1. Inappropriate Elimination
   A cat that urinates in inappropriately could have any number of conditions associated with the behavior, including lower urinary tract disease, kidney disease, urinary tract infection and diabetes mellitus.  It can also be a sign of arthritis, which makes it difficult for cats to get into the litter box.
2. Changes in Interaction
   Cats are social animals, so changes in interactions with humans or pets can signal disease, fear, anxiety or pain.
3. Changes in Activity
   A decrease in activity is often a sign of arthritis or systemic illness, while an increase in activity can be caused by hyperthyroidism.
4. Changes in Sleeping Habits
   If your cat is sleeping more than normal (keep in mind that average adult cats may sleep 16 to 18 hours a day – though much of that is “catnapping”), it could be a sign of an underlying disease.
5. Changes in Food and Water Consumption
   Most cats are not finicky eaters.  Decreased food intake can be a sign of several disorders, ranging from poor dental health to cancer.  Increased food consumption can be caused by diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism or other health problems.
6. Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
   Sudden weight loss can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus or a host of other diseases.  Obesity, on the other hand, can cause an increased risk of diabetes mellitus, joint disease and other problems.
7. Changes in Grooming
   Patches of hair loss or a greasy or matted appearance can signal an underlying disease.  Cats who have difficulty grooming often suffer from fear, anxiety, obesity or other illnesses.  An increase in grooming may signal a skin problem.
8. Signs of Stress
   Stressed cats may exhibit signs of depression, hide more or spend more time awake and scanning their environment.  These signs may indicate a medical condition, so it is important to rule out physical ailments before addressing the stress behaviorally.
9. Changes in Vocalization
   An increase in vocalization or howling is often seen with an underlying condition like hyperthyroidism or high blood pressure.  Many cats also vocalize more if they’re in pain or anxious.
10. Bad Breath
    Bad breath is an early indication of an oral problem – studies have shown that 70 percent of cats have gum disease as early as age 3.

 Adapted from healthycatsforlife.com and Dr. Susan Little, DABVP (feline), Bytown Cat Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario

We here at Happy Pets Veterinary Center have also noticed this trend.  We see about half of the amount of cats compared to dogs each month.

Why is this so?  It cannot be that cat owners don’t care about their pets compared to dog owners; from our experience, cat owners are super-attentive to their pet’s needs.

No, we believe it is due to some misconceptions about cats as to why our lovable felines don’t see the veterinarian as often as their doggy counterparts.

Some common cat myths include: “Visits to the vet are more stressful for cats than dogs,” or “Cats are harder to handle than dogs during an exam.”  Another common belief we hear is “Indoor cats don’t need to have to see the vet or get ‘shots’ because they are “safe” inside the house; only outdoor cats get sick.”

We, as humans, have been taught by our own physicians to come see our doctors at least once a year for a physical exam and blood work.  Additionally, young children need to go more often for immunizations and special screening tests, while elderly patients need to see their doctors even more regularly, have blood work performed more often and start another set of screening tests most common for their age group.

It is no different for pets.  Our pets age more rapidly than we do, so all of these things need to be done in a shorter time period.  You’ve no doubt heard of the popular maxim that pets age seven years for every one of our years, and for the most part, that’s true.  That said, a cat’s life span from birth to age 15 or 20 years is comparable to a human living into their nineties or beyond 100 years of age.

Kittens need to be seen by the vet regularly for their immunizations and specific lab tests such as fecal exams and Feline Leukemia and FIV testing. We focus more on yearly preventative care, vaccine boosters, weight management and dental care in our adult cats.  Senior cats need to be seen by the vet more often; every six months being the ideal, to check for certain geriatric conditions – thus making prevention and early detection especially important.  Remember six months to a cat is equal to three or four human years!  A lot can happen in that time frame in any geriatric individual.

Now, about those myths: is it true cats can stress out more than dogs, or that they are harder to handle in the exam room?  No necessarily.  Dogs also get stressed and can also be difficult, sometimes more than cats.  With dogs, pet owners will try to make their annual veterinary visit a “fun time” by offering treats during their exams or by going somewhere special afterwards.  Most dogs love going for a car ride because it means fun and adventure.

For cats, we have to think of ways to make the carrier and car trip as enjoyable as it is for dogs.  You can make the carrier more comfortable and cozy with blankets, toys or an article of clothing belonging to your cat’s favorite person.  Several days before the appointment, leave the carrier out and open and place food and treats in the carrier.

You can also spray a synthetic feline pheromone, put cat nip or other botanical blends in the carrier to help make your cat feel calm and secure.  Once kitty is comfortable with the carrier, take him or her for a few short car rides, always striving to make it a positive experience.

If all that fails and your feline friend still stresses, the have your veterinarian come to you.  At Happy Pets Veterinary Center, we will do house calls in the Santa Clarita Valley for this reason.

Keep in mind that cats are masters at hiding illnesses and you may not notice any signs until the illness has reached an advanced stage.  Prevention is the preferable treatment option and this can only be accomplished with regular annual or semi-annual wellness visits.  Catching a problem early can not only spare your cat some suffering, but in the long run, save you some money.

And yes, even indoor cats are at risk of developing health problems.

1. Labrador Retriever – It’s no wonder this friendly, devoted dog comes in at number one.  Labs love to play, are good with children and easily trained.
2. German Shepherd – Intelligent and obedient, this breed is extremely loyal; German Shepherds need to be included in family activities every day.
3. Yorkshire Terrier – A spirited little dog with a big personality.
4. Golden Retriever – This breed loves everyone, especially if you want to play.  With energy to spare, they are always ready for a swim or a game of catch.
5. Beagle - Gentle, lovable and great with children, this breed can be stubborn at times and needs lots of exercise to keep him out of trouble.
6. Boxer - Playful and protective, Boxers need training because they are so strong and can be willful.
7. Bulldog - Despite its gruff appearance, this breed thrives on spending time with its family, but does not need much exercise.
8. Dachshund - Another little dog with a big attitude, this breed is very clever and independent, but may not like children or other animals.
9. Poodle - Known for its eagerness to please and mild temperament, Poodles need daily exercise to keep from getting bored.
10. Shih Tzu – Loving and easy-going, this breed can be happy almost anywhere.

Source: The American Kennel Club (AKC)

Dr. Anschultz came to Happy Pets in September of 2010 and worked as a fill-in doctor and to get a sense of the hospital and how it worked.  She integrated perfectly with the Happy Pets way of practicing animal medicine and in January of this year, became a full-time associate with Happy Pets Veterinary Center.

Dr. Anschultz is exceptional in that she sees and treats most all type of animals, from reptiles to horses, birds, ferrets and even wildlife in addition to dogs and cats.  Her love and dedication to animals extends beyond work; her at home pets include a variety of species, including tortoises.

A graduate of Western University of Health Sciences, Dr. Anschultz received her degree in Veterinary Medicine in May of 2010.  Prior to graduation, she was a veterinary technician for 12 years before attending veterinary school.  While there, she had experience working with a multitude of different species including dolphins, gorillas, birds of prey and many, many more.  She completed several internships during her education specializing in exotic species and wildlife.

A graduate of Saugus High School, Dr. Anschultz grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and is very excited to be serving the very community that molded her childhood.

With the addition of Dr. Anschultz, Happy Pets is now seeing exotics, birds and reptiles in addition to dogs, cats and pocket pets (hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets) and just about any little creature you have in your family.  Feel free to call and inquire: (661) 295-9972.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromines and caffeine which, unfortunately, are what dogs are sensitive to.  The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it can be.  For example, milk chocolate contains 6 mg. per oz. of caffeine and 44-56 mg. per oz. of theobromine compared to baking chocolate that contains 33-47 mg. per oz. of caffeine and 393 mg. per oz. of theobromine!

White chocolate contains negligible amounts of these compounds.

Symptoms to look out for include hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors and potentially death.  Other effects seen with chocolate overdose include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination and lethargy.  The best treatment is early treatment; call your local veterinary hospital as soon as you become aware that your pet friend helped themselves to chocolate.  The hospital will determine if treatment is needed based on your pets weight, amount of chocolate, and the type of chocolate ingested.

Onions

Pieces of onion, onion powder or even cooked onion can cause damage to red blood cells.  The toxic substance in onions cause red blood cells to burst, thus causing an anemia in both dogs and cats.  To get an idea of how many onions are needed before toxic effects are seen, 0.6 pounds of onion in a 10 pound dog is considered toxic. Be careful when feeding your pet commercial baby food, some of them contain onion powder which has been reported to cause toxicity in cats.

The major signs to look out for include vomiting, weakness and pale gums.  Sometimes the pet may appear jaundiced as well. Early treatment is important, vomiting is induced if ingestion occurred not more than 2 hours ago, afterwards, your pet will be monitored with regular blood work to check for anemia.

Rising bread dough

Ingestion of rising bread dough can be life threatening to dogs.  Once ingested, body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach to several times its original size.  As the dough rises, ethanol is produced which is also toxic to pets.  The immediate treatment is to get that dough out of there either by inducing the pet to vomit, or surgery if it is too large in size to vomit it up.  Signs to look out for include stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, depression, incoordination and “drunk like” walking.

Grapes and Raisins

Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs.  The amount of grapes/ raisins needed to be consumed to cause kidney disease is unclear and it can vary per dog.  It is just safe to avoid them completely.  If you know your dog has eaten a large quantity of grapes or raisins, he needs to be seen right away.  Vomiting will be induced and activated charcoal can be given to absorb any remaining toxins.

To help protect the kidneys, IV fluids is recommended for 48 hours.  During this time, blood work will need to be done periodically to check kidney function.  Unfortunately, there are no immediate signs to look for with grape toxicity.  The typical signs of kidney failure include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, but these may not be apparent until a few days after ingesting grapes or raisins.

Tobacco Products

Tobacco products such as cigars, cigarettes, snuff, nicotine gum or transdermal nicotine patches all contain varying amounts of Nicotine which can be toxic.  Signs usually develop quickly with in 15 to 45 minutes after ingestion.

Signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, or hyperactivity.  With higher doses or longer exposure times, signs of muscle weakness, twitching or seizures may be seen.

Because signs develop quickly, if a pet is left unattended for long periods of time before an owner is aware that tobacco products were ingested, nicotine toxicity can cause death secondary to cardiac arrest or respiratory paralysis if left untreated.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar substitute found in many sugar free gums, candies, and other foods.  Dogs appear sensitive to xylitol and ingestion can cause a life threatening low blood sugar, liver failure and bleeding disorders.  Immediate treatment is necessary to manage the low blood sugar (which can lead to coma or death) and blood transfusions may be needed as well to control the bleeding disorder.

Again, if you have any questions, talk with your veterinarian or feel free to give us a call at Happy Pets @ (661) 295-9972.

Happy Pets is looking for a great Veterinary Assistant.  If you are interested or know of one, please let them know:

Facility Name: Happy Pets Veterinary Center
Address: 27550 Newhall Ranch Road, Suite 201, Valencia, CA
Phone Number: 661-295-9972
Fax Number: 661-295-9591
Contact Person: John Douglas, Office Manager / Kristy Newman, RVT
Job Title:

Veterinary Assistant
Job Description:

Happy Pets is offering an entry-level position for a part-time to full-time Veterinary Assistant at our growing two-doctor practice. We are open 6 days a week.  Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are required.  Previous veterinary assistant experience is preferred, but required for this position.  Candidate must be a great team player, have excellent communication skills, be extremely reliable, passionate, and possess a strong work ethic. AviMark software experience preferred, but not necessary.
Days-Hours:

Part-time to full-time position. Applicant must be available Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Salary:

Hourly rate D.O.E.

Comments:

Located in Valencia, Happy Pets Veterinary Center offers acupuncture, chiropractic, and holistic care options to compliment routine western veterinary medicine. We also offer shuttle and mobile veterinary services to the Santa Clarita Valley.

Ever wonder what happens when we take your pet in the treatment area at Happy Pets?

Is it magic that we perform there?  Is it full of animals and people?  What else is back there?  What is in that mysterious place at the end of the hall?  When you bring your pet to a veterinarian’s office, many things are taking place out of the view of the client, before, during and after the appointment has transpired.  When you make an appointment, we ask several questions to find out why you need to come in.  We need to know if the problems your pet is having are going to take more time than the usual “wellness exam”, if the pet is suffering from a contagious disease, what type of animal is it (some animals require a little more time to handle).  These questions aren’t because we are “nosey”.  We make every attempt to be prepared to handle the situation in the best way possible, before you get here.

An appointment may be something as simple as having the right vaccines on hand, or as complex as saving an animal that has swallowed poison or had a heart attack.  The average appointment consists of checking in the client and gathering as much information as possible, so the technician can relay accurate information to the vet.  We make every attempt to get you in (and out) in a timely manner.  Sometimes this isn’t possible because of an emergency, a feisty animal, being short staffed or an unforeseen complication with a procedure.  Most appointments will start with questions on eating, drinking and elimination habits of your pet, what kinds of foods the pet eats, vaccine history, illness history, concerns and behaviors the animal is exhibiting.  We will take the temperature, heart and respiratory rates, capillary return rate and body condition of your pet.  We assess your pet’s weight (usually) by looking at them and feeling their ribs and hips.  There is a “body condition system” chart in each room so that our clients can see what we grade their weight on.  The condition of your pet’s weight, teeth and mouth is very important to your pet’s health and often we will talk to you about their weight and their teeth before we tell the veterinarian what we have discerned from talking to you.  All of this is done in front of you.  No mystery, right?  Hopefully not.

After the technician has acquired as much information as possible, it is time to relay this information to the vet.  More often than not, we have already looked at your record, if you have been to see us previously.  The helps us ask the right questions if your pet has had previous illnesses or injuries, what medications the pet is on and what might be transpiring as a result of these factors.  The veterinarians also look at the records to formulate a plan to make the appointment go smoothly.  Believe it or not, we often come in early to look over the appointments for the day and determine a plan of how the day will go, based on the information we have in the records and to make sure the rooms are stocked with the right supplies.

After the technician and the veterinarian have spoken to you and explained the treatment plan they would like to perform, we explain the charges for the immediate plan, so that you can know in advance what the initial charges will be.  Many times on wellness visits, this is easy to do.  For animals who are sick or injured, this often isn’t possible until we have determined what is ailing your pet.  To determine this, we usually have to take them behind that “closed door”.  We aren’t closing the door to create a mystery, though.  It is usually closed because the animals will get much more boisterous when they see the front area and sometime try to get back out there.  There is always a technician or veterinarian back there.  Your pet is never left alone.  If they are to be unattended, we put them in a kennel or secure spot, so they won’t get hurt or hurt others until we can get to them.  We aren’t ignoring them, though.  At Happy Pets we have excellent teamwork as most animals will require two or more people to perform a procedure.  If one person needs help, another will secure her patient before assisting the other.  Blood draws, anal gland expressions, many vaccinations, ear cleanings, x-rays and other things often require someone to help secure the animal for the person performing the procedure.  Some unruly or very large animals need more than two people to keep them (and the techs and vets) safe.  Sometimes you may hear cries coming from behind that mysterious door.  Usually it is an animal waking from anesthetic (they don’t know they are crying) or the animal might just be an alarmist.  Believe it or not, there are many dogs that cry like babies at the anticipation of something as simple as having their temperature taken.  Rest assured, we are not intentionally hurting an animal.  If we feel a procedure will be too painful, we will tell you and get permission from you to use medicines to prevent the animal from having undue stress and pain.  Your pet’s safety and comfort is our first priority.

As you can imagine, things can get hectic, noisy and crowded behind the “closed door”.  We prefer to do treatments in the area with people we know are trained to help or observe us.  Our insurance provider requires that we require persons not trained to be there to wait where they can’t get hurt or injured.  Having our patient’s owners in the back adds stress to us and overcrowds the room, which makes it more difficult for us to do our jobs.  More often than not, your pet is more cooperative without you there.  Often times there is more than one procedure being done and we need as much room as possible to work and move around to get supplies to do our job.

Our goal is not to creat a mystery behind the “closed door”.  It is simply to get the treatment done as well as possible without hindrance.  Since perfroming our jobs to the best of our abilities depends on our confidence in our fellow teammates, the “closed door” helps us creat the best working environment for us and your pet.

Hopefully this helped solve the mystery and any questions you have about what goes on behind closed doors.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  And if you really want to see firsthand what goes on back there, please let us know that you would like to take a tour and we’ll set up a time to show you around.  We’re very proud of our hospital and love to show it off.  Not to mention that we believe that when our client’s are informed, they make for better pet owners, so come on by and visit us Behind the Closed Door.

Statistics show that if detected early, 75% of common diseases in dogs and 63% in cats can be prevented just by dietary modifications alone over a one year period. For example, EDP can help detect early kidney disease which is a major cause of illness and death in dogs and cats. With kidney disease, animals are not symptomatic until they have lost 2/3 of their kidney function! So when the pet is showing signs of kidney disease, it might be too late. EDP can also detect liver problems and diabetes at an early stage and with proper treatment, all of these diseases can be treated and controlled and thus your pets can live healthy, happy lives for a long time.

Another reason for EDP is parasite control. Parasites are not only a problem for pets, they are a problem for you and your family as well. We can perform tests to detect if parasites are present through fecal and blood tests. Parasites can debilitate and kill your pets and you. EDP is far more reasonable and humane than having to treat once an animal has been affected by the parasite.