Time to Clean Your Pet's Ears?

Veterinarians see a lot of patients with ear infections. In fact, it's the second most common reason for a client visit, according to pet health insurer, VPI Pet Insurance. With ear problems prompting so many trips to the vet, should ear cleaning be a necessary part of grooming your pet?

Generally, cleaning a dog's ears on a routine basis is not necessary, according to Leonard Jonas, DVM, MS, DACVIM, a veterinarian with Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colo. That's because animals have a naturally occurring self-cleansing process.

"I've had pets my whole life," Jonas said. "I don't remember ever routinely cleaning out their ears."

However, that doesn't mean pet owners should never take notice of their dog's ears. Certain breeds, lifestyles and physical characteristics will make a dog more prone to what Jonas calls "abnormal situations," in which the pet's normal homeostasis is disrupted. This is when something, either systemically or locally in the ear, interferes with the normal surface barrier defense system and the normal cleaning process that keeps bacteria and yeast under control.

There are signs to watch for if your pet is having an issue with its ears. These, according to Jonas, include:

• Shaking its head
• Flapping its ears
• Rubbing at its ears, either with a paw or by rubbing against furniture or carpet
• Self-massaging the ear to ease itch, pain or irritation
• Debris and/or redness inside the ear
• Sores inside the ear
• Odor in the ear due to abnormal oils and bacteria

"If you [the pet owner] look in the ear, you can see sometimes a lot of debris," said Jonas, explaining what an ear with an infection or problem may look like. "Then [you] see redness on the ear flaps (inside) or sores developing. And then there's also odor that occurs when you have an abnormal ear."

Breeds to watch
There are certain breeds of dogs—such as Shar Peis, bulldogs and poodles—that have narrow ear canals and have a higher chance of incurring ear issues. Poodles, especially, have more hair in the canals, Jonas explained. "The hair itself is not a problem, but if they've got something abnormal with their whole defense system, all that extra hair in there makes it difficult."

Cocker spaniels are notorious for ear problems, Jonas added.

When to clean your pet's ears
According to Jonas, it's best to consult your veterinarian before going forward with an ear-cleaning regimen. Unlike cleaning the teeth, cleaning the ears does not need be done regularly. If a pet owner suspects that something may be wrong with the ear, it's advised to visit the veterinarian and establish whether the dog's ear needs to be cleaned by the owner either routinely or for an instructed period of time.

Cleaning the dog's ears without first seeing a veterinarian is not a good idea, Jonas said, "because you don't know what's going on inside. You don't know if there has been a ruptured ear drum; you don't know if there's a stick or a stone or something stuck down inside the ear that needs to be fished out by a veterinarian."

A veterinarian can diagnose the problem and make the proper recommendations, which may be cleaning and/or medication.

Typically, there are two situations for which a dog's ears would need to be cleaned regularly. The first is when a veterinarian instructs for it to be done, and the second is when the dog is frequently in water. "Water in their ears disrupts the normal defense barrier system in that ear, and can make them prone to getting infections and irritation and inflammation," Jonas said.

If there needs to be ear cleaning
A veterinarian should show the owner how to properly clean the dog's ears because "there are a lot of different techniques, and it depends on what the problem is," Jonas advised.

There are a couple of precautions to always remember, according to Jonas. First, never use a Q-tip, because it tends to push the wax and debris further into the ear. Second, be sure a groomer does not pluck the hair out of the dog's ears, unless that hair is contributing to an ear problem; Jonas believes that doing so may cause irritation.

One thing pet owners should also consider is that if the dog has an ear infection, it could be very painful for them. Forcing the dog to get its ears cleaned or putting medication in them can be a dangerous situation for the owner and the dog.

"If your pet doesn't want you to do it, don't, because it hurts," Jonas said. "You're just going to create a problem, and you need to look to alternatives."

Originally published by Healthy Pet.

Keep Your Cat Safe in a Heat Wave

The temperature is soaring, and it’s only going to get hotter. Make sure you know how to keep your cat safe in the summer heat.

1. Watch out for heatstroke. Symptoms include panting, lethargy, drooling, fever, vomiting and collapse. If you think your cat may have heatstroke, get the vet ASAP — the condition can cause permanent organ damage and death. Learn more about heatstroke in pets.
2. Offer your cat several ways to cool off. Leave a fan on in a place where your cat can sit in front of it, add some ice cubes to her water or offer her a cool treat (check out our recipe for catsicles.)
3. Let your cat find cool spots in the house. Your cat will seek out the cooler parts of your home, so make sure she has access to areas with tile floors or rooms that don’t get much sun.
4. Play in the morning or evening. Any exercise should take place during the cooler hours of the day. This is especially important for young kittens and seniors, both of whom are very vulnerable to heatstroke. (If your cat has just eaten, make sure you give her some time to digest before you begin playtime.)
5. Brush your cat often. A well-groomed, tangle-free coat will help keep your cat cool. (Learn more about grooming your cat.)

Article originally published by PetFinder.

Springtime Pet Safety Tips

Spring has sprung, and with the change of season, our thoughts inevitably turn to spring cleaning and much-needed home improvement projects. But the new balmy weather can prove not-so-sunny for curious pets—or their unwitting parents. Before you embark on seasonal chores or outdoor revelry, take inventory of potential springtime hazards for your delicate, furry friend. To help you out, our ASPCA experts have come up with a few seasonal tips that will help prevent mishaps or misfortunes. 

Screen Yourself Many pet parents welcome the breezy days of spring by opening their windows. Unfortunately, they also unknowingly put their pets at risk—especially cats, who are apt to jump or fall through unscreened windows. Be sure to install snug and sturdy screens in all of your windows. If you have adjustable screens, make sure they are tightly wedged into window frames.

Buckle Up! While every pet parent knows dogs love to feel the wind on their furry faces, allowing them to ride in the bed of pick-up trucks or stick their heads out of moving-car windows is dangerous. Flying debris and insects can cause inner ear or eye injuries and lung infections, and abrupt stops or turns can cause major injury, or worse! Pets in cars should always be secured in a crate or wearing a seatbelt harness designed especially for them. 

Spring Cleaning Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition in many households, but be sure to keep all cleaners and chemicals out of your pets’ way! Almost all commercially sold cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to pets. The key to using them safely is to read and follow label directions for proper use and storage.

 Home Improvement 101 Products such as paints, mineral spirits and solvents can be toxic to your pets and cause severe irritation or chemical burns. Carefully read all labels to see if the product is safe to use around your furry friends. Also, be cautious of physical hazards, including nails, staples, insulation, blades and power tools. It may be wise to confine your dog or cat to a designated pet-friendly room during home improvement projects. 

Let Your Garden Grow—With Care Pet parents, take care—fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides keep our plants and lawns healthy and green, but their ingredients aren't meant for four-legged consumption and can be fatal if your pet ingests them. Always store these poisonous products in out-of-the-way places and follow label instructions carefully. Check out our full list of garden care tips. 

Poisonous Plants Time to let your garden grow! But beware, many popular springtime plants—including Easter lilies, rhododendron and azaleas—are highly toxic to pets and can easily prove fatal if eaten. Check out our full list—and pics!—of toxic and non-toxic plants for your home and garden.

Ah-Ah-Achoo! Like their sneezy human counterparts, pets can be allergic to foods, dust, plants and pollens. Allergic reactions in dogs and cats can cause minor sniffling and sneezing as well as life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If you suspect your pet has a springtime allergy, please visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. · 

Pesky Little Critters April showers bring May flowers—and an onslaught of bugs! Make sure your pet is on year-round heartworm preventive medication, as well as a flea and tick control program. Ask your doctor to recommend a plan designed specifically for your pet. · Out and About Warmer weather means more trips to the park, longer walks and more chances for your pet to wander off! Make sure your dog or cat has a microchip for identification and wears a tag imprinted with your home address, cell phone and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please. 

 Source: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/springtime-safety-tips

Scents and Sensitivity: Dogs Know When We’re Happy or Angry

Science is proving what pet owners have long believed: Dogs understand what we're feeling. Specifically, dogs can recognize the difference between a happy and an angry human face, a study published Thursday in Current Biology suggests.

It's the first research to show definitively that dogs are sensitive to our facial expressions, says coauthor Ludwig Huber, head of comparative cognition at Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.

In the Austrian study, 20 pet dogs of various breeds and sizes were taught to play a computer game through a series of exercises. In the first, the dogs were shown two touch screens, one with a circle and one with a square. Through trial and error, they learned that a treat would appear if they chose the right geometrical figure.

Eleven of the 20 dogs were able to catch on to rules of the game and make it to the next phase, where they were shown photos of faces. Half the dogs were rewarded for picking a happy expression and half for choosing an angry expression. The interesting catch: the dogs were shown only the upper half or the lower half of a face. 

It was easier to teach the dogs to choose a happy expression than an angry one, suggesting the dogs do indeed understand the meaning behind the expression, Huber says.

As a test, the dogs were then were presented with:

the same half of the faces they saw during the training, but from different people
the other half of the faces used in training
the other half of new faces
the left half of the faces used in training
In the vast majority of cases the dogs chose the right answer 70 to 100 percent of the time.

Dogs who had been trained to recognize an expression of anger or happiness on the upper part of a face could identify the same expression when shown only the lower part, and vice versa, Huber says, adding “the only possible explanation is that they recall from memory of everyday life how a whole human face looks when happy or angry.”

Dog owners know their pets not only recognize emotions but also feel empathy.

Delilah, a 3-year-old Chihuahua, always seems to know when her owner Eva Shure is having a bad day.

Delilah knows when her owner is having a bad day.
Making eye contact and cocking her head to the right, the little dog will stare at Shure's face as if trying to assess her feelings. “It’s weird, I can see her thinking and processing,” says Shure, a 35-year-old New York City business owner. “I’ll say, yeah, it’s not a great day and she’ll come up and sit next to me.”

Beverly Levreault, 57, says her 6-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix is always tuned in to her moods. “If I’m not feeling well, like when I have the flu, Lacey is definitely lower key and will not leave my side, ” says Levreault, a graphic designer from Williamstown, New York. “If I take her for a walk, she’s not as rambunctious as she usually is.”

Lynette Whiteman says she’s not sure that her 5-year-old Yorkie-Maltese cross is using facial expressions to gauge how she feels. “But she definitely reads my emotions,” says the 58-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey. “I run a therapy dog program and the dogs are just amazing. They go into a room and immediately pick out the person who needs help.”

Behavioral experts say the new findings, while important, wouldn’t surprise anyone with an intimate knowledge of dogs.

Coco and Lynettte
"This new work continues to build the case for just how sensitive dogs are to our subtle behaviors,” says Dr. Brian Hare, chief scientific officer at Dognition and an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. “This is the strongest evidence yet that dogs are even reading our facial expressions.”

That sensitivity may be the result of generations of selective breeding for a true partner, says Dr. Carlo Siracusa, director of the behavior service at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “We have selected animals that are able to perceive our emotions and communicate with us at a level that no other animal can,” Siracusa says.

Dogs may not talk, but they are very good communicators, says Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a professor in the department of clinical sciences at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and director of the animal behavior clinic at Cummings.

“Just as we are masters of the spoken word, dogs are experts at reading body language,” Dodman says.

“It’s almost impossible to hide your feelings from a dog.”

Turns out, reading facial expressions isn’t the only thing dogs have in common with us.

They can be bitten by the computer gaming bug. “They can really become freaks for it,” Huber says with a chuckle. “They don’t want to stop playing. It’s incredible. They’ll play till they are exhausted and fall asleep.”

Source: http://www.today.com/pets/dogs-know-when-were-happy-or-angry-2D80489190

PET OF THE MONTH

Piglet is a Survivor! She's a Mackerel Tabby, and was found at Oak Harbor Waif Rescue in 2002. She is around six years old and had been adopted and returned. She's the purrfect indoor only, lap-cat/couch-cat. Dr. Remick and the team at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital has kept her in great shape!

Becca's Featured Pet: NOAH

My family adopted Noah when I was 8 years old. When we brought him home he had an upper respiratory infection that is so typical of shelter kittens. He had an incredibly rough beginning of his life, but he persevered. He is a typical loving big orange male. His purr can be heard from across the room and he will take any chance he can to snuggle. He is now 14 years old and living quite comfortably. He is currently taking Terbutaline for his asthma, as well as Metacam for his fused verterbrae. 

Dan’y

When I first met Whistlestop’s Victory Dance he was called Vick.  

He was the “pick of his litter” and had been claimed by the owner of his sire. He was sent out with a field trainer and was of such a “soft” temperament that he was deemed unsuitable for field work. His co-breeder had seen me working with one of my other Water Spaniels and knew that I was thinking about adding a new dog to my family and asked me if I would be interested in adopting him. 

When I first met him he seemed to be a bit shy but quickly warmed up to me so at approximately 18 months old he became one of my “fur-kids.” 

The first thing we did was change his call name to Dan’y and began to teach him that learning new things is fun. It quickly became clear to me that he is one of the most naturally happy beings ever to walk the earth. There are times when he is truly “Dan’y the Delirious”. 

He has never met a person or dog he does not like. We finished his AKC Championship, showed him to an International championship and have so far achieved seven different Obedience titles working together. Here is a photo of him doing the Utility “Scent Article” exercise.

He is now officially known as

AKC/Int’l CH U-CD Whistlestop’s Victory Dance CD CDX RN RA RE CGC

To me Dan’y is the best working partner and snuggle-bug anyone could ever hope for. I am truly richer for having this exceptional dog in my life.

Source: The Proud Owner of Dan'y

Sad news about our clinic cat Lilly

We all love our Lily.  Today she was scheduled for her dental cleaning.  Before putting her under anesthesia, we performed routing blood work as we do for all patients before anesthesia.  That blood worked showed some major changes.  Her hematocrit (packed cell volume-a measurement of red blood cells) turned out to be only 17%.  The normal range for a cat is 30-52.   The low number indicates anemia. 

Dr. Remick and the technicians reviewed slide of her blood under the microscope and discovered that her red blood cells are indeed very low and clumping together (agglutination). These factors led to a diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease.  The rest of the blood work all looked normal.

This shows how important it is to do blood work on our pets, even our seemingly healthy pets at least once a year.  Lily is our clinic cat, very healthy, no signs of illness at all.  She is only 6 years old and bounces around this places like a mad cougar.  We are so thankful we did the blood work and discovered her illness.  She has been started on cortisone as the primary treatment which will likely continue for the rest of her life. 

As for Lily and her teeth?  She had one tooth that troublesome that was cleaned since she was already sedated and we did the best we could with the rest of her teeth for now.  She will still need to have her teeth cleaned in the future, but that will wait until we are certain that she will be a good candidate for anesthesia. 

Lily’s Likes and Nora’s Nopes

My cat Phoenix recently had his teeth cleaned at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital. I enjoyed his sparkly white teeth and his fresh breath. My vet told me without daily dental care at home, the fresh breath and the white teeth would not last forever. I wanted what was best for my beloved Phoenix. The technician talked to me about a few options I had of things I could do at home to keep up on his dental health.

She first told me about brushing his teeth. Phoenix was not a good candidate for this option. He does not like his mouth handled and I was kind of nervous about putting my fingers in his mouth.

The next option we discussed was using dental treats but once again Phoenix was not a good candidate for that option either. He has never been a cat that likes treats, not even catnip!

Finally the technician suggested one more option, the C.E.T AquaDent drinking water additive. This product I just simply put in his drinking water and the enzymes do all the work for me. The enzymes keep the particles that form plaque from even sticking to his teeth: they don't even have a chance to turn into the hard smelly tartar. As soon as I heard this, I was sold and very excited…no work on my end and my pet gets to keep beautiful white teeth and no bad breath.

It sounded almost too good to be true. I purchased some of the C.E.T. AquaDent as his dental discharge and added it to his water right away at home. It was an easy transition adding this product to my daily routine. I simply added it to his water every day when I changed his water dish. Phoenix never even noticed something was different.  I love C.E.T. AquaDent water additive and I recommend it to all my friends to keep the pretty white teeth and fresh smelling breath.

Katee and Phoenix

Lily Likes;
Nora’s talking about it!

Weather or not to leave your pooch in the car….

Here in Western Washington, it’s uncommon for us to experience unseasonably warm weather and today is sure to be one of those days.  While running errands for the clinic earlier this week (cooler than today, overcast and in the morning) I sat in my car while returning phone calls and answering email.  In the 20 minutes that I was doing so, the temperature in the car rose and was uncomfortably hot.

When I left the car to run my next errand and walked through the parking lot, I was dismayed to see the number of pets in their owner’s cars-windows up, them yapping wildly, panting, hot and frantic.  And it’s only MAY!

This isn’t about what I did, but what you should do with your own pets. 

We urge you to consider that the interior of your car can warm up dramatically even on cooler days.  In just 10 minutes on a 70 degree day the interior of the car can warm to 90 degrees; on an 85 degree day the interior can reach 130 degrees in 30 minutes…with the windows cracked open!  Most the heat increases in the first 10-20 minutes.

So what should you do when you see a distressed pet in the car?  You can go into the business the car is parked and ask the manager to page the person that owns the car (have the license plate) providing the animal is not in severe distress.  Otherwise, call Animal Control or 911 if you don’t know the number for Animal Control.

You can also visit www.redrover.org search for ‘my dog is cool’ and you can read more and download flyers to raise awareness.

Featured Employee- Cyndy

Cyndy has been a team member at EVH for 7 years. One of the things I love most about working here is seeing the bond between our clients and their pets. The pets we see here truly seem to be a member of their family. I love being able to help keep these pets healthy and happy. My pets include two rambunctious labs -Poppy and Dodger - and 6 chickens who love to sleep on the dogs pillow outside.

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Featured Employee: Jannie

Jannie is a student and Edmonds Community College. She lives with four cuddly felines, one of which really enjoys piggy back rides. Jannie enjoys caring for he pets that stay at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital and assisting other team members with a variety of duties.

January Pet(s) of the Month: Mack and Squid

This month we say farewell to the Mach Dachs and Squid as they relocate to sunnier weather (Hawaii).  All of us at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital has had the pleasure of providing care to Squid, Barney, Charlie, Emma, Oliver, Oscar and Owen (and a whole brood of others) for around 30 years.  We will miss them and wish them well...and hope to see them on return visits, whenever that may be.  Best wishes and safe travel to this great family!

Featured Employee: Barb, Licensed Veterinary Technician

We are proud to highlight Barb, Licensed Veterinary Technician as our Featured Employee. 

Barbara is back at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital after a six year hiatus in hot, hot Arizona. She has been a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 2002 and has been in the animal field since the early 80’s. She has had the pleasure of working with exotics as well as with animal advocacy resues and the Woodland Park Zoo over the years. Barb shares her home with three mischievous four-legged kids-2 dogs, Jack and Josie and Bob Franklin, the coolest cat in the world!

TREATS at Edmonds Veterinary Hospital

Want to celebrate Turkey Day the right way? Just in time for the Holidays we've added some new tasty treats for dogs and cats! Try some of our Oven Baked Naturals Turkey and Cranberry treats or Pumpkin and Yam Veggie Chips for dogs. We also have Crunchy Creations Grain Free Chicken Treats for Cats!

Pet of the Month: Cassie

We are proud to honor Cassie as our October Pet of the Month! Cassie is a four year old rescue puppy. Her mom is a Border Collie and we think her dad could possibly be a Golden Retriever. Cassie is very smart and enjoys working in rally obedience. She has competed 4 times, winning twice and picking up a 2nd and 4th place as well. Her favorite thing in life is playing with the other family dog Pepper. They are best friends.

Stirlin's Forest G AKA "Tater Tot'

December 29th 1987- July 27 2013

Tater loved everyone. He was warm and friendly to everyone, especially women. I guess you could call him a lady's man! While he was part of an internationally-known Cairn Terrier Line, he was down to earth and more willing to live humbly with us.

The Tot was always game for walks, dinner guests and most of all, car travel in his car seat. He loved nothing more than stirring things up! While waiting in the ferry lines, he would watch passersby until they were passed him, then he would let him have it! Barking and wagging, I know he was amused.

They were terrified!

He was an instigator. He would run the fences in the yard with a low, barely audible bark/growl that would set every dog within our neighborhood into orbit barking!

I can't think of a better companion than a Cairn, Tater in particular. We downsized from Airedales and Hans was skeptical. Our friends called them rat dogs. Everyone immediately felt the big dog presence in the Tot. He was truly a big dog, with a big heart inside a 14 pound Cairn. He was tough until the end. His body would not cooperate with that big heart and drive he had to live on, so we said goodbye to him recently. It was respectful and dignified goodbye, facilitated by some great care he received from the clinic. For that we are not appreciative.

Team Member of the Month: Vickie

Vickie has been in the veterinary field for over 30 years, 9 as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She has been with Edmonds Veterinary Hospital since 1978. Her passions in veterinary medicine are nutrition and behavior. She loves to learn new things. Vickie has three cats and 1 crazy Border Collie cross. When not at work, Vickie enjoys gardening, working out, listening to music and reading. You can find Vickie at our reception desk and she also works on the Leadership Team with the doctors and management.

It's National Pet First Aid Awareness Month