First aid tips for pet owners

What would you do if

...your dog ate the bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips that was left out on the kitchen counter?

...your cat had a seizure right in front of you?

...your dog fell down the stairs and started limping?

...your cat was overheating on a hot summer day?

To avoid the feelings of panic that may accompany these situations, we recommend the following steps to better prepare you for a pet medical emergency. The following links summarize the basics you need for giving first aid care to your pet.

Always remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet's life until it receives veterinary treatment.

First aid supplies
Our handy checklist tells you all the supplies you should have on hand for pet first aid. Print out a copy to use for shopping, and keep a copy on your refrigerator or next to the first aid kit for your family, for quick reference in emergencies.
How to handle an injured pet
Knowing how to comfort an injured pet can help minimize your pet's anxiety and also protect you and your family from injury.
Basic pet first aid procedures
Read our simple instructions for providing emergency first aid if your pet is suffering from poisoning, seizures, broken bones, bleeding, burns, shock, heatstroke, choking or other urgent medical problems. Print out a copy to keep with your pet emergency kit.
First aid when traveling with your pet
A few simple steps can better prepare you to help your pet in first aid situations while you are traveling. Remember: pet medical emergencies don't just happen at home.
Pets and disasters
Whether confronted by natural disasters such as hurricanes, or unexpected catastrophes such as a house fire, you need to be prepared to take care of your animals. A pre-determined disaster plan will help you remain calm and think clearly.
Additional pet first aid links

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)/Healthy Pet: Pet First Aid
• The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Basic First Aid for Your Pet
• American Red Cross: First Aid for Pets
• VeterinaryPartner.com: First Aid and Emergency Care

Parvovirus Infection in Dogs

What is Parvo?
Parvo is a common and potentially serious viral disease in dogs. The virus is officially known Parvovirus. The disease caused by this virus is commonly referred to as Parvo. The virus first appeared clinically in 1978, and there was a widespread epidemic in dogs of all ages. Since no dogs had been exposed or vaccinated (the vaccine didn't exist at the time), dogs of all ages died from the infection. The virus can "adapt" over time, and other strains of the virus have appeared since then, but properly administered vaccinations are the best protection. Canine Parvovirus is thought to be a mutation from the feline Parvovirus, also known as Feline Distemper virus.

What are the signs seen with Parvovirus infection?
There are three main manifestations of Parvovirus infection:

1. Asymptomatic - No signs seen. Common in dogs over 1 year old and vaccinated dogs.
2. Cardiac - This form of the disease is much less common than the intestinal form due to widespread vaccination. Severe inflammation and necrosis (cell death), of the heart muscle causes breathing difficulty and death in very young (less than 8 weeks of age) puppies. Older dogs that survive this form have scarring in the heart muscle.
3. Intestinal - This virus causes extreme damage to the intestinal tract, causing sloughing of the cells that line the tract. This can leave the patient open to secondary bacterial infection. Most of the affected dogs (85%) are less than one year old and between 6-20 weeks old -- before the full set of vaccinations can be given. The death rate from infection is reported to be 16-35% in this age group.*

The intestinal signs include:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea - usually bloody, and very foul-smelling (a characteristic odor, particular to Parvovirus infection)
• Intussusception - when a section of the inflamed intestinal tract telescopes into itself. This is an emergency.
• Fever

The onset of clinical signs is usually sudden, often 12 hours or less. The incubation from exposure to seeing the clinical signs varies from 3 to 10 days.

How is Parvovirus infection diagnosed?
This disease is diagnosed by physical examination, signalment (age, vaccination status, breed, etc.), and a fecal Parvo (ELISA) test. Additional diagnostics include blood work and radiographs. Dogs infected with Parvo typically have a low white count. Radiographs help rule out other potential causes for vomiting and diarrhea.  


[Source:  http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/tp/Parvo.htm]

My senior cat has become a sloppy eater - why?

Question: My senior cat has become a sloppy eater - why?

From the Veterinary Medicine Forum:
MARKEMERSON asks: "We have an 18 year old cat that has recently developed an unusual behavior after eating which is becoming a problem. After he finishes eating, he will sit up, tilt his head to the side, and work his jaws and tongue as if he is trying to dislodge a piece of food caught in his teeth. He’ll continue this for about a minute or so, leaving big drops of saliva and food on the floor around his bowl. Any suggestions?"

Answer: My first thought would be to check the teeth of your senior cat. There may be a loose tooth (diseased) that is getting dislodged out of socket causing discomfort. Food may also be getting under the tooth, furthering the amount of displacement.

  As cats age, they often lose teeth to gum disease, resorption, and tooth injury. Sometimes the tooth is never found, and sometimes teeth are removed during a dental cleaning when your veterinarian elects to remove diseased teeth.

Signs of tooth trouble vary with the patient, but may include: excessive drooling, bad breath, "chattering" teeth, blood-tinged saliva, and reluctance to eat.

Sometimes the teeth and gums aren't the primary problem. Oral tumors (i.e. squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma) can cause obstruction to swallowing, leading to drooling or reluctance/inability to swallow and eat. They can also become infected; leading to bad breath, drooling and pain.

Anytime an animal has trouble eating, weight loss and poor nutrition are very real possibilities, and very young and very old animals can debilitate very quickly.

Bottom line: any time your pet exhibits a new behavior or medical problem, it is best to have it checked out with your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

[Source:  http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/f/FAQ_oldcateat.htm]

Tips For Recognizing Dental Disease In Dogs And Cats

Dogs and cats may express dental pain and disease in many ways. Below are a list of common signs and behaviors seen with diseases of the teeth and gums. Dental disease is not simply suffering from "bad breath" -- infections of the gums, teeth, and oral cavity can spread via the bloodstream to the heart and liver, possibly causing additional health problems.


Diseased teeth and gums are also often painful and may limit your pet's appetite because it is too painful to eat. These tips are signs to watch for in your pet.

Please note: any time your pet is not eating, is listless, or just "not himself" (or herself), a visit with your veterinarian is in order.


Your pet may or may not show obvious signs of pain with dental disease. Therefore, it is important to be aware of these possible signs to get your pet the medical attention he or she deserves.

• Malodorous (bad) breath*
• Drooling, often with foul-smelling saliva
• Appearance of dental plaque and tartar
• Reluctance to eat or reduced appetite
• Teeth that "chatter", especially in cats
• Tooth loss (other than normal baby tooth loss of young animals)
• Lethargy or listlessness
• Discolored teeth
• Broken / fractured teeth
• Swelling and / or draining wound below the eye, commonly known as a carnassial tooth abscess, especially in dogs

Regular examinations by your vet and regular brushing at home will help your pet maintain optimal dental health.
* = Contrary to popular opinion, "doggy breath" is not normal.

3 Best Health Tips for Pet Owners

Simple resolutions to keep your pet slim, safe, and happy

1. I WILL NOT FEED MY DOG OR CAT TABLE SCRAPS.

Studies show your pet will live a longer, healthier life if she's in good shape, yet 40 to 70% of the pet population is overweight or obese. The extra pounds strain your animal's musculoskeletal system, heart, and lungs. To maintain a healthy weight, a cat should be consuming around 200 calories a day, on average, and a large dog needs just 800--but it's impossible to keep track when you give her leftovers from your plate. Just one slice of bacon or an ounce of steak, for example, has about 50 calories--and the high fat content can lead to a host of health issues, including inflammation of the pancreas, vomiting, and diarrhea. To help break the habit, opt for a low-cal pet snack if she begs during dinner, or keep her in another room when you sit down for a meal.

2. WHEN I SAY NO, I'LL MEAN IT.

As hard as it is to reprimand that furry little face, setting rules will make for a better-behaved and happier animal. Owners don't realize they are often to blame for their pets' neuroses--such as jumping up during feeding time or scratching furniture--because they don't consistently discourage the bad behavior. Get your family on the same page when it comes to enforcing rules: For example, make sure everyone gets your dog to sit and stay before you pour his food (and acknowledge when your pet listens with a simple reward, like a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears). If your cat is tearing up your couch or furniture with her claws, be extra firm when you say "no!" (spray her with a water gun for reinforcement, if necessary), and provide a catnip-laced scratching post as an alternative. Be consistent with positive feedback too--when she chooses the post instead of the couch, give her a treat.

3. I WILL TAKE MY PET FOR AN ANNUAL CHECKUP.

My years working as an emergency room veterinarian taught me one important lesson: If owners brought their animals in for more regular exams and did so sooner, they would not only avoid many expensive visits to the emergency clinic but also save their pets from needless suffering. Chronic kidney failure, hyper-thyroidism, and diabetes are three common conditions all marked by symptoms that are easy to dismiss but quickly noted by vets, such as excessive drinking, urinating and weight loss. Waiting until a pet's symptoms are noticeable or unbearable often makes them difficult or impossible to treat. A simple checkup and routine blood work could prevent many fatal cases. Your pet should also see the veterinarian twice a year for an oral exam--dental disease can lead to deadly organ infections. Remember: The sooner your vet diagnoses and treats potential problems, the better the prognosis.





[Source:  http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/pet-health-tips]

Jennifer Johnson, DVM

Dr. Jennifer Johnson is the newest member of the Scarborough Animal Hospital team, returning to the Northeast after spending the past three years serving as a veterinarian in the U.S. Army. She received a B.S. from Cornell University and her D.V.M. from Michigan State University.

Dr. Johnson enjoys many aspects of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to human health. She is currently working on her Masters in Public Health, focusing on Veterinary Public Health, which helps her to keep both pets healthy, as well as their human owners.

Jennifer currently lives with her dogs and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Catherine Gagner, DVM

Dr. Catherine Gagner moved back to Maine after graduating from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She likes to think of herself as a “Mainer once removed”, due to relatives living in the Portland area. Catherine also has ties to the Southern Maine region as a 1996 graduate of Saint Joseph’s College. 

Dr. Ganger’s outside interests include hiking, fly fishing and fly tying. Accompanying her frequently are her two standard poodles, Dudley and Henry. She is a member of Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers and the Audubon Society.

Her interests include preventative medicine and the study of pathology. Catherine particularly enjoys puppy and kitten visits and establishing lifelong care relationships with her patients and owners.