Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital Recommendations
1. Pre-Anesthetic Blood Evaluations (PABE)
2. Dental Home Care
3. Focus on Parasites (De-worming)
Pre-anesthetic blood evaluations are recommended at our hospital for the safety of your pet. The anesthetic agents used for sedating and anesthetizing your pet at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital are extremely safe and our doctors and staff monitor pets closely. However, there are inherent risks to any anesthetic procedure and safety is much enhanced with the help of pre-anesthetic blood evaluation.
All pets are examined carefully by our doctors prior to anesthesia. Medical histories are also carefully reviewed. This gives us some of the information needed to predict how the anesthetic will be tolerated by a pet. But, even a healthy appearing pet can have internal problems that may pose danger under anesthesia. Blood testing provides vital information about the function of the internal organs and underlying health problems.
Depending upon the age and known health status of your pet, your veterinarian may recommend a "mini" profile or full blood evaluation prior to anesthesia. Even young, apparently healthy pets benefit from blood testing. It is our policy that pets over the age of 8 years are required to have blood evaluation performed prior to anesthesia as these pets are usually at an increased risk over younger pets.
Blood evaluation may be done in the hospital using a "mini" profile, or our outside laboratory can do a more extensive evaluation. In hospital testing is completed within 30 minutes and includes analysis of kidney and liver function, blood sugar levels, blood count and protein content. This is sufficient information about the body's ability to process anesthesia in many cases. Outside lab testing is completed within 24 hours and may include a complete chemistry analysis of most of the internal body organs and a complete blood count. Additional testing may be recommended based on these findings. If all the blood values appear normal you may be assured that anesthesia will probably proceed with very little risk to the patient.
To assure that all anesthetic procedures go smoothly and safely for your pet we recommend blood testing regardless of the age and apparent health of your pet. These tests are not an absolute guarantee for the absence of complications, but will significantly minimize risks and provide you with peace of mind.
At Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital, we recommend that dental home care begin with a young pet, but it can also be gently and gradually introduced to an older pet. Home care should include daily brushing of the teeth or swabbing of the gums with a veterinary paste or gel, feeding dry food and providing chewing activities that are safe and enticing.
Veterinary toothpaste comes in many flavors for pets including poultry, seafood, malt, and mint. These pastes are enzymatic, meaning they break down tartar and food deposits to help prevent the formation of mineralized calculus on teeth. Used daily, brushing with toothpaste is an important part of dental preventative care. We recommend veterinary formulations of paste over human paste, because the fluoride content in human paste is too high, pets may object to the minty flavors and human pastes are not designed to be swallowed.
In addition to brushing with paste, antiseptic gel is used to prevent and treat gum disease. Gel may be used on the toothbrush or simply swabbed along the gum line. Antiseptic gel is used typically for animals with existing gum disease, to reduce bacteria and inflammation in the mouth and is helpful as a routine for many purebred cats prone to gingivitis.
To begin brushing your pet's teeth, choose a time of day when they are relaxed and not likely to become excited by interruptions. Gently begin to massage or just handle the lips, in soft stroking motions. Continue for 5 minutes daily for 3-5 days. If your pet has tolerated this step, move on to gently rub the gums briefly with your finger on both sides of the mouth. After your pet is more accustomed to his/her mouth being worked with, introduce a small amount of flavored paste (poultry for dogs, and seafood for cats works well as a first paste) along the gums with your finger. Each of the previous steps may be repeated from 3-5 days in a row, then continue as your pet will tolerate. To introduce the toothbrush, begin with a small brush, or finger cuff brush with paste on it. Gently scrub once along the left teeth then the right teeth, then stop. Do not attempt to scrub all the teeth, but just introduce the abrasiveness of the brush and the flavored paste should help it to be accepted. Gradually increase the amount of brushing you are doing daily until all the outer (cheek) surfaces may be brushed gently. Do not attempt to brush the inner (tongue) surfaces or top surfaces, as this usually just leads to the pet chewing on the brush. Once your pet has accepted the new routine, try to brush daily or every other day.
Daily dental care may also include treats and toys for your pet to chew on. Most of these are designed for dogs. Rope toys, dental "Kong" toys, flavored corn starch "Denta-bones", enzyme treated rawhide chew, and pressed food bones "Chooz" (carrot, potato, spinach, etc) are all safe and effective items available at local pet stores. Avoid nylon bones and real beef marrow bones which may cause tooth fractures for dogs who are over-zealous chewers.
Finally, for minimal tartar buildup on your pet's teeth, feed dry or "kibble" food and limit soft canned foods to a teaspoon or two for a treat. (Check with your veterinarian for specific food recommendations, especially if your pet has any chronic disease) Specialty foods are now available as well that help to reduce tartar buildup on the teeth of both cats and dogs. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's dental health, or which food is the best to feed, how to get your pet to allow brushing, etc., please check with your veterinarian. We are happy to assist you!
Focus on Parasites (De-worming)
Internal parasites (worms) are very common in dogs and cats. The disease produced can be mild to severe or anywhere in between depending upon the number and type of worms present in the individual animal.
Transmission of worms occurs in many ways. Most puppies are born with them and most kittens get from their mothers via suckling. At any age, dogs & cats may contract worms by licking soil that contains worm eggs or even from licking their paws afterwards. Some parasites can be passed directly between individuals through dogs' and cats' tendencies to 'groom' another pet's rear end. Roundworms and Hookworms are known to occur in a stage where they enter a dog or cat's muscle tissue and lay dormant for months to years. These worms can become active later in life and cause health problems. Dogs and cats, either through biting/eating fleas or through hunting rodents, contract Tapeworms. Heartworms are transmitted to dogs, and rarely to cats via mosquitoes.
Due to the high prevalence of canine and feline parasites and the tendency of pets to hunt and kill small wildlife, lick soil, themselves, and other pets, parasites pose a continual and often times silent threat to our pets. Therefore, we recommend the following de-worming schedule for dogs and cats:
DOGS: All puppies should be de-wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. At that time, they should be started on life-long monthly parasite prevention (Heartgard Plus or Revolution) to protect them monthly from roundworms and heartworms. A fecal floatation test to detect parasite eggs should be done at least once yearly and dogs should be checked for heartworms (a blood test) every 2 years. All adult dogs who are not currently on Heargard Plus should be de-wormed empirically at least once yearly (usually at the time of their annual exam and vaccinations). Even if the fecal flotation test is negative, we recommend broad-spectrum de-worming because parasite eggs (if present) are not always shed from the animal with every bowel movement.
CATS: All kittens should be de-wormed every 2 weeks up to 12 weeks of age. A fecal floatation should also be performed at the last vaccination appointment to check for any lingering worms. If your cat will be going outdoors, monthly flea protection is also recommended. All adult cats should be de-wormed and have a fecal flotation test performed at least once a year.
One final important piece of information regarding parasites in pets is their threat to people. Children and immunosuppressed individuals can acquire roundworm infections, which can cause blindness or serious liver disease. Hookworms can cause a rash in humans. Careful and deliberate parasite prevention helps to control roundworm and hookworm egg-shedding from pets, which can in turn, prevent disease in pets and people.