Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic P.C.

Pyoderma "Hot Spots"

2010-09-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

What are "Hot Spots" and what causes them? Technically this skin problem is called a deep pyoderma or infection of the skin. It can have several causes such as skin trauma from scratching, allergies to seasonal pollens, food allergy, flea allergy, insect stings etc...

Treatment includes treating the underlying disease, skin inflammation and the infection with antibiotics.

These are painful infections. The wounds must be clipped to remove hair that will stick to the wound. Cleansing to remove debris, air to help the wound to "breathe". Preventing them from licking and chewing at the wound is very important so E-Collars may be required to block them from getting to the wound.

It can take up to 3-4 weeks of treatment to heal them and they are susceptible to developing new ones in different areas if the underlying problem is not treated.

Rock Foreign Body

2010-09-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

Dogs that eat Rocks...if they are large enough they don't pass through. Surgery must be performed to remove them.

GDV ("Twisted Stomach") Surgery

2010-09-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

The dreaded twisted stomach surgery in large and giant breed dogs is a life threatening surgery. "Bowser" presented to us for constant vomiting and abdominal pain. His twisted stomach also caused a heart arrhythmia called Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC's) that were treated with i.v. medications. He has a stomach tack procedure where the stomach is sutured permenantly near the right rib cage. This is to hopefull prevent any future stomach roatation should he bloat again. "Bowser" was fortunate and recovered without any complications. This is not always the case.

Shedding Season

2010-08-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year that pets will shed their undercoat. Brushing with a slicker brush or the new Furminator shedding tool will help prevent matted hair, hotspots and keep your home and furniture from collecting furballs. Generalized shedding is a normal process and is usually seasonal. Abnormal hair loss (Alopecia) is usually in patches and baldness where skin exposure results.

Welcome Dr. Hanson!

2010-08-09T19:50:00.001-07:00

Dr. Nicole Hanson is from Madrid, Nebraska. She attended UNL and has a bachelors degree in Veterinary Science. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2010. She is a caring and hard working doctor and has special interests in Internal Medicine, Surgery and Feline Medicine. Welcome to our team Dr. Hanson!

Iams Pet Food Recall - Salmonella

2010-08-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

Visit the following link for more information on specific diets being recalled...

http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_root/html/recall_message.html

Dental Care Products

2010-06-02T19:48:00.001-07:00

Products we recommend for brushing, oral rinse for bacterial control and treats to help remove stubborn tartar from back teeth. Please call or stop by so that we can help you choose the right method for your pet!

Heartworm, Flea and Tick Season is Here!!

2010-04-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Its warming up outside which means the bugs are back. Ticks are already present as well a fleas. Get ahead of the infestations by applying products now. Frontline Plus and Heartgard will offer the best protection. These medications are dosed base on weight and heartworm tests annually are recommended so visit us today or go to our website store at cottonwoodveterinaryclinic.com and enter Pet Portals to shop!

Doggie Duvets!!! Go Green!!

2009-12-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

New Product...Just In! Doggie Duvets that are earth friendly! High quality designer fabrics with heavy duty zipper on one end. You fill the duvet with old t-shirts, sweatshirts or pillows. Prevent old clothes from going to the landfill and create a fashion forward bed for your pet. Easy to remove clothes and wash the stuffing and cover in a regular sized washer. Available in 3 sizes. Cassie LOVES hers!!! Come in to CVC to order yours today!

Fractured Teeth!!

2009-11-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

November was one of our two dental education months in 2009. Here are some examples of fractured canine teeth that sometimes are discovered when performing a dental prophy package...canine tooth fracture and a slab fracture of the upper P4 molar. OUCH!!!

Cruciate Repair Options at CVC for Large Dogs

2009-07-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Chesapeke with bilateral CCL Disease

2009-07-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

This guy had a lot of problems with his surgical repairs and rear limb and hip conformation. He had surgery at both University of Tennessee and University of NC on both stifles multiple times. The owner brings him in 1-2 times a week still because of the benefits of water treadmill and swimming to keep him strong and to keep weight off him long term so he has less of a chance for osteoarthritis to develop later in life.

More Rehabilitation...

2009-07-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

University of Tennessee - CVM - Canine Rehab

2009-07-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

We had to learn the NMES procedure on ourselves so that we would understand what the dog would feel and how to adjust the settings properly for different treatments.

Some of the other modalities for pain and recovery that were taught at the course:

Theraputic Ultrasound
Theraputic Laser
TENS
Theraputic Active and Passive Exercise
Extra Corpreal Shock Wave
Underwater Treadmill
Swimming
Massage for edema and pain
Proprioception Exercise
Strength and Range of Motion Exercise
Cryotherapy and Thermal techniques

University of Tennessee - CVM - Canine Rehab

2009-07-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

University of Tennessee - CVM - Canine Rehab

2009-07-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Dr. Cederberg took a long awaited opportunity to attend a two week canine physical therapy course at the University of Tennessee CVM. The program is the preliminary steps in a certification program to train and educate in the area of canine physical rehabilitation. The course covers all aspects of rehab including post-operative and post- trauma care, debilitating arthritis, neurologic injury or condition recovery and obesity.

EPA Flea and Tick Product Watch

2009-06-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

If you have heard any alerts about problems with flea and tick products lately in the news...please check out this EPA link:

www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/flea-tick-control.html

Please know that all veterinarians recommend flea and tick products carefully for each individual pet and parasite situation. Careless use of these products on sick, neonatal or geriatric pets that are debilitated is not recommended. If you use flea and tick products based on the recommendations of your veterinarian, they should be available for any adverse reactions or problems you may have. You do not have this accountability with over the counter products sold at farm stores or grocery stores.

If you choose to use over the counter products, please read label directions and do not use them on sick or debilitated or underweight pets and follow any age and species recommendations. Also keep the package and bring your pet and the package to the vet if your pet experiences any adverse reactions. Any adverse reactions should be reported to the company that makes the product.

Reactions can include:

skin irritation
seizures and/or death

The EPA monitors and regulates any and all pesticides including the ones manufactured for pet flea and tick control. Please educate yourself and use caution with any flea and tick product.
Cats can be particularly sensitive to these products, especially those containing permethrins or pyrethrins.

Flea and Tick Season is Here!!

2009-04-26T22:05:00.001-07:00

Fleas and Ticks are out again, since the weather has warmed up enough for the little critters to come to life. Protect your pet and your family from exposure to these parasites with Frontline Plus. We recommend Frontline Plus as a guaranteed and very safe product for both dogs and cats. Frontline Plus is a product that has both an Adulticide and Insect Growth Regulator for fleas. It also kills any ticks that attach to your pet with overall body distribution.

If pets are neonates or debilitated, any flea and tick product should be used with caution and under the direction of your veterinarian. If you have applied Frontline properly and are still seeing fleas or ticks please contact our office medical staff for product information and home/yard treatment options.

Remember ticks have to be alive and attached to the pet for over 48 hours to transmit diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever to your pet. So... by using tick preventative such as Frontline result in tick death ... dead ticks dont transmit disease!! Other tips for the long haired pet...getting them trimmed shorter in the summer aids in keeping them clean, helps them shed out the dead winter coat and also makes it easier to find and rid them of fleas and ticks.

Flea and Tick Facts:

There are some ticks that can leave your pet and infest your home.

Fleas only live a small percentage of their adult life on the pet to feed and lay their eggs in the fur, the rest of the time they are in your carpet and furniture.

Some ticks are so small they are very difficult to see with the human eye.

Sometimes you need to treat not only the affected pet, but all pets in the house and the environment in order to get rid of an infestation.
Store preventatives are not the same chemical as Frontline. They are usually Permethrins or Pyrethrins. They can sometimes be effective but may not last as long or prove to be as safe, especially in cats.

Gastric Dilitation and Volvulus (AKA "Twisted Gut")

2009-04-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Gastric dilatation (or stomach distension) and volvulus (or twisting) is a deadly, fast moving emergency seen in large, deep-chested dogs. Some breeds prone to this emergency include Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Pyrenean mountain dog, Greyhound, Irish wolfhound, Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Scottish deerhound, and Whippet. Some veterinary surgeons also add in Weimaraner, Rottweiler, Gordon Setter, and Irish Setter. Not every individual within these breeds and dogs of another breed will encounter this. There is a great summary of this deadly disease at: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=672.

The stomach fills up with gas causing it to become very enlarged and prone to twist. Once the stomach twists, vital blood vessels within the abdomen are strangulated causing an immediate cardiovascular crisis. The strangled vessels can send the dog into shock initially and if he/she survives this, the tissue begin to die from a lack of blood supply. Most owners never see this coming, but simply find their beloved pet weak, painful, unresponsive, and possibly with an enlarged belly. These signs constitute an immediate veterinary emergency. Time is now of the essence as the longer the vessels are twisted, the less chance of survival.

Upon arrival to your veterinarian he/she will take several vital steps. First, they will exam your pet and perform any necessary diagnostics. Radiographs (xrays) are the diagnostic test of choice. Above is a classic radiograph of a 18 month old Weimaraner that was described as unresponsive and weak for only 30 minutes prior to arrival. The stomach is twisted back on itself with severe gas distension and distension of multiple loops of intestines.

Once a diagnosis of GDV is made (and most likely during the testing), the pet is stabilized with IV fluids to prevent/treat shock and the stomach is decompressed to release as much gas as necessary. However, to repair the twist and attempt to prevent future emergencies an emergency surgery is necessary. GDV surgeries are very risky, with mortality rates ranging from 25-35% before, during or after surgery. However, that provides a better chance than no surgery at all, since decompression alone has ~75% chance of recurrence and mortality, while no treatment reaches ~100% mortality. GDV surgery includes untwisting the stomach, assessing the vital organs for damage sustained, and attaching the stomach to the body wall (gastropexy) to prevent rotation again.

Preventative gastropexy is recommended by some in high risk breeds to prevent this emergency before it starts. In any case, remember that if your pet exhibits the above clinical signs and is one of the high risk breeds, do not hesitate to get them in as every second counts!

Is this a good hip???

2009-03-29T12:43:00.001-07:00

Yikes!! If you didn't know the history on this little pup you would think he must have had some form of trauma and dislocated his hip. Unfortunately, both of his hips look like this, they are both dysplastic. He is a small breed dog about 10-12 pounds and around one year of age. He presented for dislocating knee caps (patellar luxation) and in the preliminary xrays for knee surgery we always evaluate the hip/knee alignment. Good thing, because we had no idea this little guy had "floating" hips. If he develops pain as he gets older, he is too small for a conventional total hip joint replacement and he will get an FHO (Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy) to alleviate any discomfort. This owner is potentially anticipating 4 orthopedic surgeries in this little guy, both hips and both knees. What an investment! It is always sad to give owners this type of news and shows us that good breeding is best for the pet and the owner.

Good Hip, Bad Hip

2009-03-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Can you tell the difference between these two hip radiographs? Hip Dysplasia is a devastating disease for many dogs. Hips can be degenerative as early as age 1 to 2 years of age. The way to evaluate for this disease is done by taking survey radiographs (x-rays) in a specific position. Breeding dogs should be screened for this disease prior to breeding, if either potential parent is dysplastic they should not be bred, no exceptions. However, occasionally two normal adult dogs may still have puppies with dysplasia, but it is much less likely. Dogs that are diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia have options for surgery or medical treatment. If the problem is detected prior to 8-10 months of age a surgery called a TPO (Triple Pelvic Osteotomy) can be performed to improve the joint conformation so that arthritis does not set in. If the dog is over 10-12 months, or if degeneration is already present they may be managed medically for a while and tend to do better if not overweight. Later they may be a candidate for a THR (Total Hip Replacement). The cost of these surgeries are ranging from $1,800.00 to $4,500.00. If left untreated the hip typically begins to separate from the joint socket and causes pain, stiffness and the inability to get up from a sitting or laying position. Late in the disease we occasionally see dogs that cannot even get up anymore or when walking their hips dislocate and they fall. Eventually there may be a genetic marker for this disease which would help us try to eliminate dysplasia and other genetic diseases from the dog population with a blood test. High risk breeds are large and giant breed dogs. (St. Bernards, Great Danes, Mastiff, Labradors etc...) OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) is an organization that screens and certifies hips, elbows, eyes, cardiac disease and other specific genetic conditions in many breeds. You can visit their website for more information at www.offa.org

March is Spay / Neuter Month!

2009-03-08T22:17:00.001-07:00

Please do your part to control the pet population. By spaying and neutering your pet you are also preventing multiple health issues later in their life. Uterine infection, reproductive cancers, prostate issues and other types of cancers are eliminated from their future. Also an altered pet is more likely to have less behavioral issues if done early in life.

February is Dental Month!!

2009-01-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

Come into CVC in the month of February and get your pet a FREE Dental Screening! Visit our homepage and download/print our dental brochure (look under clinic forms tab) to see what level your pets oral health scores. We do our best to determine the degree of dental disease with this oral examination, however we may not know the extent of periodontal and tooth root disease until we probe these pockets under general sedation. Chances are if you pet is over 3 years of age, and you do not provide them weekly oral care prevention (brushing, oral treats etc...) they will most likely benefit from a professional dental cleaning.

Dental Disease Prevention

2009-01-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Dental disease can be prevented by routine dental cleanings and home care of your pets teeth. Watch this video to observe a dental cleaning on a dog using ultrasonic scaling technique. The tartar being removed is about 80-90% bacteria...YUCK! This accounts for the smelly breath and most importantly getting rid of it below and above the gumline allows the teeth and bone to stay connected. If the gums get sick from the bacteria, they lose their attachment to the teeth. Then oral health declines. The bacteria in the mouth doesn't stay there, unfortunately it can transfer into their blood and go to important organs like the liver, kidneys and heart. It is proven that pets that have healthy mouths and teeth live longer, and this makes sense!!! As soon as your pet gets a professional cleaning, it is vital to maintain their oral health like you would yourselves and brush, use oral treats and/or mouth rinses weekly if not daily. See our website front page (clinic forms) to download our dental brochure (pdf) for more tips on dental care and pet dental association approved products.

Cranial Cruciate Tear - Canine

2009-01-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

Cranial Cruciate Tear is a common injury in the dog. In the veterinary world however, it is sometimes referred to as a "syndrome". There are several predisposing factors leading to a cruciate (ACL) tear...tibial slope, obesity, inflammation and the physics of the cranial tibial thrust that finally results in a tear. There have been many types of surgical repair methods attempted (and in development) over the last several years. There is still some controversy with impressions of success and recovery times, even with the newest methods such as TPLO, TTA, and Lateral Suture Technique. The most common technique in general practice is the Lateral Suture Technique. All surgical techniques have potential complications, some more severe than others.

The meniscus tear can also be a problem that occurs at the same time or after the ACL tear has occurred. As the stifle joint moves out of position the meniscus (two "C" shaped cushions attached to the tibia inside the joint) become pinched and shearing forces can tear the edges. This tearing and "pinching" of the meniscus can cause inflammation and pain. If a tear is present at the time of surgery, it should be trimmed away. It is not advised to suture these tears to attempt to repair the tissue because they lack blood supply and do not heal well. Occasionally, a judgement call is made to perform a meniscal release where the meniscus on the medial caudal side (the back inside meniscus) is "released" by making an incision to allow it to move a little so that it will not tear later with regular use of the knee. Sometimes if a steady recovery suddenly becomes painful later, a new tear may have occurred resulting in a second surgery to remove the new tear.

Unfortunately, sometimes up to 50% of the dogs that suffer a tear in one stifle will have the other one tear within up to 1 year after the first surgery. Thus, requiring surgery to be performed on the other stifle.

Chocolate Toxicity

2008-12-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

We always see chocolate toxicity this time of year, because a lot of chocolate gifts are placed under the Christmas tree where dogs sniff it out. You should always call the emergency vet on call to ask them what to do if your dog eats chocolate. We can calculate the toxic amount if we have the amount and type they ate and the weight of your dog. There are a lot of variables with chocolate ingestion in dogs. The level of toxicity depends upon how much they eat, how much the dog weighs and what type of chocolate they ate. Dark chocolate is the most toxic. The toxic ingredient in chocolate is Theobromine. Quantity is important...the more they eat the worse the symptoms can be. Symptoms include: vomiting and hyperactivity, difficulty walking...then elevated heart rate, seizures and possibly death. There is no specific antidote but if your dog recently ate the chocolate within the last 2 hours and if it is determined that a toxic level was ingested, inducing vomiting will be the first course of action. We must then monitor them for the progressive symptoms. If signs develop then medication and treatment will become more aggressive. The best way to prevent ingestion is to keep the chocolate out of reach, play it safe and hide the gift somewhere in a drawer or high on a shelf and put a note under the tree as a reminder instead.

Puppy Femur Fracture

2008-12-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

This was a Transverse Fracture of the Proximal Femur in a 5 month old puppy. We performed surgery last week with a bone plate and five screws. Puppy bone is soft and sometimes difficult to repair with hardware because it can be difficult to get implants to hold tightly. We also had to avoid placing screws into the growth plates and the joint space to prevent problems with recovery and growth. Fortunately, with proper confinement and rest, puppy bone is still growing with osteoblast cells and should heal more quickly than older mature bone. The estimated healing time is 6 to 8 weeks and typically do not remove this type of implant unless we encounter problems.

2008-12-13T17:27:00.000-08:00

Fortunately, we now have the use of a MyLab 50 ultrasound that gives us the capabilities of screening and helping diagnose disease in pets. This is an image we took of a polycystic kidney in a cat. Our ultrasound also has color flow capabilities and we also have the ability to send these images and films via telemedicine to a board certified radiologist for evaluation.

2008-12-13T16:59:00.000-08:00

A 6 month old "Lab Puppy" was hit by a vehicle 3 months ago. She suffered a comminuted (multiple breaks) humerus fracture in the front leg. She had a lot of soft tissue swelling and bruising in the surrounding muscle layers.

Three months after an external fixation device was placed with a central I.M. pin, and bone graft from her hip bone...her leg has healed and we removed the implants.

Her healing over three months was quick because the owners did a great job in home care and reporting any problems she had right away. Way to go!!

Remembering "Reno"

2008-12-13T16:48:00.000-08:00

"Reno" was a most unique dog who was part of our staff member's family for 14 years. He lost his long battle with Cutaneous Hemangiosarcoma this year. We performed multiple laser treatments as new skin cancer lesions appeared but eventually the cancer spread to other areas of his body. His breed (Italian Greyhound) is predisposed to this type of skin cancer. It is also can be associated with sun exposure to their skin. Although most of his life he only had 3 legs his personality was larger than life. He has a special place in our hearts and we will never forget him. We love you "Reno"!

Welcome to our Vet Page!!! Bella

2008-12-13T16:39:00.000-08:00