West Boca Veterinary Center With Thumbtack.com

We are always trying to find ways to maintain our presence online and to stay current with our cleints and clients-to-be.  Through blog posts, facebook posts, twitter feeds and more, you will never be out of touch with our hospital or miss any important announcements. 

For thos who are not yet a member of the West Boca Veterinary Center family, we encourage you to ask around.  Friends and neighbors may bring their animals here.  We have several review sites online to help provide you with valuable client feedback.  You may also check our our veterinary hospital listing on Thumbtack.com. 

We look forward to seeing you and your animals soon!

Cats Need To See the Vet Too!!

                                          Cats Need To See The Vet Too

                                      
On average, cats visit the veterinarian less than half as often as dogs.  Twice yearly wellness exams are important for cats.  Senior and geriatric cats may need even more frequent visits.  While cats are healthier indoors overall, it is a mistake to believe that "indoor" cats don't get sick.
Cats are very skilled at masking and hiding illness.  Even the most perceptive owner may miss the subtle signs of disease in cats.  When your cat visits the veterinarian for a physical examination, these early subtle signs may be detected.  Uncovering disease early usually improves your pets prognosis, reduces your cats suffering, and on average, costs you less money. 
Below is a  list of symptoms your cat may present with if sick.  (Courtesy of the CATalyst Council)

1.  Changes in interaction
2.  Changes in activity
3.  Changes in water intake
4.  Unexpected weight loss or gain
5.  Bad breath
6.  Changes in grooming habits
7.  Changes in sleeping habits
8.  Changes in vocalization
9.  Signs of stress
10. Changes in chewing or eating habits

http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/health_welfare/

Some owners find it stressful to transport their cats to the veterinarian.  Below is a link to some tips to help you make the trip less difficult.

http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/health_welfare/cat_carrier_video/


Bring your cat to the veterinarian for regular check ups.  Your cat deserves it.

                                                          


Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com

Heat Stroke In Your Pet

An increased body temperature caused by environmental conditions is called heat stroke or hyperthermia.  This is a life threatening condition and requires immediate attention.  Heatstroke generally occurs:

                                                 


1.  In hot summer weather when dogs are left in hot vehicles.
2.  When an animal is left outside in hot/humid conditions without adequate shade.
3.  When exercised in hot/humid weather
4.  Obesity, airway disease, and breed specifically the brachycephalics, can also predispose an animal to
     heatstroke

Symptoms                                                                           


1.  Pet will appear distressed                                          
2.  Panting
3.  Restlessness
4.  Drooling from nose and or mouth
5.  Unsteadiness
6.  Gums turn blue, purple or bright red

What To Do


1.  Bring your pet into a cool environment
2.  Direct a fan on the pet
3.  If possible get rectal temperature and record it
4.  Begin cooling pet by placing cool wet towels over back of neck, armpits, and groin
5.  Transfer to veterinarian immediately

                                             

What NOT To Do


1.  Do not use cold water or ice for cooling (tap water is most suitable)
2.  Do not overcool the pet
3.  A reasonable goal of cooling is to get the temperature to 102-103F while transporting your pet
     to the vet
4.  Do not force your pet to drink water

If you have any questions, please call the office.
Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com
561-451-8838



                                   

Parvo virus in dogs

PARVOVIRUS IN DOGS WHERE DOES PARVO COME FROM? Parvovirus has been around since the 1970s, is hard to disinfect, and is shed in extremely large numbers by infected dogs. This means that there is virus everywhere: on every carpet, on every floor, in every yard and park.  Parvovirus infection occurs primarily in puppies, however adult dogs can occasionally become infected.  The most important factors in whether parvovirus infection occurs seem to be the experience the dog’s immune system has had with the virus plus the number of viral particles the dog is exposed to.  Restrict dogs  from public outdoor areas until vaccinations are complete at 16 weeks of age. INCUBATION The virus enters the body through the mouth as the puppy cleans itself or eats food off the ground or floor. A minuscule amount of infected stool is all it takes. There is a 3 to 7 day incubation period before the puppy seems obviously ill. SYMPTOMS 1.  Vomiting 2.  Diarrhea (often with blood) 3.  Lack of appetite 4.  Abdominal pain 5.  Fever Parvovirus is a deadly virus.  The vomiting and diarrhea resulting from the infection leads to extreme dehydration until shock and death occurs and/or the dog becomes septic from bacterial invasion into the bloodstream from a damaged intestinal barrier.   TREATMENT Treatment for parvoviral infection centers on supportive care. This means that the clinical problems that come up in the course of the infection are addressed individually with the goal of keeping the patient alive long enough for an immune response to generate. We do not have effective antiviral drugs and must rely on the patient’s immune system for cure. BE PREPARED FOR A 5 to 7 DAY HOSPITAL STAY AND SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE. INTENSIVE CARE IS NEEDED TO TREAT THIS INFECTION. In order to achieve the usual survival rate of approximately 75-80%, the basic therapies must be instituted which includes IV fluid therapy, antivomiting medication, antibiotics, stomach protectants, and plasma transfusions.   PREVENTION Make sure your dog is fully vaccinated for parvo.  It is highly effective with minimal if any side effects.  Your puppy should be vaccinated every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age starting at 6-8 weeks of age.   Dr. Kim Simons West Boca Veterinary Center www.westbocavet.com

Canine Pancreatitis

                                                                  

Pancreatitis is a disease process we see often in the hospital primarily with mini schnauzers, however any breed can be affected.

The dog pancreas has two main jobs:  secretion of digestive enzymes to help break down the food we eat and the secretion of the enzymes insulin and glucagon to regulate our sugar metabolism.

In pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes inflamed and the enzymes that are normally safely released are now digesting the pancreas itself instead of food.  This occurrence results in a metabolic catastrophe that can be life threatening.  Secondarily pancreatitis can also lead to diabetes, DIC (bleeding disorder), pancreatic encephalopathy (brain damage), and lung or liver damage. 

                                                                    

The classic signs of pancreatitis are appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and pain in the abdomen.
Treatment of pancreatitis includes hydration with electrolyte supplementation, pain management, medication to control vomiting and diarrhea, and antibiotics. 

In most cases of pancreatitis we never find out what caused it.  Some known causes of pancreatitis are:  reflux of intestinal contents into the pancreatic duct, trauma, concurrent hormonal imbalances like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), drugs like sulfas and certain chemotherapy agents, and cancer. 

Once dogs have recovered from pancreatitis we keep them maintained on a low fat diet and reevaluate them on a regular basis to make sure that diabetes has not developed.






Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com

Inappropriate Urination in Cats

                                                                       "It wasn't me......"

Waking up in the morning to a wet puddle under your foot or a squish in the carpet is never fun.  For all of us cat lovers out there, this can happen every once in a while.  However, for those of you who are dealing with this situation regularly I have some tips for you.

The most common reason for cats to urinate in places other than the litter box is a cleanliness issue.  Cats are very finicky and like things clean.  The rule of thumb is scoop your litter box daily and replace litter weekly.  Now, this does not mean just top your litter off with fresh litter!!  It means remove all of the litter, wash the box out with warm water and soap, and then put in fresh litter.  I know some of you out there do the former!

Secondly, have enough litter boxes.  The golden rule is to have one more litter box than the number of cats in your household.  So, if you have 3 cats.......sorry you need 4 litter boxes (don't hate me). 

Cats may also have preferences for types of litter and litter boxes.  Some cats like scoopable litter, clay, pine, crystals.....you just have to figure out which one your cat likes.  Studies show scoopable litter is preferred by cats specifically Fresh Step.   Studies also show that cats prefer large open litter boxes.  In addition, cats don't like their litter type changed.  This may lead your cat to choose other places to use the restroom.  Be consistent with the location of your litter boxes and the type of litter you use.

Lastly, don't forget our older senior/geriatric cats may be painful getting into the litter box due to arthritis.  So our older cats should have low walled boxes to make it easier for them. 

Now we all know that this would be ideal!!!!

Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
http://www.westbocavet.com/
                                                             

Flea Anemia

With all the advances veterinary medicine has made in the last decade, you would think that flea borne disease would be eradicated.  However, we still see cases where our patients are getting sick from fleas.

Fleas can transmit infectious diseases to our dogs and cats, cause mild to life threatening anemia's, transmit tapeworms, and cause significant skin irritation to our pets and humans.

Fleas are parasites that suck blood from their host of choice; in this case my feline patient Katie.

Katie presented to my office with extreme lethargy and just not acting herself.  Upon her physical exam I found fleas and flea dirt in her coat.

As I checked her mouth, I noticed that her gums were pale.  This is a sign we see when our patients are anemic.  Anemia is defined as a reduced number of red blood cells in a pets circulation.  Your red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to your tissues.  If there are inadequate numbers of these red blood cells you will feel tired and when severe enough will have difficulty breathing from a lack of oxygen carrying red blood cells.

A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry blood panel were done on Lola.  Her CBC supported our clinical findings and demonstrated a pronounced anemia.  Katie's PCV was 10%.  (normal is about 35%)

Some anemia's can be so severe that a blood transfusion is needed.  

Fortunately, Katie did not require a blood transfusion.  I treated aggressively with flea control.  In this case I used Revolution which is a heartworm preventative, flea and intestinal parasite treatment.  This preventative therefore can treat any hookworms that Katie may have had which also contributes to anemia as they are blood sucking parasites as well.  In addition, I prescribed a liquid multivitamin to help rebuild red blood cells faster and doxycycline in case Katie also became infected with a flea transmitted infection called hemobartonella.  This parasite is a common cause of anemia as well.  After only a couple of days, Katie was feeling much better and is more active.  She is very lucky.  She came very close to needing a transfusion and hospitalization but her owners keen eye prevented that!

Glad you are feeling better Katie!!

KEEP THESE UGLY PARASITES AWAY WITH A GOOD FLEA CONTROL PRODUCT!!

Dr. Kim Simons

West Boca Veterinary Center

www.westbocavet.com

Vomiting or Regurgitation-That is the Question.....

  "Ralphy" in his feeding chair  

Regurgitation is the passive process of bringing up contents from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus.  It will often occur just like a simple burp or urp with no forewarning.  In contrast, Vomiting is the forceful and active process of bringing up contents from the stomach and upper intestine.  The most notable signs of vomiting are drooling and heaving.

It  is of utmost importance that the veterinarian distinguishes between the two as the differential diagnoses are vastly different.  This blog will focus on regurgitation.
The most common cause of regurgitation is Megaesophagus. Esophageal Strictures, sliding Hiatal Hernias, and Esophageal Tumors may also cause regurgitation.  Megaesophagus can be congenital or it can be as a result of Myasthenia Gravis, Addison's disease and possibly even Hypothyroidism.

Ralphy presented to our hospital with a complaint of regurgitation.  He was tested for megaesophagus by X-ray and barium swallow and the results were inconclusive.  However, we treated him as such and he responded. (Below is an image of a dogs chest with a megaesophagus.)

Part of the therapy for megaesophagus is to feed your pet upright so gravity helps keep the food down.  His owner was dedicated enough to have a feeding chair built for him.  As you can see he tolerated it very well!!!   (Watch the video above)
Ultimately it turns out that Ralphy most likely had an esophageal stricture secondary to esophagitis that caused his regurgitation. He no longer needs his feeding chair and is a happy boy!!


Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com

                                             

Vestibular Disease in Dogs

                                                    "Ralphy" with old dog vestibular disease

The Vestibular System is part of the neurological system that is responsible for perceiving your body's orientation relative to the earth.  Basically the vestibular system determines if you are upside down, standing up, falling etc.  When this system is disrupted you won't know which way is up, whether or not you are standing up straight or slanted, and you'll feel dizzy.  Its like being on a constant roller coaster.
People often confuse/mistake vestibular disease with seizures or strokes.

The symptoms of vestibular disease are:
1.  Motion sickness
2.  Nystagmus-rapid eye movement---- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeXT0Sss0Hg
3.  Circling
4.  Head tilt (like Ralphy in the picture above) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqwW81CpUwE&feature=related
5.  Falling to one side
6.  Stumbling/staggering- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1YNspRvdPE

The causes of vestibular disease are:
1.  Middle ear infection
2.  Brain lesion
3.  Unknown/idiopathic-Old Dog Vestibular Disease (what Ralphy in picture above suffered from)

In Ralphy's case he presented to our hospital with a sudden onset of staggering and falling onto his left side.  Within hours he was unable to walk and had rapid eye movement.  We diagnosed him with Old Dog Vestibular Disease and treated him for motion sickness.  Each day he progressively got better.  He is now walking but still has his head tilt (head tilts can persist up to 6 months and sometimes can even be permanent).  Below is Ralphy resting comfortably.  :)

                                                          
                                                        

Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com

First FDA approved oral NSAID for cats

I am happy to announce that the FDA has finally licensed/labelled an oral NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) for the use in CATS!!!
This is exciting news and the first of its kind in feline medicine.  For far too long, cats haven't had all the medicinal options as we have had for dogs.
This new drug is called Onsior (robenacoxib).  This drug is the equivalent to Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Previcox, or Meloxicam in dogs.  I am hoping this opens the door for more options for our feline friends when it comes to improving their quality of life and quality of medical care.

Dr. Kim Simons
West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com

Dog Ate What Foreign Object????

Dogs are notoriously known to eat just about anything.  In the past ten years of practice our hospital has removed corn cobs, underwear, Christmas ornaments...you name it. 
It is very important that owners "puppy proof" their homes in order to protect your pets from this dangerous problem. 

Below is a story about "Lena", a 6 year old mixed breed dog who we discovered ate a "linear foreign body".

"Lena" presented to our hospital with a history of lack of appetite and vomiting of 3 days duration.  In addition, when she drank water, she would vomit it right back up.  This are typical symptoms of a pet that has an obstruction or blockage from a foreign object. 
To help prove an obstruction x-rays were taken after a number of small x-ray visible beads were given to her to eat.  As you see below none of the beads move out of the stomach supporting the diagnosis of an obstruction.  (The dark areas behind the beads are intestines that are dilated and full of gas further supporting the diagnosis of obstruction.)

It was time for an exploratory surgery to find and remove the foreign object(s) from Lena's gastrointestinal tract.  Once in surgery we found a linear foreign object that was stuck and tangled in her stomach and went all the way down into her small intestines.  An incision into her stomach and two incisions into her intestines made it possible for us to remove the foreign object!!!

To this day, we do not know exactly what the object is, it appears to be a linear fabric like entity......
Lena is recovering nicely and feeling much better!!!

Kim Simons DVM

If you have any questions about this information or your pet, please give our office a call.
561-451-8838

West Boca Veterinary Center
www.westbocavet.com