BLACKNESS VETERINARY SURGERY

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2001

Blood Pressure Monitoring

Christmas Tips

Arthritis

Wedding Bells!

INTRODUCING BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

It's been a good year for advances in the treatment and care of our older generation of pets. Earlier in the year we brought you the news of the revolutionary new treatment for chronic renal failure in cats. The advent of this drug has already increased the lifespan of many of our patients. To complement this we are now offering blood pressure monitoring for your older pet.

HIgh blood pressure or "systemic hypertension" is an important disease process in older animals, especially cats. It can go undetected for a long time until it causes sudden dramatic signs such as blindness (due to damage of the retina at the back of the eye), fits, weakness or collapse due to the high pressure in the brain causing bleeding. It is seen frequently with other diseases associated with old age such as kidney failure and hyperthyroidism. If detected early enough it can be controlled with medication and these terrible effects can be avoided. Measurement of blood pressure in animals is a simple procedure, similar to how people have their blood pressure measured by the doctor. For years it has been the remit of referral practices to offer blood pressure measurement but we now have the equipment available to do this here in our own surgery. You can make an appointment for your pet at reception or for more information ask to speak to a vet or see our website feature Blood Pressure Monitoring.

CHRISTMAS TIPS FOR HAPPY PETS

Open it! Open it! Pah Pahht! What is it? Open it! 1. Chocolate does not agree with dogs or many other animals. At best, your pet may get an upset tummy, at worst a small piece of dark chocolate could be fatal. Give proper doggy treats instead and keep boxes full of tempting chocolates well out of reach of scavenging noses.

2 The excitement of Christmas can be unsettling for many animals so keep their beds in a quiet area; they can then have a safe place to hide. Don't force them to socialise if they are feeling nervous.

3. Festive Plants like poinsettia are poisonous so keep them out of reach of plant loving cats and house rabbits!

4. The old adage of "A Pet is for Life - Not Just for Christmas" still holds true. Think hard before giving a pet as a present. Consider waiting until after the upheaval of the festive period before introducing a new animal to the household.

5. Cats and tinsel don't mix very well, it can easily get caught around the tongue or may bring the tree down. Fairy lights and rabbits don't get on that well either, especially if your rabbit has a taste for wires.

Remember that there is a vet on duty every day over Christmas and New Year if you do have an emergency but by following a few sensible rules, hopefully we can all have a peaceful Christmas.

UPDATE ON ARTHRITIS

If your pet isn't showing the same enthusiasm as he used to, maybe tiring sooner than before, having difficulty getting up after long periods of rest or struggling to jump into the car or onto a favourite chair, he may be suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is a relatively common problem in pets, especially in the winter time when it is often very cold and damp. It is more frequent in older pets as a sequel to a lifetime of highspeed activity but younger dogs who have experienced physical trauma to a joint or have malformed joints such as hip dysplasia can also be affected.

We can usually tell how severe the arthritis is by doing an X-ray and looking for the new bone which forms around the joint as a response to the damage to the cartilage. It can be important to do this if the pain has come on very quickly to distinguish it from other conditions which may need different treatment.

If you think that your pet may have arthritis bring him or her along for a check-up as there are lots of medications available to make them more comfortable:

Anti-inflammatories - are a wide group of drugs which can be used in the short term to alleviate sudden flare-ups caused by over-exercise or accidents. Some of them can be given longer term as well but we may wish to test your pet's kidney function first to make sure that they are suitable. NEVER GIVE YOUR PET HUMAN MEDICATION. Drugs like Ibuprofen or Paracetomol can be fatal in very small doses in dogs and cats.
Nutritional supplements - More and more we are finding that people would prefer to give their pets natural products. We can offer a variety of nutritional supplements such as glucosamine, chondriotin and chitosan; these have been shown to help slow down the natural wear and tear of the joints and assist with the healing process. They have milder painkilling effects than anti-inflammatory drugs but are more suitable for long term use in younger or less severely affected animals.
Magnetic Collars - Although there is no real scientific proof, many owners report anecdotally that they see a marked improvement in their pets with these collars.

Probably the single most important factor in improving the mobility and quality of life of a pet with arthritis is weight control. A gentle diet will help weight to come off (or at least stop it going on!) and your pet will thank you for it as he is able to move around more freely. Our vets and nurses will be able to advise you on the best ways for your pet to reach its ideal weight.

STAFF NEWS

You may have noticed a new name on the vet's door over the last few weeks. Patricia Uculmana is now Patricia MacFadyen (much more Scottish and easier to pronounce!). Congratulations from all at Blackness Veterinary Surgery to Patricia, who got married to Colin on the 13th October 2001. All the very best for a happy future together.