My Life as a Veterinary Technology Student

Everyone has been asked at one point or another, what their dream job would be. Some might say an astronaut, professional hockey player or award winning writer. I was recently asked this question and after giving it some thought, there isn’t anything else I would rather do; except win the lottery and spend my days on a beach but that just isn’t going to happen.

 I have always loved animals but never considered the veterinary field as a career option until my childhood dog passed away. I went on to complete a Veterinary Assistant program at Durham College and worked for awhile in a different field. After a bit, I realized that I needed to be working with animals and went back to school and will be graduating from St. Lawrence College’s Veterinary Technology program this June. The program I’ve completed is unique in nature as it deals extensively with lab animals such as rats, mice and rabbits.

Courtney and Briar

My final semester has been spent doing my five and four week co-op placements, the last being here at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic. No two veterinary clinics are the same, so I was looking for a special kind of fit from a clinic. I came across Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic online and was extremely excited to see that they worked with wildlife and exotics as well as small animals. I also wanted to make sure that the place I would be at every single day, was willing to teach me and guide me to be a great future Registered Veterinary Technician. The last four weeks that I’ve been here, I have learned so much! All of that is thanks to the amazing Registered Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, kennel staff and receptionists. Some of the awesome things I’ve been able to do here are things like syringe feed baby squirrels (definitely adding “professional squirrel cuddler” to my resume now), participate in all aspects from pre-op preparation to post op recovery of surgery patients, run lab tests on various samples and even meet two very cute, but wild, Ocelots!

Clowning around at Puppy Happy Hour

Its clear to me that all members of staff here at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic are absolutely dedicated to the care and love of all types of creatures. It’s not often that a clinic goes above and beyond all aspects of care and caters to their patients as well as their families. Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic runs some amazing complimentary programs like Puppy Happy Hour, where I got to play with some adorable puppies and help socialize them all at the same time; it doesn’t get much better than that! The Junior Vet program also provides some insider insight into the veterinary field for some of the younger audiences. 

Next time you’re bringing in your four legged (or two legged) pet into Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic, be sure to thank the staff for their tireless efforts while caring for your pets and teaching others like me how to as well.

Courtney Fraser 

3^rd Year Veterinary Technology Student, St Lawrence College

Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs – Please read all labels!

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener in the place of sugar.  Its use has been on the rise and I first heard about it in sugar free gum.  More recently it can be found in candy, some toothpastes, mints, sugar free granola bars, pudding, multivitamins, probiotics, chocolates, protein shakes, some liquid medications and even some peanut butters.   Many of these products such as the peanut butter are often marketed at health food stores.  Xylitol can also be purchased in a granulated form for baking. 

People will often use over the counter medications for their animals or use peanut butter to disguise medication given to their dogs.  If these products happen to contain xylitol it can have serious and even life threatening effects.

Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and/or liver failure in dogs.  Cows, goats and rabbits can be affected as well.  For some other species such as cats and birds the effects are not clear yet.  Low blood sugar can lead to weakness, seizures and potentially death.  The liver is involved in many different functions.  With liver failure we can see seizures, low protein levels, internal bleeding and death.  Not all dogs will show both signs.  The signs of hypoglycaemia are usually noted within 30 minutes of ingestion,  but can take up to 12 hours to be seen.   The signs of liver failure are often noted within 12-24 hours but can take longer.

It can be difficult to determine how much xylitol is in a product to calculate your toxic dose.  For instance, one piece of sugar free xylitol containing gum can cause low blood sugar in a 10kg dog. However not all brands of gum contain the same amount of xylitol and the amount is not usually on the label of the gum.  Larger doses need to be consumed for liver failure to occur generally.  Dogs that develop liver failure often don’t survive. 

There is no antidote for xylitol.  Early recognition is important for an optimal outcome. If you have the package of the product please always take this to your veterinary clinic with you.  Your veterinarian may get your dog to vomit if the product was ingested recently enough. Blood sugar levels and liver enzymes will need to be monitored closely.  Often an intravenous sugar drip is started and these animals are hospitalized for a number of days. 

It is important to read labels on any human product that you happen to give your dog.  Even better avoid human products in dogs if possible or contact your veterinarian prior to giving anything to your pets that is not labelled for them.  Remember dogs and cats are not small humans and their bodies metabolize things differently than us.  If you have any questions about toxins or products please talk to your veterinarian. 

Dr. Brigitte Rudolf

Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic

Rhys & Dorian

Living in a Multi Species House

Our family has a dog, a cat, an amazon parrot and a cockatiel and for the most part they dislike each other and the feuding is usually over me. They all want my attention all the time!!  My day starts with my cat, Rhys, meowing as soon as my eyelids begin to flutter, my dog MacTavish, urgently wanting to go out for his duties and my two birds screaming from downstairs for me the minute my feet hit the floor. Good Morning!!  



Stefaan & Dorian

I rush around like a mad woman opening the backyard door while dishing out some cat food, then tear off the blankets covering the two bird cages and put a bird on each shoulder, which makes them stop screaming. Once I have fed the crew and given them fresh water I can start getting ready for work while they are eating.  I know immediately when they are done, both cat and dog come into the bedroom and the birds start to whistle loudly for me to come and get them too. As I get ready, brushing my teeth, drying my hair, and applying makeup with one bird on each shoulder, both cat and dog staring at me, and I feel so loved. 

MacTavish

When I leave for work I have to make sure the cockatiel is put in the parrot’s cage, the parrot is put in his daytime enclosure, the cat is in the basement and the dog has his tricky treat ball filled with his kibble to keep him occupied while I am making my getaway and I think to myself, my pets are so loved. 

My workday is peaceful in comparison to the loud mayhem of the morning but it is all waiting for me at home the second my key goes in the lock.  Before I am even in the door I can hear the birds screaming for me , my dog runs to the door and practically knocks me over and my cat is meowing and banging on the door to get out of the basement and  to me, and I feel so loved.

The evening is a delicate balance of giving my attention to each one of my pets without making another jealous but I am an expert at this now.  I can scratch the necks of each bird with my two hands and rub the bellies of my dog and cat with my two feet. All my pets are happy and I feel so loved. 

I’m sure I am not alone, thanks for reading.

Sandra McBride, Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic

Lyme Disease: Tick Protection and Your Pet

Tick season is still here! We hope you read our previous blog, where we talked a bit about ticks and the transmission of Lyme disease. There are a lot of good tips to protect yourself and your pets from tick bites. But let’s talk a little bit more about Lyme disease, and what that means for you and your pet.  

In Ontario, Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. It is estimated that 18% of the overall tick population in Ontario is infected with Lyme disease. The tick needs to be attached for greater than 24 hours for the disease to be transmitted, and it can take 2-5 months for a dog to start showing clinical signs. These clinical signs can include fever, anorexia, lameness and joint swelling. However, 95% of dogs that have become infected with Lyme disease never become clinical. Humans cannot get Lyme disease directly from an infected dog; they too need to be bitten by a tick infected with the disease.

Your vet can screen your dog for the presence of antibodies to Lyme disease through a screening test called 4Dx. This test screens for Lyme disease, as well as other tick-borne diseases (including Ehrlichia and Anaplasma) and heartworm. Typically a veterinarian will recommend this screening test after your dog has been bitten by a tick – but not immediately after the tick is found; it can take 3-5 weeks for the antibodies to become present in your dog’s system. It is also recommended as an annual screening test, since we don’t always find every tick on our dogs – especially the really hairy ones!

If your dog tests positive for Lyme disease on the 4Dx screen test, it indicates that your dog has previously been exposed to the disease and has developed antibodies against it. It doesn’t indicate an active infection – in fact, some dogs that have been diagnosed with Lyme disease can remain positive on their 4Dx screen for many years. Your vet will probably recommend a further test to quantify the number of antibodies present to determine the level of infection. If your dog is showing clinical signs of the disease, treatment will be initiated.

So now we know what to do if your dog has been bitten by a tick. But how about we prevent those ticks from ever latching on?

There are a variety of tick products available for dogs. They range from topical products to oral products, with some collar options as well. These products do not all protect against every type of tick, so be careful when picking your tick product. Just because it says tick, doesn’t mean it covers all the ticks common in your area (or the Lyme-disease-transmitting Deer tick)!

A few of our favorite products for tick prevention include:

Bravecto - this oral product can be given once every 12 weeks to dogs and treats against fleas, Deer ticks, American Dog ticks and Brown Dog ticks. It cannot be given to dogs less than 6 months of age or less than 2 kg.

NexGard - this oral product is given monthly to dogs to protect against fleas, Deer ticks, American Dog ticks and Lone Star ticks. It is approved for puppies greater than 8 weeks of age.

Preventic Collars - this collared product for dogs protects against American Dog ticks and Brown Dog ticks. It can last for up to 90 days, but is not recommended for use in dogs with cats in the same household.

K9 Advantix II - this topical product is for dogs only. It repels fleas and all species of tick (American Dog tick, Brown Dog tick, Lone Star tick and Deer tick). It is to be reapplied monthly, but is not recommended for use on dogs with cats in the same household. It is safe for dogs greater than 8 weeks of age.

Revolution - this topical product is a great choice for cats (and also can be used in dogs). It is used to treat against fleas, Brown Dog ticks and American Dog ticks and should be reapplied monthly. It is safe for dogs and cats greater than 6 weeks of age.  
  

Lyme Disease: Tick Prevention, You and Your Pet

It’s high time for ticks to strike in Canada, and incidents of Lyme disease are on the rise. Staying informed about ticks, knowing the risks and focusing on prevention can help keep your pet – and your family – safe from Lyme disease this season. 

First, get to know their habitat; ticks love to dwell in wooded, grassy areas, especially thick underbrush. Some outdoor jobs and recreational activities, like landscaping, farming, hiking, hunting and fishing, can put you or your pet at a higher risk. When it comes to the transmission of Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis, or “deer ticks”, are the usual suspects. Adult deer ticks are especially active in mid-to-late fall. These pests cannot jump or fly, but are skilled at latching onto a host at ground level and crawling upward to find exposed skin. And despite what many people think, dogs do not give Lyme disease to people; humans are at risk only if bitten by an infected tick.

While all Canadians are at risk for Lyme disease, eastern Canada has reported the highest rate of infection across the country. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed, during the stage when it’s easiest to treat. Infection risk is present year-round, but be aware that you and your pet are most prone to Lyme disease from May through September. In addition, keep in mind that ticks are more than just a springtime hazard. If fall temperatures remain mild, ticks can peak again in October or November.

In fact, certain species of ticks may display increased activity at different times throughout the spring, then again in the fall.  In particular, a study from Ontario shows primarily I. scapularis ticks peaking first in the spring months, then a second time in November.

Climate change is also projected to be a factor in the overall tick prevalence. It is speculated that in the next 80 years, the total area of land suitable for ticks and their hosts will increase by 68.9% in North America. In Canada, that number is estimated at a 212.9% increase. This means that warmer temperatures will invite an influx of ticks well into the fall months over a greater geographic area, creating an even more urgent need for vigilance and yearly pet vaccination.

To protect yourself from ticks, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and tuck your pants into your socks. Wearing light coloured clothing makes ticks easier to see. It may also be helpful to walk with a partner who can watch for ticks on your or your pet. Try to stay on clear, unobstructed trails, and away from the fringe area between the woods and open land. Spraying an insect repellant on your body and clothing can also deter ticks however consult product caution statements before using, especially on young children. Immediately after being outside in tick-infested areas, check your clothes and body, as well as your pet's body, for ticks. If you discover one or more ticks attached, proper removal is essential.

 

How Do You Remove a Tick?

For a full list, consult the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation at http://canlyme.com/lyme-basics/tick-removal/.

Most commonly, ticks can be removed using fine-pointed tweezers or a tick removal device, grasping the tick as close as possible to the skin surface, and pulling straight outward. Once the tick is out, it’s important to wash the bite with soap and water and treat it with an antiseptic.

If the tick that bit you or your pet is a Lyme-carrying species or if you are unsure, consult your doctor or veterinarian immediately. Symptoms of Lyme disease may not present right away, but early detection can aid in a successful treatment. If you experience headaches, body aches, fever or congestion, or notice your dog behaving differently, seek medical or veterinary care immediately. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause irrevocable damage to the joints, nervous system and more.

Remember, Lyme disease cannot be easily cured - but it can be prevented. Stay informed, follow these simple steps for prevention and as your veterinarian about protecting your dog(s) from Lyme disease with yearly vaccination and a monthly tick control product today!

 

Printed with permission from Merial Canada.

Myths around Urinary Tract Health in Dogs and Cats

By: Dr. Doreen M. HoustonDoreen is a board certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).

Calcium Oxalate Stones

Myth 1:   Salt in urinary diets is bad.  It can lead to kidney failure, hypertension and associated heart disease, and calcium oxalate bladder and kidney stones.

Reality

Dogs and cats are not “salt sensitive” like humans.  There are many published studies that support that salt does not contribute to kidney disease; in fact there is science suggesting quite the opposite.  Low salt intake can lead to loss of potassium in the urine and this can worsen kidney failure.  By increasing the salt content of the diet, we might actually help decrease the risk of chronic renal failure.  There are a number of studies supporting that salt is not a concern in aged cats, the group most likely to develop kidney disease.  Unlike people, dogs and cats do not develop hypertension because of salt in the diet.  Salt in urinary diets causes the animal to drink more and consequently urinate more-this is good when trying to prevent significant crystal and stone disease in dogs and cats.  Salt in the diet has been shown to help prevent calcium oxalate stones in cats and dogs.

Myth 2:   Struvite crystals and stones form when the urine pH is alkaline.  Keeping the urine acidified will prevent struvite in dogs and cats.  On the other hand, calcium oxalate forms when the urine pH is acidic.   Keeping the urine alkaline (pH >7) will prevent calcium oxalate in dogs and cats.

Reality

Struvite in the majority of canine cases is due to infection.  Treating or preventing the urinary tract infection is the most important aspect of management of struvite crystals and stones in dogs.  Cats are totally different- infection does not play a role in the vast majority of cases.  A diet that maintains an average urine pH less than 6.5 and restricts the minerals that contribute to struvite formation is recommended in cats.
Calcium oxalate crystal and stone formation is not urine pH dependent in dogs or cats.  This type can form at any urine pH.  Highly acidic urine (consistently having a pH in the 5’s) may predispose a pet but otherwise, urine pH is not a key factor in the development of oxalate crystals or stones.   A diet that has undergone specific testing for oxalate crystal and stone prevention is recommended for management of oxalate in dogs and cats.

Myth 3:   Cats with blood in their urine should be placed on antibiotics for 7-14 days.

Reality

Antibiotics are not indicated unless a urinary tract infection (UTI) is confirmed with urine culture and sensitivity. Cats rarely get UTIs and it is much more likely that there is another reason for blood in their urine, such as a condition called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis! Antibiotics are rarely needed in cats with lower urinary tract problems. There is growing concern for antibiotic resistance in people and pets-antibiotics should not be given unless an infection is confirmed.

Myth 4: Ash in pet food is one of the causes of feline lower urinary tract disease. Ash can cause a male cat to suffer a blockage in the urinary system.  Cats should not be fed diets with ash.

Reality

This was a commonly held belief for many years, but has been shown not to be true. All pet foods are composed of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. The inorganic components of pet foods, such as the minerals and vitamins, are called “ash” because they are not incinerated when the food is burned for nutritional analysis. Ash was once thought to contribute to struvite crystals and stones in the bladder and urethra of cats, causing male cats in particular to “block”-not be able to urinate. We now know that urinary pH plays a significant role in the development of struvite crystals in cats and if the urine pH is kept lower than 6.5 and the amount of magnesium (one of the minerals in “ash”) is controlled the production of struvite crystals and stones can be prevented. In addition, it is important to know that other minerals in ash such as calcium, manganese, and selenium are critical to the cat’s health. Ash is not a bad thing!

Myth 5: Vitamin C, cranberry juice, or cranberry extracts are very good for urinary tract health-they acidify urine (lower the urine pH), are anti-inflammatory and might help treat and prevent urinary tract infections.

Reaity

Unlike people, dogs and cats make their own vitamin C. Vitamin C is broken down to oxalic acid which is excreted into the urine. Too much of this could put dogs and cats at risk for calcium oxalate crystals and calcium oxalate kidney/bladder stones. In addition, it has been shown that neither vitamin C nor cranberry are very good urinary acidifiers-there are much better ones available from your veterinarian should they be needed. In addition, vitamin C can be a bad thing for dogs and cats that have copper associated liver disorders as it is pro-inflammatory in this condition. In most cases urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria and antibiotics are needed. Cranberry is used in dogs and cats to help with certain urinary tract infections as the proanthocyanidins in cranberry (PACs) block attachment of bacteria such as E. coli to the lining of the bladder. The cranberry doesn’t stop the bug from being there in the first place but it might help lessen the clinical signs the animal experiences. Antibiotics are needed to treat bacterial infections-cranberry is supplemental therapy only!

Alternative Medicine and Your Pet

In addition to conventional medical treatments, there are many different alternative therapies available.  Some examples of these include chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, herbal medicine  and homeopathy just to name a few. 

Chiropractic therapy has been used in performance animals such as horses for a long time. It has been used successfully and become more popular for small animals such as dogs or cats for spinal misalignment or joint pain.  This can be effective for both acute and chronic pain. 

Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with chiropractic medicine or on its own.  Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years but only in the last few decades has it been used in the western hemisphere.  It has become much more widespread both in humans.   Acupuncture acts by balancing the body and helping it return to a state of homeostasis using very fine needles along various energy lines of the body.  In veterinary medicine acupuncture is mostly used for treating musculoskeletal disease or pain in dogs, cats or horses. 

The ultimate goal at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic is to find the optimal course of treatment for you and your pet.  Whether you choose conventional medicine, alternative therapies or a blend of the two, it is very important to consult your veterinarian BEFORE administering any type of therapy or medicine to your pet.   It is equally important to advise your veterinarian of any herbs, medications or therapies that your pet is currently on as there are times when they could interfere with and work against the treatment your veterinarian has recommended. 

When it comes to dosing and safety of any medication (including herbs or homeopathic remedies), your pet is not the same as a child.  Even if a compound is considered safe for a child it doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe for your pet.

It is important to work with your veterinarian for the best possible course of treatment that is specifically designed for your pet.   If you are considering alternative therapies for your pets you should discuss it with your veterinarian.

Brigitte Rudolf, DVM
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic