Plateau Veterinary Hospital

Summer Safety Essentials for Your Pet - Part 1

2024-04-29

As the warm rays of summer beckon us outdoors, it's a perfect time to enjoy the season with our beloved pets. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it's crucial to prioritize their safety. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the essential tips to keep your furry companions safe during BBQs, fireworks, and travel adventures.

Unraveling the Mystery: Canine Respiratory Disease in Our Community

2023-11-21

Bringing Clarity to the Canine Respiratory Challenge

Since August 2023, a mysterious canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRDC) has been making its presence known in the Portland metro and Willamette Valley areas of Oregon. With over 100 reported cases, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is actively collaborating with veterinary experts to uncover the causative agent behind this atypical illness.

The Current Landscape

As we approach the end of the year, the ODA has received reports of an unusual canine respiratory disease affecting our beloved pets. The reported cases primarily fall within three clinical syndromes, presenting as chronic tracheobronchitis, chronic pneumonia, and acute pneumonia with rapid severity escalation.

Collaborative Efforts for Diagnosis

The ODA, in partnership with OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OVDL), and the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (USDA-NVSL), is diligently working to solve this puzzle. Despite a shared viral etiology observed in many cases, standard respiratory diagnostic testing has yielded inconclusive results.

Should Pet Owners Be Concerned?

While caution is advised, Dr. Stephen Kochis, Chief Medical Officer for the Oregon Humane Society, encourages a measured response. He emphasizes that the reported cases represent a small fraction of the state's dog population, and there's no significant uptick in respiratory diseases beyond the expected norm.

Protective Measures for Pet Owners

For pet owners, especially those with dogs in group settings, ensuring up-to-date vaccinations, including canine influenza, Bordetella, and parainfluenza, is crucial. Regular health checks before events and prompt veterinary consultation for any signs of illness are recommended precautions.

Understanding CIRDC

Periodic outbreaks of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) are not uncommon, particularly in settings with numerous dogs. Transmitted by respiratory droplets, both viruses and bacteria can contribute to CIRDC. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, and lethargy.

Protecting Your Furry Companions

Dog owners can take steps to protect their pets from respiratory illness by reducing contact with large groups of unknown dogs, avoiding sick dogs, keeping sick dogs at home, and seeking veterinary care when needed. Additionally, avoiding communal water bowls and consulting veterinarians for tailored vaccination advice are essential preventive measures.

For detailed information and ongoing updates, please refer to the OVMA News and AVMA Article regarding this situation. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and let's work together to safeguard the health of our four-legged friends.

Cheatgrass and Foxtails in Central Oregon

2022-07-18

Cheatgrass and Foxtail Seeds are a growing concern in the Central Oregon area. We have been seeing an increase in cases concerning the removal and treatment of these harmful Grass Awns or Seed Pods.

Being aware of them, recognizing problems early, and having them removed quickly; are all keys to avoiding more serious or life threatening injuries.

Grass Awns are seed pods of certain tall grasses that grow as invasive weeds. Foxtails and Cheatgrass being common examples of these. These plants can produce thousands of seeds, which dry out and scatter in the summer. The pods typically have tiny barbs, allowing them to easily cling to animals and objects in order to spread and propagate.

Those barbs allow the grass seed to move in only one direction. Unfortunately this means that if it embeds into skin, it can only migrate deeper into the tissue as a foreign body.

Due to your pets height, this often means these seed pods find their way into paws, nostrils, ears, and eyes. They have also been known to find their way through the body wall and directly into chest and abdominal cavities.

The body, in an attempt to protect itself, responds with inflammation and may try to close off the area, forming an abscess. This can lead to serious infections and other complications.

Signs of Foxtail or Cheat Grass Problems in Dogs:

(Included, but not limited to...)

• Fever

• Lethargy

• Loss of appetite

• Swollen and/or painful lump

• Puncture hole

• Discharge or bleeding

• Licking, chewing, or pawing at the affected area

• Limping (if legs/paws affected)

• Shaking head (if ears affected)

If your dog has been in an area with tall grasses, be sure to check their body for grass awns, wounds, and swollen areas. Look at the paws closely, checking the tops and bottoms of the feet and between the toes. Check the ears and mouth. Brush out your dog's coat thoroughly after any off-leash walks in areas that may have tall grasses and remove any foreign objects from your dog's coat.

Be sure to have your veterinarian check any wounds or abscesses immediately. Early detection and treatment will help provide the best results for your pets health.

Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips from Zoetis PetCare.

2020-11-18

October is a great month for animals.

2020-10-14

October is a great month for animals.

It’s National Service Dog Month, National Animal Safety and Protection Month,

ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and there’s even a shout-out to cats this month

on National Cat Day, October 29. With all of these warm and fuzzy feelings circulating

in the autumn air, it’s a perfect time to take a good, hard look at your pet. How has

he/she been acting lately?

Nipping. Scratching. Litter box issues. Leash pulling. Meowing at night. Urinating on

the floor. Chewing shoes. Are these behaviors just part of being a “normal” dog or cat,

or not?

Some common behavior issues are due to underlying medical problems. These

illnesses are tough to recognize even for the most observant owners. For example, if

your dog started nipping at the kids, it may be a sign he’s in pain. Your cat may stop

jumping on your lap. Not because she’s being unfriendly, but because she has arthritis

and it hurts.

If these behaviors are left unchecked, it’s a triple issue. The behavior may worsen, the

underlying medical condition may progress (which puts your pet’s health at risk), and

most importantly, your pet’s quality of life as part of your family is compromised.

Here’s where we can help. We have the expertise when it comes to analyzing,

identifying and resolving behavior issues with your pet. At your pet’s next checkup,

we can talk about your pet’s behavior and help give your pet a “new leash” on life!

We are committed to your pet’s well-being…all the way!

7 Strategies for Keeping an Aging Animal Comfortable in the Home by Kaytie Carter

2019-08-05

7 Strategies for Keeping an Aging Animal Comfortable in the Home

As we get older, even our cherished pets that we may have gotten when we were younger also age. While factors like vitamin intake and regular health and dental checks are important to prolong the quality of life for your pet, there are other things you can do to help your pet’s physical comfort level increase.

1. Determine if you need to change your pet’s food

Just like people, a pet’s nutrition should change with age. Your furry companion’s digestive system can slow down as they get older. Look more into the details of your pet’s food and what types of food are easier for them to digest. In addition, it may be a good idea to elevate your pet’s food bowls. As your pets get older, the smallest of muscle movements can stress or make them fatigued, so try to keep the bowls at a comfortable height, so your pets don’t have to bend down as much while eating.

2. Pet-proof your house to help pets that are losing their eyesight

One of the first things that will falter in an aging animal is their eyesight. While your animal may not be totally blind, their peripheral vision and sense of depth will start to decrease in quality. This will make it harder for them to navigate objects within a room and pathways around your house. Be sure to pet-proof your house to have your pet avoid accidental injury.

3. Make your pet’s sleeping space warmer

Older pets lose hair more frequently than when they were younger. As your pet ages, be mindful that your home may be getting colder to them, even though you may keep it at a constant, set temperature. Line your pet’s sleeping area with more padding and warm and fuzzy materials. This will help them stay warm, especially when they’re sleeping. It will also give them a warm location to evacuate to when they’re cold. Another tip: if you live in a cold area, you can look into purchasing coats and sweaters for your pet when they go outside.

4. Remember to groom your pet

You know the phrase, “Look good, feel good?” This psychological technique may work on your pet, too. Having them groomed and bathed more often in their olden age is a great way to boost a pet’s energy and overall demeanor. Many pet owners have even found comfort in grooming their aging pets.

5. Invest in anti-slip materials

Slippery floors are hard for pets to begin with, but they’re especially tricky as pets age. The grips on the bottoms of your dog’s paws will start to disintegrate down with tread. A tip for this would be to line certain popular spots for your pet with some sort of gripped material and a rug. This could be by a window, by their food, or by their bed. Along with this idea, it’s also important to remember how tricky stairs may be for your pet. If you see your pet struggling with balance or slipping, try moving their common locations in the home to the bottom floor.

6. Pay attention to aching joints

When you think comfort, you probably think warmth and relaxation. Pet’s joints can swell and ache with age. Warmth helps with this! Create a time to pamper your pet with a little pet massage or a cuddle session. Another idea could be to make a towel become the pet’s towel and throw it in the dryer. Then, wrap your pet into it while it’s still warm. Soothing your pet’s joints will definitely be helpful for their comfort.

7. Make bathroom visits more regular

Bathroom breaks can be harder for pets as they age, but it can also be a time when they get some activity. Take your pet out more than usual for bathroom breaks. This will prevent them from accidentally soiling your home and is a good way to get them to exercise in the most minimal way possible. Stretching and movement can also help with the digestive system and with the joint aches mentioned earlier. It’s important to keep your pet on as regular a schedule as possible, but don’t be afraid to make changes that may be for the best!

Dental Care for Your Cats & Dogs

2019-05-14

Dental Care for Your Cat and Dog

Twenty or Thirty years ago, veterinarians were just beginning to talk to clients about dental care in their pets. We began to realize just how important dental hygiene is to the overall welfare of our furry friends. Research in human medicine started to show us how dental infections can affect health through damage to the body organs such as liver, kidneys, and heart. Pain from dental infections can result in chronic pain, oral abscesses, even nasal sinus infections, and result in substantial loss of teeth due to these infections.

While veterinarians have certainly made some headway in educating clients on the need for dental care in their pets, we have a long way to go to get everyone “on board” with dental care.

In human dentistry, prevention is the key - twice daily brushing for your own teeth is the “Gold Standard” to keep you and your teeth together in the long-term! That is supported by every 6 months examinations to make sure you have no problems. In many ways human dentists have it “easy” - their patients will sit for a thorough examination and cleaning of their teeth to assess for and treat tooth problems. Veterinarians aren’t that lucky...

Definitions – So We Are All on the Same Page

Peridontal diseases are infections of the structures around the teeth, which include the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Like many diseases periodontal disease is a progressive disease. It starts when bacteria in the mouth form a substance called plaque that sticks to the surface of the teeth (the best way to prevent tartar build-up is daily brushing of your pet’s teeth). The problems begin when the minerals in our pet’s saliva harden the plaque into dental calculus (also known as tartar). This tartar accumulates both above and below the gum line leading to inflammation (gingivitis) and further accumulation of plague which leads to periodontal disease.

When plaque and calculus develop below the gum line the real problem begins. This “progression” of the disease starts to damage the supporting tissue, periodontal ligament, around the tooth and eventually the alveolar bone. Finally, this bacteria below the gum line stimulates our pet’s immune system to fight the periodontal disease but the chemicals released by the white blood cells cause further damage to the supporting tissues of the tooth. Instead of helping the immune system actually worsens the disease. The only solution now is a trip to your veterinarian.

Here are some images of actual periodontal disease so you can check your own pet’s teeth to see how they compare on the periodontal disease continuum.

When Do I Know My Pet Needs a Dental Cleaning?

The best advice we can give is ask your veterinarian on your next annual wellness visit to check your pet’s mouth for dental disease. But here’s what the American Veterinary Dental College says are the signs of oral and dental disease in cats and dogs:

• Bad breath.

• Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar.

• Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area.

• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.

• Bleeding from the mouth.

• Loss of appetite or loss of weight (this combination can result from diseases of many organs, and early veterinary examination is important).

If your pet is displaying any of these symptoms it’s past time for a dental cleaning.

Small Animal Teeth Issues

Dental care is important in all veterinary patients but here we are referring to our cat and dog patients. Understandably, the smaller the patient, the smaller the teeth. This makes our cats and smaller dogs more at-risk for dental problems. Why?

Each tooth is held in place in the mouth by erupting or growing out of the upper and lower jaw bones (alveolar bone). The depth of this attachment is proportional to the size of the tooth. Each tooth is held in that bone by periodontal ligaments that attach the root to the jaw bone. Little teeth have smaller ligaments, and these ligaments deteriorate with inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis in its mild form or periodontal disease as things get bad.

The primary cause of gingivitis is bacteria that live in the mouth and on the teeth in both people and pets. These bacteria leave a coating on the teeth, called plaque, that if not removed, gets calcified over time in the mouth environment, creating hard, calcium based bacterial coating on the teeth that brews inflammation and infection at the gum-line. With time, this can lead to pain, inflammation, infection, periodontal ligament weakening, abscess in of tooth roots, and eventually tooth loss. In people we brush our teeth twice a day (Or we should!!). Since dogs and cats can’t brush their teeth, they get much more problems much more quickly than people. Statistics say that the vast majority of pet dogs and cats have significant calculus (calcified bacteria) on their teeth by 3 years of age. Over time, more inflammation leads to a change in the microbiome of the mouth, allowing more aggressive and detrimental bacteria to live on and around the teeth. That leads to bad breath (at minimum) and, progressive levels of damage to the gums, with eventual tooth loss.

If all that happened ultimately for our pets was loss of teeth, this would be bad enough, but disease in the mouth has been shown to lead to serious disease for the rest of the body. Infection from the mouth can move through the blood to cause liver disease, lung infections, damage the kidneys on a microscopic level that can lead to premature kidney failure. Blood-borne infection can cause damage to the main heart valves that can lead to heart-valve infection/ leakage (endocarditis or endocardiosis) that can ultimately lead to heart failure and death.

So What Can a Client Do?

Brushing teeth, first as a puppy or kitten to train them to allow dental brushing, then later with adult teeth, helps our pets to minimize plaque accumulation. Plaque is soft and easily removed with brushing. Little plaque leads to little calculus, and minimal inflammation in the mouth. The teeth and gums stay happy and healthy, rather than diseased and abscessed. We recommend daily brushing ideally with a pet toothpaste. These pastes are edible, and non-foaming, so they don’t upset a pet’s stomach. As an added benefit, they help to enzymatically clean the plaque off the teeth, and do not need to be rinsed out of a pet’s mouth, making life easier for you, the pet owner!

So, we know life happens, so many people are less than stellar on their commitment to daily brushing. The good news, is that even a couple of times a week will go a long way to keep Fluffy’s teeth healthy and in his mouth at 12 years of age! Because priorities in life can get in the way, that’s when your veterinarian can help. Routine, often annual, dental cleanings can maintain your pet’s mouth in pretty good shape, allow someone to get in there and check for problems.

There are prescription “Dental Diets” that can help with abrasives to help “scrape” the teeth as they chew their food. They are proven to help.

There are various types of “Dental Chews” that encourage chewing that can help with plaque accumulation. I would recommend those chews with the seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council, a recommendation from veterinary dentists certifying that the products do help retard plaque and tartar on the teeth of your pet. Here is a link to that site. http://www.vohc.org

Some water additives are believed to help, but I am not completely convinced. They seem to help kill off some of the mouth bacteria, but on their own, without the other things, are not likely the be-all-to-end-all!

Keep in mind, in the end, nothing is as good as teeth brushing to maintain mouth health long- term.

Dental Cleanings

To Anesthetize or Not?

There are veterinarians, (as well as non-veterinarians) who will clean teeth without any anesthesia. Both the AVMA and The American Animal Hospital Association do NOT endorse the use of non- anesthetic dental procedures. Why? Because when the pet is awake, there is not way to address disease, or plaque, or calculus under the gum-line. You cannot easily reach the rear teeth, which generally are the worst problem. And you cannot perform x-rays (radiographs) to see the root structure and health. Studies have shown about 25% of normal mouths even as young as 3 years of age had significant disease needing tooth extraction when radiographs of the mouth were taken.

So our recommendation is to allow your pet to be anesthetized properly, to intubate their airway and avoid inhalation of any bacteria, to supportively oxygenate, to more quickly and accurately assess the mouth and deal with the problems that are there. Effective teeth cleaning is done in pets with water and ultrasonic vibration scaling equipment that washes and vibrates any calcium deposits and bacteria off the enamel of the tooth, and gets in the pocket under the gum-line to flush out those pockets. After scaling, microscopic little scratches need to be smoothed off the enamel. This is done by using a very fine grit polish on the teeth to smooth and inhibit attachment of bacteria after the dental cleaning. Various wax sealant products are used to try to also inhibit bacterial attachment over a longer period of time.

In our hospital, we recommend radiographs of all the teeth at the time of the dental cleaning. Most dogs or cats presenting for dental procedures already have some level of gingival (gum) inflammation or periodontal disease. Many are middle aged to older pets.

Attached is the link to the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) web site that discusses

“Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia” https://www.avdc.org/dentalscaling.html

What is the risk?

No anesthetic is without risk, but over the last 30 years of my practice career, the sophistication of anesthetic agents, of monitoring systems, and frankly quality of equipment is far better than before. We believe strongly that the risk to the body of NOT performing an anesthetic dental procedure is greater than the risk of regular dental cleaning and maintenance. It is never a zero risk, but is very low.

So, what do we do to minimize risk?

1. Recommend initial blood screening before surgery to check the health of the major organs, and for normal red, white and platelet cell numbers.

2. Recommend intravenous fluid therapy throughout the anesthetic procedure.

3. Use of up-to-date anesthetic regimes, tailored to your individual pet’s health.

4. Exterior warm air blankets during anesthesia to maintain body temperature.

5. Endotracheal intubation - to deliver anesthetic gases, to stop aspiration of any fluids.

6. Mechanical ventilators - to ensure adequate oxygenation during any and all anesthetic procedures.

7. State of the art digital radiography system to best see any problems under the gum-line.

8. Anesthetic monitoring equipment - to watch electrocardiogram of the heart activity, oxygen saturation monitoring, temperature, and blood pressure.

9. All necessary equipment for dental extractions if needed, including Vet-tome extraction system to more quickly perform tooth extractions with minimal bone loss.

Attached is the link to the AVDC site discussing the risks of anesthesia:

https://www.avdc.org/anesthesia.html

Extractions - Are they Really so Bad?

After my long career, seeing thousands of pets with dental procedures, I firmly believe that a diseased tooth should always be removed. If teeth have less than 50% of their root attached, they should be removed. If they are mobile, they should be removed. If they show root abscesses on X-ray, they should be removed.In by far most pets with extracted teeth, the mouth heals very quickly. Within a week, most sites of tooth extraction have healed and are no longer painful.

Don’t be fooled! Dental “extraction” is a word we use, but extractions are truly “Dental Surgery”. They take time, effort, and careful work to successfully remove teeth. Some teeth have multiple roots, so the teeth are much like human extraction of “Wisdom Teeth”. They require tooth sectioning, bone drilling, sweat-inducing muscular effort to separate them from the jaw bone to remove them effectively. They can be time consuming and frustratingly difficult to do. They can be expensive, but it is not uncommon to take multiple hours to finish with a patient with multiple tooth extractions.

Through research, we know that an animal’s teeth are formed anatomically the same as a human’s teeth. The nerve anatomy is the same. We are well aware that in people, even teeth that appear normal can be abscessed and exquisitely painful. We know our pets hide pain as much as possible. So we must treat when we know there is a problem, to try to alleviate the pain that we believe they feel, but cannot communicate to us.

Behaviorally, I have found over and over again, dogs and cats with bad dental disease act much more normal, younger and happier after they heal from dental extractions. Many owners over the years comment on how much better the pet acts and feels shortly after dental extraction. My take home: if teeth are bad, take them out! A comfortable patient with fewer teeth is a happier patient than one allowed to keep his rotten teeth. Frankly, even dogs and cats with NO teeth, can get along without any troubles, will eat, and be happy. Humans worry about a lack of teeth, but our pets don’t care!

At Plateau Veterinary Hospital, and our Sister Clinics, Willamette Valley Animal Hospitals in Portland region, we do dental specials every March, June, September and December, when Dental procedures are 20% off. We perform these almost every day of the year, but in those months, there is a “Special”, simply to encourage people to step up and get it done. We know these procedures are expensive. Our hospitals make every attempt to minimize the price, but dental work is time-consuming, difficult, and often done on our older pets.

Keep this in mind: Regular dental cleaning throughout the life of your pet - maybe every 1 to 2 years, will be less costly overall, better for your pet, keeping them healthier, living longer, with fewer teeth lost to time and disease.

Sheri Morris DVM Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline Specialist) Owner

Ultimate Pet Owners Guide for CBD Usage in Dogs - By John Maddigan

2019-05-06

The Ultimate Pet Owners Guide for CBD Usage in Dogs – Well Almost

Just a few disclaimers to start:

• Our veterinary hospital doesn’t sell any CBD products.

• I’m not a veterinarian, just the husband of one, who likes to do research on topical questions in veterinary medicine.

• I have no particular axe to grind, just doing the research and giving pet owners the facts without trying to take a point of view.

• I’m a pet owner, a pet lover, and only want the best for my pets and all the pet owners out there.

• This paper is not intended to be “medical advice” but instead to give pet owners more information about CBDs and what they should know before they ask their veterinarian about the use of CBDs for their pet.

Definitions

With that said let’s start with a few definitions so we are all on the same page. Cannabis is a genus (a class of things which have common characteristics) of plants that include both marijuana and hemp, an unfortunate fact for hemp. Because hemp is included in the cannabis genus of plants, it had been classified with marijuana as a Schedule One substance until 2018 with the enactment of the new Farm Act and its subsequent declassification (see below section on legality). Although they are in the same genus of plants, hemp and marijuana have very different compositions of chemicals called “cannabinoids.” Today much of the medical CBD (cannabidiol) oil is sourced from hemp because it has a higher concentration of CBD than marijuana and is legal throughout the country (marijuana is legal in some states but still illegal federally). The big difference between hemp and marijuana is that hemp contains higher concentrations of CBD and relatively lower THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) concentrations (no higher than 0.3 percent THC) compared to marijuana. THC is the psychoactive ingredient which is found in much higher concentrations in marijuana. As a result, it is not possible to get “high” with hemp sourced CBD. So, there it is, cannabis is a class of plants that includes marijuana and hemp and hemp has relatively higher concentrations of CBD and only 0.3 percent of THC, the psychoactive chemical, and marijuana has lower concentrations of CBD and higher levels of THC and that is why marijuana is still a federally regulated Schedule One drug and hemp is not.

Is It Legal?

Yep. In 2014, President Obama signed the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Farm Bill), which allowed for the study and cultivation of industrial hemp for limited purposes. This led to the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015, which allowed American farmers to produce and cultivate industrial hemp more widely. This legislation removed hemp from the controlled substances list as long as the hemp grown contained no more than 0.3 percent THC. This was reaffirmed in the December 2018 passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by Congress. The bill removed industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, where it had been since 1937.

So Why Does It Work?

As a result of the demand for research on the effects of THC on humans, scientists discovered that every mammal, including us and our dogs, are born with a fully functioning endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is critical as CBD affects the endocannabinoid receptors, which are located in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The ECS is a key component to our health and well-being, as it regulates homeostasis (stable equilibrium between systems in the body, in a word balance) in almost every system of mammalian bodies. The ECS controls the rate of production and degradation of the chemicals that our brain and cells use as signals and messengers, known as neurotransmitters. Research revealed that CBD is deeply involved in those endocannabinoid neurotransmissions in that they up-regulate and down-regulate neural transmissions as needed to maintain homeostasis, helping keep the body in a normal and healthy state (examples in humans would be the down-regulation of anxiety, noise phobia, epilepsy, inflammation, and emesis (vomiting)). The really amazing thing about this is that CBD can BOTH up-regulate and down-regulate neural transmissions and always act to move the body toward a normal state and thus doesn’t shift things in the wrong direction. This is an important characteristic of CBD as most pharmaceuticals either only up-regulate or down-regulate (think of stimulants or suppressants, they only work in one direction, not necessarily into a homeostatic state). This movement toward homeostasis reduces the likelihood of unwanted side effects and results in CBDs, in theory, having a safe profile for use in our dogs. An interesting factoid is that acupuncture is another treatment known to have the same type of homeostatic action.

Our cats and dogs have the same endocannabinoid system as humans. In addition, humans and mammals have approximately 95 percent similar genetic material so we are susceptible to many of the same illness and diseases i.e. diabetes, obesity, arthritis, etc. Subsequently CBDs act in many of the same ways on us as it does our dogs.

As mentioned above, the endocannabinoid system was only discovered after research into THC led to the discovery of the endocannabinoid receptors and following this, anandamide, a natural cannabinoid receptor agonist, was discovered in 1992 (see below in “What Can CBD Do section). The endocannabinoid system is a complex lipid-signaling (THC and CBD have low solubility in water, but good solubility in most organic solvents, particularly lipids and alcohols) network that modulates central nervous system activity, and its effects can be summarized as “relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect.”

That is why CBD works on us and our pets (we’re all mammals with similar genetic composition) in relatively similar ways (https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/can-your-pet-benefit-from- cannabis). It is VERY important to note that dogs (not certain about research on cats) are much more sensitive to THC than humans are, as dogs have a higher number of brain receptors for cannabinoids than humans. A 2012 study reported a fourfold increase in the number of dogs treated for marijuana intoxication between 2005 and 2010 and I can say with confidence that

this trend continues with the legalization of both medical and recreational use of marijuana in many states, and the presence of it in more homes now than ever before.

So, given the fact that CBDs help the body return to a homeostatic state it would seem reasonable to extrapolate that CBDs could be helpful in many ways, but sadly the research to validate these claims are totally absent. While scientists know “how” cannabinoids like CBD effect our endocannabinoid system there is almost no research on animals to validate the numerous claims that are being made every day on the internet.

Is CBD Safe?

The limited research indicates it does no harm but it is best to use hemp derived CBD as it is lower in THC than marijuana derived CBD. The most recent study by Dr. Stephanie McGrath at the Colorado State Veterinary College, found CBD to be harmless, or in other words SAFE. But much more work has to be done to confirm those smaller studies (Dr. McGrath’s study had only 16 dogs over a very short period of time in 2016). Currently there are no long-term studies on the effects of CBD on cats or dogs and to my knowledge and a review of the literature none are in process at the writing of this paper (April 2019). These longitudinal studies need to be done to make everyone feel comfortable about prescribing CBD and another other cannabinoids. The only study – done by Dr. Wakshlag – that does look at pharmacokinetics (the branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of drugs within the body) will be discussed later in this paper.

Studies, Research or Hype?

A quick search on the internet will answer that question – hype. And article after article echo the sentiment in their headlines: Washington Post April 21, 2019: “CBD for pet’s ailments? Many people swear by it, but there’s very little animal research;” “Is the hype about CBD, cannabidiol real?” Still other stories have disclaimers up front stating, “this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice...”. This is done because the research is scarce but the hype is everywhere. A USA Today article starts with the question, “It’s hard to find something CBD can’t treat.”

Currently the marketers for the CBD manufacturer’s claim that CBD is a natural remedy for just about everything – I wonder if it could help with baldness?? But sadly, their therapeutic claims are not backed up with solid scientific research. This is an industry based not on scientific research but mostly built on anecdotal data and testimonials – Montel Williams is a perfect example and there are lots of other celebrities pushing various other products (Gwyneth Paltrow and Willie Nelson).

Despite ALL the claims there is just NO research to back up those claims. Currently there are only two animal studies on the effects of CBDs on dogs. At Colorado State veterinary neurologist Dr. Stephanie McGrath has completed one pilot study on epileptic dogs in 2016.

Her research found that nearly 90 percent of the epileptic dogs experienced fewer seizures when given chicken-flavored CBD, as compared 20 percent on placebo. While the results are encouraging the study only included 16 dogs and even Dr. McGrath acknowledged the limitations of the study. “Although really exciting results, it still has to be taken with a little bit of a grain of salt, because the power of the study is diminished when you don’t have a lot of dogs involved. Dr. McGrath is now conducting two clinical trials with 27 dogs, studying how effectively CBD can treat osteoarthritis and epilepsy. The only concern I have with this study is whether or not 27 dogs is a large enough sample to be scientifically significant.

The second study was conducted by associate professor and veterinarian Dr. Joseph Wakshlag (see study here https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full) at Cornell University. The participating dogs were suffering from multi-joint pain and osteoarthritis. The eight-month double blind, placebo-controlled study was done in collaboration with ElleVet Sciences and the pets were given ElleVet Mobility Chews (while the study lasted 8 months the drug trial lasted only 4 weeks for the dogs with a 2 week wash-out period between dosages). The primary goal of the Cornell-ElleVet study was to understand how dogs metabolized ElleVet soft chews, which are hemp-based supplements also containing glucosamine and chondroitine, two natural compounds that are already widely used in dogs and humans for arthritis. Although the sponsoring company is touting the results of the study it must be said that this study also only contained 16 dogs and the according to Dr. Wakshlag’s research article the dogs were also allowed to continue taking pain medications and other medications known to help with joint pain: “During the trial, dogs were only allowed to receive NSAIDs, fish oil, and/or glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate without any change in these medications for 4 weeks prior to or during the 10-week study period as standard of care for the disease process.”

While the results from the study were encouraging, with over 80 percent of the dogs showing significant improvement, the study size was small, just 16 dogs. Quoting from ElleVet’s press release here are the reported results of the clinical trial: “The Cornell study found that dogs who took ElleVet's proprietary hemp oil blend showed significant improvement over dogs that received the placebo. The study determined that ElleVet's hemp oil blend is "efficacious for pain in dogs with osteoarthritis, chronic joint pain and geriatric pain and soreness; with dramatic beneficial effects in our more geriatric patients." Over 80% of dogs who have used ElleVet Mobility soft chews have seen a significant or dramatic improvement. Veterinarians have called ElleVet soft chews, "A game changer that will change the face of veterinary medicine." Here's a link to their site and the study: https://ellevetsciences.com/pages/for-vets

Those are the only two studies of the effects of CBD on dogs – one study by Dr. Stephanie McGrath on epileptic dogs too small to be significant and the other by Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, with the same number of subjects as Dr. McGrath, that is being touted by the sponsor of the study to be “efficacious...a game changer.” You decide, but keep in mind that most nutraceutical products do NOT go through even this rigorous a study so kudos to ElleVet for doing it.

US based human trials are also very limited. Dr. Arnold Abrams, an oncologist and professor of clinical medicine at the University of California at San Francisco and a member of a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee that issued the most comprehensive report to date on the evidence related to the health benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids says, “we really don’t know anything” about CBDs. Here is a link to the study: http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and- cannabinoids.aspx

Dr. Abrams reported that there have only been five randomized clinical trials that have looked at CBD, until the Epidiolex studies (used to treat two rare kinds of epilepsy). The amazing fact is that the largest of those studies was a 24-person trial – THAT’S SMALL!

What Can CBD Do?

Good question. Clearly ElleVet believes that their hemp oil blend products help with osteoarthritis but what about the claims about anxiety, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and decreased appetite. Other than the two studies cited above on epilepsy and osteoarthritis there is no scientific data to support any of the claims made every day by multiple manufacturers, regarding other treatment claims, but there IS LOTS of anecdotal evidence that seem to corroborate almost any claim. Here’s an example: today my veterinarian wife had a client tell her that she gave her dog CBD to help stop it from eating its own feces and it worked. She then recommended it to a friend with the same problem and it worked for her dog as well – go figure.

But a colleague also saw an older pet whose parent rubbed CBD on it to make it feel better – arthritic – the pet got very “high” vomited, aspirated (inhaled) some of the vomit and got aspiration pneumonia and ended up with a $1,000.00 vet bill. So you never know.

I personally wouldn’t trust any claim made on the internet as marketers of these products will make any claim BUT everyday feedback is almost overwhelmingly positive, so ask a friend if their pet is using a CBD product.

But if there is no scientific data to support the claims of benefits, how then do some of these marketing claims begin? The answer is mostly from human studies. Remember at the beginning of this article we discussed that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is common to ALL mammals – us and our dogs. We humans have been using various forms of CBD (both hemp but mostly marijuana based) for many years and three synthetic cannabinoids - sold under the drug names Marinol, Syndros (both use the active ingredient dronabinol), and Cesamet (using the active ingredient nabilone) - for a variety of conditions including the treatment of anorexia in AIDS patients, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. So currently we are using very expensive man-made drugs that occur naturally in cannabis plants to treat patients where conventional drugs regimes have failed. For more information on these synthetic drugs you can visit this web page:

https://www.medicaljane.com/2017/05/01/the-3-cannabis-based-medicines-approved-by-the- fda/

So that’s where CBD manufacturers are making the leap from humans to our pets – we have a common endocannabinoid system that works similarly in all mammals. So, if it works in us why wouldn’t it work for our pets? Not an unreasonable assumption, however, veterinarians still don’t have any research to support that assumption. But there is a lot of science that can help us. Scientists know that the CB1 receptor in our brain and the CB2 receptors in the body that are stimulated by the synthetic cannabinoids listed above work basically the same in humans and dogs, the basic difference is that the message (the natural messenger cannabinoid in our dogs is called anandamide) sends a louder, stronger and longer message in dogs. That is why our dogs are much more impacted than humans by the THC in marijuana when they ingest or are given some. Drugs that can hang on longer to the natural messenger receptors are called an agonist – ergo why anandamide is called a cannabinoid receptor agonist. The chief agonist cannabinoids in marijuana are THC and CBD which is why of the hundreds of chemicals in hemp CBD is the one generating the most interest – it’s an agonist.

So what conditions are the pharmaceutical industry looking to treat with cannabinoids? As mentions above anorexia in AIDS patients (we all had heard of the funny stories about getting the “munchies” after smoking some marijuana, and it’s true). Synthetic cannabinoids have also been approved for use in treating nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. This is not a huge issue in dogs as they deal very well with chemotherapy but it could be used in parvo cases where fluid loss is critical. Cannabinoids are effective in the control of both acute and chronic pain. THC has also been shown to be effective in treating inappetence (a lack of appetite). So these are the areas where CBD manufacturers of pet products are making their most claims – pain control, osteoarthritis, epilepsy and seizure disorders and appetite stimulation.

And more progress is being made. On April 2, 2019 the FDA approved the use of one cannabidiol drug, Epidiolex, to treat seizures in young children from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome two rare kinds of epilepsy. This is hopefully the first of a long list drugs developed from the cannabis plant.

So Why is Progress So Slow and Why Isn’t My Veterinarian Telling Me About CBDs?

This is still a very new industry with lots of issues to work out. Questions like: Where does your hemp come from? China, Eastern Europe or domestically as Chinese sources have high concentrations of heavy metals and pesticides. How is your product manufactured? CBDs are not water soluble so making certain it is bioavailable in the finished product is important. Smaller manufacturers may have poor or no quality control procedures in place, may be unable to test raw product (hemp) for concentration of CBD and THC. The result may be a product with a high degree of variability in the finished product from baTHC to baTHC.

But the biggest hurdle to date arises because marijuana is still a Schedule One drug, like heroine, according to the federal government. That makes it very difficult or almost impossible for researchers to get approval and access to marijuana to conduct research. The Schedule One designation also makes it more difficult to get funding (none from the feds) to conduct research. And even though marijuana is legal in many states it is still illegal for your veterinarian to carry or recommend cannabinoid products as the laws legalizing use in people do not apply to cannabis use in animals.

Yes, I mentioned that most of the CBDs come from hemp, but Congress only approved the use of hemp-based CBDs in December 2018 in the Agriculture Improvement Act, so there hasn’t been much time to conduct research, get it peer reviewed and develop drugs. Things are moving more quickly now, but access to marijuana and hemp have been the biggest hurdles in the past.

While marijuana research will still be slow and very limited because of its Schedule One classification, hemp derived CBD research will start to accelerate. The problem now is the lack of regulation of hemp based CBD products. Although CBD products fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA, the FDA really doesn’t regulate the industry, and that causes a myriad of problems for researchers and veterinarians. The FDA regulates CBD products much like it regulates nutritional supplements (i.e. vitamin C or B). Under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, products for which therapeutic claims (i.e. helps reduce pain caused by osteoarthritis) must be approved by the FDA in order to be legally manufactured and marketed. The FDA approval process is the means by which the safety and efficacy of such products is demonstrated. Companies like ElleVet have done clinical trials BUT they have not received FDA approval for their products, but let’s give credit for serious clinical trials.

It is this lack of FDA approval that causes all sorts of other problems. Because non-FDA approved products cannot make therapeutic claims, the FDA won’t allow CBD producers to make marketing claims (that’s not working well) – which includes recommended doses. Although today some CBD products do have dosing instructions on the label, little is known about what doses are most effective or safe because it is unlikely that any serious clinical trials were conducted and certainly the product has not been FDA approved.

The dosing problem is further exacerbated by the fact that most products are mislabeled. In a 2017 study, Marcel Bonn-Miller, an adjunct assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the university of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, found that nearly 70 percent of the CBD products they analyzed were mislabeled. Some items were “over-labeled,” others “under-labeled,” and still others contained THC in amounts that could make you intoxicated or impaired. A big problem. But keep in mind this study was done on marijuana-based CBD which is now not how CBD pet products are manufactured. The issue is the inaccuracy of the labeling, not the presence of THC. This study was validated when the FDA also did some testing on CBD products and found that label claims rarely maTHCed the actual content. In fact, some products they tested had NO CBD in them at all. This is what the FDA has posted on its site, however, I could not locate the results of the FDA testing. https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm484109.htm

But I did find a site that did report on the FDA testing and here is the link: https://www.newhope.com/botanicals/fda-finds-only-2-24-CBD-products-have-what-they-say- they-have-them The headline says it all: “FDA finds only 2 of 24 CBD products have what they say have in them” although some of the misses were very close.

To overcome this labeling problem manufacturers can go to a third-party laboratory and obtain a “Certificate of Analysis” which checks for contaminants such as heavy metals. This is important because both China and Eastern Europe are providing raw product (hemp) to manufacturers and much of those products contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The sourcing problem should soon be eliminated as hemp production is increasing rapidly in the USA, especially in Oregon(500 acres in 2016 and 7,808 acres in 2018 and still growing). If the company you are buying your pet products from don’t have a Certificate of Analysis on their web site find a company that does.

Although I’m placing all of the responsibility on the manufacturers they too have issues with raw product – hemp. In particular manufacturers are having difficult creating “clinically reproducible standards” because there’s so much variation with the quality and strength of ingredients (hemp). Here in Central Oregon numerous farmers have now just swiTHCed to hemp production but they are just learning how to best grow and harvest this new crop. They do not have a track record of production yet which may lead to variability in quality and consistency but it is likely this issue will be resolved soon with good old American “know-how.”

Currently dosing really is a problem as even the researchers don’t know how much CBD to give a dog in order to reach a therapeutic dose that achieves the desired effect that is also safe. For example, Dr. McGrath’s is now nearly doubling the dose in her second trial. In her first trial she used a dose of 2.5mg per kilogram administered twice daily. So, if you are using a CBD product start low and increase gradually.

So why doesn’t your veterinarian recommend CBD for your dog? Well first they are not allowed to, and second let me restate the numerous reasons why they are not prepared to do so:

• Not one scientifically reviewed research paper on the use of CBD in dogs or cats.

• No idea of the therapeutic dosage required for any illness.

• No certainty in the quality and efficacy of the products on the market.

• No idea what conditions/illnesses that can be treated with CBD.

• Uncertainty regarding both labeling (is it reliable) and dosage (is it accurate) to obtain a therapeutic dose that is both effective and safe.

• While some studies state that CBDs are harmless to pets (Dr. McGrath study showed CBD cause no harm) there are no scientific papers or research clearly stating that CBDs have no long-term serious side effects (note Dr. Wahshlag’s call for such research in his paper) and if so at what dosage/duration of treatment.

Side Effects – Pharmacokinetics 101

As mentioned above it is believed that hemp derived CBD is safe in pets – according to a study by Dr. Stephanie McGrath at Colorado State University of Veterinary Medicine. Besides Dr. McGrath’s study there is only one study that actually looks at the pharmacokinetic impact of CBD on dogs. This is the study performed by Dr. Joseph Wakshlag at Cornell University. This study showed that CBD is very bioavailable (the ability of a drug to have an active effect), eliminated from the body in approximately 3.8-6.8 hours (for a half-life of 4.2 hours) with no observable side effects. The short half-life is a positive as this means that the drug leaves the body quickly as it is quickly metabolized by the liver. The study showed that there was a slight increase in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels but the increases were still within normal levels. However, the study does recommend that “it may be prudent to monitor liver enzyme values (especially ALP) while dogs are receiving industrial hemp products until controlled long- term safety studies are published.” The study also gives us some clues as to the best products to use: “When examining prior oral CBD bioavailability, it was determined to be low and highly variable (0-19% of dose) with three dogs showing no absorption. This may be due to first pass effect in the liver, and the product as not in an oil base, but a powder within a gelatin capsule being a different delivery vehicle.” As noted earlier in this paper oil is the best delivery system as it provides the most bioavailability, which is what you need for a drug to be effective. As Dr. Wakshlag concludes in his paper, this was a short-term (4 weeks only) study with no observable side effects (at the 2 and 8mg/kg dosing), but “further long-term studies with larger populations are needed to identify long-term effects of CBD rich industrial hemp treatment, however short- term effects appear to be positive.” Here is a link to Dr. Wakshlag’s study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6065210/#__ffn_sectitle

In a nutshell hemp derived CBD appears to be safe in the short-term but long-term studies need to be done to determine the long-term effects of CBD usage. So, if you are using CBD have your dog’s liver enzymes checked two weeks after starting (we do this with all dogs when they are first put on NASAIDS).

What’s Next?

For our pets there are lots of new products and new claims, but very little, if any, scientific proof. Sadly the status quo of buyer’s beware will continue. Our hope lies in the research being done on the human side on a number of fronts.

In a story in the Washington Post by Steven Petrow he states that, “Ziva Cooper, an associate professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, who is doing research with CBD, says “based on animal studies, there seems to be a lot of promise for a number of disease states,” including its potential effects on inflammation...autoimmune disorders and addiction.” Cannabinoids’ effects are also being studied on the following conditions in people:

• Cancer – malignant tissues tend to express higher number of cannabinoid receptors than nonmalignant tumors and binding to those receptors can trigger cancer cell death.

• Nausea and vomiting – as mentioned previously synthetic cannabinoids are already approved to treat these issues in patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Pain – cannabinoids are effective in the control of both acute and chronic pain – ergo the Cornell study by Dr. Wakshlag to confirm these results in dogs.

• Inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and infection with methicillin- resistant staphylococcus aureus.

So, there’s lots going on and the results of those studies will undoubtedly result in products being marketed as solving the same problems in our pets, likely without animal studies to affirm the results achieved in human studies.

Summary and Tips

• Because the accuracy of labeling is an issue, make sure your manufacturer has a “Certificate of Analysis” performed by a third-party laboratory.

• Oils are safer than edibles (and likely more bioavailable) because you have more control over dosage (edibles have the oil dissolved in butter so it may not be spread evenly in the product). Add the appropriate number of drops to your pet’s food to ensure that it is eaten immediately.

• Be patient, not all effects will be seen immediately, such as relief from chronic pain. Start with a low dose and increase gradually. If you still aren’t seeing results you may need to change products (the CBD levels listed may not be accurate). Have your veterinarian check your dog’s liver enzymes two weeks after starting treatment.

• Use hemp-based CBD as it has much lower levels of THC, which can impact your dog significantly.

• Oils are more bioavailable than powders so stay away from powder products.

• Oils and treats should be kept at room temperature sway from bright light or sunlight as cannabinoids are susceptible to degradation. If the oil has changed color, discard.

I hope this helps all pet owners looking to use CBD for their pet’s ailments. If you are using CBDs please tell me your story so we can use it to help other pet owners with the same condition.

News Story: Lilies and Cats can be a Deadly Combination

2019-04-11

ASPCA Poisonous Plants List

Vet says certain lilies cause kidney failures in our feline friends

By:

Jessica Fuller

TRI-CITIES, TENN. (WJHL) - As April showers make way to May flowers, veterinarians caution that not all plants are safe for our furry friends.

Dr. Rachel Fogg, a veterinarian at Robinson Animal Hospital, said it's best to keep true lilies and daylilies out of a home with cats as they are known to cause kidney failure for feline companions.

"Any portion of that flower is toxic to cats - the flower part, the stem, the leaves, even the pollen can cause kidney failure," Fogg said. "If cats ingest any part of it, even one leaf, even licking pollen off of their fur or drinking some water that had the pollen in it, can cause acute or sudden renal failure in cats."

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the toxin that causes kidney failure in cats has yet to be identified, but Fogg said the discovery of the correlation is rather recent.

Signs of kidney failure in cats include increased urination, increased thirst, hiding, decreased appetite, vomiting and lethargy within the first 24 hours of ingesting the lily.

Fogg said cats who have been poisoned by lilies may begin acting normally after the first 24 hours, but that's when the kidney failure has begun to set in. The FDA says fatal kidney failure can set in three days after the plant is ingested.

"If you have any thought that your cat ate any part of a lily, you should really bring it to your vet ideally within 12 hours, if not 18," Fogg said. "The sooner you bring your cat into the clinic, the sooner we can start giving it medications to try to and rescue that kidney function."

Story continues after chart.

Dangerous lilies for cats
Common name*	Description**
Asiatic lily (including hybrids)	Blooms in early-mid summer, range of colors, 4-6 inch wide blossoms
Daylily	Most bloom in "clumps," blooms last for 24 hours, various colors and patterns
Easter lily	White, fragrant, large trumpet-shaped blossoms, blooms early to mid-summer
Japanese Show lily	Fragrant, nodding blooms up to 6 in. wide, raspberry petals spotted with crimson, blooms in late summer.
Oriental lily	Blooms late summer into early fall, rich colors, large blooms, intense fragrance.
Rubrum lily	A variant of the Japanese Snow lily
Stargazer lily	A variant of the Japanese Snow lily
Tiger lily	Orange blooms spotted with crimson, blooms in mid to late-summer, a single bulb can produce up to 40 blossoms.
Wood lily	Slightly lemon-scented, canary-yellow blooms with narrow, upright petals about 2-3 in. long, blooms late spring.

*Source: www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalhealthliteracy/ucm206751.htm
**Source: www.gardenia.net, daylilies.org

While lilies aren't the only poisonous houseplant for cats, it is one of the most serious, Fogg said. Lilies may cause an upset stomach or vomiting in dogs, but Fogg said it doesn't cause organ failure like it does in cats.

She said she's already treated a few cats poisoned by lilies this year, and expects several more over the year. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a list of plants that are toxic to dogs and cats.

"My general recommendation for people with cats is don't bring lilies or daylilies into your house period," Fogg said. "Cats are pretty curious creatures by nature and if you bring a house plant into their (home), most of them are going to try to take a nibble of something."

Canine Obesity with John Maddigan

2019-04-09

Canine Obesity How it Happens, When Will I Know, Why Is It Such a Problem, and Simple Solutions

While all of my blog posts are designed to be healthful and impartial and to save pet owners money, some may be seen as controversial – see my blog on dog foods, the timing of spay/neuter and the multiple options for ACL repair – this is NOT one of them. Universally pet owners and veterinarians agree that obesity in canines (and felines) is a major health problem that is getting worse, but is entirely preventable. You are not alone. According to research from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 58% of cats and 53% of dogs in the U.S. were overweight in 2014. Obesity in pets is a growing problem and the repercussions are serious.

Trust me if there is one thing that pet owners can do to save BIG money at their veterinarians - This Is It!!!

How It Happens

Like us, weight gain usually happens slowly and very gradually. Simply put, obesity is the accumulation of excess body fat and because it is so gradual it can be difficult for us owners to notice that our pet has become overweight. In addition, our idea of a “normal” weight has changed for both us and our pets. The attached guide below from Nestle Purina provides a great visual example of the “Body Condition System” for dogs. While most owners believe their dog is too thin, the reality is quite the opposite. The Purina “Body Condition System” chart shows that the “Ideal” weight means that your dog’s ribs are (easily) palpable without excess fat covering – which means when you run your hands over your dog’s ribs you should be able to feel them easily. Most of us dog owners would think that if that was the case our dog would be too thin, BUT we would be incorrect. In fact, dogs are considered to be overweight when they are 10-20% above their ideal weight and obese if they are 20% or more above their ideal body weight.

This happens because many of us dog owners equate food with love. For me it’s not extra food in the dog bowl but extra treats during the day. Fortunately, my wife (the veterinarian in the family) exercises all of the dogs so obesity isn’t a problem, but easily could be as I AM overfeeding.

Weight gain can be attributable to three factors:

Metabolism
Lack of Exercise
Overfeeding.

As pet owners there is nothing we can do about Metabolism, but we are solely responsible for Exercise and Feeding.

Some breeds are more susceptible to weight gain than others – here is a link to the Banfield Pet Hospital report on Pet Obesity, it has some cool interactive features especially on snacks and calories https://www.banfield.com/state-of-pet-health/obesity – and all pet owners should know that having their pet sterilized also contributes to the slowing of that pet’s metabolism. Simply put, sterilized pets require less food to maintain a healthy weight. Pet owners should also be aware that in many cases the recommended daily feeding guide on most pet food bags or cans are for unaltered pets, so if your pet (cat or dog) is spayed or neutered, feed 25% less than recommended by the manufacturer as a starting point. Our veterinarians recommend feeding by body condition – can you feel the ribs easily, does your dog have a “waist,” is his belly “tucked-up” underneath as it joins the hind end? If any of these are a “no”, feed less. (see Purina study below). Note that this is NOT always the case and here is the link to an article that details how tricky it can be to ensure that your pet stays at ideal weight while getting all of the nutrients recommended on a daily basis (https://truthaboutpetfood.com/pet-food-feeding-recommendations-concerns/). I am NOT endorsing the editorial content of this site only THIS article. Every site on the internet has an agenda so be aware of that.

If you bring your pet to your veterinarian regularly for a weight-in ask about obesity and the problems it can cause. But if that is not possible, always remember that nothing is more important than exercise (a daily walk is good for both us and our dog) and the appropriate feeding of a balanced diet.

When Will I Know my Dog is Overweight?

Likely when it’s too late – when your dog is already obese, or at least overweight. If you don’t weigh your dog regularly (and you don’t notice that layer of fat over the ribs) you likely have been normalized to the weight gain. Sadly, as the weights of both pets and humans have increased our perception of “normal” has also evolved. A CDC study released in 2015 showed that between 1960 and 2010 the average American woman went from 140 lbs to 166.2lbs and in the same time period the average American man put on an average of 29.2 pounds, going from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 195.2 pounds in 2010. So, it’s not just a “normalizing” of weight gain with our pets, it is also a normalizing of our own weight gain (see chart at the end of this article).

So, unless we weigh our dogs regularly or have our veterinarian tell us our dog is overweight how will we know? Here are a few obvious signs to indicate that your dog may be obese or at least overweight:

• Exercise intolerance, decreased stamina (just can’t chase the ball like they could)

• Respiratory compromise (breathing difficulty)

• Heat intolerance (this can be a serious and sometimes fatal problem)

So Why is Obesity a Problem?

As with humans, dogs carrying extra weight place extra demands on virtually all of their organs, and when these organs are overloaded disease and even death are the consequences. I will briefly discuss the most common consequences of obesity in dogs but this is, by no means, the definitive list of consequences. These are the complications we see most often at our practice.

Damage to joints, bones, and ligaments

As one might expect extra weight puts extra stress on a dog’s joints. This can cause the cartilage in the joints to deteriorate, which leads to osteoarthritis(OA). It is believed that approximately 25% of overweight dogs develop serious joint complications. The risk of OA goes up with age as well as with increasing bone structure size, so the older and bigger the dog, the more likely it is to suffer from the inflammation and pain of OA. Unfortunately, dogs that are overweight or obese traumatize their joints over a very long period before we can see clinical evidence of the damage. It takes years of joint damage for changes from OA to show up on an X-ray. The end result is a visit to the veterinarian (me) and the transfer of money from you to me!! You will now likely need to buy pain medications from me for your dog (more transfer of money from you to me) but the best thing to do is have your dog lose weight.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture

While there can be many causes of ACL rupture, too much weight is a well-known risk factor for tearing the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). If this happens you will be visiting me again and you know the story – the transfer of more money from you to me!!

Diabetes Mellitus (sugar diabetes)

As you know obesity in people is a leading cause of Type II diabetes and obesity is a well-known risk factor for diabetes mellitus in dogs. Obesity causes an increase in the secretion of insulin in response to the increase blood glucose level in the overweight dog. Insulin is also more in demand simply because there is a greater amount of tissue in an overweight dog. When requirements for insulin exceed the ability of the body to produce insulin, diabetes mellitus develops. If this happens you will be visiting me again, this time for insulin for your dog and you know the story, more money to me!! The real problem here is that controlling diabetes can sometimes be trick in dogs and very difficult in cats. This can be exacerbated by the shortage of insulin and the unstable pricing that results.

As mentioned previously extra weight can put extra demands on all organs and these extra demands can result in numerous, albeit less commons problems such as: heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), liver disease or dysfunction and increased risks of developing malignant tumors (cancer). Other, less common problems are collapsing trachea and laryngeal paralysis, which if left untreated could lead to respiratory crisis that could be fatal. Not surprisingly these factors can lead to increased surgical and anesthesia risk. This risk should not be overlooked as obese dogs, as mentioned previously, are at higher risk for ruptured cruciate ligament which require surgical intervention to repair.

The other major side effect of obesity is a shorter lifespan. A seminal study conducted by Nestle Purina in 2002 showed that feeding dogs a restricted diet extended their life span by 15%.

Attached is a brief summary of the study put out by Purina:

Purina® conducted the first-ever canine lifetime diet restriction study and showed that dogs maintained in lean body condition throughout their lives can extend their medial life span by 15 percent – 1.8 years – for the Labrador Retrievers in the study. Our veterinary nutritionist will explain what this means when it comes to feeding your own dog. “We all know that obesity, whether in humans or canines, is generally bad for health," says Dennis Lawler, PURINA scientist and lead study investigator. "What's exciting about this study is that, for the first time in a large mammal, we have shown scientifically that by simply feeding to maintain ideal body condition throughout a dog's life, we can increase the length of life while delaying the visible signs of aging. That's powerful stuff."

The 14-year study, which was started when the dogs were 8-weeks old, compared 48 Labrador Retrievers. Dogs were assigned to a control or lean-fed group. All the dogs ate the same 100 percent nutritionally complete and balanced diets for the entire study. The control group was allowed to eat an unlimited amount of food during the 15-minute daily feedings. Dogs in the lean-fed group were fed 25 percent less than the amount eaten by their littermates. Median life span was increased by 1.8 years, or 15 percent, in the lean-fed dogs compared to the control dogs. Median life span – the age at which 50 percent of the dogs in the group had died – was 11.2 years in the control group, compared to 13.0 years in the lean-fed group. The study showed that the lean-fed dogs maintained a significantly leaner body condition from six to 12 years of age than the control group dogs. On average, the lean-fed group weighed less, had lower body fat, and after a certain age, experienced a two-year delay in the loss of lean body mass as they aged, as compared to the control group dogs. “In addition, according to observations of the researchers, the control dogs exhibited more visible signs of aging, such as greying muzzles, impaired gaits and reduced activity, at an earlier age than the lean-fed dogs."

So, reduce your dog’s caloric intake by 25% and increase lifespan by 15%! Remarkable really, and thanks to Purina’s 14-year study we have scientific proof that a restricted diet does result in a longer lifespan. In addition to an increased lifespan your dog will suffer fewer of the ailments listed above, resulting in a much better quality of life for both you and your dog.

Simple Solutions?

Always remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. My best advice is don’t let your pet become obese as it easier to prevent obesity than it is to reverse it. There are many diets to help reduce weight but a slightly reduced amount of food each day, no treats or human food and a regular routine of walking and exercise will get the job done in time. Some experts recommend a slightly less palatable food to help with weight loss. While some pet owners may believe this is cruel, it is not. If I only ate what I loved - burgers, fries and milkshakes - I’d have a serious weight problem as well. But my wife makes me eat brussel sprouts regularly, not my favorite by a long shot, but important for a balanced diet. Once an ideal weight has been reestablished you can return to a more palatable food.

I hope you find this article helpful. If you have any suggestions or questions please write me at info@plateauveterinary.net

- John Maddigan