs and cats are extra attracted to the female and, well lets say... things can get quite rowdy.

So why all this info about animal love? Well, aside from a desire to curb excessive population growth, (do you know how many pups and kittens are in a litter!?) since there are so many homeless cats and dogs and we want to help keep this in check, there are also significant health benefits to spaying and neutering your pets.

When making the decision whether or not to 'fix' your pet, keep in mind that you don't want to do this while they are too young; recent studies show that premature spaying and neutering can  make your pet more inclined to skeletal problems. That said, the decision to go ahead and fix your pet is actually beneficial to their health. Spaying your female cat or dog will help them avoid uterine infections later or rare genital tract tumors later on in life. Neutered male cats and dogs are less prone to prostate infections as well as testicular tumors.

Now please don't think I'm up on some soapbox advocating one way or another or, trying to twist your arm to spay or neuter your pet. Each pet owner is responsible and capable of making educated and responsible decisions for your pet. But, I wanted to share what I know and let you and your pets go forth and procreate. Or not as the case may be.

Til' next time,

Libby

Find a kitty, pick it up.

Hi All,

Libby here.

Let me paint a picture for you. You're walking along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden, an adorable cat makes its way into your path. Perhaps you're a bit cautious at first but, when the kitty wends its way in and out of your legs enough times, you realize you're not shaking him off so easily. In fact, the little guy is kind of growing on you. So you take off your coat, scoop the little fella up and take him home with you.

Happy little family, right?

Not so fast!

Let's be honest. You exercise a lot of caution when picking other items up off the street-shoes, clothing, ya know. So why wouldn't you do the same when it comes to a stray animal?

Now, I'm 100% in support of saving stray cats from a life on the streets but, you need to be careful and make sure you're doing everything you need to, in order to insure the safety of both yourself and your pet.

When you take home your new family member, you would be smart to bypass your home and go straight to your vet to check for the following:

1. Ringworm-humans can contract this disease so you want to make sure to treat your new pet before bringing them home.
2. Fleas- This itchy pest can infest both you and your home.
3. Feline leukemia and feline AIDS- both of these diseases can lower your pet's immune response and leave them in harm of contracting other illnesses.
4. Earmites-these bugs are super itchy to your pet so beware!
5. Upper respiratory disease- this can cause your cat to have runny eyes, nose and, in a worst case scenario, can cause the eyeball to rupture.
6. Intestinal parasites- worms and other one cell organisms that can cause severe diarrhea!

Obviously, these various maladies are pretty heavy duty and shouldn't be handled lightly. Once your vet treats any existing conditions and offers preventative care for others, your new pet will be ready to join you at home.

Safety first!

Til' next time,

Libby

'Eating Like A Stoner' Or: How To Look Out For Diabetes

Hi All,

Libby here.

I hope you are one week closer to making all of your New Year's resolutions come true.

If you are, that makes one of us. I haven't been doing so well on the 'nice front' as per my blog post last week. So, I figure I'll work extra hard on my other resolutions-ie imparting my extensive medical knowledge to you fine folks.

To that end, in light of the recent holiday season (granted it's coming to an end but I'm still riding on my holiday high), this week's post relates to excessiveness. Excessive drinking and eating are two symptoms of the condition du jour, amongst others.

Drinking and eating  are good in moderation, of course. Most things are. But, when you notice your cat or dog eating, drinking or urinating excessively, and losing weight in spite of this, your pet may have diabetes. Another tell-tale sign of diabetes is if your animal is walking low in the saddle. This means that the lower joints on your pet's hind leg (their ankle joints) are down low to the ground

Recently, a two year old cat came into the PPAC displaying these symptoms. When Dr. S. asked about the cat's recent eating habits, the owner remarked 'Man, my cat is eating like a stoner'. HAHAH. Come on, that's pretty funny! 

Well, when Dr. S. heard about the cat's excessive eating, he pressed the client further and found out that the cat had also been drinking and peeing more than usual. Blood and urine tests were then taken, and it was discovered that the cat not only had diabetes, it also had a urinary tract infection; the excess sugars in the blood stream (results of the diabetes), can sometimes cause UTI's.

Dr. S. gave the cat antibiotics to treat the UTI and twice-daily insulin injections to treat the diabetes. Now here's where it gets a bit tricky. The proper amount of insulin is not always easy to determine immediately. So, if your pet does in fact have diabetes, and you are committed to treating them, it might take a bit of finagling to figure out the appropriate amount. Once that has been sorted out however, your pet can continue to live a healthy life!

Stoner jokes aside, diabetes is serious but it can be treated. So if you notice your pet chowing down stoner style, bring them in for a checkup.

Til' next time,

Libby