Otitis

Dr. Christen Woodley

Talk to the paw, because the ears aren’t listening!

Summer is upon us, and as many pet owners are aware, we aren’t the only ones craving some pool time. Many of our four legged friends enjoy a cool dip in the pool and salt water, also. This is all fine and dandy, until the ears start to get funky. What is that smell? And how come as soon as I clean the ear, more gunk seems to appear? As a vet, I get asked this on a daily basis in the summertime. You are not alone! 

Our pets can get ear infections, and though moisture in the ear is not the only cause of infection, it certainly tops the list. There are many pet ear cleaners available, and it is advised to use them any time after swimming and bathing to help evaporate moisture from within the ear canal. Pets with underlying allergies can also be more susceptible to ear infections. So, don’t think just because your pet does not swim or hasn’t gotten water in their ear, that it won’t happen to you. Always do periodic checks of your pet’s ears for odor, debris, redness, itching, etc.

Pets can harbor waxy debris similar to humans. In dogs, this is typically more of a golden-yellow color and will not create an odor. Wax in a cat tends to be more of a moist brown debris, but should not have an odor. Pets that spend more time outside can also get dirt in the ear canal. This is usually a dry black, almost gritty like debris without strong odor. Ear infection can present with different debris colors and smells.

Most owners notice that Fido is suddenly shaking his head more, pawing his ears, rubbing them on the furniture or carpet, etc. Unfortunately, in some cases the ears can become very reddened and warm and sensitive to the touch. In some instances, odor may be what catches your attention. Pets can get yeast and bacterial infections in the ear, and these tend to create an odor. Yeast will often create a moist, brown type of discharge in the ear that has a sweet odor (similar to rising yeast rolls). Bacterial infection can look like moist, brown debris, but in some more chronic instances, the discharge can look pus-like with an extreme sour odor, almost like sour milk. 

If you notice irritation, itching, sensitivity upon petting, odor, swelling, etc., it is important you bring your pet in for us to take a look. We take samples of the debris and do a microscopic examination to determine if an infection is present, and what type of medication would be best suited to help eradicate it. Ear infections are treated with topical medication, and in some extreme cases with oral medications, also. We monitor the progress to make sure that the prescribed medications are working; to aide in determining how long treatment is needed, and if there are underlying problems that need to be addressed. We also like to monitor the health of the ear drum, and make sure there isn’t any debris rubbing against it that over time can lead to irritation, thickening, even perforations to the ear drum itself. If left unattended and if suffering from chronic infection, permanent changes to the ear canal and ear drum are possible, not to mention provide discomfort to your pet-think of young children with ear infections and the pain they inflict. Also, some pets will shake their heads frequently due to the irritation. This, unfortunately, can cause trauma to the small blood vessels in the ear, and cause them to leak and form swelling to the ear like a water balloon. Please, alert us if this happens. This is called an ear hematoma and does require a surgical draining to try and prevent scarring and reoccurrence.

Routine cleaning of your pet’s ears is recommended to avoid wax buildup and to alert you to any infection or concern that may be on the rise. For dogs, this typically involves  filling the ear canal with a pet ear cleanser and massaging to help float up inciting debris for removal. DO NOT FILL UP THE EAR CANALS WITH LIQUID IN A CAT!! Cats can be much more sensitive to ear cleaning, and this is best left to us. Please, consult our office about proper technique or concerns that you may have.

In conclusion, many outdoor experiences, such as swimming, can be enjoyed by you and your pet. I don’t want to discourage them, but rather to encourage you to take an active monitoring to your pet’s ears, especially if they do enjoy water sports or suffer from allergies. If any concerns arise, please, feel free to ask us questions or have us take a peak. After all, we will always listen.

Sago Palm  Toxicity

Dr Megan Murphy

Sago Palms are native to the Florida area and are a common household or yard ornamental.  While beautiful, these plants, particularly the seeds they bear, are extremely toxic to our pets.  Unfortunately, many pet owners have mistaken these ornamentals with other non-toxic palms, and ingestion of plant parts has presented moderate to severe toxicity poisoning in pets.  Poisoning cases are on the rise because these plants are increasingly prevalent in big box stores & greenhouses.  Upon purchase, Sago Palms are often labeled, simply, as a palm tree.

The following paragraphs are specifically formulated to further educate you, our responsible, pet parents, about the toxic and deadly effects Sago Palms can cause, and how to recognize a Sago Palm. 

How to Recognize Sago Palm Plants : The entire Sago Palm plant is covered in razor-sharp spikes. It is a very symmetrical plant that supports a crown of shiny, dark green leaves on a thick, shaggy trunk.  It is relatively low to the ground, so its most poisonous components are easily accessible to your pet.  As we know, our dogs will eat anything, and the razor-sharp spikes covering the plant will do little to deter ingestion by your four-legged companion.  The toxin, cycasin,  produced by the Sago Palm is found in all parts of the plant including the fruit, base, and seeds.  The seeds are the most toxic and can lead to death in a pet by ingesting just one!  After cycasin ingestion, liver failure can happen within a matter of hours. 

Clinical signs of Sago Palm Toxicity include vomiting within the first hours of ingestion, followed by acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, paralysis, depression, coma, and ultimately death.  Prompt and immediate veterinary intervention is required to increase your pet’s chance of survival.  The goal of therapy is to rid the toxin from your pet, coat the gastrointestinal tract, monitor pet’s blood work, and administer supportive care (intravenous fluids and medications).  In some cases, pets who recover from acute liver failure have been known to die a month later due to the adverse side effects from a severely damaged liver. 

The number one preventative measure is to learn to recognize the plant by site and to eliminate it from your household and/or yard.  Keep all pets on a leash when outside to reduce chance of inadvertent exposure from a neighbor’s yard.  Learn to recognize the symptoms, and if your pet has been exposed, provide prompt and immediate veterinary care to give your pet a better prognosis for survival.
   

Annual Physical Exam

Dr Glen Wright

Annual physical exams are an important part of providing the best health care and longevity for your pet.  Dogs and cats age quickly (relative to human aging), and they are unable to tell us if they are not well. One year in our pets' lives, is approximately equivalent to 5-10 years in our life. In a year of our pets' lives, a lot can change.  Sometimes, dogs or cats can be ill for weeks without your knowledge or detection.  This is not due to a lack of care as a pet owner. Some pets may hide their illness until it is so far advanced that their body or behavior manifests signs of disease. 

Veterinarians have specific training and experience in regards to detecting subtle illness in pets. We can detect illness numerous ways. By listening to the heart, we can detect murmurs.  Abnormal lung sounds can indicate early illness. Abdominal palpation can reveal pain in certain areas and reveal abnormal size and shape of various organs. Palpation can even reveal tumors. Checking out your pet's eyes can detect early signs of cataract or other ocular problems. Viewing the ears may indicate infection and need of cleaning or medication. Dental disease may be detected, as well as signs of allergies or skin problems. Comparing annual weights during annual physical exams is important, also.  This can indicate if your dog is becoming overweight or slowly losing weight.
As a dog or cat reaches middle to old age, annual physical exams become even more important to their optimal health. Certain problems that owners may simply attribute to "old age," may be signs of underling disease and can be very treatable. Annual physical exams give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your dog or cat’s health. Additional tests may be recommended to determine overall health, and suggestions may be made for improving overall quality of life. 

Our primary goal at The Animal Hospital of Dunedin  is to keep your dog or cat healthy and provide the best care available.  A physical examination is not just a great chance to meet with you and your companion; a thorough exam can detect a variety of illnesses and prevent potential catastrophic disease. By finding, diagnosing, and treating these problems early, your pet will live a much healthier, happier, and longer life.

Ear Infections

Dr. Patrick Hafner

Ear infections are a big problem in dogs. This is especially true in Florida, as many ear infections are secondary infections related to allergies. These infections frequently come back, because the ears have a wax plug that cannot be removed by normal ear flushing.

At the Animal Hospital of Dunedin, we have been using a special instrument under anesthesia that removes the wax plug. Removing this wax plug helps stop the next ear infection cycle. Many times, we find the ear drum is ruptured behind the wax plug. The ear drum cannot heal without the removal of this irritating plug of nasty wax and debris from the ear canal.

If your pet is having frequent ear infections that keep coming back, the waxy plug deep in the ear canal next to the ear drum may be the problem. We can determine if the waxy plug exists with a routine ear examination. Let’s take a look and find out. The initial exam is quick, painless, and can be extremely beneficial to your dog. The results of this procedure, known as Otoendoscopy, are amazing.

Call us at (727) 733-9351 to schedule an exam in order to keep your dog's ears in perfect health.